Animated Season 4: What SHOULD'VE Been 

The fact that Animated still has so much to offer 16 years later is a testament to how much this show is made with love and care. ✨

I'm calling it: Sari's origin is that she is actually and unknowingly the first Maximal protoform created by the AllSpark in the Animated universe. Think about it. She's a protoform much smaller than those of the Autobots and Decepticons (human-sized, specifically, like the Maximals and Predacons of Beast Wars were) that has the ability to scan an organic being (in her case, she scanned Isaac Sumdac, a human) to acquire an organic altmode (in her case, a human mode instead of an animal beast mode). The "Trial of Megatron, Part 1" outline presented at TFNation even had the ghost of Prowl declare to Sari, "You are the key... to the future of Cybertron... and Earth." And the Maximals are the future of the Autobot race. Sari being the key to the future of both Cybertron and Earth implies that her existence would usher in the next generation of Cybertronians who scan organic beast modes taken from Earth lifeforms.

The TFA concept for triple changer Megs looks like heavy inspiration for the Bumblebee movie concept art for Megatron’s alt modes.

What I just realised is transformers animated and transformers prime did the same thing with blackaracnia and airacnid Trapping the black purple and gold spider woman where no one would find them, leaving their fates’ open for a new story to be told with them and then doing nothing with them after because the shows ended

Would be interesting if in the alternate reality where Optimus became a technorganic spider he changed his name to Tarantulus since Elita-One became Blackarachnia.

It’s kind of interesting that the “time trucker“ would’ve basically possibly been just a voice in Bumblebee‘s head, telling him about this alternate future, where he becomes bumble prime, and Galvatron, Rue Cybertron, in the bumble prime episode.

24:52 & 25:01 I absolutely love these two designs for Elita Prime and the Techno-organic spider Optimus. Really wish that this episode was made, seeing our Optimus meeting his evil Techno-organic self & realizing "If I had stayed in that ship and Elita was rescued, this could've been me." would've been a spectacle for the eyes and ears.

Animated is one of those Transformers shows that had a whole lotta possibilities and stories to show and tell. (So is Cyberverse but that could've been benefited by its limited runtime and budget)

Imagine spider Optimus being a new incarnation of Tarantulas. I mean, Tarantulas even has the SG Optimus colours.

Thanks so much for gathering and showing all this info! If Hasbro do finally give Transformers Animated a fourth season, I hope they go with the first draft with Blackarachnia as the main villain. Not just for the fans, but for Derrick J. Wyatt as well. If it's at all possible, maybe also find a way to add in Marauder Megatron and Powermaster Optimus Prime too?

I think most of these concepts are really fun. I actually like how transparently “toyetic” most of these episodes are (the toys would’ve been FUN) Plus there is SO MANY deep cuts to episodes (the references to lore and inspiration in popular culture). I love the idea of Zachary Quinto as Galvatron, the obvious parallel to Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron: but I think he plays villains really well.

I'm just hoping that Season 4 gets adapted to comicbook format somehow.

I think the ‘What If’ style episode with Optimus and Elita swapping places would’ve been cool. Only gripes I have with the premise, besides Optimus not having Elita’s ability to absorb abilities which led to her mutation (more of a nitpick on that one), is what exactly does that change in either Optimus or Blackarachnia’s perspectives and arcs in the present once the timeline is restored? As much as it makes sense in the moment for it to be Blackarachina considering her new role of main antagonist, I actually think something similar could work with Sentinel. What if Optimus didn’t take the fall for Elita’s supposed death and Sentinel was the one who got expelled? How far might Optimus go in the ranks of the Elite Guard, but find he’s not satisfied in that position without his friends and without having gone to Earth? What would’ve it been like if Sentinel took the place of Optimus in the main cast, and how successful of a unit would they work while battling for the Allspark on Earth? This could serve to teach Sentinel a few lessons about how humility and friendship are important. Might even see a scenario where Sentinel is genuinely happy on Earth and laments knowing who he could’ve grown into had he gone on that journey after the timeline is restored.

