Why can't we have another animated or FoC-style Transformers movie?

[SuspectimusPrime]

There's no limit to what can be done and no real need for humans.

Agreed. Given the breadth of today's sci-fi culture, there need not be a reset to remind new generations of viewers the purpose of Transformers transforming. Humans were originally necessary to justify that Transformers transformed into something. Big robots pew-pew-PEWing each other or other aliens in space with multi-toned lasers should suffice as appeal (or at least to my limited intellect ).

The original animated movie happened between seasons of the tv show, and the only other media available that was transformers related was the comic.

I wonder how today's kids will take it if Hasbro out of nowhere makes a movie that brutally kills off 80% of the TF Prime characters kids love and force introduces a whole new crew & set of toys.

[GoktimusPrime]

No humans...

A story driven by developing Transformers characters...

That settles it, looks like this coming holidays I'm just going to have to watch all my
DVDs.

[Megatron]

...
I wonder how today's kids will take it if Hasbro out of nowhere makes a movie that brutally kills off 80% of the TF Prime characters kids love and force introduces a whole new crew & set of toys.

Haha... not just the kids that would take it badly though... *points to self as example*

Ok, here's my 2c regarding live-action vs animated TF movies. I'm going to go against the grain a bit and say that another live-action TF movie, with humans, is a big "Yes" from me. I wouldn't mind seeing an animated one too, but there's things that a live-action can do that no other format can. For example, the real human actors is a great idea and the way they interact with live action Transformers in a real world setting, to me just can't be beat. If anything, the previous 3 Bay TF movies proved that. BUT... it can be difficult to appreciate that unique sense of real world Transformers in Bay's movies, simply because the screenplay, over the top humor and bad characterizations, for both humans and TFs, gets in the way. However, I cannot fault the visuals/CGI as it really does look outstanding (not necessarily the robot designs - that's a mixed bag for me) and the unique sense of greatness and awesomeness that a TF live-action movie can bring. If only it can be made with an outstanding script, no shaky, confusing camera work, and no silliness from humans (though we need humans in it because it opens up a whole new dimension to the movie that you just wouldn't get otherwise - only give them more important roles to justify their existence!), then I think we'd really have something.

[liegeprime]

As Skyshadow has pointed out... life is unfair... and our lives are sorely manipulated whether we like it or not by the powers that be of HasTakTom..... and they are unfair


Okay maybe just a bit unconcerned, coz there's a lot going on anyway for the line as Ultramarginal has pointed out. But, and Im certain this is one factor them powers that be cannot deny ( at least with their inner selves) its all about budget. They may have allocated already for upcoming projects and for a movie ... it's budget for # 4 Bayverse instead of something else so this wonderful idea you have cannot be squeezed in... pure speculation om my part but hey, corporate types only think numbers, figures and data not likes, fan emotions and all that - these are irrelevant. You'd think Shockwave would be perfect in their boardrooms ei heheheh.

Even if they divert it to CGI if it's directed by MIchael bay I betcha it's more explosions, explosions and nothing much else.. explosions move the story forward in his world heheheh, but wouldn't it be wonderful though, finally, humans blown up, squished like pulp laser blasters vaporizing them or decapitating hundreds in a blast... all without the loss of a single life during shoot.... that would be more acceptably realistic, rather than the battle in the first movie... Prime falls from a height after being thrown by Megatron and yet when he falls all the humans somehow end up in between the spaces of his torso and limbs and is able to get away safely, pffft, just stuuupid... Megatron flicks a filthy human and still it doesnt really dismember the person or at least renders him totally unconscious probably with head bleed and permanent paralysis... as Im sure Megs wouldn't hold back his strength in flicking someone... but noooooo they humans end up all ok, just dirty but now bruises or broken bones or internal bleeding, that's just inexcusable!!!!

[5FDP]

I would loose my sh@# over an animated / CGI movie

[Lord_Zed]

A new animated movie would be cool, though I can't imagine it would have such a wide appeal, or make as much money as the Bay films. If it was some sort of story completely set on Cybertron the appeal would pretty much be limited to die hard fans and kids. I'd totally watch it though.

