Another great piece of Transformers history is now available online for all old-time fans. The Sunbow Marvel Archive website have uploaded new early The Transformers: The Movie storyboards.
Covering the initial third of the film before jumping to Unicron’s transformation. Working from a slightly earlier version of the script, they include more brutal deaths for the shuttle crew, as well as the confirmed death of Mirage (layout simplification on the final version makes it ambiguous).
You can find this new material via the Sunbow Marvel Archive website, along with the finalized versions. We also have an an animatic video after the jump. Click on the discussion link below and be sure to share your impressions on the 2005 Boards!
GAUGE
Considering that Megatron is vastly more powerful in his Gun form as his attacks are far more precise and controlled, that looks about accurate. Especially since on his tech spec he has the ability to inter-dimensionally link up to a Black Hole using it's raw power and anti-matter to power up his fusion cannon. Brawn and anyone else he ever shot should have been completely Vaporized. The pieces would be in that they couldn't be identified they'd be so tiny. Almost Powder. Starscream was proof of that. Galavatron still has a Fusion Cannon and his power is still vastly increased and more focused as a Flak Cannon.
saberconvoy
If I recall, they planned on killing the entire 84 toy line.
MrNiceGuy
So that now officially makes three different movies were Mirage survived his original intended death
SMOG
So "Cubby" would become Steeljaw I guess. Bolts would probably be the same mold as Eject/Rewind, and Stripes would probably be a Ravage repaint — but whatever happened to Stinger. Have we ever seen prototypes or anything of the sort for this mold?
Also, odd choice to use a scorpion for an Autobot cassette. I approve.
zmog
fschuler
Wow…should have given us something more like this…while keeping the “heroic nonsense” bit in there. I would have liked to see those guys put up more of a fight before dying like a bunch of sitting ducks. I think that bothered me more…it was too easy.
Boople Barp
Ah, perfect, I was just thinking to myself that there weren't enough sudden displays of guesome violence in this movie.
Skycutter
while this is not the main focus of the thread, i do like the 2 new cassette, stinger and bolts
electronicosmosis
Honestly though, every time I hear about Magnus originally being drawn and quartered, it makes so much more sense how the Junkions were able to put him back together again…
SMOG
Sure, we see how much more violent some of the deaths would have been (old news) but can we just talk a moment about how beautifully drawn many of these storyboards are?
Very simple and raw, but there's a real flair there (especially considering many artists aren't great at drawing TFs). The heavy spotted blacks look great. Makes me think of Hugo Pratt or something. Neat.
zmog
KodyCrimson
For real
saberconvoy
I love how Megatron finally gets revenge on Mirage for ruining his shuttle launch all the way back in episode 3.
linkinparkirony
damn, they were gonna kill Mirage?
dj_convoy II
Man, poor Mirage and especially Braun. They really wanted to go hard for a kid\'s movie (and still managed to, at least somewhat).
Hadlen_Weltall
Yeesh, this cut of the movie would have been more brutal. No wonder they wanted to have Magnus drawn and quartered.
Klutchkick
I like the fact that Brawn getting blown clean in half (Mortal Kombat style) and then Ratchet, Ironhide and Mirage literally exploding to pieces are all apparetly because of Megatron. It really shows how powerful he is and how his fusion cannon (and gun mode) are really meant to be portrayed as.
Prowls death would have been interesting to see on screen, the detailed look at his \"critical hit\" added with the now infamous burnt out internals would have stood out even more.
The only down side to this oroginal version is leaving out Megatron\'s execution of Ironhide which really added to his character.
Vector Oracle
You know things are messed up when getting shot through the shoulder is the better, less violent option of the two.
Wheeljack 84
I don\'t know what\'s worse, fans thinking that Brawn is weak because he died from a shot to the shoulder, or Brawn getting shot in half. Poor dude can\'t catch a break.
World Turtle
Mirage got trashed too. I remember seeing other storyboards where this scene was more ambiguous but this flat out states he explodes after Megatron shoots him. Fuck.
Budgieking
Damn… brawn got absolutely wrecked…
KodyCrimson
Brawn would have been VERY dead if this is what we got.