The Energon Pub

Does anyone have any idea how to delete an account on Seibertron? I can't find any info on the site?

Hey there, welcome to the site!

Many of the newer Transformers are using what's being termed as the neo-G1 design theme, meaning keeping the spirit of the original characters with new designs. These are most definately not Michael Bay-inspired designs.

However as there are those out there that only collect movie-style designs, Hasbro's including several figures meant to fit in between the Neo-G1 and Michael Bay styles, such as Lockdown, Sea Spray, Breacher, Brakedown, Insecticon etc. They're not as drastic as the TFs in movie lines, but they could be seen as MB-inspired.

Basically it comes to "If you don't like it, don't buy it"

They are all meant to be part of the Michael Bay movie line and fit in with the designs of the rest of the movie characters, but they are not in the movies, video games, or comic series to my knowledge. They are in essence movie characters inspired by their classic original counterparts.
And please don't base your opinion on what continuity they are in. Buy what individual figures you personally like. Don't say to yourself: Well, I think the movies suck but I like this movie figure...but since he's a movie figure he sucks so I can't buy him.
I have heard this story a hundred times.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:They are all meant to be part of the Michael Bay movie line and fit in with the designs of the rest of the movie characters, but they are not in the movies, video games, or comic series to my knowledge. They are in essence movie characters inspired by their classic original counterparts.
And please don't base your opinion on what continuity they are in. Buy what individual figures you personally like. Don't say to yourself: Well, I think the movies suck but I like this movie figure...but since he's a movie figure he sucks so I can't buy him.
I have heard this story a hundred times.

Close.

If it says "Return of the Fallen" or "Hunt for the Decepticons", they are SUPPOSEDLY in the Movie-verse. HOWEVER, most of the figures after the initial few waves were completely original figures - Michael Bay has never had his grubby fingers on them, nor will he see a dime from them. In addition, some figures (like Seaspray and Voyager Bludgeon) are only in that line because Generations is a Deluxe Only line, they're more like Neo G1's.

In these later (yellow-carded) lines, there's one way to decide if you think they're supposed to be Movie-verse or Neo-G1: Look at them.

A lot of them are based on vehicles that appeared in the films but weren't actually characters, like seaspray whose hovercraft mode was seen dropping off the 'Breacher' APCs but who is a definite G1 homage. Someone else will tell you more I'm sure but you get what you like the look of and find you're own place for it. That's what makes the hobby fun for me anyway.

Valandar wrote:

OptiMagnus10 wrote:They are all meant to be part of the Michael Bay movie line and fit in with the designs of the rest of the movie characters, but they are not in the movies, video games, or comic series to my knowledge. They are in essence movie characters inspired by their classic original counterparts.
And please don't base your opinion on what continuity they are in. Buy what individual figures you personally like. Don't say to yourself: Well, I think the movies suck but I like this movie figure...but since he's a movie figure he sucks so I can't buy him.
I have heard this story a hundred times.

Close.

If it says "Return of the Fallen" or "Hunt for the Decepticons", they are SUPPOSEDLY in the Movie-verse. HOWEVER, most of the figures after the initial few waves were completely original figures - Michael Bay has never had his grubby fingers on them, nor will he see a dime from them. In addition, some figures (like Seaspray and Voyager Bludgeon) are only in that line because Generations is a Deluxe Only line, they're more like Neo G1's.

In these later (yellow-carded) lines, there's one way to decide if you think they're supposed to be Movie-verse or Neo-G1: Look at them.

I am aware that Bay has nothing to do with the figures, but even though they're supposedly classic figures, the designs are meant to resemble the movie characters enough to be released with them.

I feel that I enjoy all the non-micheal bay inspired TF Movie toys better than the actual micheal bay inspired designed TF2 toys.

examples: TF2 Lockdown,TF2 Mindwipe

..Thank you for all replies thus far! So, is Breacher in the second Bay film? I will never watch it as I boycott the Bay universe. I understand his basis of what he thought he was trying to do. The fact remains that The Transformers IS supposed to be an anime story and so of course there is a unreality or bit of absurdity to it. I was glad that in the beginning the Autobot & Decepticon logos were different looking on the figure packaging than the original Transformers. It set the live action figures apart enough to say they are not real Transformers. Now it seems they have integrated the original design into all..

Lapik Multik wrote:..Thank you for all replies thus far! So, is Breacher in the second Bay film? I will never watch it as I boycott the Bay universe. I understand his basis of what he thought he was trying to do. The fact remains that The Transformers IS supposed to be an anime story and so of course there is a unreality or bit of absurdity to it. I was glad that in the beginning the Autobot & Decepticon logos were different looking on the figure packaging than the original Transformers. It set the live action figures apart enough to say they are not real Transformers. Now it seems they have integrated the original design into all..

Number one misconception: Transformers is not an anime. It is true that it was animated in Asia, but the stories and voices were 100% American. It was imported into Japan one year after the US debut, in 1985.

Anyhow, any new characters released in the movie line right now will not appear in the third movie, that includes Breacher.

..However, Transformers is based on Japanese design and anime style is typically the only style that can handle intricate robotics animation. The fact that it was Americanized says something by itself. Most of them would not have talked the way they did, southern accents, etc. That's called re-use of same voice actor by same production company..

Lapik Multik wrote:..However, Transformers is based on Japanese design and anime style is typically the only style that can handle intricate robotics animation. The fact that it was Americanized says something by itself. Most of them would not have talked the way they did, southern accents, etc. That's called re-use of same voice actor by same production company..

