Animated not reflecting the style of the Movie? [Archive] - Ozformers Transformers Club of Australia (otca.com.au)

TheDirtyDigger

3rd December 2008, 04:48 PM

I wish Transformers Animated would've emulated the movie instead of going all Cartoon Network. JMO.

Personally I have to agree here. While I have enjoyed a few episodes (much more the Cybertron/space based ones over the earth/humans involved ones) of Animated, I think if they had have made it follow/emulate the movie continuity it would have been a far greater and even more marketable product than the copying of the Teen Titans/Powerpuff Girls/Puffy Ami Yumi thing that we have now. Sadly, no matter how hard I try, I am just not Aaron Archer.

Sutton

3rd December 2008, 06:50 PM

Nah, I like Animated, it's a breath of fresh air for the franchise. It's especially enjoyable for the younger kids (10 and under) and really, that's who it's aimed at. It's about getting the younger kids into Transformers, and it's succeeding in that respect.

BUT I WOULD LOVE IT IF HASBRO WERE TO COMMISSION A SERIES OF STRAIGHT-TO-DVD ANIMATED MOVIES BASED IN THE MOVIE UNIVERSE.

GoktimusPrime

3rd December 2008, 07:35 PM

Having it follow suit from the movie wouldn't necessarily exclude kids. WB's Batman animated series followed up on the movies with a new darker/grittier look and that's been really successful. And although Clone Wars has adopted a more Cartoon Network visual style (same animators as Powerpuff Girls for the cel-animated series) the story-telling still easily comparable with the movies... mind you, Clone Wars is in-continuity with the movies but the Batman animated series isn't. Ditto the Spider-Man and X-Men cartoons that followed the movie... new look and "attitude" for those franchises that were clearly influenced by their movies, but still marketed toward kids at the same time. When I spoke to Eric Siebernaler about this he did concede that Animated is definitely a "divergence" from the standard look and feel of Transformers. There's no reason why a franchise cannot be based on a movie and still be made to appeal to kids at the same time.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/movies_toons.jpg

kup

3rd December 2008, 07:45 PM

Although saying that X-Men movie influenced X-Men evolution is a bit of a stretch it still serves to make your point.

That Animated Prime really stands out badly in the ridiculous sense :)

jaydisc

3rd December 2008, 07:45 PM

Sounds like that would be putting all the eggs in one basket. I like the current three pronged (Movie/Animated/Universe) TF approach. It casts a wider net.

TheDirtyDigger

3rd December 2008, 08:01 PM

Just with the comparison with Star Wars...the cartoons actually add to the story (movies) so that a much larger and more complex picture is drawn in one continuity. Which I like.

Transformers now has so many totally different continuities (which I don't like) and with the movies we can expect 3 x 2 hr (approx) episodes. If the cartoon was in movie continuity we could have so much more from one Universe.

kup

3rd December 2008, 08:08 PM

Pulse

3rd December 2008, 08:20 PM

Sounds like that would be putting all the eggs in one basket. I like the current three pronged (Movie/Animated/Universe) TF approach. It casts a wider net.

IMO You could say Hasbro are trying to appeal to all their demographics with the 3 current/future lines (ROTF = Non-TF people, Animated = kids & Universe = Collectors) & for that you'd definitely have to give them kudos :).

I just know someone's gonna flame me for expressing my opinion

Kyle

3rd December 2008, 08:30 PM

I would have preferred a TV cartoon series that ties in with the Movie. But I'm now perfectly happy with Animated. :)

Paulbot

3rd December 2008, 08:34 PM

Move these last 11 posts from the Universe comments thread because they had nothing to do with Universe toys at all.

The Movie did influence Animated that's why Animated has characters named Bumblebee and Ratchet and a macguffin called the AllSpark.

TheDirtyDigger

3rd December 2008, 08:38 PM

The Movie did influence Animated that's why Animated has characters named Bumblebee and Ratchet and a macguffin called the AllSpark.

I think Animated has taken concepts from a lot of Tf lines but I would say the Movie was the least of the influences.

Paulbot

3rd December 2008, 08:45 PM

I think Animated has taken concepts from a lot of Tf lines but I would say the Movie was the least of the influences.
Yes but those characters were renamed because of the movie, and the AllSpark was an added element because of the movie too.

roller

3rd December 2008, 09:02 PM

yeah, Armada trilogy copied G1 in the Unicron respect.

