Is Mass Change a Problem in Transformers Prime?: How Transformation works
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
- Did you ever just look at Predaking and wonder how he could get so big while only just being taller than Megatron? Or how can Arcee become so small that a human can ride on her? What is going on with Bulkhead and his tires?! Something is up, but it is mass changing or just design flaws? Let's find the answers in the Transformers Prime concept art book and toss in a pinch of speculation!
Ending- Tetris theme: • Video - Фільми й анімація
"And Knockout's, well, his sexy self I guess"
- The Art of Prime
Damn
You know Knockout's a knockout when the devs admit it
I don’t think anyone going to complain
The blurb in the book describing Knock Out's design process is great.
They started with a fast car (KO started as a rival for Bee), pimped it out, and then decided if the car looked that good, the bot mode should be sexy too. Then they decided his original name, Lug Nut, wasn't sexy enough for the bot. 😄
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
You know Knockout's a knockout when even the *devs* get knockedout by Knockout!
I've actually done the math for Arcee. In her robot mode her weight would be 1,125 lbs (based on the mass of the metal cybertronians are made of.) Her vehicle mode weight would be about 450 lbs. Arcee and predaking are violating the laws of physics.
How did you figure out how much their metal weighs though?
No wounder why some people don't like the series when they are just jelly that these bots have the ultimate cheats on weight gain and loss
Error 404: physics not found
@@stellathefoxgirl3648 memes play in the back round
That how Transformers Roll😎😎😎
Emperor: Mass shifting is a result of a lower budget
Devastator: hahaha NO
Hahaha we do not speak of that
No but the reason for mass shifting is because they wanted bigger, imposing bots. They said they cheated with Arcee, right? The budget only limited how they could do facial expressions and prevented them from making too many bot models
Didn't like.. Their computer almost explode while trying to render Devastator?
@@-Wayla- it did explode, so the model was spit apart in multible computers
@@tdpuuhailee8222
Oh shit
@@-Wayla- yep
8:08 imagine being a cybrotronian docter and trying to do surgery on a bot but all the transformers designs are different so you wouldn't know the certain location of a organ
I'm actually tackling that issue in the fanfic I'm writing. I'm postulating that there are frame categories that a mechasurgeon has to learn. The internals for each category are the same; it's only the size and outer plating that's different. Most medical personnel specialize in 15 or fewer categories. What makes Ratchet so effective is that he worked on a lot more frames than most, and could accurately guess on the ones he hadn't encountered before. (Think the difference between a general surgeon and a veterinary surgeon.)
Makes a lot more sense than losing a bunch of patients while you struggle to figure out how the Cybertronian under your knife is supposed to be routed. :)
Ratchet is also a victim of this, his vehicle mode is way smaller than his robot mode.
Yes, the little ambulance the vehicons chase around before Megatron steps on him! I think every single character is an offender
The figurines are The answers for these transformation problems
No shit
@@emperorkumquat considering soundwave once turned into a freaking cassete player and megatron beCAME GUN i dont see a problem
In fairness, I bought the Masterpiece Ratchet and he was a fairly sizable figure. He turned into a really compact little van, and I was shocked at how much he compressed into a tiny little van once he was transformed. So I think it's maybe a bit more possible that you'd think.
Yeah. I never felt it was a real problem, density can be increased/deceased but mass should not be able to be changed
Except that if density was changed. Their durability would suffer tremendously. In arcee's case her density shifting would make her 2.5 times less dense than the metal she is made of. She would be as dense as ebony wood which would make her dangerously vulnerable to human weapons.
Is mass shift/change the same thing of compact mass or mass enlargement? I mean, I always thought that what they do is mass redistribution
@@nil981 you are thinking wrong. Her robot mode is her base density, bcs well, it's her original form. When she becomes a motorcycle, she compacts her mass so the density gets denser, so she is more resistent on alt mode, not her robot mode that is weaker
It's not that unlikely. Predaking especially, given that he flies, "hollow" parts would make a lot of sense to keep his beast form light enough compared to it's area.
Arcee's really a light, scoutish type so similarly being on the fragile side isn't terrible surprising. As a motorcycle she'd be essentially solid metal vs her full size though.
