The Energon Pub

[Hotrod]

Our own Autobobby1 has sent us an email with news about the upcoming Transformers Animated cartoon. Previously we reported new about an interview with Sam Register, the Exuctive Producer of Transformers: Animated. Now there is an new interview with the series director Matt Youngberg. Youngberg found the time recently to grant an interview to IGN.com. You can read the interview by clicking here. You can find previous interviews and the promotional poster for Transformers Animated in the Seibertron.com Cartoon Section.

[Seibertron]

No mentions of the uber-cool Decepticons. I can't wait to hear the fans comments about Starscream, Blackarachnia and Blitzwing. Man, Megatron's going to have his hands full watching his back with his new crew.

[ShGarland_1383]

I can see Screamer and Blackarachnia being back-stabers, but Blitzwing? I'm not gonna complain, because after Classics Astrotrain it'd be a sort of a good idea to do new Blitzwing and Octane figures, wouldn't it? Just my opinion.

[Gutsman Heavy]

Screw the negativity, I'm looking forward to this. G1 will always be special to me, but I was SO WRONG about Beast Wars I'll put my skepticism aside. I've had G1, time for the new generation.

[Fang Wolf]

Oh, I smell Rodimus Prime a mile away. Yay, if only they used him instead. I do love the idea, always have, just not for Prime, Primal and Rodimus it works, not Prime.

[Gutsman Heavy]

why not Prime? every one starts somewhere.

[Fang Wolf]

Because it just won't feel right :/ Unless, maybe they use the Cyber form for the first ep, then when has confidence, er, be Prime-ish, give him the new body.

I still thinking giving him Rodimus's thing isn't a good idea when you could, you know, use Rodimus. I may be using too much logic there, using a character already with those qualaties.

[Jaz-Zen]

This was posted yesterday by Sephron1335 here: http://www.seibertron.com/forums/viewto ... 10863&sid=

Anyway, Youngberg is SO right; it WAS the G1 characters themselves that we loved, more than any one cartoon or comic, so I'm really happy to hear that TF Animated is going to be about the characters, not just action.

I also love the idea that the Cons are a legitimate threat to the Bots. "these Decepticons are war machines." That's awesome.

Yeah, I have a very good feeling about this new show.

[Relic Dinobot]

As it was mentionned in the interview, I wasN,t to sure about the show when the first pic of Prime showed up. Then the other tidbits started to get released and have made it so that I really want to see an episode now. The very idea of using classics characters for the Decepticons like Bliztwing and Screamer and then adding fan favorites like Blackarachnia and Waspinator (apparently) makes me wanna see just how they'll interact, especially BA and SS. And the eventual inclusion of Grimlock and two other Dinobots, well... That just makes my day.

And didn't Hasbro recently trademarked the name 'Slag'? Wonder where that'll show up...?

[Uncrazzimatic]

Yeah I'm actually looking forward to this now.

[gogleman374]

They have F'ing superpowers now? Did I miss something?

[Sephron1335]

I, too, am looking forward to this show. As Matt mentioned, when the first piece of Optimus art was released, there was a backlash. I know I didn't like it. As the second piece was released of the 5 main Autobots, as well as some details of the actual 'toon, my disliking subsided and I had cautious optimism. Now, after BotCon and having read a few interviews with the main staff behind this, I can actually say that I'm looking forward to this. It will be nice to see the Decepticons pose an actual threat for a change. I like that they won't be the sole villains, too. The "robot gang war" line is very accurate to how the G1 cartoon was, and even every subsequent TF toon since. I'm curious to see the Autobots handle other threats. I also like the getting back to the TF's (or at least the Autobots) being "robots in disguise". Very cool!! After all, that IS the whole point of the TF's anyway, right?! Wonder when we'll start seeing more art and learning more details about the 'Cons? I just really want to see the toys now!!

[Powermaster Jazz]

I'm thinking the characters look like that to attract the kids since the previous shows had poor ratings. It sounds like it could be good. I'll check it out before I bash it anymore.

[Powermaster Jazz]

They have F'ing superpowers now? Did I miss something?

Yeah you missed G1. They had powers then too.

Hound-Holograms
Mirage-Invisibility
Trailbreaker-Force Field
Skywarp- Teleportation
...just to name a few.

[Kayevcee]

I wonder if Bumblebee will still have the power to operate underwater for long periods, or if they'll give him something new.

ShGarland, you'll be pleased to hear that the Hasbro chaps had concept art for Octane under the banner of 'Universe', the continued Classics line kicking off towards the end of next year. They said their plans were 'to redo all the triple changers'. I assume that means Autobots as well, at some point.

