Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video
Sunday, August 7th, 2016 10:27AM CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, People NewsPosted by: D-Maximal_Primal Views: 31,264
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Thanks to the BatInTheSun's YouTube channel and an alert from Seibertronian Madeus Prime, we bring to you a new video commissioned by Machinima showing off some behind-the-scenes work for their Combiner Wars show! The video includes an interview with both Jason Marnocha (who voices Megatron) and Amy Johnston (who voices Maxima), and shows off the voice cast in the recording booth. Check out the video below, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Credit(s): BatInTheSun
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Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813023)
Posted by Deadput on August 7th, 2016 @ 11:38am CDT
Posted by Deadput on August 7th, 2016 @ 11:38am CDT
Not sure why the character that had two lines at most before she died is getting an interview done and not someone like Windblade's voice actor or even an interview with Jon who is pretty much the best voice actor there besides the guy playing Devastator (forgot name sorry).
It's probably the budget or rather the lack of budget which explains things neatly.
It's probably the budget or rather the lack of budget which explains things neatly.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813027)
Posted by Sunstar on August 7th, 2016 @ 11:44am CDT
thanks for looking at it from an open minded perspective. I have my bones of contention, (mostly the synching was startling) but I'll see how it is for a few episodes. I think a good story told my be worth it. its just difficult to get a feel for the story in such a short period of time.
Posted by Sunstar on August 7th, 2016 @ 11:44am CDT
Tyrannacon wrote:After reading through the constructive criticisms about the episode here I went ahead and watched the first episode again with that in mind. I still feel mostly positive about it despite the short length. Actually I put it into the perspective when I did this that this is a web series and in some ways it's an entirely different media than say television. Yeah it sucks they can't get the voice actors we like and we instead get Internet celebrities, but it's really not terrible. That doesn't make it terrible in my mind because there's some decent effort put into the performances to make them sound familiar and also believable too in some ways. In terms of a web series, the production values are definitely high in this case I feel.
I just figured I'd offer a different perspective here with how I saw it now this time after reading through the thread and trying to look at it from different angles. I usually give a TV show an entire season if I didn't otherwise loathe the first couple episodes for a myriad of reasons for them to get the flow. So I can see how and what their larger story line or story arc is here. Web series, in this case, usually have their entire run equate one or one and a half 25-50 minute episode of a TV series.
thanks for looking at it from an open minded perspective. I have my bones of contention, (mostly the synching was startling) but I'll see how it is for a few episodes. I think a good story told my be worth it. its just difficult to get a feel for the story in such a short period of time.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813044)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on August 7th, 2016 @ 12:56pm CDT
Agreed
coz that's what i said(about Menasors voice) many posts back 
Posted by Stuartmaximus on August 7th, 2016 @ 12:56pm CDT
dabattousai wrote:The episode was meh. Menasor did not sound like a menacing Decepticon, let alone a Gestalt at that. The designs of the bots looked great, but the animation felt hallow. I'll continue to watch and see where it goes, but I feel that if this was done with a much bigger studio, this would probably be amazing. I would like to see an animation studio take a comic series and animate it much like how Japan animates their Shonen manga.
Agreed
coz that's what i said(about Menasors voice) many posts back
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813046)
Posted by Sunstar on August 7th, 2016 @ 12:59pm CDT
It does seem to lack the power. For an individual character that is only one mind it probably would suit.
Posted by Sunstar on August 7th, 2016 @ 12:59pm CDT
Stuartmaximus wrote:
Agreed
It does seem to lack the power. For an individual character that is only one mind it probably would suit.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813065)
Posted by Tyrannacon on August 7th, 2016 @ 3:15pm CDT
I don't mind actually looking at things from different perspectives to gain some insight. I do agree it's too short to get an accurate feel for it specifically. I'd wait at least a couple of episodes myself before making a definite and concrete answer about it. As it stands my feelings are best surmised as cautiously optimistic.
Posted by Tyrannacon on August 7th, 2016 @ 3:15pm CDT
Sunstar wrote:thanks for looking at it from an open minded perspective. I have my bones of contention, (mostly the synching was startling) but I'll see how it is for a few episodes. I think a good story told my be worth it. its just difficult to get a feel for the story in such a short period of time.
I don't mind actually looking at things from different perspectives to gain some insight. I do agree it's too short to get an accurate feel for it specifically. I'd wait at least a couple of episodes myself before making a definite and concrete answer about it. As it stands my feelings are best surmised as cautiously optimistic.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813213)
Posted by camzilla51 on August 8th, 2016 @ 3:45am CDT
Posted by camzilla51 on August 8th, 2016 @ 3:45am CDT
Interesting that the recording studio was BangZoom entertainment. 
I recognize them from several Anime Expos where they held panels on how to be voice actors. I remember they specialize almost exclusively in Anime and redubbing a cartoon after it's been animated, so this might expalin the lack of acting quality style. It's possible that they are more used to casting voices that are popular in the anime crowd and not the American transformers crowd, or that they pulled a large portion of their actors from their other anime casts or even their training classes.
But that's only speculation on my part, who knows.
