Animated Season Three: Confirmed by YTV?

The show itself is great, the writing, action and VA work is all top notch. The story, though humorous at many points, really does have a serious and thought out storyline underlying each season and the characters, despite how one dimensional they actually are, really do get plenty of characterization.

As for the toys themselves, they're marvels of modern transformers engineering. Both simplistic yet complex in their transformation and articulation. All this while being highly show accuracter to a highly abstract art style. In the end, both the show and the toys are really incredible.

But I still think the asthetic style looks like ass, but that's just my opinion. And I can easily look past that to see the things worth enjoying within this show.

You shouldn't be surprised that people like something just because you don't.

Dear trolls and those who hoped Animated was over because they don't like it:
TOUGH.
Love,
The rest of us.

On topic: This is excellent news. Animated's got a LOT of potential as of yet untapped, and I can''t wait to see where they take the show now.

Well said and I completely agree.

Apparently it's been "confirmed" that the boys behind Beast Wars are helping write season 3

PREDACONS RISING! - Unicron.com Transformers News

P.S.- Sorry if this is old news

Hell yea!

Woo excellent news! Hope it pans out.

Animated deserves at least as long a run as the 2003-debut TMNT show, unless it somehow sharkjumps right off the bat (kinda doubting it given the great writing so far).

I'm not, as I said to each his own, noone should like something just because I like it. It just seems that logically over time what the fandom has been based on is robots.. robots from vehicles and animals (hated beast wars though). The toys were always detailed, even if bricks (i.e. some armada toys) and looked like actual robots. Animated is just what it portrays itself as, a cross between samurai jack and teen titans with art style, and that has been crossed over into the look and feel of the toys.

Having owned, and watched many reviews on them I can say that there is no way they are at the top of the chain like some of you claim. God Fire Convoy is not going to be outdone by the crap leader Prime thats out now. Leader Megatron is not better than Galaxy Force Megs/Galv just in sheer engineering. Even most of Superlink and Armada beat out all of Animated from what I've seen and touched. Great example is Bumblebee Animated vs Classics Bumblebee. Animated is like a Mc Donalds toy and Classics is intricate enough for beginner and its price point.

As far as the Series itself goes, I hated beast wars toys for their organic counterparts but the show was very good. There have been very few series of TF that were really worth anything, but tying in BW to the G1 line and having great writers was a win win situation. The past few series havent been very good, and Animated follows that course but does improve. The last episode I watched of animated was Sentinel Prime and Ultra Magnus swearing that there was no decepticon presence. These were supposed to be elite soldiers and yet their attitudes were totally immature and oblivious and drawn out on purpose. There's really no excuse for how they were portrayed even for a child's cartoon.

The rest of the series other than that has had the same bumps in the road, but on average was something I could try to watch and enjoy. The art style was the final blow to me, especially prime's design, and how all the transformers go from being blocky vehicles to somehow rounded organic samurai jack looking, which really is not possible, even Micheal Bay didn't round out the transformers that much. I realize at the same time G1 did somewhat the same thing, but after re-watching the series with my son, yeah its not nearly that bad. Every old series has kept proportion and design of vehicle/beast to bot mode. The style just doesn't fit, its like doing a stretch armstrong version of transformers.

*hopes and crosses fingers*

(The following is entirely in terms of toy engineering, and ignores all aesthetic preference, and I really dunno why I need to put this preface but I suspect it may be needed for clarity)

See, I absolutely disagree with this one. Animated Bumblebee (the deluxe one) is just as intricate -if not more intricate- than Classics Bumblebee in terms of engineering.

If McDonalds toys were anything like -any- deluxe from the last few lines then I think I'd be eating there more often.

Dear god someone HAD to mention TMNT 2003...I grew up with the Turtles instead of Transformers so they are very dear to me. I wanted to love that new cartoon so much but dear god was it horrid. >< But then again, that's just my opinion. Just because I didn't like it doesn't mean others did. Sad that some people can't understand that concept.

Really? Have you watched any other cartoon shows lately? I highly doubt children will question the vilidity of a chracters motives, specifically when the whole show is one big toy commercial.

