Transformers Movie's Lead Robot Illustrator updates his website

...and, likely thanks to this article, he's now exceeded his bandwidth...
Bandwidth limits suck.

link is dead too. bandwidth exceeded.

1337W422102 wrote:So HE'S the one who designed the new robots? In that case, the updates to his site better be an apology.

...geez, tough crowd.

Can we PLEASE stop beating this dead horse?

Theres already 2 topics on this website.

Devil Gundam wrote:

1337W422102 wrote:So HE'S the one who designed the new robots? In that case, the updates to his site better be an apology.

...geez, tough crowd.

Can we PLEASE stop beating this dead horse?

I 100% agree. Being crude and bashing the artist in this thread won't be tolerated. This is a real human being who has worked his ass off during the past 2 or 3 years working on the Transformers Movie. He's stepped out of the shadows of the movie to send us an email about the artwork on his website. If you don't like his work, then please move along. Inappropriate posts will simply be deleted from this thread out of respect for Ben. He doesn't deserve to be treated poorly.

If you have dislike some of his designs, then think before you post/write/speak and post a piece of constructive criticism instead of simply being rude and inappropriate. The Seibertron.com community is above that type of poor behavior. Real human being here, my friends ... please be nice.

We killed it...

Bandwidth Limit Exceeded

sorry for my derogatory comments.

ahahah he got Dugg!!!!

No need to apologize for saying the designs suck. They still suck and we can still say so. I don't feel bad in saying so.

Maybe he can tell me were in the hell Barricades con emblem goes when he transforms into robot mode.

I like that it shows that they did attempt g1 based designs that so many people "claimed" they didnt even bother with. It also shows that they would not have worked as well in the frame of this movie.

I got a chance to see this website before it got killed by the bandwidth monster. Now, while I disagree with the direction chosen for the movie designs you can recognize the skill. This guy really is a genius artist and I for one appreciate his contribution. It would be great if he could post up alot more of the "early stage" drawings I would love to see them. I would love to see his version of G1 Optimus Prime and Bumblebee!

I thought by the 'geez, tough crowd,' you'd realize I was joking.

I think he did an excellent job on the designs. It was good to see he attempted do at least do some G1 era stuff. but like many have said in context of this movie. It wouldnt have worked well. I do wish people who complain about the designs post their own designs, so we can see What their robots would look like.

Tazirai wrote:It wouldnt have worked well.

just playing devil's advocate.. but why? i keep hearing it wouldn't of worked.. but why? honestly?

decepticonjon wrote:

Tazirai wrote:It wouldnt have worked well.

just playing devil's advocate.. but why? i keep hearing it wouldn't of worked.. but why? honestly?

There was even fan artwork I've seen that blends the movie's 'everything's gotta move somewhere' ideology with the classic 'boxy' look, and it DOES work. The panels move into place to from rectangular prisms and stuff, but there are gaps and you can see tech detail underneath. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to the picture I'm talking about, but I found it in the Kitbash/Fan Art Forum.

1337W422102 wrote:

decepticonjon wrote:

Tazirai wrote:It wouldnt have worked well.

just playing devil's advocate.. but why? i keep hearing it wouldn't of worked.. but why? honestly?

There was even fan artwork I've seen that blends the movie's 'everything's gotta move somewhere' ideology with the classic 'boxy' look, and it DOES work. The panels move into place to from rectangular prisms and stuff, but there are gaps and you can see tech detail underneath. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to the picture I'm talking about, but I found it in the Kitbash/Fan Art Forum.

i'm pretty sure i've seen what you're talking about.. can't find it off the top of my head.. but i jsut don't see how it couldn't work after seeing the tranformations in this movie, expecially frenzy being a boom box and going to insect humanoid thingy - which bends to the theory that they can really shape whatever shape into whatever they want. so even being more blockier, it wouldn't have really mattered.

It could have worked, but everyone that saw the movie, TF fan or not, it would instantly recognize them as bots from the cartoon. (Not a bad thing).

