TFA/Animated Comments thread

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Good to see mine isnt the only one with "floppy belly" (a mutated version of Bli belly I believe).

On the Prowl name situation. I refer to mine as "Mr Happy-Mods" as Ratchet so eloquently put it.:D

A friend comes over "Cool, who is this?"

"that is Mr Happy-Mods!"

Confusion ensues, but I am happy!

[Stompy]

Going back, I finally sat down and played with Lockdown. Stealth Lockdown to be exact. I'd been iffy on keeping the Stealth Lockdown as having played with LCZ128's I hadn't really been convinced by it so I wanted to return it to Target before the 28 days change of mind offer expired. But playing with it in the confines of my own humble abode, I really warmed to it and was glad that I'd decided against returning it.

Really love the way the arms form the back of the vehicle at the right angles and the way the legs work. The hands are a bit weird but after being told at that Southland thing that that was the way the hands were supposed to be, it really has grown on me. The design of the alt mode and the robot mode also help. Very unique in their own rights. Love the detachability of the weapon into two bits as well. I think it's a great toy overall and have every intention of doubbling up on Blazing Lockdown too. :D

Music to my ears. +999999999999999

I truly adore the Lockdown mold. It's not perfect but it stands as a very striking example of the line.

[Seraphim Prime]

My Swindle has a slightly floppy waist, but I don't find it to be that great an issue.

No stress marks on the bonnet, but there are a couple of stress marks forming where the stomach plate connects with the crotch.

[The Scream Man]

Scored myself Blurr and Swindle the other day (Bu passed on Hound from Classics. Not sure why....). and like both. Blurr is more fun the further I play with him, and i adore his car mode. Swindle is ok, but doesnt feel as fun to me as many of the other animated figures do. i hate his hands, and his car mode isnt quite cartoony enough.

Still they aint bad. Hoping for Wasp and Sidecar Prowl soon.

[loophole]

I finally picked up Waspinator today and i have to ask why did they even bother with instructions:confused: you flip down the bug head and thats the pretty much it, still a cool looking figure.

oh...and a like it how with Swindles BFG you put the missile in and it changes colour to make it look energised/loaded:D (btw i am easily amused)

[Doubledealer]

Music to my ears. +999999999999999

I truly adore the Lockdown mold. It's not perfect but it stands as a very striking example of the line.

I think it's perfect bar the limp wrists (If his toy was anything to go by you'd think Lockdown has a pretty weak hand shake :p) and stationary head.

The legs are the definite highlight for me *wolf whistles* - I love clipping the front spoiler part to form the thighs. Such awesome design!

I was given Blazing Lockdown today and am really glad to now have the chainsaw. :D

[Stompy]

The hooked wrist adds to his "crooked" alien like appeal. I too love the legs. The chainsaw is ok. I still prefer the hook but now I can pimp up Lockdown by having either 2 of the engine guns or a hook and saw on each arm respectively.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/Lockdown-BotGroupShot.jpg

LOCKDOWN FEVER!

[STL]

oh...and a like it how with Swindles BFG you put the missile in and it changes colour to make it look energised/loaded:D (btw i am easily amused)

:o You're not alone.


The hooked wrist adds to his "crooked" alien like appeal. I too love the legs. The chainsaw is ok. I still prefer the hook but now I can pimp up Lockdown by having either 2 of the engine guns or a hook and saw on each arm respectively.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/Lockdown-BotGroupShot.jpg

LOCKDOWN FEVER!

oooh, need to get around to opening my Blazing Lockdown. Grabbed him just before the end of the sale. Looks great.

[Sutton]

Had my Shockwave/Bumblebee 2-pack show up in the mail yesterday.

Purple animated Shockwave is one of the worst Transformers of all time, but simultaneously one of the coolest figures I own: the tank/crane altmode worked much better in the original colour scheme - this just looks likes a robot lying down, or as my partner put it, a little kid in purple pyjamas throwing a tantrum.

The robot mode(s) make up for it though, however the Longarm disguise is really pretty useless. Can't remember seeing an Autobot entirely dressed in purple before, but oh well. The main Shockwave mode is awesome and makes him well worth owning.

And the little Bumblebee activator is great too, I've been meaning to pick him up for ages.

I probably would have opted for the normal-coloured Shockwave, but they were roughly 30% more expensive on Ebay which probably has something to do with the $5 pricing stuff-up in US Targets. This pack set me back $45au including postage and arrived in a week, pretty happy with it overall.

[GoktimusPrime]

I know it was a bugger to find an original Animated Shockwave at a decent price (mostly because US sellers gouge you for price of postage). dirge finally found one for me from a Singaporean seller - AU$43 for the toy w/ AU$20 postage.

