Transformers: Cybertron

Transformers: Cybertron
Adventure, mecha
Created by	Hiroyuki Azuma, Steve Drucker
Anime television series
Directed by	G4 (Action Blast!), KidsClick (2018-2019) ZA: SABC 2
Original run	January 8, 2005 – December 31, 2005
Episodes	52 (List of episodes)
Manga
Written by	Yoshihiro Iwamoto
Published by	Kodansha
Imprint	BomBom Comics
Magazine	Comic BomBom
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	January 2005 – September 2005
Volumes	1

Transformers: Cybertron, known as Transformers: Galaxy Force (トランスフォーマー ギャラクシーフォース)

and Manabu Ono, with Hiro Masaki handling series composition, Takashi Kumazen designing the characters, Mitsuru Ōwa serving as the mechanical and prop designer and Megumi Ōhashi composing the music. A corresponding toy line was released with the series.

The series was conceived by Hasbro as the final installment of a trilogy formed with the previous two series, Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Energon. However, the Japanese production did not follow through on this intent, scripting the series as an independent story unconnected to the preceding shows.^[2] The English dub partially modified the series to establish links back to Armada and Energon, including changes to dialogue and small portions of new animation. Trevor Devall (who voices Scourge in the Series) voiced Megatron in early episodes the English dub before previous voice actor David Kaye returned, reprising the role from the show's predecessors. Other Voice Actors include Garry Chalk Reprising the role of Optimus Prime, Brian Drummond as the voices of Jolt and Jetfire (replacing Scott McNeil), Kirby Morrow as the Voice of Hot Shot (Replacing Brent Miller), Paul Dobson as the Voices of Overhaul (episodes 1 to 16) and Landmine (replacing Ward Perry), Scott McNeil as the voices of Snarl and Backstop, Brian Dobson Reprising the role of Red Alert, Richard Newman as the voice of Vector Prime, Michael Dobson returning as Starscream, Ted Cole as the Voice of Sideways (replacing Paul Dobson), Peter Kelamis as the Voice of Wing Saber (replacing Colin Murdock), and Lisa Ann Beley as the Voice of Override.

In the anime, all of the Transformers are computer-generated, while the humans and backgrounds are rendered in traditional cel animation.^[3][4] Telecom Animation Film Company helped with the backgrounds. It was the last series in the Transformers franchise to be produced in Japan until the release of Transformers Go! in 2013.

Plot

Our worlds are in danger! To save them and the galaxy, we must find the four Cyber Planet Keys before the Decepticons can use them for evil! It is our mission! Hot Shot! Jetfire! Vector Prime! Landmine! Scattershot! Optimus Prime! Transform and roll out!

— Optimus Prime, in the opening title sequence

When the destruction of

, and both forces relocate to Earth as the race to find them begins.

On Earth, the Autobots befriend three human children named

, working towards his own goals.

Ultimately, the Autobots succeed in acquiring the Keys of both Velocitron and Jungle Planet, at which point the existence of Earth's own Cyber Planet Key is revealed. Starscream makes his power play and overthrows Megatron, stealing the Omega Lock and all three keys from the Autobots and using them to grow in size and power. Their forces bolstered by the ancient Autobots from Earth and the arrival of

are gravely wounded and rebuilt into the even more powerful "Cybertron Defense Team".

Upon returning to Cybertron, the Autobots use the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, which awakens the spirit of Primus, the deity who is creator of the Transformers, and Cybertron itself actually transforms into the god's body. After a battle in which Starscream taps the power of Primus and grows to planetary size – only to be defeated by Primus himself – the location of the fourth and final key is determined as Gigantion the Giant Planet which is the homeworld of the Minicons and the Transformers who are larger than normal while having construction vehicle modes. Gigantion, however, exists in another dimension, having fallen through a rift in space/time, And except for the kids and the Minicons, the others can't enter without having their minds separated from their bodies. Luckily, Red Alert has created a vaccine program (based on Technology from Vector prime's sword) to help but it is revealed that Jetfire has

, a world destroyed by the Gigantions, upon whom they seek revenge. Galvatron blasts them and Starscream into another dimension and acquires the Lock and Keys for himself, intending to use their power to accelerate the universal degeneration caused by the black hole and remake the cosmos in his own image. Vector Prime sacrifices his life to allow the Autobots to return to their home universe, and the five planet leaders confront Galvatron within the black hole and defeat him. With all the Cyber Planet Keys now in his possession, Primus uses their power to finally seal the black hole, ending its threat.

As the planet's various civilizations attempt to return to life as normal, Galvatron attacks the Autobots for one final time. Without any troops to call his own, Galvatron engages Optimus Prime in a one-on-one duel, and is finally destroyed for good. As Galvatron is dying, he places his fist on Optimus' chest and says his final words. In the Japanese dub, he says "Galaxy Convoy..." which is Optimus' name in the Japanese version of the show. His last words in the American dub, however, are "I still function. You haven't won. Not while my spark still burns..." As he starts chuckling evilly, Optimus says "You fought well. Goodbye, Galvatron." As Galvatron disintegrates to space dust, Optimus kneels in front of Vector Prime's sword that Optimus used to slay Galvatron, still injured. As Jetfire and the others run over to Optimus to check on him, Optimus says "Don't worry. You won't get rid of me that easily." Galvatron is later seen in the credits of the last episode engaging Vector Prime in battle. With this final victory, Optimus Prime begins a new space bridge initiative, and the Transformers set sail for the four corners of the universe, and new adventures.