I recognize them from several Anime Expos where they held panels on how to be voice actors. I remember they specialize almost exclusively in Anime and redubbing a cartoon after it's been animated, so this might expalin the lack of acting quality style. It's possible that they are more used to casting voices that are popular in the anime crowd and not the American transformers crowd, or that they pulled a large portion of their actors from their other anime casts or even their training classes. But that's only speculation on my part, who knows.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813584)
Posted by o.supreme on August 9th, 2016 @ 10:11am CDT
Posted by o.supreme on August 9th, 2016 @ 10:11am CDT
Anyone watch episode 2 yet? ...Last week I was working from home and go90 was fine. I may have to wait until I get home to watch it,...not sure if it is a problem on go 90, or because I am trying to watch on my phone. I downloaded the app to my phone, but videos aren't playing...
I know its entitled "The Council" and features Starscream...
I know its entitled "The Council" and features Starscream...
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813607)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 10:54am CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 10:54am CDT
Just finished watching episode 2 - https://www.go90.com/profiles/va_e80879ee86ff49d4b169fba67d53e1c7
Anyone outside the U.S. see if it's on Machinima's YouTube channel? I couldn't see episode 1 listed from my end last week, so I presume that the international YouTube versions are only visibly listed for non-U.S. viewers.
As to my thoughts on this one, it wasn't as miserable as the first episode, with this being more of an expositional episode than anything, but the robot animation (particularly Starscream's flight and descent at the episode's start) is still very choppy despite the animation for the camera movement and for the background set pieces being just fine.
And the acting for the Council was very so-so. Starscream's probably the best one, being the mot consistent in his acting level, while Rodimus had some hiccups in his lines that could have stood to have had another take or two. The Mistress of Flame, however, was extremely wooden in her performance, sounding the most, well, robotic of the three. Really hoping the acting of the latter two improves overall as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, the CGI models for Starscream and Rodimus were particularly familiar. Starscream is essentially his CW Leader class toy with some slight modifications (blue shoulders instead of gray, his stabilizer wings shifted down to match the position of his main wings, more G1-looking null rays, etc.), while Rodimus has seams on his torso that are taken straight from his MP-9 Masterpiece toy (though, his face is distinctly his younger Hot Rod face rather than his wrinkled Rodimus Prime face, despite his being Rodimus Prime in this show).
Anyone outside the U.S. see if it's on Machinima's YouTube channel? I couldn't see episode 1 listed from my end last week, so I presume that the international YouTube versions are only visibly listed for non-U.S. viewers.
As to my thoughts on this one, it wasn't as miserable as the first episode, with this being more of an expositional episode than anything, but the robot animation (particularly Starscream's flight and descent at the episode's start) is still very choppy despite the animation for the camera movement and for the background set pieces being just fine.
And the acting for the Council was very so-so. Starscream's probably the best one, being the mot consistent in his acting level, while Rodimus had some hiccups in his lines that could have stood to have had another take or two. The Mistress of Flame, however, was extremely wooden in her performance, sounding the most, well, robotic of the three. Really hoping the acting of the latter two improves overall as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, the CGI models for Starscream and Rodimus were particularly familiar. Starscream is essentially his CW Leader class toy with some slight modifications (blue shoulders instead of gray, his stabilizer wings shifted down to match the position of his main wings, more G1-looking null rays, etc.), while Rodimus has seams on his torso that are taken straight from his MP-9 Masterpiece toy (though, his face is distinctly his younger Hot Rod face rather than his wrinkled Rodimus Prime face, despite his being Rodimus Prime in this show).
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813613)
Posted by o.supreme on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:11am CDT
Posted by o.supreme on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:11am CDT
Must have been a glitch with go90 earlier, because yes now it works fine on my phone. I can see some fans complaining this episode is just a "talkie", but when viewed all together it will make much more sense. Starscream is less abrasive to me than before, but I still don't understand those that dislike him because they believe he sounds similar to Chris Latta, when in fact he sounds nothing like him. Also...I thought the Mistress of Flame was supposed to be more...I don't know...*angry* for lack of a better term. Its almost like the Mistress & Windblade swapped personalities in this series. Rodimus is ok. Overall not bad.
Also...did anyone else get a sense of Metroplex as Starscream approached the council chamber?
Oddly enough I give this episode a 3/5 (same as episode 1), whereas to me episode 1 started off great, then turned to garbage with Winblades attack, this episode was much more even paced, easy enough to do when there is mostly talking I know, but still...overall not bad. I'm cautiously optimistic as we go into next weeks episode.
Also...did anyone else get a sense of Metroplex as Starscream approached the council chamber?
Oddly enough I give this episode a 3/5 (same as episode 1), whereas to me episode 1 started off great, then turned to garbage with Winblades attack, this episode was much more even paced, easy enough to do when there is mostly talking I know, but still...overall not bad. I'm cautiously optimistic as we go into next weeks episode.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813615)
Posted by Tyrannacon on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:13am CDT
Posted by Tyrannacon on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:13am CDT
Watched it myself and I do mostly agree as well. I didn't think the person doing Rodimus was that bad actually. I will say the Mistress of Flame actress had a very wooden performance. I was kind of bothered by the whole "Sound the alarm!" thing she did at the end. It felt...clunky. Overall I'd say I like this episode a little better, but I'm a huge fan of exposition. I do have a more positive feeling for the series than I did after watching this one overall too.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813618)
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:29am CDT
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:29am CDT
The second episode of the Machinima series Transformers Combiner Wars is now online. It is titled "The Council" and features Starscream and Rodimus.
