The Energon Pub

The designs will take a while for me to adapt to, though they are cool. The song has TOTALLY won me!

metalformer wrote: The song has TOTALLY won me!

The song is strangely quite catchy. I'm going to try to watch a few episodes considering that most of the time the first episode usually isn;t the greatest in most shows. Unless of course they don't air it here =(

That seemed quite good, but also weird....
Was that big green thing supposed to be Ironhide?
The only Transformers show I've really hated was Transformers: Cybertron, which I saw an episode of. I hated it sooo much.

It looks good

i_amtrunks wrote:

Down_Shift wrote:We should also be getting the OAV within the next month or so.

The OAV is the "feature length" season opener, so wouldn't it just be shown as the first "episode"?

Just asking, as I am not sure how Cartoon Network does these things, as I do not have Foxtel/Cable TV.

I could have sworn we were getting a three episode long "movie" some time in December that was straight to DVD to get kids excited for it.

Wow, I can't help but feel that many TF fans on here are lowering their standards a bit to be able to like this cartoon. The theme (to me) seems to be hollow and tinny. I absolutely hate the faces on these things, like a freak animated Batman cartoon. I sure hope Bulkhead (I think that's the green one's name) doesn't get knocked over...he'll be like a turtle on its back! They might be cool except for those faces... Why are they coming out with this series instead of an animated movie figure series? Wouldn't that make more sense (and possibly more money)?

Down_Shift wrote:

i_amtrunks wrote:

Down_Shift wrote:We should also be getting the OAV within the next month or so.

The OAV is the "feature length" season opener, so wouldn't it just be shown as the first "episode"?

Just asking, as I am not sure how Cartoon Network does these things, as I do not have Foxtel/Cable TV.

I could have sworn we were getting a three episode long "movie" some time in December that was straight to DVD to get kids excited for it.

A three part pilot doesn't seem out of Cartoon networks scope of thinking.

Though if that's the case it will probably first air in its entirety as a special premier. I'ld look for it to get the Ben-10 treatment if CN liked it.

I like it..

inturnmike wrote:Wow, I can't help but feel that many TF fans on here are lowering their standards a bit to be able to like this cartoon.The theme (to me) seems to be hollow and tinny. I absolutely hate the faces on these things, like a freak animated Batman cartoon. I sure hope Bulkhead (I think that's the green one's name) doesn't get knocked over...he'll be like a turtle on its back! They might be cool except for those faces... Why are they coming out with this series instead of an animated movie figure series? Wouldn't that make more sense (and possibly more money)?

I'm not quite clear about what standards previous Transformers cartoons have set.

Leonardo wrote:

inturnmike wrote:Wow, I can't help but feel that many TF fans on here are lowering their standards a bit to be able to like this cartoon.The theme (to me) seems to be hollow and tinny. I absolutely hate the faces on these things, like a freak animated Batman cartoon. I sure hope Bulkhead (I think that's the green one's name) doesn't get knocked over...he'll be like a turtle on its back! They might be cool except for those faces... Why are they coming out with this series instead of an animated movie figure series? Wouldn't that make more sense (and possibly more money)?

I'm not quite clear about what standards previous Transformers cartoons have set.

Not necessarily previous Transformers cartoons, but some of us might set our standards at Gargoyles, Avatar or Skyland.

Why should a new Transformers cartoon have to stay at the same standard level (comparatively to their contemporaries) as previous Transformers cartoons.
Why can't a Transformers cartoon actually set a new standard instead of just mimicking what is currently there.

Although I think the above rant is just a matter of opinion, currently we can say hardly anything about the story, we are mostly going by the designs.
Many of us have outgrown the target group. Some of us can live with what the new series seemingly will give, others can't and want something different.
It is a bit unfair to point at the first cartoon and to say: "Look how bad it was, what are you complaining about?" Why should a new series be kept to those standards, why can't it excell on its own.

I said it somewhere else, I hate the new design. So as far as it concerns me the new series will fail in its primary function: making me buy the toys. I'll see how the story is when if finally gets shown. I have been known to watch series of, imho, despicable design (Roswell Conspiracies), because the story was captivating and interesting.

I hope that Scott McCloud's analysis of comics holds true for cartoons, too, according to him, design goes in cycles, so maybe in a few years, we'll be back to less stylized designs, to something more real.

Sarri wrote:

Leonardo wrote:

inturnmike wrote:Wow, I can't help but feel that many TF fans on here are lowering their standards a bit to be able to like this cartoon.The theme (to me) seems to be hollow and tinny. I absolutely hate the faces on these things, like a freak animated Batman cartoon. I sure hope Bulkhead (I think that's the green one's name) doesn't get knocked over...he'll be like a turtle on its back! They might be cool except for those faces... Why are they coming out with this series instead of an animated movie figure series? Wouldn't that make more sense (and possibly more money)?

I'm not quite clear about what standards previous Transformers cartoons have set.

Not necessarily previous Transformers cartoons, but some of us might set our standards at Gargoyles, Avatar or Skyland.

Why should a new Transformers cartoon have to stay at the same standard level (comparatively to their contemporaries) as previous Transformers cartoons.

It shouldn't. Not at all. It's just that since he/she was referring to "TF fans on here", a lot of whom like other TF cartoons like the G1 show or Energon, for example, why weren't their standards lowered when they accepted those shows?

Basically, inturnmike's statement that fans were lowering their standards to accept this show suggested to me that they hadn't lowered their standards to accept others show like the G1 cartoon.

