Transformers: BotBots
Lost BotBots seek redemption after breaking the Sacred Rule of the Mall.
Transformers: BotBots is an animated series spun off from Hasbro's larger Transformers franchise, based on the company's collectable toy line of the same name. Entertainment One and Boulder Media produced the show, and the first season premiered on Netflix on March 25, 2022. It marked the final collaboration between Entertainment One and Boulder Media, as Hasbro sold Boulder Media to the Australian company Princess Pictures on November 1, 2022.
The story begins when a mysterious Energon cloud hits a shopping mall, turning everyday objects—including non-electronic items—into tiny, transformable robots called BotBots. A group of items that had been separated from their original stores awaken inside the lost-and-found, calling themselves the Lost Bots. Led by Burgertron, the former leader of the Hunger Hubs, they dream of returning to their original tribes. But after being accidentally spotted by a mall security guard, revealing the BotBots' existence to a human, they become outcasts. The Lost Bots must redeem themselves, form their own bonds, and avoid being seen by humans.
When Burgertron leaves to rejoin his squad, the Lost Bots follow, hoping to find their own. Dave, a human, emerges from a bathroom, and Burgertron teaches the group "The Sacred Rule of the Mall": never reveal bot form to humans. They ride a mall train and escalator to the food court, but Dave spots them in disguise. When he tries to eat Burgertron, Dimlit transforms to save him, exposing Burgertron and himself. Dave now knows BotBots exist. Other BotBots, like Spud Muffin and Ulf the Orange, appear furious that the rule was broken. Burgertron is cast out of the Hunger Hubs and shunned, becoming a Lost Bot himself. The Lost Bots, however, care only about reuniting with their own squads. Burgertron becomes their leader, aiming to reconcile with the other BotBots.
The Lost Bots include Burgertron (voiced by James Hartnett), a former Hunger Hubs leader who is egotistical and sees himself as a superhero despite his flaws. He transforms into a hamburger. Dimlit (voiced by Deven Mack) is a shy, nervous flashlight who wants to join the Shed Heads and falls in love with Jacqueline. Bonz-Eye (voiced by Louisa Zhu) is a bold, calm bonsai tree and expert swordsman; she is Japanese, lesbian, and has no squad of her own.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy / Science fiction / Action-adventure
- Creator
- Steve Trenbirth
- Based On
- Transformers · Hasbro
- Developer
- Kevin Burke / Chris "Doc" Wyatt
- Director
- Paul O'Flanagan
- Voices
- Louisa Zhu / James Hartnett / Christian Potenza / Mark Little / Deven Mack / Lisa Norton / Joseph Motiki / Josette Jorge
- Music
- The Wilders Music Group Inc.A team of music composers consisting of Igor Correia and Jeff Milutinovic
- Country
- Canada / Ireland / United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 10 (20 segments)
- Executive Producer
- Olivier Dumont / Randi Yaffa / Kevin Burke / Chris "Doc" Wyatt
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series is set in a shopping mall struck by a mysterious Energon cloud, which turns various objects into tiny transformable robots called BotBots. A group of items separated from their stores awoke inside the lost-and-found, dubbing themselves the Lost Bots. Led by Burgertron, the former leader of the Hunger Hubs, the Lost Bots dream of returning to their original tribes but are treated as pariahs after accidentally being spotted by a mall security guard, revealing the BotBots' existence to a human. They set out to redeem themselves while discovering their own bonds and avoiding humans.
Burgertron teaches the Lost Bots 'The Sacred Rule of the Mall': BotBots must never reveal their bot forms in front of humans. After a series of events involving a mall train and escalator, the mall guard Dave sees several BotBots in disguise and then in bot form, leading to the discovery. The other BotBots, furious that the rule was broken, cast Burgertron out of the Hunger Hubs, making him a Lost Bot. He becomes the leader of the Lost Bots, attempting to reconcile with the other BotBots.
Key characters include the Lost Bots: Burgertron (a hamburger), Dimlit (a flashlight), Bonz-Eye (a bonsai tree), Clogstopper (a plunger), and Kikmee (a soccer ball). Other squads include the Hunger Hubs (with Spud Muffin, a box of fries, who sabotages the Lost Bots and is later exiled), the Jock Squad, Shed Heads, Sugar Shocks, and Gamer Geeks. The season finale reveals Spud Muffin's deceptions, after which Burgertron stays with the Lost Bots, who are made an official squad.
Reader's Guide
Transformers: BotBots is notable as the final collaboration between Entertainment One and Boulder Media before Hasbro sold Boulder Media to Princess Pictures in November 2022. The series adapts Hasbro's collectable toy line into an animated story centered on tiny transformable robots living secretly in a mall. Its premise—objects turned into robots by an Energon cloud—expands the Transformers franchise into a comedic, mall-based setting. The show explores themes of belonging and redemption through the Lost Bots, a group of outcasts trying to return to their squads after breaking the Sacred Rule of the Mall. The first season debuted on Netflix on March 25, 2022, and features voice actors including James Hartnett, Deven Mack, Louisa Zhu, Christian Potenza, and Lisa Norton. The series includes diverse characters, such as Bonz-Eye, who is revealed to be lesbian and Japanese, and Kikmee, whose gender was changed from the original toyline. The season finale sees the antagonist Spud Muffin exiled, and the Lost Bots officially recognized as a squad.
Did You Know?
- The series is based on Hasbro's collectable toy line of the same name, a spin-off of the Transformers franchise.
- Bonz-Eye is revealed to be lesbian and Japanese, and Kikmee's gender was changed from male in the original toyline to female in the series.
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