History Anime / TransformersArmada

A video game adaptation, simply called ''VideoGame/{{Transformers|2004}}'', was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, and is considered [[SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames one of the better video game adaptations of the Transformers franchise]], often being called the best one as a whole, at least until ''[[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron War For Cybertron]]'' came around.

* DancingMookCredits: The ''Transformers Armada'' video game for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 ended its credits sequence with several of the Decepticlones and Tidal Wave working out in time with the jazzy music.

* ScriptWank: On occasion.

* UnreliableIllustrator: The show is a frequent victim of poor quality animation in general. While a lot of it is due to the fact this was the first full-lenght anime of Actas, the main culptry is{{Executive Meddling}} from Cartoon Network, forcing the show to be rushed as they wouldn't sign it unless there was a certain amount of episodes finished. The first few episodes are very common victims of this, due to the fact they use completely different character design for a significant chunk of the cast. By the time of the the Unicron battles, the animation often averts this and looking [[AnimationBump much better than before]].
** The worst of the episodes in terms of this are ''Linkup'' and ''Decisive Battle''. The former has many badly drawn scenes through the episode(albeit this was addressed for the Japanese broadcast, with most of the episode being re-drawn), and the latter not only has a lot of [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Whyourshouldershurt.jpg bad quality]][[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Tinyhead.jpg shots]], but also suffers from both [[StockFootageFailure Stock Footage]] and [[SpecialEffectsFailure Special Effects Failure]], with reused scenes that dont match the context of the episode(in one instance, with the episode itself happening during the day, they re-uses scenes from a earlier episode that happened during the night) and a lot of missing laser, lighting and sound effects on top of inconsistent backgrounds(The Japanese version doesn't overhaul it that much, but does address the missing laser, lightning and sound effects, as well as keeping backgrounds consistent and editing the re-used footage to match the episode).

* ThreeAmigos: Rad, Carlos and Alexis; literally in the case of Carlos.

''Transformers Armada'' (known in Japan as ''Transformers Micron Legend'') is one of the many series that make up the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise. It takes place in its own continuity, separate from the earlier series. The storyline of ''Armada'' continued in ''Anime/TransformersEnergon'' and ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'' (however, ''Cybertron'' is a separate continuity in the Japanese version). The three series are known as the "Anime/UnicronTrilogy".

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Thrust]].
* HonorBeforeReason: Averted.

It is devisive among fans not only for the focus on Mini-Con collecting (leading some to call it '[[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Pokeformers Pokeformers]]'), but for the frequent dubbing errors. Due to rushed production, there are several conversations that don't flow properly, or clash with what's happening onscreen. Many characters have their names mixed up with other characters,' such as pretty much everyone being referred to as Leader-1 (Megatron's Mini-Con) at least once. One particularly glaring instance was Optimus saying he'd left ''Thrust'' in charge on Cybertron - and the image has "Thrust" kept in shadow because he (actually intended to be Jetfire) hasn't been introduced yet. Of course, Thrust is the name of the Decepticon master tactician, with no sign of ever having been an Autobot - a major point of confusion for viewers. Also, unfinished animation led to some low-quality scenes, and one or two truly nonsense ones (like a ''[[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:Dotscream.jpg black spot of nothing]]'' where Starscream was supposed to be in one battle.) But like most things, it had a few redeeming factors in the overall story and the reintroduction of the meta-villain Unicron. It is generally considered to improve substantially in the second half.

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Wheeljack, unknowingly thinking that Thrust was attacking him, shoots the latter out of the sky. Hard to feel bad about it, though.
** [[spoiler: Galvatron]] does this to [[spoiler: Thrust]], by leaving him to die. It would be cruel, but [[spoiler: Thrust]] was a power hungry asshole.