I agree with the original comment but I do want to add a counter argument for the case of Bipedal->Quadrapedal
Particularly with the Predacons. But let's use just Predaking for simplicity sake. The mass stays the same (as it should) but the volume changes. In his robotic mode he is extra dense and his footsteps should sound extraordinary heavy to show that
However. I feel in his beast mode. They should be slightly less heavy sounding as he's now on 4 legs instead of 2. Therefore spreading out the distribution of his mass more lightening the step of each individual leg
(Note) this does not imply he gets less heavy or more heavy when changing modes. He's still the same weight. Just that he displaces the mass differently depending on what mode he's in
I feel as if the designs of the Decepticons help show their personalities and why they chose those those forms, Starscream is backstabbing and wants power, and having a flight advantage over the Autobots helps him feel that, Soundwave is loyal and follows every command without question, so he becomes a drone, knockout is uptight and snobby, so he becomes a fancy sports car, Megatron is power hungry and a warrior, so he becomes a sharp and powerful alien jet, Breakdown is headstrong and likes destroying things, so he becomes a muscle truck, and so on.
I understand mass shifting is a problem, but it probably doesn't apply to them because they operate differently than humans and them making matter out of nowhere is probably something that just happens for them
Well, no really because you can't just choose forms based on personality. That is canon. They cannot just fly or drive- they have body restrictions. Starscream was 'born' a flier and has always been one. But Megatron keeping his Cybertronian jet form (that he was modified to have) is because he is too proud to have an Earth form (written in the art book). Knockout can only be a car, but yes he did choose a nice one because that is his style. Breakdown is just big, so he can't choose a vehicle too small. The creators did make certain choices, you are right, but it isn't right to say that these characters chose their forms so freely
@@emperorkumquat maybe the vehicle effect the personalities of the cybertronian?
@@emperorkumquat Megatron is an advanced alien jet not a Cybertronian jet. How is a cybertronian jet so small? I know they have Custom transformation forms they were born with but Megatron wasn't born a flyer
@@emperorkumquat but they clearly did choose some forms based off of personality. Hell, you just said that they did: if Megatron's pride prevents him from getting an alt mode, that's a personal choice dictated by his megalomania-driven personality.
So in short, Transformers Prime’s mass shift problem is because of a limited Budget and etc.
Mr. Pancake was it really a problem I mean in terms of character relation ala ironhide being as wide as a truck or grimlock head being smaller than his body is far more of a issue than waaaa this transformers is bigger than what it turns into
They were already spending 1.6 mil an eps just to go get that sweet high quality cg, it’s understandable ig.
But is mass shift the same thing of compact mass or mass enlargement?
I like how Megatron and Soundwave both used to have ground vehicle modes, and even after they got upgraded to flight, their bot forms still look like grounders, as they don't have wings like Starscream. You can really see that they are grounders by nature, while fliers by nature like Starscream and Dreadwing have actual wings. Love it
9:25
He looks like that Sim character, that comes into the wrong room, and then turns back.
Edit: Also, like my friend once said. War for Cybertron was made before Prime and Fall of Cybertron after WFC. There is a huge chance that people making them didn't know how it all will look like in Prime and it was too late to change it. (WFC-2010, FOC-2012, Prime-2010) That's why some characters act different and look differently.
Luuc T none of the shows in Aligned were really “planned” either
For me, in the middle of the vehicle mode the parts can be tightly packed, for cybertron technology that seems to be mechanical biology is no big deal. But this theory with flexible metal explains a lot. I'm so glad that someone touched the subject of the faces in tfp, I always thought that this metal must be very plastic, I guessed it when I saw that nemesis prime built by humans doesn't move eyelids and can't take off the mask, because the MECH engineers cannot build the flexible lips . I'm waiting for more great videos emperor !
Thanks~!
Nemesis Prime yeah, I’ve always thought that characters like Astrotrain simply compresses into a small robot mode because his alt modes are hollow shells
@@gezi5927 indeed
I always thought that the transformers mechanical “flesh” could compact itself and then expand.
Your voice is ok, it sounds like you're a coworker of Orion Pax giving a lesson to some elementary students during a field trip. Keep up the good work!
Darth Davlo That is awesome! Sounds so cute. It isn’t the standard “I hate my voice”thing though- it’s because of the hormones making my voice crack, so I have to concentrate very hard right now on keeping it steady
@@emperorkumquat for the bayformers film series i theprise that the transformers parts "slide" and fold into place when they transform and i would say their energon is stored in the fuel tank when they are in vehicle mode
I think mass shifting isn’t a bad thing, especially after IDW explain it in an interesting way.
