Slow News Day: The Return

It has been a long time since did one of these. At the time the news was flying fast and furious but now that things have slowed down, it seems like a good time to go back and look for those links and the like that site fans sent me relating to Transformers. I started with some of the older suggestions, a few of which went all the way to the beginning of the year. As a result some of the videos and the like may seem like "old news" to some but I figure for most they may not have seen these fan made efforts. Five videos total are below.

Unsolved Mysteries: The Death of Optimus Prime - "Investigation" of the death of the iconic character in Transformers: The Movie using combination of the movie's footage, toy "re-enactments", new voice work and more, all with faithful re-creation of the Unsolved Mysteries style. Thanks to Jon for the link.

Custom Transformers: Rumble Frenzy and Knight Morpher

Not a whole lot on the Transformers front so here are some links and images of cool Transformer customizations. In some cases they are toys created from scratch and in others they take an existing toy and just tweak it, often adding spectacularly paint jobs to the toy creating a new and fantastic look.

Probably one of the more prolific customizers is FrenzyRumble whose paint jobs can almost look as good as their CGI counterpart as you can see with Megatron and Optimus Prime (click links for gallery). His work isn't limited to just those two. His website includes many more customizations such as Shockwave (base toy familiar but blanking on line), Galvatron, the Protectobots, and many more. I would post a few more pics and links but his flash only website doesn't make linkage impossible so instead click here to check out his work. A Peaugh video review of his work for Powerglide is below.



An example of from scratch work is MMC-01 Knight Morpher Commander that is based on IDW's Hearts of Steel miniseries from 2006 that re-imagined the Transformers as coming to Earth during the Industrial Revolution. Optimus Prime's alt mode was a locomotive and as you can the result is a pretty sweet looking design that I posted about early this year. Now that custom design is getting produced on a scale so that a Transfan can own for around $80 US. The picture to the left is a prototype picture but the final version is expected to be assembled and fully painted Transformable figure that is estimated to be released in October. To view the full gallery, click here.


Part 1 | Part 2

Slow News Day - MP Grimlock, Master Chief, Etc

Below is demo video of the rather expensive (around $150) but cool Masterpiece Grimlock. Mine is on order, supposed to come out around March 28th.

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Tokyo will have a new protector this summer in the form of a 59-foot Gundam structure. The robot will be standing on Tokyo's Adaiba Island starting in July as celebration of Mobile Suit Gundam's 30th Anniversary. It will be based on the RX-78-2 model from the first series in 1979. More detail can be read here. My only question is will Transformers get a similar display in five years?
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For fans of the animated Transformers: The Movie, Stan Bush's The Touch will be released as a free download for Guitar Hero sometime soon. I don't know the specifics (don't own the game) but more info of what Stan is up to can be read here.
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It’s a shame that licensing and other issues can get in the way of mass produced creativity because I would love to own a custom Halo's Master Chief Transformer that was eBayed recently. The toy transforms from solder to Warthod LRV. The toy was a combination of McFarlane Toys Master Chief figure, Actionclix Wartog and Alternators Hound. The full gallery is here.
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Except for Venom, I have not been particularly interested in the Marvel Crossovers line of Transformers but I think I will have to cave and get the below Iron Man and Spider-Man combiner set.

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Final note, don't forget to join my Twitter account here. Basically just post random stuff, most of it transformers and a good way to track when new posts pop up on the blog.

Slow News Day: Change You Can Believe In

Another slow news week, so more random Transformer stuff people have found on the web.
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First up is change you can believe in regardless of political viewpoint. The image to the right, from Slashfilm, plays off the Obama poster that made the rounds last year. Thanks to Mark and Dan.
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Weekly World News reports that Megan Fox is a man. Yep, your fantasy girl is secretly a dude in disguise. The full story can be found here. Thanks to Mark for the link.
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Off to the right is an image supplied by Elis (thanks!) from the Massive Black art book that involves a mystery project from Hasbro around 2005. The top left page looks like Megatron art, the bottom left might be Arcee, then Bumblebee work and below that is Optimus sketches. Not sure but don't think the right page is Transformer related.
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Last, here is the ranking of the top 100 animated television shows of all time. Transformers came in 23rd place. The full list can be found here. The top five is 5) Beavis and Butthead, 4) South Park, 3) Looney Tunes, 2) Batman: The Animated Series 1) The Simpsons. Thanks to Lucas for the link.

Slow News Day: Fan Made CGI Videos

I am bored of toy pictures (at least until new ones are leaked like the Arcee trio) so instead below are three Transformers related videos that Mr. Gandia (thanks!) sent me.

First up is a CGI video of G1 Devastator combining with flare to take in account real world physics of the characters, with real world look (i.e. mostly yellow) that can't fly. The second video is another CGI cartoon this time Prime vs. Megatron with a Generation 1 twist. The last video is Megatron doing a cereal commercial, related to the Prime cereal commercials.

G1 Devastator Merging


Return of Optimus Prime


Megatron vs Cereal Commercial

The entire cereal commercial series can be found here.

Even More Transformer Related Videos

A slow weekend, no new news (beyond the unending Soundwave pictures), so it seems a good time for more Transformers videos. Not all is safe for work due to cusswords. The whole lot found by Radames (thanks!). Rude Awakening is the funniest of the lot.

Another Rude Awakening of Optimus Prime


Optimus Prime Cereal Commercial Take 1


Optimus Prime Cereal Commercial Take 2


Prowl vs Soundwave Battle in 3D


Fan Made Transformers 2 Trailer


Dashcam Meteor (real life movie moment)

Transformers This and That

Just a few random Transformer related things that I have collected over the last few weeks.

