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MightyMatilda Mr. Clueless from New Jersey, USA Since: Jan, 2015
Mr. Clueless
#8001: Sep 27th 2024 at 8:41:15 PM

The fact that 2D animation has an easier time making new character designs makes it, in my opinion, more suited for a merchandise-driven show based on a toyline with dozens of characters. That's why I feel like the Transformers brand moving to CGI is so backwards.

De Romanīs, lingua Latina gloriosa non fuī.
Chortleous she/her friend to the hooved (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: She does the things you do, but she is an IBM
she/her friend to the hooved
#8002: Sep 27th 2024 at 8:48:29 PM

...character designs that tend to be pretty elaborate, making them harder to animate traditionally unless a more stylized approach is taken, as in Animated.

Edited by Chortleous on Sep 27th 2024 at 3:49:15 PM

Shadao Dorzma Forever! Artwork by Kris Dobbins. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Dorzma Forever! Artwork by Kris Dobbins.
#8003: Sep 27th 2024 at 9:02:21 PM

Transformers have two modes: A bot mode and an alt-mode.

And the alt-mode is a vehicle, which is heavily more detailed than a regular cartoon character. And the Transformer has to have visible vehicle features to make it clear that the two modes are linked.

And if you look at the G1 cartoon models, you would notice they cheated a lot to make it easier for the animators. Namely, Autobots like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee do not have wheels in their robot modes.

The benefit of CGI is allowing the little extra details remain on the robots and allow them to do things with these retained features like Optimus using his leg wheels to give Megatron a real face lift.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#8004: Sep 27th 2024 at 9:30:01 PM

It depends on the animation style, like the Aligned Robots in Disguise cartoon had a ton characters, pretty much a new character a episode each with their own elaborate unique design.

But the trade-off is the animation used is cheaper than Prime's animation.

Which really isn't an issue as long as the character designs and writing are good.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Mewaddlee from The American Desert Since: Nov, 2019 Relationship Status: Abstaining
#8005: Sep 27th 2024 at 11:01:59 PM

Especially when Prime tried to headline the Predacons for season 3 but they only introduced literally only 1 Pred in Predking during the show's run not counting the finale movie.

Not really a Beast Hunter's when there's only like 1 beast shown.

That was the product of the late shift in focus to beasts midway through development. You know why Predaking stayed in his alt mode for a long while? Because the model for his robot mode wasn’t available at the time due to the late decision to include him.

[up] I never finished Robots In Disguise but I distinctly remember the writing being a major step down from Prime.

Edited by Mewaddlee on Sep 27th 2024 at 11:03:31 AM

"If brevity is the soul of wit, then I simply have no soul." He/Him 🍉
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#8006: Sep 28th 2024 at 12:52:19 AM

[up] Okay that explains a lot. Shame when executive meddling fucks over a show like that.

Also yeah I hear RID is a huge downgrade compared to Prime.

Weirdly enough Arcee is the only one of the original Autbots to not appear on the show, which is bizarre.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
XMenMutant22 The Feline Follies of Felix the Cat Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#8007: Sep 28th 2024 at 9:07:00 AM

Yeah, Transformers designs typically being complex-ish is a big deterrent against doing a dedicated 2D show. At least, not withou making concessions (like Rescue Bots and BotBots) that would make parts of the fanbase complain.

Japanese anime, for example, is already dealing with a shortage of trained mecha animators that can output work under already strict time-frames. 3DCG models aren't cheaper to produce and rig, but the idea is that they're "easier" to reuse compared to redrawing the equivalent repeatedly.

Some folks complained that TRIGGER 's anniversary promo was just a glorified slideshow, but I think people underestimate how self-sabatoging the modern animation pipeline can be.


But the trade-off is the animation used is cheaper than Prime's animation.

Honestly, I wouldn't say it was "cheaper", but it took advantage of being more stylized that Prime's semi-realistic character designs and lighting. RID 2015 used some common visual tricks, that later works like Arcane would master, to have varied locations, lighting, and smear frames.

Both shows share the same animation studio (Polygon Pictures), lead character designer (Jose Lopez), and carryover staff. This is notable because some models from Prime, like Insecticons and Soundwave's original form, were carried over without too much change.

Writing wise, I've grown to tolerate RID 2015, but its writing suffers from having ambitious ideas diluted through a more typical (semi)episodic format.

[up] Arcee actually has a brief visual cameo, in the show, as one of the wanted Autobots by the Cybertron High Council. She also appeared in the RID 2015 tie-in comics, but she has her Prime design instead.

On that note, it's wild how many uniquely designed and named Autobots popped up as wanted posters.

Edited by XMenMutant22 on Sep 28th 2024 at 12:29:43 PM

AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#8008: Sep 28th 2024 at 9:51:42 AM

[up] Wow that's true! I had known that there is a shortage of Mecha Animators but forgot when commenting about Trigger's anniversary short. I feel bad now.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
DoubleOG (Apprentice)
#8009: Sep 28th 2024 at 1:17:28 PM

     Transformers One spoilers 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gyfz_jfb0aagemp.jpg

EmeraldSource Since: Jan, 2021
#8010: Sep 28th 2024 at 5:01:24 PM

Randomly came across this video, a fan-made recreation of Optimus' entrance into the climax of Transformers (2007) but using the Transformers: Cybertron "Galaxy Convoy" design. It's so good you're not sure if it's a shot-for-shot recreation or overlayed the original sequence.

