Transformers: Robots in Disguise

Plot

Season 1

Three years after Megatron's exile, the Predacons' defeat, and life being restored to the planet Cybertron, a new generation of Transformers enjoy a new age of prosperity. Earth no longer remembers the Decepticon-Autobot conflict as the Cybertronians stopped visiting the planet. Bumblebee has since become a seasoned Cybertronian police officer and despite his fame, he chooses to be a humble peacekeeper. Things change when he is summoned by the vision of Optimus Prime. Thought to be long dead after restoring Cybertron's population, Optimus Prime calls for Bumblebee to return to Earth as a new threat appears.

With the help of Sideswipe (a rebel punk "bad boy bot") and Strongarm (an Elite Guard cadet partnered with him), the trio makes it to Earth to discover a crashed maximum security prison ship called the Alchemor and its steward Fixit (a hyperactive Mini-Con with faulty wiring). They soon learn the Alchemor had "a couple hundred" Decepticon prisoners within Stasis Pods, but all of its inmates have escaped. They now must recapture all the escaped Decepticon prisoners before they cause further harm on Earth. With the aid of humans Russell and Denny Clay and the Dinobot Grimlock (who was a prisoner of Alchemor for committing property damage before siding with Bumblebee), Bumblebee leads this unlikely team to protect Earth from the Decepticon prisoners and restore order. During their mission they often clash with Steeljaw who soon forms his own group of fellow Decepticon prisoners (consisting of the metal-eating Underbite, crime boss Thunderhoof, stranded bounty hunter Fracture and his Mini-Con partners Airazor and Divebomb, and cowardly informant Clampdown) to contend with the Autobots and attempt to conquer Earth.

The Autobots are later joined by the likes of former Decepticon turned Autobot bounty hunter and samurai Drift, his Mini-Con partners and students Slipstream and Jetstorm, the female warrior Windblade, and Optimus Prime, who returns from the dead in the wake of the arrival of the Fallen and traitorous prime Megatronus, who was the one that crashed the Alchemor to free the prisoners (and subsequently blackmailed Steeljaw into helping him escape his imprisonment) and who the Thirteen Primes have been preparing Optimus for. During the battle against Megatronus, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, and Strongarm realize they can combine their Decepticon hunters and become more powerful. With this new knowledge, the Autobots prevail, seemingly destroying Megatronus with a powerful energy beam, and apprehending Underbite, Thunderhoof, Fracture, and Clampdown, though Steeljaw escapes. Bumblebee then finally overcomes his insecurities of being a worthy leader, finding his perfect rallying cry ("Rev up and Roll out!"), and chooses to remain on Earth to protect it from any other potential future threats, as do the rest of his team, including Optimus, who states that from now on he will be Bumblebee's equal rather than leader, to which Bumblebee agrees.

Season 2

Weeks after Megatronus' defeat, the Autobots continue to deal with the threat of the Decepticon fugitives that are still on Earth. While Steeljaw is still at large, he eventually discovers another group of Decepticons stationed on the crashed remains of the second half of the Alchemor that is dubbed "Decepticon Island" and led by Glowstrike, Scorponok, and Saberhorn. As Optimus is weakened when the immense power he was lent from the Primes is drained by them, the Autobots split into two teams: an Away Team led by Optimus and consisting of Drift, Slipstream, Jetstorm, Sideswipe, and Windblade, and another team led by Bumblebee that remains at their scrapyard base. Along the way, the Autobots run into a strange occurrence in the form of Decepticon criminals who are not listed in the Alchemor prisoner manifest yet have criminal records on Cybertron. At the same time, Steeljaw attempts to prove himself to the Decepticon Island by not only freeing Thunderhoof and Clampdown, but also new prisoners, including criminal Bisk, wrestler Groundpounder, saboteur Overload, anarchist Quillfire, and mythical city hunter Springload, to be his "elite warriors."

During this time, Optimus slowly recovers his strength and teaches his team valuable lessons about teamwork. Fixit eventually repairs the Autobots' Ground Bridge, which was destroyed by an explosion that occurred after he originally dispatched the Away Team; however, a malfunction allows the Decepticon Soundwave (who was trapped in the Shadowzone - a parallel dimension where anyone and anything becomes completely invisible and can't interact with normal space, as if they were out of phase - in the season 3 finale of Transformers: Prime) to escape. Soundwave then attempts to contact the former Decepticon leader Megatron (who went into a self-induced exile following the events of Predacons Rising) and have him return to Earth, but is thwarted by Team Bee and returned to the Shadowzone.

