TF Animated General Discussion

[kup]

I have just watched the latest 'Blast from the Past' Episode.

This episode featured my favorite Autobot subgroup, the Dinobots but I am underwhelmed and dissapointed at the handleling of them in animated.

*Spoilers*


The Super Hero aspect and Transformers carrying on seamlessly among the humans without any sort of proper reaction from them is still unsetling. No one asks or cares that these robots happen to be Alien life forms, nor the Government or the general population and I find that idiotic.

This time they tried to developed the character of Bulkhead but they have gone for the traditional 'dumb big Oaf' approach than anything more original. With Rhinox in Beast Wars, he was the largest and strongest (at least in the 1st & 2nd Season) but was also very wise and intelligent with reserved mannerisms. Bulkhead is just a generic 'Dumb big guy' which we have seen countless times in cartoons before and frankly that's borring.

My biggest gripe with this episode however is the handleling of the Dinobots. They have gone for carbon copies of the G1 cartoon Dinobots and to me, that sucks! I was hoping for something like the comics or at least a midway point but the Dinobots here are just primitive retards just like in the G1 cartoon. Their creation was not as bad as I was expecting but was also disappointing. They have basically been constructed from Dinosaur Park animatronics with a little design help from Megatron. They were also given life by the key and I hate it how the key has now become the series' plot device, an obstacle for innovation. Dr Sumdac's naivety is also disturbing, its beyond absurd how he is completely oblivious to Megatron's 'agenda' even though he was the one who constructed the Dinobots with the guidance of Megatron and how despite all that has happened by the end he still trusts in Megatron's good will.

Overall, very underwhelming and a dissapointment that they decided to go with a carbon copy of the G1 cartoon dinobots which many fans will agree, it was one of the biggest flaws of the G1 cartoon to have them so dumb, specially when compared to the absolute kick ass characters we got (and still get) in the comics.

The only thing that I would commend them on is that the Dinobots, particularly Grimlock are spit images of their G1 toy counterparts. When Grimlock transforms at the end, the Transformation sequence looks identical to that of the G1 toys which I thought was cool.
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CUMSHOT COMPILATION

[Gutsman Heavy]

I'll take those primitive retards anyday of the week, I loved the episode, mostly because I love the G1 toon Dinobots

[kup]

I like the G1 Dinobots too but after reading the Marvel and IDW comics, its very hard to go back to dumb Dinobots.

The Animated episode wasn't bad, but it seemed more like a rehash than anything new. It was better than the first episode but not as good as the last.
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LIST OF CEOS OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY PICTURE

[i_amtrunks]

I quite liked the ep, Megatron using his abilities to manipulate a very daft genius into doing his dirty work for him.

Grimlock seemed to grow intelligence as the episode went on, hopefully this trend continues, and Slag and Swoop also get to speak in their next outing.

Bumblebee is an a**wipe, he is just a jerk, Bulkhead should put him through a wall or 10.

Prime has the least "character" of all the bots now, so I expect some big backstory in the coming weeks for him, possibly when Sentinel comes to Earth.

[Robzy]

I concur! I think "Blast from the Past" was the best episode so far! I really liked the portrayal of the Dinobots (including the voice), and I thought Megatron's story was great too - certainly hinting at things to come.

It's very similar to the 'new' (by that I mean '2003') TMNT cartoon... ie, Shredder starts off slowly, and becomes a threat as the seasons goes on. I think the same will apply here - eventually Megatron will arise again, but in the meantime he's using his 'brain' to manipulate the situation.

[kup]

I would not have minded this origin so much if it was actually Megatron who who had planned to give them life all along but the randomness in which the key was used to give them life was what wrecked it for me. If Megatron had orchestrated the creation of the Dinobots down to them gaining a spark, fine my review on this would have been much more positive.

Gaining a Spark in such a random and stupid manner through Sari and her key is what killed any enjoyment of this new take on the Dinobots creation.

Things like this makes Sari seems more of a plot device than an actual character which is uninspired writing in my opinion.

