Transformers Age of Extinction was released today – but we’ve already got the first concept arts from the movie to share with you! These concepts by Robert Simons show off ideas for the robot modes of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Lockdown in Transformers 4, along with Lockdown’s ship, all very different to how they were on screen.
Of interest is that some of these pieces are dated 9.26.09 or 9.27.09 – so could Paramount have been talking about using Lockdown in Transformers 4 as early as two months after the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen?
Porkulus
He's got quite a bit of the Red Frame's chest, too…
I like the design for a Gundam but Bumblebee's design up there might as well have turned into a spaceship. For the most part I'm glad this concept art isn't what we got. It's like they designed everything to be robot monsters first and turn into cars second.
kanzakimina
The Bumblebee…
and this's "PG" GUNDAM ASTRAY RED FRAME(BANDAI 2009 made in Japan)…
pdxtrojan
Uhh…conceptual art =/= concept art.
Conceptual art is a genre of art, like surrealism or performance art.
Conceptual art – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Concept art basically encompasses developmental rough drafts leading up to a finalized design.
Concept art – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
webz
Really? Just looking at the robot modes, you can't tell a single alt mode from the robot mode for almost any of the movie bots other than jetfire.
You can get a vague idea that prime is a truck, or bee is a sports car, but until the transformation "cheats" and pulls panels from nowhere, you don't have an concrete idea of altmodes.
Jetfire is the exception because he's one of the most iconic jets in aviation history… People who have zero concept of jets even recognize the blackbird.
That's one of the things people here whined constantly when first art leaked back in 2006… "Waaaaah they have exposed engines! Waaaaaah! Too skinny! Waaaaaah! Where's the car parts? Waaaah!" Etc
webz
While I do love the look of lockdown, LOVE his car mode, I really wish the gun-face element went to galvatron, as an homage to tf07's megatron gun mode (itself an homage to the laser gun g1 megatron toy comes with…) just think that woulda been cooler. Oh well.
doctajones428
Michael Bay doesn't draw the concepts. Again, it's a CONCEPT, not what it will be. Besides, what does TF5 and this art have to do with each other
Maybe he originally wasn't designed to have an Earth mode like Megatron, Soundwave, Shockwave, etc.
Also, most concepts are generic as it's a rough idea for the higher ups to look at and say "Hey, make that gun smaller, make him look less robotic and maybe make him a Lamborghini" or "Hey, that Optimus is way too thin and that Bumblebee face is similar to the TFP Bee, can you change it up?"
Concepts don't need to be perfect or resemble the final product, because that's not the point of them
tonyformer
Cool concepts but I'm glad none of it was used
maewlaay
Another cool TF4 concept art from John J. Park !!
For concept art maniac..check out TF4 great work from Steven Messing !
Chainlink
Jeez. Gunface has been around for a while, huh?
Ra88
Uhm, you guys do know what concept art is, right? There is nothing strange about this. They consider all angles to see what does and doesn't work.
Paxtin
Most of it is rather negative though.
After the pounding AOE took with the critics, I think any second chance the franchise had, Bay completely pissed it down his leg.
EnergonWaffles
Part of a concept artist's job is to push the boundaries and pump out all sorts of ideas, no matter how ridiculous.
Music
A twist, what if he actually looked like is G1 counterpart but Hasbro or whoever wanted to incorporate a "Bulkhead" into the film?
Paxtin
I wish I didn't like art like this. I wish this wasn't the kind of aesthetic that inspires me as an artist. Well…Failed artist.
That Bee does look very TFP esque. Makes me really want to see some early Hound stuff, see just how Bulkhead'ish was he in concept.
GAUGE
I'm glad they didn't go with ANY of these designs to be honest.
primal789
Concepts are almost always looking like crap altough there are some I like
Mechafire
Wow, thank god Lockdown didn't end up looking like that. That looks generic as hell.
eagc7
its meeee or Bee and Prime look like their TFP counterparts here
Leather Elbows
Ew, glad these didn't make it into the film. Optimus looks disgusting.
Rexidus
Cool sci-fi stuff but nothing in those implies to me the Transformers brand other than Optimus's and Bumblbee's heads.