I'm fascinated as to why Transformers fans in particular are hyper sensitive to animation designs, whereas Gundam fans react with glee as Bandai releases a version of their Robot Spirits Zaku that is styled after the infamous "Doan's Island" episode. Complete with skinny calves and long face. G1 Transformers is cut from the same cloth and even had several famous Japanese animators, with Masami Obari making his debut on the show. Weekly animation will always have some inconsistency, but some of it is intentional like heavily stylized scenes in G1's "Heavy Metal War" or the entirety of "Call of the Primitives." In fact I'd say original Gundam is far more inconsistent than G1 Transformers, yet the former's fans take this is stride and have a laugh about it. The baseline Transformers design fit happily into this era of robot show animation so merchandise based on that is to be expected. Does Hasbro and TakaraTomy just not give people enough options for different takes on the characters? Even 3rd party should have that covered.

 

I think it is possible that those were not the same people

 

I didn't say it was worse, in general. Just between those two, and that animation-accuracy isn't all it's cracked up to be. I didn't say anyone else shouldn't like it.

Too true.

Same. I just love the detail and the chunk and the heft of Siege Jetfire. Plus his transformation is pretty smooth while being involved without being difficult or too easy. I do like the accessories of MP Skyfire, though.

Oh, I'm not saying he's not looking fine, it's the model he's based on doesn't translate well. None of them do, past a certain point.

 

All of these guys look pretty cool. Can't wait to see the rest of the Stunticons!

 

I think the way this MP managed to get a very natural stance and dynamic shapes out of Jetfire impressive, but yes the lack of detail does hurt the look a lot, these just make me miss MP Prowl-era MPs were the sculpts were modernized and nostalgic instead of nostalgic and nostalgic.

 

Logistically it makes sense for Hasbro to spread out a combiner team like the Stunticons over multiple waves, since the random non-fans would just see pegs full of race cars for one whole wave, but it sucks so much ass to have to wait to assemble a full team...

 

Hard agree. Though I'm pretty sure they'll release over the rest of 2022.

 

The last Stunticon is in wave 4, which is "scheduled" for January (Feb? Mar?) 2023, which means there will be a few sightings in November and December 2022

 

Ah well, as always we'll just have to wait and see.

 

Huh, I counted about 21 figures/set in those pics that I either have or will have soon.

And that's not even including any of Legacy's wave 3, Walgreen's Minerva, the A3 and Orion Pax set or Flamewar.

.......And there's probably 10 more I missed. So congratz HasTak! You sold us a TF Galaxy this year....

 

So have we had word whether this was the final release version of the Victory Saber set on display, or was it an FEP?
Just wondering as IIRC Evan said they were still making a couple of deco tweaks on the figures.

 

The difference to Gundam is TF's having to have coherent altmodes, quite often realworld vehicles.
That instantly puts the TF engineers at a bigger challenge

 

While true, I don't think that's particularly the crux of Swindlerfan's question.

I think the difference between how the two fandoms treat the aesthetics is a purely demographical divide. I mean, Western fans tend to be the same way with Gundam too, with a preference towards the more highly-detailed, mechanical artwork, over the looser, more animation-accurate stylings. The Japanese fanbase is far more receptive to that retro-style art.

And that's where we run into those sharp contrasts in the Transformers fandom, because it's a Western-created franchise (not the original toys of course, but the characters that we fell in love with), but the decidedly Japanese-favouring aesthetic push rubs some people the wrong way. But you just have to take the 'L' on that one. MP is a Japanese toyline made for Japanese audiences first and foremost. They're playing to their strengths. The story might've been different if American retailers had a say, pushing the needle back towards the Hasui approach. But that ship sailed long ago.

 

CHYPS…haha…

 

I have the Siege, but I do like what I've seen of the MP and was still considering getting him... but seeing them side by side like that... I agree. He's really good, but not really an improvement on Siege, to my mind. Siege actually beats him in the detailing (although I don't dislike the clear panels of the MP like many seem to. I think both looks are fine, just different), and he's not that much smaller judging by that picture. (Probably does work out quite a bit if you measure them, but Siege scales fine.)

I really like the fact the MP comes with mini versions of Optimus, Wheeljack and Jazz that you can put in the cockpit, etc. Not enough to get him just for that, but it's a cool feature. But so is the multiple weapon options and armour of the Siege version where you effectively have the option of two different looks in one.

As far as other characters are concerned, nice to seem Menasor with those gun placement options on his 'arm'. I have these Stunticons already . Motormaster and Wildrider recently arrived, and I've had the yellow guy (Dragstrip?) for a while, but I've yet to combine them. I think I know what I'll be doing shortly.

SG Ultra Magnus/ Delta Magnus looks cool (although I'm mainly interested in him for Delta Magnus). Glad I preordered him.

 

I've seen plenty of Western fans (both here an out in the wild) who prefer the "animation accurate" (which is an oxymoron, really) designs. And given the two extremes, I'm glad we have the tech-y greebly ones in mainline, where they are cheaper, than in the more expensive MP. Saves me as ton of money.