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View Full Version : I've been watching Transformers movie the 1986 version.

JonZ_
August 30th, 2007, 09:21 AM
I recently grabbed the 1986 version of Transformers animated movie and watched it again (oh the memories).

It always bugged me to know what are the influences of this movie? I remember before the movie, the series, the design of the characters were pretty much straight forward, bunch of robots transforming into modern cars or jet fighting in a Nevada-like field. Then came this movie which totally introduced new style of characters and fighting place and different time.

What are the influences of this movie for that drastic changes? I notice also there's like a little Mongolian fighter or Samurai influences like Unicron and the Junkyans (whatever they are called) robots. The design of Galvatron and his minions are also very different. Also, some of the tech drawing and electronic components drawn in the movie reminds me a lot of what Jim Lee used to draw in his comics, very similar style.

Any thoughts?
_Mario
August 31st, 2007, 07:55 AM
Main influence: Some changes and a lot of new toys to keep the cash flowing.
JonZ_
August 31st, 2007, 08:16 AM
I'm not so sure about that. There was new characters yea but a bunch of them were never planned by Hasbro to be produced. IE Unicron, Arcee, Junkions, Quintessons etc.

If you saw the Season 4 of Transformers G1 introducing the Headmasters, now that was some hardcore toy marketing and milking. It only made 3 episode and the series got canned in the US hah!.
HunterKiller_
August 31st, 2007, 08:30 PM
Interesting question.
I wouldn't be surprised if the designers had little to no influence from outside sources. There wasn't really anything like Transformers at the time of it's creation.
Bowlin
September 1st, 2007, 01:21 AM
Interesting question.
I wouldn't be surprised if the designers had little to no influence from outside sources. There wasn't really anything like Transformers at the time of it's creation.

Well the wiki says that the Gobots came in 83 and then Transformers in 84, but it seems like i had an original Gobot wayyyy before that even. So there's still an evolution to them. Of course they're all Japanese designs that originated from Japanese cartoons.
HunterKiller_
September 1st, 2007, 01:37 AM
Of course they're all Japanese designs that originated from Japanese cartoons.

That's a funny thing, see. Most people are under the impression that the original Transformers was an American cartoon, myself included.
You must admit it has a similar feel to the likes of G.I Joe, Captain Planet and etc.