Transformers One - The scoop and digest

Animated prequel is written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari and directed by Josh Cooley (who also voices Skywarp).

Chris Hemsworth - Orion Pax/Optimus Prime

Brian Tyree Henry - D-16/Megatron

Scarlett Johansson - Elita-1

Keegan-Michael Key - B-127/Bumblebee

Steve Buscemi - Starscream

Laurence Fishburne - Alpha Trion

Jon Hamm - Sentinel Prime

Summary

At the dawn of time, Primus sacrificed his life to protect the universe by transforming himself into the planet Cybertron.  From within its core, Primus birthed the first Transformers known as the Primes and to assist them, created a powerful entity called the Matrix of Leadership.

The planet's natural power resource Energon flowed in abundance, until the Matrix was lost, causing Energon to no longer flow.

In Iacon City, cogless bots Orion Pax and best friend D-16 dig for Energon, which following a cave-in, sees them reassigned by Darkwing to garbage incineration, where they meet B-127, aka "Bad-Ass-atron".

They find a chip containing an SOS message recorded by Alpha Trion (one of the Primes), inferring the Matrix's location.

After reaching the surface, Trion is reactivated inside a cave and reveals that Sentinel has been secretly supplying the Quintessons with Energon in exchange for him ruling Cybertron.

Trion provides the group with cogs and they head back to Iacon to expose the truth about crooked leader.

Frenemies

Just as D is about to kill Sentinel, Pax gets in the way.

D decides against rescuing Pax and let's him fall apparently to his death.

He rips Sentinel in two and replaces his cog with Sentinel's, dubbing himself Megatron.

The spirits of Primus and the Primes embue Pax with the Matrix.  Revived as Optimus Prime, he defeats and banishes Megatron from Iacon.

Subsequently, the Autobots and Decepticons are born.

Break some protocol

Jordan Knight's Bumblebee erased Michael Bay's sexualised atrocities.

But this was even better.

Stunning visuals are complemented by a great script, sharp visual gags, excellent voice performances and sensational set-pieces.

I just hope origin story is not left in limbo.