allspark- Michael Bell, the voice actor for the Generation One cartoon's
Prowl and
Swoop is requesting the help of the fans.
"To all my Transformer buds,
I recently directed a demo for a series of motion graphic "Transformers" comics which could be downloaded via iPhone, iTouch, and other outlets. Many talented professional actors provided the voices for the characters in the demo including myself. The plan was to present it to IDW Comics who had shown more then a passing interest in this budding new concept. With a go ahead on producing the series, I would be employing the talents of as many of the original voices from the early series as possible. I had already cleared this with my fellow "Transformers" actors, and everyone was waiting in the wings for the response from the powers at IDW comics.
After months of mulling over it, they ultimately passed on the idea, and surprise surprise, decided to produce their own graphic motion novel without the voices or even the superbly heightened animation. So, essentially what you now have the ability to download is a plain old comic book.
Nothing new there.
SOooooo, I am taking my request to the troops. To all the die hard fans who I have met over the years at Botcon conventions, or who have written to me asking about my experiences working on one of the most inventive animated series in TV history- I need your help! I am requesting that you do something for me and my fellow actors, so we can in-turn do something really cool for you.
Please contact IDW and let them know that their concept of a series of comic books based on "Transformers" WITHOUT the talents of voice actors, especially many of the original voices, just doesn't cut it.
Please ask them to contract Creative Producers Chris Folino and William Katt, and make a deal for them to produce their concept of a downloadable graphic motion comic series of "Transformers" with - Hide quoted text - professional actors, progressive animation, and lotsa sound effects.
On behalf of all those actors, animators, and studio techs that will get an opportunity to carry on a great tradition,
I thank you,
Michael "Prowl/Swoop" Bell"
You can see the original request
here, and check out the
sample of the IDW motion graphic novel below.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bH83gbGcCnE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bH83gbGcCnE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
UPDATE 6/8/09!Michael Bell replies back to critics, and supporters at the
Allspark.
"Hey T purists,
Thanks for all the responses to the demo. To those of you that liked, loved, and used it for personal gratification, cool beans!
Those of you that thought it was limited in content or approach, remember, it was a demo..designed to show the possibilities and not for public consumption. Time constraints demanded an immediate presentable product. No time to start sifting through the best stories etc.
If IDW recants and gives us a go ahead with some scratch to do a good job, I assure you, you will be blown awayby the end result.
In expensive but classy thrills for a .99 cent download. Much MORE THEN MEETS THE EYE!
Again, thanks for the attention and cogent responses.
For those of you who took the time to write IDW, you are da bomb.
MB
"
Mr. Bell, we invite you to come to our forums and discuss this project with our community as well! There are a lot of your fans here, and there seems to be a lot of support for your project here too!-- Seibertron.com\
Be sure to check out Michael Bell's characters in the
Vector Sigma Database (
G1 Prowl, and
Swoop) too!
Pretty f-ed up for IDW to just jack their idea like that...Not really surprising, but still wrong...