Now, instead of trying to blow up a monster planet in every series, we'll be seeing both factions dukin it out for a box/cube

Thats why RID rocks, so unique

loophole

3rd December 2008, 09:06 PM

I personally dont mind the cartoony styling of Animated its different and i like cartoony looking stuff hell i have Daffy Duck tattood to my arm. btw i like cartoons.

With Gok's comparisons between the movies and the cartoons saying that they have a "new" look because of the movie is only minor i mean the look of Batman hasnt really changed in the last 20 years at least for Batman and the 90's animated series was a still a verly dark and gritty cartoon and awesome, and then theres Spiderman he hasnt looked any different since 1963 except for putting on a different coloured suit every now and then. They are alot more influenced by there original sources COMICS!!! having them as a movie is the current "in" thing and is then played on by having the cartoons so all the kiddies can watch them in the morning and then go out that afternoon to buy the toys. Just that sometimes not all the time they have good solid stories to drive the cartoons as well.

TheDirtyDigger

3rd December 2008, 09:16 PM

There was a great CGI Spidey cartoon that only lasted one series that was in-continuity with the movies. Another example of expanding on the live action movies.
The newest Spidey cartoon, Spectacular Spiderman, just isn't all that flash (although the figures aren't bad).

Golden Phoenix

3rd December 2008, 10:35 PM

Just with the comparison with Star Wars...the cartoons actually add to the story (movies) so that a much larger and more complex picture is drawn in one continuity. Which I like.
I like that to. In the Star Wars universe basically every character you see has some small detail about them, others have vast detailed histories and yet you only see them for half a second in the films.
Aurra Sing (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Aurra_Sing) comes to mind. She has a big back story and yet is only in Episode I for half a second

On the other hand though, I also like having some stories that a different. The whole What If? thing. Having multiple continuities allows this, and you can see the same thing through different views or ways. It is interesting to see how each Optimus Prime is the same and yet different.

I like the current three pronged (Movie/Animated/Universe) TF approach. It casts a wider net.
I do too. The main advantage I see is variaty. There is something for everyone (well at least almost everyone)
I like Animated's style, and the figure have some really good engineering and design. But I also like the more traditional style that we see in Classics/Universe. And I also dislike the style seen in the Movie line, we can't win them all, but I can have at least 2 out of 3. The Point I'm trying to make is that this way, we get something that we can enjoy. They may not enjoy as much as if they had put 100% into it, but the pay off is is that you get something to enjoy, otherwise they might take the other road and you would get stuck with something that they put 100% into that you think is 100% crap

WB's Batman animated series followed up on the movies with a new darker/grittier look and that's been really successful.
For Batman:The Animated Series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Animated_Series), yes very true, for The Batman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Batman_(TV_series)), not so much.
The latter was a lot more light hearted. Just look at the way they did the villains, especially Joker, they were crazy and comical. And the latter seasons because a lot more campier. Have you heard the Theme song for Season 3,4 & 5?!?!?!
Think a cross between Hawaiian Surf music and the Batman theme from the 1960s live action TV series with Adam West

i_amtrunks

3rd December 2008, 10:55 PM

I'm glad that Animated didnt visually follow on from the movie, the movie characters looked mostly like scrap metal, and although the designs look much better in the sequel comics having to animate all that useless horrible "detail" would have cost a fortune for any close up shots.

Story wise, if the Animated series expanded on the movie it would have more or less a blank slate as the movie had about as much plot and characterisation in it as the AHM comic series.

A different angle incorporating some of the more popular movie elements as Animated did was the smartest move Hasbro could make. Sure it could have been a bit more mature, but Hasbro had a target audience in mind and stuck with it.

GoktimusPrime

3rd December 2008, 11:10 PM

Although saying that X-Men movie influenced X-Men evolution is a bit of a stretch it still serves to make your point
Well there are varying limits of influence - and there is some influence in X-Men Evolution visually... e.g. the uniforms are darker; Wolverine isn't wearing yellow spandex. ;)

Transformers now has so many totally different continuities (which I don't like) and with the movies we can expect 3 x 2 hr (approx) episodes. If the cartoon was in movie continuity we could have so much more from one Universe.
To be fair, Transformers has never had a single universe/continuity.

