Pics of CGI Version of Jazz

Superherohype.com has posted images of a series of "I Can Read!" books that show an image of Jazz including one with his famed visor. The pictures are oddly over-posed to the point of silly but at least gives an idea of what Jazz is going to look like.

Fantastic Transformers Ironhide CGI Image

An amazing CGI image of Ironhide showed up along with Frenzy from Emerald Twilight on the TFW2005 boards. This is a Transformer I truly like as his entire design just looks fantastic and he has that bulk and strength that has always been inferred by the original G1 incarnation of Ironhide. While the G1 toy never had that bulk, I don't think that will be a problem with this movie version. Overall this is the best sneak peak pic released yet.

Another CGI Frenzy Pose

Another rendering of Frenzy has appeared online. Its a better shot that shows more detail then the previous image but still clueless on what that alt mode is. CD player or boombox are some readers guesses and they good as any others online. Thanks for the link Maximus.

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CGI Finalized Megatron Head In Normal And Battle Modes

"Emerald Twilight" over on the TFW2005 boards have posted a nice pic that shows the finalized version of Megatron's head in normal and battle mode. I am still not a fan of Megatron as a complete Transformer but aspects of his design are not that bad. The face definitely has that menacing look that Megatron of old never had. The menace was always in the voice but not in the look.


Update: Site reader Joe P emailed me a photoship pic that allows easy comparison between the above face pics and previousily leaked pics. Thanks Joe.

CGI Image of Frenzy / Soundbyte

Harbx.com has posted a pic of the CGI image of Frenzy in robot mode that looks odd to me. Big ole head, lots of pointy sharp places and still no clue on what his alternate mode is. Yet I like him. Not sure why.

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Movie CGI Design Sheets for Multiple Transformers

Finally a crack in the cone of silence around the production for Transformers. After more toys news then really care about there are finally some images of the CGI designs for several of the Transformers in the movie thanks to TFW2005.com. Based on comparisons to the toys, these looked like finalized design versions. The images are of Bonecrusher, Starscream, Soundbyte (Frenzy), and Ironhide. I still don't particularity like the design of Starscream but Ironhide looks good. Soundbyte's head reminds me of a rooster and it beats me on what his alternate mode is as there is no hint in his design that I can see. Thanks for the heads-up Joe P.

Bay: Transformers CGI Designs Finalized

While all the leaked toy designs already told us this, we now have official confirmation from Transformers Director Michael Bay that the CGI designs for the Transformers have been finalized since last year and will not be changed. Now if only all those leaked designs will hit the web for some CGI glory rather then having to look at more toy pics.

Optimus Prime Close-Up CGI Head Shot

TFormers.com has posted up a pretty sweet close up shot of Optimus Prime's head that shows the detail that is going into the design of the characters. Click the picture to get the full size version.

New Image of Optimus Prime and Other Pics

Coming Soon has posted up a few pics from Transformers the movie. The Optimus Prime one seems like might be a possible poster image with a few additional on the set pics. One is a nice shot of Megan Fox's cleavage, probably part of the chase sequences towards the middle of the movie, but no so sure if its a particularly flatter still for her overall. But fanboys like boobage so probably a good call on the marketing department's part. That last two are related to the opening act of the movie, the initial attack of Scorponok.




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Transformers Movie Concept Designs for Megatron Alt Mode

Essentially already confirmed by the leaked toy design pics comes the concept model sheet for the Megatron that shows alt mode and its various stages. Not sure what the differences are between the stages as they look identical to me. It also shows the design for his "Arm Cannon". Since none of the leaked designs before now have shown the traditional gun attached at the arm, I am guessing this is more like his arm transforms into the cannon.

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Transformers' Megatron Full Body Exposure

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Transformers' Barricade in CGI Glory

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Empire Magazine Feb 2007 Article

The current issue of Empire Magazine, February 2007 on news stands now, has a preview of Transformers. The cover image had been released previously. The article is by Chris Hewitt.

The highlights:
- The article is based on the interviews and press that was allowed on set back in August for the filming in Los Angeles for the last act of the film.
- The McGuffin is called the Energon Cube in the article but online sources have said that has since changed to the Allspark.
- All of the major studios passed on Transformers the first time until DeSanto and Don Murphy was able to get Dreamworks to bit.
- Little bit about how fandom didn't like the choice of Michael Bay as director but the producers feeling he was one of the few directors in Hollywood with the experience to handle a movie on the scale of Transformers.
- Bumblebee will have the most screen time in the movie.
- The Empire cover image was put together by ILM and movie producers just for the article.
- Megatron's alt mode is based upon a prototype fighter plane The Razor.
- The leaked images are "just the tip of the iceberg" according to producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
- The original G1 designs where not used because in tests they "looked silly".
- Scenes in movie include the opening fight with Scorponok, attack on Air Force One and a freeway chase/robot fight.
- Desanto: "you have to be invested in the characters...It's gotta be character-driven, and Michael Bay realizes that." As long as he doesn't short shift the action and focuses on the human character to much, I agree with that.
- However the human relationships will be given of focus as "have to use your time with the Transformers every carefully because it costs millions of dollars every time you're playing around with these giant things talking and emoting!" says di Bonaventura.

