WELCOME TO THE EXCLUSIVE WEB SITE FOR THE TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE: 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION DVD!
Now that you're here, you have access to exclusive content that's been unlocked by your DVD.
Now that you're here, you have access to exclusive content that's been unlocked by your DVD.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Video interviews:
1. Remembering Orson Welles - Tom Griffin & Joe Bacal
2. Transformers in Pop Culture - Tom Griffin & Joe Bacal
3. Transformer Toys - Tom Griffin & Joe Bacal
4. Writing for Transformers - Flint Dille
5. Writing for Sunbow Entertainment - Flint Dille
6. Favorite Scene - Nelson Shin
7. Animation Style - Nelson Shin
8. On Being Arcee - Sue Blu
9. Transformers Toy - Sue Blu
Video interviews:
1. Remembering Orson Welles - Tom Griffin & Joe Bacal
2. Transformers in Pop Culture - Tom Griffin & Joe Bacal
3. Transformer Toys - Tom Griffin & Joe Bacal
4. Writing for Transformers - Flint Dille
5. Writing for Sunbow Entertainment - Flint Dille
6. Favorite Scene - Nelson Shin
7. Animation Style - Nelson Shin
8. On Being Arcee - Sue Blu
9. Transformers Toy - Sue Blu
STORYBOARDS
Check back at the end of November for exclusive storyboards.
Check back at the end of November for exclusive storyboards.
INTERVIEWS
SONY BMG Interview with Don Figueroa
Q As a kid, what inspired you to start drawing?
DF I've been drawing for as long as I could remember. My Mom used to buy me comics all the time and I just got hooked, it's also how I learned to read. I would eventually try and make my own comics and give them to friends. The TV shows I would watch also influenced me a lot. Superman is probably the first superhero I was exposed to. I can remember watching some of the George Reeves reruns and later on, Super Friends, the movies... etc.
Q How did you become interested in drawing TRANSFORMERS?
DF Besides shows from the US, the Philippines also got a lot of shows from Japan, most, in particular, are about Giant Robots. Anime shows like Voltes V, Daimos and Mazinger Z and Sentai like Jak-Q, Bioman... etc are really popular shows back then. Later, we also got Macross, Voltron and of course Transformers. Transformers were really unique because it was the first show for me that didn't show the robots being piloted by humans. They were sentient and the shows didn't end up with the good guy slicing a bad-guy robot in half. GoBots also appeared at the same time but Transformers was it for me and my friends. It's all we talked about and there was a sort of arms race between all of us trying to get the most toys.
Q Do you have any formal training as an artist, or are you just naturally gifted?
DF I'm self-taught mostly; my Parents always told me that I was already scribbling at an early age. They would always give me paper and pen and I'd be occupied for hours, though I'm sure the pen went beyond the paper allotted to me. Besides the required art classes in high-school, I didn't get anything else besides learning from what I see from other artists' work in comics or whatever. Though I wish I could have had some actual courses on other mediums, it's probably not too late to still get some classes, there's always room for improvement.
Q When did you first see TRANSFORMERS: The Movie? What is your fondest memory of that experience?
DF I actually first heard about it in school from a friend who went to the US for vacation and saw it. At first I couldn't believe what he was saying! Prime dies in the movie? A giant transforming planet?! NO WAY! I've only seen up to some second season shows then (I think the episode 'Child's Play' was on then) and I couldn't wait to see the movie. When it finally showed only got to see half of it two times. There were a series of black-out happening at the time back home. It's almost like a conspiracy! They won't let me see it! But when I finally got it on VHS and saw it all the way, I couldn't believe how awesome it was. It was sad to see the old guards go but it was also great to see the new characters.
Q What was your first TRANSFORMERS drawing? And how old were you?
DF I was around 9 or10 I think, the first Transformers drawing I did was of Optimus and Megatron. I only had the Insecticon Bombshell at the time and I drew Optimus and Megs off the catalog and sent it to my Mom who is already in the US so she can get it for me, and of course she never did to my dismay. She sent me another type of robot toy, I forget which... It combined though, possibly Sentai based.