However it’s an interesting argument
7:50 Megatron eyes: ⬅️ ➡️
That seriously needs to be a meme
"bloody hell, he just punched the moon!" oh my god that line.
9:22
It's so weird to see Megatron just...walking.
I always thought that the presence of cockpits and driving wheels was because of the minicons
"You can't ad and remove mass out of nowere"
TF prime: 🖕 I do what I want to do
G1 would like to speak with that person
@@olchapplobro5258 yup, megatron, soundwave, shockwave, blaster, etc.
they have a space bridge soooo....
I really doubt about that. Pretty sure what they do is mass redistribution
@@Lu1zF3l1pe So where does the mass redistribute?
Maybe its because I grew up with things like Soundwave's Mass shifting cassette mode and Optimus's Trailer teleport frequency but I never noticed Prime's size issues.
Ugh, Rung literally punching the moon while all the other characters lost their minds was so cool
"I cannot tell you what their eyebrows are attached to"
Fucking Legendary
Nice. I’ve always noticed mass changing in Prime, so it’s cool to see it addressed. Also I just found your channel recently and I really enjoy your vids! Prime was always one of my fav TF shows so it’s cool to see someone going in depth on it.
Thanks~!
Emperor Kumquat No problem!
You can watch Arcee and bulkhead transform in slow motion, and they literally grow mass to become the size in their robot modes
10:59 arcee is just so relatable here
Yeah, I always feel the need to stretch after transforming into a living robot
For the longest time, it has bothered me more that when you actually check out a car, it's relatively empty inside. And yet transformers with a car mode, can spawn parts out of nowhere. It especially hit me when Bumblebee transformed for the fires time in live action. We see that small car that has room inside it, spawn so many big parts, and turn into a giant robot.
Eh I really don’t mind at all. A little size change is worth it for the epic sizes!
I run a Transformers RPG and one character used his experience points to develop mass shifting to a larger scale in later adventures. We used a cover story that while in stasis his shifting shorted out and he forgot he had it. While undergoing repairs, the medic reconnected some loose wires and the result almost wrecked the medical bay as parts started expanding and bots were ducking under jutting vehicle parts. We were rolling, laughing about it and we bring it back up often.
9:05 *OOOOOOFF!!!!! Predaking just hit Megatron with the Nutcracker!*
😂
I barely realized that
😂😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
@@davidvasquez08 Your welcome :}
That makes Starscream's reaction face even more hilarious
@@affsteak3530 DESTRUCTION 100
I absolutely love that you continue to cover TFP. It is my childhood and continues to be in my life. Also this is a subject that I continuously questioned.
I personally like to think that Skyquake not flyging until he scanned something was a strategic desicion so that he would keep a disquise
My guess as to why cybertronions have stuff like seats and rubber tires and stuff is that maby this isn't non metal but instead a sort of metallic fabric. This would also explain the change in bulkhead's tire size. Much like the rest of the metal on his body, these would also stretch
I always thought that the seats and interiors were scanned along with the exterior of the vehicle.
Glad your channel is on the up! That image of Trypticon though, that's really cool to see it was considered being put into the show. Would have tugged my heartstrings if he had tried and failed to transform with the help of the dark energon.
One explanation could be that metal in certain parts of their alt modes "fold into themselves" which lead to more "dense" or "thick" frames. This could explain why some robots are just naturally stronger than others even if similar size.
If you can change one’s mass, you can create infinite energy.
I mean, if the key to vector sigma can become so compact, mass shifting shouldnt be a problem.
Well in the bayverse (where transformium is from) the normal transformers still have to scan vehicles within their sizes and vehicles until age of extinction when ksi tampers with it and changes these rules
I can't wait to see the breakdown on the book I always wanted to get my hands on one but I never had the time to
People are telling me it is terribly expensive to buy online now ($300 or higher). My recommendation is to not spend that money because the book isn't incredibly impressive. I think all the pictures can be found online anyway, and I will share all the facts inside for everyone's enjoyment
I think I'll stick with the Prime versions as my head's canon appearances.
5:24 also perfect for Minicons
Now i think we want some info on why Megatrons power in Prime series is so downplayed.
Whos with me??
