The Energon Pub

If the redesign the existing characters and "survivors" of Movie no.1, it risks ruining the entire series for me.

Prime and the others need to stay the same. They're look has been established, and it'll just be too hard to continue liking a character if he changes appearance every movie. Bumblebee scanned two different vehicles and his robot mode remained unchanged, so if all of a sudden they all scan new vehicles and get new bot modes, it'll just seem weird.

As much as I hate the flames and mouth on Prime, he needs to stay that way, that's his "movie" look, it should stay that way for every movie.

They could make new toys of the old characters. The Ironhide and Ratchet toys aren't incredibly faithful to the movie designs, they could re-do them. Prime and Bumblebee can stay the same though, they got those figures right the first time around! Also, I'm convinced the reason why we didn't get a Leader-class Starscream this time is probably because they have one planned for the sequel.

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if they just re-released the current toys again, maybe with some extras or just improved like Skowl said.
As much as I'm uneasy about it... I think the sequel will have even *more* robots in it anyway. They will probably end up with twice as many toys as they do now, so no real need to remake the current ones.

Also, I like the current designs

its funny because in order for them to keep the sequel fresh, they will have new vehicle forms or brands. (ironhide as a ford pick up or something)

Then, if they have updated forms, this means that thier designs will change a little, whicj means different toys, and so on.

so no matter how much changes, and it will change, merchandise will too...

Well, it could go 1 of 3 ways as I see it:
1. They could completely redesign them all in order to sell more toys. They can easily work it into the story. Try to appeal to humans more or something.
2. Redesign them slightly. Sword for Prime. New car models. More accurate looking...etc
3. Just rerelease the same figures along side the new ones.

Well I don't hope so because Prime, Ironhide, Ratchet and Bumblebee looks good how they are but I hope it for Starscream.

If they don't, I'll save alot of money on the next set of movie toys. No way I'm buying the same toy twice. I would think a small bit of redesigning for the surviving cast would be in order, if to make new toys.

Good question. After much humming, hawing and complaining I did not mind the designs in the end that made it to the screen. Sure they looked very Bionicle looking but that is where the toy technology has gone. Time will tell where CGI will go in the next two years as the sequel is worked on and on the screen.