The Movie did influence Animated that's why Animated has characters named Bumblebee and Ratchet and a macguffin called the AllSpark.
When I spoke to Eric he told me that a lot of those were "last minute" decisions. Initially Hasbro intended for Animated to be entirely unrelated to the movie - and it is - but then much later on in the developmental stage they decided to put in references from the movie, such as naming their Cosmic MacGuffin(TM) the AllSpark(R). I'm not sure if the inclusion of Ratchet was influenced by the movie or not - we've had Red Alert (who was called Ratchet in Japan) in the Unicron Trilogy. But I read somewhere that Bumblebee was originally slated to be Hot Shot, but they later changed him to Bumblebee - I think that was a later decision made that was influenced by the movie.

So there are influences from the movie, but as TheDirtyDigger said, it's a relatively minor influence. I would have preferred a greater/stronger influence.

Again - JMHO yo. :)

Story wise, if the Animated series expanded on the movie it would have more or less a blank slate as the movie had about as much plot and characterisation in it as the AHM comic series.
Oooh! A double janglies-kick to Bay and McCarthy! :p :)

kup

3rd December 2008, 11:14 PM

Well there are varying limits of influence - and there is some influence in X-Men Evolution visually... e.g. the uniforms are darker; Wolverine isn't wearing yellow spandex. ;)

Because he prefers his orange spandex better!

http://thumbnails.putfile.com/images/5/11939412622254205728.jpg

GoktimusPrime

4th December 2008, 12:15 AM

Well it's a brownish-orange which is similar to Wolverine's brown and tan costume from the comics - only with more black. :)
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/Umbrax3/Brown.jpg

Sky Shadow

4th December 2008, 01:19 AM

I'm glad that Animated didnt visually follow on from the movie, the movie characters looked mostly like scrap metal

I agree wholeheartedly plus a bit more. I can't even follow any of the movie line comics, as I have no idea which piece of screwed up metal is meant to be which character. From a glance one can recognise every individual in Animated and both the visual aesthetics and the toys are leagues beyond those of the movie. I didn't even buy one movie toy last time and I'm unlikely to buy any for this film either. I regret that the second movie will be taking shelfspace and potential releases away from Animated.

Gutsman Heavy

4th December 2008, 02:09 AM

But I read somewhere that Bumblebee was originally slated to be Hot Shot, but they later changed him to Bumblebee - I think that was a later decision made that was influenced by the movie.

I read that aswell.

Also that Ratchet replaced a female Red Alert,

[ANIMATED SPOILERZ, Maybe...]who will be showing up anyway. Hot Shot too I think...

i_amtrunks

4th December 2008, 09:22 AM

If what has been leaked about Season 3 is true, Gutsman then you are correct on your "Spoilerz".

GoktimusPrime

4th December 2008, 09:36 AM

I would preferred a cartoon based on the Classics toys (as a G1 reboot, which is what Animated is) over Cartoon-Network stylisation - and without the goofy human villains. Invisible-Pink-Unicorns know I hate those human villains. (-_-)

STL

5th December 2008, 12:03 AM

I think we have to separate what we as fans want and what is commercially possible. I think Hasbro has in mind a larger market it wants to take and dominate. While I would love nothing more than a single universe dedicated to G1 and reimagining those toys or adding more to G1 like Drift from IDW, I do accept Hasbro runs a business and that they'll do what they see as being commercially practicable and I honestly think they're doing well.

GoktimusPrime

5th December 2008, 09:40 AM

Yeah but there's nothing to say that a non-Cartoon Networky TF series wouldn't be marketable... after all, all other TF series up till now haven't been in this style and they managed to succeed well enough for 23 years. :) And as my comparisons with X-Men, Batman, Spider-Man etc. illustrated, other franchises have been able to produce series following movie franchises which have been more influenced by them yet still targetted at kids. You can make a line that simultaneously appeals to adults and kids - Beast Wars proved that this was possible. It does require more effort and dedication though.

SilverDragon

5th December 2008, 01:36 PM

I prefer the difference in styles, since I dislike the Movie designs quite a bit.

Also, it gives us greater variety to choose from. Movie toys for people who like 'real' robots, Animated for cartoony styles, and Universe for nostalgia.

