The Energon Pub

[JazZeke]

The evolution of the movieverse's design aesthetics have been... interesting. When the first movie came out, their designs were a lot more alien. Yeah there was some backlash for such a drastic departure from preexisting aesthetics, but when most people stopped to think about it, they made more sense. There really is no convincing reason for alien robots to look so human. After we got over the initial shock, most of us came to accept and even like most of the movie designs.

But these last couple movie designs have skewed in a more... anthropomorphized direction, making the Transformers more human-like, but in the worst possible ways. Creepy possessed-doll faces, pointless beards, metal "jackets," and designs that don't look like they can actually transform to the point where the toys now have to be mostly shellformers. The design aesthetics of the last two movies have honestly made me nostalgic for the days of the "chicken-ape."

[Insurgent]

Transformers have always had pointless beards. Scourge, unicron, alpga trion cone to mind without trying.

Honestly, I'm mixed feelings. I like the old look, it felt mechanical, like alien robots and had power to them. But it was hard to tell them apart in fight scenes. The new look makes it easier to tell who is who but they don't look like they can transform in any convincing way. And it has lead to lazier on screen transformations. But i do love the current look for Prime. So.... I guess I'm ok with the change. At least they also look like they can take some punishment now.

[JazZeke]

Transformers have always had pointless beards. Scourge, unicron, alpga trion cone to mind without trying.

Yeah, but the movieverse originally tried to move away from that over-anthropomorphization, which only makes such affectations look even more jarring on the newer designs. That's what I'm saying.

[Insurgent]

True. Although Sentinel had a beard, so they did start cropping up in the older designs. But yeah, i think a blending would be best. Have the kibble and alien nature if the original, but with a bit of padding so they are a little beefier, look like they could survive a millennia long war and can distinguish them.

[WreckerJack]

Robot beards you say?

[Rodimus Prime]

Yeah, I had noticed, way back in 2014. All I had to do was look at Prime and Bee and see the differences. They both look much more human-like in AoE than they did in DoTM. Personally, I don't like it. The characters had more visual appeal when they looked like mechanical aliens instead of giant humans in mechanical armor. On the other hand, I'm not bothered by the added facial features at all.

[Tyrannacon]

I never really disliked the designs too much for the Bay films. I actually give that part credit for always maintaining an interesting part of the films as well as a strength of the film's continuity. The problem is they are a bit too busy at times and I do understand the dislike for it not being "G1-enuff" basically. Starscream's body being an example, the colors on the others. Would have been interesting to see Ironhide's design in red versus black like he was in the first three films more or less. Their anthropomorphic designs are most likely due to the result of integrating with Earth's technology and from living on Earth for so long. Not to mention they could be using the technology that is here made by us to repair themselves or otherwise. So it becomes a weird mixed hybrid in a way.

As for the robo-beards and coats and things like that, I mean G1 had a lot of that itself with the facial hair with Unicron, Wrek-Gar, Scourge, Alpha Trion, and it goes on, and I mean even in the '86 film Starscream wore a cape for his coronation before he was blown to bits. So it's not like stuff like that wasn't already here and established a precedence.

I do find Megatron's design for TLK to be more pleasing though overall, it is a definably Megatron design and isn't overly busy like his original look. I do love his RotF body more though than anything. Nothing quite beats a flying space tank of death and impending doom.