As stated before, they wanted them to look realistic. You could make movie versions of G1, be super cool and *realistic* looking, but people who have seen Transformers atleast once would automatically relate them to a cartoon, it's just a brain function thing!

My own view, I've been watching Transformers characters in cartoon mode for 20+ years, I want something different (movie bots/designs), not similar cartoon robot designs. (Ie not chunky and blocky, I have no problem expanding the Transformer universe to look liek something that isnt G1 or Aramada or that stuff, hence why I loved Beast Wars/Machines)

Here is a G1 design transforming in motion and running...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVTgnW1_Pw

Just a few guys did this...

Not saying it is the "end all, be all" but imagine if ILM went that direction.

Like that video, and I remember seeing it before. It's wicked!

decepticonjon wrote:

Tazirai wrote:It wouldnt have worked well.

just playing devil's advocate.. but why? i keep hearing it wouldn't of worked.. but why? honestly?

No problem.

My opinion only: Based on knowledge of real world robotics.

There have never just been "Boxy" Transformers. There have been all shapes and designs. People Equate Boxy with Robot. that isn't accurate in the real world.

Here's an example of a Boxy Real world robot. It's box like internal Workings are that way simply, because robotics is still in it's infancy on This Planet.



Once we get to the point where we can simulate a human skeletal structure, The boxy like designs will be gone. Robots on a real world level come in all forms and shapes. From Boxes to spider like beings.

Notice the shape of this robot. It's not box shaped like the leg above, it's transitioning to a more organic look.


Kinda like how people hated the designs from the 1986 movie, over the normal cartoon series.
Hot rod had more curves and less angles, than did most of the Ark Autobots.
Robots will eventually evolve to have less boxes, to more curved structures. Curved allows entry to places in accessible to box shapes, this is important for exploration.

the Transformers in this movie, I believe weren't designed to be boxy, not because of negative fan reaction. But to make sense out of their ability to transform.
lets take a look at two robots. movie bumblebee versus this Nissan robot.
Heres the Nissan robot. it looks like it can change into "something. it has a nice sexy curved body, it's also In the vein of G1 post movie style. But if it transformered, where do the parts go? I see wheels , a solid calf, solid legs. Arms that dont provide Bending appendages. A non transitional upper torso, meaning no intermediate modes. Basically it looks G1'ish. It would look GREAT onscreen, but not as a Transformer.


Now to Bumblebee. The pic is too big to post so heres the link instead.
http://www.seibertron.com/images/galler ... G_1099.jpg

You can see that he has MANY transitional parts to him. You can tell he can change into something. POSSIBLY MANY THINGS.
He's not limited by his own body to do things. In a sense he makes sense. Facial features aside. His body is more endo-skeleton, than heavily armored mechanoid. He has armor on the parts that matter. Other places are less armored, yet allow him flexibility and Humanoid movement.

I liek the new designs, faces are something different. Some work some don't, it may be color issues. But As a student of robotics, even our primitive stuff. I can see the beauty in a cybertronian form. Even my own robot below is a G1-movie Hybrid.

Now THAT woulda been nice. Hybrid styles.

tile_mcgillus wrote:Here is a G1 design transforming in motion and running...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVTgnW1_Pw

Just a few guys did this...

Not saying it is the "end all, be all" but imagine if ILM went that direction.

In my opinion, no matter how much CGI power you throw at that, it will still automatically mind me of G1, cartoon. That's what they are trying to avoid.

It's great, but it's still a cartoon. A dog wearing make up and a dress is still a dog.

Heres some video of the dualis robot in the real world.
it works well. but I cant see it being a transformer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOYr7sEg1LQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnf6XAB7bM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzAzXr4BEWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzAzXr4BEWk

briggs wrote:

tile_mcgillus wrote:Here is a G1 design transforming in motion and running...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVTgnW1_Pw

Just a few guys did this...

Not saying it is the "end all, be all" but imagine if ILM went that direction.

In my opinion, no matter how much CGI power you throw at that, it will still automatically mind me of G1, cartoon. That's what they are trying to avoid.

It's great, but it's still a cartoon. A dog wearing make up and a dress is still a dog.

