USATODAY has posted background information on some of the main characters from Transformers PRIME, scheduled to premiere on Black Friday at 4PM with a preview at 3PM.
Read on for more info and an all new image of Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime
The leader of the Autobots and protector of humans is the biggest, strongest and smartest. He goes from big rig to his red-and-blue armored self. “We always saw Optimus as the noble knight who was there to protect and to carry on the code. The code extends as far back as to what it represented on Cybertron and the lineage he came from, which was protection of the race,” Kurtzman says.
Megatron
The villainous Megatron, who seeks to conquer Earth, has acquired a rare element that allows him mastery over life itself. Kurtzman says Megatron “in many ways is a fallen hero. He is Lucifer. He is the one who used to be the angel. There is something compelling and also really tragic about that character.” He sees Optimus and Megatron as “different sides of the same coin. That duality and that friction is what I think has made for a great relationship.”
Cliffjumper
This Autobot “lives up to his name in that he is the fearless one, the guy who literally will leap before he looks,” Kurtzman says. “His car form is very distinctive. There’s a lot of character and specificity in his design of the car. It feels very true to his nature.”
Starscream
This military fighter jet is Megatron’s right-hand man. Starscream would rather sneak up on his victims than face them head-on, which makes him extra dangerous. He’s an expert planner, which is one reason Megatron keeps him around. Starscream always shows respect to his general, but he’s really just waiting for a chance to take command of the Decepticons himself.
madhatprime
I Agree as well… The "Mouth" on these TF's look as if someone cut the 'bots face with a razor or something, just doesn't seem like a proper mouth to me. That said i also like the bio's, but I was really hoping for a new series in the same continuity as G1. I am a huge G1 fan, but more than that I think that there are a lot of things that could still be done with those characters. If there needs to be a new re-boot, do it without the G1 name/likenesses. Create all new stories and characters.
guard convoy
what did you expect, i'm guard convoy lol words can not describe lol (i miss my old sig lol)
[Wing_Saber-X]
^Dude…
Acidophilus
The bios sound great!
As for the faceplate issue, I've never understood why they keep designing him without it. looks so much better with it.
thygriever
Wow prime looks so much better with the faceplate. without it, it looked like he just had a line for a mouth =\ anyhow, lovin the bios!
Thenames9
I hope someone uploads this to YouTube
guard convoy
screw prime, i want cliffjumper, i want to cover my bed with tons of that figure and roll around on top of them, packaged, loose, more the merrier
"transformers: Prime cliffjumper. Better than sex"
[Wing_Saber-X]
I betcha that Prime toy is gonna be sick!
OMFG! Cant wait to see protos. Hyperventilates**
spiritprime
Megatron being Lucifer? Optimus Prime being King Arthur? Cliffjumper living up to his name? Starscream showing respect, but still hating Megatron enough to cause a stir? Oh boy… we're going to be in for hell of a day!
I'd say bring on the show right now before this poor fangirl rots in her house!
Yes, I haven't seen it yet but I'm already a fangirl… Deal with it. XD
guard convoy
CAN YOU SMELL WHAT THE CLIFFJUMPER IS COOKING!
true confirmation that the rock is cliffjumper, this makes me happy in all kinds of ways
Bahamut Prime
Excellent!
Skalez Convoy
Those eyebrows still creep me out.
Nerdicon
More please
GAUGE
so Prime w/ no nose, transforms into Prime with a Faceplate that has a nose? innnn-teresting.
Still excluding that gigantic flaw…The Rending looks really superb here.
prime13
Cliffjumper seems like my favourite character so far.
[Wing_Saber-X]
Wow. IMHO, one of the best Prime head designs, ever!
Black Oracle
Nah. I'd say Kurtzman and Orci see Optimus more as a King Arthur-type, hence their use of the descriptive term "noble knight" in regards to him.
I love tragic villains too. Heck, I love tragic heroes. I love anything tragic really!
If the Exodus novel was anything to go by then Megatron's back-story involved him rising from the gladiartorial underworld as a champion of the lower castes of Cybertron. So yes, in the beginning he was a leading figure that spoke out against the rigid system of castes that bound every Cybertronian to a particular role and function in society with no hope for progression beyond those roles. Megatron was the controversial force calling for change and trying to overthrow Cybertron's old and frozen way of life. But along the way as he rose in power and influence, he became more ruthless and seemed to lose his original objective to achieve freedom and equality for all Cybertronians.
I hope they refer back to some of these things about Megatron in the show. One of his reasons for hating Optimus could be because he still believes that Optimus betrayed him long ago when he accepted the position of Prime and seemingly abandoned their 'brotherhood' in favour of power. Megatron could be the kind of villain that is embittered about the past, losing patience with the Autobots that constantly stand in his path, and that is willing to go to dangerous extremes to achieve his aims. His original reasons for fighting may be lost by the time the TFP series begins. He may be guided mostly by a rage and lust for revenge that has only grown since leaving Cybertron in pursuit of Optimus and the Autobots.
And there be my prediction for TFP Megatron's character!
GreenChick
So Megatron is a Miltonian Lucifer… Does that make Optimus the Archangel Michael or Jesus? *gets stoned*
Tragic villains are always my favorite. Take TFArachnia for example, she's my favorite character on TFA (despite tarnishing her namesake's rep and all). Here's hoping they can do it well-just having someone be a fallen hero won't make them compelling characters if their backstory is a cheap shot for audience sympathy. What made BA compelling was it served as the motivation for her character, personality, drive, ect.
But by the staff's comment on comparing Lucifer and Megatron I really WANT a backstory to this. (Yeah, WFC and PRIME were designed to be in the same continuity, sure.) Bonus points if the episode is called "Cybertron Lost."
Emperor Zarak
looks pretty sweet
SPLIT LIP
And yet it is still more fluid and natural than half the other CGI shows on today. Go figure.
TFP is still looking to be great.