>Also, is it just me or does the newer transformer designs(the
>animation stuff) seem I don't know... cluttered?

In some cases very much so, for the simple reason that the character designers are working under the looming, terrible shadow of the live-action film franchise. They're trying to carry across a simplified impression of the design style from said franchise - Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, in particular, are clearly intended to call to mind the movie versions - and since the robot designs in the live-action films are utter and complete crap, we end up with... well, with what we've got... in Prime.

Some are better than others. Ratchet's not bad, because his design (for some reason) owes much more to the version from Transformers Animated than the movies (without the mysterious and baffling need for a shave), as does Bulkhead. Arcee, even if she does have that movie-Transformer spindly-jaggedness going on in places, would be fine if she had a nose. Prime, 'Bee, and all the Decepticons, on the other hand... sigh. Headshake.

The makers of the live-action film series have much to answer for in Sto-vo-kor, that's all I'm saying.

--G.
The opinions expressed in the interview segments are strictly, etc.
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.