2002-2003 - Transformers: Micron Legend

Transformers: Micron Legend marked a new beginning in more ways than one. From a business point of view, it was the first attempt in a partnership between Hasbro and Takara to create a Transformers package for simultaneous release in both the United States and Japan. Though the show was produced in Japan, it was created with global sensibilities, and omitted many anime-specific tendencies that is common with Japanese programs.

Micron Legend also marked the start of another new continuity for Transformers; while it borrowed some major elements of the original Transformers series and "re-imagined" them for a new generation, it is not intended to be a sequel to any earlier line.

The story's focus is on the Microns, a faction of small robots with the ability to enhance the strength and power (and toy features) of any Transformer they are attached to. As a result, Megatron sought to gather Microns to augment his forces, while Convoy and the Cybertrons wanted to liberate the Microns and keep them out of Destron hands.

Hot Rod, Grap, Convoy, and Ratchet sing the credits

In an attempt to flee the conflict, the Microns left Cybertron, but ended up crash-landing on Earth. They are befriended by the Earth children Rad, Carlos, and Alexa, even as the Transformers pursue them to their new planet. The Microns must also confront their destiny as the products of the malignant Unicron...

As a first start in a business partnering attempt, Transformers: Micron Legend had a few hiccups, most notably in its western release as Transformers: Armada. Due to a tight release schedule from Cartoon Network, the series was rushed out of production for the American market. The show thus frequently contain unfinished animation riddled with errors and a script that misidentified characters and didn't match the on-screen action. In contrast, the Japanese version was released later, and therefore had the errors fixed.