I would preferred a cartoon based on the Classics toys (as a G1 reboot, which is what Animated is) over Cartoon-Network stylisation - and without the goofy human villains. Invisible-Pink-Unicorns know I hate those human villains. (-_-)

YES. A Classics/Universe cartoon would be great-I've been kicking around ideas for a fiction regarding it for a while. The only problem is that the only 'cartoon' for Classics/Universe is that So Bad It's Horrible short.

GoktimusPrime

5th December 2008, 02:05 PM

Classics comics ftw! :) (too bad most of them are exclusives :( I wish IDW would/could do a regular release Classics comic series - although we do have some Classics-Universe characters appearing in All Hail Megatron)

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/d/d0/Classicscomicautobots.jpg

1orion2many

5th December 2008, 02:24 PM

Lord_Zed

10th December 2008, 08:38 PM

I prefer the difference in styles, since I dislike the Movie designs quite a bit.

Also, it gives us greater variety to choose from. Movie toys for people who like 'real' robots, Animated for cartoony styles, and Universe for nostalgia.

I'm the oppisite, I like the Movie designs and dislike the Animated ones for the most part, G1 is toony enough for me. I agree with you though that diversity is a good thing though. I recall when Armada was out it was a choice of unispiring TF's ore more uninspiring TF's!

What Hasbro does with there toons doesn't really bother me as I haven't really got much from a TFcartoon since Beast Wars. Though I will agree with Roller to some exent Car Robots was amusing, in it's native tounge at least.

Originaly posted by Loophole
I personally dont mind the cartoony styling of Animated its different and i like cartoony looking stuff hell i have Daffy Duck tattood to my arm. btw i like cartoons.

I like cartoons to, though toy cartoons get a bit sameish after a while. Daffy Duck rocks! I wrote and essay about Daffy Duck, Buggs Buny and the Transformers at Uni once, I really love the old Tex Avery cartoons where Daffy Duck is straight jacket insane! Although Chuck Jones's ones are awesome to.

GoktimusPrime

10th December 2008, 09:23 PM

I really like how the movie made the Transformers so other-worldly. :) I can't think of any other TF continuity that's done that quite so well. Budiansky comes close, but the movie is better IMO.

Robzy

10th December 2008, 11:24 PM

I really dislike the movie designs... and at first I wasn't so keen on the Animated ones - but now i love em! :) I'm also impressed by how they've managed to make cartoony toys that actually transform!

Overall, I agree that Animated is a breath of fresh air!

loophole

10th December 2008, 11:38 PM

I really love the old Tex Avery cartoons where Daffy Duck is straight jacket insane! Although Chuck Jones's ones are awesome to.

Crazy insane Daffy is the best

And on the point of this actual thread. I like the movie designs because of how different and how thats how they probally look like if they did come to Earth my biggest problem not so much with the movie cast but most of the movie toys there head mould/ designs just arent that appealing i know there alien robots but i still like to see eyes and mouth

GoktimusPrime

11th December 2008, 08:44 AM

I like the movie designs because of how different and how thats how they probally look like if they did come to Earth
Not only that, but it's more like how Transformers would look if they were from an alien world and if they existed in real life. The reason why more traditional TF designs are unrealistic in real life compared to the movie designs would include:

1/ Why would alien robots completely unrelated to humans happen to have unnecessary human-like features, such as a humanlike face with nose, mouth, teeth etc. - the movie Transformers have mouthes, but they don't look like human mouthes!
2/ Traditional TF designs really restrict movement. Anyone who's ever done TF cosplay would know this. Animators and comic artists cheat by morphing and dislocating parts to do things like make TFs cross their arms. This would not work in a photorealistic setting, so designs had to be changed to make their bodies more streamlined.

MV75

11th December 2008, 09:17 AM

I prefer the animated type of look (g1, unicron trilogy, etc). I like the look of them looking like they are dressed and not half naked with their alien robot parts showing and wearing high heels.

springah

11th December 2008, 09:54 AM

Yeah but there's nothing to say that a non-Cartoon Networky TF series wouldn't be marketable...

