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[[Image:Jimsorrenson-evil genius.jpg|thumb|400px|Awaiting [[James Roberts]]'s next move in Fanwank Chess.]]
[[Image:Jimsorrenson-evil genius.jpg|thumb|400px|Awaiting [[James Roberts]]'s next move in Fanwank Chess.]]


'''James M. Sorenson''', better known as '''Jim''', (born [[July 15]], [[1976]]) is a [[Los Angeles]]-based ''Transformers'' fan who freelances with [[IDW Publishing]]. Along with [[Bill Forster]], he restored and did layouts of character designs in the [[The Ark series|''Ark'' books]].  He also wrote the copy and compiled the material from fans and professionals like [[Andrew Hall]] (aka Hydra) and [[Bob Budiansky]]. In the course of compiling this material, he came across several original series notes, some of which (nicknames and extended biographies) he has made available to online forums. He is also an [[User:Jimsorenson| active participant]] on this wiki.
'''James M. Sorenson''', better known as '''Jim''', (born [[July 15]], [[1976]]) is a [[Los Angeles]]-based ''Transformers'' fan who freelances with [[IDW Publishing]]. Along with [[Bill Forster]], he restored and did layouts of character designs in the [[The Ark series|''Ark'' books]].  He also wrote the copy and compiled the material from fans and professionals like [[Andrew Hall]] (aka Hydra) and [[Bob Budiansky]]. In the course of compiling this material, he came across several original series notes, some of which (nicknames and extended biographies) he has made available to online forums. He is also an [[User:Jimsorenson|active participant]] on this wiki.


Prior to making the leap to pro, he had been a longtime fan, contributing to alt.toys.transformers as early as [[1994]]. He was perhaps best known for deciphering the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Cybertronix|languages]] as used in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' show and making the text, in canonical order, available as a true-type font.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/77395bc6a16258d7/b5bae9cb3dd23c81?lnk=gst&amp;q=maximal+font#b5bae9cb3dd23c81 ATT Thread from 1999]</ref> In the late '90s, Sorenson created fonts based on [[Cybertronian language| writing]] in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" and "[[Decepticon Graffiti!]]"; in [[2007]], these fonts were [[Retcon|retroactively made official]] when they were incorporated into the [[AllSpark Wars]] Mini-ARG (Alternate Reality Game). The Autobot language was subsequently used by [[Burger King]]'s [[Transform Your Way]] contest. He also provided material used by [[Shout! Factory]] in their DVD releases.
Prior to making the leap to pro, he had been a longtime fan, contributing to alt.toys.transformers as early as [[1994]]. He was perhaps best known for deciphering the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Cybertronix|languages]] as used in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' show and making the text, in canonical order, available as a true-type font.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/77395bc6a16258d7/b5bae9cb3dd23c81?lnk=gst&amp;q=maximal+font#b5bae9cb3dd23c81 ATT Thread from 1999]</ref> In the late '90s, Sorenson created fonts based on [[Cybertronian language|writing]] in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" and "[[Decepticon Graffiti!]]"; in [[2007]], these fonts were [[Retcon|retroactively made official]] when they were incorporated into the [[AllSpark Wars]] Mini-ARG (Alternate Reality Game), and have since appeared multiple times across official ''Transformers'' media. He also provided material used by [[Shout! Factory]] in their DVD releases, and co-wrote "[https://tfnation.com/blog/2020/a-present-from-tfnation-to-you Trial and Error]", an unofficial comic released at [[Unofficial conventions|TFNation 2017]] to act as a "finale" to the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon, with [[Chris McFeely]].


As he doesn't think much of the traditional dearth of female Transformers, he puts them into his work as often as he can and will turn any toy with no specified gender into a woman.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055 Beast Wars Uprising AMA at Allspark]</ref>
As he doesn't think much of the traditional dearth of [[female Transformer]]s, he puts them into his work as often as he can and will turn any toy with no specified gender into a woman.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=[Why do I sometimes make traditionally male characters female?] I hesitate to say it's random, but there aren't any hard and fast rules. One frustration I have with the TF mythology is the dearth of female characters, so for my stories I try to remedy somewhat. For characters with minimal fiction, I generally feel free to reimagine species and faction and personality and, yes, gender. Characters with no specified gender (Major Altitude comes to mind, as does Spacewarp) I'm especially prone to making female as it's not even genderbending in my head.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360150|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref>


