Transformers Animated: Transform & Roll Out chronicles the first few episodes of the current Transformers Animated series airing on Cartoon Network. Initial reactions to the series based on a lone piece of art featuring Optimus Prime was almost as negative as the initial reaction to the recent movie Optimus Prime's flame deco on his truck mode. However, like the movie, the animated series has proven itself to be more than meets the eye.

The show opens up with footage from the original Transformers series in a newsreel type setting, being watched by the current Optimus Prime who leads a small space bridge repair crew of Autobots. Through some mishap, the come across the Allspark, the device that gives all Cybertronians life. It was lost to the space bridge network years ago to keep it out of Decepticon hands. Unfortunately, the Decepticons find them and through deceit and treachery, the Transformers once again find themselves crash-landing on Earth, this time it's modern day Earth. The Autobots awaken 50 years later in a futuristic Detroit and find themselves cast in the role of heroes against human enemies and Decepticons alike.

The animation used for this series is nothing like anything seen in Transformers before. It is an anime-like style, reminiscent of the Teen Titan series. Speed lines and transformation shortcuts are used. As an example, Prowl does more of a morph than a transform in a couple scenes. This can take a little getting used to, but a speedier transform does get one into and out of battle quicker.

As usual, the voice work is top-notch. David Kaye voices Optimus Prime this time around where he usually gets cast in the role of Megatron and has been for most of the series between Beast Wars and Cybertron. Corey Burton, the voice of the original Grimlock is back, this time as Megatron and Ratchet. Tom Kenny, voice of Spongebob Squarepants, does a remarkable job as the voice of the ever-treacherous Starscream. There are more, but to name them all would make this a longer and probably a more boring review.

In conclusion, Transformers Animated: Transform & Roll Out is a good introduction to this great series. Fans of the original series will appreciate all the homages to that show and fans for the Beast-era series will appreciate the smaller cast with it's more defined characters. If you do decided to pick this up, do so at Target. They include a bonus disc with another episode you won't get on DVD anywhere else, yet.