Gladiator of kaon, Come one we barely see any of his might lore wise
I don’t think he’s downplayed at least not dramatically he’s usually defeating optimus in most of their fights and is only barely defeated most of the time
Now downplaying would be in the old robots in disguise series since they portray auto bots as do weak as to barely being able to fight blitzwing and lugnut to going to fight people like star scream and megatron
@@invictus6176 Sorry if i seem late, but
Its still phockin baffles me to no end how Megatron, who basically has an army, a mobile base of operations (his own goddamn WARship) which logically; facilitates a lot of military assets like intelligence gathering, research facility (at least the bare minimum, from what i can see), construction tools (to the point that hes able to rebuild the omega lock!!) AND a lot more im sure, also possibly running state-wide mining operations, if only just mining, And the series have shown that Megatron DID have snuck and planted some of the decepticon forces and trinkets (?), into earth, waaaaay back before the autobots even arrived. And he still werent able to beat a bunch of, rag tag team of lousy officers, whos condition were made worse by being held back by humans.
It just SO happens that the rag tags were led by Optimus. So? At least if it was still a civil war in cybertron like in WFC/FOC, i can see why Optimus could level the playing field. But on earth? With barely anything left? i dont think so
If you go by the numbers, its still doesnt make sense as to why or how Optimus doesnt seemingly ever lose ground to Megatron (mostly), who has a pheckload of military asset, at least compared to Optimus's team, even if Megatron has a bunch of backstabbers in his ranks.
The only semblance, of Optimus losing is when his base was "Independence Day"ed by Megs warship. And the fact that he just set up a frickin fortress for himself...
Only to, you guessed it, be sabotaged BY, you guessed it again, RESURRECTED Optimus, who now has capable of flight, and then the whole thing came apart like it was made by paper. Its as if structural integrity wasnt even feature of his FORTRESS. And dont get me started on Megs warship being boarded by a puny team, disregarding the ENTIRE crew on board. MULTIPLE times
See what i meant by Megatrons power being donwplayed here?
Hell if it wanst for Megatrons assets, i doubt that even Optimus would be able to revive cybertron (Ehem, mobile Omega Lock?)
Im ranting, i know. Srry.
But its because i actually care
@@invictus6176 I also found it funny that in some of the very first episodes, Optimus's team couldnt even handle a bunch of grunts. It just so happens that in the future episodes, one blaster shot knocks em down.
If said blaster is as big as Megatrons G1 or WFC/FOC Fusion Cannon (?), i can see why
I guess what im trying to say here is Optimus has a heavy emphasis of plot armor for his survival....AHEM, artifacts. That someone with the reaches of Megatrons power, couldnt even acquire
For some god forsaken reasons
If I'm correct Nexus Prime never shapeshifted, and it was amalgamous prime who was always changing shapes.
*14:12** I TOUGHT THAT IS HOW SHE REMEMBERS THAT, BUT NO HOW IT HAPPENS*
Arc Trooper Rod 269 your spelling is so terrible
@@gezi5927 *SORRY, THE ENGLISH ISN'T MY MOTHER TONGUE*
Arc Trooper Rod 269 sorry, it’s just that it’s impossible to read
I love the idea of cockpits and cabs being the cybertronian equivalent of pockets.
*FOR ME, RID & RESCUE BOTS ARE NOT IN THE SAME UNIVERSE AS PRIME & WFC/FOC*
Rescue Bots is surprisingly decent, but RID wounds my soul and boils my blood
@@emperorkumquat *MAYBE, BUT IT HASNT SENSE THAT IN PRIME THE AUTOBOTS DO ALL FOR BEING IN SECRET & IN RESCUE BOTS THEY NEVER HIDE*
@@ArcTrooperRod-269
Not every bot has to hide like Prime heroes.
@@ArcTrooperRod-269 But there's a reason for that..? I may be a bit biased towards rescue bots since it was the 1st tf show I watched (after beast wars when I was pretty young so it doesnt count) that being said rid was my 2nd/3rd. But in the show they work around the whole thing by placing them on a futuristic island. Its secluded and open to technology. A perfect place for a rescue team, without that thered basically be no show. And yes since this took place during TFP the prime team couldve had a temporary base there but I doubt prime would risk leading the decepticons to helpless autobots and humans. The few crossovers the rescue team had actually made sense. It was a fluent storyline that happened during points where the bots were free to visit. Although I will say rescue bots academy bee is very..odd? They changed the voice and design that's more evergreen style but I think that was for marketing reasons. Rescue bots prime wfc/foc and the books all tie in neatly together. Sorry that I ranted here just wanted to get that out of the way. (Also RID sucks imo)
@@autobothilt7864 *FOR ME TRASFORMERS PRIME WILL END WITH GALVATRON'S REVENGE, NOT WITH THAT CRAPPY SHOW*
I recently found your channel and I really enjoy your videos, especially starscream and all the abuse he gets and the lives of the Vehicons. Regardless, I believe your channel is worth commending and would love to see more longer videos, both silly and serious. Keep up the good work.
