The Energon Pub

the basic Premise is either redo the original TV show in CG or do a new show in CG..

this video gave me the idea.. the Starscream in it sounds so much like the original.. albeit a little more toned down in yelling..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2AHRs5GnF8
Or maybe like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11QlvIxOEqg

Or maybe they should do a classics cartoon in CGI, and it be set in 2035..

A retelling of the original series, but updated for today..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbnKhMU2 ... re=related

But here is my choice for Transformers CGI:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjW7DBAdmF8
http://www.randallng.com/animation2.htm

this is the idea I really had in mind for the original series.. take the sound track, keep the original actors.. just do the animation in CGI.. and release it on DVD.. man that was awesome!! it would make a great companion to the Beast Wars series!!

To retell the G1 cartoon with new graphics would be a huge waste IMO

while continuing from it would present to may problems what with most of the original charicters being dead and the endless continuity problems

I think the best bet would be to set it up IDW style in present day or have it carry on from animated

The Chronic wrote:To retell the G1 cartoon with new graphics would be a huge waste IMO

while continuing from it would present to may problems what with most of the original charicters being dead and the endless continuity problems

I think the best bet would be to set it up IDW style in present day or have it carry on from animated

I like the IDW angle.. but to say that redoing the original series would be a waste.. I disagree.. they did a similar thing with the original star trek series.. whereby they replaced the special effects with updated CGI.. it turned out to be an awesome experience..

but then again, it would be cool to see the original cast come back in a 6 disc DVD series.. kind of like how Japanese anime is sold.. and do a box set with cgi animation, and the old school voices back in action..the 6 disc series would start with the autobot war on cybertron, go through the earth landing, and be just about Optimus and Megatron.. and will introduce the newer bots, and set up a different continuity while remaining essentially a G-1 series.. basically a G-1 reboot.. like that was done for the JJ Abrams star Trek movie recently..a separate continuity..

now that would rock!

But to continue animated.. as CGI?? Nah that style is better suited as cartoon..

to a G-1 fan... this is how it should be brought back to life..
http://www.randallng.com/animation2.htm

Well first off I agree with The Chronic that retelling the entire G1 story would be a complete waste, we dont need to see G1 be brought into CGI. But I do agree with skywarp-2 that srandomusprime's CGI work along with seeing the classics range be made into a TV series isnt a bad idea.

However I would like to see the next TF series be aimed more for Adults than Children, probably the next series should go down the same road that G.I. Joe did with there Resolute mini series. But I'm all for the next show being in CGI.

First off Deadlock sig = 100 Chronic points

Second

Skullgrin140 wrote:However I would like to see the next TF series be aimed more for Adults than Children, probably the next series should go down the same road that G.I. Joe did with there Resolute mini series. But I'm all for the next show being in CGI

This is exactly what were saying in the ODB

I think a Darker more 'mature' CGI G1 inspired/universe show is definitely the way to go, maybe even in straight to DVD movies

as for the original cast coming back many are dead others will be too old and some may be to expensive but I know the voice of Prowl and Swoop is trying to get IDW to commision animated comics featuring at least a few of the G1 voice actors, so there is some hope

The Chronic wrote:as for the original cast coming back many are dead others will be too old and some may be to expensive but I know the voice of Prowl and Swoop is trying to get IDW to commision animated comics featuring at least a few of the G1 voice actors, so there is some hope

Probably just Cullen & Welker should return for Prime & Megs, I do think and I am sure some people will disagree but I think that Sid (DJ Starscream) Wilson should take up the role of Starscream. Sure he has no experience in acting but hey I honestly think the guy deserves a chance and it would be interesting to hear how he makes Screamer sound.

From a die hard G1 fan (me), re-telling the story would be bad. For one the original stories were so ridiculously cheesy I always wish I had nachos when I watch them and secondly, the vehiclular modes for all of them are severely out dated.

A CG version of Classics Universe would rock, with a new storyline and such. Making sure it airs on a major network and not just some kiddie cable station at a ridiculously early time on saturday would also be a bonus.

