The Transformers franchise has long been synonymous with towering robots and intense battles between the Autobots and Decepticons. Yet, we have rarely seen Cybertron, the homeworld of these iconic mechanical beings, in full. Until now. Directed by Josh Cooley, Transformers One is an animation film that gets into Cybertron’s origins, the formation the different factions, and the heart-wrenching story of betrayal and leadership that turned friends into lifelong foes.

Unlike its predecessors, the plot of Transformers One stays within Cybertron, the dying planet whose beauty and richness has long faded. Cybertron is divided up between powerful Transformers led by Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) and a mass of ‘cogless’ bots, whose labour keeps the planet’s dwindling resources alive. The war with the alien Quintessons that led to the death of the revered Primes, and the loss of the Matrix of Leadership — a once-glorious artefact that powered the planet — has left the Transformers scrambling for survival, with the ever-elusive Energon becoming a rare commodity.

Enter Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth), an ambitious mining bot whose obsession with recovering the Matrix sets him on a journey of self-discovery. He’s joined by a trio of loyal companions — D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), Elita 1 (Scarlett Johansson) and B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key). Their fateful adventure unveils long-buried secrets, especially regarding the growing divide between the bots who keep the world moving and those who rule it.

Much of the film’s success lies in the hands of its voice cast. Chris Hemsworth makes Orion Pax a goofy but determined bot who is full of hope. His eventual transformation into the revered leader, Optimus Prime, feels earned, his leadership qualities steadily developing as his character confronts harsh truths about Cybertron’s fate.

However, it is Brian Tyree Henry’s D-16 who cuts deeply. Starting as a loyal friend, D-16’s evolution into Megatron, the future Decepticon tyrant, is both gripping and heartbreaking. Tyree Henry balances D-16’s disillusionment with Cybertron’s corrupt leadership and his growing desire for a more authoritarian solution.

Scarlett Johansson’s Elita 1 is a strong yet underutilised figure for much of the film. Though she plays a crucial role in the key action sequences and serves as the voice of reason, one can’t help but wish Elita 1 had more screen time. Keegan-Michael Key’s B-127 is funny and warn, capturing the jittery, excitable personality that would one day become the silent yet valiant Bumblebee.

Visually, Transformers One is a feast for the eyes. Cybertron is presented as a dystopian wasteland of towering structures, and the planet’s sheer scale is breathtaking.

The humour is well-placed and never fails to land. The contrast between the bots’ serious mission and their awkward, often bumbling antics adds levity. Even something as simple as running away is played for laughs, thanks to sharp comedic timing and well-chosen pauses.

While Transformers One offers many exhilarating moments, it isn’t without its missed opportunities. Sentinel Prime’s narrative arc, for instance, is introduced with great promise, but there’s little room to let his actions and their consequences truly resonate. In the same way, the elite Decepticon forces, led by the cunning and malicious Starscream (voiced with unsettling malevolence by Steve Buscemi), remain on the periphery for much of the film.