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Post by Toph on Sept 13, 2015 0:33:50 GMT
(I place this here because like it or not, they are part of the Transformers brand)
If Gobots got an update and relaunch, what is important to you?
Let's use Leader-1 as our example.
What is iconic to you?
Should he remain an F-15, with a robot that is just a straight up up date? If so, should it be based on the animation model, or the machine robo toy?
And if he got a makeover, with a new altmode and robot to match, what are the most iconic design features that must carry over exactly (example: starscream is just not starscream without upswept wings on his back)?
Should elements of the toy and animation model be mixed?
Exactly when does he stop being Leader-1?
This question applies to all of them, but I chose L1 as the simplest example.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 13, 2015 5:56:09 GMT
Bumped to the existing Gobots thread.
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Post by Toph on Sept 13, 2015 6:42:43 GMT
Bumped to the existing Gobots thread. It was about Gobots in the transformers context. Not about the Challenge of the Gobots toyline or cartoon. It deserved to be where it was. |
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Post by blueshift on Sept 13, 2015 6:58:02 GMT
Bumped to the existing Gobots thread. Cmon Phil why can't a discussion about fantasy Gobot relaunch get its own thread? Don't be robo racist! ☺ |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 13, 2015 17:33:29 GMT
Ask and ye shall receive.
Andy
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 13, 2015 20:06:22 GMT
I know very little about Gobots, but I think a relaunch, competition in away (even though they're owned by Hasbro), for Transformers would be interesting.
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Post by Pinwig on Sept 13, 2015 20:35:28 GMT
I think the Masterpiece style prototypes Bandai showed last year would be my personal preference, but I don't think that's quite what you're asking - more how could you bring the toys back to mass retail these days?
It would be difficult because they don't have the history behind them that Transformers do, so re-imagining the old designs like Generations does for G1 would have a small market I think because the nostalgia is limited. It'd be a subset of Transformers collectors I think if you relied just on the name itself. The idea of their being a rival transforming robot brand in today's marketplace is quite an interesting idea though. It'd need some kind of media behind it to push it, and a gimmick to differentiate it from the behemoth that is the Transformers. If you could make it stand out enough then it might be a goer. I'm beginning to find though that kids are growing out of toys faster and faster these days. You'd need to go for the 10 and unders with something that had a connection to smart technology I think.
In terms of your example though, what I'd most like is more articulated versions of the classic toy designs.
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Post by blueshift on Sept 14, 2015 16:59:11 GMT
I would love a Gobots reboot, provided it can be done properly and with skill to accentuate the advantages rather than just slap some more branded product on the table.
See, my main problem with... most of the TF televised media over the last few years (even Animated to an extent) is that it has become just too reverential of G1 and the 'core mythos'. Everything turns into a generic greatest hits parade with the same or similar story beats played out ad infinitum. It's all the same, no-one's going to take any risks and if they do they'll be 'safe' risks. Optimus Prime will never die for good, for example. There's just too much cultural weight there.
But Gobots don't have any cultural weight apart from ' hurrr Gobots'. There's so much more interesting stuff you could do just down to that fact alone. There's no desire for a reset switch or angry fan mob that demands everything remind them of the Hannah Barbara classic.
I'd like to see more experimentation. I'm sold now on the idea of a season of 52 x 11min episodes. After a rocky start, Steven Universe showed that could be an excellent method to drive such a show and bring new things to the table. I especially like how it allows episodes that are focussed around a small character beat that might otherwise need some sort of 'fight a monster' B plot to pad it out.
See, plot-wise the Gobot's one unique selling point is one that gets ignored, basically that they were originally human-like people who had to be 'upgraded' into robot bodies. It's basically ROM: Spaceknight the series but without the horrible licencing minefield as ROM! The original show was also way ahead than Transformers on gender roles, though to be fair being ahead of Transformers on that is depressingly easy.
Design-wise it's tricky. No-one cares about the original designs that much, but if you change everything too much you might as well not bother in the first place. One of the main weaknesses of Gobots in the 80s was the ugly designs (I mean, the toys were comparable/better to Transformers of similar scale) but I'd like to see certain design homages. Cy-Kill can still be a bike though uh, with cool arms. I like Leader-1's yellow eye paint thing. Smallfoot's actually got a good design going on. So's Pathfinder. And uh...
The other main advantage of Gobots were that all (well the majority) of the toyline was to scale and cheap. A kid had a good chance to buy most of the figures he wanted for the same price as a G1 deluxe car. That's cool. Keep everyone legends/commander size.
Also hire Patrick Stewart as Cy-Kill. Because come on.
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 14, 2015 19:14:04 GMT
Also hire Patrick Stewart as Cy-Kill. Because come on. OH MY GOD I'm going to give you sooooo many Robot Points for that!!! |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 14, 2015 21:34:50 GMT
Patrick Stewart as Leader-One.
In fact I drew that a year or two ago after chatting with McFeely and a few others about GoBots.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 14, 2015 21:36:39 GMT
 Andy |
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 14, 2015 23:16:20 GMT
Brilliant!!!!!!!!
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 22, 2015 21:53:31 GMT
Cheers, it was just a daft idea but one that somehow worked.
Andy
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Post by legios on Sept 23, 2015 18:47:54 GMT
See, my main problem with... most of the TF televised media over the last few years (even Animated to an extent) is that it has become just too reverential of G1 and the 'core mythos'. I think that has been a big reason why none of it (including Animated after the first season)has really held my interest. Of course, you would have to steer away from the original toy designs for legal reasons. The Machine Robo designs aren't actually a part of the Gobots IP - which is basically composed of the names, characterisations and background that were created for the American TV series. The licenses on the actual designs have long since lapsed, and I doubt Bandai would be inclined to go too far out of their way to help a strategic partner of Tomy. You'd pretty much have to start from scratch, and maintain a decent distance from the originals just to be on the safe side. Karl |
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