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Transformers Armada - Power of the Mini-Cons
Rhino // G // June 22, 2004
List Price: $11.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
As with most guys my age (that I've talked to at least), I've grown up watching the Transformers on TV, well before this DVD craze started. Like others, I was hoping to pop this disc in and relive some of my glory days of running around the house yelling "Transform!" then making the three toned noise that indicates a successful transformation; however the only thing I kept yelling was "I can't believe I'm watching this."
In the Transformers: Armada series, the story revolves around the usual Autobot and Decepticon war that has been raging for many years, however the twist to this series is that the reason for the battling is a race of transformers that are called Mini-Cons, who when collected by the other race of transformer can combine their powers to add a wondrous force to the large transformer. The four episodes presented here by Rhino, are a small collection showing the battle for the Mini-Cons.
As mentioned in other reviews for the Armada series on this site, there is a human element added to the series in the form of at least three stereotypical kids, Rad, Alexis and Carlos. Why these kids hang around with giant transforming robots I cannot tell you based on this disc alone, so the fact that they are always around seems like somewhat of a mystery, based on the episode selection here. Usually, the moral of the episode will be delivered by the humans if they are around, because what good would a cartoon be without a moral to teach you something?
The DVD
The four episodes on this DVD are:
Episode 5 – Soldier (Originally aired Sept. 27, 2003)
Episode 6 – Jungle (Originally Aired October 4, 2003)
Episode 29 – Desperate (Originally aired March 15, 2003)
Episode 30 – Runaway (Originally aired March 22, 2003)
Video
Transformers: Armada is presented in it's original form: 1.33 : 1, Full Screen. The colors are sharp, crisp and no major issues were noticed. Some nice touches to the animation are the blur effects that add a nice sensation of depth to the image when multiple transformers are on the screen.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, as it was originally aired. For what it is, the audio is quite sharp and well defined. Some decent use of the stereo aspect was noticed, and added to the overall feel of the presentation.
Extras
There are no extras on this disc aside from an advertisement for Transformer toys that is show upon starting the disc.
Conclusion
As mentioned in my review of Battle for the Mini-Cons, I am disappointed in the disjointed nature of the disc, because the continuity of the season is shattered here.
The most jarring thing I noticed was a dramatic change in the animation style of the first two episodes versus the last two. Not only was the style off, but even the transformers themselves seemed to have changed. The biggest change was in the style that Optimus Prime was rendered, he looks like a completely different character between the episodes.
Once again, my suggestion would be to put off purchasing this disc in favor of the entire season if you are one of the Armada fans.
In the Transformers: Armada series, the story revolves around the usual Autobot and Decepticon war that has been raging for many years, however the twist to this series is that the reason for the battling is a race of transformers that are called Mini-Cons, who when collected by the other race of transformer can combine their powers to add a wondrous force to the large transformer. The four episodes presented here by Rhino, are a small collection showing the battle for the Mini-Cons.
As mentioned in other reviews for the Armada series on this site, there is a human element added to the series in the form of at least three stereotypical kids, Rad, Alexis and Carlos. Why these kids hang around with giant transforming robots I cannot tell you based on this disc alone, so the fact that they are always around seems like somewhat of a mystery, based on the episode selection here. Usually, the moral of the episode will be delivered by the humans if they are around, because what good would a cartoon be without a moral to teach you something?
The DVD
The four episodes on this DVD are:
Episode 5 – Soldier (Originally aired Sept. 27, 2003)
Episode 6 – Jungle (Originally Aired October 4, 2003)
Episode 29 – Desperate (Originally aired March 15, 2003)
Episode 30 – Runaway (Originally aired March 22, 2003)
Video
Transformers: Armada is presented in it's original form: 1.33 : 1, Full Screen. The colors are sharp, crisp and no major issues were noticed. Some nice touches to the animation are the blur effects that add a nice sensation of depth to the image when multiple transformers are on the screen.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, as it was originally aired. For what it is, the audio is quite sharp and well defined. Some decent use of the stereo aspect was noticed, and added to the overall feel of the presentation.
Extras
There are no extras on this disc aside from an advertisement for Transformer toys that is show upon starting the disc.
Conclusion
As mentioned in my review of Battle for the Mini-Cons, I am disappointed in the disjointed nature of the disc, because the continuity of the season is shattered here.
The most jarring thing I noticed was a dramatic change in the animation style of the first two episodes versus the last two. Not only was the style off, but even the transformers themselves seemed to have changed. The biggest change was in the style that Optimus Prime was rendered, he looks like a completely different character between the episodes.
Once again, my suggestion would be to put off purchasing this disc in favor of the entire season if you are one of the Armada fans.
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