This is why youre not in the industry, Gok. Theres much more to it than the fans point of view.

springah

11th December 2008, 09:57 AM

1/ Why would alien robots completely unrelated to humans happen to have unnecessary human-like features, such as a humanlike face with nose, mouth, teeth etc. - the movie Transformers have mouthes, but they don't look like human mouthes!

Like accents in their voices? Agreed with the rest tho.. still ugly..

GoktimusPrime

11th December 2008, 12:43 PM

This is why youre not in the industry, Gok. Theres much more to it than the fans point of view.
When I spoke to Eric Siebernaler about this issue he did concede that the style of Animated is "divergent" (that's the word he used) from the standard/orthodox style of Transformers. He said that Hasbro initially wanted Animated to completely unrelated to the movie but others thought that Transformers should incorporate elements of the movie. That faction won a slight victory toward the end of the conceptual development stage when they were able to introduce the AllSpark into the story - something that's obviously from the movie. But Animated is largely not influenced by the movie because it was Hasbro's initial decision for it to be so. Eric didn't say that basing the follow-up cartoon on the movie would be a bad idea per se, but merely that it simply wasn't Hasbro's decision.

Like accents in their voices?
They learned Earth's languages through the internet. I'm grateful they're not talking in 13375p34|<! :p Seriously though, when acquiring a language of course they're going to have an accent - it's impossible to speak a language without an accent. As machines they would be able to acquire languages quickly without having an alien accent as would happen with organic aliens (e.g. Yoda). ;)

springah

11th December 2008, 01:03 PM

ahh, cool cool. i just dont see kids watching ugly-formers like we do.. kinda like Beast Machines.. my little cousins still complain that the Maximals turned ugly..

and hey, i dont read accents from text, how do they!? :)

kup

11th December 2008, 03:28 PM

Robzy

11th December 2008, 04:01 PM

Why would alien robots completely unrelated to humans happen to have unnecessary human-like features, such as a humanlike face with nose, mouth, teeth etc. - the movie Transformers have mouthes, but they don't look like human mouthes!G1 Optimus didn't have a mouth!!! As you said, the movie ADDED a mouth - looks pretty "human" to me!
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk199/sunglikeahorse/Primelips.jpg
It's in the same place as a human's mouth, and it serves the same purpose when speaking...

No teeth???? What about Megatron... he was given teeth...
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk199/sunglikeahorse/megatronteeth.jpg

I have no problem with "otherworldly" designs... just please make them look good! ;)

.

GoktimusPrime

11th December 2008, 05:04 PM

Robzy: I said humanlike mouthes. Those mouthes, teeth etc. are far less anthropomorphic and more alien-looking than anything you'll see on humans. Especially when you see them moving with all those plates, gears, servos moving about each time they move their lips and ... not a tongue, but the gears and stuff inside their mouthes - to articulate consonants and vowels. That's not how a human mouth works. It looks similar, because obviously their articulating the same phonemes as we would to produce sounds in the English language, but there is also a distinct un-Earthly quality to the appearance and animation of those mouthes too. It's quite different from previous cartoons and comics where the mouthes are drawn and animated to look and move exactly the same as human mouthes would.

and hey, i dont read accents from text, how do they!?
You probably do man. :p When you read texts there should be an internal monologue inside your mind decoding all this text into verbal language... it should have some kind of accent (usually your own, so it may not be noticeable to you). And yeah, as kup said, the internet has plenty of video files. Audio too. It wasn't as if they just picked up Earth languages from reading books, they got it off the Internet which gives them access to a whole range of different media.

One interesting thing about Transformers 2 is that it looks like they will be going to different countries - I saw one behind the scenes video where all the street signs were in Chinese. It'll be interesting to see if the Transformers will be able to converse in other languages when they're outside of an English speaking region because they didn't say "We've learned English," they said, "We've learned Earth's languages through the World Wide Web" - so I'm assuming that they are fluent in every language that can be found on the Internet!

Although I do like how they use some Internet mannerisms that aren't so commonly used in real life, like when Optimus Prime said, "My bad." Hahaha.