I think a re-imagining of G1 would rock. Basically the same characters, same basic plot, set it in the 80's, update the designs that they work and look more believable and keep key moments of the G1 show.
That way we would get a pretty awesome show and avoid the really cheesy kiddy stories the original had.
Give it a 26 episode run, then let them update their alt-modes while they come into the 90's and early 2000's let them stay that way for season 3 and then introduce the 80's Movie and season 3 characters have a special killing off the old guys and focus in season 4 on the new guys with the best of the originals then let it slowly dip into the later stuff like the masters and such.
Then let it go all the way up to the point Beast Wars would start and continue there simultaneously with Machine Wars, then animate the idw Gathering and Ascending. Start off where Beast Machines ended and give us Transtech for goodness sake.

Dead Metal wrote:I think a re-imagining of G1 would rock. Basically the same characters, same basic plot, set it in the 80's, update the designs that they work and look more believable and keep key moments of the G1 show.
That way we would get a pretty awesome show and avoid the really cheesy kiddy stories the original had.
Give it a 26 episode run, then let them update their alt-modes while they come into the 90's and early 2000's let them stay that way for season 3 and then introduce the 80's Movie and season 3 characters have a special killing off the old guys and focus in season 4 on the new guys with the best of the originals then let it slowly dip into the later stuff like the masters and such.
Then let it go all the way up to the point Beast Wars would start and continue there simultaneously with Machine Wars, then animate the idw Gathering and Ascending. Start off where Beast Machines ended and give us Transtech for goodness sake.

Um, what?

Well, how about a TV series of Henkei? I mean, it already has a storyline in manga form. And it acts as an alternate G1 story that's separated from the original cartoon. Not to mention that its figures are in more show-accurate colors than the Classics/Universe versions.

I think it should, but be a series done for more grown-up folks like how the new GI Joe mini-cartoon is done. But instead os a mini series, make this new series have regular episodes and be written by the same folks that did Beast Wars.

I personally don't think they need to be updated all that much, especially the Seekers. I would want them to keep most of their iconic looks, but tweeked just a tiny bit if need be. Otherwise its not true G1, but just another derivative. It can be set in the 2000s, and retain the characters' looks like they did with the new Joe.

First Gen wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I think a re-imagining of G1 would rock. Basically the same characters, same basic plot, set it in the 80's, update the designs that they work and look more believable and keep key moments of the G1 show.
That way we would get a pretty awesome show and avoid the really cheesy kiddy stories the original had.
Give it a 26 episode run, then let them update their alt-modes while they come into the 90's and early 2000's let them stay that way for season 3 and then introduce the 80's Movie and season 3 characters have a special killing off the old guys and focus in season 4 on the new guys with the best of the originals then let it slowly dip into the later stuff like the masters and such.
Then let it go all the way up to the point Beast Wars would start and continue there simultaneously with Machine Wars, then animate the idw Gathering and Ascending. Start off where Beast Machines ended and give us Transtech for goodness sake.

Um, what?

I'm basically saying I want the original G1 characters in updated designs in a show set in the 80's, that has the same basic plot as the original but actually thought out more. And have them actually let time pass and modernize the alt-mode while they get into the 90's and 2000's and continue the show for so long that we see the Beast Wars characters leave Cybertron. And then tell the stories of what happened on Cybertron during the Beast Wars era and let it tie into the idw comics. And then let it be interrupted at the point of Beast Machines and continue with Transtech, the show and line that was meant to be the continuation from Beast Machines but was replaced with RID and Armada.

Dead Metal wrote:

First Gen wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I think a re-imagining of G1 would rock. Basically the same characters, same basic plot, set it in the 80's, update the designs that they work and look more believable and keep key moments of the G1 show.
That way we would get a pretty awesome show and avoid the really cheesy kiddy stories the original had.
Give it a 26 episode run, then let them update their alt-modes while they come into the 90's and early 2000's let them stay that way for season 3 and then introduce the 80's Movie and season 3 characters have a special killing off the old guys and focus in season 4 on the new guys with the best of the originals then let it slowly dip into the later stuff like the masters and such.
Then let it go all the way up to the point Beast Wars would start and continue there simultaneously with Machine Wars, then animate the idw Gathering and Ascending. Start off where Beast Machines ended and give us Transtech for goodness sake.

