The Energon Pub

That's the question being asked to members here.

To answer this in Two parts, First the toys.

If I had to answer this questions, My answer would be yes. for the reasons i'll list.

HasTak with Generations, CW and MP have shown that Transformers toy can be made great and tech has advanced since 1995.

Think the more smaller and bigger toy sizes will benefit everyone. imagine getting the entire cast in legends scale for the kids and parents who can't afford the bigger toys. having the leaders and brutes get the Leader class and supreme toys is now a option

Noticed stores in America didn't stock the Beast Wars toys in high volume. Due to the Transformers brand being deemed a weak seller. Thanks to the 1990 Action masters and G2 toy line getting canceled.

With the Transformers brand being deemed stronger for the past few years. Think the retailers confidence is there. to stock the newer revamped Beast Wars toys in more volume than the original Beast Wars toys.

Part 2, discussing the cartoon.

Think it's still possible to get the original Beast Wars writers on board. To write this newer revamped different universe Beast Wars Cartoon series.

Just want different characters, like doing the different universe G1 cast swapping out vehicle modes for newer beast modes. Maybe set in present or future earth.

Think it might be hard getting the audience that the 1996 Beast Wars cartoon had. Since it was on a network and not a cable channel. later Fox got it and more viewers watched.

Think if the revamped Beast Wars can be aired on CN at a decent time. it might stand a chance of getting decent viewers.

Think CGI has advanced more since 1996. So it shouldn't be too hard to create better CGI beast bots with the CGI advancements they have now.

Didn't care for the CGI in the first season of Beast Wars. As I thought some characters looked like. The California raisins, Claymation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_California_Raisins

Wouldn't mind seeing a new Depthcharge... And a kahki repaint named Irwin....

CAN it be done better? Yes.

WILL it be done better, if it was done? Toys, very likely; Show? Not likely. Maybe a 1 in 10 chance it'll EQUAL the writing quality, far less of a chance to surpass the writing quality.

Valandar wrote:CAN it be done better? Yes.

WILL it be done better, if it was done? Toys, very likely; Show? Not likely. Maybe a 1 in 10 chance it'll EQUAL the writing quality, far less of a chance to surpass the writing quality.

This

The only thing I'd like to see (which is completely imaginary, wouldn't expect in a million years) is 100% animation revamp, 0% writing/voicing revamp. So simply, look better but be 100% the same.

Same thing with G1.

But it'll never happen.

Well, considering the sequel to Beast Wars (Beast Machines) was produced right after it and failed miserably in comparison, it is no safe bet.

Still, I'd love to see it, especially if Larry Ditillio and Bob Forward signed on to do it. Beast Machines had a different creative team and it showed.

Real talk: the quality of Beast Wars as a show had jack all to do with either the quality of the toyline or the quality of the animation technology at the time.

Toy-wise? Interesting question. I personally consider the Beast Wars line to be the first "modern" Transformers line (unbridled articulation, weapons incorporated into alt-mode) so I don't feel like the line in general demands an overhaul, though certainly those characters that have been reproduced decades later like Dinobot and Rhinox benefitted.

Part of the issue was that at the time, the "gross-out", Nickelodeon-y trend was in toy aisles at the time, so mutant heads, weirdly biological-looking weapons, and the asymmetric look of Transmetals worked well. Currently toy lines seem to be trending more towards super-heroes and mix-and-match-iness so I wouldn't be surprised if the next Transformers series doesn't take a cue from that instead.

Also I'm not convinced that Beast Wars has the same nostalgic weight that G1 has. I mean I'm sure there are TF-fans who first cut their fandom teeth on it, but nothing can really compare with the mid-80s commercitoon onslaught.

Diem wrote:Also I'm not convinced that Beast Wars has the same nostalgic weight that G1 has. I mean I'm sure there are TF-fans who first cut their fandom teeth on it, but nothing can really compare with the mid-80s commercitoon onslaught.

You had me right up until this. I have watched the BW series more times than the G1 series. It's just more awesome with stronger characters.

I wouldn't mind seeing more Generations BW figs like Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur. I honetly cannot see how Primal or Megatron could be improved though.

Mkall wrote:

Diem wrote:Also I'm not convinced that Beast Wars has the same nostalgic weight that G1 has. I mean I'm sure there are TF-fans who first cut their fandom teeth on it, but nothing can really compare with the mid-80s commercitoon onslaught.

You had me right up until this. I have watched the BW series more times than the G1 series. It's just more awesome with stronger characters.

I wouldn't mind seeing more Generations BW figs like Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur. I honetly cannot see how Primal or Megatron could be improved though.

Make them leader sized?

I would love to see the generations line focus on Beast Wars figures for a bit. Rhinox, Rattrap, and Waspinator were all amazing figures. I'd love to see the rest of the season 1 cast, and beyond.

As for the show, I'd trust it more to IDW in comic form then I would to Cartoon Network in show form. I'm afraid they would dumb it down too much for younger audiences.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Part 2, discussing the cartoon.

Think it's still possible to get the original Beast Wars writers on board. To write this newer revamped different universe Beast Wars Cartoon series.

Just want different characters, like doing the different universe G1 cast swapping out vehicle modes for newer beast modes. Maybe set in present or future earth.

Think it might be hard getting the audience that the 1996 Beast Wars cartoon had. Since it was on a network and not a cable channel. later Fox got it and more viewers watched.

