Thanks so much to everyone who came out to see Matt, Marty and me at Botcon 2008! We had a great time, and I hope we can do it again. For anyone that was unable to attend this year, here's a little teaser of what was shown and discussed at our panels.
I see one of your favorites! and one of mine! may I at least take a guess on six out of the nine? Swindle (woo-hoo!), Wreck-gar, Shockwave (yeah baby Corey Burton!!!), Skywarp (YESSS!!) Blurr (who'd they get for the fast talking?) and Thundercracker (cool!) I know you can't resist Swindle. Glad you had a great time. hopefully next year it'll be in Philly. And then I could go.
ReplyDeleteQuick question.
ReplyDeleteDid you put any Gurren Lagann references into the headmaster while designing him?
About Gurren Lagann: No, actually. I hadn't seen Gurren Lagann until after we had finished most of the first season of TFA. I wish I had, because I would have had the Headmaster robot transform with stubby little legs. And maybe Masterson's head popping up out of the top of the robot.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say you hadn't seen Gurren Lagann; was there still some influence going around from the concept art that was circulating? In terms of Prowl and Soundwave. Gurren Lagann was the first series to use those sort of "shades" on robots, and color and angle them so distinctively.
ReplyDeleteWas this something the animators themselves may have added in later, or just another coincidence? Soundwave's "revolutionary" role and poses are very evocative of Kamina.
There's a portion of the fanbase that seem quite hostile against "fanboyish" theories and Japanese mecha animation, to the extent where the editors of the wiki made a point of refusing to call Lio Convoy by his given name in the fiction, even though the toy was available through mail order in the U.S. by that name; they called it "Leo Prime" after the LOC toy, even though Primes and the Convoy Council were two different things.
A few nods in a future series would be appreciated. I hope you understand the ridiculous arguments that break out over these things, it takes the fun out of being a fan.
Where there other anime that went into the influence? I notice the "Gigantor" sond effect played a lot, Starscream's robot mode having elements of the Macross 7 Valkyrie as well as his alt mode(pausing for a Gerwalk occasionally), and I believe someone stated Lugnut's punch was based on another Mech. Maybe a bit of Getter Robo in there with some of Prime's axe scenes?
I'd be interested to hear more about the influences behind TFA, and if some of the possible GL references bled in through other people. The western influences are always acknowledged by the fanbase, I think some of the eastern deserves a bigging up.
I love your designs. I was wondering what your inspiration for your style was.
ReplyDeleteMan Swindle is looking sweet!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, something that I wanted to ask since the Shockwave design was shown, why he's not completely purple like before?
I am sooo looking forward to seeing these guys and the toys! Already got me a Voyager Optimus Prime and Deluxe Prowl! :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work!
About the inspiration and influences on TFA: I'm always inspired by Gainax's designs. They are by far my favorite animation studio in the world. I just hadn't seen anything on Gurren Lagann when we started TFA. We've definitely been inspired by that and Diebuster since. Prowl and Soundwave's glasses are a nod to 2000 AD's ABC Warriors. That and Mighty Orbots were the biggest influences on the designs.
ReplyDeleteAs for Shockwave: There is a reason for his color change, but I can't explain that now. I do hope to get him repainted to his normal colors somewhere down the road.
Will Skywarp and Thundecracker be in TFA or are they just toy repaints?
ReplyDeleteWhy? Do you expect some kind of clone army to show up?
ReplyDeleteNo. I just want to see the three Seekers together in action once more.
ReplyDeleteA fan can dream, right? :P
Derrrick, thank you for coming to BotCon. It was fun to have you as a guest. I hope we didn't drive you too crazy.
ReplyDeleteI love TFA and look forward to seeing some of your new characters. I hope this show goes on for at least another 2 seasons!
BTW did you create Mumbo from Teen Titans? He's one of my faves from that series.
Later!