I have no problem with "otherworldly" designs... just please make them look good!
Well "good" is a matter of opinion. What looks good to one person looks bad to another and so forth. I just like the fact that they look the least Earth-like of all Transformers that I've seen so far.

i just dont see kids watching ugly-formers like we do.. kinda like Beast Machines.. my little cousins still complain that the Maximals turned ugly..
Unlike Beast Machines, people liked the 2007 movie! :p (it was a commercial success and the toys did sell - BM on the other hand flopped and the toys shelf-warmed for yonkers)

Robzy

11th December 2008, 06:31 PM

Robzy: I said humanlike mouthes. Those mouthes, teeth etc. are far less anthropomorphic and more alien-looking than anything you'll see on humans. Especially when you see them moving with all those plates, gears, servos moving about each time they move their lips and ... not a tongue, but the gears and stuff inside their mouthes - to articulate consonants and vowels.
Well... I guess you're definition of "human-like" mouthes is different to mine! Those who had 2 eyes at the top of their faces in between a nose-like form with a mouth underneath... that's not human-like?? :confused: Forget how it works from a technical POV, aesthetically that's the same layout as a human face.

Perhaps the best way to describe this is humanoid! Most movie TFs have a face (with typical humanoid features), 2 arms & legs and walk upright... hell, one of them even urinates!!! (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MaLTfC7Xqd0) :rolleyes:

There is also a distinct un-Earthly quality to the appearance and animation of those mouthes too. Can you site any examples from any scenes? I seem to remember all movie characters with lips speaking the same way as any other animated character I've seen!

I do like how they use some Internet mannerisms that aren't so commonly used in real life, like when Optimus Prime said, "My bad." Hahaha. Sorry, but that was almost the lowest point in the movie for me (beaten only by the urination "joke")! (Just my opinion)

Well "good" is a matter of opinion. What looks good to one person looks bad to another and so forth.Um... yeah - nevermind! Of course it's a matter of opinion... and my opinion is that I don't like the movie designs as much as, say, G1 or Animated!

For example, I prefer the original design of G1 Starscream compared to the "ugly" movie design. (again JMO!) The movie ones may look "realistic", but I still don't prefer their designs!

I just like the fact that they look the least Earth-like of all Transformers that I've seen so far.Fair enough! :)

GoktimusPrime

11th December 2008, 06:44 PM

It's relative. I think the movie designs look the least humanoid/humanlike/anthropomorphic compared to other TF designs. The movie faces don't have the same "elasticity" of Transformer and human faces normally seen in cartoons and comics.

http://members.chello.nl/~h.vogels1/images/avatars/80x80/transformers/ironhide01.jpghttp://www.animeforum.com/images/avatars/Akira/tetsuo03.jpghttp://www.forumsextreme.com/imgs1/Avatars_Transformers_Ironhide.jpg

Forget how it works from a technical POV, aesthetically that's the same layout as a human face.
"I have no depth-perception!" http://www.forumsextreme.com/imgs1/Avatars_Transformers_Shockwave.jpg :D

Robzy

11th December 2008, 06:50 PM

"I have no depth-perception!" http://www.forumsextreme.com/imgs1/Avatars_Transformers_Shockwave.jpg :D Now, that's funny! :D I'd like to see him try to catch a ball!

dirge

11th December 2008, 09:33 PM

Now, that's funny! :D I'd like to see him try to catch a ball!

...or juggle :D

GoktimusPrime

11th December 2008, 10:30 PM

or clap. (^O^)

STL

11th December 2008, 10:46 PM

or clap. (^O^)

or... I better not say it! :D

liegeprime

11th December 2008, 11:21 PM

it explains a lot why he transforms into a friggin giant gun and still miss his targets :D:D

roller

12th December 2008, 12:09 AM

"Animated not reflecting the style of the movie?"

the answer is no

Because

they are different continuities

there

done

GoktimusPrime

12th December 2008, 09:04 AM

...that was never the point of this thread roller. (-_-)

springah

12th December 2008, 09:15 AM

yeah, "my bad" sucked. also pissing.. that sucked too.

also megs teeth :) them too.

GoktimusPrime

12th December 2008, 09:55 AM

kup

12th December 2008, 10:27 AM

I do have issues with the following designs as I thought them to be terrible:

Megatron
Starscream
Frenzy

roller

12th December 2008, 11:01 AM

Starscream was like a flying monkey chicken

GoktimusPrime

12th December 2008, 11:18 AM

Robot Chicken! :D

liegeprime

12th December 2008, 12:18 PM

I must confessed that I laughed out loud when I first saw Bumblebee pissing on Simmons. :p ;)

As for Megatron's face - it's a BIG improvement over what they had originally planned! When the image got leaked fans complained heavily and to Dreamworks' credit they listened and improved on it. The movie Legends Megatron toy still has the old face though *shudder*

Not much of an improvement IMO, but still welcomed. UGLY to Ugly. For me it looks like a ... ... with teeth, well it's kinda censored never mind.