We're talking about Cartoons here champ, not Shakespere

Really now?

Yeah - keep in mind that the 'cons are at this point very rarely encountered by the Autobots. And that Megatron's team was not only hiding in a well-shielded area, but had signal dampeners to disguise themselves.

In that I meant that parts of the transformer itself doesn't change its parts from a square piece of a car for example to a round forearm simply by animation. TF has NEVER kept size right we ALL know that.

If that's the case then why do you all love it so much?

Optimus Prime and Bumblebee (among others) did that on G1. A lot.

-airfox

Look at any of the animation models, and you'll see a great deal of cheating going on.

Animated has some cheating, but not as much as G1 had. I mean, in recent episodes with Bumblebee you even see that he has the same fake chest transformation on the animation model.

Other than the fact the show is fun as hell and the characters are awesome?

Because it's better than all the Anime garbage from the last years and Lugnut is the best character in the universe.

Oh yeah and about the whole Ultra Magnus/Sentinel deal, Decepticons have been inactive for more than 50 years, they didn't read any Decepticon signal and the fact they were claming freaking MEGATRON was on Earth... well not even I would believe it if I was one of 'em, not to mention Sentinel hates Optimus and probably had been telling Ultra Magnus bad stuff about him.

I believe your statement was just contradicted though, I was complaining about the shallowness of a lot of the characters, even the supposed smart ones, and was answered by "its a kids show what do you expect". So how is the show that awesome with shallow characters? FYI I also agree many of the previous shows have had the same shallow problem.

and while I'm at it, please explain the complexity of this:



vs this:




Please explain to me how this series is superior in its toy design?

First of all, I wouldn't use that Prime as an example - it's like Ultimate Bumblebee compared to the Deluxe (the deluxe being more accurate).

The main design marvel is just how show-accurate these are considering the art style.

For one, you've chosen two leader pricepoint toys combined together and pitted them against a Supreme designed entirely around electronics gimmicks and autotransformation.

For second, you've chosen one of the best PAIR of toys from one line, and pitted them against a single toy that very few people (to my knowledge) care for very much.

So as much as I'd love to walk into a hilariously lopsided discussion designed to put you on the higher ground, I'll pass.




(though ROC Prime is definitely more durable :O)

I don't know! Why don't you ask a extremely square vehicle (that is cheaper than two Supremes) that turns into a extremely round robot hiding almost all the kibble with alot of hidden guns and other features like sound that doesn't completely suck like older leader class toys, perfect stability in robot mode without extreme top-heaviness and top notch poseability.


By the way, the character shallowness sounds more like you NOT knowing the situation the Elite Guard was in than the Elite being dumb.

You sir have the only real answer I've seen in my months of searching. I can settle with you answer on the design choice. I won't agree with your opinion on my example choices, both are leader class, fire convoy alone would beat out animated leader prime.


As i said, fire convoy alone would beat out animated easily, and it is fair because they are both leader class. Having owned animated leader megatron, i was really looking forward to him only to find the same displeasure in his design, especially how awful his face looks due to the moving mouth.



And you have provided the only other animated figure that I have considered given for the exact reasons you pointed out. To me he doesnt look like he belongs to the animated line. for gods sake look at Sentinel Prime:



The part of my view that I'm tring to convey is that most of the line is like Leader Prime/Megs and Sentinel here.

...but if you ask me, Sentinel Prime is the -least- representative of the Animated deluxes, and not representative at ALL of the leaders or voyagers. I mean if you want to go digging for the least effective toys then there you go, but IMO he's completely outshined by a good 3/4 of the rest of the line.

*edit*

Also, the Prime you pictured in comparison to Omega Prime is NOT Leader class, it's Supreme. Entire pricepoint above.

Then what is fair game? I just checked through the entire line. Lugnutz that you all like is another horrible figure. I count a few that pass off as decent designs. Starscream, Cybertron Megs (Super Megatron), Leader Megs, and maybe blitzwing but none are worth wasting money on because they are still really bad, imo of course, when compared to anything previous released.

*edit: well if its an entire price point above i'd expect it to be even better, the lower versions of Prime aren't really better, maybe 5% better. Still same overall look but with maybe a tiny bit more articulation and better proportions.

