Only One Transformers Cartoon Needs the X-Men ’97 Treatment and It’s Not G1

This franchise has been popular for four decades, and many people first experienced it through the original animated series. While several animated shows followed, each developed its own dedicated following. Following the success of Marvel Studios’ recent animated projects, fans are now hoping to see these earlier series revisited, even if just one is brought back.

While the first Transformers cartoon is the most famous, it’s proving difficult to bring back that series – or its sequels – with the same success as X-Men ’97. This is also true for newer Transformers shows, including the anime series. However, Transformers: Animated, a 2007 show, stands out. Despite being cancelled too soon, it took a risky idea and turned it into a beloved cartoon.

Transformers: Animated Deserves a Fourth Season To Finish the Story

When Transformers: Animated first came out in 2007, many fans were doubtful. The show’s unique art style and lighter, more playful tone made it seem geared towards younger viewers, and a lot of longtime fans weren’t impressed.

I really started to enjoy this series as it went on – it quickly became a strong addition to the whole franchise. The first season was a little rough around the edges, and it definitely leaned into some sillier, more unusual ideas. But by the time Megatron was back in charge, everything just clicked. It really found its footing then, and I was hooked!

The series also reimagined beloved characters like the Dinobots, giving them updated personalities, and revisited other Transformers such as Starscream and Shockwave, drawing heavily from their original appearances in the first generation of the show. Unfortunately, after three seasons, the show ended, even though there were ideas for continuing the story.

Early ideas for a fourth season included exciting possibilities like Megatron gaining the ability to transform into multiple forms, and Ironhide stepping up to help Optimus Prime on Earth after Prowl’s passing. However, none of these plans were developed, and even a partially-built prototype of a new Megatron design was abandoned.

Okay, so the third season actually wrapped things up pretty nicely – Starscream finally got what was coming to him, Megatron and Shockwave were taken out of the picture, and everyone cheered Prime and his team as heroes back on Cybertron. But honestly, it left so many cool ideas on the table for what could have been! Considering the show is almost 20 years old now, I really think it’s ripe for a comeback. I’d love to see those ideas explored!

Transformers: Animated Has Unlocked Potential and Could Pick Up Its Plot Easily

A possible continuation of Transformers: Reanimated could pick up storylines hinted at in what would have been its fourth season. It might also show a significant time jump, featuring the younger Optimus Prime from the series growing into the well-known leader he is in most Transformers universes.

As a critic, I have to say this series really impressed me. While it definitely leaned into the classic Generation 1 Transformers – you’ll recognize a lot of familiar Autobots and Decepticons – it wasn’t just a rehash of old ideas. The art style was fresh, and the characterizations felt unique. They took even established teams like the Dinobots and Constructicons and did interesting things with them, especially regarding how they combined – it wasn’t just the same old formula.

What really makes this show stand out is how it playfully deviates from typical Transformers stories. It also leaves a lot of plot threads hanging, more so than the original Generation 1 series. If any of the Transformers animated shows deserved a reboot with both new and familiar elements, it’s definitely this one—more so than the others.

Generation 1 Doesn’t Need a Revival and Remains Relevant To Transformers Fans

I remember watching The Transformers when it first aired – it was a huge part of my childhood from 1984 to 1987. The big screen adaptation, The Transformers: The Movie, hit theaters in 1986, which was a real event! But by the time the show wrapped up, the initial toy craze had started to die down, although thankfully the Marvel comic books kept the Transformers universe alive for a while longer.

The original Transformers series brought us iconic characters like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron, and those characters remain largely the same today. Because of this, it makes sense to bring that series back. However, deciding which version of the original series to revive presents a challenge.

When fans think of the original Transformers series, they usually picture characters like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Grimlock, and Ironhide – those who appeared in the first season or two. But the show actually ended with a different group of Autobots, mostly consisting of characters introduced in The Transformers: The Movie and during the third season.

