The Energon Pub

by **NewFoundStarscreamLuv** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:58 pm

I was lucky enough to be working in LA a few months ago. Here is a segment from a Michael Bay presentation to the designers I overheard while repairing the A/C:

Michael Bay: "now wait guys,dont forget, we are going for REALISTIC robots here. Super realistic. They are alien robots, remember? So they need to be real. They dont even need a humanoid form. They can have multiple arms and legs, wheels whatever. I dont care what it looks like when its done transforming, as long as you cant tell what it started as. And they dont speak english, because they are aliens. They can also communicate with each other at high speed since they are robots. So high speed talking, not in English. We'll just add subtitles. Itll be more real. And why would something that could transform into a car need a spaceship? Its like a person who can drive their car deciding to take an airplane to get to NY. That makes no sense at all. They will just transform into their own spaceships. So design those too. And no mass shifting. That makes no sense and is stupid....
Now Jetfire is an old cybertronian. Remember, even if its a robot, it CAN age. Also, he should have a cane, just so he looks more real. And look like a knight. A knight with a cane."

Designer: "Mr. Bay, doesnt that kind of go against everything else we're trying to do?"

That designer was then fired.

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:15 am

Aging robots is not so unusual. It ranks up there with them having personalities in logic. ANd let's face it, even metals wear down after a few eons or so...hell most cars can't make it 10 years without the parts grinding themselves to a pulp. I can hear his gears and cogs grinding when he walks due to extreme age and, as a result he doesn't move as well and needs external balance aids such as a cane.

As for the fig, I like it. I admit his face definitely has a Zoidberg-ish look to it...but it looks sweet. ANd there is no way to NOT have kibble on an SR-71...the overall plane design is extremely slender; where could Hasbro hide all the robot parts? Besides, the kids who play with em don't care...

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:18 am

The cane is a little cheesy, but that is one of the best looking TFS in a long time.

News Credits: 11 · by **kirbenvost** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:15 am

Haha, pimp cane, that's awesome.

Still, that's one UUUG-LY Transformer. Luckily I'll be saving lots of money while this line's out, there's only 2 I want for sure so far, Sideswipe and Soundwave.

by **Softimus Prime** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:55 am

so will the first repaint homage g1 jetfire, kup, or alpha trion?
his design is alot better than i had feared from that FAB we saw before. i dont think id buy this for himself but maybe for the optimus combiner feature.

News Credits: 3 · by **Emperor Galvatron** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:13 am

A cane. We finally get a handi-capable TF. About time. Chip Chase, Daniel Witwicky and Jessica Morgan were tired of being the only cripples in TFdom.

Well, at least he'll be able to get a good parking spot at Country Kitchen buffet. Next thing we'll hear is he flies at 35 mph with his blinker on for 10 miles.

News Credits: 1 · by **gingermoney** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:15 am

its not a cane its a pimp stick :grin:

[zero-kaiser's YouTube Channel] · by **zero-kaiser** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:21 am

I have to say I'm quite impressed

The whiskers on the sides of the head kinda bother me, but they appear to be on hinges, so they might swing back to be less visable (like the headshot on the bottom corner of the box)

Still cant wait to see their combined form.. judging from the Mega Power Bot version it should be pretty awesome!!

I know for a fact as soon as I get him I'm gunna make a lil pimp hat and chunky chain for him

News Credits: 6 · by **Dr. Caelus** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:29 am

To each there own I suppose.

I think it's ugly, and it doesn't even have a transformation that justifies its ugliness.

At this point, I'm just hoping his role in the movie isn't sucky.

Maybe the Allspark fragment rejuvenates him?

Or maybe he's just like Yoda?

News Credits: 8 · by **Megatron Wolf** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:45 am

Jetfire=fail, prime+jetfire=EPICFAIL. This movie just keeps getting worse and worse and worse. Think this is the crappiest TF to come out of the movie lines so far.

by **harvester** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:46 am

from the looks of it, it seems that the cane isn't permanently attached to his hand. I hope that's the case because you can always display him without it... unless he's unstable without it =P

Trikeboy wrote:Also, note that the box says Autobot while the Legend class says Decepticon.