It was controversial among fans not only for the focus on Mini-Con collecting (leading some to call it '[[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Pokeformers Pokeformers]]'), but for the frequent dubbing errors. Due to rushed production, there are several conversations that don't flow properly, or clash with what's happening onscreen. Many characters have their names mixed up with other characters,' such as pretty much everyone being referred to as Leader-1 (Megatron's Mini-Con) at least once. One particularly glaring instance was Optimus saying he'd left ''Thrust'' in charge on Cybertron - and the image has "Thrust" kept in shadow because he (actually intended to be Jetfire) hasn't been introduced yet. Of course, Thrust is the name of the Decepticon master tactician, with no sign of ever having been an Autobot - a major point of confusion for viewers. Also, unfinished animation led to some low-quality scenes, and one or two truly nonsense ones (like a ''[[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:Dotscream.jpg black spot of nothing]]'' where Starscream was supposed to be in one battle.) But like most things, it had a few redeeming factors in the overall story and the reintroduction of the meta-villain Unicron. It is generally considered to improve substantially in the second half.

* AFatherToHisMen: Optimus Prime -- but that goes without saying. At some points, Megatron displays parallel behavior toward ''his'' men, though in a more "irritable father" compared to Optimus' "doting father."
* AllThereInTheManual: Many plot points and holes are explained in ''Linkage''.

* {{Atlantis}}: The kids suspect that undersea ruins they visit early in the series are the remains of Atlantis, destroyed in conflicts over Mini-cons.

* BadBoss: Megatron often behaves like a schoolyard bully, in sharp contrast to Optimus Prime. Starscream calls him out on it [[spoiler:after his HeelFaceTurn and just before his death.]]

* BoisterousBruiser: Jetfire seems like one sometimes.

* CaptainObvious: These kids probably contributed to the fandom's dislike of human characters in general. A great deal of the time, their role in an episode was to spend half an hour giving statements like this:

* CombiningMecha: Powerlinking.

* DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent: [[spoiler:o hai Sideways]]
* TheDragon: Starscream at first, then later Thrust until the former returns.

* DumbIsGood: Dim-witted Demolishor is probably the closest thing to a 'nice' Decepticon that you're going to find. [[spoiler:Though Starscream isn't that bad either, post Character Development]]. In fact, in the sequel series he seems to have Autobot sympathies and actually fights on their side for a while before Megatron comes back from the dead. He's an all-right guy.

* GasLighting: Megatron manages to get the Decepticons (including Starscream himself) to think Starscream is crazy, in order to get the Star Saber from him.

* HeroWorshipper: Side Swipe idolizes Blurr to such a degree that he follows his hero to Earth. When Blurr pawns Side Swipe off on Hot Shot, it doesn't take long for Side Swipe to transfer his hero worship to Hot Shot.

-->'''Wheeljack (later):''' "I've come to get my revenge."[[note]] To be fair, this one [[{{Misblamed}} isn't entirely the fault of the US dub]]. In the original japanese, while he absolutely insists he was reborn as a decepticon and doesn't care about revenge, his actions makes it clear he DOES want revenge, so its not just down to the dub[[/note]].
** A much more straight example is the fact they use the wrong names many, many times across the series. For example, Leader-1(Megatron's mini-con) was applied to about every named mini-con at least once, and some characters reverted to their japanese names at times (Hot Rod for Hot Shot, Shockwave instead of Tidal Wave and, more infamously, Jet Convoy in the debut episode of Jet Optimus/Jet Prime combination.

** First, [[spoiler:Scavenger is a mole for the Autobots.]]

* TheMole: [[spoiler:Scavenger lets the Decepticons hire him as a mercenary,]] but has no intention of sticking with them.

* TwentyMinutesInTheFuture: The series is set in 2010, 8 years in the future from when the show originally aired.[[note]]In the japanese dub, the series is set in 2003, the year this show originally aired in Japan[[/note]]

** The worst of the episodes in terms of this are ''Linkup'' and ''Decisive Battle''. The former has many badly drawn scenes through the episode(albeit this was addressed for the japanese broadcast, with most of the episode being re-drawn), and the latter not only has a lot of [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Whyourshouldershurt.jpg bad quality]][[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Tinyhead.jpg shots]], but also suffers from both [[StockFootageFailure Stock Footage]] and [[SpecialEffectsFailure Special Effects Failure]], with reused scenes that dont match the context of the episode(in one instance, with the episode itself happening during the day, they re-uses scenes from a earlier episode that happened during the night) and a lot of missing laser, lighting and sound effects on top of inconsistent backgrounds(The japanese version doesn't overhaul it that much, but does address the missing laser, lightning and sound effects, as well as keeping backgrounds consistent and editing the re-used footage to match the episode).
* UnderwaterRuins: The setting for the episode "Ruin".

