New Transformers Cartoon to air on CN

Shadow Hog · Post by **Shadow Hog** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:10 pm

Shocking truth: I've never once watched <i>Cowboy Bebop</i> (well, maybe ONE episode, but not enough to remember much of any of it). Therefore, that he did that role means absolutely nothing to me.

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:28 am

... That was shocking.

Rob-Bert · Post by **Rob-Bert** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:00 am

I've never watched it either so..... yeah.

Tsuyoshi-kun · Post by **Tsuyoshi-kun** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:14 pm

How many Transformers series do we actually need? At least this one isn't an anime, I suppose.

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:46 pm

I'm just thankful this is now the newest series instead of Kiss Players.

Yami CJMErl · Post by **Yami CJMErl** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:50 pm

Yeah, that's one TF-related thing we DON'T need coming out of Japan.

On the plus side, a previously JPN-only figure, "Masterpiece Starscream", is reported to be brought over here by Hasbro in the fall.

Yami CJMErl · Post by **Yami CJMErl** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:50 pm

*DUBLpost* So, there's ths thing going on in Rhode Island. It's called "BotCon", and it's Hasbro's annual TF get-together to talk about recent TF stuff and debut upcoming lines and cartoons and whatnot.

Naturally, a lot of the show this year was movie-centric, but there was a great deal of new info about the new cartoon, which may or may not change some people's minds...

David Kaye panel @ BotCon 2007

-This cartoon they are recording the voices together in the same room.
-Appearing characters that he mentioned:

Prowl (Jeff Dennis)
Prime (David Kaye)
Bumblebee (Bumper Robinson--'Chris Rock' like)
Ultra Magnus (Jeff Dennis-- very Robert Stack-y)
Arcee (Susan Blu reprisal?)
Black Arachnia (Cree Summer)
Grimlock (David Kaye --did a SNL Phil Hartman Frankenstien-y voice as an example)
Lugnut (David Kaye)
Starscream (Tom Kenney)
Ratchet (Corey Burton)
Shockwave (Corey Burton)
Megatron (Corey Burton)
Jazz (Phil LaMarr, of MadTV fame)
Blurr (Reprised by John Moshita)
Bulkhead (Bill Fagerbacky-- Patrick from Spongebob)

-He said (without giving away story...although it sounds like at ComicCon all will be revealed), that there would be G1 things surfacing, and that the comedy would be back.

-This series is scheduled to start in January 2008. He said they already wrapped up two seasons, 29 total episodes, I believe he said, and the special (if my notes are correct).

Also, he did note that recording star music spoofer Weird Al Yankovic will be a guest on an episode, as a garbage truck TF (he thought he remembered that as the form).

Hasbro's "Upcoming Products" panel @ BotCon 2007

Transformers Animated stuff
------------------------------
Going to give us a sneak peak
Better timeslot for TV show than with Energon and Cybertron
Hasbro thinks that we shouldn't be worrying about things as much as we are.
Worked very closely with Cartoon Network.
People working on cartoon are big fans ... I got the impression that they are moreso than the folks at Hasbro
Wanted to diversify, freshen things up.
It's our new Cartoon series for 2008
Production has been brought back to US

Writing Style
------------------------
Return to character development and story telling similar to BW.
Action driven show - very fluid.
Episodic but ties into an overall Seasonal Arc
Smaller cast of Bots with signifciant character development for each individual character.
Action driven with a dose of Humor.
Major fcosu on personality and abilities
Rich action sequences
Familiar and New characters
Human super-villains and Decepticon villains.

Artistic Style
----------------------------
Highly stylized and fluid animation
More energetic and expressive bots.
Major focus on personality and abilities
Grow from Mechanical to Emotive designs
Familiar and New characters
Realistic and Stylized transformations.
1 transformation is tasmanian devil styled.
Will not be anime cut transformations.
You will really see them transform

Summary
----------------------

Set on Earth in the near future in Detroit, the alien Transformers are thrust into a world populated by humans and automatons. As visitors to Earth, the Transformers -- Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, Bulkhead and Ratchet -- work in the human world interacting with the 'natives' in exciting and humorous ways. Transformers Animated has been created to showcase the heroic Autobots working together to battle the evil Decepticons and save Earth with kid-relatable plot lines filled with humor, distinctive characters persaonalities and dynamic action.

AUTOBOTS
----------------------------
Ratchet - season Autobot, legitimate combat, cybertronian version of the military, like the guy from Full Metal Jacket
Ironhide will be like the Fantastic Four's Thing.
Prowl is like a ninja.
Grimlock is a T-REX!!! HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!!
THERE WILL BE TWO OTHER DINOBOTS IN THE SHOW.
They are 3 crazy dude.
Grimlock looks awesome

DECEPTICONS
-------------------
Megatron is a gun in his Cybertronian mode.
Starscream kind of resembles Cyclonus in jet mode.
Has kind of like a Chris Latta voice
Voiced by Tom Kenny
We will be seeing most of the Transformers in their Cybertronian modes at the beginning of the series.
Blitzwing is a triplechanger (tank, jet, robot) - looks f'in awesome!!!
Kind of a new spin on his character, fun personality quirk: has a split personality
Spinning face gimmick on the toy
Lugnut (similar in body style to Bulkhead)
If Bulkhead is like the Thing, then Lugnut is like the Incredible Hulk.
Lugnut has missiles for hands,
Jet of some sort
BLACKARACHNIA!!! HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE
Different origin story for BA than in BW.
Starts out as a different character entirely, flashbacks, one of the more complicated Decepticons, you'll care more about her.