Maybe if they did it at a smaller scale.

Even if they divert it to CGI if it's directed by MIchael bay I betcha it's more explosions, explosions and nothing much else.. explosions move the story forward in his world heheheh, but wouldn't it be wonderful though, finally, humans blown up, squished like pulp laser blasters vaporizing them or decapitating hundreds in a blast... all without the loss of a single life during shoot.... that would be more acceptably realistic, rather than the battle in the first movie... Prime falls from a height after being thrown by Megatron and yet when he falls all the humans somehow end up in between the spaces of his torso and limbs and is able to get away safely, pffft, just stuuupid... Megatron flicks a filthy human and still it doesnt really dismember the person or at least renders him totally unconscious probably with head bleed and permanent paralysis... as Im sure Megs wouldn't hold back his strength in flicking someone... but noooooo they humans end up all ok, just dirty but now bruises or broken bones or internal bleeding, that's just inexcusable!!!!

Ummmm, I'm pretty sure if nothing else that Bay movies had a higher human casualty count than previous Transformers media, The Decepticons did wipe out a whole military base, in the first one, and the a significant population of the Chicago in the third. The third film was the first time I've actually seen a Decepticon execute a human rather than just make threats about it. Of course those damned named human characters seemed to miraculously escape permanent harm again and again, but this is true for many stories, how come the bridge crew from Star Trek always come back from away missions, but that new guy we'd never seen till 5 minutes ago doesn't?

[kup]

A new animated movie would be cool, though I can't imagine it would have such a wide appeal, or make as much money as the Bay films. If it was some sort of story completely set on Cybertron the appeal would pretty much be limited to die hard fans and kids. I'd totally watch it though.

Maybe if they did it at a smaller scale.

DC Direct to DVD animated movies have been remarkably successful and they are mostly made for fans/comic book crowds. I am pretty sure that the same audience that would play WFC/FOC would also be interested in watching a direct to DVD animated movie and be sizable enough to make it profitable Although it would not be anywhere near as much as a cinematic live action release but it would be totally silly to expect that sort of return for such a project.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I
I agree with most of that, except for the shaky camera work - I liked that. It's more realistic looking. If you've ever seen a real fight (either IRL or on TV etc.)

I am not a fan of the shaky camera for fights. Sure, it may be realistic, but we are talking about big transforming robots from space... I'd rather I was able to see what was going on. Plus far too many movies use the shaky camera now. I have made it a condition that movies I see must have a still camera. Hunger games, if you saw that was ridiculous.

a little rat call a gorilla 'Optimus'! I shrieked in outrage, thinking this is what they had remade Transformers as.

I saw a bit and heard the names "optimus Primal" and "Megatron" and thought, wow, what a blatant rip off! how did they get away with that?

DC Direct to DVD animated movies have been remarkably successful and they are mostly made for fans/comic book crowds. I am pretty sure that the same audience that would play WFC/FOC would also be interested in watching a direct to DVD animated movie and be sizable enough to make it profitable Although it would not be anywhere near as much as a cinematic live action release but it would be totally silly to expect that sort of return for such a project.

I think this would be the only way to get a WFC FOC movie. Although TBH, I think the games are movie enough for me and would rather the money went on another game, which will probably be called ROC. Rise Of Cybertron? Still they did get around to releasing an animated TMNT movie that did well enough, so with the interest generated from various media at the moment, as long as the budget wasn't too high, it could be a general release. But unlikely.

Still I'd see it. I love Transformers on Cybertron. Without humans. Although the disguise aspect is a bit pointless, but hey, minor details.

[GoktimusPrime]

DC Direct to DVD animated movies have been remarkably successful and they are mostly made for fans/comic book crowds. I am pretty sure that the same audience that would play WFC/FOC would also be interested in watching a direct to DVD animated movie and be sizable enough to make it profitable Although it would not be anywhere near as much as a cinematic live action release but it would be totally silly to expect that sort of return for such a project.

