Battleangel

Wow. This was a blast from the past. I happened to catch the pilot for the latest animated Transformers project Transformers Energon. Aired yesterday if the information on the site is correct. Anyway, I must admit that I wasn’t as utterly disappointed as I thought I would be.

I used to be a big fan of transformers when I was a kid. I collected as many of the Hasbro toys as I could get my hands on. At one point when I was like 13-14 I even spent the better part of a day phoning just about every toy store I could think of, enquiring about the fabled Scorponok. So, as you can imagine this is something that is not easy to shake, even as one grows up. Back then I also used to get the comic which was great .. at least until the Swedish distribution ended. The good thing about this was that I was never introduced to Beastwars and whatever came next. I just packed up and left the scene. One of the reasons I mention all of this is that 2004 marks the 20th anniversary for Transformers.

Transformers Energon is not as far from the original series and comic thankfully. Just with the Energon twist. And updated with some cooler designs.
The plot is simple enough. After the defeat of Unicron, Decepticons and Autobots began a reluctant cooperation. The problem is that Unicron’s spirit endured and has once again started to advance on the galaxy. Using Horrorcons as his instrument he aims to gather enough Energon to rebuild.
I’m sure I’d have loved the series ten years ago. Now it feels slightly childish for various reasons. Mostly so because children are not as concerned with fluidity as adults. Kids don’t mind if there are inconsistent cuts and jumps and pointless chase sequences. So you can get by with setting up five really cool action sequences and applying animation super-glue consisting mainly of trendy talk and the portrayal of children (the target audience). I really wonder why. Why not make a one-size-fits-all kind of cartoon? Correct me if I am wrong but is there anything kids love more than characters acting out typically adult roles? So lets skip the baby talk and the moonwalk coolness shall we …
Still, this show blows Digimon and whatever animated action stuff is on the air today right out of the water. Maybe I need to see it in a context. I only wish Hasbro would commission a grittier series that we all could gather around.

And talking about wishes, Hasbro should really do something about the current line of Transformers toys. They plainly suck. I guess it’s the same problem as with the cartoons. People don’t take pride in their work. I don’t like it when standards drop like this. In the end it could mean a downward spiral that doesn’t just stop with toys. Too bad they don’t make them all like the 20th Anniversary Masterpiece Optimus Prime …

I just came to think of the Live action movie that was announced last year. Nothing has been coming out of that department for months now. I almost fear that the project has been lost. The only thing that is still pretty much a known fact is that Tom DeSanto (executive producer of X-Men 1 / 2 and 3) will spearhead the project. But with the third movie entering pre-production who knows.