Check out eBay Singapore. This one (http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Transformers-Animated-Voyager-Shockwave-Autobot-Longarm_W0QQitemZ360149533526QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU _Action_Figures?hash=item360149533526&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1240|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18) has a Buy It Now price of SG$42.74 (AU$39.99) and ships worldwide (and shipping from Singapore to Australia is much cheaper than from USA)

[jaydisc]

or as my partner put it, a little kid in purple pyjamas throwing a tantrum.

That's hysterical! :D

[Sutton]

Just a few pics to demonstrate the absurdity of the Longarm mode with this paintscheme...

[Sutton]

No, Mr Ultra Magnus sir, I haven't seen Blur in stellar cycles...

[Sutton]

Wait, you're the Decepticon spy we've been looking for?!

[Sutton]

"BLAU!!!"

Magnus got totally Palpatined on that one...

[Sutton]

It's HAMMER-TIME, Bitches :D:D:D

[Sutton]

Logically, you should give me your lunch money...

[jaydisc]

awesome

[GoktimusPrime]

Heh yeah... when was the last time you ever saw an Autobot painted purple? ;)

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Don't ask, don't tell policy?:D

[Sky Shadow]

Heh yeah... when was the last time you ever saw an Autobot painted purple? ;)

They do tend to shy away from that colour, don't they? Most of the time, the closest they get are those colours used on Warpath, Perceptor, Skyfall and bits of Getaway and Joyride. Still, I don't think Autobots should automatically shoot at anything with a bit of purple on them. Some Autobots I can think of with notable use of purple include:

- Grotusque, RID Skid-Z, 2003 Universe Silverbolt, Armada Cheetor and Armada Airazor,
- the Japanese versions of Whisper, Storm Cloud and Flattop,
- and maybe Go-Bot Ironhide's pants.

(Unless those are pink. Which is even worse, really...

http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/f/fe/G2Gobot_Ironhide.jpg

"Every time I look at my pants, Prime, my circuits sizzle. Why the hell did you have to throw a red sock into the wash?")

[i_amtrunks]

Don't ask, don't tell policy?:D

Autobots are purple-phobes... :p

[GoktimusPrime]

From the Human Error Part 2 thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=4104):

I think we'd get better fiction if it wasn't toyline based (see Furman's IDW stories versus AHM's 1984/85 toyline based story).
I agree, but for me it's different with Animated. I'm sure that from the very inception of Animated Hasbro had the intent of making this a toyline, but decided to design the characters for the cartoon first and then asking TakaraTOMY designers to engineer toys from Hasbro's animation models.

[Sky Shadow]

I watched the first five minutes of "Decepticon Air". Gok - I know you'll appreciate it that Sentinel orders his crew to 'bot' their posts rather than 'man' them.

[Sutton]

From the Human Error Part 2 thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=4104):

I agree, but for me it's different with Animated. I'm sure that from the very inception of Animated Hasbro had the intent of making this a toyline, but decided to design the characters for the cartoon first and then asking TakaraTOMY designers to engineer toys from Hasbro's animation models.

That's exactly how they did it. There's interviews out there that confirm it.

Love it or hate it, one has to admit that the design ethos in Animated is very coherent, and the toys amazingly accurate in most cases.

[i_amtrunks]

I watched the first five minutes of "Decepticon Air". Gok - I know you'll appreciate it that Sentinel orders his crew to 'bot' their posts rather than 'man' them.

But bot, is he a jerk about it! :D

Jazz really should smack him upside the skidplate with his nunchuku.

[Sky Shadow]

But bot, is he a jerk about it! :D

Bot, Trunks! Sentinel can't botage to bot such an imbotsse ship as just one bot - he's only hubot! That's why he debotded that his bots botdatorily bot their posts. I botstioned it because I botstally fear that the bots being held in rebotd are going to be ebotcipated!

[Paulbot]

Bot, Trunks! Sentinel can't botage to bot such an imbotsse ship as just one bot - he's only hubot! That's why he debotded that his bots botdatorily bot their posts. I botstioned it because I botstally fear that the bots being held in rebotd are going to be ebotcipated!

Oh, holy smurf!

:D

[i_amtrunks]

Bot, Trunks! Sentinel can't botage to bot such an imbotsse ship as just one bot - he's only hubot! That's why he debotded that his bots botdatorily bot their posts. I botstioned it because I botstally fear that the bots being held in rebotd are going to be ebotcipated!

You sir deserve a cookie.

[GoktimusPrime]

Someone please ebotcipate me from this botdane botiacal and botic botifestation of mirth and mayhem! I can't botage any more of this!! :p

<Kirk> BOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT!!! </Kirk>

[jacksplatt11]

Wow

[Sky Shadow]

Someone please ebotcipate me from this botdane botiacal and botic botifestation of mirth and mayhem! I can't botage any more of this!! :p

<Kirk> BOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT!!! </Kirk>

I've just realised that "romantic" becomes "robotic". Coincidence? :cool:

[i_amtrunks]

Nabbed me Leader Bulkhead last night, so now I can finally compare him to the Voyager.

