Transformers truly are a toy and movie franchise that bridge generation gaps. As a 28-year old industry, it gives parents who grew up with the “Robots in Disguise” a way to geek out with their children. The Autobots and Decepticons are more popular now than they’ve ever been after three blockbuster movies and a successful weekly CG television series still airing. Shout! Factory’s “Transformers Prime: One Shall Stand” is made up of seven episodes of that successful show melded together into one seamless film.
Humankind is once again threatened by Megatron and his Decepticons as the diabolical leader continues to seek for the way to unlock the powers of Dark Energon. Optimus Prime and the Autobots must come head to head with the evil robots before Megatron can discover its full potential. At the same time, a more sinister threat is discovered at the center of the Earth… Unicron. How can the most powerful enemy of both the Autobots and Decepticons be defeated when the very thing Optimus and his team swear to protect is formed around it?
This series never ceases to amaze me. It’s way more complex than a television show designed for kids should be. Obviously, executive producers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman understand their target audience isn’t only children but their parents as well. They know the Transformers mythos backwards and forwards after writing the three Michael Bay films. Their investment in the franchise and loyalty to its fans shows here as well.
The CG animation is spectacular when it comes to the robots. It’s when humans are brought into the equation that things are less than stellar. They have that same artificial plastic look we find in every movie or television show of this kind. This distracts the viewer and pulls them out of the visual experience.
Special features include the featurette “A Look at ‘One Shall Stand.'” Executive Producer Jeff Kline, Show Developer Duane Capizzi, and Writer Steven Melching talk about “Transformers Prime” in a round-table interview. An animatic for “One Shall Rise, Part 2” gives fans a peek at the work put into the show before it’s given the CG treatment.
“Transformers Prime: One Shall Stand” will thrill enthusiasts of the franchise. It’s an entertaining watch and the seven episodes stitch together very well. There are no annoying fade-outs where commercials would be. It feels like this is a legitimate feature length animated film. The bonus material included will make this a worthy purchase for consumers who love the “Robots in Disguise.”
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
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