We now know that Bumblebee has the most fan service of any of the live-action Transformers movies so far, with familiar characters like Shockwave, Soundwave, and Starscream appearing on Cybertron in forms that look more like their vintage toys than ever before. But how did they decide how deep to delve into the vintage material? Were there any worries about alienating more casual fans? What about potential conflicts with the existing universe and appearances already established by Michael Bay?

Nerdist’s Danielle Radford had the chance to talk to director Travis Knight, previously best known as the head of LAIKA studios, at the Bumblebee press day about his decisions regarding Transformer continuity. Handed a massive, doorstop-sized bible by Hasbro when he got the job, Knight had to decide which parts would fit the story being told, and which could wait for another day.

In the end, it’s not too surprising that the director of Kubo and the Two Strings opted for a story about a young adult grieving for a lost father and trying to re-discover the meaning of family. As for the giant shape-shifting robot who befriends her…well, check out the video above for Knight’s take, and some good looks at the supporting ‘bot cast.

Are you going to transform and roll out to the theater to see Bumblebee this coming weekend? What kinds of more-than-meets-the-eye easter eggs are you hoping to catch? And which Autobot (or Decepticon) should the film franchise focus on next? Fire up your Energon cells and let us know in comments below!

Images: Paramount