A Transformers Thread

Someone should write something set in the unseen time between the episodes.

Whats the weird obsession with turning the thread into fanfic lol.

I'm very imaginative. And anyway it was just a suggestion.

Haslab Omega Prime reached its second (and last) stretch goal, the space bridge stand.

Hell Yeah.

Someone uploaded an upscaled version of Beast Wars in anyone wants to source them for video examples.

Feels weird not seeing it with CRT tearing.

Kind of makes you appreciate what subtle touches they put into the animation despite being heavily handicapped by how new the technology was. The dinosaur texturing on Megatron is shockingly good for its time. And in some cases their limitations resulted in better animation, there is A LOT of modeling that went into making those large vistas that you don't see much in newer CGI shows because it would be deemed too low rez and covered up with fog.

I also always got a laugh over Rhinox holding Rattrap by the scruff of his neck while they provide cover fire.

I always loved how expressive they made Megatron's T-Rex head lol.

And Mainframe didn't have all the tools of convenience that todays cgi animator's have, they had to do everything by hand, so it's all the product of dedication to detail.
In a way it's comparable to the difference in quality between hand drawn and digital animation.

Im not sure I'd go that far. Like, Beast Machine for sure. Beast Wars animation has aged... poorly. I can admire the effort that went into it and the touches the animators did with the super limited tools they had - especially if you know some of the backstage production stories.

But I'd not say Beast Wars animation is like comparing Disney's Aladdin to like the Minion movie. Like, I respect what they achieved and that Mainframe were trailblazers in their field. And I can say they put more efforts than some of the other shows that'd follow in their trails (coughEnergoncough). But Beast Wars looks like crap nowadays. The animations are full of clipping, sometimes weirdly stiff, the cinematography is super limited coz some animations and models were only filmable from specific angles. Theres a lot of times where its clear the creators had visions but were held back by their tools.

Doesnt stop me from loving the show but looking at stuff like Earthspark really shows how far we've come in the 30ish years since.

Edited by Ghilz on Feb 29th 2024 at 11:08:03 AM

I think it's important to note that, Mainframe knew what they couldn't do as much as what they could. In Reboot, the early days anyway, they had a hard time with walking animations, so they often shot around that, and they also introduced the zip board, so whenever anyone had to go anywhere, they'd float on the zip board. I think part of the reason their shows were a success is that they'd often realize that something wouldn't work, and rather than try to force it to happen with the tools they had, they'd come up with alternatives.

Edited by WillKeaton on Feb 29th 2024 at 10:22:19 AM

Any medium has certain limitations, what generally separates the good from the bad is using their strengths and mitigating the weaknesses along with an attention to detail. It's fascinating cause Corridor Digital has said that many effects done today are pre-made models, plug-ins and simulations, when they try to replicate classic effects done decades ago (Jurassic Park, T-1000, The Abyss) they usually do pretty good but not quite as flawless as the original. The reason is the originals took months of planning, troubleshooting with specific sets and cameras and using the expertise of masters of their field to get just the right shot, while they are trying to copy them with only a few days or weeks of work.

Art is ultimately about appreciation and not perfection. Consider that the explosions and damage to the Maximal and Predacon ships had to be manually animated, the fire effects and flying panels had to be keyframed one at a time.

That's what I meant. The textures and model animations might have aged but despite that their still able to convay a range of emotion and action that some cgi animation even now have trouble with.

I made such a comparison on the Beast Wars reddit and the responses were of a similar mind. https://www.reddit.com/r/beastwars/comments/1ayszze/beast_wars_animation_compared_to_current_cgi/

Edited by Avenger09 on Feb 29th 2024 at 6:01:56 PM

One other thing I want to note: Mainframe launched Reboot in 1994 and it was the first all CG cartoon that went to series, except for maybe Insektors. (Crash Dummies predated it, but only got one episode made, I think it was a pilot that they passed on.) The first all CGI cartoon that was ever made that wasn't Insektors or made by Mainframe was Voltron the Third Dimension which came out in late 1998. Season 3 of Reboot had concluded early that same year, and Beast Wars Season 3 was just coming out. I cannot say enough how far ahead of the game Mainframe was at that point. I would say the animation of Reboot season one is superior to Voltron, and to compare Voltron to Season 3 of Reboot or Beast Wars, it's just such a vast difference in quality.

Edited by WillKeaton on Feb 29th 2024 at 2:41:36 AM

On the topic of Beast Wars I've been looking over the character pages and I think the images could use a quality upgrade.

The image picking forum is full right now, and I haven't yet found any replacements but we might want to keep it in mind.

Edited by Avenger09 on Feb 29th 2024 at 6:57:20 PM

It also weirdly only gives Optimus' Japanese name, ignoring everyone else lol.

Not sure why we list it at all anyway since the show wasn't made in Japanese.

Edited by Ghilz on Feb 29th 2024 at 2:00:30 PM

First 2 Mayhem Attack Squad packs shown off. They look good, I'm going to buy both of them.

• We got a Prime Breakdown from the Legacy Bulkhead. He looks alright, the hammer can be plugged into the wrecking ball to kind of make it look like how he wielded it in the show.
• Windsweeper is from Needlenose's mold, so he's got some target masters painted silver. He looks good.
• Chopshop is from Shrapnel's mold and wow they really remolded a lot of him. The insecticons are great
• Barrage is from Bombshell's mold. Really happy with how they did the chest on him. Very unique looking.

Insecticons look good.

Breakdown... eh. Very utilitarian mold reuse. I'd say good execution of a flawed idea.

Windsweeper does not look good. Needlenose is a pretty basic mold, and Windsweeper is a more boring use of it in terms of color scheme and headsculpt. The Targetmasters look nice in silver... but they're not. They're beige. Slathered in silver paint. They're going to look atrocious with any wear and play.

Oh man, suddenly I have Insecticon Fever…

Anyway! Mark your calendars! Every Thursday of March at 11am ET is a livestream of Transformers reveals!

Might we see the official reveal for SS86 Commander Optimus Prime? (Very likely!)

And on that note, is anyone into Autobot Bowling? Because one guy sure is! We got an unofficial look at Legacy United Voyage Cybertron/Galaxy Force Universe Starscream! Look at that strut!

Nice but as I have the maketoys one, I'm good.

In-hand pics of Legacy United Voyager Cybertron Starscream have surfaced!

Purple eyes, what looks like wrist swivels, ankle pivots, a transparent gun, and CYBER KEYS ARE BACK, BABY!

The physically strongest Starscream in the entire franchise has arrived.

He still can’t beat Megatron, but he’ll make Buckethead work for it, that’s for sure.

I have never seen Cybertron, but Cybertron Voyager Starscream already looks like a really solid mold and this just looks like a huge improvement.

It's interesting seeing the reaction to Cyber Planet Keys. It's weirdly negative, as I'm seeing a ton of people asking "so why didn't Override or Megaplex get them?" Me personally, I'm asking "wait, so we can get these stupid wastes of plastic but I can't get a Minicon Peg on Armada Starscream or Optimus (dunno about Megatron or Tidal Wave)?"

As a mostly toy guy, I hated these keys.

The keys worked well on starscream coz he already has gigantic wing pylon things anyway. So removing them feels like a downgrade coz like... it's not like they were diminishing the toy to begin with.

Also a shame that the chest blasters cant rotate. Still suppose if you dont have the Maketoys version, this is a nice sidegrade from the Cybertron/Galaxy Force one.