The Energon Pub

My only "real" beef thus far is Optimus Prime. Not the characterization, per se, just the design. As others have pointed out before me, he looks less like a robot, and more like a human wearing a "transformer-ish" jumpsuit.

That said, however, I think we've got a few good things on our side. First, this is being done by American writers.

Call me what you will, but ANYTHING that isn't Transformer anime will make me happy at this point. It'll allow the cartoon actors to, ya' know... act?

Secondly, this cartoon is coming out RIGHT after the movie. They know that the movie is a big deal, they know that there's a whole new fandom of kids waiting to dig their teeth into this... I'm sure that they've invested some chunk of money into it.

Third, from what I've heard, the writers and such are fans of the original G1 cartoon. Little fan nods like having Weird Al play a Junkion, etc. There are even clips of the old G1 cartoon used IN the first episode (according to those who were able to see that partial first episode).

Fourth, the toys look DEAD ON with the cartoon designs. You might not be too keen on the aesthetic itself right now, but you gotta admit, the toys LOOK like their cartoon counterparts: like cartoon characters. And now in the Playschool Armada way either.

Fifth, a lot of voice actors we like are working on this, but not in the "same" roles they have been. Honestly, after 3 series of hearing anime Megatron, no matter how much I like Beast Wars, I don't want to hear David Kaye's Megatron anymore. It'll be nice to hear him play Optimus. Starscream sounds good too.

Sixth, they didn't make Optimus the leader. This is, quite honestly, I feel a brave (and much needed) move. Yes, we think of Optimus as the "hero" character, but can we really see Optimus the politician? Optimus the "I have to sign how many forms to get this put into law?" No. He needs to have some pencil pushers above him that he can angst against. Putting Ultra Magnus in the spot above him makes sense in this respect.

Seventh, the writer's strike. Cartoons take a while to do, so the scripts will already have been done. That means, for better or worse, Transformers will have "new" stories on TV when shows like Lost and Battlestar Gallactica are showing reruns.

Yes, the animation looks childish. But ya know what? So do a lot of other cartoons. Batman looked simple the first time I saw it, but ended up roping me in. Clone Wars and Samurai Jack are also very simply done, but make up for it by making that, in a way, a strength.

We've got about a month and a half until the first episode is out, let's see how we feel afterwards.

You sure put a lot of thought into this.
Still, though you are right that most cartoons are childish when styled, I don't think that TF's should be.
They're Transformers, and I wanna see huge, sharp, detailed mechanical soldiers. Not disproportioned wind up toys.

Regardless, I'm still going to check it out. I'll probably like the storyline. Heck, I might even get used to the style.

I dissagree. I find that its very promising that tfa is being made by the same studio as teen titans because honestly i really liked teen titans. strong storytelling cool characters it was just phenomenal. the toys look cool and its packed full of g1 characters. you just have to look at it the same way as the movie. everythings changing but its necesarry because times are changing thats why mass-shifting was eliminated. I like the character designs especially megatron starscream and prowl.and dont worry about g1 never being used again. thats what the idw comics are for. for the people who just cant move on yet and thats okay.

Night Raid wrote:I'm willing to give it a try. Mostly to see what the frig is up with Megatron.

amen to that!

Is it just me or would anyone else like to see Cg kept in Transformers?

I'm not normaly a fan of that medium, but in reguards to TF's it works. Beast Wars was awesome, Beast Machines looked good even though the character designs where .... uh, ...,



...origional

The Zoids Style in Engergon was much better than the Armada anime, and outside of the unsynced Godzilla-esc mouth movements and crappy hand drawn fill ins, Cybertron looked pretty good too.

Again, I'm not a fan of CGI as a whole, and I do like trying new things, but when you have a medium that compliments a franchise, why not try new things in that field?

From what I've seen so far, the super deformed, super simple mock anime, is a fine medium for fresh ideas like Samuri Jack(a great show) Teen Titans, and Star Wars who've had few if any animated experiances, and other fresh ideas.

But when aplied to something with 20+ years of animated history that has always had a mature feel, well, the kiddie feel of this does not translate well.

I feel Transformers Animated will be the Gundam SD of this franchise. The only difference being, they ment to do that!

If you feel otherwise, thats fine, just remember this statment the first time you see a over cartoony hunched over Prime with knuckles dragging along side his jaw, some steam lines over his head, and a giant tear drop next to his bulging hard outlined empty eyes.

And may the very next frame of his feet suddenly in the air just drive my point home

Again, I'm not aginst the style, just the aplication.

