Concept artist Xylac Industries have shared some interesting pieces of concept artwork of the Dinobots, which they were commissioned to produce by Hasbro three years ago. It’s mentioned that these artworks were not produced specifically for Transformers Age of Extinction but as a part of a wider study of a different aesthetic style for the Transformers live action movie universe. It’s mentioned that the new aesthetics included “layering to see the inner mechanic structure under a transparent layer, organic shape to the Mechanic – Musculature, new silhouette, new panel segmentation styles, Organic forms and Muscle system.”
Once again these are not specific Age of Extinction concept arts but ones produced to explore a new artistic direction. You might also find it interesting to know that all of these arts were produced in a tight two-week timeframe. Check them out!
closetrat
I like these – they look alien & yet still recognizable to the animals that inspired them/g1…
optimusmegas
so…..grimlock's dino mode is metal gear ray?
interesting crossover….
dragon
transformers in anime format mecha looking style?
SPLIT LIP
Didn't they do exactly that with Prime? Just draw robots and slap vehicle parts on them?
Seems that the only time something previously accepted becomes bad is solely because it happened in the movies.
Necromaster
Grimlock is way too skinny. He needs BEEF.
The rest of them are good, though. The overall aesthetic reminds me of the Eidolons from Final Fantasy 13.
kaijuguy19
Leader Class Grimlock's shoulder pads are closer to that of the CGI and the rest of the onscreen Dinobot's toys are pretty close to how they appeared in the movie so in that regard we do have an idea of how they transform.
Josh
wowwwwww i really REALLY like those robot modes <3
tonyformer
I'm not feeling the Dino heads on some of them but overall, I actually like them. And the reason I think I like them is because while still looking very "Dino-like" they look very close in design to the fallen and the primes from ROTF. These designs look like they would fit into that time frame very nicely.
Grimlock even has that strange connecting "thing" from his body to underarms like the fallen did.
Decepticons
Can someone explain to me why everyone one else looks pretty good and badass except Grimlock?
Shizuka
Because Samurai bots make more sense, right?
Enma
I think what he meant is that these design have more recognisable dinosaur parts in robot mode,you can almost figure out the transformartions and thats something I cannot say about the movie dinobots they have some visible parts but seems like they just drew some cool robots and then randomly added the dinosaur parts,heck the t-rex heads on Grimlocks shoulders apparently dont have nothing to do with his alt mode they dont have horns and they are complete not splited in two
Enma
These concepts remind me of the Titanomachy characters created by the artist TGping on devianart
Novaburnhilde
Very neat concepts!
kaijuguy19
Well just what is Transformers is about then? I don't understand that question. Also what's wrong with having the Dinobots have a knight motiff other then them not looking G1 like? They still envoke the same characteristics and design elements from the past even if they didn't talk.
Afterburner
Very abstract, but yet more recognizable than what we ended up getting. Not surprising considering the people in charge know nothing and care nothing about what TransFormers actually are and what TransFormers is actually about.
Raiju
Neat. Has a bit of a Metal Gear Solid + HR Giger + Evangelion vibe going on with the oddly humanoid alien designs. Still, I'm kinda glad that they went with the barbarian/knightly direction for the Dinobots instead as it gives off a more primeval aesthetic to them. These concepts look too Alien-ish in a HR Giger way that doesn't really say Dinobots so much as Xenomorphs to me.
Randomus
With a little solid paneling and color, these might have worked as Prime designs…
HasTak
Agreed with the general consensus; Grimlock looks severely overdone (almost as if he'd been assimilated with HR Giger's Alien), but the rest are awesome.
I know they may not be the same character, but I prefer a normal pterodactyl Swoop than the Siamese twin version named Strafe from the movies.
Snarl's design is my favorite of the bunch.
Traachon
Hmm. Interesting. Some of these designs remind me of TGping's stuff, however the execution on these is not nearly as good. The designs work for transforming dinosaurs, but not for Transformers.