You can watch it here if you are in the US or right below in the embedded youtube video if you are outside the US.
Let us know what you think of it in the ongoing discussion on the series.
You can watch it here if you are in the US or right below in the embedded youtube video if you are outside the US.
Let us know what you think of it in the ongoing discussion on the series.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813623)
Posted by HilltopOfKaon on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:51am CDT
Posted by HilltopOfKaon on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:51am CDT
Am i the only one who can't watch it? Every time you post the episode, i'll click the link and it says " Video has been removed" or "Video not available".
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813624)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:54am CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:54am CDT
HilltopOfKaon wrote:Am i the only one who can't watch it? Every time you post the episode, i'll click the link and it says " Video has been removed" or "Video not available".
william-james88 wrote:You can watch it here if you are in the US or right below in the embedded youtube video if you are outside the US.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813626)
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:03pm CDT
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:03pm CDT
This episode was fine. Though with only 5 minutes, it would be fun if it didnt take one whole minute before anything happens.
Also, I really thought this would be a different story. I really thought the decepticons and autobots would be at war and dish out all their combiners in one go, rather than create an army of combiners or preventing that.
Also, that was quite the delayed reaction to Starscream getting shot and a very weak sounding alarm.
I love the character designs though, looking good!
Also, I really thought this would be a different story. I really thought the decepticons and autobots would be at war and dish out all their combiners in one go, rather than create an army of combiners or preventing that.
Also, that was quite the delayed reaction to Starscream getting shot and a very weak sounding alarm.
I love the character designs though, looking good!
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813627)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:05pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:05pm CDT
We were told from the press releases that this would be a post-war show with the Autobot/Decepticon civil war long over.william-james88 wrote:Also, I really thought this would be a different story. I really thought the decepticons and autobots would be at war and dish out all their combiners in one go, rather than create an army of combiners or preventing that.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813637)
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:26pm CDT
Was just expressing my thoughts from when I first heard we would get a series. And saying I would have preferred that.
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:26pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:We were told from the press releases that this would be a post-war show with the Autobot/Decepticon civil war long over.william-james88 wrote:Also, I really thought this would be a different story. I really thought the decepticons and autobots would be at war and dish out all their combiners in one go, rather than create an army of combiners or preventing that.
Was just expressing my thoughts from when I first heard we would get a series. And saying I would have preferred that.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813640)
Posted by Kurona on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:35pm CDT
Posted by Kurona on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:35pm CDT
Rodimus saying things like "turn this threat into an asset" and being the first one to suggest building an army of Combiners just... strikes me as intensely wrong.
Aside from that, the things WJ88 said and the Sound/Animation quality just generally being bad, it was okay. Though both episodes have already ended with a front shot of Optimus. Feels a little repetitive.
Aside from that, the things WJ88 said and the Sound/Animation quality just generally being bad, it was okay. Though both episodes have already ended with a front shot of Optimus. Feels a little repetitive.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813650)
Posted by MrBlack on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:43pm CDT
Posted by MrBlack on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:43pm CDT
This was better, but still a bit of a mess. The opening scene didn't look great, and ended up eating more than a fifth of the episode. Storyline-wise, this was far more interesting than the first, even if characterization is all over the place. Starscream is the reasonable one, Rodimus is the warmonger, and Windblade is still playing the role of IDW Arcee. I don't fault Machinima for wanting to tell a different story than the comic, but the disconnect between this and the comic version of the story, on top of the bizarre personalities of the characters involves, leaves me wondering why they wanted to tell this story at all.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813652)
Posted by That_Guy on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:44pm CDT
Posted by That_Guy on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:44pm CDT
Liked this episode better than the last. Didn't like how over powered Windblade seemed in the last episode. Tore thru them like cheap knock offs from a dollar store.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813656)
Posted by Kurona on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:50pm CDT
Posted by Kurona on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:50pm CDT
Also, the council seems to have some... INTERESTING architectural decisions.
Don't want people to know you have the Enigma? Keep it in a massive glass case that according to Windblade's sniper rifle, can be seen by anyone with a decent case of binoculars.
Talking of Windblade's sniper rifle, that's another interesting architectural decision. The place where the Council, the leading party of Cybertron in a time of war, unease and crisis; is a wide-open area with not even glass between them and a bullet from miles away. Like... wow. How has no-one taken out these morons before now?
Don't want people to know you have the Enigma? Keep it in a massive glass case that according to Windblade's sniper rifle, can be seen by anyone with a decent case of binoculars.
Talking of Windblade's sniper rifle, that's another interesting architectural decision. The place where the Council, the leading party of Cybertron in a time of war, unease and crisis; is a wide-open area with not even glass between them and a bullet from miles away. Like... wow. How has no-one taken out these morons before now?
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813659)
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:52pm CDT
Yeah that part was super weird.
