Though I was a huge fan of the Transformers cartoon when I was a kid, that didn’t carry over into adulthood. I’ve only seen two of the live-action movies (Bumblebee, which was good; Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which was terrible) and have no intention whatsoever to rectify that. The trailers for the animated origin story Transformers One didn’t get me to rethink my interest level in this franchise. It looked like an unoriginal family movie with the series’ silly lore as window-dressing. So imagine my surprise that this mythology-laden adventure is pretty entertaining.
It treats these familiar characters with respect, but not awe, and has fun with its world-building. It is an amusing story, with likable characters and enough weight that what happens actually matters. While it certainly didn’t reignite my passion for this property, it is a reasonably enjoyable watch.
Orion Pax and D-16 are mining robots with no transforming ability. When they embark on a quest to find the sacred Matrix of Leadership, they learn secrets about their society that set them both on a journey toward their destinies.
The animation style of Transformers One (96 minutes, plus a post-credit scene) is perfect for the material, making them look like something in between Saturday Morning cartoon and modern CGI. They truly look robotic, yet their designs have personalities that match who they are (or will become). They aren’t interchangeable machines here (as they absolutely were in Rise of the Beasts). They have their own unique characteristics that allow them to stand out. Orion is eternally hopeful, with an energy that belies his unpleasant situation. D-16 is pragmatic, smart, professional, always having his friend’s back, which usually means bailing him out of trouble. Orion’s movement is free. D-16’s is stiffer. It is a nice touch that shows the care put into this.
There is also depth to their individual stories. Orion wants others to know that he is more than just a worker bot. He is kind, reckless, but a surprisingly effective motivator. He is missing responsibility and maturity that will turn him into the leader known as Optimus Prime. D-16 is dutiful and loyal. Betray that and here comes Megatron. Orion Pax’s transformation (pun slightly intended) is believable, if a little derivative. D-16’s is sad, understandable and relatable. The screenplay (by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari) is genuinely interesting in how it morphs from buddy adventure to a surface-level exploration of what makes a hero and a villain. It isn’t a deep dive into the subject. However, it’s a lot more than I anticipated.
Because it cares about its story, the action isn’t the mindless, empty spectacle that populates a lot of family movies. There are a couple of creative sequences (one during a race, the other on a train). The rest are at least in service of outcomes that matter.
The franchise definitely lost steam over the last several years. Transformers One is good enough to rejuvenate it. As cool as the idea of seeing robots punching each other in live-action is, animation is a much better format for it. Especially if the story has thought put into it. I never expected to write this but, I wouldn’t mind a sequel.
3½ out of 5
Voice Cast:
Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax
Brian Tyree Henry as D-16
Keegan-Michael Key as B-127
Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1
Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime
Directed by Josh Cooley
Screenplay by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari
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