So you can’t get enough of The Transformers Series?
They’re the best, right? There’s been many a late night argument on credit about this topic 🙂
I know how you feel, I’ve spent WAY to much money on this stuff over the years on toys, books, DVD’s & Blu-rays.
But you know what? I have no regrets!
But not all Transformers shows are created equally! There are some stand out shows that really elevate the Transformers brand and mythology and keep the fandom coming back for more
So I created this list of the top Transformers Cartoons you should definitely check out.
There is a slightly loose order to this list. I’ve tried to go from best to worst but do not take each individual ranking as absolute as their will always be a difference in taste from fan to fan.
Transformers G1
You cannot exclude the original and the best Transformers series!
This cartoon set the standard, expanded and took the universe in some crazy directions and is what kick started the whole Transformers craze.
The Autobots and Decepticons are battling it out on the Autobot ship ‘the Ark’ when they lose control and crash land on Earth. Millions of years later a volcanic eruption activates them and they continue their war on Earth before reconnecting with their Cybertronian comrades.
The plot is based heavily around an energy crisis on Cybertron which seems to be wiping out the Transformers. When the Decepticons awake on Earth in 1984, they see the vast resources available to them do their best to steal as much energy as possible to fuel their armies, win the war against the Autobots and regain control of Cybertron – even if it means making the human race extinct!
The universe in this show seemed to just grow and grow, going from giant Transformers to even bigger combiners and onward to city sized robots before leaving Earth as the main stage and showing us more battles in space and adopting a real Sci-Fi theme.
If you haven’t seen any Transformers series, start here (get used to the animation, it was the 80’s) and experience the OG, the greatest Transformers cartoon series ever made.
Beast Wars
Love it or hate it – Beast wars is still considered one of the absolute best Transformers stories ever told on screen.
This show follows the descendants of the Transormers – the Maximals (formerly Autobots) and Predacons (formerly Decepticons) during a time of peace some 300 years after the events of G1.
But when a rogue Predacon by the name of Megatron (not the G1 Megatron but a bot with the same name) runs into a small exploration team of Maximals, they crash land on a planet packed with wildlife and no civilization. From there they battle it out an try to return hom whilst Megatron unfolds his brilliant plans.
Luckily the Maximals, lead by Optimus Primal, are there to stop them.
As you watch this series you slowly see the connection with G1 form and grow stronger with an epic story being told from the end of the second season.
Made in the 90’s, the animation was a bit of a hurdle for fans to get over as it looked more like a video game than a cartoon series. To make up for it though the animation was smooth, fluid and really elevated the action sequences as it continued to improve.
This series, whilst aimed at children, is told in a way that makes it a very attractive series for adults and peopel of all ages to enjoy as the military style of strategy and environment are incredibly grounded and exciting to follow.
Transformers Prime
With the Bayverse of Transformers films bringing fresh new eyes to the Transformers franchise, Transformers: Prime was one of the earlier attempts to catch the attention of new and old viewers.
The Autobots are now on earth, having left Cybertron and once again defending the planet from the Decepticons who are doing their best gain dominance over the planet at the expense of the human race.
Much like Beast wars this show is aimed at children but produced in a way that is appealing to adult fans. Backed with the best 3D animation of any Transformers series before it, it also has some excellent action sequences, character development and also continues to explore and expand the Universe.
Much like the films, they managed to get the original voice actors for Optimus Prime and Megatron and brought a sense of nostalgia to the series with it – all while being completely separate from the original G1 continuity.
Many consider this series to be a serious contender for the best Transformers cartoon series – against the original G1 series itself.
Transformers Victory
Now we venture into the realm of Japanese G1!
Transformers Victory tells the story of Star Saber, the Autobot Commander as he faces off against the leader of the Decepticons Deszaras (aka Deathsaurus).
Transformers Victory takes place sometime after the events of the original G1 cartoon (as the Japanese G1 continued on from the end of Season 3 with it’s own continuity) and has some excellent story telling, superbly drawn animation and excellent characters.
In this series Deszaras is trying to revive is ultimate battle station and use it take control of Earth and the universe and rule with an iron fist – so naturally Star Saber and his team of Autobots set out to stop him. This show continues on from the Japanese series Super God Masterforce (mentioned later in this article) and even develops the character of Ginrai during the series ( I won’t give it away, go watch it!).
Overall this is the widely regarded the best of Japanese G1 and I couldn’t recommend it more. If you’re happy to watch it in Japanese with the subtitles you’ll more than likely fall in love it as many other fans have.
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Transformers Animated
When the first Bayverse Transformers film was released in 2007, an animated series was made to accompany it and build popularity among kids (and of course, sell more toys).
This series was called Transformers Animated.
We follow Optimus Prime has his team of Autobots as they fight the Megatron and the Decepticons on Earth. In this series though Ultra Magnus is the leader of the Autobots and Optimus Prime is a younger, much lower rank leading his small team.