I felt like Ironhide could’ve worked in the main cast if it was well-written enough in a fully fleshed-out season. Marty Isenberg is talented enough that I believe he could’ve pulled it off.

I hope one day we will get Sari's origin, even if it's later retconned. This show was a big part of my childhood. Thank you to all those who worked on the site, who made these documents and those who would bring them to light. Thank you.

It's kind of funny that Ironhide's only appearance prior to the hypothetical Season 4 would have been Autoboot Camp, where he's mostly just a bully who messes with Bee and Bulkhead. Wonder if the show would have touched on that at all

I want Animated to come back so bad. Just 1 or 2 more seasons and I'll be happy. I'll even take an official comic continuation, just give me something.

live how Derrick just mafe up his own headcanons and since he's a part of the crew, it's technically canon.

Mirror Mirror is the episode that I WISH happened the most. Shattered glass is one of my favorite transformations stories, so I would have loved to see it on screen

TFA is one of those shows that just begged to be given the chance to show more than it was allowed to. How would Optimus have adapted to being the new leader of the Autobots? Would Sari fit in on Cybertron? What would happen to the Decepticons now that Megatron has been captured and likely left a power vacuum? So many things they could have done 😟

The Arachnus Prime idea looks really cool, though the time travel changes sound like a headache if this was all due to Optimus' wish, by which case I think he'd be relatively fine switching places with Elita, I just can't see Optimus as a vengeful type, at most I think he'd be more tragic outcast monster than a supervillain like how Blackarachnia turned out

Personally, I think if Animated got renewed for a fifth season in addition to the fourth, they could've saved the Megatron storyline for that fifth season once he inevitably backstabs everyone in Predacons Unite.

I'm glad that we finally have pretty much everything to know about Animated's 4th season. This amazing show is in a way, complete. Sure, there could be a few more things we don't know, but I can't imagine they're that big. As for Sari's origin, I think RoadRustle was right when he guessed that she was meant to be the next stage in Cybertronian evolution. Considering she is a technorganic, that would tie into Blackarachnia.

Man, I really hope we someday get a revival of this series...

I like an idea where the remaining decepticons recover Megatron, rebuild him but he is left as the insane Galvatron. Tribute to when he was crazy in the older series.

I wish Swindle was the lawyer for Megatron. Edit: If I was in control I’d make 70% the original idea and 30% the Hasbro idea.

I will keep hoping for some kind of continuation. Either an actual 4th season or a comic continuation, official or fan made. I mean… there’s plenty of story details to cobble a series together as well as plenty of artists who I can replicate the TFA style

I love these videos. It was fascinating learning about all of the possibilities that TFA season 4 could've been. It's given me a passion and respect for the series. Derrick J Wyatt was a fan through and through. He loved this show and franchise just as much as us. TFA needs to make a comeback, to have its final conclusion. Thanks Keyan, for putting so much time and effort to showing us what TFA season 4 should've been.

GASP! Blackarachnia is Sari's MOTHER?! Was Sari originally an attempt to make a new body for herself but do to wibbily wobbly timey wimey stuff she was sent threw time and into the lab that had Megatron's head!?

i have 2 ideas for sari's origin; 1(the simplest) she was a minicon protoform, it's the right size for a human child and it could have scanned the professor due to a malfunctioning pod from having crashed into a planet 2.(a bit more out there) blackaracnia could have been attempting to make a new body for herself on megatron's ship, a body with the same ability she had as Elita 1 only it wasnt fully grown when the series started and through a mix of Elita 1's ability and the scan it took a human disguise, which could explain why Sari is both female and yellow (in her robot form)

The name of the Time-trucker looks like it would've been a callback to the super villain called "The Time-Traper" from DC comics "Legion of Superheroes", who also was involved in a lot fo time travel related story-arcs

I remember watching your “what COULD’VE been“ video on animated season four, and now there’s a “SHOULD’VE been“ video. Also, who would’ve ever thought that my favorite transformer series would have been the result of animated being canceled. At least we’re getting legacy figures of those characters. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hasbro re-released bulkhead in his animated design in legacy.

