GWC Podcast #168: Transformers Primer, Part I

Podcasts Galactic Watercooler
#41

I just want to say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED as far is this being a successful “primer” podcast for Transformers.

Now mind you, before I listened to this podcast I had no idea who/what CyberTron, Sparks, Wheeljack, Ratchet, Decipticons, Autobots, Devastator and Dinobots even are. But by the time time Sean gets to that point in the podcast, I’ve been transformer-educated enough that I could follow this complex bit at around 1:25 when Sean says:

“The thing about the Dinobots…they didn’t have access to CybrerTron so VectorSigma couldn’t give them Sparks. So Wheeljack and Ratchet did the best they could give them life.
They did their best and they are the 1st off Cybertron transformers to create sentient transformer life without Vector-Sigma … designed to attack Devastator…those are the Dinobots.”

Woot! I followed that!

#42

Yet another soild podcast. I can’t wait for the next couple especially the 1986 movie. The talk about the animated Transformers made me think of THE BEST animated Sci Fi tv show from my childhood. Robotech!!! I mean you talk about a deep storyline, character death, awesome action, giant robots (or mecha), heros and heroines you really care about. Robotech had it! Don’t get me wrong it did have some moments of cheese, and a couple holes in the continuity due to being an anima import. In fact recently purchased the original ‘Super Dimensional Fortress: Macross’ dvds and man the story was even better then then the Robotech:Macross saga.

Awhile back I posted in the Podcast Arc Suggestions, for a Robotech podcast arc. I hope it will one day come to past where all 85 episodes of Robotech or it’s Japanese counterparts will be covered.

I just made an EvE post on the front page. I loved that game and played from beta 3 up until 2007ish (Caldari: Cowboy). I was a Pvper and was a part of the ol’ Celestial Apocalypse and Body Count INC corps (Mercenary Coalition). Sadly Pvp changed to lame fleet standoffs, and gate snipers from 120k out. although, I have recently given thought to getting back into the game. Is BoB still the big dogs in game?? or did they finally disband?

#43

As always, a great podcast. You’ve gotten to my topic of choice. Like Sean, “my time has come!”

Couple of notes:

First - Disclaimer. Transformers has as much history, retcon, and reboot as any comicbook. As such, most of the information I’m writing is related to G1 stuff (cause that’s my stuff.)

Beast Wars is actually a loose continuation of the G1 storyline, not a reboot of it. Though Optimus Primal and Megatron sound a lot like Optimus Prime and Megatron, they’re different characters. I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil it. If you’ve got the time, you really should sit down and watch Beast Wars. It is one of the BEST narratives of the entire Transformers franchise.

Initially, The Autobots left Cybertron and the Decepticons followed because Cybertron was essentially dead. No power. (which is funny because everyone still has lots of power for guns and doors and elevators) Come 2005, Decepticons control Cybertron and Autobots control it’s two (never-before-seen) moons.

The initial release of G1 toys was actually two different sets of toys that Hasbro bought rights to. one set (all the mini cars) just transformed into robots, the other set was originally designed to be big robots with people in them. Ever notice on the G1 toys many of them have a little seat, or a hatch? It’s because there was a little figure! The figure never made it to the US.

The first season (which I’ve been watching recently) of G1 had a rough continuity to it. having to do with the Spacebridge, and Decepticon plans to steal resources and whatnot. The second season changed this primarily because Hasbro wanted to syndicate the show and they didn’t want to lock down the order of the episodes. So the episodes became largely character-based and non-order-specific.

Season 1: 13 episodes
Season 2: 49(!) episodes
Season 3: 30 episodes
Season 4: 3 episodes. (really, just 1 episode, in 3 parts)
weird, no?

#44

I take much pride in acting as your humble guide through the awesomeness that is Transformers and hope that you stick with us through the next few cast which in my opinion can only get better!

I will now and forever forward stand as a champion for the RoboTech series. Even MinMay singing that damn song cannot deter my love for the complex and beautiful story that is RoboTech.

As I said in the 'cast, I knew SOMEONE would know about the G1 foundations and be able to speak to it! I myself had always wondered what the seats were for. I used to use Prime’s conpartment to store his fists - handy that.

Speaking of G1 transformer toys and Robotech, perhaps you guys can help me with something. Jetfire… what’s his deal? As far as I can tell he was both a Transformer and a VF-1S Valkyrie. How does that work? Robotech must have come first but I remember seeing him with an Autobot logo on him.

Damn, I ALWAYS wanted one of those things when I was a kid.

#45

The Jetfire toy was retooled and licensed to hasbro for inclusion in the line. It is a 1983 VF-1 (I don’t know robotech, so the models are lost on me) made by Takatoku.
Interestingly, it’s suggested that this is the reason Jetfire became “Skyfire” on the show. Most TF toys were produced by Takara. Licensing and Legal issues abound.

I need to dig out my transformers from my parents house… I had a Jetfire picked up from a garage sale. He had a TON of metal on him.

