Transformers: Rescue Bots (or simply Rescue Bots) is an animated television series that aired on The Hub Network / Discovery Family and aimed at a younger generation of Transformers fans based on toy manufacturer Hasbro's Transformers franchise. Rescue Bots is the successor of Transformers: Robot Heroes and is based on the same concept as the Marvel Superhero Adventures and Star Wars Jedi Force franchises, it also has similar traits to Mattel's toyline, Rescue Heroes. Rescue Bots mainly focuses on educating children regarding hazards and safety. Relating to other Transformers series/continuities, Rescue Bots features human and Autobot allies as well as a toy line.
The original toy line and the storybook series feature the team of Chief Charlie Burns (Optimus Prime's and Hoist's partner), an adult Cody Burns (Heatwave's partner), Sawyer Storm (Blades' and Medix's partner), Walker Cleveland (Boulder's partner), Billy Blastoff and Jack "Hunter" Tracker (Chase's partners), and Axel Frazier (Bumblebee's partner); the TV series features Blades, Boulder, Chase, and Heatwave - the original group of Autobots -TFW2005 Exclusive Transformers: Rescue Bots Concept Art, TFW 2005, February 19, 2011 who are joined by Chief Charlie Burns (Chase's partner), Cody Burns as a child (Optimus Prime's and Salvage's partner), Dani Burns (Blades's partner), Kade Burns (Heatwave's partner), and Graham Burns (Boulder's partner), as well as Doc Greene and Francine Greene as supporting characters (who later in the series become temporary partners to the Autobot High Tide). Season 1 is available for streaming via Roku. Hasbro has also made seasons 1–3 available digitally on iTunes and on YouTube through a paid subscription.
The trailer for the fourth season was released on January 22, 2016 which shows an older Cody Burns and a female rescue bot named Quickshadow. Season 4 first aired on April 23, 2016 and ended on October 22, 2016, lasted for four years.
104 episodes have been produced. As of its fourth season, Rescue Bots is the longest-running Transformers series, surpassing The Transformers, which aired for 98 episodes. On June 6, 2017, it was announced that the series had ended production and would be succeeded by Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy. None of the cast members reprised their roles in the series.
Synopsis Set on the fictional island of Griffin Rock somewhere off the coast of Maine, the Rescue Bots (a group of Autobots designed for rescue missions) named Heatwave, Boulder, Blades, and Chase respond to Optimus Prime's message for any active Autobots in outer space to come to Earth. Coming out of a long stasis, the Rescue Bots learn what became of Cybertron and that they are one of the only Rescue Bot teams remaining. Deeming them too valuable for them to join the fight against the Decepticons, Optimus Prime partners them with the Burns Family composed of first response rescuers. Together, they learn teamwork and heroism alongside their human friends as they deal with various disasters while also getting themselves familiar with Earth's cultures.Transformers: New "Rescue Bots" Animated Series Coming, IGN, March 25, 2011 Rescue Bots is set in the franchise's Aligned continuity, which features contemporary fiction such as the concurrently-running Transformers: Prime and Transformers: Robots in Disguise series, alongside other media such as Transformers: Exodus, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, Transformers: Exiles, and Transformers: Retribution.
Characters Rescue Bots The Rescue Bots are a group of Cybertronians that are used for Rescue Missions.
Rescue Force Sigma-17 Rescue Force Sigma-17 is the main Rescue Bot team in the series. Among its members are:
Heatwave (voiced by Steve Blum) is a Rescue Bot who transforms into a fire engine and is partnered with Kade Burns. He is second in command after Optimus Prime and is equal rank with High Tide. He dislikes the fact the Rescue Bots have to pretend they are mindless robots whenever they are around Griffin Rock's citizens. In "Changes", Heatwave scans a sunken fireboat, giving him the ability to transform into a fireboat. In "Quarry vs. Quarry", Heatwave gains an Apatosaurus form upon scanning an Apatosaurus model. Chase (voiced by D.C. Douglas) is a Rescue Bot that transforms into a police car and is partnered with Chief Charlie Burns. Chase has a "by-the-book" personality and tends to fuss over any new concept that violates any law he is familiar with, though at times his dry sense of humor and understanding emerges. He gets along well with Charlie Burns, though the two occasionally disagree due to the Chief's compassion-based response to police work and Chase's letter-of-the-law personality. In "Quarry vs. Quarry", Chase gains a Stegosaurus form upon scanning a Stegosaurus model. Blades (voiced by Parvesh Cheena) is a Rescue Bot who transforms into a rescue helicopter and is partnered with Dani Burns. Back on Cybertron, Blades had a land-based vehicle mode and is not used to flying, thus culminating in a slight fear of heights. Out of the Rescue Bots, he is the most expressive emotionally, and develops a love of human television and film. In "Quarry vs. Quarry", Blades gains a Pteranodon form upon scanning a Pteranodon model. Boulder (voiced by Imari Williams) is a Rescue Bot who transforms into a bulldozer and is partnered with Graham Burns. Boulder is fascinated with Earth culture and is always eager to learn more from books and other sources. He has a very kind and friendly demeanor, and enjoys gardening, interacting with animals, and painting. In "Big Game", Boulder works on an Energon Patch to use on Optimus Prime's Primal Form and tests it by scanning a Triceratops model to assume this Primal Form, thus making him the second Rescue Bot to be a Triple Changer.