Leonardo wrote:
Basically, inturnmike's statement that fans were lowering their standards to accept this show suggested to me that they hadn't lowered their standards to accept others show like the G1 cartoon.

But did they really have to lower their standards for G1? Given what else was around at the time or before, I don't think one really had to lower ones standards.

Sarri wrote:

Leonardo wrote:
Basically, inturnmike's statement that fans were lowering their standards to accept this show suggested to me that they hadn't lowered their standards to accept others show like the G1 cartoon.

But did they really have to lower their standards for G1? Given what else was around at the time or before, I don't think one really had to lower ones standards.

Well, that depends on whether one talks about just cartoons or fiction in general. G1 was just an example; one could say the same about the Energon cartoon. It's all about tastes, anyway. Entirely subjective.

Leonardo wrote:

Sarri wrote:

Leonardo wrote:
Basically, inturnmike's statement that fans were lowering their standards to accept this show suggested to me that they hadn't lowered their standards to accept others show like the G1 cartoon.

But did they really have to lower their standards for G1? Given what else was around at the time or before, I don't think one really had to lower ones standards.

Well, that depends on whether one talks about just cartoons or fiction in general. G1 was just an example; one could say the same about the Energon cartoon. It's all about tastes, anyway. Entirely subjective.

Agreed, and if you stop to think, existing fans arent where this series is pitched.

The designs and theme are based on a very contemporary animation style, much like most CTN comic/toy franchise adaptations, so the odds are that this is to bring further width to the overall TF fanbase.

Meaning, it isnt for us (existing fans), those of us that will like it will do so as they appreciate the style of modern cartoons and have an open mind to the future of the franchise. Those that dont, wont.

Hasn't that been the case for all the cartoons? BW arguably was aimed at older G1 fans, too, but certainly since the Armada cartoon I'd say there were targeted at new audiences.

Leonardo wrote:Hasn't that been the case for all the cartoons? BW arguably was aimed at older G1 fans, too, but certainly since the Armada cartoon I'd say there were targeted at new audiences.

Yeah, almost all of them have been. Existing names (and variations) are used to attract existing fans but new style, theme and content to appeal to those interested in a related genre who may not have bought into Transformers until now. Thats who this is aimed at, not us.

Im quite looking forward to this new cartoon to be honest, Transformers as a whole takes itself way too seriously considering its based on toys about space robots, this will be a refreshing change.

What I was saying earlier in my "rant", about lowering our standards" has mostly to do with the character designs of this new show and toy line. It is mostly personal preference. To me, there is just something "off" about what we have seen of this new show so far. Also, maybe I am too used to the more stereotypical designs and cannot get my brain around these weird faces and "anime" styled figures. I guess my point was that it would have made more sense to have an animated series based on the movie line, than a totally new anime line. They made a ton of money from the figures and the movie. Star Wars did the same thing with the newer movies.

inturnmike wrote:cannot get my brain around these weird faces and "anime" styled figures.

Actually the design is much more "cartoon" style then "anime" style. The Japanese companies usually don't go to that extreme, the US companies do.

Sarri wrote:

inturnmike wrote:cannot get my brain around these weird faces and "anime" styled figures.

Actually the design is much more "cartoon" style then "anime" style. The Japanese companies usually don't go to that extreme, the US companies do.

True.

I agree that an animated series based on the movie however I suspect that this new programme will borrow elements of the movie to give it that flavour.

Leonardo wrote:

Sarri wrote:

inturnmike wrote:cannot get my brain around these weird faces and "anime" styled figures.

Actually the design is much more "cartoon" style then "anime" style. The Japanese companies usually don't go to that extreme, the US companies do.

True.

I agree that an animated series based on the movie however I suspect that this new programme will borrow elements of the movie to give it that flavour.

Like referencing the Allspark, and Megatron looking very similar to his movie incarnation (for the first episode at least)?

Hmm..I really Like this stuff. It's growing on me. I absolutely love the theme song, best one in a long time that I can remember. Those are just my two cents.

The one thing is cool is that they take Megatron's protoform of the movie for this and make his earth form close to his G1 self, they really are trying to refrence alot of the different series.

the majority of the comments for that video make me throw up a little.

Personal opinion -only- but I think that Hasbro takes to different levels of something, can you see how many Primes you have on your shelves? and none is the same? What I mean is that we can compare our lovely and devoted bots' to Barbie... yes You may hate me but, think about it, Barbie the main actress, Barbie Nutcracker... Island Princess, 12 Dancing Princess... (my daughter loves Barbies' so...)
Now:
Prime Armada, Prime Cybertron, Prime Energon, Prime Animated... blah blah.

What happened to that story continuity, it just doesn't exist at all any more, the only in between lines we are reading is "buy new toys"... Yes I buy, Yes I am shopahoilc, so what, I buy what I like, but once again, we just see our main guys used over and over on fights that are story-continuity less. If we are to decided or say or comment about it, that is all what we do.
I respect completely who loves the new series, I personally hated it since I saw the first images on the web. But that is just me, a nobody just sharing my opinion.
All I have to say is that G1 rocks, we saw a story that was some how great, characters dying new recruits... etc. Beast Wars added some excitement to that living legends that we had, and today, fortunately there are still some little colors of that, I could say Toy Line Classics perhaps.
Bottom line for me is that design is outrages I hated. Story will say more in the future... buying those toys? NO!

See you guys at Botcon and Happy new year!

With the exception of Optimus Primal, every single Optimus is just the same guy since G1...