He has frequently stated that he believes [[authorial intent]] has no place in canon. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, [[Ratchet (Universe)|he]] [[Ramulus|frequently]] [[Dominus Trannis|uses]] [[Alignment|his]] [[Doomsday Redux!|stories]] [[Decepticharge|to]] [[Inferno (Universe)|canonize]] [[Decimus Quadrillions|the]] [[Blackarachnia_(BW)#Binaltech|semi-canon]] [[Ultra Trion|ideas]] [[Nemesis Part 2|of]] [[Airborne hunter squad|other]] [[Brainmaster|creators]].
He has frequently stated that he believes [[authorial intent]] has no place in canon. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, [[Ratchet (Universe)|he]] [[Ramulus|frequently]] [[Dominus Trannis|uses]] [[Alignment|his]] [[Doomsday Redux!|stories]] [[Decepticharge|to]] [[Inferno (BW)|canonize]] [[Decimus Quadrillions|the]] [[Blackarachnia (BW)#Binaltech|semi-canon]] [[Ultra Trion|ideas]] [[Nemesis Part 2|of]] [[Airborne hunter squad|other]] [[Brainmaster|creators]].


==IDW==
Salsa dancers consider him their enemy, and as many as four at a time have been known to chase him through a convention facility.
 
==Books==
===IDW===
* ''[[Transformers: The Ark]]''  
* ''[[Transformers: The Ark]]''  
* ''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]''
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* ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]''
* ''[[Legacy: The Art of Transformers Packaging]]''
* ''[[Legacy: The Art of Transformers Packaging]]''
===VIZ Media LLC===
* ''[[Transformers: A Visual History]]''
===Renegade Game Studios===
* ''[[The Enigma of Combination]]''
* ''[[Technorganic Secrets]]''
* ''[[Transformers One Sourcebook]]''


==Transformers Collectors' Club==
==Transformers Collectors' Club==
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*[[Transformers: Spacewarp's Log]]
*[[Transformers: Spacewarp's Log]]
*[[Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric]]
*[[Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric]]
* Numerous [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|TCC Magazine]] articles.
*Various posts on [[Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter]], [[Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist]], and [[Axiom Nexus News Editor]].
*Numerous [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|TCC Magazine]] articles, including:
**"Transformers: 2010" parts 1-3 (issues [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 31|#31]] through [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 33|#33]])
**"Gone But Not Forgotten" parts 1 and 2 (issues [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 41|#41]] and [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 42|#42]])
**Recaps for [[BotCon 2012]], [[BotCon 2013]], [[BotCon 2014]] (with [[Chris McFeely]]), [[BotCon 2015]], and [[BotCon 2016]] (issues [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 45|#45]], [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 52|#52]], [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 58|#58]], [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 64|#64]], and [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 69|#69]])
**"Transformers at 30: Flashback" parts 1-6 (issues [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 55|#55]] through [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 60|#60]])


==Convention appearances==
==Convention appearances==
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===''Transformers Animated''===
===''Transformers Animated''===
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel <s>Prime</s> Magnus]] ("[[The Return of Blurr]]" script reading only.)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel <s>Prime</s> Magnus]] ("[[The Return of Blurr]]" script reading only.)
==Notes==
[[File:RoyalMailCybexSorensa.jpg|thumb|So is Sorensa located anywhere near [[Simfur]]?]]
* Jim's most prominent contribution to ''Transformers'' outside of his official work is probably the creation of the "Ancient Autobot" and "Decepticon Graffiti" [[Cybertronian language#Real-life alphabets|typefaces]], which have been extensively used in official Transformers media despite originally being fan-creations. They've even seen use in outside media, being used for the sign of an alien restaurant as part of a ''Transformers'' parody in [[wikia:rickandmorty:Amortycan Grickfitti|an episode]] of ''{{w|Rick and Morty}}''! In honor of Jim, the alphabet was given the name "Cybertronica Sorensa" in the [[Royal Mail]] Prestige Stamp Book.
* Sorenson's favorite ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' characters to write for were [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] and [[Longrack (BW)|Longrack]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Oooh, that's a toughie. There's one from the first part of the finale who was really difficult to write for but came out very nicely. Wolfang was a hoot, but Bish did most of the heavy lifting there. Longrack was a lotta fun; I love his officiousness. There's a little bit of Arnold J. Rimmer in there.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360052|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*Jim Sorenson's [http://boltax.blogspot.com/ blog]
*Jim Sorenson's [http://boltax.blogspot.com/ blog]
*Jim Sorenson's [http://pics.livejournal.com/shortpacked/pic/001y40w0/g232 belt]
*Jim Sorenson's [http://pics.livejournal.com/shortpacked/pic/001y40w0/g232 belt]
===Interviews===
*August 2014—[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24gm8a Auto Assembly] (with [[Nick Roche]], [[John-Paul Bove]], [[Casey Coller]], and [[James Roberts]])
*October 2019—[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtL-3LVme3U New York Comic Con] (with [[Michael Kelly (writer)|Michael Kelly]], [[Livio Ramondelli]], and [[Andrew Griffith]])