I reckon a direct to home video format mini-series based on Classicsverse would be damn awesome and viable too! Base it on the CHUGUR toy and set in the G1 cartoon universe -- ya know, like what they're doing with ReGeneration One, but in the cartooniverse (and using the CHUGUR toys). C'mon... who doesn't want to see Classicsverse in animated form??

[GoktimusPrime]

Ok, here's my 2c regarding live-action vs animated TF movies. I'm going to go against the grain a bit and say that another live-action TF movie, with humans, is a big "Yes" from me. I wouldn't mind seeing an animated one too, but there's things that a live-action can do that no other format can. For example, the real human actors is a great idea and the way they interact with live action Transformers in a real world setting, to me just can't be beat. If anything, the previous 3 Bay TF movies proved that.

I agree. There's nothing necessarily wrong with having human characters in Transformers per se, it's just that human characters shouldn't be developed at the expense of the Transformers. The Transformers should also be treated as characters. Humans are important for the general non-fan audience as an 'anchorpoint' for them to relate to. Look at G1 for example, characters like Buster and Spike Witwicky were developed (Spike's still being developed in the current ReGeneration One series!), but not at the expense of the Transformers themselves. The thing I have with the Bay movies is that the Autobots feel more like accessories for Sam Witwicky. Here comes Sam, all cool and suave, oh - he needs to lay the smack down - BUMBLEBEEEEE!!

Have the human characters, fine - but don't forget that the Transformers themselves should be characters too. Otherwise they just end up being set pieces or one-dimensional caricatures.

BUT... it can be difficult to appreciate that unique sense of real world Transformers in Bay's movies, simply because the screenplay, over the top humor and bad characterizations, for both humans and TFs, gets in the way. However, I cannot fault the visuals/CGI as it really does look outstanding (not necessarily the robot designs - that's a mixed bag for me) and the unique sense of greatness and awesomeness that a TF live-action movie can bring.

^Agree. Visually the films were spectacular. But a lot of it seemed based more on "WHHOOAAAA!" rather than a deep emotional impact. If you look at Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy; that had a lot of great adrenaline pumping action scenes, but also massive heart-wrenching emotions too. That's the kind of balance you want - the proper mix of action which is used as a vehicle to tell a good story. A story shouldn't exist as a vehicle to showcase action.

If only it can be made with an outstanding script, no shaky, confusing camera work, and no silliness from humans (though we need humans in it because it opens up a whole new dimension to the movie that you just wouldn't get otherwise - only give them more important roles to justify their existence!), then I think we'd really have something.

I agree with most of that, except for the shaky camera work - I liked that. It's more realistic looking. If you've ever seen a real fight (either IRL or on TV etc.) it's very messy and chaotic - and it's over in seconds. If you were watch that and you were an ant, it would look even messier and more chaotic and blurry -- you'd just see giant limbs flying everywhere. Dark of the Moon used more long distance shots and had 'cleaner' looking fight scenes though -- that was because the studio wanted to shoot it in 3D where they prefer longer shots. But it took away some of that 'magic' in the first movie where we saw everything from low angles and really portrayed the Transformers as "Giant Effing Robots." Very few (if any) other Transformers series/films before Michael Bay really conveyed that incredible sense of physical awe and scale. What you watch or read other series, especially in the absence of humans, you can forget scale and size. Heck, for the entire first series and most of Season 2 of Beast Wars I didn't really appreciate just how small the Maximals and Predacons were until we saw Megatron enter the Ark where he was just dwarfed by the slumbering Autobots and Decepticons (because Mainframe wanted to portray the G1 TFs as "Titans" in the eyes of the Beast Wars TFs). Heck, when I play Fall of Cybertron, I don't feel gigantic (only when I play Bruticus in campaign mode). With the first Transformers Bay movie, at no point are you allowed to forget that these are freaking giant robots!