Robot Chicken: Transformers - Thanks to Mindy for the link. Apparently Peter Cullen was approached to voice this skit but declined. Not sure who the replacement voice is but probably one of the regular cast.

Transformers Nike Pack - Nike plans on released Transformers related shoes in 2009. The pack will come in GS sizes (whatever that means). Thanks to AirForce1s for the link and pictures.


Bonecrusher Goes to Afghanistan - The Daily Star reports that the US Department of Defense will send the Buffalo to Afghanistan. The model was used as Bonecrusher in the first film before his demise at the hands of Optimus Prime's sword. The vehicle is part of a fleet of 700 new vehicles that are going to the region. Thanks to Chris for the link.

Almost Transformers - Rather bizarre video that shows people disguised as appliances and scaring people. Thanks to Stefan for the link.


Chinese Transformers Movie - In last bit of information is news that Jeffrey Lau plans on directing a Transformers like film for China. The title of the film is Robot and "present a refreshing look at Chinese robots for people who are used to stereotypical Hollywood figures like Spiderman and Superman." The filming starts November 19th in China. Yay copycats, I guess.

More Transformer Videos

Because of the lack of Transformers 2 news and people find them, here are more Transformer related videos. Thanks to Tahnee for the rap link and Radames for the rest.
Transformer Rap Video


Stopmotion Chase Fight Part 1


Stopmotion Chase Fight Part 2


Transformers Go Hollywood


Ark Mayhem


Beachhead Calls the Autobots

Transformers Video Fun

It is Friday, the news is slow, so here are some Transformer related videos that I liked.
Jazz Has a General Problem - thanks to Joe for the link

Stop Motion Bumblebee vs. Optimus Prime


Baysplosons! - from Adult Swim

Fan Made TF2 Trailer - mixed from movies, car commercials and TF video games.



Another Fan Made TF2 Trailer - mix of stuff, including Sector 7 website videos.


A Third Fan Trailer - thanks to Josh for the link


Bumblebee vs Barricade Stop Motion - Thanks to Slushie Man for the link

Soundwave: True Hollywood Story

Funny vid that shows a depressed Soundwave after being rejected from Transformers made in the format of True Hollywood Stories. The mighty has fallen. Thanks to Gabe Uhr (also in the video) for the link.
Soundwave: Re-touched

Transformers G1 Ads

The information about Transformers 2 is far and few between so in the meantime is more TF related video to amuse you. The first video is ad for Transformers watches (don't recall seeing em stateside) and the other is another TF watch that I still own but think I lost the strap for. Nice to see commercials of any era remain boring and silly. (source)

Transformers Twisted Toyfare Theatre

Toyfare has created a goofy and funny version of the "Death of Optimus Prime" using various Transformers toys.

Optimus Prime Dancing

Masterpiece Optimus Prime showing the evolution of dance. It’s actually amazing to watch because it shows just how posable the toy is and I can't help but wonder how many hours it took to put the video together.

The Onion: CGI Oscar for Bay

The Onion, an online satire site, decided to have a little fun with Michael Bay by writing an article "reporting" that experts have used visual special effects to create a Best Director Oscar for Bay. The project, paid for by Bay, costs $125 million.

"Viewers are going to be blown away by how believable-looking we've been able to make Michael Bay accepting the highest award in film appear," said senior technical director Zsolt Krajcsik, who also worked with Bay on the 2003 film Bad Boys II. "The podium, the backdrop, the sense of creative achievement that hangs about him—it's all so vivid and detailed that you'd swear it was real."

Read the hilarious article here.

Garbotron At Transformers Premiere

Louis L. sent me the link to below YouTube of Garbotron, the transforming trashcan. Its an amusing clip filed on July 3rd at the New York showing of Transformers. I was personally fascinated by the interest of the bystanders who stuck around and watch and seemed to enjoy the costume.

Transformers - Hollywood Sell-outs Video

For those that hate Bay's Transformers and Bay in general will probably find the below video especially funny.

(source)

Optimus Prime Pimp My Whip

Attack of the Show a week or so ago aired an a funny skit called "Pimp My Whip" with where Optimus Prime gets pimped out. Optimus wants better weapons and the "host" had other ideas. Thanks to Mike S. for the link.

Transformers Humor

Some videos with some Transformers related humor. One is David Letterman remembering a childhood activity with the Optimus Prime Big Blaster and the other comes from Robot Chicken. The last wonders if Transformers will blend.

David Letterman - Couldn't figure out how to embed

PVP Transformers Humor

Click image to make larger.

Transformers Related Humor

Here is some humorous stuff stumbled across or provided by site readers to hopefully entertain. The cartoon related videos do have cuss words so not safe for work or kids.

First off, is the humour article about the "7 Most Useless Transformers Ever", the list in decreasing order is Soundwave, Wheelie, Astrotrain, Computron, Nightbeat, Perceptor, and Repugnus (who?).

Second, a humorous video of a McDonald's manager freaking out over someone ordering food with an Optimus Prime helmet on. Sadly can't embed so click here to view.

Next, two video of a remixed episodes of two Transformers cartoons. These are the cuss word loaded ones. The third video is a cute Street Fighter style fight between Megatron and Optimus Prime. Thanks to Radames for the links to the videos. The fourth video, not really humorous but is a Nissan "Transformers" commercial that's more morphing then transforming but still the influence is there. Thanks to Trailer for the link.