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorenson, Jim}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorenson, Jim}}

Latest revision as of 17:25, 1 August 2025

This article is about the real world human. For his negative universe counterpart, see Jim Sorenson (Animated). For a list of other meanings, see James (disambiguation).
Awaiting James Roberts's next move in Fanwank Chess.

James M. Sorenson, better known as Jim, (born July 15, 1976) is a Los Angeles-based Transformers fan who freelances with IDW Publishing. Along with Bill Forster, he restored and did layouts of character designs in the Ark books. He also wrote the copy and compiled the material from fans and professionals like Andrew Hall (aka Hydra) and Bob Budiansky. In the course of compiling this material, he came across several original series notes, some of which (nicknames and extended biographies) he has made available to online forums. He is also an active participant on this wiki.

Prior to making the leap to pro, he had been a longtime fan, contributing to alt.toys.transformers as early as 1994. He was perhaps best known for deciphering the Maximal and Predacon languages as used in the Beast Wars show and making the text, in canonical order, available as a true-type font.[1] In the late '90s, Sorenson created fonts based on writing in "Cosmic Rust" and "Decepticon Graffiti!"; in 2007, these fonts were retroactively made official when they were incorporated into the AllSpark Wars Mini-ARG (Alternate Reality Game), and have since appeared multiple times across official Transformers media. He also provided material used by Shout! Factory in their DVD releases, and co-wrote "Trial and Error", an unofficial comic released at TFNation 2017 to act as a "finale" to the Transformers Animated cartoon, with Chris McFeely.

As he doesn't think much of the traditional dearth of female Transformers, he puts them into his work as often as he can and will turn any toy with no specified gender into a woman.[2]

He has frequently stated that he believes authorial intent has no place in canon. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he frequently uses his stories to canonize the semi-canon ideas of other creators.

Salsa dancers consider him their enemy, and as many as four at a time have been known to chase him through a convention facility.

Books

[edit]

IDW

[edit]

VIZ Media LLC

[edit]

Renegade Game Studios

[edit]

Transformers Collectors' Club

[edit]

Convention appearances

[edit]

Voice roles

[edit]

Transformers Animated

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
So is Sorensa located anywhere near Simfur?
  • Jim's most prominent contribution to Transformers outside of his official work is probably the creation of the "Ancient Autobot" and "Decepticon Graffiti" typefaces, which have been extensively used in official Transformers media despite originally being fan-creations. They've even seen use in outside media, being used for the sign of an alien restaurant as part of a Transformers parody in an episode of Rick and Morty! In honor of Jim, the alphabet was given the name "Cybertronica Sorensa" in the Royal Mail Prestige Stamp Book.
  • Sorenson's favorite Beast Wars: Uprising characters to write for were Wolfang and Longrack.[3]


References

[edit]
  1. ↑ ATT Thread from 1999
  2. ↑ "[Why do I sometimes make traditionally male characters female?] I hesitate to say it's random, but there aren't any hard and fast rules. One frustration I have with the TF mythology is the dearth of female characters, so for my stories I try to remedy somewhat. For characters with minimal fiction, I generally feel free to reimagine species and faction and personality and, yes, gender. Characters with no specified gender (Major Altitude comes to mind, as does Spacewarp) I'm especially prone to making female as it's not even genderbending in my head."—Jim Sorenson, The Allspark forums, "Beast Wars Uprising: AMA", 2016/10/15
  3. ↑ "Oooh, that's a toughie. There's one from the first part of the finale who was really difficult to write for but came out very nicely. Wolfang was a hoot, but Bish did most of the heavy lifting there. Longrack was a lotta fun; I love his officiousness. There's a little bit of Arnold J. Rimmer in there."—Jim Sorenson, The Allspark forums, "Beast Wars Uprising: AMA", 2016/10/15
[edit]

Interviews

[edit]
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