Re: Best movie design!
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:21 am
In fairness to Generation 1, a substantial number of characters - and hence their designs - were derived from toys that were either straight repaints, or minor retools, of the same mold. It is therefore not surprising that the resultant character designs share significant similarity.
Additionally, the majority of characters with similar or identical designs were assigned unique and contrasting color schemes; presumably to aid in easy identification (with the presumably intentional exception of Reflector). Some were even assigned unique designs where the character's toy equivalent did not necessarily warrant such a step (Trailbreaker and Hoist for instance, or Sideswipe and Red Alert).
So really, the only instance in which confusion truly arises in the original 1984 cartoon (outside of, say, errors in the animation) is when a character with a shared design has their color scheme obscured.
Finally, I have to wonder: precisely why are we attempting to hold a Saturday morning show from almost three decades ago to the same design standards as a recent summer blockbuster trilogy with a combined budget of almost $550 million?
Additionally, the majority of characters with similar or identical designs were assigned unique and contrasting color schemes; presumably to aid in easy identification (with the presumably intentional exception of Reflector). Some were even assigned unique designs where the character's toy equivalent did not necessarily warrant such a step (Trailbreaker and Hoist for instance, or Sideswipe and Red Alert).
So really, the only instance in which confusion truly arises in the original 1984 cartoon (outside of, say, errors in the animation) is when a character with a shared design has their color scheme obscured.
Finally, I have to wonder: precisely why are we attempting to hold a Saturday morning show from almost three decades ago to the same design standards as a recent summer blockbuster trilogy with a combined budget of almost $550 million?