Major Transformers Armada and comic news! (Spoiler)

[Sprocket]

In the newest Wizard, this information was found.



































TAI, Spoiler Protocol!







"Set in the Transformers continuity shortly after the classic series, the line known as Armada will feature both old and new Transformers, as both the Autobot and Decepticons duke it out over a mysterious race of pint-sized Transformers known as Minicons.

The new toy line should hit stores this summer at the same time as the armada comic mini-series from pat lee at dreamwave productions. Taking a nod from the Headmasters and Targetmasters Transformers lines of the late 1980s, the Minicons of Armada will be miniature Transformers that will connect with their larger hosts. However unlike previous lines, these attachments will be more than aesthetic enhancements. The connection will actually play an integral role in the toy's action features. On the comics side of things, Dreamwave will be fairly involved with the project, providing packaging art, insert cards, as well as exclusive mini-comics.

Coinciding with the release of the ongoing comic series, this falkl will also see the debut of the all new Armada animated TV series. The art style for armada represents a bit of a departure from the heavy anime of recent Robots in Disguise and computer generated Beast Wars shows. Instead, the new series look is more reminiscent iif the Japanese/American hybrid style of the original Transformers cartoon from the mid '80s."

Now onto the new G1 comic news:

In the article the basic plot of the comic is mentioned:

"the story focuses on the autobots- along with their imprisoned adversaries- attempting to return home to cybertron after finally defeating the decepticons. The homecoming is interrupted when a mysterious force destroys the ship, while it is still in earth's atmosphere. The blast detroys the ship, scattering the Transformers to the earth below. Years later , a scheming industrialist begins to uncover several of the original decepticons, selling them to the highest bidder as weapons of destruction. Now it's all up to an adult spike (the young boy who befriended the transformers in the original series to lead his own search for the autobots. but where are they? are they still functional? and more importantly where is the source of the transformers power, the matrix?"

(The article mentioned that it would take place before TF:TM)
as well as the tone of the comic:

"Hasbro fully understands who the fans of the original transformers are, so they're letting us gear this towards a more mature audience, i want to keep it fun but it's going to definitely have a nice adult edge to it."

[JustJack]

Oh my God...I just wet myself....YES!!!

[Mr. Obsession]

[joshualane]

I can't wait until Toy Fair comes around and the Dreamwave comics finally arrive. I wonder who's animating the new series?

[Mr. Obsession]

Well, it's probably going to be a collaboration between a North American studio and a Japanese Studio, kind of like the original.

Given the animation techniques available these days, I suspect that the animation (since it appears that Armada's going to be cel based, at least I hope it won't be digitally animated) will be about equal to that of the movie.

Two things that are going to make or break this show from the get go: Peter Cullen & Frank Welker, well maybe just for the NA audience.

[JustJack]

Remember, the U.K. Toy Fair is going on RIGHT NOW. The only website, that I know of, which has any coverage is at www.action-figure.com
Whether or not they have prototypes of upcoming Transformers, or not...we'll see.
We WILL have pictures of the line, during the New York International Toy Fair, in Feb., so keep an eye out for that. I think Toy Fair start on Feb. 10? Right?

[Samhaine]

What about the previous info about Armada, and how it was going to be a combination of all the series? Is that still happening?

[Mr. Obsession]

I think this might be a modification of that idea. Going with the previous plan (which would have set Armada after Beast Machines) would require them to bring over all the other Japanese TF series or else a large portion of the North American audience would be lost.

This way they don't have to worry about merging a bunch of different continuities.

At any rate I suspect that it will combine elements of the G2 comic with the various pre-beast Japanese TF series and will ultimately explain why the TR's are the size they are in Beast Wars/Machines and show the beginnings of the Maximal and Predacon factions.

[Naraht]

Hey Sprocket, welcome to the board!

Umm..just a note, cause you're new...
if you look above the text box, see the button that says SPOILER?

If you hit that, then type your text..

Spoiler:

You get this. Neat Huh? Also, you can type in the [ SPOILER ][ /SPOILER ] tags yourself

[joshualane]

Originally posted by Mr. Obsession
Well, it's probably going to be a collaboration between a North American studio and a Japanese Studio, kind of like the original.

...yeah, but WHICH studio(s)? I would like to see Hasbro align itself with a high-quality group like MadHouse (they did the Spawn series) as opposed to a bargain bin studio in the Phillipines.

Given the animation techniques available these days, I suspect that the animation (since it appears that Armada's going to be cel based, at least I hope it won't be digitally animated) will be about equal to that of the movie.

The movie did indeed have some good animation, but I SERIOUSLY hope that it's MUCH better than that considering that movie is 15 years old. I really would like to see Hasbro dump some money into the animation and give us something impressive. If we were to get something along the same lines as a Gundam Wing or 08th MS Team that would be good.

Two things that are going to make or break this show from the get go: Peter Cullen & Frank Welker, well maybe just for the NA audience.

As much as any hardcore Transformers fan would wet their pants if that were to happen, I for one, could care less. As long as the voice actors are talented, then I'm fine.

[JustJack]

Originally posted by naraht
Hey Sprocket, welcome to the board!

Umm..just a note, cause you're new...
if you look above the text box, see the button that says SPOILER?

If you hit that, then type your text..

Spoiler:

You get this. Neat Huh? Also, you can type in the [ SPOILER ][ /SPOILER ] tags yourself

In a thread like this, that REALLY isn't necessary. I mean..if you read the thread at all, you read spoilers. Plus he put it up in the title, so..it just ain't necessary.

[The Mad Hatter]

Ah, I'm a little less concerned about the series now that they're not trying to merge all the continuities. Could be cool.

[Vin]

Originally posted by The Mad Hatter
Ah, I'm a little less concerned about the series now that they're not trying to merge all the continuities. Could be cool.

I guess I was one of the only ones who liked that idea of merging continuities. It sounded pretty cool.

My question is who will animate? Warner Bros. Animation ("Justice League") and Film Roman ("X-Men: Evolution") would be my top choices.

[Deltamon]

A pity no Beast War-type Transformers seem to be making an appearance in the new series, since that was the primary thing that got me to show an inmense interest in the Transformers series in the first place. But hey, beggars can't be choosers-and it's not like I hate G1 Transformers or anything

[Vin]

Originally posted by Deltamon
A pity no Beast War-type Transformers seem to be making an appearance in the new series, since that was the primary thing that got me to show an inmense interest in the Transformers series in the first place. But hey, beggars can't be choosers-and it's not like I hate G1 Transformers or anything

Yeah, same here. I watched "Transformers" when I was very little and don't remember many of the stories or what occured. "Beast Wars" got me back into "Transformers" and I was sort of hoping some of the characters from the "Beast" series would be involved.

[The Mad Hatter]

Nostalgia aside, I actually like the various "beasties" show better than the original Transformer cartoons, and it would have been cool to have some Beasties involved. Still, trying to fully explain their presence would have been a headache and a half.