My power. It has a flavor.

[seiberwing]

Yes, I'm complaining about TF:Mosaic again, although at least this time it isn't gender perceptions or homophobia.

As you may have noticed, the dialogue is winceworthy ("everything I touch is food for my hunger"?) and completely OOC. I initially chalked this up to simply being on the low end of the already mediocre writing quality that's about three quarters of all of TF: Mosaic's output. However, apparently it's copypasta from a scene in G1.

What the hell.

I mean, first off it's lame. TF Animated is already a giant homage, I'd like to think the fandom wouldn't keep pushing it. Secondly, this is nothing like what TFA Megatron and Optimus would say. Megatron is a lot less pompous and overdramatic, and Optimus tends to restrain his corniness to his morale speeches--battle dialogue is more snappy for him, usually sarcastic. They also don't speak on an equal level, as instead of being eons-old rivals Optimus is barely a blip on Megatron's radar most days. All things being equal Megatron could mop the floor with him and usually does until someone else interferes.

I'd especially like to draw your attention to this interchange:

Nachtsider: I'm sorry, but this one just doesn't do it for me. The art's okay, for sure, but the dialog seems almost corny, and there doesn't seem to be any real story to speak of... :(

MagusTheLofty: The dialogue is word for word from the G1 pilot episode where Optimus and Megatron are fighting on Sherman Damn. (lol typos)

Nachtsider: Darn. Now that you tell me the dialog was meant to be a homage, I feel quite guilty over the harsh judgment I handed out in my initial comment. The reason I didn't catch the reference you pointed out is because I'm a guy who grew up with the G1 Marvel comics, and never really paid much attention to the Sunbow cartoon. If the artist is listening, I'd like him to know I'm terribly sorry...

Suddenly narmtastic dialogue becomes reasonable because it's part of the sacred G1. I mean, I'm hardly saying that one can't enjoy the utter cheese that is G1, but that doesn't make it anything that a sane person would actually say.

...also, the art just sucks.

EDIT: And the artist weighs in, because the artist always weighs in to ignore most of the comments and give an excuse for being subpar.

dpfghela: Hi all...

once again, thanks for all your comments. I did this peice as a tester, so that I could get used to drawing TFAnimated. I ended up doing a full page so decided to forward it to TFMosiac. Hence the odd mix of old and new. To be honest...I've always wanted to see a rematch of this battle from MTMTE Ep2.

You don't submit testers to contests, you submit decent polished work. Your interest in a Megatron/Optimus rematch is not something you need to inflict on poor TFA. Go back to your room.

Comments

[sonofwolf.livejournal.com]

I think people forget that the G1 pilot had a lot of things that seem to have been abandoned even in the regular G1 cartoon, and even THEN, the G1 cartoon was one big giant corndog on a stick. Sure, it's great for nostalgia, but c'mon...it isn't the best example of writing or animation!

[seiberwing.livejournal.com]

And the tone is far, far different. The characters took themselves a lot more seriously than they do in Animated.

[vani-nessa.livejournal.com]

I love how G1 is so sacred and our holy bible of TF. XD I mean, I love G1 - but a lot of it is crack. Animated surpasses it in a lot of ways. Really basic ones even like... logic and lack of animation errors.

I mean, a homage is a cool idea, nothing wrong with it. But... inserting old dialog into the new series like this just doesn't do it for me unless there's something more deep to the connection. One example that comes to mind is a Marvel comic (I dislike Marvel but reference it so much...) that has Galvatron and Rodimus having the same exchange that Megatron and Optimus do in TF:TM - though, Rodimus doesn't buy Galvatron's fake pleas for mercy and ends ups shooting him (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/3/30/Rodimusprimerequestdenied.jpg). >_>; That is a good way to showcase old dialog in a new series, with how it's unlike the original. This mosaic seems... lazy. There's no insight to the comparison they're making. All this shows is Optimus vs. Megatron there, Optimus vs. Megatron here. But it doesn't click for the new characters at all. It's very... unmoving. It's not a comparison that makes you go "Ah-ha!" or any other sort of big reaction. I just felt very "meh" - which is definitely not something to go for.

[lunatron.livejournal.com]

That's not Galvatron there.

[vani-nessa.livejournal.com]

Aah, that would my mistake then. Apologies. It shows that I don't read Marvel and just browse wiki a lot. <<;

[seiberwing.livejournal.com]

"Unmoving" would be the word. It's supposed to be dramatic, and it comes out ridiculous.

[dogbite12.livejournal.com]

It's gotten a lukewarm reaction a the IDW boards as well.

Part of it may be due to the AHM wank, where the writer is getting crucified for giving the bots their G1 personalities back, albeit in a more mature fashion.

Not only was it recycled G1, it was totally OOC for TF Animated Megatron, as you pointed out.

[seiberwing.livejournal.com]

*inspects IDW* I don't know why they're praising the art, it looks pretty bad compared to what it's aiming for.

And they talk about the "story". What story? It's two guys yelling meaningless statements at each other.

[dogbite12.livejournal.com]

bassbot mentions the corny dialog but the art, I dunno, I like it.

Doesn't save the script, though.

[seiberwing.livejournal.com]

I don't think the canon would save the script.

[dogbite12.livejournal.com]

Heck, not even a cannon would do any good at this point. XD