Transformers: Rescue Bots

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 learned 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.

Characters

Rescue Bots

The Rescue Bots are a group of Cybertronians that are used for Rescue Missions.

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.

Autobots

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.

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.

Francine "Frankie" Elma Greene (voiced by Diamond White) is Ezra Greene's daughter and Cody's best friend. She is somewhat suspicious of the Rescue Bots. Near the end of season 1, Frankie learns the truth about the Rescue Bots after she was saved by Heatwave. She subsequently becomes a frequent companion of the Rescue Bots on their adventures.

Professor Anna Baranova (voiced by Kath Soucie) is a scientist who lives on Griffin Rock and is a colleague of Ezra Greene. She had resided in the underwater laboratory called Midgard which had since been trapped near an ocean trench following a methane explosion. Although Anna was reluctant to leave Midgard, Cody convinced her to leave Midgard as she blows it up. Afterwards, Anna moves back to Griffin Rock, taking up residence in a replica of Midgard.

CeCe Greene (voiced by Kath Soucie) is Doc Greene and Professor Baranova's daughter and Frankie Greene's baby half-sister. She was born during the three-year gap between seasons 3 and 4.

Dither (voiced by LeVar Burton) is Doc Greene's robot assistant, who seems obsessed with offering people toast – most likely because Doc is a big fan of the food. While a helpful assistant, Dither is also an occasional source of trouble.

Aristotle and Edison are Ezra Greene's pet Doberman Pinschers. They are named after the philosopher Aristotle and the inventor Thomas Edison.

Trex (voiced by LeVar Burton) is a robotic Tyrannosaurus who was damaged by a fire at the Griffin Rock Natural History Museum. It was reactivated and went on a rampage until it was subdued by the Rescue Bots and returned to the museum. After some break-ins at the lab, Ezra Greene took the Tyrannosaurus robot and reprogrammed it into "Trex" to guard the lab.

Antagonists

Dr. Thaddeus Morocco (voiced by Tim Curry in 2012, Greg Ellis in 2014-2016) is a mad scientist who plotted revenge against Chief Charlie Burns, Mayor Luskey, and Ezra Greene for making him an outcast by sabotaging a road roller, starting a fire, and using more nanites to control a toy rocket and Doc Greene's solar car and sending his MorBot to save the day. This allowed him to take over the Rescue Team's job but they eventually discover his true natures. Even though the Rescue Bots managed to thwart him, Dr. Morocco managed to get away on Mayor Luskey's schooner. In "The Last of Morocco", it is revealed that Morocco had known Jules Verne, the two of them having met in the past. It was from Verne that Morocco obtained the Verne device, the machine that serves to power his chamber of youth; Verne invented it and gave Morocco one of the two prototypes. Morocco soon set out on his path of self-service and villainy, while Verne set out to explore time and space.

The MorBots (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) are a group of robots that were created by Dr. Morocco. They are Morocco's version of the Rescue Bots, and capable of transforming between vehicle and robot modes and flight.

The Morocco Virus (voiced by Greg Ellis) is a sentient computer virus that manifests in the form of Dr. Morocco and was hidden in an Expansion pack of the in-series video game Griffin Rock: Element Quest, which went undiscovered until some years after Morocco took up residence in the future.

Madeline Pynch (voiced by Stacy Darrow) is a rich woman who is the mother of Priscilla Pynch, works at an as-yet-unnamed company, and is good friends with Mayor Luskey. In "Double Villainy", Pynch works with Dr. Morocco to capture the Autobots one-by-one to make their slaves and replace them with robotic copies of the Rescue Bots as part of a plot to get the gold that is underneath Griffin Rock. Pynch appears throughout the series as an ally of Morocco.

Evan & Myles (both voiced by Robbie Daymond) are two local troublemakers who reside in Griffin Rock and engage in criminal activity. Evan does most of the talking while Myles makes sounds.

Vigil (voiced by Bill Mumy) is a vigilant-model computer programmed to protect humans. It can invade and control technology, track people by accessing their mobile phones, and even listen in on conversations. However, Vigil obtains sentience, becomes too overprotective and is dedicated to the point of obsession, enforcing heavy restrictions and even acting to prevent the Rescue Bots from performing their duties since it is incapable of taking control of them.

