Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007 8:42AM CDT

Categories: Cartoon News, Comic Book News, Movie Related News, Company News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Skowl Views: 68,003

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Chris Ryall, the editor-in-chief of IDW Publishing has posted an update on the IDW forums where he talks about his recent work at the Comic-Con and Chicago convention and his future plans for IDW, including new Spotlights and new comic series. He also talks about his impressions of the new Transformers Animated series.

But most interesting is the fact that he has revealed what the bonus feature on the Transformers Movie DVD will be. The rumoured "additional footage" that voice-actor Mark Ryan had mentioned awhile back is in fact an animated version of the IDW Movie Prequel comic series, with Peter Cullen again reprising his role as Optimus Prime. According to Chris Ryall, this bonus feature will only be available with the Wal-Mart excusive version of the Transformers Movie DVD, no official release date has been set as of yet, so stay tuned to Seibertron.com for more info.

See the whole post by Chris Ryall here.

Between Comic-Con, last weekend's Chicago con, and a trip to Hasbro, plus all kinds of general work overload, I know I haven't been around here much. But that doesn't mean I don't care...

In fact, in that time away from here, I've been making plans. Big plans. And then off to Hasbro to run these plans by the Powers-That-Be. And lo and behold, they loved them and are into said plans. Which means that 2008 is going to be BIG. I don't say this with any hyperbole, but next year's going to really rock your worlds.

These plans include movie-related comics, multiple Spotlights, another crossover, a new mini- (or maybe maxi-)series that will really wow you and answer some old questions, and the big SOMETHING ELSE. I'm pretty excited.

I also watched the new Transformers Animated Movie, the kick-off of the upcoming series, and it's a blast. I actually thought it might be a bit too "young" since it's aimed at the 5-9 crowd, but I shouldn't have questioned Sam Register and his crew--it's a lot of fun, and the characters and voices are great. As are the new toys, that looks just like the designs. I know people have taken shots at it based on the little bit they've seen online, but it's gonna win people over. Especially that first scene.

Oh, one other TF thing--I watched the DVD extra that's going to be included on the Wal-Mart only Movie DVD release. It's an animated version of the entire Movie Prequel miniseries, with voicework from Peter Cullen and others. Good sound effects, cool movement of panels and voices... it's pretty awesome to see our comic turned into something like that. And having Cullen speak our words is an insanely exciting thing, too.

So, yeah, good times are ahead.

Credit(s): Chris Ryall, IDW Publishing

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Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282437)
Posted by Agent 007 on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:46am CDT

nice

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282442)
Posted by wavelength on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:47am CDT

great. american only. unless asda gets the same release, i will miss out on this nugget of awesomeness

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282444)
Posted by Sherade on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:48am CDT

That's great.
Can't wait to check it out.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282445)
Posted by DevastaTTor on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:48am CDT

I'm excited but skeptical. Fingers crossed...

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282449)
Posted by RatchetMD on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:49am CDT

I'm more excited to read his impressions on Transformers Animated. I have the Prequel comic so that extra is pretty meh.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282459)
Posted by Auto Bot on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:55am CDT

American only?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282461)
Posted by Mulla on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:57am CDT

See this? This is me having a fangasm.

And like the Pit would it be American only.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282464)
Posted by Unicron Singularity on August 14th, 2007 @ 8:58am CDT

it MUST come to Europe, or i'll go Auto-Berserk lol

would defo wait several nights outside the shop, to get the dvd with the bonus features, IF it comes to Europe.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282467)
Posted by Ravage XK on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:00am CDT

That sucks!

We dont have Walmarts in the UK. We have Asda so maybe. Why make it an exclusive?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282477)
Posted by Wheeljack35 on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:04am CDT

Hmmm...

I thought I heard that it would be a Target exclusive..

Eh The Walmart in my area usually sells their DVD's cheaper on new releases

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282489)
Posted by Tigertrack on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:06am CDT

Hmm so it will be sort of flash type animation, or voices overlaying story book scenes is what it sounds like. No 'actual' fluid animation, so to speak, but still a cool bonus.

