Transformers News from Botcon

POSTED BY: Cybersnark
UPDATED: Monday, July 2, 2007 14:12
VIEWED: 1415
PAGE 1 of 1

CYBERSNARK

Sunday, July 1, 2007 5:51 PM

Okay, so, as some of you may be tangentially aware, this past weekend was Botcon, the Hasbro-authorized, fan-created Transformers convention. I couldn't be there ('cause I'm in the wrong damn country. Still.) but I've been following the regular updates on the Allspark, and now I'll pass on my coverage. . . of the coverage.

Being Hasbro-authorized means that Botcon isn't just for the fans and the "celebrities" (the voice actors, the comic writers, etc), but also boasts heavy involvement from the toy designers, the concept guys, the producers, the directors, the production crews. . . Sometimes Takara people even fly in from Japan (though it doesn't look like anybody did this year). What all this means is that it's not just a celebration of fandom, but an in-depth behind-the-scenes look, detailing things like production art, prototypes, design drafts, and previews of things that won't be out for another year.

Those of you who care about the toys probably already know all this, but in terms of Transformers fiction, I'll list some relevent news bits.

First, the movie: It's being released this week (there's a special showing at Botcon), so there's not much to say that won't be self-evident. Much of the TF voice cast has been kept secret (aside from Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, and Keith David), but reports from the Botcon screening say everyone does a great job. Early Work on Transformers II has already been greenlit.

Garnering far more attention was news of next year's series: known self-evidently as Transformers: Animated (which sets it apart both from the live-action movie and the last few glacially-paced TV series ).

First, the Autobot character designs:

Yes, I know, OMFG!!11!! THIS ISN'T TRANSFORMERS!!!! IT LOOKS LIKE TEEN TITANS/ANIME/CHEAP AMERICAN CARTOONS/CHEAP AMERICAN CARTOONS TRYING TO BE ANIME!!!!!!! HASBRO IS RAPING MY CHILDHOOD!!!111!!!!!11 GORRAMN RUTTING SELLOUTS!!!!!1111!!!!!1
Just get it out of your system. I'll wait.

Done yet?

Fine, just let it out.

Okay?

God, people, SHUT UP!!

Okay then. First, some plot details from SCI FI Wire:

Quote:

Cartoon and Hasbro executives told the [Hollywood Reporter] that the new series, Transformers Animated, will be significantly different from the others, adding humor, never-before-seen characters and a new premise in which the Autobots fight evil humans in superhero fashion much more frequently than they battle the Decepticons, the traditional Transformers enemy since the franchise launched as a toy line in 1984.

The animated series won't pick up on any of the themes from the Paramount/DreamWorks film, which is directed by Michael Bay.

In the new Cartoon series, the robots will have a lot more human qualities, allowing kids to identify with the characters much more than in previous series.

The plan is to produce 26 half-hour episodes, as well as a 90-minute special that will serve as the series premiere. Matt Youngberg (Teen Titans, The Batman) is the supervising director of the series, and Sam Register (Teen Titans) will serve as executive producer.

And Cartoon Network's press release adds:

Quote:
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.

Other plot hints describe the Transformers as superheroes, each with a particular power (like in G1, when Mirage could turn invisible, Rumble could make earthquakes, and Skywarp could teleport). Most eps will be stand-alone, with the core group of Autobots fighting human criminals and the occasional Decepticon.

(Botcon talk has recently confirmed the presence of an arc, j

BROWNCOAT1

Monday, July 2, 2007 11:14 AM

Those animated Autobots look like crap. Why oh why do I feel this is going to suck?

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GUYWHOWANTSAFIREFLYOFHISOWN

Monday, July 2, 2007 2:12 PM

I always say you can never tell what a show is going to be like from the animation.

Why is the rum always gone?