Have you seen the Michael Smith Transformer animation?

[MSmith]

Bet you haven't....check it out here:

Can't get enough of that VW transformer (6.5 Megs)

PS I know this doesn't really qualify as Transformer "news". But I think you'll like it. Be sure to check the website for more

[Fanha]

it looked really cool.great transformation.

[TECHNAB76]

YOWWWWW!!!!!!! Awesome action. That's actually the first Drifting transforming Transformer I've ever seen... and it looks like he looses his balance in the end. But this is one slick vid.

Would you like to tell us how you did this? Oh and by the way, welcome back. I've been checking out your pr3evious site several times untill it was suddenly gone.

[buskalilly]

that was awesome.
im hoping to see some moves like that in the film (like prime in the shrek trailer)

[durkadurka]

that's gotta be the coolest thing i've seen so far!

[danger_fluid]

nice moves

[phreakybot]

I went to school with you in Corinth, Maine. Go Red Devils... yeah right.

[Claes]

AWESOME! Now whyyyy couldnt the ones in the movie look that good?

[Fanha]

can you do some more of those transformations?

[Slade]

That was awesome

[_Windcharger_]

A huge round of applause from this end!!!

[Devastator187]

Very very nice!

[MSmith]

it looked really cool.great transformation.

Thanks.

YOWWWWW!!!!!!! Awesome action. That's actually the first Drifting transforming Transformer I've ever seen... and it looks like he looses his balance in the end. But this is one slick vid.

Would you like to tell us how you did this? Oh and by the way, welcome back. I've been checking out your pr3evious site several times untill it was suddenly gone.

Maybe he's still dizzy from the spinning.

Hopefully I'll find some time to do a making of....not sure if I should give away my secrets though . The website's always been at www.TheMichaelSmith.com, the hosting however has changed several times.

that was awesome.
im hoping to see some moves like that in the film (like prime in the shrek trailer)

I'm sure the movie will have stuff waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more amazing then this. Those ILM guys are phoenomenal.

that's gotta be the coolest thing i've seen so far!

Now that's really saying something!

nice moves

Thanks (I assume you're talking about my dancing). Hope you liked the animation too

I went to school with you in Corinth, Maine. Go Red Devils... yeah right.

Who are you, give me an email. Best years of my life at Central High doodling Transformers in Mr. Johnson's math class.

AWESOME! Now whyyyy couldnt the ones in the movie look that good?

Whoa....have you seen the movie Transformers? They're amazing.

can you do some more of those transformations?

Actually it's probably about time I retire from doing my own transformers, takes too much of my free time. Time I could spend watching TV or playing video games.

That was awesome

Thanks!

A huge round of applause from this end!!!

You sir, are too kind.

Very very nice!

Thanks!

[InternetABYSS]

thats not a vw its a nissan 350z ...sweet

[deadsurfkiss]

Hey man!!! that is amazing! been following your work forever, love the vw clip from a couple years back also! loved how you mixed the real world and traffic elements to make the event much more believable. I'm very picky with what I see in cg, and if it suspends my beliefs and makes me feel like a dreaming kid again, well damn it! you did your job..and I thank you for it.

Now, my last comment to you is one I've been waiting to let you in on. And that is..the only difference I think between 'your bots' and 'thier bots'(even though thiers also look amazing and I can't wait for the movie) is that your bots look like the ones we all grew up with, the ones that made us dream.

Again, thanks for your amazing work Michael!

[stonecoldnimrod]

Originally Posted by TECHNAB76

That's actually the first Drifting transforming Transformer I've ever seen...

actually one of the new trailers for the movie has optimus prime drifting around a block in downtown and transforming towards the end.

[nicholas-prime]

I think this proves that the original blocky transformer designs CAN work in real life. That is the single most well animated fan vid ever! like the music too. Great job, it's really nice to now how devoted the transformers fan base is

[durkadurka]

was the car real at any time during that clip? One thing I see so many times in CGI is how objects don't move right, like the jets in ID4 pulling off impossible moves, and countless other movies. You have the physics down perfectly in this.

[Autobot Bandit]

Great Job Mr. Smith...

I'm a longtime fan, and I just wanna say thanks for your hard work, I know what you mean about sacrificing video game time for project time.

From one artist to another... I have to point out a minor detail.

IF the wheels atop the shoulders of your "350Zo'bot" are indeed the rear wheels from car mode... AND IF their spinning is to be attributed to momentum... then they actually should have been spinning in OPPOSITE directions.

To clarify, take a transformers alternator like Tracks or Windcharger, roll him forward and notice how the tread moves towards the rear bumper. Now transform them into robot modes and spin each shoulder wheel towards the rear bumper... both wheels will spin in opposite directions.

