2007 saw Michael Bay helming the first of many Transformers features for the big screen, which led to Hasbro prioritizing their big-screen releases over animations. However, Bay’s big-budget blockbuster wasn’t the lone Transformers release of the year, as it also saw the debut of one of the most beloved Transformers animated shows, Transformers: Animated.
But despite its critical success, Cartoon Network eventually pulled off the plugs from the show after three seasons, and it had to do with the success of shows like The Clone Wars and Alien Force.
Transformers: Animated Was Cancelled for Not Being Mature Like Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Since the original American-Japanese animated television series aired in 1984, there has been a plethora of Transformers cartoons over the years. However, the 2007 reimagination of the IP, which borrowed the art style of Teen Titans, was a departure from the traditional Transformer animated releases. Although it took time for fans to adjust to the new art style, the show eventually won over them, and to this day it maintains a dedicated fanbase.
Unfortunately, while Hasbro had plans of kickstarting their own television network with Transformers: Animated, the show was cut short for just three reasons. Part of the reason was the success of shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ben 10: Alien Force, which were more dark and mature in tone. Cartoon Network advised the showrunners to drop the goofy elements and age up the show moving forward to match the tone of their other shows like The Clone Wars and Alien Force.
But with Hasbro more focused on their big-screen releases, the changes never transpired, and the show was canned after the third season, and replaced by Transformers: Prime.
Chris Hemsworth Is Reportedly in Talks To Join Transformers / G.I. Joe Crossover Movie
While the live-action releases for their biggest IP have long been a priority for Hasbro, with the upcoming animated release Transformers One, they’re taking the IP back to its roots. Moreover, the film will also see Chris Hemsworth voicing the young Optimus Prime instead of Peter Cullen, who has been voicing the character since its inception.
But this might not be the last time we’ll see Hemsworth in the role, as per reports, the Dementus actor is currently in talks to star in a Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover Movie. With the special-forces organization officially introduced at the end of Rise of the Beasts, fans are highly excited about the sequel to ROTB. But per producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, it might be a while before we see it unfold onscreen. He told ComicBook.com:
The honest truth is I don’t know. I know we are going to deliver on the promise we made.
Although it’s a great time to be a fan of the franchise, as another Transformers film from Ángel Manuel Soto is also in the works, it’s a shame the 2007 show was never greenlit for a fourth season.
Transformers: Animated is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