Well look man, if you're comparing toys you like from one line you like with toys you dislike from a line you dislike, it's not really going to be a constructive discussion either way. I was mostly wanting to point out that ROC Prime vs Omega Prime and "Sentinel Prime is representative of the entire line" were kind of far-fetched.

Personally I pass off a lot of the line as good designs, so I don't think it's worth bashing away at trying to come up with some sort of comparison criteria when there are clear biases all over the place.

If you're trying to -understand- why people like it, then you've got to understand that while you may feel the line's a step backwards, some other people don't. And to delve any deeper than we already have simply becomes a game of who can declare their opinion more forcefully, in the end.

I substituted that rather gawdy photo of the unfortunately fat-assed Supreme Prime for the more solid and straightforward Voyager.

The example you cite for it's complexity, I don't think that really helps it. It looks just a little clownish. It often helps to strip away some of the superfluous detail, and focus more on getting the essentials right, and that's what they've done for the most part with animated.

Ultra Magnus IS Animated, he belongs to Animated, he's in Animated style, you're just finding reasons to make a extremely awesome toy not count at all in the argument that the line isn't good at all.

If Sentinel really bothers you, let's take a look at other deluxes then!

Prowl, two alt modes that hardly look like each-other with extremely fun transformation, top notch articulation and clever way to hidden his shuriken weapons.

Snarl... well really, it's just amazing how he looks some much like his show version, and really his transformation is so awesome it's not even funny.

And judging by your latest post, I really don't know why I'm even trying to argue with you, you don't even accept other people points you just go by your opinion and purely YOUR OPINION "I DISLIKE LUGNUT I HATE IT IT'S HORRIBLE WORST FIGURE EVER I AM RIGHT" I mean dude seriously what? I dislike Voyager Classics Jetfire but that doesn't mean it isn't a great figure, if it wasn't good people wouldn't like it so much.

Going by your logic, Animated is the best line because I say it is, my opinion is clearly superior because I can beat Super Smash Bros. on very hard with my eyes closed, yeah, I'm that hardcore.

I don't think he's into the realm of opinionfact or anything like that, the earlier posts just seemed a little crisscrossed between personal likes/dislikes and forming more unbiased comparisons.

I guess if the show seems that good to people, and that they are happy that the IMO, horribly styled TV designs have a toyline that represents those designs very well, then I have my answer.

Over the years I have heard the fandom complain of a great many things, and what i see here is many of those things reproduced as well as new ones. That to me is why I question why so much unexpected love. But as I said I do except that idea.

and as for you, compare your prime to this then:



Still vastly superior without as much going on as GFC, IMO, in design look and intricacy to any current Animated TF, especially the leaders.

I realize Magnus is in the Animated line, what i said was he looks as if he doesn't belong, he is much better than the rest of hte designs. As for the figures you just posted, they are also very poorly designed. As for bike formers, Superlink RC is far better, IMO. The Dinobot is just horrible, the G1 version is even better by far. However Grimlock Animated isnt too bad

"Then what is fair game? I just checked through the entire line. Lugnutz that you all like is another horrible figure. I count a few that pass off as decent designs. Starscream, Cybertron Megs (Super Megatron), Leader Megs, and maybe blitzwing but none are worth wasting money on because they are still really bad, imo of course, when compared to anything previous released."

Basically he just said that none of 'em are worth money and are HORRIBLE just because "they are still really bad, imo of course".

Putting IMO in your posts doesn't change the fact you're still talking like there's no reason people should like 'em because you think they're bad.

See? He's doing it again, talking like the figure is bad because he doesn't like it, they're TERRIBLY DESIGNED just because he doesn't like the style of the figures, completely ignoring the clever transformation, however if they were in G1 robot style I bet they would be great toys for the member.

If i've gotten off beat than I apologize but I'm trying to counter point while making it known that its still my opinion, how else am I supposed to express my dislike? Not once have I said none of you should be buying these. I just don't THINK that with all of the fandom acting the way they have for YEARS and what they've complained about, that this is what they like. But if it is so be it. Noone should be condemned for it, and I am not condemning them either. Don't pick a fight because I'm not looking for one, I'm just looking to discuss.

