Episode one (non-geo-blocked version).
Transformers: Cyberworld, Bumblebee Gets Yamcha'd
- Thread starter LordGigaIce
- Start date
It wasn’t horrible!
For all the restrictions that seem to be in play, the writers are clearly doing their best within this “sandbox” and trying to do the most with what they got. It was refreshing to see characters with a bit of humor and personality and not simply regurgitating past performances. Even Bumblebee stayed just out of being too annoying.
Animation was nicely fluid, if not terribly complex. Again, there is clearly strong budget restrictions, but the production team are clearly trying to make the most of it (I guarantee that the Cyberglyphs on Prime’s side view mirrors will translate to “Objects Closer than they appear” as part of the Jurassic Park reference).
The game angle is an interesting take, and it makes me surprised we haven’t heard about a full blown game adaption of the concept (maybe a “not yet” thing?).
For a weekly hit of Robots in Disguise…I’m here for it.
For all the restrictions that seem to be in play, the writers are clearly doing their best within this “sandbox” and trying to do the most with what they got. It was refreshing to see characters with a bit of humor and personality and not simply regurgitating past performances. Even Bumblebee stayed just out of being too annoying.
Animation was nicely fluid, if not terribly complex. Again, there is clearly strong budget restrictions, but the production team are clearly trying to make the most of it (I guarantee that the Cyberglyphs on Prime’s side view mirrors will translate to “Objects Closer than they appear” as part of the Jurassic Park reference).
The game angle is an interesting take, and it makes me surprised we haven’t heard about a full blown game adaption of the concept (maybe a “not yet” thing?).
For a weekly hit of Robots in Disguise…I’m here for it.
Games take awhile to make these days, it'd be difficult to get a high quality game out in the two years it took toconcieve and make this toyline. Even Battlegrounds came out two years after Cyberverse premiered.
What are the odds that Ethan Zachary will show up?
I have serious reboot fatigue. It's been hard for me to care about new Transformers continuities because I know they're just going to come and go. I know they're not even hoping to make it a long-term ongoing thing. The new thing will get three seasons if they're lucky. Probably no sequel. We'll probably never see the future the characters are trying to build. They'll get there and immediately it's over, finished. Swept aside for the next short term thing. I'll never think about it again.
But this? I'm in. This is great.
But this? I'm in. This is great.
If the pacing remains like this, it can work.
Okay. I like the comedy. And the "game" aspect helps keep this show unique.
I don't really care for the theme song that plays over the credits. It's just a little "generic"?
So, is the idea that the "winner" of the game gets the "loser"'s Energon? Or is it just more of a reward/punishment thing?
I'm also curious if Megatron always looked like this in this universe, or if the Bull form is new. There does seem to be a trend of the "bosses" of the different environmental zones all being big animals, so maybe that's tying into the plot, somehow.
I am a little curious who's behind all this. It feels like it could be something the Quintessons cooked up. Or maybe they stumbled into one of the Thirteen's holodeck game rooms?
Overall, I think I do like this 5-minute youtube series a bit more than Wild King. Although, Wild King is still fun. This one just has a bit more going on, plot-wise. We'll see how I feel by the end of both shows. I could see Wild King getting more epic. I'm not sure if I like the trend of these shows slowly all becoming 5 minutes long, but that's probably out of our hands at the moment. So, this is...fine. It didn't blow my socks off, but I'll probably continue to check it out, because why not?
I don't really care for the theme song that plays over the credits. It's just a little "generic"?
So, is the idea that the "winner" of the game gets the "loser"'s Energon? Or is it just more of a reward/punishment thing?
I'm also curious if Megatron always looked like this in this universe, or if the Bull form is new. There does seem to be a trend of the "bosses" of the different environmental zones all being big animals, so maybe that's tying into the plot, somehow.
I am a little curious who's behind all this. It feels like it could be something the Quintessons cooked up. Or maybe they stumbled into one of the Thirteen's holodeck game rooms?
Overall, I think I do like this 5-minute youtube series a bit more than Wild King. Although, Wild King is still fun. This one just has a bit more going on, plot-wise. We'll see how I feel by the end of both shows. I could see Wild King getting more epic. I'm not sure if I like the trend of these shows slowly all becoming 5 minutes long, but that's probably out of our hands at the moment. So, this is...fine. It didn't blow my socks off, but I'll probably continue to check it out, because why not?
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It's very interesting and plays the series' central "they're in a game and take various forms or upgrades" conceit the way that works best: as a mysterious change to the status quo. I don't mind the action scenes serving as padding since they don't run on too long (the pacing is pretty good for such a thin story-so-far) and I hope that keeps up. They establish enough and leave enough to the imagination (why is Megatron a bull and apparrently nice to Bumblebee rather than wanting to destroy him, who is Scorponok, was that Bee's shuttle or another Autobot's, why does Op apparently not know Grimlock, and of course what are these very transparent gamified challenges) to make the next installment worth following.
I'm pleasantly surprised by the execution on this so far, having largely shrugged at the high concept and corny name and budget-shackled toys. But there's some good levity here and the few characters we've seen so far are fun.
