The Energon Pub

Okay, I just pulled out my DVD set and was watching them for something to do (hadn't seen them in a while).

While watching the 3rd part of More than Meets the Eye, I noticed something. In the final attack on the Decepticon base, Optimus Primes trailer transforms and fires at Megatron.

Megatron responds in kinds and DESTROY's it. Or at least, we presume it is. The episodes after show that it wasn't. However, MTMTE was the pilot and provided an ending to the series, even though it continued on in the next episode for 4 seasons.

This got me thinking. When the Transformers concept was being created, was there an intention to release the Ultra Magnus mold as an upgraded Optimus Prime from the beginning? Perhaps that is why they "Destroyed" Prime's trailer in MTMTE. So that if the series didn't take off, they could release the Prime figure with the new trailer down the line.

I know it's all skepticism, but it still makes me wonder.

Here is how I understand it, but admittedly this is pieced together from what others have said/posted/linked:

Most all TF's are based off of previous toylines (mostly diaclone). In diaclone UM was "Powered Convoy" and was an upgraded Convoy/OP. Since the cartoon was created to go along with the re-branding of these other toys it is very possible that the trailer was destroyed so that a new prime/trailer could be released - and later it was decided that the Powered Convoy toy could be a whole new character....

-S.P.

Okay, that makes sense. It was an upgrade in Diaclone, so it was planned, likewise to be an upgrade in Transformers orginally.

You didn't know about Diaclone Powered Convoy?

Heck, in I think the French trailer for the animated movie Magnus appears in the diaclone colours.

IT actually goes back to an early draft of the script for TFtM, which apparently had Prime get upgraded, like in the Diaclone line. Instead they decided to kill Prime off. If I remember correctly—and I'd have to rewatch the bonus material on the DVD to confirm this, so don't quote me on this— Prime was originally going to wear the armor. They changed this in a later draft, and created Ultra Magnus. He originally even had the original Diaclone colors, but those too were changed to the familiar color sheme we all know today. According to DW, Prime and Ultra Magnus are brothers, just as they are in RID.

Sorry to disappoint you, Tramp, but Flint Delitte (sp?) stated in the commentarty that Prime was always intended to be retired along with the rest of the 84 line. Although it's funny that at the end of the miniseries showing Megatron getting out, so I think they were going to have a series. Regarding the trailer...there is that possiblity. But why release him looking like he did? I thought they chose the OP figure becuase he was more dynamic then the UM version?

Night Striker wrote:Sorry to disappoint you, Tramp, but Flint Delitte (sp?) stated in the commentarty that Prime was always intended to be retired along with the rest of the 84 line. Although it's funny that at the end of the miniseries showing Megatron getting out, so I think they were going to have a series. Regarding the trailer...there is that possiblity. But why release him looking like he did? I thought they chose the OP figure becuase he was more dynamic then the UM version?

That may be. As I said, I would have to rewatch the DVD special features again to make sure, so I may be wrong. Also, his name is Flint Dille. Like Dill pickles but with an "e" on the end.

*nods* Thanks! *stores in mind*

Tramp wrote:IT actually goes back to an early draft of the script for TFtM, which apparently had Prime get upgraded, like in the Diaclone line. Instead they decided to kill Prime off. If I remember correctly—and I'd have to rewatch the bonus material on the DVD to confirm this, so don't quote me on this— Prime was originally going to wear the armor. They changed this in a later draft, and created Ultra Magnus. He originally even had the original Diaclone colors, but those too were changed to the familiar color sheme we all know today. According to DW, Prime and Ultra Magnus are brothers, just as they are in RID.

Tramp is kind a right.It was one of the many ideas for the 1986 movie that he get an upgrade.But the idea was changed when they say the design of the toy's armor.They felt it didnt look enough like Optimus Prime and that the fans would not like it.

But to answer the this therds poster it was not ment to happen in the pilot eppisode.When Hasbro first bought the rights to reproduce Takara toys in the US they rejected the power convoy figure siting its color scheme and design was not realistic enough to fit in with the rest of the toyline.

Burn wrote:You didn't know about Diaclone Powered Convoy?

Heck, in I think the French trailer for the animated movie Magnus appears in the diaclone colours.

I knew that Ultra Magnus was a previous Diaclone figure. I'm just curious as to whether they planned from the beginning to release that figure as an upgraded Optimus Prime, as his trailer gets destroyed (presumably) at the end of MTMTE. I'm curious if the script of the episode purposedly had Prime's trailer get destroyed to accomodate the later toy release.

Nothing to do with what they did further down the line with the movie and stuff.

Fender Bender wrote:

Burn wrote:You didn't know about Diaclone Powered Convoy?

Heck, in I think the French trailer for the animated movie Magnus appears in the diaclone colours.

I knew that Ultra Magnus was a previous Diaclone figure. I'm just curious as to whether they planned from the beginning to release that figure as an upgraded Optimus Prime, as his trailer gets destroyed (presumably) at the end of MTMTE. I'm curious if the script of the episode purposedly had Prime's trailer get destroyed to accomodate the later toy release.

Nothing to do with what they did further down the line with the movie and stuff.

I posted this before so I'll post it again.................

It was not ment to happen in the pilot eppisode.When Hasbro first bought the rights to reproduce Takara toys in the US they rejected the power convoy figure siting its color scheme and design was not realistic enough to fit in with the rest of the toyline.