* YoungGun: Hot Shot. Possibly Side Swipe too.

** Possibly the worst of the episodes in terms of this are ''Linkup'' and ''Decisive Battle''. The former has many badly drawn scenes through the episode(albeit this was addressed for the japanese broadcast, with most of the episode being re-drawn), and the latter not only has a lot of [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Whyourshouldershurt.jpg bad quality]][[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Tinyhead.jpg shots]], but also suffers from both [[StockFootageFailure Stock Footage]] and [[SpecialEffectsFailure Special Effects Failure]], with reused scenes that dont match the context of the episode[[example]]the episode itself happens during the day but re-uses scenes from a earlier episode that was set during the night[[/example]] and a lot of missing laser, lighting and sound effects on top of inconsistent backgrounds(The japanese version doesn't overhaul it that much, but does address the missing laser, lightning and sound effects, as well as keeping backgrounds consistent and editing the re-used footage to match the episode).

* OffModel: Poor quality art is unfortunately common. This is partly due to Creator/CartoonNetwork's meddling in wanting a certain amount of episodes done for airing, and partly because of it being the first full series Creator/{{Actas}} handled (their only project prior to this was ''Anime/ExDriver'', a short 6-episode OVA project with a movie and a bonus episode) and further farmed the majority of the animation to outside companies who turned in less than stellar results.
** In terms of specific episodes, ''Decisive Battle'' is generally considered the abosolute worst in regards to animation quality, with some scenes bordering on SpecialEffectsFailure in addition to being off model in nearly every other shot.
** This is also noticable whenever a [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers G1]] model sheet is [[PropRecycling used]], as those models are noticeably far more blocky and simplistic in comparison to the ones made for this series.
** To its credit, the Japanese version did correct some of the most blatant errors. But whether or not it makes a difference is another matter entirely. More info on that version can be read [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Armada_%28cartoon%29#Criticisms here]]. Notably, the corrected version actually leaves in a couple bits of unfinished animation during Megatron and Starscream's brawl in "Rebelion" (though most of it was fixed), and the blue and yellow color scheme of Wheeljack's car mode for a quick second in "Past, Part 1" before transitioning to a black and red one.

* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: Starscream fires a blast from his proton cannon [[spoiler:during his death scene]] at Unicron and Megatron does the same thing shortly after. Neither has any effect as Unicron is too far out of range.

-->'''Wheeljack (later):''' "I've come to get my revenge."[[note]] To be fair, this one [[{{Misblamed}} isn't entirely the fault of the US dub]]. In the original japanese, while he absolutely insists he was reborn as a deception and doesn't care about revenge, his actions makes it clear he DOES want revenge, so its not just down to the dub[[/note]].

** To its credit, the Japanese version did correct some of the most blatant errors. But whether or not it makes a difference is another matter entirely. More info on that version can be read [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Armada_%28cartoon%29#Criticisms here]].

* {[Recut}}: Owing to the rush production of the American release, the Japanese version, ''Legend of the Microns'', cleans up some (though not every instance) of the more egregious bits of animation and artwork that made it through the original release. Along with other minor changes including the odd color swap and an occasional switch up to a Mini-Con group shot.

* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: Anytime an effect is used, like when the Autobots use the Warp Bridge, it's very blatantly computerized and stands out against the otherwise 2D animation. The flagships for all three factions in the episode "First Encounter" are also rendered in CGI, ebing the only proper, non-effect use of CGI in the show.

* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: Anytime an effect is used, like when the Autobots use the Warp Bridge, it's very blatently computerized and stands out against the otherwise 2D animation.

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