Elf

Elf

@elfdragon12.bsky.social

A nerd with too many hobbies like art, writing, and spending hours outside with my dog. Giant robots on the brain.

46 followers19 following1.2K posts

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I do wish that when a Transformers fan work is described as continuity soup that it would be something other than "Aligned lore with their favorite IDW1 personalities in a vaguely G1 cartoon setting". There are other interesting continuities in the franchise, guys.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I don't know what to say to people who choose to bring their cat to dog-centric events. Like, genuinely, what's the thought process here? Is there an assumption that because a dog's okay with humans and other dogs, it'll be okay with other animals and so bringing a commonly chased animal is fine???

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Being a Blaster fan who is largely ambivalent about Soundwave is suffering. I would rather focus on the guy who loves rock music (Marvel Blaster is definitely a punk rock guy), is loud, dances with humans, and is loyal than that other guy who mostly just stands there and looks cool.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

If Cyberworld was an actually *good* show, I might understand trying really hard to justify casting Si Rawlinson instead of literally any black VA... But it's an okay webseries for 5 year olds. What are we doing here?

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Transformers showrunners in the 80s: We specifically need to get Scatman Crothers on board to play Jazz! Transformers showrunners in 2026: Eh, we have a small budget, so Jazz will be played be, uuuuhhh- *throws a dart* Whoever that is.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Were there seriously NO black VA's in Cyberworld's budget to hire for one of the only two specifically black-coded Transformers characters? If they have Blaster show up also not voiced by a black VA, just throw the whole thing away.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

So there's a Transformers op-ed talking about the "Budianskian" approach vs the "Furmanist" approach. There are some interesting thoughts, but I do wonder how much the writer actually paid attention to Beast Wars. Like, how do you watch Code of Hero and think it's about protecting nature?

View full thread
Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

The article is just very dismissive of Beast Wars while singing praises for Beast Machines and its themes... Except BM is so beholden to the *idea* of its themes that it doesn't actually execute them well and has to have God explain the themes to its audience. It also isn't very good at nuance.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

So there's a Transformers op-ed talking about the "Budianskian" approach vs the "Furmanist" approach. There are some interesting thoughts, but I do wonder how much the writer actually paid attention to Beast Wars. Like, how do you watch Code of Hero and think it's about protecting nature?

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Code of Hero isn't a subtle episode. We get a direct reference to the Butterfly Effect as Quickstrike steps on a butterfly just before the Predacons attack the proto-humans and Dinobot almost killed himself to prove he controlled his own destiny. This episode was not about environmentalism.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

If you want to talk about environmentalist themes in Beast Wars, the storyline you want is Tigatron and the Vok and how it was juxtaposed with Tarantulas and the Vok.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

If more people admitted that the Constructicons did horrible things to Prowl that would get them imprisoned for life by a jury rather than just going "teehee, Prowl is bad at feelings!", I could be convinced to be interested in it.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Looking at Furman's thin-skinned reaction to Scott's carefully worded criticism about Spotlight: Arcee, it's amazing how he's managed to keep working in the entertainment industry for so long. But hey! Hit dogs holler and so much of the industry hates women.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I remember someone complaining that what Tarantulas did in Earthspark WAS unhinged actually. For a regular guy? Yes, kidnapping a kid's parents based on a half-heard conversation and planning to wipe their memories is unhinged. For a guy who's into cannibalism? It really isn't.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

As someone who watched the cannibal version of Tarantulas in Beast Wars in the designated age range of 7-12 and was--gasp--not traumatized, was hyped up by his creepy appearance in the ES trailer, and encouraged by Nick Roche quoting the Wreckers saga... ES Tarantulas was incredibly disappointing.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

It's wild how different of an experience US readers had with Prowl in the Marvel Transformers comics than UK readers. US Prowl: I'm worried for Optimus's safety, but I refuse to risk the lives of innocent humans. UK Prowl: If you'd just use my Casualty-inator 5000, we'd have won the war by now!

