The Energon Pub

[primalxconvoy]

As a kid, I never related to kid perspective characters in cartoons, in fact I tended to range from being apathetic, to downright hating some of them. All that being said, Nobody can deny the popularity of BB.

It's as if he's still the only multiversal-singularity in the TF multiverse.

There must be many bumblebees.

[Burn]

As a kid, I never related to kid perspective characters in cartoons, in fact I tended to range from being apathetic, to downright hating some of them. All that being said, Nobody can deny the popularity of BB.

Yeah but in all fairness, the cartoons you watched growing up were meant to sell toys, not have relatable characters.

[Sabrblade]

Let's also not forget that it's the retailers who keep wanting to carry the big names like Bumblebee, Optimus, Megatron, Starscream, etc.

[o.supreme]

As a kid, I never related to kid perspective characters in cartoons, in fact I tended to range from being apathetic, to downright hating some of them. All that being said, Nobody can deny the popularity of BB.

Yeah but in all fairness, the cartoons you watched growing up were meant to sell toys, not have relatable characters.

Yet I related to several of the ones with more admirable traits like Optimus Prime, or Superman just fine.

Also I watched pretty much every action based cartoon from the late 70's to early 2000's, yet only ever collected 2 lines as toys (MOTU and Transformers). I now own most of the cartoons via physical media, because I actually liked the shows way more than the toys. If the goal was ONLY to ever sell toys, then with me they failed, as I never bought a single Voltron, GI Joe, Thundercats, MASK, TMNT, The Real Ghostbusters etc. toys. But I enjoyed all the shows. Also, if I ever find myself in financial difficulties it will be my toys that I sell FIRST, before any physical media, as they are the easiest to part with.

Basically, the "80's cartoons were just 22 minute toy commercials" statement is defintely beating a dead horse. Yes that was defintely a strong factor, I'm not denying that. But in spite of all of that, they brought together some extremely talented writers, actors, and animation styles that are still celebrated today, and I would gladly watch TODAY over anything currently being produced in animation.

[First-Aid]

As a kid, I never related to kid perspective characters in cartoons, in fact I tended to range from being apathetic, to downright hating some of them. All that being said, Nobody can deny the popularity of BB.

Yeah but in all fairness, the cartoons you watched growing up were meant to sell toys, not have relatable characters.

That's what Hasbro thought when they killed off Optimus Prime in the Great Toy Massacre of 1986. It seems that good writers can do wonders even with toys.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

As a kid, I never related to kid perspective characters in cartoons, in fact I tended to range from being apathetic, to downright hating some of them. All that being said, Nobody can deny the popularity of BB.

Yeah but in all fairness, the cartoons you watched growing up were meant to sell toys, not have relatable characters.

That's what Hasbro thought when they killed off Optimus Prime in the Great Toy Massacre of 1986. It seems that good writers can do wonders even with toys.

Child Psychiatrists didn't get paid enough when the movie came out

[william-james88]

People brought up a good point, unlike other toy commercials disguised as shows (street sharks, biker mice from mars, that weird trolls from the 80s, G1 Joe, he-man) I truly believe that what left such an impact with young kids was the distinct personalities of the G1 characters and how they interacted with one another. All that fun trash talk for instance. Or Soundave's high and mighty personality in that monotone robot voice. We had characters like Kup that felt older and had a history of their own. Galvatron was literally insane and used that to his advantage. These were rare things in these non serialized kids shows of the 80s.

(what also helped was that the toys were more unique play pattern)

[o.supreme]

Child Psychiatrists didn't get paid enough when the movie came out

I know this is all in jest, and I get it. Even the story Flint Dille sometimes mentions (not originated by him) about a kid who allegedly locked himself in a closest because of the "trauma" caused by the death of Prime.

As a kid who saw TF:TM at the age of 10, while I cant speak for every one of my peers, what I can do is relate my own experience. I used to give the common response all the time "yeah I cried"...but that wasn't quite true.

My mom took me to an almost empty Tuesday Matinee following the films opening weekend, along with 2 friends (well one of my closest friends, and one of "his friends" I barely knew). When Prime died on screen I was misty-eyed for sure, but definitely held it in out of fear of being teased by my friends sitting next to me.

I'm certain my mom never wrote any angry letters to Hasbro, in fact, amazing as this sounds, I don't think my mom and I ever had a discussion about the movie, which was odd because we always discussed movies together. She was probably just glad it was over . But no emotional scars, no therapy. It was just a thing that happened. Perhaps a core memory (to borrow from Inside Out), for sure of something awesome and tragic at the same time, but certainly nothing that stifled the growth my myself or any of my circle of friends, and we all went on to see TF:TM Many times once it was released on VHS in 1987.