What are the other stores going to offer to keep up? I assume this will be a two pack type feature, like many releases Walmart has that pairs a new release with either a special content DVD or CD.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282493)
Posted by osiricon on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:07am CDT

Are they talking about the Bay movie dvd or a re-release of the 84 movie?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282496)
Posted by Duke of Luns on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:08am CDT

I see, so the "animation" is just them taking a camera to the comic panels, zooming in and out, moving the camera from panel to panel, and maybe taking an object in the frame(like say, a car) and moving it to make it look like motion. It sounds similar to what Marvel did with some of their "comic DVD's"(I have The Ultimates Vol. 1, not to be confused with Ultimate Avengers). Or am I mistaken?

Sounds like a nice free extra, but I'm still glad I got the paperback the other day.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282506)
Posted by Skowl on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:12am CDT

tigertracks 24 wrote:Hmm so it will be sort of flash type animation, or voices overlaying story book scenes is what it sounds like. No 'actual' fluid animation, so to speak, but still a cool bonus.

Oh crap! You're probably right! When I read "cool movement of panels", I thought they meant panels during transformation...

If it's just some stupid "read-along with Peter Cullen", where you just look at the panels of the Comics and hear the voice actors read them out loud, then that is well... pretty frikkin' lame. I could do that myself, what's the point?

I was all excited thinking it was a new cartoon or something, but the more I think about it, the more you're probably right. I guess this story doesn't deserve the breaking news banner anymore!

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282509)
Posted by First-Aid on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:12am CDT

Could be interesting...we'll see.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282515)
Posted by Seibertron on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:14am CDT

AWESOME!

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282516)
Posted by mexi-con on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:15am CDT

That just gave me goose bumps! CAN'T WAIT!!!

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282518)
Posted by Auto Bot on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:15am CDT

Maybe Wal-mart boss is a buddy of Hasbro boss?

Just like the GM-Bay tandem.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282520)
Posted by JazZeke on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:17am CDT

Wal*mart only! DAMMIT!

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282523)
Posted by Skowl on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:18am CDT

I wonder if Chris Ryall could clarify what he means by "animated"? Like Tigertracks said, it's probably just some lame scans of the static panels with the voice actors reading the speech bubbles...

... how...

... exciting.

... yawn.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282530)
Posted by Maldroth on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:20am CDT

I just hope its bundled with a decent version of the movie, was going to get 300 at walmart but it wasn't the 2-disc set. Hope they don't have different versions for each store it would be really annoying to buy two copies of the same movie for two extras.

Probably won't be worth it if that will be the case.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282537)
Posted by King Starscream89 on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:22am CDT

oh sweet god this is ogign to be awesome ..note to self get dvd no matter the cost

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282538)
Posted by --B-- on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:22am CDT

Well, I was going to get the comics and the movie eventually, now I get them both for one price.

Nice.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282584)
Posted by Primus C-00 on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:49am CDT

Omg! Omg! Omg!

*faints*

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282585)
Posted by tequila stu on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:50am CDT

I'm with wavelength on this....

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282588)
Posted by Psychout on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:52am CDT

Fucking exclusives!! :-x

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282599)
Posted by ChrisRiss on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:56am CDT

I see alot of talking about the animations and stuff of this, but when i read it, it sounded to me like it would be an actual fluid piece of work and animation. even if it is flash, there are alot of decent pieces of flash work out there.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282601)
Posted by Nico on August 14th, 2007 @ 9:57am CDT

I suppose Canada will also have it, since we are "invaded" whit Wal-Mart!

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282615)
Posted by BlurPrime on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:10am CDT

freakin sweet

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282618)
Posted by BluePhirePB on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:11am CDT

Hmm, we have Walmarts up here in Canada. Hopefully we'll get it too.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282620)
Posted by Auto Bot on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:12am CDT

Dude, what car is that?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282637)
Posted by Blitzwing the warrior on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:24am CDT

WHATS WITH THESE FREAKING EXCLUSIVES!? Why isn't that I cant go to a store thats convenient to me, instead I have to go all the way to this particular store to get it

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282660)
Posted by God Magnus on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:32am CDT

Cool animated extra? ;)^

Wait, I have to buy it from WalMart? :BOOM:

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282679)
Posted by Sideshow Sideswipe on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:41am CDT

sounds cool, but wish it was an actual animated feature and not just static panels.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282680)
Posted by lilcarus on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:41am CDT

