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Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:23 am
by Tigertrack
allspark- Michael Bell, the voice actor for the Generation One cartoon's Prowl and Swoop is requesting the help of the fans.

"To all my Transformer buds,

I recently directed a demo for a series of motion graphic "Transformers" comics which could be downloaded via iPhone, iTouch, and other outlets. Many talented professional actors provided the voices for the characters in the demo including myself. The plan was to present it to IDW Comics who had shown more then a passing interest in this budding new concept. With a go ahead on producing the series, I would be employing the talents of as many of the original voices from the early series as possible. I had already cleared this with my fellow "Transformers" actors, and everyone was waiting in the wings for the response from the powers at IDW comics.

After months of mulling over it, they ultimately passed on the idea, and surprise surprise, decided to produce their own graphic motion novel without the voices or even the superbly heightened animation. So, essentially what you now have the ability to download is a plain old comic book.

Nothing new there.

SOooooo, I am taking my request to the troops. To all the die hard fans who I have met over the years at Botcon conventions, or who have written to me asking about my experiences working on one of the most inventive animated series in TV history- I need your help! I am requesting that you do something for me and my fellow actors, so we can in-turn do something really cool for you.

Please contact IDW and let them know that their concept of a series of comic books based on "Transformers" WITHOUT the talents of voice actors, especially many of the original voices, just doesn't cut it.

Please ask them to contract Creative Producers Chris Folino and William Katt, and make a deal for them to produce their concept of a downloadable graphic motion comic series of "Transformers" with - Hide quoted text - professional actors, progressive animation, and lotsa sound effects.

On behalf of all those actors, animators, and studio techs that will get an opportunity to carry on a great tradition,

I thank you,
Michael "Prowl/Swoop" Bell"


You can see the original request here, and check out the sample of the IDW motion graphic novel below.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bH83gbGcCnE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bH83gbGcCnE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


UPDATE 6/8/09!

Michael Bell replies back to critics, and supporters at the Allspark.

"Hey T purists,
Thanks for all the responses to the demo. To those of you that liked, loved, and used it for personal gratification, cool beans!
Those of you that thought it was limited in content or approach, remember, it was a demo..designed to show the possibilities and not for public consumption. Time constraints demanded an immediate presentable product. No time to start sifting through the best stories etc.
If IDW recants and gives us a go ahead with some scratch to do a good job, I assure you, you will be blown awayby the end result.
In expensive but classy thrills for a .99 cent download. Much MORE THEN MEETS THE EYE!
Again, thanks for the attention and cogent responses.
For those of you who took the time to write IDW, you are da bomb.
MB
"


Mr. Bell, we invite you to come to our forums and discuss this project with our community as well! There are a lot of your fans here, and there seems to be a lot of support for your project here too!-- Seibertron.com\

Be sure to check out Michael Bell's characters in the Vector Sigma Database (G1 Prowl, and Swoop) too!

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:44 am
by Blackstreak
Heh, they weren't spending months mulling the idea over. They were planning how to steal the idea. But I'll be more than glad to send a letter. I like the snippets of 'live-action' comics that I have seen so far and would like to see more of them.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:36 am
by ashe5k
I might actually pay money for the version with the voiceovers. Not a straight comic.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:55 am
by Dragonslayer
Yeah, I bought the Watchmen motion comics off of iTunes and thought that was pretty cool. A Transformers motion comic would be excellent 8)

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:39 am
by Black Bumblebee
Would LOVE to see more of this come to fruition. Did something like this myself with the War Within comics a year ago (and yes... I am still working on episode 2... just haven't had a lot of free time).

You can better believe that I'll send my support their way. I do, however, hope that they avoid using the "shadow" effect of object movement. A few moments of Photoshop can fill in the missing bits, after all...

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:41 am
by karellan
I'm actually really surprised IDW didn't go for it. It seems to be the next big thing over at Marvel and DC (the Watchmen one is probably the most well-known, but they have lots of them). I don't understand why IDW would want to push tech that's already outdated. It's like pushing your great new laser disk movie right after DVD was invented.