Um, what?

I'm basically saying I want the original G1 characters in updated designs in a show set in the 80's, that has the same basic plot as the original but actually thought out more. And have them actually let time pass and modernize the alt-mode while they get into the 90's and 2000's and continue the show for so long that we see the Beast Wars characters leave Cybertron. And then tell the stories of what happened on Cybertron during the Beast Wars era and let it tie into the idw comics. And then let it be interrupted at the point of Beast Machines and continue with Transtech, the show and line that was meant to be the continuation from Beast Machines but was replaced with RID and Armada.

Machine Wars had no fiction, though. And it involved characters who were dead by the time of Beast Era. And the the only official timeline that mentions when Machine Wars occurs places it prior to the Beast Era after G2.

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

First Gen wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I think a re-imagining of G1 would rock. Basically the same characters, same basic plot, set it in the 80's, update the designs that they work and look more believable and keep key moments of the G1 show.
That way we would get a pretty awesome show and avoid the really cheesy kiddy stories the original had.
Give it a 26 episode run, then let them update their alt-modes while they come into the 90's and early 2000's let them stay that way for season 3 and then introduce the 80's Movie and season 3 characters have a special killing off the old guys and focus in season 4 on the new guys with the best of the originals then let it slowly dip into the later stuff like the masters and such.
Then let it go all the way up to the point Beast Wars would start and continue there simultaneously with Machine Wars, then animate the idw Gathering and Ascending. Start off where Beast Machines ended and give us Transtech for goodness sake.

Um, what?

I'm basically saying I want the original G1 characters in updated designs in a show set in the 80's, that has the same basic plot as the original but actually thought out more. And have them actually let time pass and modernize the alt-mode while they get into the 90's and 2000's and continue the show for so long that we see the Beast Wars characters leave Cybertron. And then tell the stories of what happened on Cybertron during the Beast Wars era and let it tie into the idw comics. And then let it be interrupted at the point of Beast Machines and continue with Transtech, the show and line that was meant to be the continuation from Beast Machines but was replaced with RID and Armada.

Machine Wars had no fiction, though. And it involved characters who were dead by the time of Beast Era. And the the only official timeline that mentions when Machine Wars occurs places it prior to the Beast Era after G2.

I know all that Machine Wars was just a little side thing just in case the new animal direction was unpopular.
But I think using the name Machine Wars for the show that takes place during the Beast Wars but on Cybertron would be a quite clever word play on Beast Wars, Beast MAchines and the fact it used to be an old line.
And I'm not going to read that chart, last time I tried I had a headache.

Don't take this the wrong way DM because I love your enthusiasm, but I think you are a few seasons ahead of the rest of us.
I'm falling in line more with First Gens approach which is much the same as your own but I think just a bit slower. Also, having lived through the 80's, I'm content with leaving them right where they are and just diving into the modern age with the the current Classics/Universe forms. However, I do like the progression idea and I think that opens a door for new characters or new "future-tech" versions of existing characters but I would not like to see the series try to tie into Beast Wars or Machine Wars. That just strikes me as stepping backwards at this point. The TF line needs to continually have new life pumped into it or we are never going to be able to keep up with bringing new "sheep into the fold" as it were. Bays movie is one way in which this happened, TFA was a good mix for both the newbies and us old-schoolers what with all the homages but I think if a new series is going to really take off it has to be fresher, more dynamic than TFA or anything we have yet seen. Several of the elements already mentioned complied together(I think) are going to be needed. Stunning animation, slightly more mature nature or at the very least a more serious undertone than TFA, better Network exposure, solid continuity. Something that let's folks know that THIS is Transformers! The same heart and soul but in a brand new body, just like the new movies but at the same time completely different from the new movies as far as style and storyline. Something that truly says "This is the 21st century Transformers!"
Roll together Evangelion, Gundam, Robotech and Transformers, shave some of the violence off the edges to keep us parental types happy and drop enough of the "soap opera" element to keep the kids from getting bored (I know this is painting a less than stellar picture here) and give it the Classics character design treatment and I think it might make for a platform to work from.