Yeah I know pretty lame for me to mention it... I'm just a stickler for detail.

[Kane]

Fantastic work!

[min]

datz sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!
Bay&co should have hired you???

[Wishful Thinking]

Originally Posted by nicholas-prime

I think this proves that the original blocky transformer designs CAN work in real life.

Well, no, not really. There are still somethings that wouldn't work too well without cheating greatly.

That is the single most well animated fan vid ever! like the music too. Great job, it's really nice to now how devoted the transformers fan base is

But he did do a very good job. Kudos to Mike.

[han_x]

you have talent, my friend. Bucket loads

[HypnoToad]

Well done, Mr. Smith. I tip my hat to you.

[mnwolftrack]

Well Michael, I'd have to disagree with you. I think your work is BETTER than the movie. Why? You were able to pull off something the movie does not. You retain the original look, sound, and feel of a G1 style robot design and still make it believable. I don't know if you had to do any animated cheating, however, I think cheating would be just fine! The new movie's designs are so complicated, so intricate, so confusing (?) despite being "real," that it would take more effort and (a distraction from the actual movie itself) to try and work out how the thousands of pieces could possibly come together just right. Not only that, you didn't just do a transformation of a car just sitting there and turning into a robot. No, you did a rather complex scenario of a car coming into a power slide/turn while transforming and running past the camera. NOT an easy task.

Meanwhile, your car looks like a car, and your robot looks like it came from a car. Plain and simple. And, it's believable (to me). I too spent much time doodling transformers in my books, notebooks, in art class, etc... I even drew the individual characters, cut them out, and taped them on my bedroom walls in various battle scenes (unicron used a LOT of paper!). I commend your efforts! I only wish I had the time to do CGI! It would be very rewarding, even if no one ever saw it but me.

[Fanha]

Originally Posted by mnwolftrack

Well Michael, I'd have to disagree with you. I think your work is BETTER than the movie. Why? You were able to pull off something the movie does not. You retain the original look, sound, and feel of a G1 style robot design and still make it believable. I don't know if you had to do any animated cheating, however, I think cheating would be just fine! The new movie's designs are so complicated, so intricate, so confusing (?) despite being "real," that it would take more effort and (a distraction from the actual movie itself) to try and work out how the thousands of pieces could possibly come together just right. Not only that, you didn't just do a transformation of a car just sitting there and turning into a robot. No, you did a rather complex scenario of a car coming into a power slide/turn while transforming and running past the camera. NOT an easy task.

Meanwhile, your car looks like a car, and your robot looks like it came from a car. Plain and simple. And, it's believable (to me). I too spent much time doodling transformers in my books, notebooks, in art class, etc... I even drew the individual characters, cut them out, and taped them on my bedroom walls in various battle scenes (unicron used a LOT of paper!). I commend your efforts! I only wish I had the time to do CGI! It would be very rewarding, even if no one ever saw it but me.

I have to agree with him,totally right!

[BumbleConvoy]

He did a good job of bringing the cartoon to life.

[Bloodline]

Classic total classic.

love the music as well good job

[Bowspearer]

Originally Posted by Wishful Thinking

Well, no, not really. There are still somethings that wouldn't work too well without cheating greatly.

Cheating aside, you still have to admit that with some more realistic textures (not saying it's bad by any means Michael- it's the complete opposite in fact- just that the metalic textures that you used didn't quite look photo real), it proves that the G1 design aesthetic works believably on screen.

[Simonus]

so who is michael smith?

[Me Grimlock King....RARRR]

Originally Posted by MSmith

Bet you haven't....check it out here:

Can't get enough of that VW transformer (6.5 Megs)

PS I know this doesn't really qualify as Transformer "news". But I think you'll like it. Be sure to check the website for more

subtle. very subtle

[demondevera6]

god dam n ! That was SWEET! Where was this guy when they made the movie? Michael Bay DIE!

[demondevera6]

Originally Posted by Wishful Thinking

Well, no, not really. There are still somethings that wouldn't work too well without cheating greatly.



But he did do a very good job. Kudos to Mike.

There Wishful Thinking again repeating something that he read somewhere just like a parrot. Umm...they cheated like a son-of-a b- in the movie Wishful...which just proves they lied to justify the redesigns. Besides, if you were paying attention, they were WAAAY too big when the transformed into their robot modes. The above animation only proved that the original designs are far more superior. Certain modifications here and there was the only thing that really needed to be done.

Plus was it just me or did it take them WAAAAAAAAAAAY too long to transform in the movie, I mean come on...