Think if the revamped Beast Wars can be aired on CN at a decent time. it might stand a chance of getting decent viewers.

Think CGI has advanced more since 1996. So it shouldn't be too hard to create better CGI beast bots with the CGI advancements they have now.

Didn't care for the CGI in the first season of Beast Wars. As I thought some characters looked like. The California raisins, Claymation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_California_Raisins

Hey man good question. However I don't think it will happen. Season one was all about furry organic beasts. By season two they almost all had wheels and jet packs (at least the toys did and the cartoon mostly followed suit). (Though Optimal had jet packs in season one). I don't think animals can carry a show. Jets and cars reach more people than only animals. I think we have seen the extent that Hasbro and Takara will go with shows like Cybertron Beast Planet, Transformers Prime Beast Hunters, RID 2002, even Beast Wars Neo had vehicles. I think the animals can only be 40% of the cast at the max. I think this trend will continue, that beasts will be part of the shows but there will always be vehicles. Fortunately we should continue to get good beast toys.

LegendaryAntiHero wrote:

Valandar wrote:CAN it be done better? Yes.

WILL it be done better, if it was done? Toys, very likely; Show? Not likely. Maybe a 1 in 10 chance it'll EQUAL the writing quality, far less of a chance to surpass the writing quality.

This

Agreed. Beast Wars and Transformers Prime are the two best written pieces of fiction in all of Transformers history.

Ironhidensh wrote:

Mkall wrote:I wouldn't mind seeing more Generations BW figs like Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur. I honetly cannot see how Primal or Megatron could be improved though.

Make them leader sized?

I would love to see the generations line focus on Beast Wars figures for a bit. Rhinox, Rattrap, and Waspinator were all amazing figures. I'd love to see the rest of the season 1 cast, and beyond.

When compared to the rest of the BW figs, I'm ok with the size they're at actually. However as standalone figures, there is great potential for awesomeness

If they do release a new Beast Wars (etc) toy line:

1 ) For once, try to keep a consistant scale. The mammoth should be leader and the horse / big cat / Deinonychus should be Deluxe, not the other way around.

2 ) For the love of Primus, no cheating "Stand figure up, flip down or back head, stick tail in hand as weapon, you're done!" so-called transformations. That's not a transformation, that's robots on all fours wearing animal helmets.

3 ) If you can't do it all CG, do it all traditionally. This half and half nonsense is irritating as all get out. Prime is all CG, and works. Cybertron / Galaxy Force was disturbing because half of the toon was one art style, and the other half was another - in the same shot.

TK415 wrote:Beast Wars and Transformers Prime are the two best written pieces of fiction in all of Transformers history.

I disagree. Go read the G1 Marvel comics. Not even Beast Wars can match that, especially once Furman took it over.

As for a new Beast Wars show, I don't think it would be as successful as the original was. The original was lightning in a bottle. It came around when there was very little of Transformers in media, or even toy shelves. Sure, there were the Japanese series, but they weren't American mainstream. Now, with Bayverse, and a new cartoon every 3 years, a new Beast Wars series would get lost in the shuffle as "another TF series." In 1996, it wasn't just another TF series, it was THE TF series. That's what made it the focus of a lot of people. The great writing benefited from it, and the result was a strong following that continues even today. I am a Beast Wars fan. Behind the G1 Marvel comics, it's the best TF series, IMO. Toy-wise, I can't really say, because I never had the BW toys. I got the 10th anniversary 2-pack of Primal and Megatron, but sold them a few years ago. Now I have Generations Rhinox and Waspinator. I'd like to see Generations do more of the BW characters, but as for a new show? I think it would end up being just like the ReGeneration One comic series. Just a hollow copy of its former self.

Through the years, I've soften my dislike for the line. But if an attempt is done.......no more flat noseless uber chins..........for the love of Primus!

Toys? Yes. Generations Rattrap, Rhinox and Waspinator have shown us that. I would love for the entire season 1 cast to be made in that standard. However, I disagree with making Primal and Megatron leaders. They should be no bigger than Ultra, their original size. It fits better into the line and have everyone else deluxe. With Voyagers reserved for the larger ones, like Rhinox.


I wouldn't want any of them to be leader sized. Bigger size class =/= better toy.



As for the toon? No. It will never be able to improve on that, other than visually. BW is so loved (at least for me, this is why) because it had a small, strong core cast. We had everyone with plenty of screen time to flesh out their characters. There were elements in season 1 of an ongoing thing, but it was generally stand alone episodes, but season 2 it became focused with an obvious direction. It let the Predacons have their little victories in random episodes. It knew how to have fun with itself without loosing the tone of the episode (Primal getting sunglasses when he said "Hasta la Vista" or his Die Cast Construction comment).


And most importantly: It never. ONCE. Hit the reset button. Characters were killed mid season. And they never came back. So it gave a true sense of danger when things got really heavy. That is why it's better than Prime. It changed things up, and it kept running with them. Once the ongoing plot kicked into gear, there were few filler episodes, and when they were, they were character ones (Transmutate. Introduced a crazed monsterous psycho 2 episodes earlier, and then devote an episode to show him loving this malformed, innocent creature in pain. I mean, you would never get stuff like that today).


Because of the change in how TV shows run these days, with requiring a more stand alone format to allow for repeats and showing random episodes, I don't think it will surpass the original, even if you got Forward and Ditillo on board.