The back of this box explains that a little bit

by **Swiftpaw** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:46 am

Seeing how more 'biology with machines' the movie franchise is, it doesn't seem as farfetched that, along with being hiding on earth for so long without contact with his own kind, that he can't be 'repaired' all that easily.

Besides, seeing him slug someone with the cane would be funny as heck.

by **harvester** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:50 am

His cane should transform and double as a gun, or attach to the gun on his other arm as an extra barrel =P

by **Optimist Prime** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:20 am

A cane with wheels? Is that any way to treat an old-timer. I never knew Autobots could be such jerks.

by **ultra_magus** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:22 am

...he has a cane. He... has a cane? He has a CANE?! HE HAS A CANE!!! WHY THE FRAG DOES A *ROBOT* NEED A CANE?
:-x

Aaarrgghh, I sware, I thought I had totaly emotionly removed myself from this movie, but this ticks me off so badly I'm monologing! It's not just as a fan of the toys and franchise that I cring, but as a movie fan and writer. The lack of subtlety and subtext in these films is astounding. I've been trying to tell people I'm not emotionaly biased against this film, but, primus help me, I can't stand it. :sad:

Website · by **DMSL** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:22 am

The cane and head look stupid, other than that sweet toy. I really LOVE his jetmode. Sweet jesus that looks great.

by **Prowl1529** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:06 am

Hilarious, a cane! I never saw Alpha Trion whit a cane and i bet that he is mutch more older that Jetfire! This is stupid.

by **Prowl1529** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:10 am

One thing that Bay said when we first saw the designs for the Transformers of the 1st movie, he said that the G1 desings are very human like. I don't know if they realise that as far as we know a cane is a human thing, a human object. So as far as we know a normal face and body on a alien robot can be correct and normal.

News Credits: 2 · by **Autobotic9** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:27 am

IS there no Try me box on this window? YES! Know the toys won't have any paint chips from greedy kids!

AWesome toy, although his Jetmode suffers from Silverbolt syndrome.

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:01 am

I'm going to be curious as to how much backpack kibble he's got. Once we get a comprehensive gallery on him, it'll tell us a lot more.

However, I actually like him a little and will be interested to see if the OP/Jetfire combined mode is any good or a mess as I suspect it will be.

If it all looks good though, this may be the only movie figure I buy (unless Ravage kicks ass).

News Credits: 10 · by **Trikeboy** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:03 am

I still dont get why people are having such a hard time about a cane. There was a long running medical(?) problem in the first movie with Bumblebee's vocal processors. Maybe Jetfire's legs were severely damaged and was not able to get them repaired before he left Cybertron or the joints seized up. They may be robots but they are sentient living beings and we can all develop problems. It's called giving a character a background story.

by **Nightwalker** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:04 am

Still.... I REALLY like him, both alt and robotmode. Just imagine it without his cane and voilà! Problem solved and no more whining, please!

by **TylerDante69** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:07 am

Is Jetfire even in the movie??

Or is

he just one of those promo figs like Arcee on the 1st movie??

News Credits: 10 · by **Trikeboy** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:14 am

TylerDante69 wrote:Is Jetfire even in the movie??

Or is

he just one of those promo figs like Arcee on the 1st movie??

Why would they make a Leader class toy that isn't in the movie? Just doesn't make sense. Before you reply with the Deep Desert Brawl or Nightwatch OP argument, they were in the movie but just got a repaint.

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:23 am

TylerDante69 wrote:Is Jetfire even in the movie??

Or is

he just one of those promo figs like Arcee on the 1st movie??

In the movie-in the trailer. Go back and watch the scene where Scorpinok jumps out at another character-you can see Jetfire's leg and cane.

Also, it was reported that they filmed scenes at the Smithsonian Museum with Wheelie. If JF were in hiding, as a retired military jet, that's obviously where he'd be.