Griffin Rock townspeople

Mayor H.B. Luskey (voiced by Jeff Bennett) – The mayor of Griffin Rock. Luskey is particularly obsessed with drawing tourists to Griffin Rock and employing unwise or unsafe methods of doing so which causes the Burns family to work in saving everyone.

Mrs. Luskey (voiced by Nicole Sullivan) – The wife of Mayor Luskey.

Poopsie (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker) – The pet poodle of Mrs. Luskey.

Huxley Prescott (voiced by Jeff Bennett) – A TV reporter. Prescott believes that the Rescue Bots are spies who were sent to Griffin Rock as part of a mission to take over Earth.

Mr. Harrison (voiced by D.C. Douglas) – Mr. Harrison is a resident of Griffin Rock. He owns a heli-pack that has a few technical issues and is a recurring beneficiary of the team's efforts.

Mr. Rubio (voiced by Jeff Bennett) – Mr. Rubio is a resident of Griffin Rock and the husband of Mrs. Rubio. He is known to be a slow driver.

Mrs. Rubio (voiced by Lacey Chabert) – Mrs. Rubio is a resident of Griffin Rock and the wife of Mr. Rubio.

Mrs. Neederlander (voiced by Billie Hayes) – An elderly resident of Griffin Rock who runs a bed and breakfast.

Mister Pettypaws – Mrs. Neederlander's pet cat.

Mr. Alper (voiced by Steve Blum) – Mr. Alper is a resident of Griffin Rock who is a member of its city council.

Mr. Levy (voiced by Jason Marsden) – Mr. Levy is a fisherman at Griffin Rock.

Historical figures

Chester A. Arthur (voiced by Jeff Bennett) – The 21st President of the United States. A hologram of him is displayed in Griffin Rock's Hall of Inspiration museum.

Elma Hendrickson (voiced by Kath Soucie) – Griffin Rock's first female scientist who lived in Griffin Rock around the same time that Dr. Morocco first took up resident on the island.

Charlotte Wayne (voiced by Kath Soucie) – A resident of Griffin Rock two hundred years ago, but now she is known as the Lady of Griffin Rock. Some two hundred years ago, Wayne's husband and sons left for the mainland during a storm. Their boat went missing, and thereafter Charlotte Wayne was said to haunt the island in search of her family.

Horace Burns – Horace Burns is the founder of Griffin Rock.

Bertha Burns – Bertha Burns is an ex-pirate to whom Dani bears more than a passing resemblance. Bertha stole from the townspeople of Griffin Rock, but left her pirate past behind where she hid her true identity for fear of bringing shame to the family of the man she loved. However, she left clues for her descendants to find her ship and stolen loot in the hope that they would do the right thing with it. Bertha's past was later discovered by Woodrow Burns and Dani led her family in the search. Once Bertha's ship was found in the ground, the Burns family turned Bertha's stolen fortune over to charity.

Jules Verne (voiced by Diedrich Bader) – An 18th century author and time traveler who long ago befriended Dr. Morocco, and provided him with one of the prototypes of his Verne device. While Morocco employed his to keep himself young up until the present day, Verne was able to use Energon to power his as part of a time machine, which he has used to explore the past and future. At some point prior to returning to his own time and before writing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Verne was contacted by Morocco and traveled to the present, where he met the Rescue Bots. Together, they located Morocco's submarine, the search for which inspired him to write his famous work upon returning to his own time. After Morocco was captured and restored to his youthful state, Verne and the Burnses came up with a plan to erase Morocco's memories of being a villain and transport him to the future so that he could have a fresh start. Morocco escaped and nearly succeeded in stealing Verne's time machine, but the Rescue Bots managed to thwart him, allowing Verne to escape to the future with Morocco. They are last seen exploring the future, with Morocco's memories apparently erased.

Broadcast and release

A television series was produced independently from the earlier released storybooks, set in the same story continuity as Transformers: Prime and Transformers Robots in Disguise with occasional crossovers. The show aired on Hasbro's and Discovery's television network, Discovery Family. Rescue Bots is developed for television by Nicole Dubuc, Brian Hohlfeld, and Jeff Kline. The series had a sneak peek on December 17, 2011, and officially premiered on February 18, 2012. It premiered on Discovery Kids in India.

Home video release

Shout! Factory have released several DVDs in the US, featuring random episodes:

Beyond Home Entertainment have released the first two seasons on DVD in Australia:

Miracle Media in the United Kingdom have rights for the first two seasons through Region 2, including most of Western Europe and the Middle East.