Transformers: The Movie! Now available in Betamax!

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:03 am
by Wheeljack35
That was seet but weird to hear Michesl Bell's voice come from Skywarp

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:03 am
by CrabHeart
REALLY REALLY REALLY o rly? REALLY REALLY!!! want to see more. go prowl go!!!

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:31 am
by Wheeljack144
That was really excellent. I would love to see that product come to fruition.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:41 am
by PoweredConvoy97
Go on Prowl! :APPLAUSE:

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:56 am
by Sabrblade
What? No Welker?

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:07 am
by typh0id
Motion comics actually annoy me...Don't care for them...But that one IS at least well done and Megatron sounds awesome :D Pretty f-ed up for IDW to just jack their idea like that...Not really surprising, but still wrong...

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:28 am
by CrabHeart
hey there might not be frank as megs but still. we need this. atleast i do. we need some kind of g1 animation going on..

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:17 pm
by -Soundwave-
I am impressed, my letter is gettin' sent.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:42 pm
by Hard Hacker
Bell's Starscream voice is pretty good. Hell, I'd say it was a far better take than Latta's iteration.

Anyway, so we'll have to download a comic over an animated feature with established talents...

I know which one I'd prefer.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:21 pm
by Windsweeper
Would love to see more of that. Bell is great as Starscream. Closest I've ever heard to Latta. Just seems weird to think of the voice of Prowl doing Starscream so well. His Skywarp is cool too.

Always liked his performance as Prowl. Had a certain calmness to it as befits his logical, patient tech Specs.

Really liked him as Raziel in the Soul Reaver/Legacy of Kain games.

Pity TFCog couldn't get him for their fandubs.

Anyway, would be great if IDW picked up on this although I'd recast Megatron. I can do a pretty good Welker-esque Megatron myself. Be cool if Bell could persuade IDW and then Welker to do it.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:26 pm
by Megatron Wolf
Wow that was awesome. His Starscream is the best ive heard in a long time. Bell is one of my favorite voice actors of all time. Not only did he do some of my favorite voices in TF but he also voiced some of my favorite video game characters as well, Raziel (Legacy of Kain) and The Fear (MGS3:Snake Eater)just to name a couple. Ill be sending out a letter next chance i get. I also think we should maybe get a petition going or some kind of mass letter that we all sign. The more we do the better chance this will become a reality.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:37 pm
by Solrac333
I want to see THAT cartoon. THAT is Transformers. :grin: :APPLAUSE:

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:06 pm
by Firebird
That was awesome!

I all of a sudden care about All Hail Megatron, It's amazing what some good voice talent can do. I would gladly buy this.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:40 pm
by Vectorshot
That was awesome!!! I'd love to see more.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:44 pm
by Blurrz
That was pants-wetting material right there.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:50 pm
by Elita One
If this were to become a reality I'd buy it. Also nice to see more G1 VA's getting back to the TF universe. Thanks Mr Bell.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:03 pm
by InvaderJes
I'm really not into motion comics. I am, however, into Mikey Bell's voice coming out of any TF project! IDW, I want this to happen!!!

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:02 am
by Dead Metal
Nope, that's how much I dislike AHM.
He's one of my fave voice actors but not cos of TF but cos of being Raziel. But I just seem to hate AHM more then I love my G1 voices.

Re: Tranformers G1 Voice Actor Asking For YOUR Help

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:54 am
by justynnbailey
As far as the voice acting...I think he said that if the project was given the green light, that the original voice actors would pitch in. So maybe we would get a Welker voiced Megs (after all, he did that movie prequel thing in the TF Movie dvd in 07). Also, I found it odd that he used "Swoop/Prowl" in his signature but he left Scrapper out, which was the onlt character he originally voiced, that was in the video...shrugs...