So my theory on Hauler goes like this: as Chris says in the video, the crane truck was intended to be the twelfth carbot in the 1984 assortment. But when Hasbro sent a box of the toys to Bob Budiansky to make up names and bios for them, the crane truck was missing. It was too late to get anything written up for it, but an animation model had already been designed and used in the first episode. The name "Hauler" was made up during voice recording.

I'm tantalized by the thought that somewhere in the world, there exists a robot-mode animation model for the crane truck done in the more streamlined style of the other '84 designs that gave them more heroic proportions than the '85 designs that stayed much closer to how the toys looked. Where could it be? The Hasbro vault? A disused filing cabinet at Toei? Floro Dery's sock drawer? We may never know... but for me it's a holy grail of lost 1984 history.

 

Can we expect another "Art of Transformers" episode? Those are my favorite! Also I love the Basics!

 

I want to get back to "Art of" eventually! But for now, here's this week's episode a day earlier than usual!

 

I've come to really enjoy these videos of yours. They're just really nicely edited and put together, I especially like the flow of them and the segues between different parts. You probably get this asked a lot, so sorry in advance, but what's the background music you use in your stuff? Sounds so nice and chill.

 

Glad you're enjoying! The music's a free-to-use piece called "AiTech" - there's a link to it in the video description!

 

Thank you so much! I had a brain fart and somehow missed the link while checking your descriptions. Keep up the excellent work!

 

Have you ever considered making an episode on Death's Head? Even if he's more of a Marvel character.

Fun fact: The Death's Head from the UK Transformers comic, is the same Death's Head who visits earth-616.

 

I've always considered DH well within the scope of the series, and I want to cover him, but I know I need to do a lot more reading of his post-TF adventures before I can do an episode properly.

 

Not only did I have Topspin, he (along with Ironhide) was my very first Transformer, gifted to me by my grandmother for either Christmas of 1984 or my birthday of 1985. (So long ago I can't remember.) What I DO still remember is that my Topspin had an error-printed Tech Spec that featured a picture of Twin Twist! Even as a child I had a strong sense of order and symmetry and I was troubled by this inaccuracy, to the point that I actively searched for a misprinted Twin Twist with a picture of Topspin to restore the balance! The wiki says it exists, though I don't recall ever finding one, and so when I did finally buy Twin Twist, his Tech Spec was the correct version. Which also bothered me, but, well, I had Topspin, so I had to have his brother too, right?

Such unease generated in a young boy's mind over such... uninspiring toys. I also don't recall either of them ever landing upright for me.

 

If and when you get around to it, make sure to cover the latest 4 part miniseries that came out not too long ago. It was illustrated by Kei Zama, and was pretty rad.