Great video, really brings up points and lore I wasn’t aware of.
Just found out your channel and i rly like it. I might stick around for a while, good luck on videos!
My personal head cannon for Skyquake (and by greater extension all of the cybertronians on earth) is that natural cybertronian alt modes aren’t capable of functioning with how different earth’s environment is. For example the hover cars seen in R.I.D (curse you R.I.D.) could function due to magnetism, and with the earth’s ground being generally non magnetic, they can’t hover. As for the flyers, due to jack needing a space suit, it’s likely that Cybertron has a different atmosphere entirely, likely being a much denser one which would allow their natural alt modes to fly, whilst on earth with its less dense atmosphere, they can’t get off the ground without proper earth alt modes designed with the planet in mind. Shockwave is just a tank with treads so his alt mode works for both planets, Megatron’s artificial alt mode could either just be powerful enough to fly anyways, or it was designed for space, thus allowing for a decently capable earth flight mode. The Vehicons and Eradicons, due to being clones, could likely be part swapped more easily than other bots, allowing for the Eradicons’ cybertronian-like alt modes whilst still being capable of flight on earth, and as for Predaking? I don’t have a good explanation, but my guess is that his alien dragon form was originally intended for an atmosphere similarly dense, or even less dense than earths.
tl;dr, the majority of cybertronian alt modes aren’t capable of functioning on earth, therefore Skyquake needed an earth vehicle mode in order to fly.
That’s actually a really cool theory and it makes sense with them doing some Magnito shit to move on Cybertron
But in tfp u can see people like wheeljack Have wheels on basically his arms when he arrives on earth but why cant he transform into a cybertronian vehicle mode on earth I mean he doesn't have hover wheels and he does not fly so air density does have nothing to do with it. I have been trying to figure this out for a while please help me out.
For the differing designs between games, Prime and RID, I like to think of a concept I call an “Aesthetic Lens” where, basically, all answers are correct, but only visible from one perspective. Think of it like a texture pack for a video game, or the optical tests at the eye doctor.
I'm not the only one who noticed it
@Matěj Kišac I mean with the series in general I get never heard anyone mention it in a review
darksteel and skylynx literally just inflate their chests like a balloon when transforming into predacons lmfao
I absolutely adore Prime's visual designs, but I gotta say,the Cybertron games will always be on top for me
Transformers Prime is brilliant! I wish its run was longer. Even though it's a different continuity, the mass-shifting in G1 is explained by 'sub-space'. Sub-space is a pocket dimension transformers can access to store or 'summon' excess mass or parts when taking certain forms. It explains why G1 Optimus Prime's trailer diasappears when he's in robot mode, or where a majority of Soundwave's body goes when he turns into something small like a walkman. The thing I wonder about is, why did the majority of Decepticons take animal forms in the Rid 2015 series? Aside from the fact they look cool...
It really feels like they should've made Bulkhead a large military vehicle like in Transformers Animated. Then, his size would make much more sense. However, they made him an SUV, of all things. I really think that was a poor decision.
12:10 that is all that I'm going to look at when I see bulkhead
I loved this show. Where can I find that art book? I really liked the artwork. Unlike the movies (except the Bumblebee reboot)the bots actually looked like they transformed into cars or planes. I didn't know that the artists planned out each step of a character's transformation sequence.
The thing that Knockout had when knocking out Vince might be a like the neutralizer seeing that it may be powered down a bit having the person who he shocked fall into a deep recharge by force?
Thank you very much. I've been thinking a lot about mass shifting in TFP since I decided to draw some characters from it. I'm glad the issue is being talked about. More power.
When I am drawing Predaking, I make his bot form larger and I might be reducing the size of his dragon form a bit. But importantly, still making him look as imposing as possible
Great video. And cool I read the aligned novels and their some of my favorite books.
