Transformers One, an animated prequel directed by Josh Cooley, offers a fresh take on the Cybertronian homeworld by portraying its greatest warriors as bumbling youths. The film, set in the distant past, focuses on the journey of Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), who go from being best friends to mortal enemies after discovering their powers to transform into various kinds of vehicles.

The trailer reveals that young transformers are forbidden to venture to the surface of Cybertron, but Orion, D-16, and other young bots like Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and B-127/Bumblebee (Keegan-Michael Key) often sneak off to explore and get into trouble. Their adventures lead them to encounter mechanized animals, organic plant life, and even an encounter with Alpha Trion (Laurence Fishburne), which leaves them changed and able to refashion their bodies into vehicles.

While the live-action Transformers movies have always portrayed the robots as battle-ready and knowing how to navigate the world, Transformers One takes a more light-hearted approach, with a vibe reminiscent of Power Rangers. This new direction might be divisive among older fans of the franchise, but the film is clearly aimed at a younger audience, hoping to create new fans of the Transformers.

Transformers One is set to hit theaters on September 20th, 2024, and while the human-like features of the robots might be unsettling for some, the film’s comedic tone and focus on the characters’ youthful adventures are sure to appeal to a new generation of fans.