Thanks for the answer. It's great to see Gainax were an influence, I'm a big fan of Gunbuster/Diebuster. It'd be fun to have a Nono look alike turn up in the background somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering, given the Bruce Trimm-like influence in the designs, have you checked out The Big O? I think you'd like it. Great stuff. I'd love to see a proper Steampunky Transformers series. It's got a real old school super robo feel. I get the feeling a lot of that went into Bulkhead and Lugnut especially(both also remind me of Zeon grunts a little).
Is there any chance we'll see Jazz join the main cast at some point? I really think he'd add a lot to the team dynamic, plus it seems a bit odd for him to go back to Cybertron when his "gimmick" is an interest in humans/organics and earth culture!
Have you done any sketches for characters that you have no idea whether or not they'll appear in the show? Like played around drawing someone like Bludgeon in that style, I think he'd fit really well.
Thanks again for the quick reply.
awsome! i can't wait to see the 3 seekers together in action again! hopefully they don't get replaced by the coneheads
ReplyDeleteand i love mixmaster's design, he has a plumbers backside! :D
Thanks for the teaser, Derrick! Cool stuff!
ReplyDeleteAbout the Seekers: You go right ahead and dream, you never know what could happen.
ReplyDeleteMumbo: I DID design the Amazing Mumbo, he was my favorite character from Titans. If you scroll way back through this blog you will find some drawings of him. Good times! Same thing with the Transformers sketches, there are some a few posts down from this one. I am always doodling other characters I want to put in the show. Some may even show up!
Curse you Bigbot.com for your daily ebay rarities! (J/K!) I have to look through those things obsessively every day, and I can never afford them!
Hiya Derrick,
ReplyDeleteI had a question regarding the character designs and the toys. I am really amazed with the engineering of the toys and how they resemble the characters so much on TV. What was the whole process behind it all? Toy Designs first? Character Designs? A mix of you and the toy designer working together? Or did you keep in mind the transformation when doing the designs? Because I noticed how the transformation of the toys follow the transformation of the robots in the cartoon. (Which is freaking awesome!)
And I'd be surprise if Hasbro didn't give you any transformers =P
When word first got out that Animated's Autobots would be treated more like superheroes, I was really nervous. But you guys really turned it around and made it exciting!
ReplyDeleteI've heard the Mighty Orbots mentioned quite often since TF:Animated's launch. Who owns those characters? Is there any chance at all that... well, you know...
Also, I understand that Hasbro pulls alot of the strings as far as which characters get used in the show, but do you think some time in the future you guys might get to add some female transformers into the mix that aren't maimed or victimized in some way?? ^^; I don't mean to criticize, I'm just saying, is all...
As someone said on a forum I go on, it looks like you turned Shockwave into fricken Sauron! =P
ReplyDeleteI am also guessing that 'bot with the massive plumbers crack is the constructicon cement truck, Mixmaster. I am really eager, as others are to see what you do with those guys. B)
Yeah, that's a good question. Do you get free toys of the characters you design? Do you have any of the toys we've so far seen but haven't turned up in dodgy Youtube interviews? If so, which one of the newer toys(post Wave 3) is your favourite?
ReplyDeleteYou'd be the best man to review them, it'd be interesting if you did a post about your favourite figures, things they got right, things they got wrong, etc.
Love your designs so far. They're all so creative and FUN. :) As a TF fan since the begining my favorites are the G1 designs reinterprited (like Swindle and Wreck-Gar here). Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteSince I wasn't at Botcon would you mind if I threw out a question I would have asked there?: If there was one G1 character you'd like to reimagine for TFA that we havn't seen yet, who would it be?
Thanks Derrick! This is Awesome! For anyone who missed their presentation there is a report of is here Cartoon Network Panel.
ReplyDeleteAbout the designs: I work very closely with Hasbro, especially Eric Siebenaler while designing the toys. Sometimes I do the initial design, and sometimes Eric does. Each character is case by case. We send the over seas animation studios transformation instructions for the characters to use as they see fit.
ReplyDeleteAbout Orbots and Fembots: I don't know who owns the rights anymore. I would love to do an update of that show! As Marty said at the Botcon panel, there will be a female Cybertronian character who doesn't have a tragic past in season 2! And hopefully more after that.