This is why we need more Animated toys in Generations so we can finally bring Season 4 to life via the glory of stop motion

49:35 I cannot tell a lie: the sounds that came out of me when I saw that BM-themed Megatron were *deeply* sensual

The fact I was there at the auto assembly 2010 as a small 10 year old volunteering with my mum, running around giving the artists and voice actors water and chirps. I miss Derrick j wyatt he was a nice person and influences my art style to this day

I have a feeling the first thing the Minicons will say upon seeing Bumblebee are "Gold guy. Gold Guy," in a monotone voice while bowing like the Ewoks in the Family Guy parody of Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi.

One idea i had for a contination would go like this. Sentinel would become worse and worse as time would go on, creating a functionist system (like in IDW 2005) as well as other corrupt things while his ego would grow and grow to the point where he dangerously looks down on anybody. Sentinel's arrogance would lead Megatron and the Deceptions to take over cybertron and imprison thsousands of autobots, luckily Optimus Prime and his friends (who has acted as "rebels" against Sentinel's authority) manages to evacuate a large number autobots in an extremely big ship from Cybertron's past and fly to earth. During the flight everyone would see how bad Sentinel truly is when he beats up a "lower class" autobot and he basically gets everything stripped from him (deservingly). The autobots would land on earth where due to the space ship's age can't fly back meaning that they're stuck on earth. The rest of the season would more or less be the aftermath where we see the main cast having to deal with everything that happens to keep the peace between the autobot civilians as well as confronting the flaws they had like organics. During this Sentinel would escape and become somewhat of a antagonist still being stuck in his delusions of grandeur and gouverment and all that. While i don't remember much about this part but the decepticons don't really play a part of this since they're well aware of the Autobots' situation which is true since most of the aftermath is spent dealing with everything the main antagonist being the struggles the Autobots (especially the civilians) has to go through. It would also allow us to see more minor characters in the series and their adventures like Minerva who becomes Ratchet's protege and so on.

I remember i did a Animated design months before derrick made an official Head Sketch, it's really awesome to see Animated Bonecrusher in this video....rest in peace Mr Wyatt......

Sari's origin should be connected to the vok in my opinion. A more highly evolved protoform to the ones seen that the Decepticon's stole. They could say the vok sent her through space to earth but set in the 21st century and not prehistoric earth. The vok were mentioned once in a episode.

I find it quite a coincidence that in the ending arc of season 1 of Transformers Prime(the show that came after Animated), Optimus actually says the line, “Megatron must be destroyed.”

If Arachnus Prime was real and doesn't call himself Tarantulas that would be a missed opportunity.

It has been a long time since I've watched Animated. There was no matrix of leadership in that show was there? If not then I think that is what Sari was she was the matrix which is why she was able to upgrade various transformers. She was like a living embodiment of the collective consciousness of that universe's transformers

Amazing video, sadly it underscores the problem I end up having with a lot of mainstream Transformers fiction, that being that Hasbro is more than willing to cut the legs out from under anything they create for the sake of product regardless of whether it's good for the brand. It's been like this since the 80's where they killed everyone in the movie and even as recently as Rise of the Beasts we see Hasbro Suits making weird mandates like replacing Jazz with Mirage, and whatever they did to Wheeljack when he was spot on coming off the BB movie. As someone who sees the vast potential of TF Fiction, It just gets frustrating. I know the thinking is that The Product = The Money and everything else is irrelevant, but I feel like sabotaging coherency of the whole just detracts from the good will that makes people want to go spend their disposable income on toys. Ah well, I don't want to end on a negative note, so I'll just say that I love Animated and have immense respect for the care that went into this video. Thanks for pointing us toward the TFNation drama and here's dreaming that we could some day see a revival of the series to capitalize on some of these amazing, creative ideas that these guys. RIP Mr. Wyatt. I'm sure he knew how much what he created is loved.

With Hasbro possibly making new figures based on concept art for the films I wonder if we'd see some of the concepts of Animated being brought up for the future lines like they've done in the Legacy lines.

I still wish that Transformers Animated would get a second chance via S4(And by that I mean all the Pitches combined into one) and if that were to happen then here's my list of some potential Companies who can do the Animation but you can only pick one that would be the Perfect candidate. 1. Studio Trigger 2. Powerhouse Animation 3. Madhouse 4. Studio 4°C 5. Shaft 6. Toho Animation 7. Titmouse 8. Flying Bark Animation So out of these 8 Companies,Which one is the most likely candidate to do the Animation for Season 4?

The altered future of techno-organic Optimus I believed would've been called Tarantulas. Based on Beast Wars character

I wonder if the "deeper connection" between Blackarachnia and Sari is that the former wanted to create some kind of techno-organic protoform as part of an experiment to see what would happen with it and how it would develop.

I really want an Arachnus Prime now.

Thank you for all your efforts to get as much information that could have easily been lost compiled and out there. TFA means a lot to so many people (myself included). I especially love how much you've been able to pay respect to all the creative talents on the show.

If I had the chance to talk with Marty Isenberg (or even Derrick J. Wyatt himself), I would like to ask if it was possible for the Ben 10 Classic Continuity to be canon to Transformers Animated...

S4 Cosmos Episode We were robbed of this amazing Episode It Came from Cybertron Maybe one day we will get a cosmos centered Episode

Thank you. On 25th December of 2023 I started to watching TFA, and now the whole month I'm obsessed with Transformers. I watched TFE, TFP, RiD and I'm planning to watch bayverse, cyberverse, G1 and Armada. Yet, TFA is still my favourite show not only in franchise, but in all ❤️ It really warms my heart to at least know, what should've been. I hope that one day we we'll see 4 season-in comics or somewhere else. Maybe, even as a full animated continue? Dreams come true, after all

Bumble Prime should have just been called Goldbug

I wonder if Dirt Boss tried creating new minions. Long Haul, Scavenger and Hightower. Scrapper would build Bonecrusher to serve as replacement pet for Snarl/Slug. Bonecrusher is basically a huge dog who mostly serves as the Constructicons watch dog. Despite his intimating appearance Bonecrusher is a giant softy who loves belly rubs and play. Unfortunately he has a tendency to playfully bite and steal bots legs with Mixmaster being most frequent victim

Love how hasbro says "no that idea sucks" then takes it later

Imagine we they pull off a Clone Wars move and have secretly been working on the release of season 4

MyTheory on Sairs Obvious origin, is that she was a Protoform that was similar if not the same as the protoform mold of Elita, thus having the Absorbtion ability, and how her protoform was able to accept Sumdacs DNA

STILL my absolute fav series and favorite series! Sorry I was crashed out sick in the hotel when you were by talking bots with Sam at TFCon, I totally wanted to talk shop! Excellent work on this piece man!

So much love for this show even after all this time. Wish we could have seen some of these concepts come to the screen. Great work with the video as always.

Could you please also make a video about how and where would each character ended up ? Like how would things turned out if some decepticons really team up with Autobots to fight Megatron. Would have they considered Autobots then ? Or would Autobots have allow friendly Decepticons to re-settle and re-build Kaon ? And what would have happened to Sentinel ? To Optimus ? To Sari ? I would LOVE TO hear your ideas about all this in an video like this expanding upon missing plot/story/worldbuilding elements of Animated.

As cool as Arachnus Prime sounds, I don't see how Optimus could turn into a techno organic if he traded places with Elita on Archa 7 since he doesn't have a copy ability like she did. A more believable and original idea would be if Optimus was found, captured, and reprogrammed by the Decepticons after they returned to their ship. Creating Animated's incarnation or Nemesis Prime.

I think you can incorporate Metalhawk and S7 into the Cosmos episode. S7 coming in to investigate the simingly alien sightings.

I'm not entirely sure if the message was this behind Sari's origin but over the years I've learned something. It's not really about the beginning, the middle, or the end, life is a journey and no matter what as long as you make the most of it, the only thing that matters is the journey itself and how it transforms all of us and every other life we touch. Till all are one. And I certainly feel, although I don't KNOW and we probably never will, but I FEEL in my very core, my soul, my Spark, that even long after the late creator should there be a will for what was worked on that he ans so many ithers poured their very spark into, if the will is there then it will be done. The fact that a kid's TV show over a decade after it's cancelation and potential cut short and unjustly ended still to this day has so much life in it, is all the proof we need to show that this story, this creation, this dream, this journey, will still continue and someday finally receive the proper conclusion that was always meant to be. Even if those who made it all possible are no longer with us to see it, we'll do it for them. Until somewhere beyond we can all witness it together. Once again and always, till all are one. End of Transmission Log -Foxtrot Transform, and run wild and free! {(}\_____/{)} \{◉⁠\} {/◉}/ | \∆/ |

I can’t believe Megatron would have become like Glitchtrap from Fnaf and uploaded himself into a building after his body was destroyed

An absolutely delightful watch!! Its so cool to finally have everything compiled here xD Fingers crossed that in a year, we are gonna have a bumble-prime design special to round out that teeny tiny last missing piece Thank you so much for hiring me for this amazing project!! It's been a treat, and I'm hyped for more 🎆💛

So had season four happened the most likely scenario is that Sari is actually from the future. Connected to the organic virus that causes Bumble Prime to time travel. Like a protoform accidentally gets sent in time, and it was actually Sari. Possibly showing that autobots and decepticons were evolving into maximals and predacons. So Sari was sort of the first maximal.

(24:36) It would be cool if Arachnus Prime was Animated’s version of Tarantulus from Beast Wars.

Man love the amount of work and effort you have put into this series hoping that they’ll find more documents to expand on in the future.

1. Villains need to win sometimes or they cease to be a threat 2. Sometimes the best villain is one who gets redeemed instead of defeated 3. The best way to raise the stakes is to reveal someone bigger was pulling the strings 4. The true leader of the Decepticons has been canonised as Megatronus 5. Fans of transformers love the DJD and other characters who don't exist in the cartoons or movies yet The ultimate story arc of Megatron is one where he almost wins but is interupted by Unicron and kiled by starscream. Unicron turns megatron into galvatron who has a completely different personality and seems like a different character until he betrays Unicron to help the autobots defeat Unicron. Galvatron's last act is to strip Galvatron of this new form revealing to the autobots who the mysterious herald was. The autobots help repair megatron who is confused and conflicted by their actions, he disapears for a while to think then joins the autobots. The DJD, servants of Megatronus in this continuity, show up to punnish Megatron for betraying the Decepticon pact. The autobots defend Megatron against his former alies cementing his aliegence to the heroes. The DJD proves a bigger threat than Megatron was and more strategic than Unicron who was just pure power. Once they're defeated, the next threat is Megatronus.

I ain’t even watched animated so I have no fucking clue what’s going on I just found the designs amusing

I want a season 4 so bad that would be cool.

I wish Transformers: Animated season 4 comes

Let me start by saying that I am an old crusty curmudgeony G1-er with a decent collection of G1 toys and their masterpiece counterparts. I chase down the Hasbro offerings that resurrect the G1 namesakes with some fealty to the originals. TFA was initially a shock to my senses and it took a few episodes for me to warm to it. With that set up, I can confidently state that the TFA series has grown to supplant the original G1 cartoon as my favorite transformers cartoon series of all time. I was deeply disappointed when the series ended after Season 3. TFA had far better character and story development with just the right amount of G1 goodness to keep me wanting more. The research into what would have been Season 4 is so tantalizing and leaves me hoping that Hasbro will someday bring it back (which is a stretch for a company that is just making too many poor decisions currently.) I'd love to see a HASLAB TFA Omega Supreme and bring on those Constructicons please. There is so much potential here and the right team could unlock a goldmine. The g1-ers are getting old but TFA could have unlocked that loyalty to a whole new generation. Bravo and thank you for this video.