Don’t let the cartoony drawing style fool you, this series really moves forward and expands it’s Universe quite well some big events and exciting characters that makes the show a lot of fun to watch.
Check out Transformers Animated if you haven’t before, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how good it is!
Transformers Robots in Disguise
Just so you know, we’re talking to the 2001 series Transformers: Robots in Disguise not the newer cartoon released after Transformers Prime.
This series was originally a Japanese cartoon called Transformers: Car Robots. It was brought to English speaking audiences, re-dubbed and renamed to Robots in Disguise.
In this series we see the Autobots battling the Predacons and Decepticons under the leadership of Megatron on Earth. It has some very unique characters and is one of the best Japanese series ever made.
Much a like the best of the Transformers franchise, the story and characters end up escalating their conflict quite dramatically and we get to watch some really interesting things unfold.
We meet Optimus and Ultra Magnus as they combine to form Omega Prime, which is an interesting story in itself. But we also get some interesting characters and even reuse of some older Transformers figures including Scourge – a black version of the Generation2 Laser Prime and Ruination – a repaint of the Generation One Bruticus. Which is nifty to see in newer animation
With the Japanese Anime style of animation, this series is visually done quite well and tells an excellent story. If it intrigues you, go and check it out!
Transformers Armada
Transformers Armada is the first (an in my opinion, the best) series in the Unicron Trilogy, which also includes the sequel series Transformers Energon and Transformers Cybertron.
In similar animation style to Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001), this Japanese cartoon is also quite visually pleasing to watch and has a very entertaining story to go with it.
In this film the Autobots and Decepticons are battling it out as usual – but this time they’re focusing on the acquisition of Minicons, small Transformers that can increase the power of the Autobot or Decepticon they’re paired with.
As the plot unfolds, other elements are introduced as both factions fight for victory. But what really makes this series interesting is some very unique and fun story arcs following Starscream as he questions his place and then furthermore the arrival of Unicron – which sees both Autobots and Decepticons working together as allies to defeat the common foe (G1 fans – see what I did there?).
Overall it’s an excellent series which is followed up by two more which are just not as well received. But all 3 are worth the watch if you’re a completionist.
If you like 2D animation and want a really well thought continuity with smaller interesting story arcs then check out Transformers: Armada.
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Super God Masterforce
Now, we’re onto a very unique entry in the Transformers francise! Transformers: Super God Masterforce (often referred to as ‘Masterforce’ for short).
This is a Japanese G1 series which takes place after ‘Headmasters’ (more later in this article) and follows Hawk and his team of Autobots fighting against a team of Decepticons on Earth.
What makes this so different is it’s use of the ‘Pretender’ and ‘Godmaster’ range of toys as it’s main cast of characters.
Pretenders, in this instance, being either Transformers who can disguise themselves as humans or monsters. Godmasters are humans who can combined with a Transformer body and, in essence, become an Autobot or Decepticon.
So this series has a bit of a difference approach as the Pretenders seek out the humans destined to be Godmasters, in order to build a team to fight off the Decepticons, which has it’;s own team of Pretenders and Godmasters working under them.
This series does introduce some very popular characters including the combiner King Poseidon (or Piranacon in the US), Ginrai (not to be confused with the practically identical Optimus Prime), Black Zarak and the powerful and recently popular Overlord!
It’s a little wacky in it’s structure but it is still an excellent series that will have you guessing as the plot progresses and escalates. As a big Japanese G1 fan, I highly recommend this one!
Beast Machines
After Beast Wars in the 90’s, the Maximals went back to Cybertron, but things weren’t as they seemed as when they awoke – Megatron had taken over the planet!
With this series the improved animations and storytelling style was a little more mature and explored the natural origins of Cybertron, adding the mythology of the race of the Transformers.
I personally am not a huge fan of this series but it has been praised by fans for it’s unique exploration of the Transformers Universe. While it’s not overly similar to Beast Wars it is a worthy continuation of the story.
Transformers Headmasters
Last but not least!
Transformers Headmasters is the first in the Japanese G1 series of cartoons. When season 4 of Generation One was released in the USA, Japan decided they would go their own way, creating an entire series to continue on after the events of Season 3 (and the revival of Optimus Prime).
Headmasters would then be followed by Super God Masterforce, Victory and the single episode of Transformers Zone.
What makes this series fun to watch is it’s inclusion of original G1 characters and the development of their characters and the arrival new ones like the Headmasters and Targetmasters. Japanese G1 does a good job of not keeping things to repetitive, always advancing the to plot and changing the universe they’re working with.
While Victory is without a doubt the most popular Japanese G1 show, Headmasters is the perfect place to start. I don’t want to give too much away but the entire universe of the Transformers is turned on it’s head during the events of this show.
Bonus tip: watch the original Japanese dub as the English track with absolutely ruin the experience – it’s that bad.
What do you think?
Did I miss something, should another series be in there and one removed? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below.
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