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:52pm CDT
Kurona wrote:Rodimus saying things like "turn this threat into an asset" and being the first one to suggest building an army of Combiners just... strikes me as intensely wrong.
Yeah that part was super weird.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813660)
Posted by shauyaun on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:53pm CDT
Posted by shauyaun on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:53pm CDT
How long is each episode?
Like five minutes?!
Like five minutes?!
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813661)
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:54pm CDT
yup
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:54pm CDT
Shauyaun wrote:How long is each episode?
Like five minutes?!
yup
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813663)
Posted by shauyaun on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:55pm CDT
Posted by shauyaun on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:55pm CDT
Wow that's umm... I did not expect that
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813664)
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:59pm CDT
Posted by william-james88 on August 9th, 2016 @ 12:59pm CDT
Just curious, was I the only one surprised to hear them call themselves "transformers"?
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813666)
Posted by Galactic Prime on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:08pm CDT
Posted by Galactic Prime on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:08pm CDT
The voice acting is simple atrocious. It's so bad that it completely ruins any hope of this even being good
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813667)
Posted by Bronzewolf on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:17pm CDT
Posted by Bronzewolf on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:17pm CDT
Seibertronians, it's review time! As reported on earlier, Machinima's Combiner Wars series now has a second episode, and it's now online! After a less than satisfactory first episode, this episode will really tell the fate of the series. Yay or Nay? Let's break it down to find out.
We start on Cybertron this time, as apposed to Caminus in the first episode, and we quickly change to a shot from what I'm assuming is Starscream, as it cuts back and we see him flying just a moment later. Starscream is on a reconnaissance mission, to gather information on the state of Cybertron. On his flyover, he witnesses some bombs going off on the surface below.
From this vantage point it almost looks like Starscream was the one that dropped the bombs, but I seriously doubt this is the case.
We pan backwards, as mentioned before, to see the Decepticon fly to a large silver building. Here again we have an issue with the choppy animation. As mentioned previously on the boards, Starscream appears really choppy, while the background moves fluidly with the camera.
Starscream enters the building
Starscream enters the building from a top landing bay, and slowly descends using the thrusters on his feet. He lands and meets with Rodimus and, randomly, the Mistress of Flame. These bots are apart of the "Council" we've been hearing about.
They discuss the state and threat of the combiners, and how word of Computron and Menasor's fight has broken out on Cybertron. This is why there's so much unrest on the planet. Peace has been achieved between the AutoBots and Decepticons - and the council doesn't want to ruin that. They all consider using the "Enigma of Combination" for one reason or another. Rodimus wants to use it to take over an army of combiners, turning a threat into an asset. The Mistress wants to use it to wipe out all the combiners in one felled swoop. Starscream has an objection to this, as the combiners are transformers, too. Wiping them all out would be genocide. Besides, some of the Combiners have been loyal to, even fought for, the council.
Rodimus and the Mistress of Flame are introduced to the series
The Mistress feels it isn't Starscream's place to talk about killing other transformers, given his past. We also learn in this discussion that not only is Optimus Prime in hiding, but Megatron as well.
See, now we're getting somewhere. Now we have a story to work with. One that plays with the original concept that was proposed, and not too terribly I might add. There are still some issues, such as some of the lines delivered are a bit stiff, and the mouth-movement-to-actual-voice-and-words is way off and not ignore-able, but it goes leaps and bounds above episode one. But we're not done yet.
We start to view the council meeting through the scope of a sniper rifle. It targets Rodimus, Starscream, and the Mistress. The council walks over to the Enigma of Combination, and agree they should study all it's powers before making any brash decisions.
A sniper sets up an attack on the council
The sniper is revealed to be Windblade, set on stopping the council one way or another. She decides to fire at the Enigma, and somehow misses. She hits Starscream in the shoulder, and he falls. Another problem I have is right here. There's such a weird, delayed reaction to Starscream being shot by the rest of the council. There's a good two seconds before they really do anything. The Dialogue and sound effects become a little clunky here, as the Mistress raises the alarm and Rodimus checks on the former Decepticon.
The Enigma of Combination
We return to Windblade. She hears a noise behind her and immediately jumps and turns around. It's revealed to be Optimus Prime, now out of exile. He still doesn't say anything, and the episode ends pretty much on the same shot as the previous one.
Overall, episode two is a lot better than episode one. It gives us actual emotions, and actual dilemmas for the characters to face. It still suffers from that 5 minute time constraint, and trying to make people understand a whole new continuity with a new story line in 5 minutes in near-impossible. My only wish is that the past to episodes would have had a bit more of each other in them. Meaning, episode one, the hard-to-follow action-feast that it was, could have definitely used a little more (or, a lot more) story. And, on the flip side, episode two could have used a bit more battles and action. But, all in all, you're starting to win me back Machinima. That Wheeljack name-drop didn't hurt, either.
We start on Cybertron this time, as apposed to Caminus in the first episode, and we quickly change to a shot from what I'm assuming is Starscream, as it cuts back and we see him flying just a moment later. Starscream is on a reconnaissance mission, to gather information on the state of Cybertron. On his flyover, he witnesses some bombs going off on the surface below.
From this vantage point it almost looks like Starscream was the one that dropped the bombs, but I seriously doubt this is the case.