Blitzwing the warrior wrote:WHATS WITH THESE FREAKING EXCLUSIVES!? Why isn't that I cant go to a store thats convenient to me, instead I have to go all the way to this particular store to get it

just buy it online dude its not that hard.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282688)
Posted by soundwave13c on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:44am CDT

did he say 5-9 crowd,crap.im just waiting for a universal cartoon,but it sound like a good deal

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282711)
Posted by Ultra Magnus on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:55am CDT

Uhh, Woah? This is going to be AWESOME! I'm quite intrigued.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282715)
Posted by NuclearConvoy on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:56am CDT

fucking "walmart only" version of a dvd...ghey

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282720)
Posted by Scaleface on August 14th, 2007 @ 10:59am CDT

I might just get it for that bonus. I wouldn't worry if you are outside the US though, it will show up on a torrent or youtube a couple days after the US release. If you pay honest cash for the DVD, I wouldn't feel bad about downloading an extra.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282825)
Posted by Phenotype on August 14th, 2007 @ 11:49am CDT

Wait, this guy is the editor-in-chief and he didn't even know they made an animated feature based on the prequel comics? How is that possible? Wouldn't they have to secure the rights to it and get permission and all that good stuff? Sounds like some BS, or else this guy's just really out of the loop.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282917)
Posted by DevastaTTor on August 14th, 2007 @ 12:36pm CDT

Skowl wrote:
tigertracks 24 wrote:Hmm so it will be sort of flash type animation, or voices overlaying story book scenes is what it sounds like. No 'actual' fluid animation, so to speak, but still a cool bonus.

Oh crap! You're probably right! When I read "cool movement of panels", I thought they meant panels during transformation...

If it's just some stupid "read-along with Peter Cullen", where you just look at the panels of the Comics and hear the voice actors read them out loud, then that is well... pretty frikkin' lame. I could do that myself, what's the point?

I was all excited thinking it was a new cartoon or something, but the more I think about it, the more you're probably right. I guess this story doesn't deserve the breaking news banner anymore!

To be honest, I've been thinking about this more and more and it's probably going to be OK at best. The last Walmart exclusive like this that I bought for Star Wars was actually a clips piece for R2-D2 or something like that a couple of years ago. It was a separate DVD that I think it came with the ROTS dvd-Walmart only. The video wound up being fullscreen (came with my widescreen edition) and the video quality absolutely sucked. With this being a pan and rehash of the stills with little new action (from the description anyway), it just might not be worth getting all excited about. I know the video that came with ROTS was so bad I never even watched the whole thing.

I just hope that it's an actual extra versus a separate DVD. That way, at least it'll be widescreen. Keep your fingers crossed that they'll do this right.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (282932)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on August 14th, 2007 @ 12:42pm CDT

I dont think the comic thing is going to be fully animated. I thinks its going to be like the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel for the PSP. Its still like reading a comic except parts of the panel are animated and theres voice over and sound effects. If you have a PSP check it out. Its pretty damn cool. Cant wait for this DVD. Wounder if i can reserve a copy at walmart?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283202)
Posted by Skullgrin140 on August 14th, 2007 @ 2:37pm CDT

Who thinks that Mainframe should animate the prequal? because they need to get back into TF's

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283209)
Posted by Decatron on August 14th, 2007 @ 2:41pm CDT

Interesting.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283557)
Posted by i_amtrunks on August 14th, 2007 @ 5:45pm CDT

Interesting...

I wonder what stores will get it outside of the USA?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283683)
Posted by Liege Evilmus on August 14th, 2007 @ 6:35pm CDT

Now that will make me shell out for the super dupper collectors edition!

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283700)
Posted by Toyotus Superion on August 14th, 2007 @ 6:42pm CDT

I wonder what other stores will offer as extras?

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283717)
Posted by D-340 on August 14th, 2007 @ 6:48pm CDT

Nice, I couldn't get all the prequel comics. Flash animation or not, it'll be cool to see all 4 issues in one way shape or form.

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283718)
Posted by surrealx4e on August 14th, 2007 @ 6:48pm CDT

Wow they're already talking about the DVD? I just watched the movie last weekend :grin:

Re: Transformers DVD Bonus Feature Revealed: "Animated" Version of the IDW Prequel Comic Series (283868)
Posted by Breeze on August 14th, 2007 @ 7:54pm CDT

*squirms* Ooh! This makes me anticipate the DVD release even more!

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