It started with the Big Broadcast of 1995
Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:58 amThe first time I heard of the Transformers, was from some friends who had seen the movie on good old VHS. It was the movie, so they had no clue about the animated series before, or after. Moreover, Transformers never sold much here in India- the most popular action toys were He-Man and GI Joe.
Then in 1995 STAR Plus, then our international TV channel, started airing Marvel Comics animated adaptations early in the morning, starting with the Hulk on weekdays. Weekends, however, had a pleasant surprise, as I had first seen The Transformers. In hindsight, though, it was a bit strange as a few Season 1 episodes and several Season 2 (it surely was long) episodes were deleted. They, however, aired nearly all episodes of Season 3, but I missed a few because it was aired early and I often got up a little too late, but knowing this channel, they may have cut out those as well.
So I'm essentially a Generation One Animated Series fan. My next brush with the Transformers was buying Go-Bots (at an affordable Rs. 99- can't translate into dollars due to fluctuating exchange rates) Mirage and Soundwave. I was, obviously, unimpressed with the Soundwave toy- radio, not racecar! They also sold Power Masters (Ironhide, Staxx, Meanstreak and Bulletbike), and looked interesting. Luckily, I chose not to buy them- I found out, only a few weeks ago, that these were mere bricks with motors in them. Original G1 toys, though, are still missing here.
I then came across a BW toy of Optimus Prime. I couldn't quite relate to it. I even saw the animation Beast Machines, and maybe because G1 Animation is ultimate Transformers, but it didn't interest me at all- this began with Megatron in Optimus' supposedly old body (some space cruiser) chasing Optimus in 'munky' mode. Later on, I saw a few episodes of Transformers' Armada. And I knew a lot was amiss. It seemed to resemble Force Five, Robotech, Ninja Robots or Voltron (all Japanese animated shows that I'd see till then) in artistry, slow pace of story, lack of action until the end of an episode and slow transformations. I wouldn't claim it has 'ruined Transformers FOREVER', but it's not quite Transformers. Can't call it Pokeformers because I tried to avoid Pokemon as much as possible- hated it a lot, but I'd call it Forceformers, Roboformers, Voltformers, oh well...
I am a student at a prominent animation/film-making institute here in Mumbai (or rather, off Mumbai) and they seem to be studying the new Transformers film (appeared and vanished without much fuss) by Michael Bay. I saw a few clips of the movie, shown on Vh1, and realised, oh well, the wheel reinvented again. That said, the animation is very interesting and I like the realistic adaptation of the Transformers- real vehicles, no parts shifting shape or appearing/disappearing, as in all the rapid animations of the much-revered G1 animation. The lack of robot action (read from [url]cracked.com[/url]- is it an anti-Transformers site?), though, is disappointing. I'd love to buy at least one movie toy, but I don't have the money.
I also make paper models, mostly of airplanes. I even tried constructing one of the old 'Paperformers', but with no visual help, my construction of Prowl had rear wheels way above front. I regularly sketch the old Hasbro toys to visualise the parts to construct, and I am trying to work out a cross between the animated series and the toys- and avoid partsforming as much as possible.
So I am here, with a lot to talk about Transformers, not just my favourite G1 animation, but also other forms about which I'm still curious. Like, what was the best post-G1 adaptation of Transformers? And the one you don't really like? Why didn't the post-Rebirth shows 'Ruin Transformers FOREVER'? And why is that last word often capitalised? And do you call Blitzwing's jet alt-mode a MiG-25? Or why was a Japanese locomotive chosen as Astrotrain's additional alternate mode ahead of Big Boy? And of course- toys, comics or television? Questions, so many of them, but I'd get onto them a little later. I'm still new to the fanbase.
Then in 1995 STAR Plus, then our international TV channel, started airing Marvel Comics animated adaptations early in the morning, starting with the Hulk on weekdays. Weekends, however, had a pleasant surprise, as I had first seen The Transformers. In hindsight, though, it was a bit strange as a few Season 1 episodes and several Season 2 (it surely was long) episodes were deleted. They, however, aired nearly all episodes of Season 3, but I missed a few because it was aired early and I often got up a little too late, but knowing this channel, they may have cut out those as well.
So I'm essentially a Generation One Animated Series fan. My next brush with the Transformers was buying Go-Bots (at an affordable Rs. 99- can't translate into dollars due to fluctuating exchange rates) Mirage and Soundwave. I was, obviously, unimpressed with the Soundwave toy- radio, not racecar! They also sold Power Masters (Ironhide, Staxx, Meanstreak and Bulletbike), and looked interesting. Luckily, I chose not to buy them- I found out, only a few weeks ago, that these were mere bricks with motors in them. Original G1 toys, though, are still missing here.
I then came across a BW toy of Optimus Prime. I couldn't quite relate to it. I even saw the animation Beast Machines, and maybe because G1 Animation is ultimate Transformers, but it didn't interest me at all- this began with Megatron in Optimus' supposedly old body (some space cruiser) chasing Optimus in 'munky' mode. Later on, I saw a few episodes of Transformers' Armada. And I knew a lot was amiss. It seemed to resemble Force Five, Robotech, Ninja Robots or Voltron (all Japanese animated shows that I'd see till then) in artistry, slow pace of story, lack of action until the end of an episode and slow transformations. I wouldn't claim it has 'ruined Transformers FOREVER', but it's not quite Transformers. Can't call it Pokeformers because I tried to avoid Pokemon as much as possible- hated it a lot, but I'd call it Forceformers, Roboformers, Voltformers, oh well...
I am a student at a prominent animation/film-making institute here in Mumbai (or rather, off Mumbai) and they seem to be studying the new Transformers film (appeared and vanished without much fuss) by Michael Bay. I saw a few clips of the movie, shown on Vh1, and realised, oh well, the wheel reinvented again. That said, the animation is very interesting and I like the realistic adaptation of the Transformers- real vehicles, no parts shifting shape or appearing/disappearing, as in all the rapid animations of the much-revered G1 animation. The lack of robot action (read from [url]cracked.com[/url]- is it an anti-Transformers site?), though, is disappointing. I'd love to buy at least one movie toy, but I don't have the money.
I also make paper models, mostly of airplanes. I even tried constructing one of the old 'Paperformers', but with no visual help, my construction of Prowl had rear wheels way above front. I regularly sketch the old Hasbro toys to visualise the parts to construct, and I am trying to work out a cross between the animated series and the toys- and avoid partsforming as much as possible.
So I am here, with a lot to talk about Transformers, not just my favourite G1 animation, but also other forms about which I'm still curious. Like, what was the best post-G1 adaptation of Transformers? And the one you don't really like? Why didn't the post-Rebirth shows 'Ruin Transformers FOREVER'? And why is that last word often capitalised? And do you call Blitzwing's jet alt-mode a MiG-25? Or why was a Japanese locomotive chosen as Astrotrain's additional alternate mode ahead of Big Boy? And of course- toys, comics or television? Questions, so many of them, but I'd get onto them a little later. I'm still new to the fanbase.
Right, questions. Ooh, I do love questions! 