We pan backwards, as mentioned before, to see the Decepticon fly to a large silver building. Here again we have an issue with the choppy animation. As mentioned previously on the boards, Starscream appears really choppy, while the background moves fluidly with the camera.
Starscream enters the building
Starscream enters the building from a top landing bay, and slowly descends using the thrusters on his feet. He lands and meets with Rodimus and, randomly, the Mistress of Flame. These bots are apart of the "Council" we've been hearing about.
They discuss the state and threat of the combiners, and how word of Computron and Menasor's fight has broken out on Cybertron. This is why there's so much unrest on the planet. Peace has been achieved between the AutoBots and Decepticons - and the council doesn't want to ruin that. They all consider using the "Enigma of Combination" for one reason or another. Rodimus wants to use it to take over an army of combiners, turning a threat into an asset. The Mistress wants to use it to wipe out all the combiners in one felled swoop. Starscream has an objection to this, as the combiners are transformers, too. Wiping them all out would be genocide. Besides, some of the Combiners have been loyal to, even fought for, the council.
Rodimus and the Mistress of Flame are introduced to the series
The Mistress feels it isn't Starscream's place to talk about killing other transformers, given his past. We also learn in this discussion that not only is Optimus Prime in hiding, but Megatron as well.
See, now we're getting somewhere. Now we have a story to work with. One that plays with the original concept that was proposed, and not too terribly I might add. There are still some issues, such as some of the lines delivered are a bit stiff, and the mouth-movement-to-actual-voice-and-words is way off and not ignore-able, but it goes leaps and bounds above episode one. But we're not done yet.
We start to view the council meeting through the scope of a sniper rifle. It targets Rodimus, Starscream, and the Mistress. The council walks over to the Enigma of Combination, and agree they should study all it's powers before making any brash decisions.
A sniper sets up an attack on the council
The sniper is revealed to be Windblade, set on stopping the council one way or another. She decides to fire at the Enigma, and somehow misses. She hits Starscream in the shoulder, and he falls. Another problem I have is right here. There's such a weird, delayed reaction to Starscream being shot by the rest of the council. There's a good two seconds before they really do anything. The Dialogue and sound effects become a little clunky here, as the Mistress raises the alarm and Rodimus checks on the former Decepticon.
The Enigma of CombinationWe return to Windblade. She hears a noise behind her and immediately jumps and turns around. It's revealed to be Optimus Prime, now out of exile. He still doesn't say anything, and the episode ends pretty much on the same shot as the previous one.
Overall, episode two is a lot better than episode one. It gives us actual emotions, and actual dilemmas for the characters to face. It still suffers from that 5 minute time constraint, and trying to make people understand a whole new continuity with a new story line in 5 minutes in near-impossible. My only wish is that the past to episodes would have had a bit more of each other in them. Meaning, episode one, the hard-to-follow action-feast that it was, could have definitely used a little more (or, a lot more) story. And, on the flip side, episode two could have used a bit more battles and action. But, all in all, you're starting to win me back Machinima. That Wheeljack name-drop didn't hurt, either.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813668)
Posted by 1984forever on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:25pm CDT
Posted by 1984forever on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:25pm CDT
Boring. I don't want to see Autobots and Decepticons talking unless they're talking about breaking each other.
The mistress of Flame is just taking up space. She doesn't look like she can transform into anything, so she shouldn't be in TRANSFORMERS.
The last episode was 10x better than this one.
The mistress of Flame is just taking up space. She doesn't look like she can transform into anything, so she shouldn't be in TRANSFORMERS.
The last episode was 10x better than this one.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813669)
Posted by o.supreme on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:25pm CDT
They mentioned Wheeljack?...didn't catch that.
Posted by o.supreme on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:25pm CDT
Bronzewolf wrote:That Wheeljack name-drop didn't hurt, either.
They mentioned Wheeljack?...didn't catch that.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813670)
Posted by Bronzewolf on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:29pm CDT
Yep. Just before Scream gets shot, when they're all looking at the Enigma. Rodimus says something like "I can have Wheeljack take a look at-"
Posted by Bronzewolf on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:29pm CDT
o.supreme wrote:Bronzewolf wrote:That Wheeljack name-drop didn't hurt, either.
They mentioned Wheeljack?...didn't catch that.
Yep. Just before Scream gets shot, when they're all looking at the Enigma. Rodimus says something like "I can have Wheeljack take a look at-"
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813673)
Posted by ricemazter on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:35pm CDT
Posted by ricemazter on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:35pm CDT
This episode, I think, was slightly better than the last if only because we understand more about the context of the setting. Again, though the pacing and priorities of the directions are just strange. In a five minute long episode why, again, do we spend almost a minute and a half of the episode, almost a quarter of the run time, on establishing shots and Starscream in an elevator. These shots don't correspond to anything Starscream says about the situation getting worse, and are borderline filler.
Despite having more exposition, there are still too many missing pieces for us to really understand the stakes. Were the current combiners created using the enigma, or were they built during the war? If no one yet understands the enigma, how do they know it can be used to create an army of combiners or destroy them? If the war is over why does the council need more combiners? Is it to take current combiners? Are the combiners being treated as their own faction? If so, why are some loyal to the council and some not? Why would there be a question of wiping all of them out if some of them aren't acting in their own self interest? So far, there are too many unanswered questions.