He isn't even close to being as good a toy as the Voyager version, the transformation is more fun and intuitive (but Voyager Bulkhead is one of the best Transformations in the entire Animated line), and the figure more closely represents the on-screen character.

On the flipside I really like the Leader figure too, transformation is decent and the sounds and lights, just like with Megatron, are just right. Like all figures with electronic gimmicks, I could live without them, but at least on Bulkhead I do not hate them.

Leader Bulky makes a better display piece, Voyager is the toy I still want to play with and transform.

Still seeing as the Leader class figure was $6 cheaper than the Voyager I'm not complaining! :p

[jaydisc]

I couldn't agree more on all counts.

[GoktimusPrime]

*nods* IMO the Voyager Leaders are only worth getting on sale and not worth the full RRP.

[Doubledealer]

TFA Wreck-Gar:

Received this one today (thanks again Zippo) and like most TFA toys it doesn't disappoint. I'm not a huge fan of his character on the show but the toy is excellent. My favourite thing about the robot mode is how fantastically retro he looks. The shiny 70's orange, simply designed lower extremities and old tv/torch style head go a long way in making him look like antiquey while maintaining the overall Animated aesthetic. I don't really have a problem with the giant backpack, it's not like he doesn't have it in the show and it just wouldn't look right if came off ala Prime and his trailer. I do think the 'picker-uppers' should fold back and up though as they look a bit out of place. Overall, another must-have TFA toy!

[SilverDragon]

I finally got Waspinator.

He's like Swoop-he transforms simply but he's really poseble and show-accurate as well. My only real gripes are the lack of a weapon or something like that and that he's a bit loose on some joints-but not enough to really impede him.

My mum had her own thoughts on him:

"My god, it has fairy wings."
"No," I said, "it's a wasp."
"Oh."

[GoktimusPrime]

"My god, it has fairy wings."
"No," I said, "it's a wasp."
"Oh."
You should've said, in Waspinator's voice, "Why motherbot hate Wazzpinator?" :p

[Toastfarmer]

Well, I just finished unboxing Wreck-Gar, which completes my Animated collection until more is released. I have:

- All 13 boxed Activators
- Atomic Lugnut, Skywarp, EG Bumblebee and Blazing Lockdown all boxed
- Shadow Blade Megatron and Roadbuster Ultra Magnus boxed
- All Target exclusives (Rescue Ratchet, Stealth Lockdown, Sunstorm & G1 Shockwave) boxed

Then all the other Animated figures running free. My personal rule with unboxing is to keep repaints MISB and unleash everything else, except for the Activators. I've also ignored the bumper battlers, Leader class Optimus and that Bumblebee thing.

I sit and wait patiently for the next Animated wave. Does anybody suppose it will be out before Christmas?

[Doubledealer]

Nice way to finish the collection, Toasty. Wreck Gar is an awesome toy (shame about his character on the show :p). Any pics of them all grouped together? I just bought one of each character for my collection and recently threw them all in a glass IKEA cabinet. They look great all together. :)

Not sure when the new toys are due but hopefully in time for Xmas (by which time they will have announced a TFA movie for the cinema's...Bit too hopeful maybe? :D).

[Sky Shadow]

If anyone is still looking for grey Animated Shockwave and Skywarp, this isn't a bad price ($75AU shipped for both of them), and possibly even better if you're buying multiple items to save on shipping: http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS16145&mode=retail

[SilverDragon]

I got Leader Megatron yesterday. I'd fancied picking it up for a while, but the price was a major deterrant (I may spend money on toys at this age, but I have limits). Then Target marked Animated Leaders down to $35, and so I went and got him for a post-HSC present.

Holy crap, he is awesome. He really looks like an evil leader thanks to the stylisation. The helicopter mode is even more evil-looking, and is suitably huge (even more so than the vehicle mode of Ultra Magnus).

One thing I found out was that his vehicle mode sounds work like those of Universe Onslaught, in that holding down the button keeps the flying chopper sounds going in a loop until you let go, upon which the sound goes to the powering down sound and then stops.

[SMHFConvoy]

TFA Megs is great. The rotor blades gearing is elegant

[Lint]

Just picked up samurai prowl in my bikeformer quest. This is my first animated purchase and sad to say probably my last. The hip joints are horribly loose, I don't like how he wears the helmet like he's permanently recieving it from the M.A.S.K crusader deployment table, the weapon is kinda rubbish and things pop off ball joints like theres no tomorrow.

Yes the idea probably looked great on a 3D drawing board but it fails in execution.