It's not like Voltron or Robotech, which are based on older animes, and then adapted. The figures were Japanese, yes, but Transformers as a franchise started off as an all-American production, with animation outsourced to Asia, a practice that would become common. That's the main point. The first all-Japanese show was The Headmasters and possibly the Scramble City OVA.

Back on-topic, I've solved the dilemma by merely putting the figures with a mixed style in the Off-Screen section, and the G1 inspired figures in the Movie G1 section.

Actually, the ONLY reason Seaspray, et al, were in the Movie line were because they were VOYAGER CLASS. The Generations line was declared as a Deluxe class only line, so any HFTD Voyagers that "look" Classics like him are as good as Classics. And Seaspray does not look movie, to me.

Then again, I say that it should be judged on "Is this a good figure?", not on a one-man protest. There simply ain't enough people to overcome the legions of kids (yes, except for stoopid Mudflaps the movie toys seem to be selling very quickly around here) buying these, so it seems rather pointless to pass up possibly fun and decent looking molds because they have a 0.001% relation to movie figs.

Lapik Multik wrote:Does anyone have any idea if some of the newer gold-yellow backer carded figures are not based on or linked to Michael Bay-inspired designs? I ask because I only deal with and collect The Transformers that have nothing to do with Bay's TransFormers. I noticed some of the newer figures have more of an original look such as Breacher, Oil Pan, and Tomahawk. Any info regarding this would be a help. Thank you!

Welcome!

Like it or not, aspects of the movie designs are appearing in different figures. Example (and this is my opinion): the new Frenzy/Rumble appear to have toes, while Terradive and Hubcap have faces which wouldn't look out of place in the movie cast.

Lapik Multik wrote:..Thank you for all replies thus far! So, is Breacher in the second Bay film? I will never watch it as I boycott the Bay universe. I understand his basis of what he thought he was trying to do. The fact remains that The Transformers IS supposed to be an anime story and so of course there is a unreality or bit of absurdity to it. I was glad that in the beginning the Autobot & Decepticon logos were different looking on the figure packaging than the original Transformers. It set the live action figures apart enough to say they are not real Transformers. Now it seems they have integrated the original design into all..

God, I want to curse you out so bad. But no, I'm not going to do it. I can stop myself!!! How are they not real Transformers? They're giant robots that turn into things, licensed by Hasbro, and have the name Transformers on the box. I just don't get it.

Easy on him guys, if he doesn't like the movie style, but prefers G1 over anything else let him be. His preferences don't make him any less of a fan.

SlyTF1 wrote:

Lapik Multik wrote:..Thank you for all replies thus far! So, is Breacher in the second Bay film? I will never watch it as I boycott the Bay universe. I understand his basis of what he thought he was trying to do. The fact remains that The Transformers IS supposed to be an anime story and so of course there is a unreality or bit of absurdity to it. I was glad that in the beginning the Autobot & Decepticon logos were different looking on the figure packaging than the original Transformers. It set the live action figures apart enough to say they are not real Transformers. Now it seems they have integrated the original design into all..

God, I want to curse you out so bad. But no, I'm not going to do it. I can stop myself!!! How are they not real Transformers? They're giant robots that turn into things, licensed by Hasbro, and have the name Transformers on the box. I just don't get it.

First of all, I apologize for the outpouring of emotion that will follow this statement, but this movie insult is the last straw for me. May Primus have mercy on your soul Lapik Multik! How dare you wish to boycot the movie universe as its many fans wait in anticipation for the third installment of the movies and toys. Who said Transformers HAS to be anime? There is no Transformers constitution that states that in order for a continuity to be included into the franchise that it must be of Japenese anime style. The point of the differences is Michael Bay's way of letting us see the characters we all know and love in a new and innovative way, using much detail and realistic effects. And how dare you claim "they are not real Transformers." They are as "Transformers" as Generation One, the Beast Era, Robots in Disguise, and the Unicron Trilogy, and they always will be whether you like it or not. And the reason why the design is being integrated into other lines is because it sells! It really does! The movies have made many people flock to the stores to buy the newest toys, and why axe a design style that sells those toys?
I am not saying you can't not like the movies, even though you may tell me that, but I want to prove that the movie universe is in fact still Transformers to a T. I believe that if you boycott the movieverse, or any Transformers continuity, you boycott the whole franchise.
There, you all can make of that what you will.

With how blurred the line between Movie and not-Movie has been lately, I'd just buy whatever looks cool. Saves a lot of hassle.

Yea. Bottom line just get what you like. Who cares really if its from the movie line or not.

Believe it or not, I made a thread a little while ago to parse out some of the confusion over which figures beling to which continuity in the new "Reveal the Shield" promotion. I finally decided that, the best way to decided who is a classics figure and who is an expanded universe movie figure is to look at Takara Tomy's "Transformers United" line. Figures agreed upon by both Hasbro and Takara Tomy as belonging to their "classics" collections are in, while the others should probably be placed in the expanded universe of the Michael Bay movies. Of course, you can put any figure in whatever display you like, but if you're like me and want to know the official category for each figure, I think looking to the Transformers United line for cross listings is the way to go right now.

i don't know. I dont have a movie shelf. i generally dont enjoy the aesthetic of movie toys. but then i also didnt enjoy the aesthetics of armada or energon so there you go. I buy whatever i think looks cool and i stick it on my TRANSFORMERS shelf.

and didn't you guys know all the movie characters are triple changers...

alt mode --> robot mode --> fake transformer mode...