The fact that no version of this toy has the "Decepticons, Transform and Rise Up!" voice line will always be one of the greatest missed opportunities in this franchise.
Animated was a special time in the gimmick game. Every larger lad had something unique going on. They hadn't done that since late g1 where every 2-3 of them had a special designation and were built around one weird thing they did.
I feel like a helicopter is a better altmode for Megatron than a tank. Tanks just don't give off that sense of intelligence or cunning. But a helicopter is this looming threat that hangs above your head. But a tank is all smash boom bang. It has no class or elegance. A big, looming death helicopter is the perfect altmode for Megatron.
I kind of feel like both are good for him. A tank is basically designed to move a huge cannon from one place to another, so you get that tie in with the fusion cannon, while also contrasting how Optimus is (usually) a truck that is mainly used for infrastructure and civilian applications: one is a weapon, the other a reluctant warrior. And yeah, a looming attack helicopter strafing back and forth works better for Megatron than a jet mode, I think. Hovering like some vast predatory bird… wait that might have been used already.
Depends on the tank. Watching the umpteenth T-72 popping it's top from a dude with a shoulder mounted boom stick makes for a poor showing for the tank, but have you ever seen an M1 Abrams go from flat out to full stop? Genuinely frightening how quickly it can do that, and then go full reverse almost as fast as it can forward. Modern Tanks like the M1A2 SEPv3 and Leopard 2A6 can acquire, track, and prioritize multiple targets at once and be able to maintain target lock and fire while on the move. Both tanks and helicopters are good alt modes, certainly better than a handgun that relies on a lackey to use.
Honestly, playing the megatron chapter of Fall of Cybertron convinced me of how well a tank fits Megatron. It's one of the few chapters where it fully makes sense to transform mid combat: your guns are good, but your tank cannon straight up obliterates anything in your path. But because of the slightly worse agility and slow fire rate, I found myself sometimes quickly transforming just to blast a guy or two then change back. Megatron is a powertripping egomaniac. He is cunning, but his intelligence is served mainly by his sheer authority, presence and brute strength, best conveyed in the tank IMO. As a counterpoint, I think the animated copter of megatron was also an excellent fit. He is incredibly strong (his end of season reveal gave me shivers) but much more cunning and calculating than in many other versions.
@@Sixela963 Yeah, Animated Megatron was a guy who sipped refined oil from a drum crushed into the shape of a goblet. A heavy-duty chopper, the king of the air, suited him perfectly.
Ah, Animated. My entry point, and a damn good one at that. It keeps G1 in mind while reimagining all the characters into unique styles. Megatron can't be a gun, what about a Helicopter? Shockwave? Tank, AND INFILTRATOR! Soundwave is a bit dependent with a cassette player, so how about a massive truck with Subwoofers! Oh animated, a true joy and a damn shame it was cut before the full conclusion. I do hope it could be like Star Wars The Clone Wars and eventually get that final season, because you know people would cheer for that.
Mine resides proudly in my glass display case next to MP-36 and FT Sovereign, and I'm so glad I still have mine. Still my favorite non-comic incarnation of Megatron. I want Megs to be something different more often, I'm so, so tired of "silver and black tank" and "helicoptor" makes a nice change from the typical Decepticon fighter-jet alt mode. And hey, at least he's from a time when Leader class meant something other than "Voyager class with a trailer" (or Commander Class meaning "Leader class with a trailer").
I’ve always seen helicopters as the more terrifying aircraft to escape from. I mean planes shoot from a distance, they can spy from so high up they’re practically invisible, or shoot a Vulcan so fast you’ll die before hearing it. But to stand toe to toe with a giant hovering metal beast with front row seats to your death as it stalks you no matter the elevation is a horror of its own. And with someone like Megatron, he’ll want you to crap your pants as you stare down the barrel of the comically oversized gun glued under it
@Gabe Mark well there’s something a lot more intimidating from a helicopter than can see just meters away trying to kill you than a quick fly by instant kill, sounds like a Megatron kind of thing.
Always struck me as pretty funny that one of this toy's three voicelines was him cackling when he literally never laughed once in 42 episodes. Unless you count the episode where he was part of Soundwave's virtual reality world, which you shouldn't.
Definitely no harem in the odd do-over review. Years have passed, you've changed, your style has changed. Makes sense that your view of some bots might change. Even with the few shortcomings this figure has it's still one that I reckon is worth having a go on for most collectors. Got that big toy chunk feel to it.
I did and do love Animated so much that I can't really be objective about this guy. I'll grant that he might not be the best Megatron, but he'll always have a place in my heart.
While definitely not the first show I ever watched, TFA was the first Transformers cartoon that got me genuinely invested. Regardless of what a lot of G1 purists thought of the style of the time, Derrick James Wyatt's interpretation of the characters has always stuck with me as an artist with how he's given those already beloved characters so much more personality. A shame the show was left unresolved, but the impact it had on me and others is never going away; and it's clear that can be said for what that show inspired for the rest of Transformers. Besides Megatron's Osprey altmode being revisited in Earthspark, Animated was what cemented Ratchet as being an older war-veteran turned grouchy medic with feelings of remorse for his actions, reinventing Bulkhead from a Master Roshi-type character from the Unicron trilogy into a character type that was much better fitting for the name & also playing around with other fun concepts that've bled into the mainline series from time to time.