As the two Autobot teams are reunited, they pair up with the Autobot medical officer and Optimus and Bumblebee's old friend and teammate Ratchet, along with his Mini-Con Undertone, to apprehend the rest of the Decepticons on Decepticon Island. Using a Stasis Bomb, they manage to place Decepticons in stasis, while Bumblebee and Optimus, aided by Fixit and his fellow Caretaker Mini-Cons who were enslaved, defeat Steeljaw. Following their victory, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Windblade, and the Caretaker Mini-Cons repair the ship and return all Decepticon prisoners to Cybertron, as Bumblebee and his team reside on Earth.

Miniseries

Shortly after the Autobots' victory on Decepticon Island, a group of Decepticon Scavengers arrive on Earth looking for relics from the Great War; they have been partnered with Weaponizer Mini-Cons, a type of Mini-Con who can control the bodies of their wielder and grant team great powers. At the same time, Starscream (who was presumed dead after the events of Predacons Rising)

makes an unexpected return, revealing that he killed the Predacons (minus Predaking) using weapons hoarded by Megatron; he is aided by a trio of bounty hunters - Shadelock, RoughEdge, and Razorhorn - in his quest for the powerful Dark Star Saber and the Weaponizer Mini-Cons, intending to use them to rebuild the Decepticon Empire and exact revenge on Megatron for all of the abuse he inflicted upon him. Upon learning the truth from the Mini-Con Sawtooth, the Weaponizers abandon the Scavengers and later ally themselves with the Autobots, aiding them in their battle against Starscream. Ultimately, all the Decepticons, including Starscream, are defeated and placed onto Optimus's ship alongside the Dark Star Saber, who leaves to deliver them to the Cybertronian Authorities. The Weaponizers thank the Autobots for saving them and then they leave in their Sub-Orbital Craft (which Fixit both fixed and modified for space travel) with the intent of "going where they will never be found".

Season 3

Sometime after their victory against Starscream and the Scavengers, Team Bee crosses paths with the Stunticons, a group of Decepticons consisting of Motormaster, Dragstrip, Slashmark, Heatseeker, and Wildbreak, who can combine to form the massive Menasor. To combat this new threat, the Autobots need to learn how to combine themselves, becoming Ultra Bee.

Following the Stunticons' defeat, Optimus Prime has them and several other Decepticons that have been captured recently stored away in his ship so he can return them to Cybertron. He also enlists Drift and his Mini-Con students to accompany him on a special mission. Meanwhile, Soundwave attempts to escape from the Shadowzone once again, aided by a group of Activator Mini-Cons, and Steeljaw, Underbite, Thunderhoof, Quillfire, and Clampdown also return to cause more problems for the Autobots, attempting to capture Team Bee for their mysterious benefactors on Cybertron who arranged for them to be pardoned of their respective crimes. Soundwave eventually escapes from the Shadowzone and is revealed to also be allied with Steeljaw's mysterious benefactors, but is defeated by Team Bee before he can activate a beacon to summon Megatron, and subsequently taken back to Cybertron by Optimus Prime to stand trial. Soundwave and Steeljaw's mysterious benefactors are later revealed to be the Autobot High Council, who are Decepticon infiltrators, usurpers, controllers, and manipulators Cyclonus, Cyberwarp, Riotgear, Skyjack, and Treadshock who have plans to invade Earth. After a battle for the fate of both Earth and Cybertron, the High Council, in their combined form of Galvatronus, are ultimately defeated by Ultra Bee, and the Autobots restore order to Cybertron.

As a new Autobot High Council is formed, Team Bee returns to live on Earth as ambassadors and continues protecting it from any possible future threats while working to find Steeljaw, who is still at large.

Characters

Autobots

Bumblebee (voiced by Will Friedle) - The main protagonist of the series who transforms into a yellow and black Griffin Motors 1995 Windblazer, which is similar to the Chevrolet Camaro, and also forms the head and torso of Ultra Bee. At the start of the series, Bumblebee is working on the Cybertron police force due to the Autobot High Council having issues with the Autobots. While helping Strongarm to apprehend Sideswipe, Bumblebee gets a vision of Optimus Prime that draws him back to Earth. As the leader of the Autobot team on Earth, he is constantly worried about living up to Optimus' legacy, shown when leading his team, especially when he is trying to keep order in the group. Bumblebee wields a Decepticon Hunter, a device that takes the form of any weapon a bot can think of; he primarily uses the Hunter in the form of a battle staff.

Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) - The last of the Primes, the leader of the Autobots, and Bumblebee's mentor who transforms into a red and blue semi-truck with an accompanying trailer. Originally thought to have died after the events of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising, he was resurrected by the Primes of the past to help stop their rogue brother Megatronus, whose evil would result in the destruction of both Earth and Cybertron. Following his return to Earth, he co-leads the Autobots alongside Bumblebee as his equal. In season two, he becomes leader of the Away Team, leading Sideswipe, Windblade, Drift, Slipstream, and Jetstorm.

Strongarm (voiced by Constance Zimmer) - A cadet in the Cybertronian Elite Guard and Bumblebee's subordinate who transforms into a blue and white police-modified pickup truck and also forms the right arm of Ultra Bee. She often worries about abiding by the law and following protocol, which in certain cases jeopardizes the mission. She is essentially the complete opposite of Sideswipe and the two often argue with each other. Strongarm's Decepticon Hunter takes the form of a crossbow.

Sideswipe (voiced by Darren Criss) - The rebellious "bad boy" of the Bee Team who transforms into a red street racing-ready sports car and also forms the left arm of Ultra Bee. He has authority issues due to the regulations the "High Council" has enforced. Despite being reckless and seemingly uncaring, Sideswipe will dive into a fight to protect his friends, using his speed and agility to battle the Decepticons, sharing a strong friendship with Grimlock and Russell. Sideswipe's Decepticon Hunter takes the form of a sword.

Decepticons

Most of the Decepticons in this series were originally prisoners on a maximum security prison ship called the Alchemor. Most of them have animal motifs in their robot modes or have animalistic forms as their alternate mode. At the beginning of the series, the Alchemor crashlands on Earth because of Megatronus and the Decepticon prisoners are freed. It is now the mission of Bumblebee's team to re-capture them.

Steeljaw (voiced by Troy Baker) - A wolf-motif Decepticon who transforms into a wolf snout-like off-road vehicle. He is the recurring antagonist of the series and is Bumblebee's new nemesis in a vein which echos the rivalry with Optimus Prime and Megatron. As revealed in "Lockout", Steeljaw was imprisoned on the Alchemor for trying to incite a rebellion. He wishes to rule Earth as a safe and peaceful haven for Decepticons.

Glowstrike (voiced by Grey Griffin) - A female Insecticon who transforms into a robotic firefly and serves as an antagonist in the second season. She possesses the ability to fire energy blasts from her hands and skirt-like feature and is frustrated by the apparent incompetence of her various underlings.

Scorponok (voiced by Victor Brandt) - A Decepticon gladiator who can transform into a robotic scorpion and is capable of using his bladed tail in robot or animal mode. Scorponok was imprisoned on the Alchemor for terrorizing outlying communities on Cybertron that are largely outside the reach of the law by tearing them down and intimidating the inhabitants for simple enjoyment.

Saberhorn (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) - An Insecticon pirate who transforms into a robotic rhinoceros beetle. He wields dual sabers and relishes "sporting" combat against worthy adversaries. He was imprisoned on the Alchemor for plundering cargo vessels.

Starscream (voiced by Steve Blum) - The Air Commander of the Decepticon Seekers and Megatron's former second-in-command who transforms into a fighter jet.

Soundwave (voiced by Frank Welker) - A Decepticon spy and communications officer who transforms into a blue UAV drone aircraft resembling an MQ-9 Reaper and later a futuristic truck based on his Generation One counterpart, although he retains his head design in both bodies. He was trapped in an alternate dimension known as the Shadowzone by the end of Transformers: Prime until he returned in "Portals" when Fixit had an accident with the Groundbridge. Bumblebee's group were able to send him back into the Shadowzone before he could contact Megatron. Soundwave returns in the "Combiner Force" season as a major antagonist. In "Collateral Damage", Soundwave is defeated by Bumblebee and taken to Cybertron to stand trial.

Thirteen

The Thirteen are the original Cybertronians that were created by Primus during his fight with Unicron. Most of the Thirteen currently reside in the Realm of the Primes.

Micronus Prime (voiced by Adrian Pasdar) - The first Mini-Con who was among the original thirteen Cybertronians created by Primus during his fight with Unicron and currently resides in the Realm of the Primes.

Vector Prime (voiced by Troy Baker) - A member of the Thirteen who is the guardian of time and space.

Megatronus Prime / The Fallen (voiced by Gil Gerard) - One of the original Primes of Cybertron who, alongside his twelve colleagues, was created at the beginning of time by Primus to defeat Unicron. Megatronus betrayed the group, murdered Solus Prime, and became the first Decepticon. Originally banished to another realm, Megatronus later escapes and plans to combined the AllSpark and the Anti-Spark to control the universe. His plan fails and he is apparently killed in the process.

