Transformers Prime - News & Speculation Thread

That's not what I mean. It's not that simple. This show in particular may or may not be based on the "continuity" established by the War for Cybertron video game with toys to follow later. It's not the same thing. Any Transformers series (or movie for that matter) is supposed to be based on the toys, not the other way around. G1 can't really be called a glorified commercial because while it does adapt Hasbro's toyline, it also expands on the backstory and core concept that Hasbro established.

If this show, Transformers: Prime, is to stand any kind of chance at having (real) credibility (unlike the movies; again, it's a long story), it really needs to be its own thing with respect to the fact that Transformers was originally created as a toyline (that is, completely separate from the movies and the video game). However, and again, this show may or may not be based on the recently released video game. That "changes the rules" so to speak. In any case, the point is, saying that every show is a glorified commercial isn't entirely true. In the case of this particular show, it just so happens that it may or may not be one for said video game, and I likely won't watch this one if it is.
 
Not necessarily. The series could make references to events that happened in the game, creating spoilers. In other words, for all we know, it could assume that the viewers are already familiar with the game, which would mean we would have to play the game in order to get the most out of the series, which would also mean that this show would just be a spur-of-the-moment tie-in "encouraging" the viewers to go out and get the game. It would be one thing if it encouraged us to get the (yet to be released) toys, but again, this changes the rules. Unlike the toys, which only convey the basic idea, the game has an actual story told in a medium other than TV (or movies, for that matter), and if this series was indeed a "sequel" of sorts to the game, not only would it just be a tie-in for the game, it would also have spoilers for it. I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't want to watch a series like that. Again, it really needs to be its own thing in order to bring in the most viewers possible.
 
Mandouga, that is so incredibly unlikely, I can't even believe you gone on this tangent for as long as you have.

The show will be a commercial, but not for one specific video game that came out two months ago, that's ridiculous. It will be a commercial for the entire Transformers franchise to help promote the franchise and continue to improve Hasbro's strength as a company specializing in various intellectual properties. That's been the Hub's vision from day one.
 
Yeah, I think there's too much emphasis on it being in the same continuity as War For Cybertron (For those wondering, I took this from TFW2005's live weblog covering the panel where one of the TFW people asked a Hasbro rep where it stood). I think it'll be like Beast Wars, which is a sequel to G1, but is something that is very much watchable and enjoyable by an audience who has never seen G1. Especially since War For Cybertron takes place at one of the earlier points in the Transformers lore, I can see Prime being enjoyable by many who haven't played the game.

Also, the very basis of the Transformers lore wasn't created by Hasbro. They hired Marvel and Sunbow to do that for them. I believe it was Marvel who gave Optimus Prime, and Megatron their names. As well as creating two alien races battling for control.
 
The whole 'War for Cybertron is a prequel' meme is BS anyway. Hasbro just used War For Cybertron, which was meant to be yet another G1 prequel like 'The War Within' and 'Stormbringer' were in the comics and decided 'this is the official history of the Transformers war for Prime now'. The game was never designed to be a Prime prequel, and despite Hasbro's insistence, there's no way they're going to go out of their way to reference either a video game OR a novel (Exodus) that many kids probably haven't even read. This whole 'HUGE continuity backstory' thing is just Hasbro puffing out its chest to make Prime appear bigger than it actually is. Even they're not stupid enough to try and force together a bunch of different products on their most important project to date. Kids have to be able to follow what's going on, so the plot will be kept simple enough for kids. After all, the only medium that tries to build on continuity and tie together multiple sources is...comic books. And we all know how well THEY'RE doing, don't we?

Prime will be enjoyable on its own, you won't need to know squat about War for Cybertron OR Exodus, mark my words. It's not like any of the production staff are fanboys (except maybe for Vampirella), so they'll keep it simple.
 
That's one of the things about this show that worries me. However, I personally think we should wait until the show actually premieres. By then, we should know for sure.
 
Transformers Prime like GI JOE Renegades will be its own thing. War for Cybertron is connected to G1 but that's it. All this comes straight from Hasbro per Comic-Con.
 
Yes, but that reason was Hasbro said, "Screw Animated," despite fans liking it, and opted to focus on the then-upcoming Revenge of the Fallen instead. I hate to burst your bubble here, but good shows end prematurely all the time and G1, looking back, wasn't all that great and really does not hold up when you actually go back to rewatch it.
 
