MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Stock footage

2009-10-31T11:15:33Z

118.209.146.213:

[[Image:G1FortressMaximus HMstockfootage.jpg|right|200px|thumb|My knee hurts SO MUCH.]]
'''Stock footage''' refers to a sequence in film or television that can be frequently re-used, occasionally in multiple different productions. It is commonly used in animation to save the time and expense of having to re-draw sequences that are more or less assured to take place in every single episode.
In the context of Transformers, it applies to most of Japanese-made anime series: ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'', ''[[Masterforce (cartoon)|Masterforce]]'', ''[[Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'', ''[[Beast Wars II (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] shows. All of those series would almost ritualistically showcase the same clips of characters [[Transformation|transforming]], [[Combiner|combining]], or deploying unique [[Weapon|weapons]].
These sequences often seemingly transport the characters to a setting different from the actual events of that part of the episode, as the entire standard background fades away and is replaced by streaking speedlines and flashes of color, so they can be used no matter where the characters actually are in the script.

[[Image:ArmadaStock.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Blue streaks!]]
Stock footage sequences typically have more detail, higher frame rates, and more exaggerated, prolonged posturing movements than the standard storytelling animation surrounding them. Supposedly, this is the method in which Japanese [[To sell toys|marketing]] has decided a toy's gimmicks are best "highlighted" in these advertoons.

The dub for ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Transformers Cybertron]]'' often poked fun at the practice, having characters narrate their filler stock-footage in ways that implied boredom or curiosity ("Why do we always go ''this'' way?"), or simply filled excessively-long sequences with snappy patter among the characters involved. Of course, ''Cybertron'' was particularly egregious in its dependence on using stock footage to fill time like the visual equivalent of styrofoam peanuts.

[[Image:MegsFlash.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Your transforming posture is highly awesome.]]
This practice is different from the stock animations used in the CGI-animated [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' show]], which often used "standard" sets of model movements for the characters' transformations from beast to robot mode to save the animators' time. However, these animations were not stock ''footage''; each sequence had to be rendered out normally as any other each time they occurred, using different camera angles with the characters in the same scenery as they were before and after they transformed.

In the [[Transformers Animated|''Animated'']] series, most characters do have stock footage versions of their transformation sequences, but their usage has been the exception rather than the rule. For instance, the series' opening credits shows a great deal of stock footage that has rarely, or never, appeared in the actual cartoon. In this context, "[[Human Error, Part I]]" stands out for its egregious use of stock footage to pad the episode out - including full stock footage transformations for the ''hallucinatory'' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], as well as [[Retool|retooled]] versions of previous sequences which were used to depict the Autobots reverting back to their robot forms.

[[Image:G1OptimusPrimeStockFootage.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Stomach in, chest out, look wistfully into the distance. Prime tries out to be an Abercrombie model.]]
The [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|original ''Generation 1'' cartoon]] was not immune from the use of stock footage, however its use was more limited and was generally used in a similar manner to ''Beast Wars'',
with pre-canned transformations employed over different backgrounds depending on the situation, without any cutscenes. Not surprisingly, the most notable of these is a transformation sequence for [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] which was used in both directions (truck to robot, and robot to truck), however others can be found, primarily throughout season 1, due to the smaller cast.

[[Category:Media]]

Spontaneous recoloration

2009-10-31T11:12:01Z

118.209.146.213: /* Permanent recoloration */

{{disambig2|the process of a Transformer spontaneously changing color|other instances of color changing|color change (disambiguation)}}

{{quote|In some cases, the extreme power surge during Powerlinking can result in temporary or even permanent discoloration of a Transformer's metallic skin.|"Powerlink Process"|[[More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]}}

'''Spontaneous recoloration''' refers to the temporary or permanent alternation of a [[Transformer]]'s [[exostructure]], usually in response to an energy surge. Usually (but not always) this external color change signifies a higher energy-state within the Transformer's body accompanied by increased (or even entirely new)<ref>Such as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream's]] Null Beam Cannon in the [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]] episode [[Wishes]].</ref> abilities.

Spontaneous recoloration is similar to [[reformatting]]. ''Unlike'' reformatting, which wreaks wholesale physical alterations to the transformer's physical form, recoloring is completely cosmetic.

For unknown reasons, spontaneous recoloration does not uniformly re-tint existing surface pigments, but may result in completely different color arrangements, or even add entirely new "badass" detailing, such as flames or racing stripes.

Recoloration should not be confused with surface coatings such as [[Electrum]] or a [[silver coat]].

==Temporary recoloration==
[[Image:Sshot-rid-27-1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''People try to put us down<br>(spon-tan-e-ous coloration!)<br>cause our colors change around<br>(spon-tan-e-ous coloration!)'']]

* The [[Autobot Brothers]]' [[Super Mode]]
** [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]]
** [[X-Brawn]]
** [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]]
* [[Lioconvoy|The Green Warrior]]
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Crystal Rodimus]]
* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)]]

==Permanent recoloration==
===Beast Wars===
*[[Ramulus]]

===Armada===
Characters recolored due to a [[Mini-Con]] [[Puppet|supplied upgrade]]:
*[[Megatron (Armada)]]
*[[Starscream (Armada)]]
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)]]
*[[Red Alert (Armada)]]
*[[Demolishor (Armada)]]

===Energon===
Characters recolored as the result of [[Optimus Supreme|Primus' energy pulse]].
{{note|Within Hasbro's toyline, many of these [[redeco|recolors]] represent different characters, rather than spontaneous recoloration.}}
*[[Bulkhead (Energon)]]
*[[Cliffjumper (Energon)]]
*[[Landmine (Energon)]]
*[[Ironhide (Energon)]]
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)#Energon|Hot Shot]]
*[[Jetfire (Armada)#Energon|Jetfire]]

Characters recolored as the result of other events:
*[[Megatron (Armada)#Energon|Megatron]] (again)

===Cybertron===
*[[Megatron (Armada)#Cybertron|Megatron]] (yet again)

{{stub}}

==See Also==
* [[Burning Justice]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Neil Kaplan

2009-10-31T06:01:22Z

118.209.146.213:

[[Image:Neil Kaplan.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[wikipedia:George Lazenby|James Bond]] was never this cool.]]

'''Neil Kaplan''' (born [[March 9]], 1967) is an American actor. He voiced several characters on ''Digimon'', and has recently performed in a number of video games, and he's a bloody nice guy.

==Voice roles==
===''Robots in Disguise''===
* [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Ro-Tor (RID)|Ro-Tor]]

===''Revenge of the Fallen:'' The Game===
*[[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]]
*[[Protectobot Scout]] or [[Protectobot Warrior]]

==Convention appearances==
* [[BotCon 2002]]

==External links==
* [http://www.nekap.net/ Neil Kaplan's official website]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438341/ Neil Kaplan at the Internet Movie Database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaplan, Neil}}
[[Category:Convention guests]]
[[Category:Voice actors]]