With the Transformers Animated cartoon and toyline canceled last year, there left a need for the next Transformers series. The franchise has aired nearly a dozen different series in North America and Japan since it began in 1984 and the next show to take the mantle is Transformers: Prime, another full CG-animated series similar in style to the popular Beast Wars seasons of the late 90s.

Upping the profile of this latest Transformers venture, Prime is bring produced by Hollywood heavyweights Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman, who were writers on the first two Michael Bay Transformers movies. Joining them is veteran cartoon producer Jeff Kline who brought us shows such as the Men in Black series and Dragon Tales. The three put together a comedic 'Making of' video which will help you understand Transformers in a different light.

Unlike Transformers Animated, which stands entirely outside of Transformers continuity (even though its premiere featured footage from the original cartoon), Transformers: Prime is based on this year's successful Transformers video game, War for Cybertron, and the "Transformers: Exodus" novel which tells the official history of the War of Cybertron. To loyal fans of the franchise, the series will feature the voices of Peter Cullen and Frank Welker as Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively, the masters behind the original voices of the 1984 series. Famous voice actor Steve Blum will voice Starscream, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will play Cliffjumper and Jeffrey Combs will provide Ratchet's voice.

Transformers: Prime TV show

If the talent behind the production and voices of the series aren't generating enough interest, Transformers: Prime also represents the best of everything toymaker Hasbro has to offer from the toyline and franchise. It is there attempt at grabbing the best parts of the franchise's convoluted cannon, with elements taken from the Transformers movies, the latest animated cartoon, video game and novel and putting it together in a series and continuity that makes sense.

To see how it was made and what makes it different from the movies and shows of the past, here is the Transformers: Prime Making of Promo:

The best part of the video is how Orci and Kurtzman poke fun at the humor of the Transformers movies, the same movies they chose to step away from to pursue other ventures after the disappointing sequel, Revenge of the Fallen.

And here's the teaser clip that played at San Diego Comic-Con this summer:

As you can see, Bumblebee is fighting what appears to be Cylon Centurions from Battlestar Galactica.

The series takes place on Earth after the Autobots and Decepticons have been there for a while and features most of the classic and popular characters from previous incarnations. In addition to Optimus and Bumblebee, the Autobots cast will feature Arcee, Ratchet, Cliffjumper and Bulkhead. The Decepticons will be led by Megatron once again, joined by Starscream, Soundwave and an endless supply of "Troopers" (the Cylon Centurions).

Transformers: Prime Characters
Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee in Transformers: Prime

Transformers: Prime airs its premiere episode tomorrow, November 29th on The Hub, the replacement channel of Discovery Kids.

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Sources: TFviews, TFW2005