...Or I could just be shooting sparks out of my arse here and painting a picture for an epic failure. At least I took a shot.

Dead Metal wrote:
And I'm not going to read that chart, last time I tried I had a headache.

Okay, then allow me to assist you. Start at 2010, go down the purple path of Japanese G1 franchises (Headmasters to Operation Combination), which will take you to the Japanese G2 in orange, and then to Machine Wars, also in orange.

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:
And I'm not going to read that chart, last time I tried I had a headache.

Okay, then allow me to assist you. Start at 2010, go down the purple path of Japanese G1 franchises (Headmasters to Operation Combination), which will take you to the Japanese G2 in orange, and then to Machine Wars, also in orange.

As Bugs Bunny once said, "I should have taken that left turn at Albequerque". I'm with DM as far as the headache looking at that chart. Is there something more...linear...that maybe outlines the Japanese series and that we could set a similar Americanized version parallel to. That chart was like trying to disseminate a dozen bugs that collided with my windshield simultaneously. Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee yet this morning. I'll try it again after my fourth cup just to be fair.

I know that my previous post followed more along the idea of a total reboot (mentioned by skywarp-2) to pull in and keep the younger group but upon further thought, some elements of previous incarnations may be necessary so as not to lose members of the older crowd. We all saw the initial reaction when the concept of TFA was introduced and it took the whole first season for me to even begin thinking about warming up to it. I think this new show needs to take off much faster than that as far as fan appeal, we just need to see enough of all the proper elements to keep everyone interested but not so much that the new viewers are going "where the hell did that concept come from?" While it was fun pointing out G1 stuff to my kids during TFA I don't want to spend 3/4 of an episode in front of the computer digging up obscure facts to explain something my boys saw in the first 5 minutes of the show. Not everyone has kept up on ALL the incarnations or continuities and not everyone has the desire to and Hasbro knows this and is going to keep it simpler than most of what has been proposed but may be willing to listen to input about scaled down tie-ins or past referrences.

T-Macksimus wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:
And I'm not going to read that chart, last time I tried I had a headache.

Okay, then allow me to assist you. Start at 2010, go down the purple path of Japanese G1 franchises (Headmasters to Operation Combination), which will take you to the Japanese G2 in orange, and then to Machine Wars, also in orange.

As Bugs Bunny once said, "I should have taken that left turn at Albequerque". I'm with DM as far as the headache looking at that chart. Is there something more...linear...that maybe outlines the Japanese series and that we could set a similar Americanized version parallel to. That chart was like trying to disseminate a dozen bugs that collided with my windshield simultaneously. Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee yet this morning. I'll try it again after my fourth cup just to be fair.

Well, I found it easier to navigate because I blew it up on my desktop background and was able to clearly see where all the lines go and in what directions because they were big and bold once enlarged.

Here, this version ought to be easier to read.

Sabrblade wrote:

T-Macksimus wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:
And I'm not going to read that chart, last time I tried I had a headache.

Okay, then allow me to assist you. Start at 2010, go down the purple path of Japanese G1 franchises (Headmasters to Operation Combination), which will take you to the Japanese G2 in orange, and then to Machine Wars, also in orange.

As Bugs Bunny once said, "I should have taken that left turn at Albequerque". I'm with DM as far as the headache looking at that chart. Is there something more...linear...that maybe outlines the Japanese series and that we could set a similar Americanized version parallel to. That chart was like trying to disseminate a dozen bugs that collided with my windshield simultaneously. Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee yet this morning. I'll try it again after my fourth cup just to be fair.

Well, I found it easier to navigate because I blew it up on my desktop background and was able to clearly see where all the lines go and in what directions because they were big and bold once enlarged.

Here, this version ought to be easier to read.

No no the real headache is the fact that it has G1, RID, AEC as one and the same continuity.

