The Energon Pub

Midnight_Fox wrote:I disagree, Sabrblade. When people see him in my collection, they either think he's adorable(he's always in Tanuki clock mode) or they think that him being Japanese means that all of the weirdness inherent to the figure makes sense, because hey Japanese!(y'know, cause they like weird things)

It's really not until you get into the deeper parts of the character that most people see how strange the character actually is.

That's just it, though. At first glance, he looks weird. Several other figures in this list look pretty normal only until the deeper info about them is pointed out about, and I liked that. It seemed more engaging for me to have figures who don't look that bad become exposed for the weirdo they truly are. Ones like Heinrad, Demolishor, and Sport Label need no such exposures since they pull off the weird look naturally. Thus, it feels like a letdown to me that there wasn't as much depth to these choices as there were the rest.

I mean, I never would have considered some like Metroplex's components or Reflector or even Shattered Glass Sideswipe to be all that awkward. But once Diem pointed them out, I can now view those in a new light. With Heinrad and co., they were just such obvious choice that those entries feel kinda lacking in the ingenious department. It's almost as though those ones were picked first, and all the other more creative choices were carefully chosen later to be worked in around them.

Call me critical, but Heinrad just feels tacked on here, like he was the most expected choice for the number 1 slot. Him being pointed out as being weird just feels so cliche.

I think Heimlad is a great choice. He's probably the weirdest concept in the transformers lore, so weird in fact they had to tone hi down for western continuity.

Back in the late 80's the Tanuki concept had already had a go at western audiences, when Nintendo attempted to translate Super Mario Bros 3's Tanuki Suit. As Diem so eloquently put it, its not a Racoon.



Great job Diem, looking forward to the next series.

BTW: ROTF Devastator also has a pair of big round shiny ones. Courtesy of 3rd party add-on maker Crazy Devy.

Sabrblade wrote:

Midnight_Fox wrote:I disagree, Sabrblade. When people see him in my collection, they either think he's adorable(he's always in Tanuki clock mode) or they think that him being Japanese means that all of the weirdness inherent to the figure makes sense, because hey Japanese!(y'know, cause they like weird things)

It's really not until you get into the deeper parts of the character that most people see how strange the character actually is.

That's just it, though. At first glance, he looks weird. Several other figures in this list look pretty normal only until the deeper info about them is pointed out about, and I liked that. It seemed more engaging for me to have figures who don't look that bad become exposed for the weirdo they truly are. Ones like Heinrad, Demolishor, and Sport Label need no such exposures since they pull off the weird look naturally. Thus, it feels like a letdown to me that there wasn't as much depth to these choices as there were the rest.

I mean, I never would have considered some like Metroplex's components or Reflector or even Shattered Glass Sideswipe to be all that awkward. But once Diem pointed them out, I can now view those in a new light. With Heinrad and co., they were just such obvious choice that those entries feel kinda lacking in the ingenious department. It's almost as though those ones were picked first, and all the other more creative choices were carefully chosen later to be worked in around them.

Call me critical, but Heinrad just feels tacked on here, like he was the most expected choice for the number 1 slot. Him being pointed out as being weird just feels so cliche.

Well I'm sorry you feel that way Sabrblade. But bear in mind you have a more intimate knowledge of Japanese Beast Wars than most of the fans here so you already knew all of this and were already sensitive to jokes about Heinrad. For a lot of other fans I'm sure this was pretty new territory. If I can bring more awareness of this weird-but-awesome figure to everyone then I've done my work.

Diem wrote:Well I'm sorry you feel that way Sabrblade. But bear in mind you have a more intimate knowledge of Japanese Beast Wars than most of the fans here so you already knew all of this and were already sensitive to jokes about Heinrad. For a lot of other fans I'm sure this was pretty new territory. If I can bring more awareness of this weird-but-awesome figure to everyone then I've done my work.

To be honest, I don't really know all that much about BWII and Neo outside of what I've read online. I've only seen the first four episodes of BWII subbed in poor quality, and the BWII movie once. Four episodes and one filler movie didn't tell me much.

I know who's who by name from looking at pics of their toys, but I don't know the characters themselves. Or the story, outside of some general plot notes that give a broad overview of the two series, but that's still pretty vague info.

I've never watched beyond episode 4 of BWII and have seen none of Neo aside from a few brief unsubbed clips. I honestly barely know anything about these two series or any of its characters.

The only reason I know of how weird Heinrad's toy is is because his weirdness has been pointed out to me by other people so many times before. It's like he's been some sort of placeholder used to show just how awkward Japan was with their treatment of Beast Wars.