I really didn't like that CGI.
I prefer traditional cartooning, but Energon's style was okay. (I LOVE Zoids!!)
I really didn't like what they did in Cybertron though...

Still gonna look at the show though.

Starscreams heir wrote:I dissagree. I find that its very promising that tfa is being made by the same studio as teen titans because honestly i really liked teen titans. strong storytelling cool characters it was just phenomenal. the toys look cool and its packed full of g1 characters. you just have to look at it the same way as the movie. everythings changing but its necesarry because times are changing thats why mass-shifting was eliminated. I like the character designs especially megatron starscream and prowl.and dont worry about g1 never being used again. thats what the idw comics are for. for the people who just cant move on yet and thats okay.

I despise the concept of mass shifting...
If a TF turns in to something big, then it should be a big TF. If it turns into something small, then it should be a little TF.
But that's just my opinion. Not trying to start a flame fest or anything.

I can't really give a good opinion on this until I see the shows. To be honest though, I have my doubts about it. I think most of the characters could've been done better (especially Bulkhead). However, I think a few of them are cool (mainly Prowl and Lockdown). Again, I have my doubts about this series, but I think it would be worth to at least give it a try.

For me, Animated is going to make it or break it depending on the plot. I just want to see what happens... and hopefully Blurr will turn out as a good character, and i'm hoping Jetfire will be in their too!!

im more optimus prime than pyrostrata is megatron. lol.

Surpriseingly, I LIKE the new animated designs. Megatrons really Bad-ass!

Warhead wrote:Surpriseingly, I LIKE the new animated designs. Megatrons really Bad-ass!

Hmmm...
Haven't seen Megs yet. I'll have to go look.

If this is how we may get a Sentinel Prime figure, I'm all for Transformers: Animated.

I'm the world's biggest sucker for a Prime, Megatron or Galvatron

I hope I'll be watching that show next year.

It reminds me alot of mechine wars because they look like nockoffs in a way.

prime and megs like it there doing a happy dance! http://www.nickkelsch.com/transformers

I hated the initial drawings they released, but upon seeing the toys, bios, quotes, and some vids I'm really hyped for TF:A. I've been a fan since the G1 cartoon and of course the movie but I like this completely new and different stylized direction as well. I can't wait to see the actual cartoon and toys in stores. From the interviews I've read about it I like the approach and the changes like making the decepticons a real threat to the autobots and not having every episode dissolve into a gangwar where they decepticons always get handed their a$$es. Also the angle of Optimus being new to his leadership role, having each character have their own specific "power", and the specific characters they've chosen for the core group. Also that they are using the trademark transforming sound. I hope they make Soundwave's voice as cool as the original.

firebolt maxim wrote:im more optimus prime than pyrostrata is megatron. lol.

goody goody gum-drops for you, Smartiepants!

I've been thinking why Transformers: Animated's look isn't
appealing to me and the reason that I came to is this: every since Batman: The Animated Series debuted back in 90's it seems that every cartoon show since then has borrowed, copied, or just plain ripped off that show's style.
In other words the designs are just plain boring to me.

I want the Transformers to look different but I think the Bruce Timm/Animated DCU style has been done to death, if Hasbro wanted to make the Autobots more like Justice League
I'm all for it, but for the love of God do they have to look
like the JLA? I mean every time I see TF: Animated Optimus Prime he doesn't feel like Optimus Prime to me he feels like
Superman, (Prowl=Batman, Bumblebee=The Flash, Ratchet=The Martian Manhunter and Bulkhead=The Green Lantern) and that's the problem that I have with the new designs: I don't want a Superman toy that transforms into truck I want a Optimus Prime that transforms into a truck.

Now I know that some people will say "that's the point of
TF: Animated" is too make the Autobots into robotic super-heroes like the JLA and I wouldn't have a problem with it if
Hasbro wouldn't have them look like a bunch of JLA Animated rip-offs.

Also the title "Transformers: Animated" is the stupidest title of any of the lines. Hasbro should have kept the working title Transformers: Heroes since that is direction
that they're going in.

My opinion on Animated? That's kiddie stuff.

Writer from Beast Machines and Starscream square pants, are to two strikes for me.

Possibly, if Waspinator and BA get to make a appearance, maybe Rampage. My idea was for a one episode apperance, where a bounty hunter Autobot comes to Earth "Depthcharge" searching for a traitor Autobot, "Rampage" who escaped to Earth and started terrorizing a city and the normal Autobots run into him first, and then etc.

The one thing that makes me happy is that Shockwave will be returning for the first time with original voice actor.