Michael Bay DIE!

[demondevera6]

Originally Posted by MSmith

Bet you haven't....check it out here:

Can't get enough of that VW transformer (6.5 Megs)

PS I know this doesn't really qualify as Transformer "news". But I think you'll like it. Be sure to check the website for more

Dude...badass...

[Jaydubius Prime 487]

Originally Posted by demondevera6

There Wishful Thinking again repeating something that he read somewhere just like a parrot. Umm...they cheated like a son-of-a b- in the movie Wishful...which just proves they lied to justify the redesigns. Besides, if you were paying attention, they were WAAAY too big when the transformed into their robot modes. The above animation only proved that the original designs are far more superior. Certain modifications here and there was the only thing that really needed to be done.

Plus was it just me or did it take them WAAAAAAAAAAAY too long to transform in the movie, I mean come on...

Michael Bay DIE!

And you're calling Wishful thinking the parrot?

[demondevera6]

Originally Posted by Jaydubius Prime 487

And you're calling Wishful thinking the parrot?

That didn"t make any sense...

[Podunkparte]

First off... you did a great job creating this.

That said... if the characters in the movie looked like this one does, I don't think it would have been half as good. The movie models are like the adult versions of the G1 designs. Looking at the face of the 350 after it transforms, I just don't like that look for a Summer blockbuster movie.

Go ahead... rip my head off for having a differing opinion....

[MegaGearX]

Originally Posted by Bowspearer

Cheating aside, you still have to admit that with some more realistic textures (not saying it's bad by any means Michael- it's the complete opposite in fact- just that the metalic textures that you used didn't quite look photo real), it proves that the G1 design aesthetic works believably on screen.

It looks like Transformers Cybertron brought to a real environment. If I never saw Cybertron first, then I'd probably agree. I dunno, the body is okay, but the robot's head looks a little too toyish...

Awesome work, though. Make more of them! Maybe you could slow down the action a tad so we can take in the robot. I've had enough of blurry TFs that move too fast. Perhaps you can find a bridge between too toyish and too busy.

[GruntOfAction]

Thats awesome dude. I have an idea for a movie now..

Transformers: American Muscle Vs Asian Rice. Megatron is 900HP Toyota Supra and Optimus could still be a peterbuilt. lol...

[MegaPrime120]

Very cool. I've seen this on youtube before and thought it was pretty sweet.

[MSmith]

Sorry guys....kinda forgot about this thread, clicked it today and saw a bunch of new posts. HOW ABOUT THAT MOVIE THOUGH!? AMAZING!

thats not a vw its a nissan 350z ...sweet

LOL, yeah the VW thing was kinda a throwback to the old days when everyone was posting my VW transformer animation everywhere...pretty sure Transformer fans were getting sick of seeing it all the time.

Hey man!!! that is amazing! been following your work forever, love the vw clip from a couple years back also! loved how you mixed the real world and traffic elements to make the event much more believable. I'm very picky with what I see in cg, and if it suspends my beliefs and makes me feel like a dreaming kid again, well damn it! you did your job..and I thank you for it.

Now, my last comment to you is one I've been waiting to let you in on. And that is..the only difference I think between 'your bots' and 'thier bots'(even though thiers also look amazing and I can't wait for the movie) is that your bots look like the ones we all grew up with, the ones that made us dream.

Again, thanks for your amazing work Michael!

Wow, thanks for the kudos. I'm glad you appreciate my work. It's all about making you think you're 10 again for me (I know I had a few of those moments in the movie) so you have no idea how much your comments mean to me. Thanks

That is the single most well animated fan vid ever! like the music too. Great job, it's really nice to now how devoted the transformers fan base is

Wow! The most well animated fan vid ever eh? That's quite a compliment as there are some really really good ones out there. I loved the music as well, obviously

was the car real at any time during that clip? One thing I see so many times in CGI is how objects don't move right, like the jets in ID4 pulling off impossible moves, and countless other movies. You have the physics down perfectly in this.

The car is 100% fake, and I'll take that question as the ultimate compliment
Thanks.

Great Job Mr. Smith...
I'm a longtime fan, and I just wanna say thanks for your hard work, I know what you mean about sacrificing video game time for project time.
From one artist to another... I have to point out a minor detail.
IF the wheels atop the shoulders of your "350Zo'bot" are indeed the rear wheels from car mode... AND IF their spinning is to be attributed to momentum... then they actually should have been spinning in OPPOSITE directions.
To clarify, take a transformers alternator like Tracks or Windcharger, roll him forward and notice how the tread moves towards the rear bumper. Now transform them into robot modes and spin each shoulder wheel towards the rear bumper... both wheels will spin in opposite directions.
Yeah I know pretty lame for me to mention it... I'm just a stickler for detail.