Alpha Trion - A member of the Thirteen who appears in "Enemy of My Enemy" as one of the Autobots that the Decepticons making up the Autobot High Council had blacklisted for helping Optimus Prime.

Weaponizer Mini-Cons

The Weaponizer Mini-Cons are a type of Mini-Cons who can empower their hosts while in weapon mode while controlling their bodies. They originally sided with the Decepticon Scavengers while being hunted down by Starscream. During the majority of their appearances, they are unaligned. The Weaponizer Mini-Cons eventually allied themselves with the Autobots in "Mini-Con Madness", though they become Autobots themselves by the end of "Worthy." In that same episode, the Weaponizers leave Earth in search of a new home.

Aerobolt (voiced by Steve Blum) - The bird of prey-motif leader of the Weaponizer Mini-Cons who can transform into a white and blue shield, which doubles as a breastplate that creates a suit of energy armor around its host. He is partnered with Optimus Prime.

Buzzstrike (voiced by Rick Pasqualone) - A Weaponizer Mini-Con who can transform into a red axe.

Sawtooth (voiced by Crispin Freeman) - A good-hearted fish monster-motif Weaponizer Mini-Con who can transform into a dark blue trident.

Tricerashot (voiced by Robbie Rist) - A Triceratops-motif Weaponizer Mini-Con who can transform into an orange blaster cannon.

Bashbreaker - A Weaponizer Mini-Con who can transform into a large blue hammer.

Windstrike - A Weaponizer Mini-Con who can transform into a blue sword.

Lancelon - A knight-themed Weaponizer Mini-Con who can transform into a yellow and purple sword.

Activator Mini-Cons

The Activators are a type of Mini-Con who can empower a host in vehicle mode, enabling them with flight capabilities and other enhancements.

Stuntwing - An Activator Mini-Con employed by Soundwave to steal Bumblebee's Decepticon Hunter.

Trickout - An Activator Mini-Con with wheels for feet employed by Soundwave to retrieve a Decepticon Hunter.

Hi-Test - An Activator Mini-Con employed by Soundwave to retrieve a Decepticon Hunter. Hi-Test fails to do so and flees from Soundwave to avoid being killed. After Soundwave is defeated, Hi-Test departs to the Shadowzone, where he is able to live without fear of being hunted.

Goldgear - An Activator Mini-Con who is employed by Soundwave to retrieve Strongarm's Decepticon Hunter.

Humans

Russell Clay (voiced by Stuart Allan) - A 10-year-old boy who was sent by his mother to live with his father, Denny. He first encounters Sideswipe which leads him and his father to befriend the Autobots. He is headstrong and constantly begs to join the team on their missions. He is also an avid watcher of horror movies. His father often gives him the nickname "Rusty". Russell has shown he can learn from the Autobots and he becomes a valuable member of the team, alongside his father Denny.

Denny Clay (voiced by Ted McGinley) - Russell's father who own a scrapyard of collectible items which becomes the Autobot's base of operations. He is also handy with tools and construction which allows him to work alongside Fixit, who in turn allows him to study Cybertronian technology. He also runs interference with the Autobots, using several disguises to help prevent other humans from discovering the Autobot's and Decepticon's existence. Denny tries to be a good father for Russell but does encounter problems. The Autobots, mainly Bumblebee and Fixit, help him overcome these problems. Overall, Denny & Russell become valuable members of the Bee Team.|

Henrietta "Hank" (voiced by Bailey Gambertoglio) - A neighborhood girl whom Russell befriends while trying to find others to socialize. She is a fan of football and plays it along with her other friends, including Russell.

Butch (voiced by Will Friedle) - A neighborhood boy whom Russell befriends while trying to find others to socialize.

Larry LaRue (voiced by John Katovsich) - A greedy collector who will stop at nothing to obtain various items. He apparently has a history with Denny.

Arnold (voiced by Troy Baker in "As the Kospego Commands!," James Arnold Taylor in "Suspended") - A man who believes in mythological creatures.

Cast

Main cast

Stuart Allan - Russell Clay, Toddler Son (ep. 35)

Darren Criss - Sideswipe, Son (ep. 28)

Will Friedle - Bumblebee, Ultra Bee, Butch, Righty, Dispatcher (ep. 1), Motorist (ep. 5), Junior (ep. 7), Security Guard (ep. 10), Game Voice (ep. 12), Father (ep. 28), Security Guard (ep. 34)

Ted McGinley - Denny Clay, Sea Captain (ep. 3)

Khary Payton - Grimlock, Bisk, Divebomb, Newsman (ep. 1, 54), Dad (ep. 7), Operator (ep. 10), Bot (ep. 15), Anchorman (ep. 30), Stadium Announcer (ep. 34), Impound Lot Guard (ep. 35), Dispatcher (ep. 46), Proctor #1 (ep. 56)