The article doesn't really cover anything that hasn't already been released online but it still will probably kick up some discussion. I am in agreement that the original G1 designs couldn't be used but I am still not sold on the updated versions either. I think a large part of that is the bug faces the Transformers are sporting as I don't really understand the motivations behind that. At the very least seeing how the emote will be interesting to see and probably not going to be easy for ILM to pull off. Thanks to Thontor for the pics.

Transformer Books at Amazon Japan

Amazon Japan has posted the information for three five movie tie-books for the Japanese market. It seems to be aimed mostly at those learning to read (English maybe based on the cover images). The main thing to take from this is this more then likely demonstrates the official version of Bumblebee, Barricade, and a few others. Thanks to Joey C for the links.




UPDATE:
Thanks to site reader Lucas, he has found two additional books up on the Japan site, a Transformers Sticker book and Transformers Movie Novel.

More CGI Transformer Images

Jalopnik.com has thrown up four more Transformer related images. The images seem to be edited, with the bottom of them cut off in most cases. I am not sure but I think the Optimus Prime and Bumbleebee have been leaked before but posting them anyway just in case. Particularly interesting to many might be the hint at Megatron and what appears to be a change on how his face is designed.

Rachet Robot Look Revealed

TFW2005.com has somehow managed to come up with an image of what the Autobot Rachet will look like in robot mode. The image could be fake but it doesn't seem likely considering how it matches closely with the other leaked Transformer images in the detail and design. I still have reservations about the faces but the over all design does look good to me. I am curious to see how or even if Hasbro can translate these detailed designs into a viable toy. Sadly TFW2005 has yet to learn how to do a proper watermark. Thanks Julio M for the link.

Transformers Film Image of Skorponok

Ain't It Cool News has scored a single image from Transformers. It depicts the Decepticon Skorponok rising from the desert to attack Tyrese and Josh Duhamel in its attempt to get information about the location of the "Energon Cube." This is part of the opening sequence of the movie. AICN indicates that this is not a final image and just part of the ongoing post-production work for the film.

Not a bad image, except for the face. Those large eyes say "cute" rather then "omg run!". The claws I guess are for that. Don Murphy, who has much hate for AICN, is probably seeing red. Hopefully he will post something to express himself later in the week.

Bumbleebee's Concept Boards

The concept board for Bumbleebee is now available as wallpaper thanks to Harbx.com. The boards shows a sweet comparison of BB as a dirty old 1974 Camaro compared with the new clean 2007 Camaro in both vehicle and robot modes. In addition it shows BB in full bad-a$$ mode as he is about to open a can on someone. The pics are here. Below is the 1280x1024 version. Thanks to julio m, joey c, and chad d for the links.


I wonder if the car companies are paying to be in the movies or they just the lucky recipients of design decisions made in pre-production?

Jazz Robot Designs

The news drought, for now, has ended. TFW2005.com has posted a pic of a potential design for the robot mode of Jazz. White is apparently his favorite color. Actually I am liking the design, its not bad at all. Now if only tfw2005 would stop with the enormous watermarks that mess up the actual picture visuals. The images are not theirs anyway (technically they are Dreamworks) so to mark them up to ruin is overkill. Use a watermark, just stick it somewhere it doesn't cover a chunk of the pic visuals.

Bumbleebee on Cover of Hot Rod

The Camaro that is the vehicle mode for Bumbleebee is the cover car for the November 2006 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. Almost no spoiler movie wise, but decent info about the car itself as provided from "rtype" on the Shoot for the Edit site and provided by tformers.com.

It's not really a camaro but a pontiac gto with fiberglass molds from the concept. Built by Saleen, it has faux wheel covers/rotors and anything else that is "billet aluminum" is also made of fiberglass. pretty cool stuff. they have pics of the chassis, camaro - fresh out of the paintbooth masking paper still on it, and prelim test fits of the white fiberglass molds.

The dash, and outer body panels are from the concept. the chassis, LS-2 V-8 engine, and suspension are GTO.

- Barricade (still referred to as Brawl in this article) is considered a Saleen, not Mustang, Ford not wanting the Pony touted as a villain. They alluded that this will make it easier for Hasbro to license it as a toy.

- Bumblebee's side windows are plexiglass and won't roll down.

-Even though Saleen modifies Mustangs, it was tapped due to it's expertise in building show vehicles.

- GM, not Saleen applied the final racing stripes, to closely resemble the '69 camaro stripes.

- "Old" Bumblebee was originally gonna be a '69, but ended up being 3 1976 camaros. the team was going for believability in terms of spike finding a crappier camaro as opposed to the more sought after '69.

- new movie camaro is automatic (Heard this is quite common for stunt driving purposes. -bwbm)

- the new camaro trunk fills up with smoke when doing burn outs, it's bare bones hollow and houses the fuel filler cap.

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