HUMANS CHARACTERS
------------
Cpt. Fanzone - Police Chief
Sari (girl) and her father Isaac Sumdac
Sari's interaction with the Autobots is unlike her interaction in the past shows. It works out better. Not the typical human sidekick.
Sari is an outcast. Looks to the Autobots for friendship.
Human villians - "Angry Archer" (applause), NOT your typical run-of-the-mill Dr. Archeville character. Super villains ...

OTHER STUFF
-----------------------
The Autobots WILL have their Ark. It looks like a stylized G1 Ark. Crowd: Will there be a toy? No response from Hasbro.
The Decepticons WILL have the Nemesis.
Nemesis dwarfs the Ark. It's GIGANTIC.
The Ark is about the size of one of the spikes on the Nemesis.
Nemesis has a purple lighting and black interior.
Ark had warm colors, circular, multi-level
Showed us some shots of what Detroit looks like.
Showed us a shot of the Sumdac Tower's interior.

What will the toys look like?
Toys developed at the same time as the animation designs.
Animation style allows us to show more personality with each character.
90% animation/toy accuracy.
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?
Convey a greater range of style with these characters.
Wow ... just showed us what deluxe and Voyager Optimus Primes. Look awesome. The stylistic sculpting is there ... match up extremely well with the animated versions. Wow. Just wow! I wish you guys could see this.
Deluxe Bumblebee and Voyager class Bulkhead - really staying faithful to animated look.
Archer: can't thank Takara enough for their help with this line.
Really paid off by working daily with Takara and Cartoon Network.
Deluxe Prowl and Deluxe Ratchet
All figures have great articulation.
Artist rendition (3-D model) of Voyager Grimlock.
Voyager Megatron and Starscream: Megatron is a vertical take off Cybertronian vehicle in this image. I'm confused with the gun mode drawing of him from earlier. Maybe the gun mode Megatron is his earth mode.
Deluxe Blackarachnia looks great!
Lugnut and Blitzwing pics ...

The future
-------------------------
Working on season 2 already.
More familiar and new characters.
Possibility of season 3 and 4.
Desire to create brand new characters ... with cameos by G1 favorites.
Toys will have a "matte" finish like Batman Animated.

Marty Isenberg is on clip they show us.
AllSpark looks like a Matrix/
Optimus has an axe.
Megatron has a sword.
The animation is really slick looking. Everyone is going to love this.
Optimus Prime doese have a mouth and a face shield.
The transforrmation of Optimus Prime looked really cool.
My opinion has officially changed
Optimus says: "transform and roll out."
Opening audio is very cool: hip hop, rock type style.
No transformation audio yet.
The Optimus Prime axe is awesome.
Showed us a space scene.
Optimus pole-vaulted with an extended version of his axe.
HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:45 am

[quotes]Bumblebee (Bumper Robinson--'Chris Rock' like) [/quotes]

*vomits*

Yami CJMErl · Post by **Yami CJMErl** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:04 pm

Left to right: Starscream, Blackarachnia, Blitzwing, Lugnutz, Megatron

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:22 pm

Blitzwing: "Maximals are to be bred and slaughtered!"

Radrappy · Post by **Radrappy** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:07 pm

starscreams chin is scaring me.

Something about this style is 100% counter intuitive to them being transformable robots.

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:31 pm

It's the curves. You can tell because there aren't transformable women.

I guess.

Timestones · Post by **Timestones** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:12 pm

http://enewsi.com/ (trailer shown at Comic-Con)

http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&a ... 94&start=0
http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&a ... &start=120
(The toys.)

Honestly, the designs have grown on me, a lot.

Yami CJMErl · Post by **Yami CJMErl** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:46 pm

I'm just amazed at how they're able to get show-accurate toys out of Teen Titan-ish designs like that. Honestly, I thought it'd be more difficult then what Hasbro did with the Movie toys.

Right now my only disappointment is that this show has to be airing on Cartoon Network, as I don't have cable. Oh well, looks like it'll be torrents for me.

Post by **G.Silver** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:05 pm

If they'd do something about Optimus' face I think they'd really be on to something here.

Yami CJMErl · Post by **Yami CJMErl** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:01 pm

http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=11290&
^ new clip of the cartoon, revealing that there will be heavy use of the G1 transforming sound and a new version of Teletraan-1.

Radrappy · Post by **Radrappy** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:24 pm

I'm excited by the toys and how Starscream's voice is pretty much the same as it was in G1 but christ did that clip ever look like shit.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:41 pm

The toys look great, especially Bumblebee. The actual animation looks like crap.

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:16 pm

Ew, they've got those big anime mouths.

Arcade · Post by **Arcade** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:06 am

Yeah, if we want anime, we will see anime,not clones. And for an anime parody, well duh, we already have Kappa Mikey...

Teen Titans was ok because it was a team of superheroes, but here we have the fact that they changed the BASIC turning The transformers into some kind of super heroes...

Rob-Bert · Post by **Rob-Bert** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:09 am

Man, your observational skills are unmatched, Arcade.