FanProject... Is it just me?

Or do they make really good modern articulated versions of classics transformers characters...

only to leave off the key defining aesthetics of those characters.

For example(the main example/problem).... heads/faces or head sculpts matter very much to the look of a bot or character. Yet the are commonly getting close but missing with the characters face/head. Ultra Magnus, Springer for example...

Other Key things... like Bombshell's cerebro launcher has a specific look but is changed in the FP version. Shrapnel's Pinchers/mandibles as well. Broadside's oval cockpit. etc...

I could get even more nit picky but I think these are the main problems.

They are so close in so very many things only to fall flat with these very key defining features. I feel like I'm paying premium price for a 3rd party item that is so close only throw more money at another 3rd party to come in and correct the flaws (Igear Magnus/Spoonman's insecticon addons). And yes I know they can't throw an Autobot or Decepticon insignia on them.

Because of this I easily see why some people say this company is over rated.

Its not about the money so much. I still grab the toys because I know Hasbro/Takara will never give us these characters. Its basically FP or bust. It just feels sad being so close to the ultimate incarnation of a character and not quite making it. What I wonder though... are these aesthetics purposefully missed... or am I just nuts?

It's the lawyers. As far as I'm aware, all of FP's designs are run by lawyers to make sure they don't infringe on Hasbro's intellectual property.

So yes, they miss the mark when it comes to satisfying childhood wet dreams, but they're still damn good figures.

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Honestly, FP does it to have their own style, while homaging the figure. If they made them dead-on matches... nothing would happen to them. Look at Hegemon.

I also, don't think it's any coincidence that the homages that they've made fit in perfectly with their own characters as well.

Just like with any company, or any toy: Some people like them, and some people don't.

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It's because they don't want to directly infringe on Hasbro/Takara IP. They don't copy designs to a tee on purpose. They do enough to definitely homage, but not 100% copy characters. They get their own style, put their own spin on things, and have it work together. Igear for instance tries to capture the character as much as they can with their sculpts (well that are theirs).

For example, the whole point of the ninjacons was to put a fun spin on three obscure characters. It isn't a "flaw" to correct if they don't have 100% geewun accurate kibble, weapons or heads when they're designed to be a ninja spinoff.

The figures are fantastic regardless. They don't need 80s toy nostalgia to be great, as shown by the direction Steelcore is going.

The same thing happens in the mainline itself. They aren't trying to make a more articulated version of an existing toy, they're homaging the character while still putting on their own spin on things. City Commander does not have every single feature the original Magnus had, but it is pretty obvious that the add-on set is meant to invoke the character. And what 'key defining aesthetics' are is debatable in itself.

Just sounds like an issue of personal taste, honestly.

I've been saying this for a long time.

FP Fanboys will always argue that the missing key features of the character is a "style", "modern classicseques", "personal taste etc". You'll see more as the thread goes...

In contrast, when official products are critiqued these key features should always be present. A lot of fans will contradict themselves just to put FP back on the pedestal.

FPC on the other hand might just have a go at blatant copyright infringement. Their recent announcement of using of the fandom as a scape goat by giving them a more hands on feel on the design might just change things around. At least they announced it.

Toyworld on the other hand... I love.

In my case, FP insecticons are the ONLY way I can care for insecticons.. and I do like robot insects, just that the original aesthetic for the 3 caracters always felt ugly to me (Zoids fun, maybe that is why I hate most TF beastformers they look all lame compared to Zoids in alt mode ro me).

Now I never cared much for what FP has done in terms of homages
- not a fan of g insecticons
-not a big fan of G1 magnus
-do want a dringer, but not enough to jump at warbot defender
-only like hotrod, not rodimus
-wouldn´t spend tons of money on hasbro combiners with upgrade sets
-Got flameblast and warcry, but don´t care for those they are suppose to homage

So... why do I drool and go all out for FP now? straying out of TF, as I usually say, I am a fan of TF, as much as I am of a lot of other mecha franchises, but nowadays the only fiction segment to please me is IDW TF comics... now the perspective that FP core has been giving gets me all up:
-A serious and apparently deep fiction
-NEW characters (has/tak has done poorly on that)
-Awesome NEW designs

So I do understand that for TF only fans, specially G1 fans, it might be bad, but it is not my case, love TF, love G1, but I know better ideas can still erxist, just never from big companies and at that FP has a good chance to please me.

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There's a difference between missing aspects of a character, and making a conscious decision to make those aspects different.


I'll say this, though:

If I weren't a fan of manga styling, I'd probably not be able to stand one thing that FP produces. It's one of those "Just so happens" things that works in my favor since they've produced quite a few characters now.

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Oh, there are two FP toys that have all the key features present:

- Defender
- G3 trailer

The other ones are just plainly misses all of them which makes them undesirable.

Defender has one big flaw like Herc, that blocky look. Reminiscent of the first voyager toys in classics which are by the way, obsolete.

Again, this just goes back to what people consider 'key features'.