Mitchell Whitfield - Fixit, Toolbox, Cinch, Groundskeeper (ep. 4), Museum Staff Member (ep. 5), TV Announcer (ep. 11), Major Mayhem (ep. 37)

Constance Zimmer - Strongarm, Filch, Wingcode, Matronly Docent (ep. 1, 46), Ship's Computer (ep. 18)

Additional voices

Jonathan Adams - Razorpaw

Carlos Alazraqui - Hammer, Anvil, Nigel (ep. 34)

Dee Bradley Baker - Bludgeon, Clout

Troy Baker - Steeljaw, Vector Prime, Arnold (ep. 6), Blue Car Driver (ep. 14)

Eric Bauza - Drift, Headlock, Pseudo, Silverhound, Back, Forth, Lt. Ziegler (ep. 17), Look-Out (ep. 23), Male Tourist (ep. 24), Police Officer (ep. 26), Scoutmaster #2 (ep. 28), Major Mayhem (ep. 37), Scientist (ep. 48), Radio Commercial Announcer (ep. 51), Instructor (ep. 55), Computer Voice (ep. 56)

Jeff Bennett - Axiom, Theorem

Gregg Berger - Stockade, Major Mayhem (ep. 37)

Ted Biaselli - Octopunch

Steve Blum - Starscream, Backtrack, Ransack, Polarclaw, Aerobolt

Kate Bond - Casey (ep. 19, 55)

Victor Brandt - Scorponok

Jeffrey Combs - Ratchet

Ian James Corlett - Shadow Raker

Peter Cullen - Orion Pax/Optimus Prime

Jim Cummings - Clampdown, Thermidor, Vehicon Sentry #1 (ep. 38)

Eddie Deezen - Ped

Trevor Devall - Hermit (ep. 46, 47), Patrolman #2 (ep. 46)

John DiMaggio - Groundpounder, Farnum (ep. 19)

Broadcast

United States

The series was originally planned to premiere on what was known as the Hub Network (a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications). However, on October 7, 2014, just days before the channel's re-branding as Discovery Family that took place on October 13, it was announced that the series would premiere on Cartoon Network instead. Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis felt that Cartoon Network was a more appropriate home for a Transformers series due to its male-oriented demographics, having felt that Hub Network had been skewed towards girls. Previous animated Transformers series had also aired on Cartoon Network before the launch of the joint venture and Hasbro Studios.

The series debuted with a special prime time premiere of the two-part pilot on March 14, 2015, followed by the regular time slot debut, starting with an encore of "Pilot" Pt. 1, on March 21.

Season 2 ran from February 20 to May 14, 2016. The six-part miniseries premiered on October 22 and concluded on December 3.

Season 3 ran from April 29 to November 11, 2017. It was the third and final season.

Japan

In Japan, the series premiered in Japan on Animax, where it was known as Transformers Adventure for its first two seasons, and Transformers Adventure: Prime of Micron for the special miniseries between seasons 2 and 3. Season 1 took a break after episode 13 on June 14 and picked up again on September 20 with episode 14.

The songs "Save the Future!!" and "Try (Transformers: Adventure)" replace the original opening and closing themes, respectively.

International

On January 13, 2015, it was announced that Cartoon Network has acquired the rights to broadcast the series worldwide, similarly to the global distribution of Prime before it.

Several countries have premiered the series before the United States. On February 9, Canal J premiered the series in France, making it the first in the world to broadcast it on television. On March 2, Biggs premiered it in Portugal. In Italy, K2 aired the pilot on March 7, followed by the official premiere on March 9. On March 13, Cartoon Network Arabic premiered the Arabic version of the series .

Among English-speaking countries, Cartoon Network in Australia was first to debut the series, having premiered it on February 21. On March 7, the series debuted in the United Kingdom. In Canada, the show premiered on Teletoon on March 21. The series premiered on May 23, 2015, on Cartoon Network India. as well as on Cartoon Network Southeast Asia. The series also aired on Toonami in India in English. In Croatia, the series debuted on April 23, 2018, in RTL Kockica channel.

Season 1 made its debut on CITV weekday morning lineup on January 4, 2016. Season 2 first aired on CITV in March 2016 in the UK.

Home media

Shout Factory released the first five episodes onto DVD titled A New Autobot Mission on October 27, 2015. They released the complete first season on May 10, 2016.

In Australia, Beyond International released the complete first season onto DVD on September 1, 2015; they also released a single-disc DVD comprising the first seven episodes on the same day.