Last tip I have because this is kind of getting off the track:

Looking at any fandom as a whole and as something to apply previous "fandom-wide" statements to will most probably only result in headaches, because it is always very likely you're talking to someone who -didn't- say what "everyone" said in the past.

Wait... Superlink Arcee being better?

This is definitely a matter of opinion now... as far as transformations go, I'd say Animated Prowl has the best transformation of any biker 'bot. In my opinion, that is.

First of all, this isn't a fight, it would be a fight if I was swearing at you, I'm just saying that they way you talk is like this:
"Animated _________ is terrible, he's a terrible figure, because, IMO, he's at terrible figure"

Get it? You don't even say why he's a bad toy, all we know is that you hate the simple designs, and really a toy isn't a bad toy just because it's different from the original transformers style, you ask us why we like the toys but you don't even say why you dislike 'em other than "i just like that older toy better".

And about the whole fandom thing, they complained many times when comparing the toys to their cartoon versions with the generic robot style old Transformers used BECAUSE Hasbro really did screw up sometimes with the characters like for example Rainbow Megatron in Classics or Fall-On-His-Face-Robots from the movie, now in Animated, a extremely different toyline with fresh new designs, they're really pulling it off with the new style, perfect toys by show-to-toy accuracy, articulation and transformation.

Basically, they hated when "Apple toys looked like oranges", but with Animated, the apples really look like the apples.

... Did I just use a fruit argument? What?

I've heard that, and I will agree with you. His transformation is very neat. However the end resulting bot mode is horrible. His chin could cut down the everglades and overall the just doesn't look right, nor how a PROWL should

But again thats just me not liking the design and style, he is a good representation of Prowl from animated.

Oh, that's perfectly fair enough.

Say what you want about the style, as it's not for everyone. But several of these transformations are fairly clever, Prowl's being a great example. The robot modes are usually very clean and don't have a lot of extra parts hanging off (unless said extra parts are part of a homage, like Grimlock).

Another example which doesn't seem complex until you handle him is Leader Bulkhead. There's a LOT going on in that figure you don't realise until you transform him yourself.

I'm simply amazed by how close the transformations are to the animation models and the faithfulness of the show designs.

One of the symptoms of "Jumping The Shark" is introducing new characters well into a plot, but wait doesn't Animated do that every two episodes? I jest, I jest.

As well, I myself don't particularily care for the design style of Animted, as I prefer the more traditional Japanese mecha style, but hey, whetever keeps Hasbro's boat a float I guess, as long as they still have lines like Universe/Classics.

Easily.

RiD was a partsformer.
That supreme prime while made of all kinds of suck, transforms without any parts removing, as does the rest of the line.
Case closed.
PartsFormering, should be left to kitbasher trademarks with magnets, or to lazy engineering.
I will give RiD credit for making the partsforming work in show though. But majorily as a rule of thumb, that's lazy transforming.

Animated Black Arachnia is a prime example of a cross genre Animated fig done well. Next to her TM2 form, that is the best BA I've ever seen.
And don't even get me started on the brickformers of all the previous lines. But then again, while I adore classics, my personal design favortism in aesthetic leans on sleek curves and round edges, not sharp ones.

Supreme Prime was a hasbro mistake, but compared to the Voyager prime, RiD Omega Prime loses. Personally, the only good mold in RiD I think was the cab of the firetruck prime. Other than that, RiD was just an excuse to push beast repaints with a few new molds. And tossed in some g2 and g1 molds just to snare fans even deeper. RiD I'll also give credit for the new mold gestalts and treatment of their personas. Something energon mildly flubbed up.