Comics are just words and pictures. You can do anything with words and pictures.
RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer
#8011: Sep 29th 2024 at 5:45:15 PM

I just got Tidal Wave. Certainly a big boy. Of course, he's not up to scale with Optimus (the cab itself is as big as the flight deck while it should be as big as the purple command deck at most) since an up-to-scale Tidal Wave would be as long as my bedroom. I guess Cybertron Metroplex would be the only up-to-scale Titan?

Heard that the knees are prone to breakage so I try to keep articulations to a minimum.

Robot Mode

Ship Mode

Edited by RAlexa21th on Sep 29th 2024 at 5:45:45 AM

Continue writing our story of peace.
Avenger09 Since: May, 2014
#8012: Sep 30th 2024 at 8:08:22 AM

I love how in the Armada video game he was a made an actual level before we fought him.

Edited by Avenger09 on Sep 30th 2024 at 4:08:50 PM

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#8013: Sep 30th 2024 at 8:13:02 AM

Apparently the new Titan is Star convoy.

A weird pick. To me he's always been a less interesting Powermaster Prime. Like "Oh, another space truck, but with less cool combinations I guess".

RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer
#8014: Sep 30th 2024 at 11:15:10 AM

[up][up]Yeah, I can say that Tidal Wave is on-scale, unlike the anime and toy versions.

Continue writing our story of peace.
MightyMatilda Mr. Clueless from New Jersey, USA Since: Jan, 2015
Mr. Clueless
#8015: Sep 30th 2024 at 11:17:40 AM

[up][up]I suspect they chose Star Convoy because he has a base mode, unlike Powermaster Prime.

De Romanīs, lingua Latina gloriosa non fuī.
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#8016: Sep 30th 2024 at 11:25:01 AM

Powermaster Prime has a base mode though. Frankly it's less weird looking than Star Convoy's (though that's not saying much)

Star Convoy is supposed to be really big in fiction, which I guess is why they picked him, but it's such a mid design.

(And for the record, I'm not even saying that PM Prime should be a titan, just that visually, Star Convoy and PM Prime both overlap in the space truck with guns design space)

Edited by Ghilz on Sep 30th 2024 at 2:28:54 PM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#8017: Oct 2nd 2024 at 12:39:33 PM

So I just saw some parts of the classic series episode "The girl who loved Powerglide" (the entire episode of which is uploaded on You Tube free to watch) and this is quite possibly the funniest exchange between Megatron and Soundwave ever written. [lol]

"Activate the forcefields."

"What forcefields?!"

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#8018: Oct 2nd 2024 at 1:57:58 PM

I admire that woman can get slapped by Powerglide and just be okay. I too love a woman who can take steel to the face.

Avenger09 Since: May, 2014
#8019: Oct 2nd 2024 at 3:42:00 PM

Someone is drawing the Thirteen Primes on DeviantArt and you'll never guess who they based Prima on?

Edited by Avenger09 on Oct 2nd 2024 at 11:57:10 AM

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#8020: Oct 2nd 2024 at 3:51:48 PM

You can just say it, instead of doing some weird clickbait.

MightyMatilda Mr. Clueless from New Jersey, USA Since: Jan, 2015
Mr. Clueless
#8021: Oct 2nd 2024 at 3:53:28 PM

You WON'T BELIEVE that he's based on the Gundam RX-78-2.

De Romanīs, lingua Latina gloriosa non fuī.
Avenger09 Since: May, 2014
#8022: Oct 3rd 2024 at 2:43:50 PM

Saw an interesting analysis of D-16's character.

I can't it find again, but the gist of it is that D, from the start, held to a Might Makes Right philosophy due to his admiration of Megatronous, and secretly resented Orion for being, in his mind, too weak to look after himself, which steadily boils to the surface by the events of film, until he finally goes over the edge and allows Orion to fall in his moment of need.

Edited by Avenger09 on Oct 4th 2024 at 8:15:02 PM

HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#8023: Oct 3rd 2024 at 6:49:28 PM

Would it be this?

One Strip! One Strip!
EmeraldSource Since: Jan, 2021
#8024: Oct 3rd 2024 at 7:26:24 PM

I got a certain impression that D-16 was someone who believed in the system they had and that everything will be alright because of it. He had built a personal code and was satisfied with his place within the system. Thus when the big revelations come in the other bots were also shaken but he seemed to have a straight Crisis of Faith, he can't reconcile his previous code with the truth. That's why he has that rant rather late in the movie that none of this would have happened if they had stuck with the rules, despite the scale of the lie he was considering safety in ignorance. He then decides the only answer is to make himself the biggest and nastiest monster possible in order to forget how submissive he once was.

In many ways that sets up a perfect updating of the classic Megatron, a maniacal villain incapable of foresight and loaded with hypocrisy. This would be a fascinating contrast to most other Megatron updates that focuses more on his brutality, intelligence and/or leadership qualities.

Comics are just words and pictures. You can do anything with words and pictures.
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#8025: Oct 3rd 2024 at 7:29:56 PM

I generally got the feeling that D-16 mostly espoused the system to cope with his terrible lot in life. Essentially rationalizing that the toil and indignity we goes through is worth it since it was for a greater good. Only to find out that, no, it wasn't.

Edited by Kaiseror on Oct 3rd 2024 at 9:30:32 AM


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