Q Which TRANSFORMERS character do you find most challenging to draw?
DF Possibly Primus or Unicron, you go crazy on the details especially up close because then you have to draw in every nook and crannies on them. Primus even have buildings... heck, cities on him!
Q What are some of your favorite characters and scenes to draw?
DF I always enjoy drawing huge battle scenes, the more characters the better. I also like drawing Prime in a cool, heroic pose.
Q What was the first comic book that you ever read?
DF There was this Filipino anthology style comic simply called 'Funny comics' and that was the earliest comic I remember owning. The first US comic I owned was some Fantastic 4 and Avengers comics, I forget what number.
Q Who is your favorite comic book artist? And why?
DF Probably a toss up between Alex Ross and Jim Lee, Alex Ross because of the realism of his work and I really like his camera angles. Jim lee draws some of the most best looking, energetic characters and even though it's a comic, you can sense movement on every panel. And the women he draws are the best in the business. :)
Q What is it about TRANSFORMERS that makes it successful in the realm of comics?
DF Transformers kinda carved its own niche within the comic community; it's just something different with all the sentient giant robots and such. And of all the "80's" stuff, it's probably the most memorable, and that's why it's still here. Hopefully it'll gain more and more of the mainstream fans as well.
Q Who is your favorite artist (not necessarily a comic book artist)? What is it about him or her that inspires you?
DF Leonardo da Vinci is probably a cliché choice, but his work is truly inspiring and his ideas are truly ahead of its time. Michelangelo as well; both true masters.
Q If you could travel anywhere in the world to see a famous piece of art, where would you go? And what would you see?
DF Egypt, I want to go and see the pyramids specially, not a lot of things can stand the test of time like the pyramids and it's truly a work of art. The Louvre is another place I'd like to go someday.
Q What's your favorite animated series?
DF Besides the original Transformers series and Beast Wars - most recently, I've really enjoyed the Justice League and later JLU, not only it features two of my all time favorites, Superman and Batman, but it also have a great continuity that spans the other series including Batman Beyond.
Q What is the most difficult thing about drawing TRANSFORMERS?
DF The newer Transformer toys have an incredible amount of detail that most will certain to overlook especially when the detail work gets lost in the paint job. When drawing them, I just tend to put in as much detail the designers took the effort in making the toys look cool, but it does get harder by the panel.
Q What advice would you give to other aspiring TRANSFORMERS illustrators?
DF There are those think one must only draw Transformers a certain way, like the style of the cartoon or a "house-style" imposed upon. That is surely one way to go but I would also like to see a much diverse adaptation and see all sorts of different style and interpretation.
Q Is there anything else that you would like to tell TRANSFORMERS fans?
DF Thanks to all who have followed and supported my work from the beginning and I hope I don't disappoint too often. :)
SONY BMG Interview with Don Figueroa
Q As a kid, what inspired you to start drawing?
DF I've been drawing for as long as I could remember. My Mom used to buy me comics all the time and I just got hooked, it's also how I learned to read. I would eventually try and make my own comics and give them to friends. The TV shows I would watch also influenced me a lot. Superman is probably the first superhero I was exposed to. I can remember watching some of the George Reeves reruns and later on, Super Friends, the movies... etc.
Q How did you become interested in drawing TRANSFORMERS?
DF Besides shows from the US, the Philippines also got a lot of shows from Japan, most, in particular, are about Giant Robots. Anime shows like Voltes V, Daimos and Mazinger Z and Sentai like Jak-Q, Bioman... etc are really popular shows back then. Later, we also got Macross, Voltron and of course Transformers. Transformers were really unique because it was the first show for me that didn't show the robots being piloted by humans. They were sentient and the shows didn't end up with the good guy slicing a bad-guy robot in half. GoBots also appeared at the same time but Transformers was it for me and my friends. It's all we talked about and there was a sort of arms race between all of us trying to get the most toys.
Q Do you have any formal training as an artist, or are you just naturally gifted?