Again personally, animated's story was far superior to that of RiD and the other 3 anime fillers we had gotten. As others pointed out, blocky movements, awkward writing, and less than spectacular voice work all contribute to that. RiD while having decent animation, really lacked in the story department. And if you want to talk about idiocy in an autobot leader, look at cybertron prime's stupidity about cosplay. That seriously one ups Ultra Magnus and Sentinel's elitism (which is their character flaw if you know optimus' related history to them and how the decepticons are supposed to be nigh non-existant after the war...) Animated really shows these bots as alive, and fluid. Not restrained by clumsy aesthetic sharp edges that hinder joints. They are truly the best of action figures and TF's combined. Allowing dynamic poses, and interesting play value, whereas ones like wingsaber, armada hotshot, and scavenger of past lines, are rather, well, lazy. Neat designs ruined by less than dynamic toy counterparts. Animated has yet to have this issue. Animated gives depth and explanation to each character. Even Bulkhead's space bridge knowhow, was covered in autoboot camp before the finale. Prime's past was covered in along came a spider, and so on. How are these characters shallow when all their personalities mesh with their history within show and staying in character to what they perceive is true at that point in time? Even ratchet makes sense as a retired bot working with repair crews after the arcee incident in his spotlight episode. All their persona's ring quite true to who they are in show, without any shallowness to why. Even Magnus' snide remarks to prime about 'being a hero isn't in your programming' refering back to supposed death of elita-1.

Only one classic can get away with being a partsformer, and it took a fan group to realize that dream. Ultra Magnus. I'm still stuck undecided on if I want animated, or shell out the extra cash for city commander.

Also, which of the bots of the 2 you posted can actually raise their arm unobstructed? >.>
Can RiD ultra Magnus even bend his knees?

RiD had quite a lot of intricate non parts formers, like the 3 Car Brothers, but yes I'll agree a lot of what made GFC intricate was his partsforming.

RiD had some pretty intricate gestalts though. Those were badass.

I personally want to see how animated handles that, before I claim any one series better than another in certain avenues.
That's my only real pet peeve to Gestalts. It should all be within the figure. No outside parts forming please. RiD Build Team and Train Team were perfect. But I'd like to see a 6 bot devs handled the same, or the typical 5 bot gestalts. So far only a fanmade Menasor, and Defensor cover that issue to me. By including the parts as either an emergency transport car, or extra bits to one of bots actual vehicle. Once animated starts covering gestalts, or the story that would lead up to why, then we can start the fair comparisons. But as such, Animated is more story driven as opposed to throwing stuff in just because fans like em. Animated will probably, if they cover gestalts, they'll hopefully start with a slow build of megatron wanting an invincible massive warrior. Just to end up with a massive, highly destructive devastator because the mentalities can't focus on any one thing but destroy or drink massive oil. That's how intricate Animated can be, compared to RiD that's like 'here are the new gestalts you wanted, but we're not telling you anything about their past or how they can combine to each other, or even why they chose whatever vehicles.' Animated is slow paced because it's covering these details in why and how, and capabilities. Even the villian use had a purpose as they were mostly megatron driven, or used to help further other aspects of story similiar to how G1 tended to. Heck, the allspark fragments in the two animated constructicons leaves the door wide open for variation within them for a gestalt. Megatron could use them specificly because the allspark fragments empower devs, and potentially activate the ability to combine to other bots of the same nature. (6 team of constructicons, all allspark fragmented, from the same two fragments, so they all are in sync, and activate the combi parts megs had them install in each other.) Animated really lays some strong story work down that's easy to tap.

Headmasters in particular were handled beautifully. And with sari's revelation, I'm curious how this will lead to more organic formers like BA, or wasp, or even future pretender technology.

OMG thank you all for the entertainment. It is hilarious to see all these reactions. Seriously, my sister is laughing at all of you and she doesn't even like Transformers at all.

I so can't wait for this to come out on DVD or for the next season of this to show up! Maybe even action figures!

Speaking of seasons (so this topic doesn't get locked), Transformers Animated will likely have an excellent season full of surprises and very interesting returns, especially considering that Megatron and Starscream are still floating around in space.

As for the humans, I believe that although Sumdac is back and takes back control of Sumdac Systems, I doubt that Sari will be willing to live with him for at least half of the season (well, that would be me if I suddenly found out that my dad re-engineneered me with robotic parts).

All in all I can't wait for this. The stories get better and better (it doesn't help my excitement knowing that Bob and Larry are back with an episode )


jD001