[liegeprime]

Just picked up samurai prowl in my bikeformer quest. This is my first animated purchase and sad to say probably my last. The hip joints are horribly loose, I don't like how he wears the helmet like he's permanently recieving it from the M.A.S.K crusader deployment table, the weapon is kinda rubbish and things pop off ball joints like theres no tomorrow.

Yes the idea probably looked great on a 3D drawing board but it fails in execution.

yeah the armor is a fail when being played with, it looks alright display wise but thats it. It actually better to get the first version as that one you can really play with and the joints are not a frequent pop out, well mine doesnt. So are you getting Oilslick as well? He's a bike too.... he fits well with the dreadnoks theme... if your into Gi Joes as well:D

[markwough]

My 5 year old nephew loves these transformers. They are a little more complicated to transform, but after about 2 hours he was doing so on his own. The hip shields do not want to stay on very well which is really the only problem we found with the design. The parts are very small so for a very young child they may not be a good choice. Overall they are worth the price. My nephew has many transformers and he says these are his "best favourites". He really liked the idea of getting six transformer options in one package. Can't beat that.

[Lint]

So are you getting Oilslick as well? He's a bike too.... he fits well with the dreadnoks theme... if your into Gi Joes as well:D

I'll grab oilslick if I can find him cheap. Since animated toys are relatively recent and somewhat dissapointing I'm not going to be in a hurry for him.

On another note I got Swindle for my 8yo cousin. He seems a lot more solid than prowly but there was a bit of irrational spalling of the forarm/hood pieces. I have to say modern transformers are pretty good training for children. I could hear the neurons interfacing in his brain.

[kup]

Got Leader Magnus today thanks to Liege Prime. I knew that the toy was pretty good compared to general leader standards but he is actually a very good toy on his own, he is actually rather impressive. I wouldn't say that he was $100 impressive but he certainly excels within the $20 price range :p

Seriously the toy is very good with a nice and complex yet satisfying transformation. His gimmicks are peripheral to the toy design and therefore compliment it rather than get in the way of it. The none firing pop up canons add to the play value and its highly poseable.

The armored truck mode is of a rectangular shape which is a good contrast to the stylized robot mode. Although the robot mode is very bulky by Animated standards, it generally lacks kibble aside from his shoulders which is very unusual.

The only bad point to this design is the shoulders, they are rather awkward looking and very hard transform due to the stiff inner double hinges which a kid would certainly struggle with even if he knew the correct sequence.

I was rather disappointed that an Activator version of this character was not released (I generally only collect Animated Activators) but since the price of this toy fell so much that it was almost like the price of an Activator that I decided to buy him and glad I did :)

[SilverDragon]

I like Ultra Magnus, but I feel that the robot mode arms could really have been improved. The shoulders just look weird in any position other than with the arms down.

The armoured carrier mode is win, though. Guns on guns on guns, and they're fun guns, because they pop out from different places and make him look like a vehicle from Thunderbirds.

[SharkyMcShark]

How has this happened? Despite me not at all liking the design for Bulkhead I ended up with both the Voyager, and today the Leader, class of that character.

I guess half price may have helped somewhat.

[Sky Shadow]

How has this happened? Despite me not at all liking the design for Bulkhead I ended up with both the Voyager, and today the Leader, class of that character.

I guess half price may have helped somewhat.

They're both fantastic bits of plastic - definitely two of the best Transformers toys from the past couple of years.

[SharkyMcShark]

I'm not really a fan - I like my transformers sleek and swift looking, not green and bulbous. Still, now I can say that I own all the leader class toys from a line for once.

[jaydisc]

The character style of Bulkhead certainly didn't initially appeal to me either, but the voyager's transformation from vehicle to robot when done in the right order is the most elegant and gratifying transformation I've possibly experienced.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm not a huge fan of the design either, but both the Voyager and Leader Class toys are neat IMO. I was more disappointed with the slow character development (or lack of) for Bulkhead in the show. (-_-)

Designwise apparently Bulkhead is based on Crunch from Mighty Orbots.
Piccies:
http://well-of-souls.com/orbots/crunch.jpg
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/pohl/189/crunch1.jpg
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/pohl/189/crunch2.jpg

The part of the opening theme for Animated where you see Bulkhead sitting down eating (see 0:09 of this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7p2aFCP4HI)) is a tribute to Crunch, who is does the same thing in the opening theme for Mighty Orbots (see 1:20 of this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXFvqfEkdrU)). So I guess someone on the Animated design team must be an Orbots fan.

Btw, was it just me, but when I was a kid I always thought that Orbots' head and face looked a lot like the G1 Blaster toy\

[SharkyMcShark]

They referenced a lot of other cartoons in Animated (Sentinel Prime as the Tick for example)