I was just thinking Op sounded vaguely David Kaye-ish and then I heard Megatron speak, who sounded like David Kaye with a bit of Earthspark's Megatron. And Bumblebee continues to have a voice, which is a relief. The "every other line or action is a jokey bit" is a bit much, but so far I can shrug it off as obligatory kid appeal in the already-young-audience show. I like his "shoot the target, don't break it" moment, gives him weight.
Curious about what's yet to follow, and whether or how the many other characters in the toyline will be represented.
The funny thing is now I want a crossover with Wild King.
I'm pleasantly surprised by the execution on this so far, having largely shrugged at the high concept and corny name and budget-shackled toys. But there's some good levity here and the few characters we've seen so far are fun.
I was just thinking Op sounded vaguely David Kaye-ish and then I heard Megatron speak, who sounded like David Kaye with a bit of Earthspark's Megatron. And Bumblebee continues to have a voice, which is a relief. The "every other line or action is a jokey bit" is a bit much, but so far I can shrug it off as obligatory kid appeal in the already-young-audience show. I like his "shoot the target, don't break it" moment, gives him weight.
Curious about what's yet to follow, and whether or how the many other characters in the toyline will be represented.
The funny thing is now I want a crossover with Wild King.
I really dug this! I wasn't sure what to expect but I liked it a lot.
Some thoughts.... Scorponok being in the desert has real '07 movie vibes. A nice call back to that for those that will pick it out.
There's a good balance of humour and action and even some stakes. Megatron turning on Bumblebee is "menacing" by the standards of everything else.
I dig that there seems to be a Marvel Secret Wars vibe where something or someone has pulled these characters out of their world to participate in some sort of challenge.
The game elements seem like they'll be fun.
Bumblebee Yamcha!
I got Neil Kaplan vibes. Not necessary his exact take, but Kaplan did a good job of calling back to Cullen without doing a Cullen impression. And CyberWorld Prime feels a lot like that in the best way.
I also dig that Dad Joke Optimus is in full swing again.
It helps that this is clearly trying to be its own unique thing and the backstory that we have is basic enough that it could work with any version of the TF mythos you want. Megatron, Optimus, Bumblebee... there was a war... now it's jungle adventure time. It's not asking you to invest in a whole new version the same basic origin story. Just a new setup for these characters to interact with each other in.
I always felt like Kaplan was pretty much a Cullen impression, just a bit more of a flexible one than later ones turned out to be. Had that very forced feel to the voice control.
This felt more like Gary Chalk, where the person just talks and emotes and the voice just happens to also be deep and rich. There's no real big trying to (heh) ape the very specific delivery, even in the bits where he attempts to speechify.
This felt more like Gary Chalk, where the person just talks and emotes and the voice just happens to also be deep and rich. There's no real big trying to (heh) ape the very specific delivery, even in the bits where he attempts to speechify.
From what I remember hearing is that RID had two Voice Directors. One wanted a Cullen sound a like, and the other wanted Kaplan to be more himself. This is why different episodes have him sounding different.
YMMV on Kaplan. There's a sense of Cullen in there, but then again there's a sense of Cullen in this CyberWorld Prime (I'm not sure who the VA is). What connects the two is sounding like they're embodying the spirit of Cullen's Prime without trying to mimic him.
I'm not sure I agree with the Chalk comparisons. He was never anywhere close to being Cullen-like, and that was fine, Primal was his own character. It just became a version for Optimus Prime himself when Chalk transitioned to the UT... but it still felt like 100% his own thing. Contrasted with both Kaplan and whoever is doing CW Prime where the Cullen influences are there, just going in their own directions.
Kyle Kaczmarczyk.
That description of Chalk applies to this take too, to my ear (as my initial impression). Both sound like just a person talking that happens to have a deep voice that's reminiscent of Cullen. Although I see (hear) what you mean, and Kaczmarczyk does sound like he's more directly trying to evoke the Cullen vibe than Chalk ever did (Chalk's debut as Primal just happened to sound similar to the looser, less-deep/epic 80s Cullen but was not a copy). I'm just comparing this to the takes from Prime Wars, WFCT, and Cyberverse, which this is easily better than for that reason.
Conversely, Kaplan always tended to sound like someone consciously affecting a particularly deep and, idk the proper term, clipped voice or being made to do so. This may be influenced by that being a dub, so not a lot of room for acting with it, idk. It's partly why I just shrugged when Kaplan didn't get the VA job for Armada.
This may be influencing it: idk how Kyle or Neil sound outside of their Optimus roles, and so I don't know who's REALLY putting on a Cullen vibe more, and it's not really worth the trouble to review. This is just what they sound like to me, from my impressions in this episode (I may get different ones the more of Kyle i hear, or even upon rewatching) and memories of RID2001.
I'm content to agree to disagree on this as it's entirely a matter of perception.
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Neil's natural voice actually sounds closer to Ro-Tor, whom he also voiced in RiD2001 (though, Ro-Tor also sounded like an impression of Jerry Houser):