Also, it seems that someone at some point switched the lines for Hot Rod and Starscream in the scripting process. Especially since at the beginning of the combiner wars comics it was Starscream that wanted to build more of them.
The weirdest thing about this series for me, with all the gravitas surrounding combiners, is that it feels like an advertisement for the toyline, which is already winding down for titans. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the only ones really left to be released Computron and the G2 versions of the others?
Despite having more exposition, there are still too many missing pieces for us to really understand the stakes. Were the current combiners created using the enigma, or were they built during the war? If no one yet understands the enigma, how do they know it can be used to create an army of combiners or destroy them? If the war is over why does the council need more combiners? Is it to take current combiners? Are the combiners being treated as their own faction? If so, why are some loyal to the council and some not? Why would there be a question of wiping all of them out if some of them aren't acting in their own self interest? So far, there are too many unanswered questions.
Also, it seems that someone at some point switched the lines for Hot Rod and Starscream in the scripting process. Especially since at the beginning of the combiner wars comics it was Starscream that wanted to build more of them.
The weirdest thing about this series for me, with all the gravitas surrounding combiners, is that it feels like an advertisement for the toyline, which is already winding down for titans. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the only ones really left to be released Computron and the G2 versions of the others?
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813675)
Posted by Tyrannacon on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:35pm CDT
Posted by Tyrannacon on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:35pm CDT
Honestly for a web series it's not that terrible at least. The length is my only issue, most web series I've seen were like 8 to 15 minutes (at the most). I do think if it were on the television I do think my own opinion of it would be a lot harsher at least. Kinda sucks because this series is meant to be for older fans at least. I just worry that if it does poorly there won't be another attempt to make a series for older fans though. I do hope this series does have some of the goofiness seen in other stuff from around the continuities.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813681)
Posted by mesh on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:51pm CDT
Posted by mesh on August 9th, 2016 @ 1:51pm CDT
In total honesty, these episodes are just too short. Too short to provide constructive critics and too short to get pulled into whatever they are talking about. For audiences with short attention spans these webisodes suck.
The animation blows compared to the hype produced at the SDCC Convention. They made the fans believe they were getting something extraordinary and mind blowing.
So far I am unimpressed but I'll give two more episodes to see how it developes.
The animation blows compared to the hype produced at the SDCC Convention. They made the fans believe they were getting something extraordinary and mind blowing.
So far I am unimpressed but I'll give two more episodes to see how it developes.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813684)
Posted by Galactic Prime on August 9th, 2016 @ 2:02pm CDT
Posted by Galactic Prime on August 9th, 2016 @ 2:02pm CDT
The voice acting is bad, the animation is sub-par, the story makes no sense, and the episodes are too short.
Terrible, Hasbro should shoot these asshats for even making this
Terrible, Hasbro should shoot these asshats for even making this
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813700)
Posted by partholon on August 9th, 2016 @ 2:53pm CDT
Posted by partholon on August 9th, 2016 @ 2:53pm CDT
i have to concur .
its just not working.
the format is just all wrong for something as complex as an adult TF tale and the animation/voice acting isnt anything to write home about.
i guess i wouldnt be judgeing it so harshly if i didnt just get through watching a compliation of the cut scenes from war/fall of cybertron on youtube.
i laud the effort and hope they dont give up on giving us a more comics level of maturity animated series. but this is just failing to make the grade of such aims.
its just not working.
the format is just all wrong for something as complex as an adult TF tale and the animation/voice acting isnt anything to write home about.
i guess i wouldnt be judgeing it so harshly if i didnt just get through watching a compliation of the cut scenes from war/fall of cybertron on youtube.
i laud the effort and hope they dont give up on giving us a more comics level of maturity animated series. but this is just failing to make the grade of such aims.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813731)
Posted by SG Roadbuster on August 9th, 2016 @ 4:40pm CDT
Posted by SG Roadbuster on August 9th, 2016 @ 4:40pm CDT
This series is gonna fail, And fail hard. and Hasbro is gonna take away the wrong lesson from this. they'll think that older tf fans dont want an animated series/film aimed at them. when the real lesson to be learned here is not to let Machinima make your movie.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813733)
Posted by Stealth Claw on August 9th, 2016 @ 4:40pm CDT
hey armada was amazing, it was beast wars and armada that was the reason I grew up liking transformers.
Posted by Stealth Claw on August 9th, 2016 @ 4:40pm CDT
Kurona wrote:Stuartmaximus wrote:o.supreme wrote:Deadput wrote:I've seriously never been disappointed by Transformers this much before it's strange for me.
it is isn't it. But don't worry I've had my fair share of disappointments (Beast Machines, Armada, Animated). they come and go. If you are patient, while another spectrum of the fandom is being catered to, it will come back around to what you like, just might take a few years. Combiner Wars was definitely not what I was expecting but I am enjoying it whilst all other parts of the medium aren't really "my thing" right now. Prime was amazing, and I don't expect to see another series as great, at least as far as what I'm looking for, for another decade or so. So, while CW is far form perfect, I'll take what little scraps I can get until Transformers decides to do something again mainstream more to my liking.
