TF Beast Hunters Episode 9 - Evolution

[bassbot]

Whilst I can see the energy the creators are putting into this series, it's just going to be so disappointing as it finishes so soon.

Agree with the pro points for this episode, I really loved it and felt that Magnus and Wheeljack are growing pretty naturally. In ways that have been built up in their own little character arc - and unfortunately Smokescreen's mini-arc from the start of the series has been dropped.

[ILikeSoundwave]

Whilst I can see the energy the creators are putting into this series, it's just going to be so disappointing as it finishes so soon.

Agree with the pro points for this episode, I really loved it and felt that Magnus and Wheeljack are growing pretty naturally. In ways that have been built up in their own little character arc - and unfortunately Smokescreen's mini-arc from the start of the series has been dropped.

It was a escape pod.

[i_amtrunks]

Two good episodes in a row. Common theme? No squishies!

Really enjoyed the scrap, It looked like Magnus and Wheeljack were doing well, but seriously after all the hits they got on Predaking he was fine and ready to keep going, it was more that the fight with WJ and UM was of little concern to him in terms of threat.

I really liked the whole "get rid of the predacons before they turn into a threat" thinking by the Decepticons, while it is a massive waste of the last few advertisements episodes, it is a bold and sensible move from the Decepticons viewpoint.

Loved the little Starscream/Knockout scene on the warship too.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, from what I have heard/read, the development of a show model involves some real serious work, and therefore I really don't think we're going to see a group of new characters who will only be used for a couple of episodes. In fact, I think this is nigh on impossible to expect. Even new character Magnus, for example, is a 'retool' of an existing model.

The number of character models speaks volumes about the difficulty of creating these... we will have 65 episodes of Prime by the end, and there's a total of about 9 Autobots and 12 Decepticon models, compared to say what 50+ Autobots alone by G1 episode 65??

^Excellent point. 3D models are also very expensive to create and maintain. This is why characters are often removed from stories before or around the time that new ones are introduced, e.g. Dreadwing was killed before Predaking was introduced. This helps to reduce the number of characters that they need to maintain in the show at any one time. Cel animation is relatively much cheaper. It doesn't really cost any extra to populate a scene with randomly coloured Decepticon jets... heck, Transformers Armada occasionally has random G1 Transformers in the background, including a really weirdly coloured Fortress Maximus!

It is true that there were some 3D models used for the Predacons in the chambers, but these are probably very simple models that are not nearly as hard to create (e.g. only rudimentary movements, definitely no transform). Plus for those they didn't zoom in on, may be even simpler with 2D to 3D trickery.

Yep, another good point. Having simple models obscured by darkness/shadows means they significantly reduce the need to spend money on rendering, colouring, lighting, textures etc. Beast Wars did the same thing with the Transformers' Cybertronian robot forms and ditto the members of the Tripredacus Council.

Whilst I can see the energy the creators are putting into this series, it's just going to be so disappointing as it finishes so soon.

Yeah... just like the G2 comics, Animated and Beast Wars.
Gee... axe us.

It was a escape pod.

He said arc, not ark. (re: Smokescreenimus Prime) I'm personally glad they've left that though.

Two good episodes in a row. Common theme? No squishies!