Thank goodness the animated didn't follow the movie IMO. Design concept wise it allows for more designs and toy molds. If the cartoon were to only follow on and pick up where the movie had left, it would mean less figures, or same character figures with a more toony mold, which I would really hate and think is just a waste to buy. With animated being divergent from movie and picking references up from G1 and other series here and there its a more interesting line. MOvie has a different target and it has achieved that, so has animated. Kudos to Hasbro for this.

Golden Phoenix

12th December 2008, 01:38 PM

The thing I didn't like about the movie designs were how they basically part formed.
The vehicles just appeared to shatter and then reform. Not literally, they were just so complex that this is what it looked like. And the problem I have with this is how fragile it would be.
The more parts the more things that can go wrong. You could easily throw a spanner in the works while they transformed. If you were in a war for so long you'd want something that was durable and had very few exposed points.
This is why I think the Traditional style is more plausible.
I mean, alien facial features are ok, makes it interesting, but the transforming wasn't.

GoktimusPrime

12th December 2008, 02:07 PM

The "shattered" look is required for them to do unrestricted movements. Traditional TF designs don't allow Transformers to do even basic things like crossing their arms, successfully running up and down flights of stairs, scratching the back of their head etc. without cheating the animation/artwork. Do a Transformers COSPLAY some time and you gain a real appreciation of how freakin' restrictive it is to move around in a box-shaped body. (-_-)

And those exposed parts aren't necessarily vulnerable - it's really just a matter of difference in kibble distribution, but non-kibbled robot parts are not necessarily "weak".

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/cosplay/cosplaytest.jpg

Golden Phoenix

12th December 2008, 09:28 PM

And those exposed parts aren't necessarily vulnerable - it's really just a matter of difference in kibble distribution, but non-kibbled robot parts are not necessarily "weak".

I was talking about during the Transformation. Can you imagine how stuffed one of them would be if you threw a pole or something solid at them while they were Transforming?

GoktimusPrime

13th December 2008, 12:20 AM

...that's always been an inherent weakness of Transformers - they'll always be vulnerable in mid-transformation. Doesn't matter if it's movie-style or not, it's a basic weakness of all Transformers. So it would come down to tactics (specifically in manoeuvring), they need to manouevre themselves in a way where they don't expose themselves in mid-transformation to an opponent. It's like how every man's weak-spot is his groin (an inherent flaw of having external genitals), so when you learn to fight you need to be mindful of your groin and manoeuvre yourself in a way where you're not exposing your groin in a fight.

http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/Image/5573/5421/taekwondo.jpg <--High kicks like the one executed by the person in red only work in competitions where groin-strikes are illegal. In a real fight where nothing is 'illegal' it would be an invitation for your opponent to newter you.

We saw Hot Rod make this mistake in Transformers The Movie; when Galvatron jumped and wrestled him in car mode, Hot Rod rolled and transformed to robot mode and Galvatron instantly grabbed his neck and started strangling him as his head was rising up. Don't ask me how you can choke a robot who doesn't breathe though. :p

Golden Phoenix

13th December 2008, 07:19 PM

...that's always been an inherent weakness of Transformers - they'll always be vulnerable in mid-transformation. Doesn't matter if it's movie-style or not, it's a basic weakness of all Transformers. So it would come down to tactics (specifically in manoeuvring), they need to manouevre themselves in a way where they don't expose themselves in mid-transformation to an opponent. It's like how every man's weak-spot is his groin (an inherent flaw of having external genitals), so when you learn to fight you need to be mindful of your groin and manoeuvre yourself in a way where you're not exposing your groin in a fight.

I dunno. It just alywas appeared that the movie guys just seemed extremely fragile while transforming. Like nothing was solid. Where as with most of the other styles, the arm was one solid piece that moved, in the movie, the arm was formed by other pieces moving around to it.