Its not a bad show, this episode may not be as good as the last but its certainly better than the first 'movie' one in my view. However the tone of it is very 'Super Hero team to the rescue' and frankly if I wanted to watch that sort of thing I would watch Teen Titans or Justice League. I like Transformers because they are unique, they are aliens trying to survive on Earth by trying to assimilate into the Earth environment while fighting a Civil war that has grown off their home world. This show puts that side of Transformers as secondary and 'Super Hero team' as first. Its evident even in the way that they interact with one another.
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Vapir No2 Review

[GoktimusPrime]

Okay, just saw the ep and here are my thoughts...

+ I really don't like how they're continuing to portray Bulkhead as a big lumbering oaf. I don't ever expect him to achieve Prowl's level of grace, but when Prowl started training him I was hoping that they would at least meet midway... he doesn't need to be a ninja, but he could stand to be not so freaking UNCO! Prowl's training method sucked - not because it was inherently bad but because it doesn't cater well for a student with Bulkhead's...er... special needs. Bulkhead seems to demonstrate the coordinative abilities of an under-12 year old and would be more suited learning some really super-simple basic martial arts as demonstrated inthis kata. IMO that kata is way too simple to be used to teach most folks over the age of 12. With someone as ridiculously unco as Bulkhead, who can't seem to be able to turn around without falling, you'd probably start him at that "baby steps" level. :/ I can appreciate that they were trying to use the whole scene as a plot device for Prowl explaining how big and destructive things can still be appreciated - but it wasn't enough to justify why they couldn't have improved on Bulkhead's coordination. The Dinobots are big and destructive... and yeah, stupid - but they're not unco! None of them ever accidentally destroyed anything, if anything, their destructive power was quite precise.

+ For all his apparent brilliance, Professor Sundac sure is an absolute IDIOT. Falling for Megatron's dupe once I could forgive, but still believing in him after he admitted that he'd intentionally armed the Dinobots with destructive capabilities? "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

+ The Dinobots - oh god... these guys are even stupider than the G1 cartoon Dinobots. I mean, in the G1 cartoon, the Dinobots were always dopey, but they weren't retards in Seasons 1 and 2... they only became retarded in "Transformers The Move" and episodes which followed that - and by retarded I mean their minds were reduced to the level of a small child (like the way they all gathered round Kup for story time). These Dinobots are operating below that level... almost like animals. (-_-) As someone who's never liked retarded Dinobots, I find this really, really stupid. I agree with kup - they should've tried to meet midway and make the Dinobots maybe not as smart as they were in the G1 comics but not as stupid as they were in the G1 cartoon... but instead, they went below the retard level of the G1 toon Dinobots.

+ Sari's key - I liked how it changed the Dinobots and instilled them with Sparks and the ability to transform. That was cool. Megatron was trying to build an army of drone warriors, not necessarily Transformers - and without the AllSpark he wouldn't have had the ability to imbue them with life anyway. Also, it also served to allow Megatron to learn of the key's existence, which I'm sure will be quite useful for him later.

+ Megatron - I like how he's still operating as an incapacitated villain. That keeps things interesting... and also how the plot is progressing with him working towards restoring more power for himself. His relationship with Dr. Sundac is like watching some evil mastermind playing a mindless puppet for a fool and as his front... kinda like Dick Cheney and George Bush! ;D

...overall... I was disappointed with this episode. Unlike Eps 1 and 2, there was no substantial character development. In Ep1, Prowl started off as a loner who learnt the value of being part of a team. In Ep2, Bumblebee started off as reckless and impulsive and learnt that patience is a virtue, learning to couple the art of stillness with his already honed abilities of speed. In Ep3, Bulkhead started off as a clumsy brute and... well... nothing changed! He should have learnt to combine some of Prowl's agility and coupled it with his already well developed raw power, but it never happened.

No character development = teh suck

...having said all that, the ending with Prowl and Bulkhead placing the Dinobots on a remote island for them to live peacefully was really nice. Thus Prowl remains as my favourite character in this series.

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P.S.: This is one of my favourite dialogues from G1 demonstrating the Grimlock I know and love...

Background: this is from US#77 - Powermaster Optimus Prime has sacrificed himself to destroy Unicron, and in his dying breath named Grimlock as his successor, who is now co-leader of the Autobot-Decepticon Alliance with Bludgeon. Prowl has been trying to convince Grimlock to make a public address to boost morale amongst the Transformers.