I think there could have been a happy medium between where they went and what transformers used to be. Very Similar to Optimus Prime's head in the movie which felt very G1 to me and it sat atop a mess of parts, comparatively.

To me it seems the transformers would want to hid their internal parts with armor. They did do this to some extent but you could so much of their innerworkings. That video was interesting in that is showing a cgi modeled G1ish transformer moving fluidily and actiony...something that everyone said could not be done. I never advocated EXACT copies of the transformers...but I think they went way too far in some cases. Less is more.

Bandwidth Limit Exceeded... Looks Like Seibertron.com has done him a bit of a "Favor" in terms of traffic(Snickers).
[+_+]

anyone save them? bandwidth exceeded

^ and ^^ you guys are going to make ryan bring out his wooden spoon and spank your asses like an angry grandmother.

decepticonjon wrote:^ and ^^ you guys are going to make ryan bring out his wooden spoon and spank your asses like an angry grandmother.

Nyah hah hah hah!

I saved a couple pics. G1 megatron, and howitzer bot. Also my sig is the toaster bot that he designed.

hey, you wouldn't like me when i'm angry!

I absolutely love Howitzer bot...genius stuff! It looks like he just took a picture of one and just made it intoa transformer...genius.

briggs wrote:

tile_mcgillus wrote:Here is a G1 design transforming in motion and running...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVTgnW1_Pw

Just a few guys did this...

Not saying it is the "end all, be all" but imagine if ILM went that direction.

In my opinion, no matter how much CGI power you throw at that, it will still automatically mind me of G1, cartoon. That's what they are trying to avoid.

It's great, but it's still a cartoon. A dog wearing make up and a dress is still a dog.

Yes, they stated before that they didn't want them to look cartoony. IMO the transformers in said clip, while impressive, does look cartoony. We know TF's can work in CG, but the design has to be right. Look at the designs in Energon and Cybertron which looked like a cartoony. While I have no doubt G1 design would have looked impressive I don't see them blending in in the movieverse.

Anyway back on topic, the two designs Robinson posted are quite nice. I don't think they are the greatest designs in the world they are still impressive.

That Megs owns.

Devil Gundam wrote:

briggs wrote:

tile_mcgillus wrote:Here is a G1 design transforming in motion and running...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVTgnW1_Pw

Just a few guys did this...

Not saying it is the "end all, be all" but imagine if ILM went that direction.

In my opinion, no matter how much CGI power you throw at that, it will still automatically mind me of G1, cartoon. That's what they are trying to avoid.

It's great, but it's still a cartoon. A dog wearing make up and a dress is still a dog.

Yes, they stated before that they didn't want them to look cartoony. IMO the transformers in said clip, while impressive, does look cartoony. We know TF's can work in CG, but the design has to be right. Look at the designs in Energon and Cybertron which looked like a cartoony. While I have no doubt G1 design would have looked impressive I don't see them blending in in the movieverse.

Anyway back on topic, the two designs Robinson posted are quite nice. I don't think they are the greatest designs in the world they are still impressive.

It is true it looks "cartoony" in that his face matches G1 style perfectly and I think that is what your talking about. That direction could have been successful. I am advocating a half way in the middle approach. Like Optimus's head. Where you still recognize the characters but they feel very real. Anyway, this debate is so old it is in diapers, adult diapers. The studio went one way. What matters is that this guy is a great artist and deserves our respect.

Here is another great artist's rendition of the ever controversial Soundwave. The studio had him all over the place in the movie. I would personally LOVE to see Soundwave look like this in the next movie. Well done Tim Shinn!

It is true it looks "cartoony" in that his face matches G1 style perfectly and I think that is what your talking about. That direction could have been successful. I am advocating a half way in the middle approach. Like Optimus's head. Where you still recognize the characters but they feel very real. Anyway, this debate is so old it is in diapers, adult diapers. The studio went one way. What matters is that this guy is a great artist and deserves our respect.

It's not just the face, it's the sorta blocky design and it appeared that parts come from nowhere that looks cartoony to me. Looking back I have to agree with the decision to use the hyper detailed non-mass shifting designs. It looks more real and is visually stunning.

