Cobotron wrote:Seibs, if you're still out there. You have said a lot lately that you wish Takara would ease back on taking the cartoon models so literally when designing these more recent MPs, what's your take on Hot Rod in that regard?
Yes, I still think they're taking the cartoon models too seriously. Convoy Grand Prime is another recent example where they try to go after the cartoon look with some extra paint apps (particularly on the hands of Mirage and Optimus Prime) but it ends up looking kind of goofy because the hands are painted but the inside of the fist (where the weapon's peg attaches) is unpainted.
Do it right or don't do it.
Same goes with the ultra simplicity of the look of Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus. There needs to be some extra detail on their parts. I always liked that the cartoon models were simplified versions of the toys. There needs to be a healthy mixture of what's on the screen and the complexity of a robotic humanoid figure. I'm not talking complexity like Bayformers, just some extra detailing in panels and such that wouldn't translate to the cartoon. Regardless of what was on the cartoon, oftentimes the actual G1 toys got it right with its style and look and that look might be better remembered than what the cartoon had.
One exception to my rule ... can we please have an accurate G1 Skyfire toy? Please! Classics Jetfire doesn't count. Generations Jetfire was close if he had the look of the cartoon jet instead of the Macross jet.