I thought that immediately as well.

This is the last of these terrible video game cutscenes I will waste even 5 minutes on. I gave it a second try and still feel the same.

The animation is painful and the lip syncing is terrible. The actual voices for the characters are pretty good, but the dialog and delivery just kill it.

 

I'm glad I wasn't the only one a bit unclear on what Rodimus is proposing.

For those who don't read the comics, the Enigma (and derived tech) has been shown to both create, forcibly separate, heal, and control combiners, so there is precedent at least.

But the dialog doesn't really flow right. Almost feels like a few lines were cut. Rodimus proposes controlling the combiners and the Mistress jumps to the idea of making more. Quite odd.

Along the same lines, I do find it strange that we seem to have an "epidemic" of combiners on the loose and yet no one appears to have used the Enigma yet. I understand that maybe all combiners in this universe don't need to be made by the Enigma, but it still feels a bit odd.

Lastly (and this would have been useful to have covered in one of the lead-up videos), why are the Combiners fighting? Why are they treated as almost like their own faction? Who are they fighting? Are they fighting among themselves? Are the feral and fighting anyone? All we really know is that combiners are out there fighting for some reason and this is a threat to everyone.

It's only 2 episodes in, so I'm fine not having all the answers, but character motivation is pretty hard to pin down without a bit more context.

 

so rodimus turns into a car, starscream turns into a jet, and mistress of flame turns into a clear representation of the fact that nobody can design female transformers that aren't weirdly human-like. ugh.

 

hahahahaha
Agreed!!!!!! You'd think it was a 5 hour movie and they were just filling time. I was like, "you'd better hurry up Starscream. The "episode" is almost over!" This might work if we were getting 20 minute installments but with these 5 minute installments and 1 minute of content, that's not enough to get a following. It's already lost all but the diehard Transformers fans that are hoping it'll somehow get better.

 

Starscream the voice of reason? Whaaaaaaaat? Ok....either way I still enjoy it for what it is regardless of the critical elites on this board.

 

good for you. don't let those people with different opinions get in your way. damn 1%.

 

What I'm having trouble understanding is who this series is supposed to appeal to. If they're going to use G1/Generations character models and story beats, and make the tone dark in general - why does this feel so immature?

 

thanks for sharing

 

Still not great, but episode 2 was better than episode 1. Menasor's voice really ruined the whole first one.

Thoughts:
I liked the character models and designs for Cybertron.
Since when is Windblade a sniper?
Not opposed to a new angle/take on Starscream, but he seems a little TOO good and logical. When Starscream is the only one on screen genuinely appealing to peace...
Mistress of Flame's voice/attitude seems too similar to other female characters? I could really see her done by Lenore Andriel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUaTvgrb7Gk
Rodimus has been the only good voice actor in the lot so far, but seems pretty out of character in terms of scripting.
In fact the writing is pretty shoddy in general. Theres a lot of clunky dialogue and wasted time/space.

So again, better, but not impressed, and still tainted by #1. Maybe presented at full length it would be better.

 

Okay...

So, the episodes are way too short, the animation isn't perfect- far from it- and the spacing is badly done.

Yet I'm still happy about this series because it is free and gives a new looks at some characters.
A 'smart and wise' Starscream is very a very welcome and refreshing concept after TFP's comic relief/pathetic Starcream.

 

The worst thing about this episode was all the silence at the beginning. Would it hurt to have a narrator telling us what has happened off-screen in this continuity?

 

My god, the frame rate. No excuses, this show is horrible in terms of animation. I've seen people in my uni with 0 previous contact with 3D software doing a freaking better job just for the love of the art and for free.

 

Mistress of Flame is Scott's OC. She's probably the worst creative at IDW right now in terms of handling female characters as CHARACTERS and not as FEMALES (which is pretty depressing to be honest), so not really a surprise her design is more "I'm a giant woman" than "I'm a giant transforming robot."

At least we have the Torchbearers.

 

Very good episode.

Still complaints I see. For anyone who thinks doing animation is a piece of cake. You try and do it.

 

much better then the first but still not a fan.

the Audio was almost silent at times.

WingBlades scope seems to be magical in that it can see over walls.

I didn't like how this artefact was in the open but that's not really a big problem. I'd just add a glass window to that huge hall

Star scream looks more like he was stung by a bee then shot. If they dont want to remove his arm at least add a smoke effect.

Also why did he walk out of the shadows when he just pushed her over by hand?.. he should be on top of her.

 

It was like they took a random five minute scene out of a 22 minute episode.

 

You don't need to be a master chef to know when your steak is under cooked. You don't need to be a plumber to know when your sink is clogged.

 

Yes. Animation isn't easy. However, paid professional animators should be able to do it.

 

It's so weird having Starscream be the voice of reason, honestly he and Rodimus should have switched roles in all this.

Mistress of Flame's voice sounds way too young, i always imagine Marina Sirtis's Demona for her.

Ben Pronsky is alright as Rodimus, though he's a bit bland, shame I thought he'd be a lot better.

Frank Todaro I'll vouch for here, he sounds a lot better here than in the prelude.

so Optimus and Megatron are in exile.....fascinating.

also Wheeljack namedrop.  

 

Pardon me if this has been answered before but do we know how many episodes this series is supposed to be?