Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dark themes, violence mark engrossing animated series.
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Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy
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Based on 3 parent reviews
It's like the government made a transformers series.
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Amazing
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What's the Story?
In TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON TRILOGY, civil war rages on between the Autobots and the Decepticons for control of their battle-ravaged planet. Even though Megatron's (voiced by Jason Marnocha) more powerful forces seem on the march toward victory, Optimus Prime (Jake Foushee) and the Autobots refuse to surrender, putting up a valiant fight for freedom at every turn. With time running out and his troops battered but still determined, Optimus Prime searches for a way to defeat his power-hungry nemesis, Megatron.
Is It Any Good?
There's a dark and foreboding nature to this engrossing series that pushes its target audience into the teen set, much like the CGI and live-action feature films have. The violence is relentless at times, and it's never easy to assume that favorite characters will escape with their lives. Despite the animation, which usually helps offset a show's violence, there's a very real sense of danger that threatens the good guys' safety and jeopardizes the eventual success of the Autobots' mission of freedom. In other words, the line between fantasy and reality is blurry enough that the production could be really scary for some kids.
On the other hand, it's that very quality that will appeal to older viewers who can handle the violent content and who have enough familiarity with the Transformers universe to jump right into the fray, which is what War for Cybertron expects you to do. As the two sides wage constant battles against each other, the story raises complex issues about right and wrong and about the existence (or lack) of honor in war. Allegiances waver, loyalties are questioned, and victories lose their luster when losses are tallied. It's a heady watch compared to many bearing the Transformers name, and it will appeal to teens who know the characters especially.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in the Transformers stories. Does the show's animation help counter the effect of the violent scenes? How does the intensity of the action affect the show's target audience?
Does this series advance different stereotypes surrounding male and female characters? If so, in what way? Would the story be better served by more or different female characters?
What does Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy bring to the story of the Transformers that hadn't yet been told? Is this a franchise that does well by its many different installments, or do you think the story should come to an end?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 30, 2020
- Cast: Jason Marnocha, Jake Foushee, Linsay Rousseau
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Cars and Trucks, Robots
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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