Cyber Planet Keys

Cyber Planet Keys (Planet Force in Galaxy Force) are four mystical items that form the crux of Transformers: Cybertron's plot; in order to stop the black hole that is threatening the universe, the Autobots must gather all four. Also seeking to attain them are the Decepticons, who want to use their power for their own ends.

The Cyber Planet Keys are formed from the spark of Primus and were used eons ago in the Space Bridge project that was meant to link all populated planets together. They were carried to various planets by four Cybertronian spacecraft, the Atlantis, the Ogygia, the Hyperborea, and the Lemuria. All four are controlled by a device called the Omega Lock, and when they are all inserted, they awaken Primus's power.

Unfortunately, the effort failed and the four Cyber Planet Keys were lost. They would remain that way for eons, until the black hole threatened Cybertron. At that point, Vector Prime emerged and told the story of the Keys to the Autobots. Eventually, they agreed to attempt Vector Prime's plan. Unfortunately, Megatron also learned of the scheme and began his own effort to gain the Planet Keys.

The Cyber Planet Keys were each marked with a symbol and colored gold. The four Cyber Planet Keys were found on Earth, Velocitron, Jungle Planet, and Gigantion.

• On Velocitron, the Key was disguised as a racing trophy.
• On Jungle Planet, it was disguised as a dragon statue in Scourge's lair.
• The Earth Key was possessed and hidden by Evac in ice.
• The Giant Planet Key lay at the very center of planet in the spaceship Lemuria.

Finally, the Autobots found the Cyber Planet Keys and the Omega Lock, and awoke Primus, who shut down the black hole, saving Cybertron and the universe. The four planets started a new space bridge project, and, finally, peace was restored.

Characters

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Episodes

Cast

Character	Japanese (Galaxy Force)	English (Cybertron)
Coby Hansen	Yukiko Tamaki	Sam Vincent
Lori	Rika Morinaga	Sarah Edmondson Chiara Zanni (Episode 25, 26, 52)
Bud Hansen	Mayumi Kurokawa	Ryan Hirakida
Tim Hansen	Junichi Suwabe Susumu Chiba (Episode 26)	Terry Klassen
Lucy Suzuki	Machiko Toyoshima	Tabitha St. Germain
Mike Franklin	Rintarou Nishi	Michael Dobson
Galaxy Convoy / Optimus Prime	Taiten Kusunoki	Garry Chalk
Backpack / Scattorshot	Tarusuke Shingaki	Richard Ian Cox
First Aid / Red Alert	Yasuyuki Kase	Brian Dobson
Guard Shell / Landmine	Tomoyuki Shimura	Paul Dobson
Dreadlock / Jetfire	Hideo Ishikawa	Brian Drummond
Vector Prime	Shō Hayami	Richard Newman
Master Megatron / Megatron	Jōji Nakata	David Kaye Trevor Devall
Thundercracker	Kazunari Tanaka	Mark Oliver
Fang Wolf / Snarl	Yūto Kazama	Scott McNeil
Starscream	Takaya Kuroda	Michael Dobson
Exilion / Hot Shot	Daisuke Hirakawa	Kirby Morrow

Adaptations

A manga adaptation of the series, written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Iwamoto (岩本 佳浩, Iwamoto Yoshihiro), was serialized from the February to October 2005 issues of Kodansha's Comic BomBom magazine. A tankōbon was released on August 5, 2005. Although it has the same idea of searching for Chip Squares and Planet Forces to extinguish the Grand Black Hole as in the anime, the storyline development and characterizations are unique. Due to the manga's cancellation, the final three chapters were never collected into a tankōbon.

Reception

Tim Janson, a reviewer for Mania.com, wrote a positive review:^[3]

"Transformers Cybertron showed that both

Beast Wars

. Oh, it's not perfect. The repeated use of the same transforming sequences, especially Optimus Prime's, gets old after about a half dozen episodes, and you realize you still have 46 to go! Also, there are no extras of any kind in the seven-disc set. No commentaries, no deleted scenes, nothing. Hasbro and Takara HAVE to do more to appeal to collectors and adult fans. All in all, the best Transformers show since Beast Wars."

Michael Drucker at IGN, reviewed the Transformers Cybertron: A New Beginning DVD, criticizing it as "A lackluster update on classic characters with minimal plot". The video quality was criticized for compression artifacts. The DVD was also criticized for its lack of extra features. Overall, the DVD was given a "bad" rating of 3 out of 10.^[5]

References

External links

• Takara page
• Official TV Tokyo Transformers: Galaxy Force website (in Japanese)
• Official TV Aichi Transformers: Galaxy Force website (in Japanese)
• Official Gonzino Transformers: Galaxy Force website (in Japanese)
• Transformers: Cybertron (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia