When DJ and I saw the Transformers Movie in the theater this past summer, our overall reaction was positive. Keeping Peter Cullen as Optimus was key, and the overall vibe just oozed Generation 1. Whether you're in the camp that enjoyed the movie or not though isn't the question. If there is one thing that even my parents could answer, it's this simple question:

What are the Transformers? They're robots, of course. We all know they're robots. They're monstrous talking car/plane transforming 80's Japanese icons that are in the constant hunt for energon cubes. And I bought a shitload of them as a kid. Or rather, my parents did. Regardless, I liked them because they were robots. Giant robots were cool then, and are cool now. Who wouldn't want to be a giant robot that turned into a Mack truck? And don't you love the word energon? Doesn't it just roll off your tongue? Enneerrgon. But, I'll repeat again. At their core, Transfomers...

LOOK and ACT LIKE ROBOTS because they're robots. From Generation 1 to Beast Wars the Transformers have always been machines. Their visualizations through the years have clearly reflected this. Until now.

Watch the trailer above for the new Cartoon Network Transformers Animated series that is hitting in '08. This is partially inspired by the Transformers Movie, and has gone with the animated lips deal (eh). That, by itself though, couldn't ruin this show. After all, I accepted it in the theater.

But those aren't Transformers in this clip, are they? Those are Samurai Jack inspired cheap ass produced animations that look nothing like robots. The voice work and story may still be cool. I'll leave that judgement out to pasture until I can watch more than three minutes. But will I even bother watching more if they don't go and include robots? I'd say they look more like generic superheroes and villains from the Justice League cartoon. Not cool. Not cool at all.

I get no sense of their giant metallic and hulking exteriors -- they very essence of the Transformers mythos. All I get is a feeling that this was made fast, cheap and with too much corporate boardroom input. Less than meets the eye for sure.