Btw what's wrong with Armada? if it wasn't for Armada....we finally wouldn't have gotten a Unicron toy! nor a Tidal Wave one either! nor would we have got the Armada videogame that everyone....well....almost everyone....seemed to love at the time....& maybe there's a few that still love it today as well).
It was a terrible show with a terrible toyline. Not much else to say.
hey armada was amazing, it was beast wars and armada that was the reason I grew up liking transformers.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813742)
Posted by padfoo on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:04pm CDT
Unfortunately your right, you put together a product hastfully and it misses the mark.....
Posted by padfoo on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:04pm CDT
SG Roadbuster wrote:This series is gonna fail, And fail hard. and Hasbro is gonna take away the wrong lesson from this. they'll think that older tf fans dont want an animated series/film aimed at them. when the real lesson to be learned here is not to let Machinima make your movie.
Unfortunately your right, you put together a product hastfully and it misses the mark.....
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813744)
Posted by Kurona on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:06pm CDT
I'm cynical enough to agree with you honestly. The whole bad-thing-failing-but-companies-getting-the-wrong-idea-about-why-it-failed-and-removing-all-the-few-things-people-liked-about-it thing happens a lot I feel.
Posted by Kurona on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:06pm CDT
SG Roadbuster wrote:This series is gonna fail, And fail hard. and Hasbro is gonna take away the wrong lesson from this. they'll think that older tf fans dont want an animated series/film aimed at them. when the real lesson to be learned here is not to let Machinima make your movie.
I'm cynical enough to agree with you honestly. The whole bad-thing-failing-but-companies-getting-the-wrong-idea-about-why-it-failed-and-removing-all-the-few-things-people-liked-about-it thing happens a lot I feel.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813749)
Posted by padfoo on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:17pm CDT
I hate to be overly critical at the attempt to give us fans a animated series of a different caliber but you are right. I thought it was a fortress locked up like fort Knox based on Starscreams entrance through multiple doors but once he entered the entire center of the structure is open. Did someone forget to close the blinds, no guards, and we are in a one shot/hit one kill universe how is anyone still alive. On a positive note I felt it was better than the last episode......
Posted by padfoo on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:17pm CDT
Kurona wrote:Also, the council seems to have some... INTERESTING architectural decisions.
Don't want people to know you have the Enigma? Keep it in a massive glass case that according to Windblade's sniper rifle, can be seen by anyone with a decent case of binoculars.
Talking of Windblade's sniper rifle, that's another interesting architectural decision. The place where the Council, the leading party of Cybertron in a time of war, unease and crisis; is a wide-open area with not even glass between them and a bullet from miles away. Like... wow. How has no-one taken out these morons before now?
I hate to be overly critical at the attempt to give us fans a animated series of a different caliber but you are right. I thought it was a fortress locked up like fort Knox based on Starscreams entrance through multiple doors but once he entered the entire center of the structure is open. Did someone forget to close the blinds, no guards, and we are in a one shot/hit one kill universe how is anyone still alive. On a positive note I felt it was better than the last episode......
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813756)
Posted by Mr Skram on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:49pm CDT
Posted by Mr Skram on August 9th, 2016 @ 5:49pm CDT
Oh man, the mouth shapes and lip syncing really stood out as horrible to me. Did the animation get worse in this episode or was I just paying more attention. I swear the first one was a bit more fluid. I'm of the opposite opinion of most here, I thought the first episode was better. I really wanted to like the series but I don't think I can be on board with this. Even the new prelude spot seemed to be lower quality than before. I'll keep watching to see where this all ends up since it's not much of a time investment, but I'll probably keep snidely chuckling to myself the whole way through.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813770)
Posted by ZeroWolf on August 9th, 2016 @ 6:42pm CDT
Come on guys and girls, let's not get too hasty with this series. For starters what's hasbro really got to take away from this series anyway? The toy line it's promoting is already at its natural end. They can't lose sales from this, and let's face it, it is just another toy advert. What may happen is that this becomes the only one of this series of it doesn't get enough clicks, so no titans return series or whatever the third part of prime wars is (I'm betting on it actually being called Prime wars).
While I hear and agree that more effort needs to be put in to make these better, it's still just a free-to-watch show at the end of the day, so I doubt that hasbro will walk away thinking the adult fans don't want material for them.
Now if the comics stopped selling completely then you would have something to worry about
Posted by ZeroWolf on August 9th, 2016 @ 6:42pm CDT
Kurona wrote:SG Roadbuster wrote:This series is gonna fail, And fail hard. and Hasbro is gonna take away the wrong lesson from this. they'll think that older tf fans dont want an animated series/film aimed at them. when the real lesson to be learned here is not to let Machinima make your movie.
I'm cynical enough to agree with you honestly. The whole bad-thing-failing-but-companies-getting-the-wrong-idea-about-why-it-failed-and-removing-all-the-few-things-people-liked-about-it thing happens a lot I feel.