As for an in the middle approach, similar design elements can work as we saw in the color schemes of and designs of a few of the robots but in the end, I think they did a wonderful job.

Also I saw that fan art a while ago, The guy needs be on on the art department for the sequel, seriously.

Devil Gundam wrote:It's not just the face, it's the sorta blocky design and it appeared that parts come from nowhere that looks cartoony to me. Looking back I have to agree with the decision to use the hyper detailed non-mass shifting designs. It looks more real and is visually stunning.

As for an in the middle approach, similar design elements can work as we saw in the color schemes of and designs of a few of the robots but in the end, I think they did a wonderful job.

Also I saw that fan art a while ago, The guy needs be on on the art department for the sequel, seriously.

That is just where we differ in aesthetic. The robos were too convoluted. Now that I have seen the movie I can say officially it is my opinion. Apples, oranges. SOUNDWAVE FOR THE SEQUEL!

You know, the faces got a lot of flack when the concept art was leaking out, and they're still getting flack, but they looked seriously amazing up close and in motion. I saw the movie again tonight and made sure to really catch more of the robots, and I got a real good look at the faces, they're incredible. Yes, they're different, and there's a longing for the familiar, but they're nonetheless awesome. Ratchet in particular impressed me the second time around, his face is actually pretty damn humanoid. And there's this cool linear energy field that appears inside his mouth when he speaks.

I think that other dude (the Soundwave designer) has a lot of talent and should definitely be considered for the sequel. I'm not a huge fan of his designs, save that Soundwave head (body is still a little too clunky and it's basically a Ratchet mod), but collaborating with a team I think he could bring something real good to the table.

Seems the site is back up, Although is is not Firefox friendly.

I want an artbook.

tile_mcgillus wrote:Here is another great artist's rendition of the ever controversial Soundwave. The studio had him all over the place in the movie. I would personally LOVE to see Soundwave look like this in the next movie. Well done Tim Shinn!

I do enjoy Tim Shinn's work, but I don't like that Soundwave... he looks, well, boring. Nothing really interesting there. Besides, a truck - or any "driving" vehicle, just doesn't fit Soundwave, he was never a "on-the-road" character. He would work much better as a plan of some sort, I always though a stealth bomber...

Devil Gundam wrote:Seems the site is back up, Although is is not Firefox friendly.

I want an artbook.

me to.

Looks like the site is back up.

All things considered, the final designs are the best ones. Some of those early versions of Optimus are horrible.

I still LLLOOOVVVEEE that Arcee design though, it's brilliant. Early Blackout (tentatively named "Devastator" eh?) were pretty cool too.

And yay! Finally some nice hi-res images of Brawl! No Bonecrusher though, sadly...

Skowl wrote:

tile_mcgillus wrote:Here is another great artist's rendition of the ever controversial Soundwave. The studio had him all over the place in the movie. I would personally LOVE to see Soundwave look like this in the next movie. Well done Tim Shinn!

I do enjoy Tim Shinn's work, but I don't like that Soundwave... he looks, well, boring. Nothing really interesting there. Besides, a truck - or any "driving" vehicle, just doesn't fit Soundwave, he was never a "on-the-road" character. He would work much better as a plan of some sort, I always though a stealth bomber...

I was thinking mobile communication device that doesn't need a hard line into the earth's defenses etc. Then the chest opens up to spit out ravage and laserbeak...Hey if Blackout can spit scorpinok out of his back then why not! I wouldn't mind a vehicle at all for Soundwave. If Soundwave was a stealth bomber that means he would be chickenified like Starscream and I don't know if I could take that.

The movie designs are brilliant, and quite awesome.

EDIT: Don't know if its bandwidth related, but none of the images seem clickable right now. Odd.

Now, while I disagree with the direction chosen for the movie designs you can recognize the skill. This guy really is a genius artist and I for one appreciate his contribution.

I agree. Though I do wonder, if after observing fan feedback, if he ever for a moment went to himself, "Oh geez... did I maybe go about this all wrong?".