-Nick

[Megatron Wolf]

Whats the gimmik this time? Its a cartoon network show im sure there will be a gimmik. Evrey TF has had a gimmik since Armada. I just hope its not as lame and stupid as "cyberkey powers". Some one mentioned superpowers. Im guessing that'll be it.

[Sephron1335]

Whats the gimmik this time? Its a cartoon network show im sure there will be a gimmik. Evrey TF has had a gimmik since Armada. I just hope its not as lame and stupid as "cyberkey powers". Some one mentioned superpowers. Im guessing that'll be it.

Well, not superpowers in the traditional sense, but more like what the Autobots were already portrayed as having. PowerMaster Jazz stated it well with:
"Hound-Holograms
Mirage-Invisibility
Trailbreaker-Force Field
Skywarp- Teleportation
...just to name a few."

So perhaps those'll be incorporated into this new show and, hopefully, the toys. But, I believe at BonCon, during the Hasbro panel, it was stated that the "gimmick" this time would be the transformation itself.

[Sephron1335]

There we go! This is from the Hasbro panel at BotCon.

Takara has really helped out with these designs.
New sculpting style.
No more full line gimmicks!!! WOO HOO! Big round of applause ...
Transformation is the feature.
Signature weapons and poses - attitude and stance.
Range of motion is great!
Allows for the characterization to stand out more.
There are some things they won't be able to do because of joints and stuff.
Accessories will transform?

Here's the where the whole thing is covered...lots of great info here about the new 'toon and the toys.
http://www.seibertron.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9226

Really looking forward to seeing more!!!

[Liege Evilmus]

From what I'm hearing, I like alot of what is being said about this show, No stock footage transformations, and things like that.

I hate humans in TF stories, and the idea of them working together just gets me. If I wanted to look at people on TV, I'd put on a show, not a cartoon about robots.

As for the designs, we've only seen one or two so far, and they suck! But thats how most felt about the movie, and outside of when they moved to fast and all those features blurred, it came off well.

I'll give this a chance, but since the end of the Beast Era, I haven't realy been impressed with any of the shows. Too much stock, and to many people talking about teamwork and feelings, while all you realy want is "The Gang War".

So lets see what happens, I want to stay neutral, but history has given me a reason to be jaded though.

[Liege Evilmus]

I can see Screamer and Blackarachnia being back-stabers, but Blitzwing? I'm not gonna complain, because after Classics Astrotrain it'd be a sort of a good idea to do new Blitzwing and Octane figures, wouldn't it? Just my opinion.

To be honest, G1 BlitzWing was always one of my favorite characters. Granted he was always seconded by AstroTrain, but he was just a war machine that realy came into his own during Five Faces of Darkness.

I always wanted to see him return.

I just hope the Decepticons aren't all stupid and goffy like in the past 4 series. I think Armada Megatron said it best "All this way to find out they're incompitent"

[Zeedust]

Still not sure about the look, but the writing sounds like it'll be light-years past the crap we got in the Unicron Trilogy. Not like that's hard or anything, but still, I'd like to get a little entertainment with my thirty-minute commercials.

[Hanch Prime]

ha ha exactly! The writing on the latest cartoons was horrible! I will reserve judgment until I see an episode, but the writing is gonna have to be Shakespearian for me to get over the robot monkey designs. They just look really silly. Why can't we have kick ass super detailed animation and really good character development at the same time? I know I am asking allot but it would be nice to have a really good show that pays homage to the original but is light years ahead in terms of animation and writing. If you make it right you could satisfy 25-30 year old fans as well as attract new younger ones. Kids aren't' stupid, Mine are allot smarter than I was at their age. why do most companies think they can't grasp big ideas? Ok, I am rambling on now, I'll stop.

[Seibertron]

As for the designs, we've only seen one or two so far, and they suck! But thats how most felt about the movie, and outside of when they moved to fast and all those features blurred, it came off well.

Trust me, when you see the new designs in the cartoon, you'll love them. I mean, seriously, Megatron has his frikkin' black arm cannon! Everything they showed us looked truly incredible. I couldn't believe how quickly then won me over once I saw some of the cartoon and some of the upcoming designs and prototypes.

And hey ... John Moschita is reprising his role as BLURR!!! I mean, it doesn't get much better than that.

[Seibertron]

Kids aren't' stupid, Mine are allot smarter than I was at their age. why do most companies think they can't grasp big ideas? Ok, I am rambling on now, I'll stop.

I think it's great that they are going back to the basics. It looks like a smart show to me. Not Beast Wars smart. Something that we haven't seen before in Transformers. I think all of you will like it. If you don't, well, that's the beauty of the Transformers hobby. There's something for everyone in this hobby.

[Flashwave]

Prime's always been a little insecure in some of his calls. Even in G1. (Don't ask me to source the ep.) War Within especially, And most anything post BM