Transformers: Robots in Disguise
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Likable action series has hefty commercial ties.
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Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Community Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
As an adult? I find this show to be very disappointing. But for little kids? It's perfect.
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Good fun show
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What's the Story?
TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE is set years after Transformers: Prime, at a time when Earth has been invaded by Decepticon prisoners who escaped after their ship crashed. On a distant planet, Bumblebee (voiced by Will Friedle) receives a vision of Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), who tasks him with keeping the humans safe from the notorious criminals. Bumblebee begrudgingly takes the lead on the rescue mission, flanked by Strongarm (Constance Zimmer), Sideswipe (Darren Criss), a Minicon named Fixit (Mitchell Whitfield), a Decepticon defector named Grimlock (Khary Payton), and eventually humans Denny (Ted McGinley) and Russell (Stuart Allan).
Is It Any Good?
This continuation of the prolific Transformers saga is hardly more than meets the eye; it's merely more of the same good-vs.-evil action-adventure that's won over fans for decades. The content is never boring, and the characters' unique personalities always encourage kids to pick favorites and keep coming back for more. What's more, this series is kind of a can't-lose proposition -- if your kids have seen one or more of its predecessors, then they will enjoy seeing which characters return for this one; if not, they'll get up to speed in no time (it's a pretty simple concept, after all) and find new favorites right off the bat.
Positive messages about teamwork, friendship, and fighting the good fight are present. Of course, just like the franchise's many previous TV and movie incarnations, Robots in Disguise boasts its own line of action figures, accessories, and other kid-geared products. It may not be a deal breaker for you, but if your kids are susceptible to this kind of advertising, then weigh the pros and cons before giving this one the OK.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what drives another addition to the Transformers story. Kids: If you're familiar with the preceding shows, do you think this one adds anything significant to the franchise? If not, what might the creators' motivation be in producing it?
If you weren't able to hear what was being said on this show, would you be able to tell which characters were good and which were bad? What traits help you decipher that? Do any of the characters blend good and bad? How does that affect their abilities to be good team members?
Kids: Is any one Transformer more valuable than the others, or is each one necessary to the team's success? How does Fixit prove that size isn't a factor in value?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 14, 2015
- Cast: Will Friedle , Constance Zimmer , Khary Payton
- Network: Cartoon Network
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , Robots , Space and Aliens
- TV rating: TV-Y7-FV
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
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