Come on guys and girls, let's not get too hasty with this series. For starters what's hasbro really got to take away from this series anyway? The toy line it's promoting is already at its natural end. They can't lose sales from this, and let's face it, it is just another toy advert. What may happen is that this becomes the only one of this series of it doesn't get enough clicks, so no titans return series or whatever the third part of prime wars is (I'm betting on it actually being called Prime wars).
While I hear and agree that more effort needs to be put in to make these better, it's still just a free-to-watch show at the end of the day, so I doubt that hasbro will walk away thinking the adult fans don't want material for them.
Now if the comics stopped selling completely then you would have something to worry about
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813793)
Posted by King Kuuga on August 9th, 2016 @ 8:41pm CDT
It is pretty clear that she misses because Optimus pushes her at the last second.... before disappearing into the shadows for his dramatic reveal.
I'm getting a feeling from these episodes like I got from the second, third, etc episodes of RWBY volume 1. They're too short and not much is happening, and they're over right when they get interesting. Hopefully, like RWBY vol 1, it gets better as it goes on. I won't be too harsh until it's all out and available for judging, but this is starting off rather lackluster. As someone else said, we don't have enough information about the combiners yet to really understand the situation. They're being treated like titans, rather than larger robots made from their fellow autobots and decepticons. Seriously, not one hint that maybe the Combiners are the sum of parts other than just the name "combiners" and their mishmash appearances. You could currently sub them out with generic giant transformers and have the same story.
I will say, Starscream likes to make an entrance and I'd be more appreciative of that if it hadn't taken up a full fifth of the episode.
Posted by King Kuuga on August 9th, 2016 @ 8:41pm CDT
Bronzewolf wrote:The sniper is revealed to be Windblade, set on stopping the council one way or another. She decides to fire at the Enigma, and somehow misses. She hits Starscream in the shoulder, and he falls. Another problem I have is right here. There's such a weird, delayed reaction to Starscream being shot by the rest of the council. There's a good two seconds before they really do anything. The Dialogue and sound effects become a little clunky here, as the Mistress raises the alarm and Rodimus checks on the former Decepticon.
It is pretty clear that she misses because Optimus pushes her at the last second.... before disappearing into the shadows for his dramatic reveal.
I'm getting a feeling from these episodes like I got from the second, third, etc episodes of RWBY volume 1. They're too short and not much is happening, and they're over right when they get interesting. Hopefully, like RWBY vol 1, it gets better as it goes on. I won't be too harsh until it's all out and available for judging, but this is starting off rather lackluster. As someone else said, we don't have enough information about the combiners yet to really understand the situation. They're being treated like titans, rather than larger robots made from their fellow autobots and decepticons. Seriously, not one hint that maybe the Combiners are the sum of parts other than just the name "combiners" and their mishmash appearances. You could currently sub them out with generic giant transformers and have the same story.
I will say, Starscream likes to make an entrance and I'd be more appreciative of that if it hadn't taken up a full fifth of the episode.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813837)
Posted by HilltopOfKaon on August 9th, 2016 @ 10:32pm CDT
Posted by HilltopOfKaon on August 9th, 2016 @ 10:32pm CDT
I thought these were pretty good. A nice twist to IDW's story. A little short i must say but it makes me want more.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813846)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:01pm CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:01pm CDT
I'm going against the grain here, but I liked this episode a lot better. I hated being thrown into the story en media res but this episode made me actually like it some. Yes, it's too short, but I like it for what it is.
Now if only Optimus would actually be allowed to speak...
Now if only Optimus would actually be allowed to speak...
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813851)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:21pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2016 @ 11:21pm CDT
It's funny seeing people complain about Optimus not talking at all when people were prevously sick of either all his psycho dialogue from the movies or nearly everything he ever said in the Prime cartoon. 
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813860)
Posted by Sunstar on August 10th, 2016 @ 1:20am CDT
Posted by Sunstar on August 10th, 2016 @ 1:20am CDT
that wasn't too bad. better than the last. I had to giggle a little. Starscream sounded a bit like he inhaled helium. Other than that. I felt it was okay.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813862)
Posted by Burn on August 10th, 2016 @ 1:28am CDT
Posted by Burn on August 10th, 2016 @ 1:28am CDT
I'm going to keep holding onto the belief that once this is all released and I can watch it in one sitting, it will be a good little series.
That being said, I really hope we don't get a repeat of Starscreams "entrance". Honestly dude, just use the front door next time.
That being said, I really hope we don't get a repeat of Starscreams "entrance". Honestly dude, just use the front door next time.
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813863)
Posted by leokearon on August 10th, 2016 @ 1:35am CDT
Posted by leokearon on August 10th, 2016 @ 1:35am CDT
Given the weak animation models and all, is Rodimus supposed to be Hot Rod or actually Rodimus Prime
Re: Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Behind The Scenes Video (1813877)
Posted by Kurona on August 10th, 2016 @ 5:55am CDT
Starscream says in his prelude that it's Rodimus. He looks to be based on his recent Masterpiece toy, mind.
Posted by Kurona on August 10th, 2016 @ 5:55am CDT
leokearon wrote:Given the weak animation models and all, is Rodimus supposed to be Hot Rod or actually Rodimus Prime
Starscream says in his prelude that it's Rodimus. He looks to be based on his recent Masterpiece toy, mind.
