Icons Unearthed: Transformers
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2026 11:28 pmIcons Unearthed is a tv doco series highlighting significant tv shows. Past icons include The Simpsons. The 11th season has the topic of Transformers. There are 6 episodes.
The first 2 episodes aired in Australia on Saturday. Stumbled upon it by channel surfing. As a casual Transfomers fan/collector (novice), this show was an absolute hoot. Learnt a lot of the back story. The competitiveness between Marvel & Sunbow. The animosity at times. The time pressures to get Season 1 and 2 & TFTM script completed. The big names Ron Friedman & Jim Shooter, who both passed away last year. Jim (at Marvel) was pretty peeved he didn't get the credit for his work in establishing the initial storyline. And yes, the episode dedicated a big portion to the death of Optimus.
I learned (but not limited to):
+ Orson Welles, the voice of Unicron, had to have his voice synthesized because his natural didn't work.
+ The inspiration to the transforming sound came from the re/winding of the film reel.
+ (I confess that I never got into Beast Wars, but...) Maximals name came one day when out in the carpark, from the Nissan(?) Maxima car badge.
+ Duke character from GI Joe fame was also suppose to be killed off. But the backlash from Optimus kicking the bucket put a stop to that.
Anyway, looking forward to the next 2 episode installment this coming Saturday. It's Bayverse/Live Action movies. Perhaps they'll throw in some titillating scenes of Megan Fox. And perhaps Shia if he gets his sh!t together.
The first 2 episodes aired in Australia on Saturday. Stumbled upon it by channel surfing. As a casual Transfomers fan/collector (novice), this show was an absolute hoot. Learnt a lot of the back story. The competitiveness between Marvel & Sunbow. The animosity at times. The time pressures to get Season 1 and 2 & TFTM script completed. The big names Ron Friedman & Jim Shooter, who both passed away last year. Jim (at Marvel) was pretty peeved he didn't get the credit for his work in establishing the initial storyline. And yes, the episode dedicated a big portion to the death of Optimus.
I learned (but not limited to):
+ Orson Welles, the voice of Unicron, had to have his voice synthesized because his natural didn't work.
+ The inspiration to the transforming sound came from the re/winding of the film reel.
+ (I confess that I never got into Beast Wars, but...) Maximals name came one day when out in the carpark, from the Nissan(?) Maxima car badge.
+ Duke character from GI Joe fame was also suppose to be killed off. But the backlash from Optimus kicking the bucket put a stop to that.
Anyway, looking forward to the next 2 episode installment this coming Saturday. It's Bayverse/Live Action movies. Perhaps they'll throw in some titillating scenes of Megan Fox. And perhaps Shia if he gets his sh!t together.