PROWL: "All you've done so far is give orders and get on everyone's nerves."
GRIMLOCK: "If you think speech help, you make it. You better at it."
PROWL: "Me? It's not my job! Prime named you Autobot Leader, not me! You have a responsibility to your troops, a duty--"
GRIMLOCK: That it, isn't it? That what really stick in your craw! That Prime name me Autobot Leader and not you! Always saw yourself as next leader, didn't you? With your clever plans and fancy speeches!
(Grimlock sticks his face into Prowl's, pointing at him)
GRIMLOCK: "Well, you not leader, I AM!
(Grimlock walks away from Prowl)
GRIMLOCK: "Suggest you remember that next time you think to question me!"
(With Grimlock gone, Prowl's cool logical facade collapses as he surrenders to his anger with eyes narrowed and teeth gritted, haunched over with both fists clenched... Prowl realises that Grimlock has seen right through him and that he had just been royally PWN3D like a n00b!)

[kup]

PROWL: "All you've done so far is give orders and get on everyone's nerves."
GRIMLOCK: "If you think speech help, you make it. You better at it."
PROWL: "Me? It's not my job! Prime named you Autobot Leader, not me! You have a responsibility to your troops, a duty--"
GRIMLOCK: That it, isn't it? That what really stick in your craw! That Prime name me Autobot Leader and not you! Always saw yourself as next leader, didn't you? With your clever plans and fancy speeches!
(Grimlock sticks his face into Prowl's, pointing at him)
GRIMLOCK: "Well, you not leader, I AM!
(Grimlock walks away from Prowl)
GRIMLOCK: "Suggest you remember that next time you think to question me!"
(With Grimlock gone, Prowl's cool logical facade collapses as he surrenders to his anger with eyes narrowed and teeth gritted, haunched over with both fists clenched... Prowl realises that Grimlock has seen right through him and that he had just been royally PWN3D like a n00b!)

I remember that part clearly, its one of my favorite Grimlock moments.

After Dinobots like the Marvel comics and IDW, its very hard to go back to Season 3 type Dinobots. Unfortunately that is the only type of Dinobots that the Executives seem to know due to the cartoon.

I am sure if you show the kick ass characters we got in the comics next to the Animated/cartoon versions, you will see kids much prefering the butt kicking comic Dinobots than a gang of retards.
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VAPORIZER.ORG

[GoktimusPrime]

I also didn't like how the Dinobots were all basically the same as each other and didn't get much individual exposition other than Grimlock being their spokesperson (Swoop and Slag never even had their names mentioned!). What particularly bugged me was that they were all identical in battle (with the exception of Swoop's flight, which he didn't use that well to his advantage). Even in the G1 cartoon, the Dinobots all had unique attacking styles: Grimlock loved to munch metal (who didn't love the way he caught Thundercracker in mid flight with his teeth?!), Sludge loved stomping and even outclassed Rumble at making Earthquakes ("No faaaaiiiir!"), Swoop was the bombardier (and in the comics, an aerial ace), Snarl had powerful tail whips and Slag was the flamethrower and battering-ram. In Animated, they're all flamethrowers! Granted that in the cartoon the Dinobots did all shoot flames and lasers from their mouthes, eyes and horns - but at least they displayed individual attacking abilities on top of that. I found that the Animated Dinobots were sorely lacking in such individuality.

This scene from G1 showing the Dinobots vs Devastator shows the Dinobots using their various individual attacks (in dino modes).

And even the G1 cartoon gave them individual personality traits. As Megatron once said, "Grimlock is arrogant, Slag hostile and Sludge stupid." Snarl and Swoop also had some characterisation too (Snarl was gruff and aloof whilst Swoop was more affable).

Seriously - aside from the way that they look, can anyone tell me any real difference between these Dinobots? (o_O)

P.S.: Dr.Smoov's "SOS Wheeljack" - a great parody on how silly the G1 portrayal of the Dinobots were. (contains strong language)

[kup]

I enjoyed that 5 min part of Heavy Metal War A LOT more than the whole of this last TF: Animated episode.
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