The Energon Pub

Mykltron wrote:The Classics line is supposed to be an updating of G1 characters but they seem to fall in to three (or maybe just two) camps:

1) Cartoon Accurate
eg Seekers
Delux Prime
Cyclonus
These are more cartoon accurate than toys of the 80s.


2) G1 Toy Style
eg Inferno
These guys are really just G1 toys with better articulation. Inferno retains the blocky G1 aesthetic but is as poseable as anyone would need. His transformation is relatively simple yet interesting and elegant. If he had a ladder sticking out of the back of his head he'd fit into group 1 as well. I can't think of any others in this set right now. Perhaps he's in a league of his own!

3) Modernised
eg Voyager Prime
Voyager Megatron
Ironhide
A total re-imagining with some homage in the design.

I would be totally happy with cartoon accuracy and updated articulation but what about your guys? How do you prefer them?

I'm with you but I think getting the likeness from the car companies is what's keeping that from happening. That and the fact that Hasbro has lost some names.
BTW: You forgot Rodimus and the Seekers who fits in category one.

SentinelA wrote:

Mykltron wrote:The Classics line is supposed to be an updating of G1 characters but they seem to fall in to three (or maybe just two) camps:

1) Cartoon Accurate
eg Seekers
Delux Prime
Cyclonus
These are more cartoon accurate than toys of the 80s.


2) G1 Toy Style
eg Inferno
These guys are really just G1 toys with better articulation. Inferno retains the blocky G1 aesthetic but is as poseable as anyone would need. His transformation is relatively simple yet interesting and elegant. If he had a ladder sticking out of the back of his head he'd fit into group 1 as well. I can't think of any others in this set right now. Perhaps he's in a league of his own!

3) Modernised
eg Voyager Prime
Voyager Megatron
Ironhide
A total re-imagining with some homage in the design.

I would be totally happy with cartoon accuracy and updated articulation but what about your guys? How do you prefer them?

I'm with you but I think getting the likeness from the car companies is what's keeping that from happening. That and the fact that Hasbro has lost some names.
BTW: You forgot Rodimus and the Seekers who fits in category one.

It wasn't intended as a complete list, just enough examples so everyone can understand what I'm saying.

I'm torn between G1 cartoon accurate and updated homage. I just think classics/universe/generations is basically the perfect incarnation of Transformers. All I'm waiting on now is for them to bring some G1 accurage combiners (Defensor, Devastator, and Predaking).

Neo Tallgeese wrote:I'm torn between G1 cartoon accurate and updated homage. I just think classics/universe/generations is basically the perfect incarnation of Transformers. All I'm waiting on now is for them to bring some G1 accurage combiners (Defensor, Devastator, and Predaking).

Don't hold your breath. They gave us a Devastator in G1 colours and that's probably as close as it'll get

Autobot Drift wrote:

Samsonator wrote:

Editor wrote:4) Not worried about it, but own it for some reason.

I'm sure we've all got a few of those... Personally Energon Demolishor comes to mind...

Ha, he's one of my favourites from the Energon line - no accounting for taste.

Delighted with the classics line in general, prefer cartoon accuracy myself - Henkei for cartoon, Hasbro for comic.

'Specially not around here. [I am a life-long fan of Titanium Soundwave].

Anyway, I seem to like everything about the Classics line(s). They are nice looking, nice to fiddle with or play with, they're cartoon and toy acurate, and they are not those hideous movie designs. What's not to love?

I really prefer how well the figure is modernized, and very little for cartoon/g1 toy accuracy.

Granted the cartoon plays a huge part of the lore, but when you look at the history of Transformers designs as a whole, the cartoon, I think, only has a slightly stronger significance when one compares it the comics, the toys, and other sources. The figure just has to bare a resemblance to what we generally consider the character to look like. Case in point, the Classics and HFTD Powerglide and Seaspray figures don't look like their toy and cartoon counter parts, but payoff is better toys that capture the essence of character.

Not only that, but if cartoon/toy accuracy was paramount than I think we would end up with a lot of designs that suffer in all other areas. I mean a lot the cartoon designs could only be successfully captured as action masters. Don't get me wrong, Animated proved that making cartoon accurate toys can be done well, but those toys where designed with that in mind from the very start. The G1 cartoon character designs were designed after the fact, and in many cases they looked better than the toys themselves.

Mykltron wrote:

Neo Tallgeese wrote:I'm torn between G1 cartoon accurate and updated homage. I just think classics/universe/generations is basically the perfect incarnation of Transformers. All I'm waiting on now is for them to bring some G1 accurage combiners (Defensor, Devastator, and Predaking).

Don't hold your breath. They gave us a Devastator in G1 colours and that's probably as close as it'll get

Don't forget Superion and Bruticus, who were originally Universe. You have to keep in mind that with today's demands (articulation and no loose accessories especially) it's really hard to make a full Scramble City type combiner within a certain budget. To illustrate: for Energon, the budget was set for 10 combiner molds max, so they could either make 2 teams of 5 molds, or 3 teams with 3 molds with 2 repaints. They went with the latter for more variety.

I like them all.

Toys like Classics Mirage and Hound are such great examples to me of retaining the essence of the original character/toy in a modern action figure. Voyager Optimus Prime is a wonderful contemporary play on a classic design. Even with ugly ducklings like Universe Galvatron, I can still see the good design intent behind the failed execution.

MANGA ACCURATE! *murdered*

Really though I prefer to put it all under the banner of updated looks, especially the first incarnation of Classics. Sure rodimus and the seekers were fairly closer to being show and/or whatever accurate, but there are still a good number of details that let me say they aren't. That's just my view though.

To be honest my preferences range from character to character. Usually I don't care, but among the few exceptions are voyager Optimus and Megatron. Those 2 are probably my favorite renditions of the characters in almost all respects. I know a lot of people get their hackles up over the kible wings on each one, but I like them. They make Megatron look more menacing and Optimus more beefy, plus it gives them both unique silhouettes. Their new alt-modes are a joy to look at too... well, prime a bit more than megs anyway.

Otherwise I basically take what I can get as long as it's a relatively fair representaion of the character in question. Jazz though... I would've bought him anyway just to have the character, but the fact that he gets both wheel shoulderpads AND doorwings makes me want him 9000 times more!

For me, as long as it's a good toy that you look at and can say, "This is *Blank* character!" I'm fine. As long as it's on my shelf.

black, no sugar

Convotron wrote:Toys like Classics Mirage and Hound are such great examples to me of retaining the essence of the original character/toy in a modern action figure.

Not to mention Classics Jetfire that somehow managed to pull off being a great homage to both the original Macross Valkyrie based toy and the almost completely different Skyfire animation model.

Optimum Supreme wrote:

Convotron wrote:Toys like Classics Mirage and Hound are such great examples to me of retaining the essence of the original character/toy in a modern action figure.

Not to mention Classics Jetfire...

...except you just mentioned him! Yeah, he's a strange mix isn't he?