I can't tell you how how many times people have gotten all worked up over his beast mode balls or his working clock or his sake accessories. He just doesn't stand out so much anymore since his weirdness has become so well known over the years. Maybe if this were the late 90s or early 2000s when he wasn't so well known. But now, about a decade later, it just feels kinda "been there done that" to point out Heinrad's uniqueness.

Sabrblade wrote:I can't tell you how how many times people have gotten all worked up over his beast mode balls or his working clock or his sake accessories. He just doesn't stand out so much anymore since his weirdness has become so well known over the years. Maybe if this were the late 90s or early 2000s when he wasn't so well known. But now, about a decade later, it just feels kinda "been there done that" to point out Heinrad's uniqueness.

Well we'll have to agree to disgree. I think that his weirdness, ubiquitous though it is, is still magnificent enough to be cause for celebration.

Diem wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I can't tell you how how many times people have gotten all worked up over his beast mode balls or his working clock or his sake accessories. He just doesn't stand out so much anymore since his weirdness has become so well known over the years. Maybe if this were the late 90s or early 2000s when he wasn't so well known. But now, about a decade later, it just feels kinda "been there done that" to point out Heinrad's uniqueness.

Well we'll have to agree to disgree. I think that his weirdness, ubiquitous though it is, is still magnificent enough to be cause for celebration.

Oh, I don't doubt that he deserves a place on this list. His weirdness definitely deserves such recognition. But I just don't think it was enough to top the awesome weirdness of SG Sideswipe. I mean, that entry was amazing!

i may slightly share the underwhelmedness if not for the fact that I can't remember actually seeing any picks of Heiny in his robot mode. Bring on the next list Diem!

Oddly, he didn't seem THAT weird...

And I still can't get over that "Chicken based sacrifices" line...

Wow, I never heard of that guy before, but that is incredibly weird, with the clock and the sake and all the story weirdness.

Diem wrote:I think that his weirdness, ubiquitous though it is, is still magnificent enough to be cause for celebration.

Agreed.

Having only gotten back into collecting after the 2007 movie, i find articles like this incredibly informative and enjoyable.

Heck, the Heinlad sig you had a while back piqued my interest in the character - finally picked him up a couple of weeks ago, and he has quickly become one of my favourites.

Thank you Diem, keep them coming.

He's kind of cool looking, honestly.

Marcdachamp wrote:He's kind of cool looking, honestly.

But still not something I'd give my kid on a whim. Major case of Culture Shock.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Marcdachamp wrote:He's kind of cool looking, honestly.

But still not something I'd give my kid on a whim. Major case of Culture Shock.

Eh, I feel like kids are kind of numb to weirdness that makes us pause.

My Dad still seems to be completely baffled by my webcomic, for example.

How about Capbot, PlayStation Transformer, Sega Genesis Transformer, Soundwave iPad, the new cellphone transformers(from the makers of the Soundwave iPad), Optimus Prime pen

Stuartmaximus wrote:How about Capbot, PlayStation Transformer, Sega Genesis Transformer, Soundwave iPad, the new cellphone transformers(from the makers of the Soundwave iPad), Optimus Prime pen

Why not add the Movie Real Gear Robots while we're at it?

Nice nerco bump btw.

Stuartmaximus wrote:How about Capbot, PlayStation Transformer, Sega Genesis Transformer, Soundwave iPad, the new cellphone transformers(from the makers of the Soundwave iPad), Optimus Prime pen

Those didn't exist when this list was made. Look at how old this topic is.

I had an idea for a list like this once, though I used the word random instead. But then I realized that the word was o vague and could mean so much that in the end it meant nothing.

Beast War Moon was on it though, I can say that.

william-james88 wrote:Beast War Moon was on it though, I can say that.

What's random about a Tsuki no Usagi?

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Beast War Moon was on it though, I can say that.

What's random about a Tsuki no Usagi?

Nothing once you know the myth behind it. It's actually one of the best known myths in Japan, along with Tanabata.

Sabrblade wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:How about Capbot, PlayStation Transformer, Sega Genesis Transformer, Soundwave iPad, the new cellphone transformers(from the makers of the Soundwave iPad), Optimus Prime pen

Those didn't exist when this list was made. Look at how old this topic is.

Most of those aren't very "weird" anyway. Not when a precedence was already started by the likes of Soundwave, Blaster, Perceptor, Reflector, and so on. Transformers that turn into everyday objects is a staple of the franchise. I would say of that list the only thing that stands out as weird is the hats.

But really, I don't think there's anything weirder than a transforming ice pop.



Emerje