You guys got three seasons and 39 episodes of Animated. What's the big deal?

Animated shows around movies or toy brands come and go all the time. Before Animated they did Armada, Cybertron, Energon, et al.
 
It might not be a big deal for you, but it is for some people.

There was an entire season planned (with a much better sense of closure) several cancelled toys, and a staff that was actually geniunely jazzed to work on Transformers, an impression I don't quite get from the Sony people Hasbro's hired for Prime.

Never mind the fact that Animated had one thing Armada and Energon didn't: a genuinely entertaining and creative execution. Hasbro had plenty of good ideas for those shows and Japan pretty much ignored all of them. After Animated, an iteration of the franchise that actually has legs, now they're hoping to make the shows last longer. After Animated's one year on toy shelves, now they want to make a long-lasting show. Even the Hasbro team openly regrets Animated's early cancellation. Quite frankly, if I had to choose, I'd rather Animated have gotten the 3-5 years Prime will get on TV rather than the single year it got.

The fact that it is permanently exiled to the 'cancelled toyline graveyard' doesn't help. There's just so much potential and actual stories that could still be told. Plus I don't particularly care for what I've seen of the art style for Prime, but hey, I'm stuck with it. I just don't think it'll try to remotely capture Animated's sense of fun, but kids love the movie, so we're getting the movie animated. Makes sense, doesn't mean I have to like it.

I suppose I can hope for something a little more fun come 2015. Here's hoping.
 
The staff at Comic Con seemed pretty happy to be working on it. Peter Cullen was so overwhelmed by the fan response to his return as well as how happy he was to getting to work with Frank Welker again. Peter Cullen came off as very excited. And honestly I will take that over David Kaye's wet noodle reluctant leader Optimus Prime.

I think my point is that Transformer Animated kind of got it's time and that time is over now. Regimes change. Animated shows change. Transformers has gone through many different eras and changes.



We still don't know how long Prime will go. Let's see what actually happens this season. But you seemed to get a good chunk of time with Animated which I personally loathed the creative execution and design style for especially the human characters like the Asdaks.



Well if it's about toys I would recommend you look at War For Cybertron which actually has a basis in G1 or look at the Transformers Classics releases which have been pretty awesome for the last few years. But honestly, I never cared for the art style of animated which was basically a mash-up of the movies and a very cartoony, extremely exaggerated design. I think War For Cybertron are the best Transformers toys out right now.



Why don't you actually watch the show first before automatically assuming we won't see anything good from Transformers animation for 5 years?
 
1. I don't collect G1 characters.

2. Kaye was a fine Prime.

3. Yes, fans always trot out Cullen. What about the, I don't know, creators? As they said at the con, they all like Transformers 'In some way'. Hah. I bet Jose Lopez could name all six Bronze Saints before he could name all five Combaticons. And Bryan Baugh and David Hartman could probably tell you how many Vampirella issues there've been before they could tell you how many issues were in the original Marvel Comics run of the Transformers. It'll be a cold day in hell before we have a creative type on a TF TV show that's crazy enough to include a cameo by Grandus. We won't get that from THIS Sony crew.

4. Hasbro already said they hope for Prime to run 3-5 years depending on the reception.

5. What's wrong with wanting something you like to continue?

6. So, you hate Animated, but you like this style? Even Prime's freakishly out-of proportion arms? Wild.
 
Well even Transformers Animated acknowledged G1 and tried to incorporate characters from G1. Megatron was said to be the original Megatron. The creators on the show said nothing bad or that they aren't Trans-fans or invested in the franchise or brand in my mind. Even in Hasbro ideally wants the show to run a long time that ideally won't always happen. Marvel apparently wanted another 26 episode season of Wolverine and The X-men. The deal was apparently done, but it ended up not happening.

I hate the designs and style of animated. I'm not crazy about the Prime designs, but I want to see more than the rather meager teaser we've gotten before I can ultimately pass judgement. I at least like the heavier G1 style influences in the design for Prime.

There's nothing wrong with wanting what you like to continue. I feel though that it's unfair to dismiss the new show because it's not what you want. Like it or not, according to the screaming fans I sat with in San Diego, this show appears to be something they want to check out. None of them came up to the microphone and whined about Animated when they had the chance.
 
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