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Blackarachnia in her major appearances: Beast Wars: fiercely finds any way to establish her own autonomy and power, refusing to fall behind and thus be manipulated or forced to do things Beast Machines: wants to find her boyfriend TFA: wants to revert to her original body so she can rejoin society

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I do think that Vegeta of DBZ has a better character arc than Megatron in the MTMTE comics. We get a lot more of Vegeta's journey from a genocidal colonizer to willing to sacrifice himself, along with its bumps, than Megatron's journey from genocidal colonizer to willing to sacrifice himself.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I think people try to handwave a lot of the evils Megatron committed with his backstory of being a revolutionary against classism, but that doesn't really gel with his Phase 6 colonization plans. However, MTMTE just "fixes" his xenophobia without doing any work or showing him change over time.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I don't know that I've ever seen a more Rattrap quote! The struggles of being the team MVP! #BeastWars #Transformers

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I wonder why the Japanese dubbers for Beast Wars chose to center so many of their decisions around the idea of it being a comedy. Sure, it has comedic bits, but it'd be a stretch to call it a comedy. Then the following anime sequels were also much more comedic in tone compared to the G1 sequels.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I can't get over Rattrap having the same voice as Usopp--not just the same VA, but same voice with maybe minor tweaks. They aren't really similar characters at all. Rattrap is a middle aged man, why does he sound younger than Cheetor?

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Outside of wanting a Decepticon leader that isn't from an anime, I don't see the appeal of Galvatron being a completely separate character from Megatron. There's just much more interesting story potential with a Galvatron that used to be Megatron than "some other dude" Galvatron.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I hate coming across cats who are chill/friendly towards dogs or cats that get aggressive with dogs on my dog walks. They never go away when shooed and tend to follow too close to my dog who very much is not cat friendly--or anything that isn't a person or another dog friendly, for that matter.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

My dog got frustrated I wouldn't let her try to kill someone's escaped pet tortoise. She's too high prey drive to trust around other animals.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

It's funny when you notice your dog has breed preferences. I have a shar pei/husky mix. She's very selective and likes her boundaries, doesn't like playing in groups, and has a more cat-like personality. However, she has a favorite breed--the most quintessential dog of all time, golden retrievers.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

She *loves* to say hi to goldens and her new friend that she got to spend this morning playing with is one. Opposites attract, I guess. 😆

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

It's a bit frustrating when Transformers fan act like G1 and IDW1 are interchangeable because IDW1 is a "G1 reboot". However, they don't share lore, characterizations, history, or most plot points. They share the basic "Autobots and Decepticons fight a war that ruins Cybertron and land on Earth".

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I finally finished all the Japanese Transformers G1 and Beast era shows. Generally, they're acceptably written kids shows--except Headmasters which made me want to bang my head against a wall. I would say, collectively, they struggle with balancing characters and making antagonists interesting.

View full thread
Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Beast Wars II kind of tried to make Galvatron more interesting, but I found him valuing compassion to be more confusing because his goal is to be an iron fisted tyrant. He's not even very nice to his own brother, never once praising him throughout their lives until the end of the show.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Victory and Beast Wars Neo did the best at balancing their shows. Victory didn't spend much time focusing on individuals, so there's not much of a single character getting overwhelming focus (minus Star Saber). Beast Wars Neo kept the cast fairly small, so no one got lost in the shuffle.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

I finally finished all the Japanese Transformers G1 and Beast era shows. Generally, they're acceptably written kids shows--except Headmasters which made me want to bang my head against a wall. I would say, collectively, they struggle with balancing characters and making antagonists interesting.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Scorponok is the most interesting because he is a proactive character and there's more focus on his intelligence (but the show is so stupid 😭). The other lead antagonists are just sitting around most of the time giving orders until we lead into the climax because they're only powerhouses.

Elf
@elfdragon12.bsky.social

Simon Furman: It doesn't make sense for robots to have genders! Also Simon Furman: After Buster Witwicky gives the Matrix back to Optimus, he starts having visions of conbiners.

Elf reposted

Herzspalter
@herzspalter.bsky.social

Rest in peace, Peter Cullen 💔 Thank you for giving so much warmth and care to your roles, you've meant so much to a lot of people. May you rest softly in your accomplishments. 'til all are one

Elf reposted

Diana Soreil
@silencedrowns.bsky.social

I hope this horrible week teaches us one thing: you will be remembered and loved infinitely more for moments of kindness, friendship, and joy than for power, dominance, or bullying. you have the choice for what sort of life you want to live. make the right one.

Elf reposted

Abby Bulmer
@abbybulmer.bsky.social

I did this recently because I wanted to get out how I feel about Optimus as a character. RIP Peter Cullen, who gave so much warmth to a cool big robot dad.

Abby Bulmer@abbybulmer.bsky.social

I drew our dad for TFN (fingers crossed printshop is on my side of course) #Transformers #OptimusPrime