New Recruits Blurr (voiced by Max Mittelman) is a Rescue Bot who transforms into a race car. He and Salvage crash-landed on Earth during a meteor shower over 10,000 years ago in their cargo ship. Blurr was the pilot of the ship. He loves being fast and takes pride in his speed, but he is also extremely reckless and impatient. Salvage (voiced by Jason Marsden) is a Rescue Bot who transforms into a garbage truck. He and Blurr crash-landed on Earth during a meteor shower over 10,000 years ago in their cargo ship. Unlike Blurr, Salvage quickly began to enjoy living on Earth and gained the respect of the other Rescue Bots, after successfully taking charge during his first rescue. Quickshadow (voiced by Alex Kingston) is a female Rescue Bot who transforms into a car. Kade refers to it as an "Austly Benton" and it first appears in season 4. She was first seen in the desert of North Africa when Heatwave and Chase had a problem with the Groundbridge in "Bridge Building" (which was caused by her) and introduces herself in "Arrivals". In "Plus One", it is revealed that she has many other names used to cover her identity, with the name "Quickshadow" being one of them. It is unknown what her real name is.
Autobots Bee Team Bumblebee (vocal effects provided by Nicole Dubuc, voiced by Will Friedle in "Uninvited Guest") is the legendary Autobot Scout, war hero, and a member of Optimus Prime's team of Autobots. As seen in Transformers: Prime, Bumblebee lost his voice box while being tortured by Megatron and possesses a unique form of speech. In "Bumblebee to the Rescue", he pays a visit to Griffin Rock while tracking a meteor that landed on a nearby uninhabited island and meets the Rescue Bots and the Burns family (who were also investigating the meteor). He is later briefly assigned by Optimus Prime to observe the Rescue Bots and Burns family working together. Later on, he teams up with Blades and the Burns family to destroy the meteor after the other Rescue Bots are infected by a mysterious substance contained within the fallen meteor. Sideswipe (voiced by Darren Criss) is a member of Bumblebee's bee team. After intercepting Bounce on the mainland, the Mini-Con escaped through the team's GroundBridge and teleported to the island of Griffin Rock, forcing Sideswipe to pursue him. While chasing him down, he encountered Blurr, and immediately believed that he was a Decepticon. The misunderstanding was instantly cleared up after the other Rescue Bots arrived. Heatwave filled him in on their mission on Earth. Blurr was impressed by Sideswipe and asked him for some rescue tips - but Sideswipe wasn't particularly interested in helping humans. However, he promised Blurr that he would recommend him to Bumblebee once he returned to the mainland, and offered him the opportunity to join the Bee Team.
Other Autobots Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) is the leader of the Autobots who transforms into a semi-trailer truck. He gave the Rescue Bots their mission and mainly appears via view-screen. In "Land Before Prime", Optimus Prime arrives on Wayward Island to help the Rescue Bots. He scans Trex as a secondary form where gains a Tyrannosaurus form (with this form being referred to in the toyline as Optimus Primal). High Tide (voiced by Michael Bell) is an Autobot veteran and master seaman who is Optimus Prime's old acquaintance. He transforms into a submarine and can combine with his rescue rig to form a larger robot. Servo is a dog-like Autobot Helper-Bot who is kept in High Tide's chest compartment. He can transform himself depending on what task he is needed to carry out and even transform his limbs independently for minor tasks.
Burns Family Charlie Burns (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is Griffin Rock's chief of police and the leader of its Rescue Team. Charlie Burns is the father of Cody, Kade, Dani, and Graham and the older brother of Woodrow Burns. Cody Burns (voiced by Elan Garfias as a child, Oliver Vaquer as an adult in "One for the Ages") is the youngest member of the Burns family and one of the main characters in the show. Despite his age (9 years in season 1-3, 12-13 in season 4), Cody acts as the team's communications officer. He also acts to help the bots become accustomed to life on Earth and guide them. He acts as a mediator between them and his older siblings. Kade Burns (voiced by Jason Marsden) is Cody's oldest brother who works as a firefighter. Kade is somewhat of a glory-hog and isn't too keen on working with Heatwave at first; they eventually come to respect each other. Dani Burns (voiced by Lacey Chabert) is Cody's older sister who works as a rescue helicopter pilot. Unlike her partner Blades, Dani loves flying and has trouble getting along with Blades due to his fear of heights, but eventually learns how to work with him. Dr. Graham Burns (voiced by Shannon McKain) is Cody's older brother who works as a construction engineer. At first, Graham has trouble working with Boulder due in part to his own misconceptions. Though Graham is fascinated by Boulder and wishes to learn about Cybertron, he mistakenly believes that because Boulder is from an advanced alien civilization, there is little he (someone from a more primitive civilization like Earth's) could possibly teach him. Woodrow "Woody" Burns (voiced by Mark Hamill) is the free-spirited younger brother of Charlie Burns and the uncle of Cody, Kade, Dani, and Graham. Both an inventor and an adventurer, Woodrow has a keen interest in the mysterious and paranormal, spending his time hunting for evidence of aliens and other creatures.
Greene Family Dr. Ezra "Doc" Greene (voiced by LeVar Burton) is Griffin Rock's top inventor, scientist, and the father of Francine Greene. Though many of his inventions he creates are meant to be helpful or with good intention, they have a tendency to go haywire or cause trouble.