Sorry for the partial derailing of the thread, just had to clear the air on that one.

As for SS, I was thinking, SS48 is just a Universal Studios straight up repaint of SS34. Also several of the Exclusive Bumblebees are straight up repaints as well, yet they all had new "SS" number designations.

I'm not going to say it's impossible, but I would be quite perplexed if B127 with the new head came out just as SS65 again...

[william-james88]

Breaking news from Hasbro:

You like reveals? How about the remaining Studio Series Wave 1 characters for 2022? All inspired by Transforrmers: Bumblebee! We know you want to build the epic Cybertron Battle opening scene, and now you can! For the first time in Studio Series, check out Deluxe Class Autobot Ratchet, Brawn, and Wheeljack, PLUS Voyager Class Soundwave.
And that's not all! We're introducing Core Class to the Studio Series line for the first time ever! And what better way to kick off this new Studio Series scale than with Ravage, who converts into a Cybertronian cassette that fits in the Voyager Class Soundwave figure's chest. And check out Core Class Shockwave with his Cybertronian tank mode and a first look at the new open window packaging for the Core Class scale.
Parents, be sure to check back in December for exciting pre-order information.

[Evil Eye]

Brawn looks outstanding, definitely want him. Ratchet looks pretty good too! Soundwave's alt mode is kind of abstract but I'm surprisingly OK with it.

[Immortal Starscream]

real tf prime vibes off shockwave. Soundwave's alt mode is a bit weird to me, but all in all, I really dig these. Here I was thinking I wouldn't be spending money on transformers next year.

[o.supreme]

Soundwave's alt mode is definitely...unique?




The Deluxe Autobots look cool. Ravage looks ok, I understand the limitations of the "cassette" alt mode, and cannot make the jaguar look as dynamic as it should. Why they are releasing Shockwave as a core class instead of a voyager or leader still doesn't make sense.

[Spider5800]

I'll admit these actually turned out pretty good, although I doubt I'll pick them up. The robot modes look like dead ringers for the film, which is probably all that really matters.

I wonder if not knowing the alt mode makes these easier or harder to design.

[DeathReviews]

Interesting interpretations. Disappointed that they made Shockwave another H-tank. Somehow, that just never seems to look good on him. Not sure what SS Soundwave is supposed to be - a Goblin Glider, perhaps? Hopefully there will be a 'lamppost' mode

[-Kanrabat-]

Appart Ravage"a obvious block mode and Soundwave's ROADKILL mode, I adore all of these. Especially Brawn and Ratchet. This is what we should have gotten in Siege.

[Overcracker]

Ooohh, color me intrigued.

Shockwave looks great.

Loving Brawn, will get him and Wheeljack definitely.

Ratchet is o.k.

What the heck does Soundwave transform into exactly?

Ravage looks great, but not sure that is a cassette looks like he's just balled up.

[o.supreme]

I just noticed the core class packaging doesn't have numbers. Does that mean they are going to drop it completely in 2022?

[Starbuck14]

Anyone else getting the feeling gears is going to be the recolor of this new brawn mold?

[-Kanrabat-]

Anyone else getting the feeling gears is going to be the recolor of this new brawn mold?

High chances.

[ZeroWolf]

Interesting interpretations. Disappointed that they made Shockwave another H-tank. Somehow, that just never seems to look good on him. Not sure what SS Soundwave is supposed to be - a Goblin Glider, perhaps? Hopefully there will be a 'lamppost' mode

They probably based Core Shockwave's alt mode on Dark of the Moon's Shockwave alt mode to be fair.

[TF-fan kev777]

I just noticed the core class packaging doesn't have numbers. Does that mean they are going to drop it completely in 2022?

That is my guess. Otherwise they would have to navigate the inevitable collision of SS-1 through SS-79 so far with SS86. Oddly enough, there were enough slots to get them right to SS-85 with the first wave next year.

[Sabrblade]

Soundwave turns into The Bat from The Dark Knight Rises.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Most of the Cybertron designs from BB weren't really my thing, but I do like the alt modes on most of them. I think I'll be saving for the Bayverse guys due later next year.

. . . Though I will admit that I'm tempted to get a Ratchet to paint in Bayverse Ratchet's colors.

I do like the packaging for core class, can't wait to see how DOTM Laserbeak turns out.

[SpaceEagle]

So far these look pretty good, seems like they made something up for Ravage's and Soundwave's alt-modes just to not confuse kiddies with cassette recorders! (Much like marketing Six Shot's totally-not-an-upside-down-gun mode as a "submarine") I think I have a good enough of an imagination to see Soundwave's "vehicle" mode as some kind of alien hovercraft, but I think we're all just gonna go for the classic cassette recorder or lamppost modes, heh.

[griftimus prime]

that ratchet is dope