DUDE! You're totally right! I rigged it up and assumed I did it correctly and never changed the spinning of the wheels during the transformation sequence, one of the tires is actually spinning backwards in car mode! I never noticed it while working on it because I never ran it in slow motion (slow motion was rendered near the end), as Optimus would say OOOPS...MY BAD.

Fantastic work!

Thanks

datz sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!
Bay&co should have hired you???

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaankz!!!
I wish! Maybe someday.

But he did do a very good job. Kudos to Mike.

Thanks for the kudos.

you have talent, my friend. Bucket loads

I try my best
Thanks

Well done, Mr. Smith. I tip my hat to you.

I thank you sir.

Well Michael, I'd have to disagree with you. I think your work is BETTER than the movie. Why? You were able to pull off something the movie does not. You retain the original look, sound, and feel of a G1 style robot design and still make it believable. I don't know if you had to do any animated cheating, however, I think cheating would be just fine! The new movie's designs are so complicated, so intricate, so confusing (?) despite being "real," that it would take more effort and (a distraction from the actual movie itself) to try and work out how the thousands of pieces could possibly come together just right. Not only that, you didn't just do a transformation of a car just sitting there and turning into a robot. No, you did a rather complex scenario of a car coming into a power slide/turn while transforming and running past the camera. NOT an easy task.

Meanwhile, your car looks like a car, and your robot looks like it came from a car. Plain and simple. And, it's believable (to me). I too spent much time doodling transformers in my books, notebooks, in art class, etc... I even drew the individual characters, cut them out, and taped them on my bedroom walls in various battle scenes (unicron used a LOT of paper!). I commend your efforts! I only wish I had the time to do CGI! It would be very rewarding, even if no one ever saw it but me.

Well, we do disagree there, the movie had a team of amazing artists that I can only hope to be as talented as someday and I think it showed. But what a disagreement to have, thank you for the compliments.
I would disagree too with the complexity of a power slide/turn transforming animation vs a static standstill animation having done two standstill animations I found them a little more challenging....but they're both pretty challenging.
I highly recommend finding the time to do CGI. Imagine if you could see those drawings on your wall actually come to life and move around, it can be quite addictive.

I have to agree with him,totally right!

LOL, guess I'm outnumbered.

He did a good job of bringing the cartoon to life.

Thanks.

Classic total classic.
love the music as well good job

Thanks.

Cheating aside, you still have to admit that with some more realistic textures (not saying it's bad by any means Michael- it's the complete opposite in fact- just that the metalic textures that you used didn't quite look photo real), it proves that the G1 design aesthetic works believably on screen.

I'll personally defend Joe's texture work as it blows away anything I could do on my own in terms of realistic looking, but that's just my own tastes. Glad you liked the design too. Thanks.

so who is michael smith?

LOL....it's me of course.

subtle. very subtle

I was trying to see how many EPIAR (Every Post Is A Repost) reply's I could get

god dam n ! That was SWEET! Where was this guy when they made the movie?

I tried, came pretty close...had an interview and everything, just never got the call back.

Dude...badass...

Thanks again, glad you liked it.

First off... you did a great job creating this.
That said... if the characters in the movie looked like this one does, I don't think it would have been half as good. The movie models are like the adult versions of the G1 designs. Looking at the face of the 350 after it transforms, I just don't like that look for a Summer blockbuster movie.
Go ahead... rip my head off for having a differing opinion....

Thanks. Why would anyone rip your head off? I liked the movie too. The more Transformer styles the better I say! Glad you liked my video.

It looks like Transformers Cybertron brought to a real environment. If I never saw Cybertron first, then I'd probably agree. I dunno, the body is okay, but the robot's head looks a little too toyish...
Awesome work, though. Make more of them! Maybe you could slow down the action a tad so we can take in the robot. I've had enough of blurry TFs that move too fast. Perhaps you can find a bridge between too toyish and too busy.

I've never seen Transformers Cybertron, maybe I'll have to check it out. Make more of them indeed
Yeah, the wife was not impressed by the speed, that's why I added the slow motion take....so you could actually see it as a robot.

Thats awesome dude. I have an idea for a movie now..
Transformers: American Muscle Vs Asian Rice. Megatron is 900HP Toyota Supra and Optimus could still be a peterbuilt. lol...

But who would win???

Very cool. I've seen this on youtube before and thought it was pretty sweet.

Cool, glad you liked it. Gotta love youtube.