I remember my aunt bought me one as a kid and I was so disappointed at first as I was only into Bayverse at the time, but quickly loved the sound and light up features, as well as the rotor spin action. Had lots of fun.
Short comings aside still glad to have this one up on the shelf where the bot mode really shines alongside his other Animated Decepticon contemporaries. Never thought once to use the Headmaster gimmick on him as it looks right ridiculous.
Fun fact: some helicopters are referred to as Gun-ships(As well as most large aircraft designed for land assault.)...I like to think that was thematically intentional. I remember raging on this figure back when it came out for being a Leader class figure with a simplistic transformation, but over time I've grown to appreciate it more and more for what it is. One certainly can't deny it holds a presence on the toy shelf that even the best of modern Leader class figures can't match.
I don’t own this figure myself but I do have an interesting memory related to it. During one of the first few visits to my favorite collector store I remember a woman (probably in her early-mid twenties) buying this. (It’s safe to assume she grew up watching TFA) because she was very happy to find it. (I always enjoy seeing someone achieve a major collecting goal of theirs).
As someone who just got into Animated last year, the toys are still a completely new and fascinating world to me. I was definitely not expecting the landing gear on the fusion cannon though, it's silly and I absolutely love it!
Got really lucky and found this guy at a thrift store for $6 (missing accessories of course) and I was shocked that despite his odd shape, his posing is more or less the same as a modern figure, with the caveat of the ratchets on the legs
Aw yeah; Thew talking about Animated! That takes me back! My fave modern interpertation of Transformers with my fave reviewer! What more could one ask for?
I always figured the boosters on the back of the copter mode were for sudden turns and spins rather than the missing tail rotor. But you're right, , Lord Thew, that lighting is utterly BAS-ASS!!!
Well well well. If it isn’t a blast from the past. This was one of the first Transformers I watched you review. It’s been a wild wide and I’m glad I’ve been here since then. Keep on keeping on Thew.
I actually have this Megatron. Its the shadow blade version which is a black and purple recolor, but a panel on him is broken and he's missing like all of his accessories. At least his voice lines still work though
I got Animated Megatron for my friend's birthday coming up in July! Animated is my friend's favorite transformers series but never owned any of the figures. This is also going to be his first Megatron figure
This Megatron alt mode looks kool like a Futuristic Combat Helicoptor but Earthspark Megatron alt mode looks like a Tilt Rotor for World War 3 but they both have different Characteristics. Animan Megatron is like Bayverse Optimus while the Earthspark Megatron is G1 Optimus (because it is)
The first Transformers show I was really into when I was younger and likely one of my biggest inspirations for getting into Voice Over work! Corey Burton's work as the big bucket head doesn't get nearly enough credit!
A Great look at an old favourite. It's weird, I've had him for 15 years and never really noticed any of the flaws (outside of the weird rickets knees), but you're spot on with your criticisms. The size comparison with the Ultra Class was really shocking too, they were something special, I'm glad I kept them.
I have this guy he was a personal favorite. For the 2 weeks he didn’t have a broken arm, and it’s the kind of broken where the toy is still functional and the arm stays on but it so loose he can’t actually do ANYTHING and I don’t want to waste the money to get a new one so I just deal with it.
the "no gun" thing seems to only apply to Autobots and just a handful of Decepticons. of the 5 we start with Megatron has his cannon Starscream: arm guns Lugnut: missile pods and machine guns Blitzwing: Tank cannons
Sorry, when you said 50 quid, I had to stop and write this. I got mine at on sale from a service station for £19.99 and got the leader bulkhead for free. My best bargain yet.
I REALLY hope there will be a Legacy TFA Voyager or Leader class Megatron, cuz I love this version of Megs! He'll also probably go well with the Rumored/Leaked Prime & Bee! Also, that intro! "Monthly Megatron! .........Megatron!", that was Hilarious, lol!
I'd love to see this version of Megatron and, frankly, the rest of the Animated universe get the same kind of high-quality above and beyond treatment that Third Party companies have been giving the Bay movie characters.
Past me actually thought the Argos stuff in the old review was kinf of interesting. It was the mixture of "exposure to thing i didn't know about before" factor combined with what an extremely oddly casual and personal detail it was that attracted me to classic TATR in the first place (I mean WHAT OTHER toy reviewer would go on those kinds of tangents back then or even today?)
I’m an early 2000s kid so when I got into transformers it was animated and the movies. Weird place to start considering they just made me think megatron was a guy who was dead or just a head. Then I watched energon and I loved megs ever since. My personal favorite megatron.
Great review! Thank you! Yeah, engineering drawbacks aside, I really like this version of Megatron, both the figure and how he's portrayed in the cartoon.
I wouldn't mind you doing more reviews for toys you've already done vids for. The lower the production value the greater the chance that Thew will drop an r-slur.
my only question regarding this guy is, why does he have 2 sets of front landing gear? there one on the gun, and then a fold out strut in the canopy, and that one can only be used if you don't have the gun, but then you don't have anything to cover the face with