#46

Great Podcast I am big fan of TF watched the tv show as kid! But I forgot so much as so this refresher was great! So I do have the first season on dvd and did a rewatch of that and Movie. As well I did watch the Beast Wars and as other mentioned Beast wars was not a reboot but the Beast Wars are Descendents of the Autobots and Decepticons. The Maximals are Descendents of the Autobots. But if you like TF G1 check out the end of Season 2 and all of Season 3 and you will be in for a Big treat in Beast Wars!

#47

Whispers in Sean’s ear “Anime arc” “Anime Arc”

Great cast Sean. Thanks for clearing up some stuff I was foggy on. :smiley:

#48

I was eavesdropping on a few of my students during center time today talking about Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and I could actually follow the conversation! I was tempted to ask what they thot about the Decepticons’ origins as enforcers versus the Autobots’ evolution from a laborer class, but then they’re only 5. anyhow, thanks for the primer, Rev!!

#49

Hey, kind of new here but I’m loving the podcast especially this Transformer Arc. I’ve been excited about it since I first heard you were going to do it. I’ve been a big fan of Transformers all my life and am definitely looking forward to the next movie. Its a lot of fun to hear you guys discuss it, especially hearing the views of people new to it.

Just one thing though, the Dinobots weren’t really created to fight Devastator. They were created mostly because Wheeljack and Rachet were bored one day and saw some Dinosaur fossils. Devastator hadn’t even made his first appearance on the show yet. If you want someone to match Devastator it would probably be Omega Supreme, although he was built first so its more like Devastator was built to match him. There are like 3 different origins of the Constructicons in the cartoon alone so its pretty confusing.

#50

I never knew about the Transformer’s backstory - and I am part of that 80’s generation that grew up with the original transformers! I always perceived the “auto” in autobots to mean automatons, as in “being alive”. Now there’s a sense of the prefix “auto” to also mean “autonomous” as in “free” robots.

It just so happens they were showing the Transformers movie on tv just now - it just hit me that all the decepticons chose military vehicles as their disguise - and all the autobots had civilian vehicles! It just confirms what Sean said about their backstory.

There’s a funny moment where the autobots were trying to hide at Sam Witwicky’s place - the scene basically explains why the transformers have a need to transform to hide into their surroundings. It’s evolutionary I guess.

hey, back in the 80’s when transformers franchise was crossing the pacific ocean to the US, there was a rival japanese toy line, well all I remember is that the company name was Bandai. I had a bandai transformer that changed into a zero fighter. It was just like the No Doubt vs Save Ferris rivalry back in the day - I guess Bandai lost out to transformers. :cool:

#51

I totally forgot about that. I used to think those seats were for Sparkplug. I remember when I first saw Robotech, I thought that they had ripped off Transformers.

#52

Late comment from podcast: I am profoundly ambivalent about AI.

I liked it enough to buy it on DVD. Actually, I got it for a birthday present. But I was gonna buy it. I was hoping for a good commentary track, which I didn’t get.

Anyhow, parts of it are great. Parts make me moan, “What the [frak] kinda [horsecraaaap] is that?”

But I have kids, and I’m a sucker for Pinocchio.

The “Supertoy” story it’s based on (and its sequel) are aw’ight.

And it’s on Cinemax this month.

#53

just finished listening to this episode.

One thing that stands out, is Sean telling Audra:

“He’s cradle-robbing hot!” (speaking about the guy who played both Chekov and Kyle Reese)

LOL! Entertaining, as always. Thanks guys. I’m off to listen to the next ep.

#54

Jetfire was a Valkyrie Fighter from the Macross TV series, which was later on purchased and folded in with two other unrelated TV series and re-released here in America by Golden Harvest as ‘RoboTech’.

I had assumed Jetfire had been created as a means to sell leftover Macross merchandice to unsuspecting children. But when the 86 Movie was released and spawned a renewed intrest in all things Transformers I was finally able to get my hands on a Jetfire. And guess what? He was made by Bandai!

Money must have changed hands somewhere, I thought that maybe they had bought the Dies from Bandai and just never bothered to retool them. But it said right on the box as well as the toy BANDAI. Hmmm, but it was a Macross Valkyrie fighter packaged exactly like the ones I had seen in other peoples collections. Only the outer box had been changed and it came with a different set of decals and instructions, that was it.

Any ways I gave it a wash to bring out the detail on it and weathered it slightly. I threw the decals away and set it up proudly in my room in Gerwalk mode, it is still in my collection somewhere in storage to this day.

I cannot remember the names of the other two shows which were bastardized for Robotech, but I noticed that those toys were all similarly repackaged as ‘RoboTech’ for American consumption as well.

#55

Forgot to mention, the Valkryie/Jetfire hoviering/skimming mode was call ‘Guardian’ or ‘Gerwalk’ mode.

#56

I did mention the Gerwalk mode, in the fourth paragraph.:wink:

#57

Ah yes. Missed that somehow.

Welcome aboard, BTW.