I've always kind of thought this. They pick up on our pop culture immediately, and use it to build their personas. Hence why Ratchet takes on almost a Dr. McCoy type of doctor personality, Ironhide takes on a Dirty Harry persona, Jazz a hip hop artist, etc. And Bumblebee takes on the personality of your one friend who quotes movies all the time.

 

That there are actually that think like this really turns my stomach.

 

The word sensei gets used so much in American culture it would be like something was racist because it used words like ninja, samurai, haiku, or any of the other Japanese words that work their way into our language and culture.

I think they might have also have learned from the mistakes with Skids and Mudflap. You have a Transformer with samurai elements worked into the design to say Japanese. They hire a voice actor to say Japanese. And to be honest the character felt like he was there for more than just comedy.

If they had worked in design elements from the propaganda posters and cartoons of World War II then you'd have a strong case for something wrong. But honestly I just didn't find any elements to Drift that felt like it was crossing some sort of line. Seemed kind of like the right way to go hey what if the robots didn't all base their look and personality around something American.

 

I agree.

 

I agree. Also other characters are also stereotpies. Like Hound is a military commander or something like that.

 

Honestly, calling Drift racist because he looks like a samurai is like calling Ironhide a racist version of a Texas person because he loves guns; it makes no sense.

Besides, it's not like these movies are known for being very sensitive about culture, anyways.  

 

We all know that transformers originate in Japan and are often made in China. Bumblebee is racist and a stereotype because he's yellow and you can't understand him.

 

Ok man, I feel like you're saying these towards me because I created this thread. If that's the case, it was just a question, I didn't said Drift was definitely a racist character.

 

Not against you personally.
Just anyone- again not specifically you- that seek offensiveness as if it was an easter egg hunt.

 

Oh ok. Thanks for the reply.

 

These threads give me diarrhea. Please, someone remove it. I'm sick of hearing about the movies being racist, sexist, stereotypical and whatever else you try to complain about. STOP WATCHING THEM.

 

It wasn't anything the Simpsons or Pixar hadn't done many times over.

 

Was while he was kissin' you?

I'm putting use of Sarkessian's image in any context other than gaming news on a list of shit-posting deadly sins. 10 Hail Nintendos my son.

Well that's a double edged sword. If he wants to critique or praise a work, he can hardly do so blindly - and pattern recognition and conjecture don't count.

 

Agreed.

Honestly I thought Drift was actually tasteful all things considered, sure his design is too uncanny looking and weird, but i thought it was cool that he's a European sports car and a triplechanging helicopter too.

plus getting Ken Watanabe is neat even if I prefer Eric Bauza as his VA.

 

What?

This is a very true statement.

I mean, there's nothing offensive about Drift. He's styled after a Japanese Samurai with a Japanese voice actor. (who has played a Samurai, too!) Then again even if his Japanese-attributes were at any point used as the butt of a joke, he still wouldn't necessarily be racist. People think "racial-based humour" and "racism" are synonymous. They're not, by the way.

Being "not white" in a Michael Bay movie does not immediately render a character a racist joke or stereotype.

 

And please don't listen to Shane McCarthy about Drift either, he wouldn't know good writing even if his original character was raised from being a hated, cardboard character to a beloved fan favorite in a popular ongoing series.

 

Drift was probably included to promote a relatively new character in the universe with a growing popularity. Unfortunately, like other characters in the films, the one defining trait they possess is amplified to a ridiculous degree. In the case of Drift, he must spout something about wisdom or honor every time he speaks. It's not necessarily racist, but it is very stereotypical. It's also interesting to note how Drift's origins as a former decepticon is omitted in place of these mannerisms. When compared to a character like Dinobot, it's especially glaring. Dinobot possesses qualities similar to a samurai, but their is much more to his character than that. With Movie Drift, being a samurai themed is the only aspect to his character.

 

To be fair Movie Drift also showed that he doesn't really get along with most of his team mates like Bee and Hound despite him supposedly looking like someone who tries to get along with people a good deal, and that he sometimes goes against his own advices unknowingly like him attacking that creature on Lockdown's ship after he said the line about not using violence unless if you need to. Also he didn't spout that many lines about wisdom when he's talking. He actually speaks normally as well. I know that's not exactly any more deep but still. Which is why I'm hoping future movies will continue to build upon his character since he's now been introduced.

 

I'm not going to stop watching just because you said so. The thing is, I like them and I did not said Drift was indeed racist, it wasjust a question.

Well, I was going to make another name to the thread but I accidentally pressed enter and I didn't bothered to change the name of it lol.

 

It's funny because he actually didn't. He had plenty of lines that weren't either of those things.

Also, even if he did, it's a damn sigth better than the likes of Sideswipe.

Dinobot was also a main character of a TV show that ran for a lot longer than two hours.