The fourth season of the original series introduced a lot of new Cybertronian characters. Many fans don’t think starting a revival with the Headmasters and Targetmasters from that season captures the spirit of the show’s best moments. Even some of the original, beloved characters were portrayed differently.

There’s A Reason Why X-Men ’97 Is a Good Remake

Plus, the Transformers franchise has become so well-established, drawing from its original G1 series, that a return to that storyline wouldn’t feel particularly new. X-Men ’97 stands out because the original X-Men animated series hasn’t been reimagined or revisited for almost thirty years, making it a truly refreshing take.

Similarly, there hasn’t been a new X-Men animated series since the 2010s, and that continues into the 2020s. The recent animated projects from Skybound Entertainment are the closest we’ve gotten to a return to the original X-Men style, and they’ve been very popular.

That show benefits from being a different format than the original. Comics often reimagine well-known characters by giving them fresh starts. While some fans may long for the older versions, it’s probably time to move on from the classic Transformers.

Revisiting the Beast Era Has Its Problems

When Beast Wars: Transformers first came out, many fans were surprised – it was a big change from previous versions. Instead of the usual Transformers – Autobots and Decepticons turning into cars, guns, and other machines – this series introduced their descendants, the Maximals and Predacons, who could transform into animals.

Even though the toy line and cartoon series were very different, they were hugely popular and brought the Transformers franchise back to life after Transformers: Generation 2 hadn’t done well. This success then led to the creation of two anime spin-offs in Japan, and…

Trying to recapture that time period wouldn’t succeed, mainly because of Beast Machines. That show introduced unpopular ideas like a living, growing Cybertron and changed all the Transformers into techno-organic beings – a mix of machine and life. Combined with other story problems, a disregard for the toys, and how it handled beloved characters, Beast Machines became one of the most criticized parts of the Transformers franchise.

Bringing back Beast Machines isn’t possible, even if it would allow us to finally adapt Transtech, the story originally intended to follow it. On the other hand, if Beast Machines: Transformers isn’t considered a true continuation of Beast Wars, there’s no point in adding to that storyline, as it already builds upon the original Marvel Generation 1 series.

Despite needing to wrap up quickly to make room for Beast Machines, Beast Wars‘ third season finished strongly. It’s probably best to think of the season’s last episode as a satisfying conclusion, leaving the story there.

Most Transformers Shows Have Adequate Endings and Don’t Need Revivals

Most Transformers shows since the original G1 and Beast Wars have provided satisfying conclusions to their storylines. A good example is the 2001 anime Transformers: Robots in Disguise, which told a complete story without any follow-up series.

Transformers: Armada began the Unicron Trilogy, an anime series. While Transformers: Cybertron (released as Transformers: Galaxy Force in Japan) wasn’t originally intended to be included, it neatly wrapped up the trilogy’s story. Each series can be enjoyed on its own, as they all tell complete stories without needing to be watched in order.

The show Transformers: Prime was designed to be part of a larger, interconnected story called the “Aligned Continuity.” However, instead of being one continuous universe, it was more like a collection of different storylines all starting from the same beginning. The core idea was a central event, and Prime along with other related projects, each explored that event in their own unique way.

The original Prime series ended so well that many fans didn’t even pay attention to its follow-up, Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Similar to the situation with Beast Wars, bringing it back presents a challenge: either expand on a story that already had a satisfying ending, or build upon a series that most viewers considered a decline in quality.

Besides the movies, there have been several Transformers TV shows recently, including the War for Cybertron anime trilogy on Netflix, Transformers: Cyberverse, and the current series, Transformers: Earthspark. The Netflix show was generally popular, but interest in continuing the story has waned, with many feeling the third season wasn’t as good as the first two.

Similar to Cyberverse, which lasted four complete seasons – even more than the original G1 series – bringing it back wouldn’t offer anything new. While it had a classic, G1-influenced style, it’s already been done. When it comes to fresh designs and story possibilities, only one Transformers show really deserves a revival: Transformers: Animated. It was cancelled prematurely and still has a lot of potential to deliver a great story.

2026-05-16 16:39