Transformers Animated proved to be a very popular series and collection among fans. It’s good to ahve some news or extra information about it after a while. We can share some new Transformers Animated Concept Art by Japanese Designer Watanabe Yoshihiro for your viewing pleasure.
4 concept art images were uploaded via Yokishiro’s T weeter. We can clearly spot an early version of Optimus Prime in a very cartoonish-style. We have other three images for different characters. These images may go back to the early days of “Transformers Heroes”, the first early idea that then became Transformers Animated.
You can check out the mirrored images after the break, and then you can share your impressions on the 2005 Boards!
MrNiceGuy
That's pretty much what Animated Optimus is, right?
I wish there was a sketch of what it would look like with that mask on. The firefighter angle they had going was pretty cool, and it sorta survived into Animated Prime.
Moonminer
i would love to see a cartoon in this style. 2D animation?
SPLIT LIP
This is honestly one of my favourite Optimus designs. That face in the upper left, fucking fantastic.
Dark Prime
They should make a non crappy CN reboot starting from the end AKA season 4
artimus prime
Looks like he could be an epic Orion Pax.
Paxtin
Pretty much, among other early western toons.
It's funny when one thinks about the circular nature of the influences between east and west animation.
Scrapmaker
I will take twenty of these, thank you.
Requiem Prime
Not bad at all. I would like to see a transformers with this style.
Robbot
Yeah, Osamu Tezuka isn't called the Walt Disney of Japan for nothing!
Robbot
Yeah youre right. he doesn't really have the design cues of hot shot (the racecar harness and helmet) but I do see some interesting takes on hotrod things: the spoiler, the chest… He kind of reminds me of IDW hot rod in a way
BombSquad
I'm 99% sure it's labeled as Hot Shot in the Allspark Almanac.
I really hope Hasbro decodes to go for this sort of style one day, as they've canned it twice (Transtech and Heroes). Third time's the charm?
MrByatis
I believe that Hot Rod is actually supposed to be Hot Shot, Derrick J Wyatt has said before that Hot Shot was going to be part of the main cast before being replaced with Bumblebee; and Hot Shot's name in Japan was "Hot Rod" at the time (G1 Hot Rod was called Hot Rodimus).
MrNiceGuy
Ok, this is random. Animated is over a decade old now.
![[IMG]](http://i.picpar.com/66Vc.png)
Third bot looks very femme, is it? Not sure.
Also that "Hero" Optimus design is pretty goofy compared to this one. (from the allspark almanac) I friggin love this thing.
Scrapmaker
I like the second and third ones. They're unique and dynamic, and I think we can all agree that Transformers needs more of that.
Deadend
Yup. Much of what influenced early Anime, that then influenced modern anime, all track backs to early Disney.
Back on that discussion of two new Autobots from Velocitron using this design and Animated Blur, What would you name a male one of that Speedstar partner dynamic idea?
Like I said, Takara and Hasbro had the rights, and not long after was Animated. So that fits to what I said. The designers were coming off of that aesthetic during development of this. Keep in mind, the year of release doesn't mean the year of when it was being designed or conceptualized. It doesn't go from brainstorming concept sketch and random ideas to toy shelf in less than a month or even 6 months. It's a year+ depending on how long something is in the concept stages before active development.
GrimLocke
Mostly, I thought that that design looked sleek enough to easily triplechange from car to ship.
But, I would be happy to see the colony worlds return, but maybe not call them colonies. Then again, I know I’m asking a lot for there to be a carefully planned out Cybertronic diaspora.
Also, thinking on an Animated duo(con) has me looking back to Jetfire and Jetstorm and, better yet, a day when there’s a figure of Tenryujin from GaoGaiGar: Grand Glorious Gathering!
And guess what Astro Boy, Getter Robo, Gigantor, and Cyborg 009 were imitating?
The Walt Disney Company!
Nemisispath
Don't remember seeing any Megaman toys back in '06.
Used to be a ton back in '05 alongside Transformers Cybertron. Bought a bunch of them.
Onilink
Looks loke some Megaman robot masters
Deadend
Animated was around back when Takara had the Megaman/Rockman EXE rights and Hasbro had them domestically. So that may not be too far off actually. The designers would have been coming off of that not long before.
Also explains the Bulkhead repaint too that was very gutsman EXE.
Transtech was some heavy influences in Animated designs. Lockdown, Blur, and Cybertronian mode Optimus were heavy Transtech influenced.
Paxtin
That's one cheeky looking Optimus.
The first thing that I thought of for some reason was Cyborg 009, art style wise, but Megaman is also very apt. There are many other animes that have that style to em that I can't quite place though at the moment.