About free toys: Hasbro sent us some stuff. I have Bumblebee, Voyager Megatron, and Leader Megatron. Leader Megs is PERFECT!
What G1 character would I want to redo? Swindle was the top of that list. He's my all time favorite TF. My other favs are Ratbat, Waspinator and Galvatron. Some of those guys will show up sooner or later.
Thanks for the coverage TFormers! I don't know where that "someone is not a girl" thing came from though. I don't remember anyone saying that? There isn't anyone who is a girl in our show who will turn out not to be a girl. Unless we do a Birdo cameo in the futre.
It was probably a reference to Sari being 'different' somehow.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I like the design teasers - although to be honest Shockwave is the one there I'm unsure on.
From an initial observation, the head seems to depart a lot from the G1 head's general shape (and no yellow eye :()
With any luck it'll look better to me once he shows up in Animated, though. Otherwise, I love the designs.
Can you offer any tidbits on how Jetstorm and Jetfire combine though, or their personalities? They look like two cool characters indeed. And I hope Jetstorm has a good'ol homage to his namesake in personality and not just looks.
Wow, these teasers are amazing! I'm especially excited to see Shockwave's full body - but awww, no yellow optic! I guess it's because the show is so fixed on blue eyes for Autobots and red eyes for Decepticons.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Shockwave is anything like his G1 counterpart, would that make Lugnut a close comrade to him? I heard somewhere that he was Lugnut's mentor.
Thanks for the great teaser!
I see a bit of Monkey Punch in your designs, Derrick. Would you say Lupin was a inspiration to you?
ReplyDeleteMr. Wyatt, I like the way the vehicles and humans are designed in this show. Are there any books out there or can you give me some tips on your streamline designs?
ReplyDeleteYou can beat the Batman Animated book for great designs!
ReplyDeleteWas Prime's Rocket powered axe idea yours? Where did the idea come from?
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your great work, you made me interested in transformers again and it was great.
ReplyDeleteHere is hoping that somehow Megatron from BW ( or someone with the same personality) ends up showing, yeeeeeeees?
Yeeeeeess.
I am definitely interested in more female 'bots in the show. Honestly I would love to see more female decepticons too. (it seems only fair, and it would be interesting)
ReplyDeleteI have a real question and comment for you. Except for the whole "good and evil" thing, how would you describe the difference between Autobots and Decepticons? I notice that all the autobots seems to have melee weaponry (ie. Optimus's Axe, Sentinels Shield, Magnus's Hammer) while the 'cons seem to have the real artillary weaponry, not to mention most (so far) are able to fly. I, and others, love how you guys made the Decepticons so noticeably more powerful than a lot of the Autobots. It truly makes them a real threatening force to be reckoned with.
Some great answers as usual Derrick, the show just keeps getting better. Here's to a long long run
ReplyDeleteDo you have or know if there are any plans to put Cheetor into animated and if so when ?
ReplyDeleteWill we be seeing more Jazz sometime soon?
ReplyDeleteI just feel like he's getting shafted. He was one of the most popular G1 guys yet we didn't hear from him again until the movie, and most of his scenes were cut there.
Now in Animated, he was missing for one of the elite guard episodes, and won't appear for the rest of the series.
IMO The animated autobot cast isn't enough for another 30 episodes or so. I think they really need Jazz; he's meant to be the funky earth culture loving guy anyway, he should have stayed.
I think as is, the Decepticons interest me more than the autobots, there's something more Transformery about their lineup, and I love their dynamic. I think Jazz would add that missing element to the autobots, plus it's odd having an Autobot lineup without a normal sized Autobot Car.
I don't want to come off as a moaner, I really like Animated and want to see it grow. You've done an excellent job on the designs but it's a shame that my personal favourites aren't the ones that appear often.
About Prime's axe: I think the idea was there before I started. It was all part of the fire truck theme. I like it because there is a little call back to G1 Prime's laser axe.
