We knew the revival of Transformers started by Michael Bay’s movie would mean a new take on the Autobot and Decepticon’s original format – animation. Surprisingly, the reviews I’ve heard about Transformers: Animated have been pretty good. As back when the Transformers were first dominant, I’m still not big enough of a fan of the franchise to tune in myself, but I know some people are pretty satisfied with some of the decisions being made with the new series, particularly those that pay homage to the original animated show.

Now Transformers: Animated is heading for DVD for the first time with the special Transform and Roll Out, which served as a three-part pilot for the series, introducing the characters and the basic plot of the show, which actually departs quite a bit from the movie and the original series, despite its inspirations found in both.

Here’s the official plot synopsis of Transformers: Animated – Transform and Roll Out:

In the 22nd century, Detroit is the hot spot for all manner of techno-geeks, industrialists and all things robotic. It’s where the future is, and where money is being made thanks to the city’s thriving robotics industry. Of course that means Detroit is also the hot-spot for all things criminal, evil and demon-like, which brings us to our story… Fifty light years earlier, a young ragtag group of AUTOBOTS led by OPTIMUS PRIME are in a remote sector of CYBERTRON cleaning space bridges when they stumble upon the most important artifact in TRANSFORMERS history: the ALLSPARK! The DECEPTICONS who are only scary myths for many AUTOBOTS are in hot pursuit of the ALLSPARK; now this new band of AUTOBOTS must fight for their lives and the future of CYBERTRON. The AUTOBOTS are able to escape the DECEPTICONS and crash land on an unknown planet called Earth. They land in Lake Erie and remain in stasis for 50 years. During an emergency, OPTIMUS PRIME and his young team are awakened from stasis just in time to help the new “organic life forms” (humans). But in order to save the humans and fight off the evil villain they have to convert into their robot forms! In doing so, they save the day and become new celebrities and heroes destined to fight all evil on the planet Earth and beyond! Transformers! More than meets the eye!

The DVD special hits stores on June 17th and includes two bonus Transformers: Animated shorts. If you’re a Transformers fan but haven’t given the show a chance, here’s an opportunity to see how the new series is laid out.