History Anime / TransformersArmada

* 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 seires Creator/{{Actas}} handled (their only project prior to this was ''Anime/ExDriver'', a short OVA series) and further farmed the majority of the animation to outside companies who turned in less than stellar results.

* DubInducedPlotHole: A given, when considering the [[ChristmasRushed rushed nature]] of the English dub(which carried over into most of the foreign dubs). As noted above with the Thrust example, the constant misnaming of characters can affect plot points badly. In addition, a particular noticeable one in early episodes: the Autobots had no idea where the Decepticon base is located, only for the english dub to change a line into them pointing its on the Moon, while in future episodes its a plot point the fact they don't know where its located, so they can't plan an assault.

* ClipShow: "Detection" and "Cramp"

* TwentyMinutesInTheFuture: The series is set in 2010, 8 years in the future from when the show originally aired.

-->'''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 never explicit said he wants revenge and just insists he was reborn as a deception, his actions makes it clear he DOES want revenge, so its not just down to the dub[[/note]].

-->'''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 never explicit said he wants revenge and just insists he was reborn as a deception, his actions makes it clear he DOES want revenge, so its not just down to the dub[[/note]].

-->'''Wheeljack (later):''' "I've come to get my revenge."

* FallenHero: Wheeljack and to a lesser extent Starscream after his heelfaceturn.

* PowerTrio: First Autobots: Red Alert the superego, Hot Shot the id, Optimus Prime the ego. Also the kids: Alexis the superego, Carlos the id, and Rad the ego.

* 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 seires Creator/{{Actas}} handled (their only project prior to this was ''Anime/ExDriver'', a short OVA series) and further farmed the majority of the animation to outside companies.

* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: [[spoiler:Starscream. And Sideways, Hoo boy, Sideways]].

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Smokescreen, Starscream]] Optimus, [[spoiler:even ''Megatron'' in the last episode]]. All of them get better at some point, at least in the sequel series.

* TheStarscream: As obvious as this might seem, [[spoiler:Starscream doesn't really have his heart in the backstabbing in this show, and indeed, this continuity. Thrust, on the other hand, is all too happy to plot against Megatron.]]

* DevelopingDoomedCharacters: Everyone knows [[JustHereForGodzilla we're just here for the robots]], but that doesn't stop ''Armada'' from centering its first episode squarely on the annoying kids as they go to school. They don't meet the Mini-Cons until near the end, and actual Autobots and Decepticons don't show up until the very last moments of the episode. If you watch the recap, you can pretty much start with episode two and miss nothing relevant.

In addition to the series, a mini-manga, called ''Linkage'' was released with the Japanese [=DVDs=], written by [[BigNameFan Hirofumi]] [[AscendedFanboy Ichikawa]], which told a separate story about a group of Mini-Cons who encounter a woman named Stella Holley, who helps them free the Mini-Cons from Unicron. The story also features several links to the animated series, and even fills a few plot holes. The series was fan-translated in collaboration with Ichikawa, and can be read online [[http://members.fortunecity.com/msipher/transform/linkage/linkage.html here]].

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

* ConspicuousCG: 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.

A video game adaptation, simply called ''VideoGame/{{Transformers|2004}}'', was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, and is considered [[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.

A video game adaptation, simply called ''VideoGame/{{Transformers|2004}}'' (but with the working title of ''Prelude To Energon'', which it is sometimes identified as), was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, and is considered one of the better Video Game adaptations, and the best one so far for Transformers until ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron''.

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.

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 considerably in the second half.

* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: [[spoiler:Megatron and Thrust use Starscream as a diversion in one battle and then completely abandon him in order to steal the Requiem Blaster. Later, once Starscream has returned to the base, he overhears Megatron and Thrust making fun of him behind his back and how they plan to continue to humiliate him, including using him as CannonFodder against the Autobots. This causes Starscream to snap, stealing the Starsaber, going on a rampage through the base, and [[HeelFaceTurn joining the Autobots]] (even if it was [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor only temporary]]).]]

* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Starscream]] dies satisfied that his sacrifice goaded Megatron into action.

* OffModel: Poor quality art is unfortunately common. This is partly due to Creator/CartoonNetwork's meddling, and partly because Creator/{{Actas}}, the studio behind the animation, was genuinely not all that great and further farmed much of the animation to (much poorer) outside companies.

* ActorAllusion: One of Optimus and Megatron's ''Cybertron'' toys has them becoming a [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars gorilla and tyrannosaurus]] respectively.

* UnwittingPawn: Hot Shot, Starscream, Thrust, especially, and [[strike:possibly]] probably more.

A video game adaptation, simply called ''[[VideoGame/TransformersPreludeToEnergon Transformers]]'' (but with the working title of ''Prelude To Energon'', which it is sometimes identified as), was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, and is considered one of the better Video Game adaptations, and the best one so far for Transformers until ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron''.

* OffModel: Poor quality art is unfortunately common. This is partly due to Creator/CartoonNetwork's meddling, and partly because Creator/{{Actas}}, the studio behind the animation, was genuinely not all that great and further farmed much of the animation to outside companies.

* OffModel: Poor quality art is unfortunately common. This is partly due to Creator/CartoonNetwork's meddling, and partly because Creator/{{Actas}}, the studio behind the animation, was genuinely not all that great.