WOW, warn a fella next time! That popped up so fast and was so "In your face" I jumped back in my seat.
I feel a bit foolish for not having thought of something so simple as blowing it up but I still think I'm going to try doing up a linear format of some sort. This chart should help especially since I am only really familiar with the American releases.

genozaur and I had been talking back and forth about Cybertronian evolution and various ways in which characters and stories could be centered around different aspects relating to a higher form of Cybertronian life or abilities that could come about but I fear that many aspects that we have explored may prove to be too...cerebral for a younger audience to keep pace with. I think it would make for a good cartoon or comic series to entertain the older fanbase that is looking for something darker or more serious minded. It would be something completely different from anything else we have yet dealt with so there would be no toys or real established imagery to associate with outside of flashback segments but having a chart of all past series/incarnations is going to be quite helpful and in fact, this new tangent could actually serve as a means to tying up any loose ends in any continuity or as a bridge to connect lines that may not have previously crossed but would otherwise work well together.

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Here, this version ought to be easier to read.

No no the real headache is the fact that it has G1, RID, AEC as one and the same continuity.

Theyre not! Only Car Robots was retconned inot with G1. Look closely and you'll see that AEC is separated on it's own (at first).

Look at it. Micron Legend has no other connection on the chart except for Superlink. Superlink then points to both Galaxy Force and Universe (2003) because 1) Galaxy Force is the retconned sequel to Superlink, and 2) There were Energon characters in the Universe toyline (and maybe fiction, but remember, Universe's story had Primus pull charatcers from EVERYWHERE into that story). Then Galaxy Force points to Classics not in the sense of another sequel, but in the sense that some characters (namely Skyfall and Landquake) have crossed over from the AEC universe into the Classics portion of the G1 universe. And the only other link to AEC in that chart is Beast Wars Reborn, which dealt with Beast Wars Optimus Primal and Megatron meeting Vector Prime and Galaxy Force Soundblaster in what could be Galaxy Force's distant past.

As for RiD, only Car Robots was retconned into the Japanese G1. The Engish dub of Robots in Disguise was not. And it kinda works in Japan because all of the Car Robots version of the characters have different names from any G1 character. Not to mention that, by the year 2000 in Japanese G1, the G1 Autobots and Decepticons were lost in space. Leaving Earth open for the Car Robots characters.

Enlightenment: the elusive mental state where one finds one-self just as confused as before but on a higher level and about much more important things!

Still working on that linear chart...

T-Macksimus wrote:Enlightenment: the elusive mental state where one finds one-self just as confused as before but on a higher level and about much more important things!

Still working on that linear chart...

Make sure that A) The G1 cartoon, the G1 comics, and the Armada/Micron Legend cartoon are the starting points, and B) that you've got the arrows pointing in the correct directions as shown on the chart (i.e. Galaxy Force should point to Classics, but not vice-versa).

Also, some of the English translation letters are obstructing the view of some of the lines. Here is the original untranslated version of the chart. The lines and arrows are more visible in this version.

Crap! I'm not going to be graded on this am I??


*psst, Dead Metal can I borrow your notes...I wasn't paying attention*

I'm just kidding...

Seriously in regards to the thoroughness factor, would it not be more prudent to omit details such as the Comics continuity given the fact that there was, as near as I can tell, no direct influence from it over the animated shows (in fact I think the converse was true) and therefore it should exist as it's own seperate chart? After all, our primary focus here was the direction the new show should be taking and whether G1 should be done CGI. I would think the comics line would serve better as an addendum to this line rather than a primary point of reference since the TV shows were paramount...or is there evidence to the contrary?

And thanks for the additional chart.

Also note that that yelow line connecting Victory to Micromaster (Collection) is going backwards, as, after the events of Victory, the Multiforce traveled back in time to the events of Micromaster Collection, which took place in the early 80's prior to that volcano erupting and waking up Teletraan I.

Also, this other timeline might help as well. But do note that this one can get crazy at times. Particularly with the stuff from the Kiss Players fiction.