DF I'm self-taught mostly; my Parents always told me that I was already scribbling at an early age. They would always give me paper and pen and I'd be occupied for hours, though I'm sure the pen went beyond the paper allotted to me. Besides the required art classes in high-school, I didn't get anything else besides learning from what I see from other artists' work in comics or whatever. Though I wish I could have had some actual courses on other mediums, it's probably not too late to still get some classes, there's always room for improvement.
Q When did you first see TRANSFORMERS: The Movie? What is your fondest memory of that experience?
DF I actually first heard about it in school from a friend who went to the US for vacation and saw it. At first I couldn't believe what he was saying! Prime dies in the movie? A giant transforming planet?! NO WAY! I've only seen up to some second season shows then (I think the episode 'Child's Play' was on then) and I couldn't wait to see the movie. When it finally showed only got to see half of it two times. There were a series of black-out happening at the time back home. It's almost like a conspiracy! They won't let me see it! But when I finally got it on VHS and saw it all the way, I couldn't believe how awesome it was. It was sad to see the old guards go but it was also great to see the new characters.
Q What was your first TRANSFORMERS drawing? And how old were you?
DF I was around 9 or10 I think, the first Transformers drawing I did was of Optimus and Megatron. I only had the Insecticon Bombshell at the time and I drew Optimus and Megs off the catalog and sent it to my Mom who is already in the US so she can get it for me, and of course she never did to my dismay. She sent me another type of robot toy, I forget which... It combined though, possibly Sentai based.
Q Which TRANSFORMERS character do you find most challenging to draw?
DF Possibly Primus or Unicron, you go crazy on the details especially up close because then you have to draw in every nook and crannies on them. Primus even have buildings... heck, cities on him!
Q What are some of your favorite characters and scenes to draw?
DF I always enjoy drawing huge battle scenes, the more characters the better. I also like drawing Prime in a cool, heroic pose.
Q What was the first comic book that you ever read?
DF There was this Filipino anthology style comic simply called 'Funny comics' and that was the earliest comic I remember owning. The first US comic I owned was some Fantastic 4 and Avengers comics, I forget what number.
Q Who is your favorite comic book artist? And why?
DF Probably a toss up between Alex Ross and Jim Lee, Alex Ross because of the realism of his work and I really like his camera angles. Jim lee draws some of the most best looking, energetic characters and even though it's a comic, you can sense movement on every panel. And the women he draws are the best in the business. :)
Q What is it about TRANSFORMERS that makes it successful in the realm of comics?
DF Transformers kinda carved its own niche within the comic community; it's just something different with all the sentient giant robots and such. And of all the "80's" stuff, it's probably the most memorable, and that's why it's still here. Hopefully it'll gain more and more of the mainstream fans as well.
Q Who is your favorite artist (not necessarily a comic book artist)? What is it about him or her that inspires you?
DF Leonardo da Vinci is probably a cliché choice, but his work is truly inspiring and his ideas are truly ahead of its time. Michelangelo as well; both true masters.
Q If you could travel anywhere in the world to see a famous piece of art, where would you go? And what would you see?
DF Egypt, I want to go and see the pyramids specially, not a lot of things can stand the test of time like the pyramids and it's truly a work of art. The Louvre is another place I'd like to go someday.
Q What's your favorite animated series?
DF Besides the original Transformers series and Beast Wars - most recently, I've really enjoyed the Justice League and later JLU, not only it features two of my all time favorites, Superman and Batman, but it also have a great continuity that spans the other series including Batman Beyond.
Q What is the most difficult thing about drawing TRANSFORMERS?
DF The newer Transformer toys have an incredible amount of detail that most will certain to overlook especially when the detail work gets lost in the paint job. When drawing them, I just tend to put in as much detail the designers took the effort in making the toys look cool, but it does get harder by the panel.
Q What advice would you give to other aspiring TRANSFORMERS illustrators?
DF There are those think one must only draw Transformers a certain way, like the style of the cartoon or a "house-style" imposed upon. That is surely one way to go but I would also like to see a much diverse adaptation and see all sorts of different style and interpretation.
Q Is there anything else that you would like to tell TRANSFORMERS fans?
DF Thanks to all who have followed and supported my work from the beginning and I hope I don't disappoint too often. :)
