In Jasper, Nevada, three young humans—Jack Darby, Miko Nakadai and Rafael Esquivel—are accidentally caught in the crossfire in a fight between giant, mechanical aliens that transform into ordinary vehicles. The three kids are taken to the base of the Autobots, where the Autobot leader Optimus Prime explains that he and his team are a race of autonomous robotic organisms from the far-off planet Cybertron, and they are fighting over their life-source, Energon, with the Decepticons, with whom they once had a war.

Debuts: Optimus Prime, Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Cliffjumper, Jack Darby, Rafael Esquievel, Miko Nakadai, Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave and Vehicons

Deaths: Cliffjumper

Optimus Prime and Ratchet head out to investigate Megatron's activities while Arcee and Bumblebee go on patrol, leaving Bulkhead with Jack, Miko and Rafael at the base. Meanwhile, Soundwave kidnaps the Autobot-allied human Agent William Fowler, with Starscream wishing to learn the location of the Autobot base.

Debuts: Laserbeak and Terrorcons

Deaths: Terrorcons