Hope to see a Blu-ray for the show one day

Yo, Indian Transformers fan here. It's amazing Transformers Animated have so much potential but as usual the entertainment industries cancel so many shows we love. Honestly, Animated was big part of my childhood and it is the only show served as a gateway for me into the franchise revolving around giant super alien robots. By the way, I like Sari's design in Bumble Prime. Also, I like Bumblebee being a Prime in the future. It annoys me to no end that we never got Optimus' Powermaster Armor and Marauder Megatron upgrades and it would've been cool. I pray for Animated to get it's final conclusion once and for all.😊

I swear god, if I somehow become billionaire one day, I will purchase brand rights of Transformers and put you in charge to create Marvel sinematic universe level big reboot TFA series. The amount of robber of cool content the hasbro pulled fromTF with Animated is incredible

We need to make Season 4 a reality.

I love Transformers Animated! I remember watching it when I was little.

A shattered glass episode, Sari origin, everyone teaming up against Megatron. We seriously got robbed.

Thanks for including my tweet! I specifically talked with him over the Road Roller Bonecrusher idea to be different while keeping the name correct. I really want to make the design one day

Maurice lamarche played Orson wells in the animated series "the critic" and Zachary Quinton played spock in the star Trek reboot. Orson wells is the voice of OG Unicron and the original actor of spock , Leonard nemoy, was the OG voice of Galvatron. Derrick picked the perfect recast.

24:36 I want to believe that if that idea happened, Optimus becoming Techno-organic would be called Tarantulas.

I love the Aracnus Prime designs.

I would have love to see Blackarachnia as one of the two main villains of S4 along side Megatron, and for Blackarachnia to be reverted back to Elita-1!

The most underrated show from Transformers. Yeah it had its flaws like the lipsync being non-existent, and the lack of classic Autobot characters (such as Wheeljack, Ironhide, Blurr, Rodimus, and Kup) joining the main team on Earth, and yet still has potential. I like most of the human characters like Sari and Captain Fanzone, most of the villains besides the Decepticons were decent, and I like how in this universe, the Autobots actually defeated the Decepticons and saved Cybertron.

I think sari related to arachnia by also being biomechanical

With Legacy having Menasaur, I’m hoping we get Devastator with the Animated head sculpts for Mixmaster and Scrapper with a Dirtboss figure as the head.

Okay fine I’ll rewatch all of animated again

Que grande , buena información , no había visto antes estos diseños que no se pudieron producir en la serie

39:13 Keyan, where did you get the clear deleted storyboard of Starscream's resurrection from?

The moment he said 16th anniversary i instantly felt ancient

This show needs a continuation, like what Adult Swim did with Samurai Jack

Sari is Optimus and Blackarachnia's protoform!

What I would wanted to have seen in tfa season 4 would be a whole ark where soundwave being a big villain instead of a small threat and It would probably be called smackdown of superiority where soundwave is upgraded and has all his minicons from season 1 of g1 and He would posses powers his earthspark counterpart has and his design would be a mix of g1, rid 2015, and his design in tfa

48:08 Triple theart sounds like the best episode in my opinion a episode where Megatron go on at rampage is so cool i can just image it 😮

We would love more seasons of Animated. Hell, I would love to see mpre of many Transformers continuities: the proposed season 4 of Beast Wars ignoring Beast Machines, Transformers Super Cross the trans-continuity follow to Armada but as a follow up to Cybertron instead... a man can dream...

Ain't it crazy that Tfa released *two days* before i was born?

I wonder if Soundwave should get 2 mincon followers named Frenzy and Rumble

I wish they made a 4th season and stream it on Paramount+

Oof! The "It’s Pat" comparison...yeah, maybe not the best one to make. 😬