ReplyDeleteAbout David Kaye's Megatron: I love that voice, I am always asking David to say "Excellent, yesssss" so good!
More female bots are on the way. I wanted to get back to one of (what I consider to be) the core ideas of what the Transformers are. To me the Autobots were built as a labor force, and the Decepticons were created as the Military. This is one reason that the Decepticons use military weapons, while the Autobots use "tools" to fight with.
About Cheetor: No plans currently, but his name does come up from time to time.
About Jazz: Didn't he just have his first appearance? Jeez, give the guy a chance! Everyone wants their favorite character to be featured as much as possible. Right now, I'm too busy trying to get Swindle more screen time. I mean really, shouldn't the show be all about him? Maybe a spin off... Spotlight: Swinde Animated!
I'm going to have to keep an eye on this blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clear up regarding "someone is not a girl". For a moment there I thought Sari was going to turn out to be a boy, like Rally from Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's (Wonder if Prowl would let Sari install a Duel Disk... *cough* maybe not...)
I'll just ask one question for now: any chance of Optimus Getting a Super Mode?
it was nice to meet you @botcon (i'm the girl who gave you the button sets). just wanted to internet wave hello, i had no idea you had a blog. :D
ReplyDelete-teresa
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteLove your work on the series. And thanx for answering questions as much as you can.
Heres one for you. Jetstorm and Jetfire...They are Autobots right? I seem to recall someone who was at the con saying they were. But can you verify that?
Thanks
Hey There, loving the show so far. But I have a question. Those two new guys, Jetstorm and Jetfire, are they Autobots? Thnaks.
ReplyDeleteTriBlurr
Hi Derrick! it was such a pleasure meeting you at Botcon in the author line. I still actually have a video i did up on YouTube with the pictures my parents took during the autograph session.
ReplyDeleteI also want to say that I seriously enjoy your artistic style, and I hope that the series continues into a third and fourth season.
Hi ya derrick, i would like to ask you something.which is..is there any combiners for the animated series? is jetfire and jetstorm gonna be juz a repaint with just different head sculpt? i hope no repaint though...
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit too soon for me to answer those questions. I will say that Jetfire and Jetstorm in some ways are similar, and have a pretty interesting origin.
ReplyDeleteHiz~ sorry to bother you again:P i have a few questions and would like to hear from ya soon~
ReplyDelete1. will prime be "upgraded" eg trailer or maybe extension?
2.will there also be animated unicron down the series?
3. more dinobots?were there be any more?
anyways thankx for the reply previously really appreciate it thank!
1. I think it's something we could consider at some point, if it fits the storyline.
ReplyDelete2. Nope.
3. I would like to get to add more. Especially Sludge. But, no current plans to do so.
hi thanks for the updates,just want to say that you guys did a great job and would hope that the animated series will continue as long as possible.i really hope this series would turn out to be like the long running series as G1.
ReplyDeleteanyway were we be able to see any citybots and will there be more G1 bots added in the series?
hi its me J, is the dinobots gonna have more screentime in season 3 and were they actually join the autobots in the actual battle against the decepticons?
ReplyDeleteoh yeah u got any hints on the toyline and season 3? heehee~pls i implore you~
hopefully i would see the animated run a season 3 to 5 hahas guess i'm a bit greedy here but hopefully its a dream come true for me.hope to hear from you soon aye.take care!
ReplyDeletein that spoiler I've seen everyone in season two so far..... Except the guy with the goggle look'n things (and I'd be watching H*R (homestarrunner.com) if thhe web site wasn't down (like every thing els)
ReplyDeleteCan you show us how Prowl would have looked like if you designed him after the G1 Prowl/
ReplyDeletewill there be a season 4 in Transformers Animated?
ReplyDeleteI really liked your show it was very nice.Including the jet twins jetfire and jetstorm. I think they're cute.
ReplyDeleteWill they be on another serise?
Will there be a season 4 of Transformers Animated?
If so, then when will it show?
Is that Mixmaster's butt-crack I see?!?
ReplyDelete