In Rid bumblebee says starscream went back into his original body being his wfc body
The real question is why Megatron has a bucket head
@Selozar bring in the bucket jokes
@The Greeter, If you read Megatron Origin (comic book) it says the reason he wears the "bucket" is because it's a mining helmet/helmet in general. Underneath that helmet, Megatron has sensitive panels/a crest that served to help him in the mines (in the comic it's shown him taking off the helmet after a successful gladiatorial fight and showing them off as the sunlight hits before putting the helmet back on), but since he technically doesn't need them and they are a "weakness" he protects them at all cost
@@gianellanajera6586 dude that's awesome, never new that
Form a character legacy perspective, is because of his original toy. The hole legendiary helmet that defined the character is because of a piece of kibble. I'm not kidding just look at the original toy and you will see what I'm talking about.
Great video as always! I feel the mass change works in TFP in the show but as toys.
Can you please make a video about Shockwave and his obsession with logic?
I might take a look into Shockwave and if he has emotions later on
inb4 its just because shockwave is an INTP
Though I cannot find a source for prime, in the aligned continuity, which it is considered a part of, there is mentions of subspaces and armour pockets. these could be an explanation as to where some of the mass goes, it's not being removed, simply placed in a space that cannot be accessed. Not trying to break your argument, but it's a thing I noticed while playing the games and in RID
There is not mention of this in TFP, and would it make sense for these bots, even those living in slavery back in their past, to all have private subspaces? They certainly aren't forged with that and there is no mention of them gaining it. I only think this applies to things like the Apex Armour
@@emperorkumquat that is true, but perhaps during the course of the war, they obtained the nessisary upgrades? Also I believe IDW made one of the two a latent race trait. Not that the two continuities are connected, but sometimes bleed over is a thing. Especially with franchises as large as transformers
Greg Day I doubt they would implement it and not mention it or figure out how to make themselves even bigger
I love your analysis videos, and don't worry, your voice is excellent, a very good analysis voice.
You're a very good speaker, if it was me I would need to read from a script (dunno if you have a script, maybe you do, but it sounds good either way), and I would stumble over the words all the time.
Well, I do with school work anyway, dunno if it would be the same if it was something I actually liked...
Anyway, excellent video, love that little meme at the end "Me, explaining the deep lore of Transformers; My mom: :/" XD
Rubywing4 Thank you! I do write scripts actually because I need to be sure that I don’t leave any information out. I need the time to remember facts last minute and throw them inside, and I have to fix my words sometimes so that people don’t misunderstand and argue! I am glad that it is not obvious that I am reading, because I try to write it very casual like I am just talking. It is also important because it lets me create the subtitles much faster (I want this for people learning English and Deaf people)
That meme at the end is real lol. My mom encourages me but if I talk for even a minute, I lose her. My sister though I can talk to and some friends I forced to watch the show
@@emperorkumquat Well, nice job:)
I can't talk to anyone in my family about transformers, other than my youngest big brother, and I live with my parents and both big brothers. But I don't really talk with my brother anymore, we're kinda drifting apart.
Then again, even if I were to talk to a person in real life about transformers, who is interested in transformers, I might cause their ears to fall off XD
Rubywing4 Your people are here
@@emperorkumquat :D That's right, I have the online community :)
This helped so much tysm!
I love your content and trust it. Great video. I got new insight into this topic after watching this video
Thank you. I try to use many references and logic things out, instead of making it what I want
"I like the way I look in steel-belted radials." - Knock-Out. So ego may be a part of the transformation limitations.
Honestly your videos are amazing
Oh man, I have had So Many conversations and debates on this topic, not just regarding TFP, but Transformers as a whole.
Something that I've used in my own writing of various characters is linking mass displacement with subspace with more crazy transformations like G1 Megatron's gunmode, but Arcee and Predaking were actually a lot easier to explain (at least for me) after seeing a showcase of a real life BMW concept vehicle called the Vision Next 100 that utilized a technology called 'active geometry' to allow the enclosed wheels to still be able to turn. On the BMW, articulated pieces of metal on an underlying flexible material allow for mobility as well as protection, and the idea that the 'skin' of a Cybertronian used a similar concept but on a microscopic scale just worked SO WELL in writing that I couldn't leave it alone. There's also the utilization of compacting organs and functions not used in specific modes, like how Predaking's long neck and large chest are primarily conduits for the generation of his flame breath, which is never used in his bot mode, so the large empty space is easily compacted away like a plastic light saber toy. Bots that maintain a more consistent size between modes often don't have as many empty spaces, so have less room to compact or expand.
