Ok, that’s more like it.

“Transformers One” — in theaters Sept. 20 — is the first fully digitally animated “Transformers” film and the first animated feature in the enduring franchise about giant robots that convert into planes, trains, automobiles and the like in nearly four decades.

In the time since, we’ve been hit with a steady stream of live-action films from director Michael Bay and others — starting with Bays’ megahit “Transformers” in 2007 — that, while technically impressive, aren’t exactly cinematic gems.

Engaging in a way the live-action offerings rarely are — and coherent in a way they almost never are — “Transformers One” serves up a fast-paced, humor-filled and untold origin of future rivals Optimus Prime and Megatron.

What was apparent from the advanced footage of the Paramount Animation release was that “Transformers; One” was aimed less at those of use who grew up playing with the Hasbro toys and watching the original animated TV series — which led to the theatrical release “The Transformers: The Movie” in 1986 — and more toward the kids of today. That’s certainly the case, but because it’s well-made, the film should be plenty entertaining to the old guard.

Helmed by “Toy Story 4” director Josh Cooley, “One” introduces us to a couple of robots, Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), who work in the dangerous Energon mines of the planet Cybertron. Although destined to become powerful leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons, respectively, and bitter adversaries, these ordinary Joe-bots are best pals who live among many others in subterranean Iacon City.

In a fun little twist, Orion is the rule breaker of the two, always dragging D along on one daring endeavor or another to prove they’re “more than meets the eye.” (That you can be something beyond how the world tries to define you is a theme used effectively throughout the movie.) In fact, we meet Orion breaking into city archives in his latest attempt to learn more about the Matrix of Leadership, a long-lost object that could help usher into a new era for the planet.

The Matrix also is said to be the priority of the city’s beloved leader, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), who soon returns from his latest quest to find it on the planet’s forbidden, allegedly too-dangerous-to-visit surface.

The following day is the big Iacon 5000 road race, a day off for workers. Orion plans to make the most of it, pulling his unwitting pal D into the contest along with him.

“If we survive this,” D bellows, “I’m going to kill you!”

“I accept those terms!” Orion responds exuberantly.

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Afterward, Sentinel is aware of the two bots and showering them with praise. However, they soon find themselves banished to Sublevel 50 — yep, that’s way down there — where they make the acquaintance of another lowly worker, the extremely talkative B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key). (The future Bumblebee, he tries to make the name “Badassatron” — said in an ominous voice — stick here and throughout the adventure to come.)

In said adventure, our three heroes are joined by a fourth, Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson), who has a grudge to settle with Orion. (He used to work under her and got her fired. It’s a whole thing.) Like so many inhabitants of Iacon City, they were born without the cogs that allow them to transform. (Or, cough, so they believe.)

Four robots — Orion Pax, top left, voiced by Chris Hemsworth; D-16, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry; B-127, bottom left, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key; and Elita-1, voiced by Scarlett Johansson — find themselves on a dangerous quest in “Transformers One.” (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

When they reach the planet’s surface, they encounter dangers that include the Quintessons, a ruthless and terrifying race that fought Cyberton’s original leaders, the Primes.

As the journey continues — and the dynamic between Orion and D evolves — we meet a group of Transformers working in the shadows and led by petulant future Decepticon Starscream (Steve Buscemi), who, appropriately, immediately butts heads with D.

Working from a script from Eric Pearson and the duo of Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, with the story credited to that latter tandem, Pixar Animation Studios vet Cooley never loses focus on the all-important relationship between Orion and D as the story brings in more characters and the action gets bigger and bigger.

Plus, joke after joke lands, thanks in no small part to the hilarious Key, but also to Hemsworth, who’s a solid choice for Orion if you’re not going to employ Peter Cullen, whose voice has been synonymous with Optimus Prime dating to those old cartoons. On the other hand — and we’re picking nits here — while the typically enjoyable Henry (“Atlanta”) works early on as D, his voice isn’t big and menacing enough once we get the character’s inevitable turn.

Brian Tyree voices D-16, the future Megatron, in “Transformers One.” (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Counting among its producers Bay and Steven Spielberg, “One” is pretty technically impressive itself, boasting sequences that deliver big action thrills.

Does it matter that you can see every plot point, every twist, coming? Not when the movie is meant for kids, who are likely to be sufficiently surprised at the desired moments.

We couldn’t help but appreciate the awe of a boy in the seat next to ours who let out a hushed-but-extended “Whoa” at a payoff moment involving Orion late in the movie.

Again, that’s more like it.

‘Transformers One’

Where: Theaters.

When: Sept. 20.

Rated: PG for sci-fi violence and animated action throughout, and language.

Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Stars (of four): 3.