So do you really love the simplified animation styles?

[LordGigaIce]

Related to this notion, there are some who would argue that the G1 cartoon, despite being a cartoon, did not actually look "cartoony". Like, the aesthetics of the G1 cartoon would clash with those of, say, DuckTales or Animaniacs (either version of each), both of which are very cartoony.

Some would even argue that Transformers did not first start to adopt a truly "cartoony" look in terms of aesthetics until Animated.

Yes and no. Challenge of the Go-Bots was more cartoony in a traditional western sense, and I've seen it argued that Sunbow managed to make Transformers seem "cooler" by comparison by adopting ques from anime. Sunbow G1 is not an anime, and didn't adopt anime stylings whole hog, but it's a far closer blend of Western and Japanese styles than anything else at the time. So much so that some casuals think G1 was a dubbed anime.

ofc Beast Wars and Beast Machines were CGI shows, RiD and the UT were straight up dubbed animes, but then Animated happened.

Animated is very much inspired by Western shows like Teen Titans and Ben 10... but those shows were in turn following Transformers G1's lead of infusing Western animation with ques from anime. As with everything of this nature, TT and B10 mixed those anime and Western stylings and kind of created their own style out of it, which Animated harkened to.

I don't think you had a purely "Western" "cartoony" style Transformers show until... I don't know... Rescue Bots?

 

[Shadewing]

Sunbow G1 is not an anime, and didn't adopt anime stylings whole hog, but it's a far closer blend of Western and Japanese styles than anything else at the time. So much so that some casuals think G1 was a dubbed anime.

I do agree, as if you look as Voltron from the 80s next to G1, you can see a sense of similarity.

 

[Sabrblade]

I do agree, as if you look as Voltron from the 80s next to G1, you can see a sense of similarity.

View attachment 34481
View attachment 34482

Of course, it's largely because those two shared the common animation studio of Toei.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

1980s Toei animation is so comfy.

 

[Kalidor]

This is only mildly related but I'm also a little miffed that the Reflector that got bundled with the "cartoon colors" Thundercracker comes with all the camera parts that were not otherwise available for the single bots.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I still want the toy deco set, but never want it enough for the price it goes for.

 

[Sabrblade]

I think I got my toy colors Refraktor set for about $60, which is less than the cost of three individual Deluxes.

 

[unluckiness]

I really wouldn't pay the after-market prices for the toy Reflector set. The giant REFRAKTOR tampo is so tacky and I dunno, I don't mind the mismatched colors when they all had different robot modes but the same design in three different colors triggers something in me.

 

[LordGigaIce]

Eh, I love it. Now I did get the set for around $60 like Sabrblade, and ToyHax took care of the misspelt name, so YMMV... but I'm a sucker for old Diaclone and MC stuff, so that set was right up my alley.

 

[lastmaximal]

I managed to get this right before quarantine hit, iirc, for a decent price (I mainly mention the timeframe because prices have probably shot up in the time since). Later on, went and got the Toyhax set as well, partly because it corrected the REFRAKTOR bit and partly because it was expansive enough for three dudes that the price felt more worth it. At the time the set felt even more worthwhile because the parts didn't come with the single releases and really tied the whole thing together. Depending on how prices for it are now, I can see the appeal fading, especially if you're not into the schlocky retro elements it's specifically meant to call back to (the big name sticker/tampo, the big chunks of different colors).

I do wish there had been some retooling for the heads, but if it came down to those or the camera bits, I'm glad we got the latter. (I keep saying how much I'd love for more 3P heads for existing figures, especially not 3D printed ones, and this would be a great case.)

The Dramatic Capture set I had considered in the first place because of the improved colors across the board -- and I'd forgotten for a while that they even had the extra bits; by the time I saw pictures that reminded me, I'd basically made up my mind to get them already. So they ended up being a nice bonus.

(Really, I'm a bit surprised at just how impactful the color changes are. I was genuinely okay with the Siege colors, and felt they were pretty much accurate, but these more saturated colors on the Refraktors really sing. And the Thundercracker absolutely delivers on the sky blue I want in a Thundercracker. The difference between that and the Earthrise one is also much easier to see in hand than in photos -- even my phone camera weirdly "corrects" the yellowed, greenish blue hue on the latter -- and makes the former a no-brainer to get for that specific color execution).

 

[LordGigaIce]

Yeah. I'm a toy deco purist when it comes to Reflector, and the Siege release seemed to justify that, but G-ddamn, the wizards at TT made the Sunbow deco sing. I've almost considered tracking them down, it's so nice.

And I mean... the Reflector dudes could make clones of themselves so...

... this is a very dangerous train of thought.

 

[lastmaximal]

That was kind of the same logic I used to talk myself into getting the two sets originally. Something like one set could have the individual names as individual characters, and the other could all be Reflector clones.

Funny enough, the brighter/richer colors just make the in-parts excessive detail more noticeable (on the lighter gray bits especially). But overall the look is still much better.

 

[Sciflyer]

Yeah, I went in on the regular Reflector (sorry, just not gonna call him Refraktor). Then, like Sabrblade, was able to get the toy deco with camera fixin's for a good deal. Now, I am eagerly anticipating my PoL with the Sunbow design (and extra Thundercracker accessory ).

 

[unluckiness]

No hate for the toy set. I just don't think that it's worth aftermarket prices, when currently, for a little more cash, you could get a brand new cartoon color set with a bonus Thundercracker.

 

[Kalidor]

I would have almost considered the Dramatic capture set if I could get it at a deep discount and only the cameras (don't need Thundercracker)

 

[Sabrblade]

I should probably mention that the place I got my toy colors set from for $60 was none other than Amazon.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I almost bought one on Amazon two years ago. But then I saw the troop builder 4 pack, and it was an easy choice.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

I would have almost considered the Dramatic capture set if I could get it at a deep discount and only the cameras (don't need Thundercracker)

If you get it at a deep discount, maybe I could take the Thundercracker off your hands?

Gonna need to be pretty deep, though, because I'm sure shipping would be a total Carnivac.

 

[Sciflyer]

I should probably mention that the place I got my toy colors set from for $60 was none other than Amazon.

I *think that I got mine through BBTS but I will have to check.

Edit: Nope, it was Amazon, too (July of '22)!

 

[Agent X]

Simple animation schemes on toy? No. Simple Animation schemes in animation? Yes?

That's my answer to the actual topic question and not what I thought it read while half-asleep (asking about simple transformation schemes)

EDIT: Glancing at the comments lamenting the prices of the Toy-Refraktor set reminded me I did this:

Thanks to gamestop clearing out the sets years ago.

Worse? I before that, I did it with Scrapface.