You do make a very good point about the tires though, and the only thing I can think that might explain the oddity is the combination of the 'active geometry' idea combined with the thought that bot mode is also usually battle mode, and having a component full of empty air is rather dangerous and distracting. So, instead, the rubber-like material is stretched over an internal metal structure, reducing the chances of a blow out but also providing impact dispersal, like the difference between a beach ball and a bouncy ball- A beach ball pops and is overall done for, but a bouncy ball can get chipped at and just keeps going.
I very much agree that Prime fluffed their bot to human scaling to better establish them as titanic beings, and it works well for the story telling, but it does make consistency a problem. Still, it's a LOT better about it than a lot of the more cartoony shows, and especially some of the Asian interpretations. The old CG of Beast Wars comes to mind...
Anyway, thanks for putting together this video and giving an inside look at the Art of Prime book! I've been wanting to get a copy of my own for a long time, but just haven't had the opportunity. So it's great to get a sneak peek!
0ArmoredSoul0 I think the book is very expensive to buy online now, and I don’t really think it is worth it to be honest. I will share the funny things and facts inside for everyone later
Mass change has never been a problem to me. I actually think it makes the series a lot more fun
For Predaking you can probably explain his mass shifting as his beast mode being hollow or pneumatized internally. When going into robot mode, it all sort of packs together and the internal hollows collapse. After all, he needs to be light enough in order to fly.
For the radio, Cybertronians are probably able to receive radio waves, so maybe the part of their brain that handles that becomes the radio? Also I love the idea that the heads and limbs of the bot form are compacted into the vehicle form and still visible of you look in the right place
I thought the are just partly hollow when in robo-form. Thought they change simply volume of their bodies
Very informative video. Thank you!
I get why the mass changing is a thing but honestly I'd love to see a pic showing how tall they'd be with less extreme mass changing. I could only imagine how tiny arcee would be compared to the rest of the cast
I love your vids, finally another gal which appreciates transformers as much as I do 😊
Nice Video
This is the content I need
How does transformation work in transformers prime?
My mind be like : *wee woo wee woo woo, now I’m a robot
I figured it was because skyquake returned to his protoform for space travel or at the very least atmospheric re-entry
I'm excited about the "Dreadwings honor" video
that big void in the middle for the interior would account for mass change...
Transformers prime is the reason why the transformations in the War for/Fall of Cybertron games are so intricate and have a load of moving/shifting parts when transforming
Arcee regularly fits inside her shin for scale
I always thought their seats, tires, etc were made of thin metal woven together to look like fabric and rubber
i'm currently designing my own transformer for my character (nitro) and something I was afraid of was mass shifting. he's supposed to transform into a 4 seat off road buggy that's around 10 feet long but in robot mode he would be compact and stand around 9 or 8 ft tall.
I never once thought about this while watching
It's been 5 years since I've visited the fandom, damn you're dedicated.
Nice video
I can’t stop thinking how sounders needs to fly feet first
I think mass shifting can be explained like this: it's made possible by an "organ" similar to the T Cog that is usually built inside cybertronians that transform into objects and to not make it overpowered this "organ" consumes additional energon while used so you can't just become tiny or absurdely big whenever you want. I think that mass shifting gets too much hate when it can be developed in the right way and then, people say that it's unrealistic. If people can accept the whole divine and mystic bs that hasbro kept throwing at us since the marvel comics run then they can accept something like Ant Man (a human scientist) is capable to do. Seriously, cybertronians are a species of super advanced machines older than the entire humanity, i think they would've discover a way to change their mass at some point.
Hey I know that song, that's tetris for the Nintendo Gameboy!
Also I think Dreadwing's honour would make a good discussion video.
3:58,Prime biggest mistake, nobody Transform in the flashback and Skyquake didn't Transform ,RID15 fixed that in the first episode
honestly i would like a transformers where the bots aren't these huge titans, but just slightly bigger than humans. Like in bumblebee
Sorry to disappoint but rescue bots acadamy confirmed the existence of mass change in the season 2 episode “More than meets the eye”
Your excellence, should we expect any kind of coverage of Grimlock and the dinobots?
Vector Prime Stop Motion Yes, at some point later on
YESSS NEW VIDEO 💖
I always wondered about the non-metalic parts in the vehicle modes like glass, especially after watching the Transformers: the movie where it seemed like they had glass in the windows of their spaceships