Should Transformers Have Removable Faceplates? 

REUPLOAD of a video that was originally published on October 23, 2020. Thanks Paramount.... Based on the tradition of Japanese Samurai Armor, Transformers like Optimus Prime and Soundwave have always been recognizable with their faceplates. In the cartoon they used to go up and down when the spoke. But recent media had depicted them as having their faceplates be removable. The question is, SHOULD they? Purchase Transformers Online: Transformers Earthrise/Kingdom Optimus Prime: amzn.to/3l1oW9H​ www.entertainmentearth.com/pr...​ Intro Music by Tony Bacala of www.tfw2005.com Background Music: ru-vid.com​ Song Used: "Decade of Epicness" Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/b...​ I use a RODE NT USB microphone. Purchase it on Amazon: amzn.to/2QSQCP4​ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/rodimusprimal​ Follow me on: Facebook: facebook.com/rodimusprima...​ Twitter: twitter.com/rodimusprimal​ Twitch: www.twitch.tv/rodimusprimal1​ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I like how IDW made it so that face-plates are a fad, but Optimus Prime made it extremely popular so a bunch of autobots stared getting faceplates to imiate him

We all have to face Paramount's copyright strikes oh it's the way of life for all TF RU-vidrs

I'll just leave the same comment from the last time i saw this. It all depends on how good they design Optimus's face. Soundwave meanwhile should always have his visor

There is nothing wrong with retractable face plates in and of themselves. That said, if the face sculpt doesn't work with it, or it doesn't fit the the character in the specific continuity, then leave the face plate alone! Also, moving faceplates are always fun. More please!

I always thought OP's faceplate hid his Orion Pax's battled damaged face.

Imagine G1 grimlock without a faceplate..never mind don’t think of it

Yeah, it's actually about prefrence. Transformers Prime Optimus Prime looks good, but the G1 Optimus Prime is probably the most definitive out of them all. I fully agree that the Marvel Comics Soundwave looks cringe tho. Yeah, the Rescue Bots Academy and the Big Looking Optimus prime is terrifying. Great video.

RU-vid must have thought that maskless G1 Optimus was too much for RU-vid

Paramount: decides to remove video Rodimus: Spare me this mockery of justice!!!

9:30 I know , it’s a speaker , but Optimus Prime looks like he’s a giving a “rrrargh” look.

I don't mind if Optimus or any other Transformers character have removable faceplates, as long if it looks appealing.

The decepticons getting drunk something I never seen before. Until NOW.

Yes, I think it's awesome. I just love it when the faceplate slides on, it's like the robot is getting his game face on.

Optimus Prime's faceplate makes him look more like a japanese robot, which is awesome because I love those, and ironically it makes him more unique, as there aren't really any other robots with faceplates that move. His faceplate just looks too awesome, specially in 3D. Whenever I see Bumblebee movie's Prime move his faceplate I just love it like, it was absolutely perfect in that movie.

Having prime without his faceplate is like having superman without his little hair curl, it's still superman, but it just feels like something's missing, and spiderman, and deadpool show us that you can show plenty of expression through just eyes, but we see that they drink energon and in some cases oil, so them having mouthes to consume it context makes sense, or they could just have an injection system like shown in prime, but than might make some parents uncomfortable seeing there kid watch a show ware a robot gets stronger by injecting colorful iquids into himself, so I'd say have them drink energon like in g1 but characters like Prime and Soundwave have removable plates too consume it,

I'm fine with retractable battle mask, they should be consistently used when battling, though. As far as the moving of the masks when talking I think that it would add the touch of the mask being attached to the jaw, instead of being like a Shogun warrior mask being attached to the helmet.

Gotta love how much they care about having rights rathers than having Fans

The one dislike is from Paramount Pictures 'cause they can't do anything about this one!

I remember seeing the first Michael Bay Transformers film with my friends in the theater, and walking out, one of my. . . not quite complaints, but issues. . . was something I couldn't put my finger on. I'd liked the film as a whole, found the new Transformer designs interesting at the very least, but there was something about Optimus that looked wrong to me, something I just couldn't quite figure out. Then one of my friends pointed out he had a mouth, and it clicked. That said, the retractable faceplate sits better with me now. If there's a reason for it, adding a mouth can add some character, but if done poorly, it just looks bad. What Spider-Man and Deadpool have taught us: audiences connect with characters. For a lot of traditional films, that's in work the actor does through facial expressions and especially in "intensity from the eyes." For genre films, that's a superhero's mask, or a robot's utterly nonhuman face. Talented actors, voice actors, and animators will still draw emotional connection from the audience through vocal inflection and body language. We don't need to see facial features, mouths, or even eyes to get what the character is feeling if the writing, direction, and performance are all there. Sam Raimi had said, in working on Spider-Man, that he was concerned with the audience disconnecting with Spider-Man because they couldn't see his eyes, and they even tested mask designs where you could see his eyes, but realized quickly that "it wasn't Spider-Man." Hence damaging the mask or having him take it off so you could see the face, because apparently Raimi didn't get the message: the mask *IS* Spider-Man.

I actually like the removable face place idea but i swear things like Rescue Bots academy Optimus should never exist. And should be erased from the continuity entirely.....that thing was mortifying and embarrassing o~o

I like the idea of retractable faceplates for battle, it seems like a cybernetic thing to do. However, I"m staunchly opposed to Prime having one. Keep his moving faceplate, don't fix what isn't broken. Optimus Primal's always just weirded me out. The less said about Soundwave's bare face the better.

11:23 Ya this is truly the reason why I don't have any respect for him since he can't even respect the franchise himself

I like both and to be honest growing up i was open minded for different looks to optimus and how i recognized him was always his red and blue color scheme

Damn, I'm probably just too old and G1 focused, but Optimus without the face plate is just not Optimus for me.

I would REALLY like to know why they gave Rodimus a faceplate. It really came out of nowhere. Great video. I liked it the first time. I liked it this time. I'll like it the next thousand. You did a stellar job editing the paramount footage. Thanks for not giving up on this, your video's are the best new G1 content out there.

RodimusPrimal: They made the decision for the autobots to have blue eyes and the decepticons to have red eyes G1 Shockwave: *am i a joke to you?*

Yeah I reason why I love animated optimus He is relatable and David kaye was so good

Though, the removable faceplates work for Optimus's other incarnations but I don't think the removable faceplate wouldn't work for the G1 Prime

I personally prefer the dreamwave route. Have it be mixed with permanent faceplates on characters like Optimus, Grimlock, and Soundwave, with retractable/removable faceplates on Bumblebee and Brawn or in the case of Jetfire/Skyfire a removable helmet. I like it when a trait in Transformers is unpredictable.

Every time I see Optimus from Recue Bots Academy I really want to call Megatronto get rid of him

G1 Soundwave was my favourite Decepticon with a face plate, plus his monotonal voice made it work for the character

There's a reason why after 30 yrs you still have G1 fans buying G1 toys wishing for G1 content. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Supply and demand still rules and the demand is still there. Moving faceplate please. It's one of the things that made him iconic.

"Cannot emote without a mouth" Samus Aaron: Excuse me? Master Chief: Are we a joke to you? Snake-Eyes: ....

I laugh at this part 7:39 (re commented)

I'm in favor of constant face plates that move, at least for Optimus and Soundwave

For me, I like the idea of non-retractable face plates that move up and down when Transformers characters talk. Someone pointed out that the Transformers characters that have mouth plates, visors, or both look more alien compared to Transformers with open mouths, eyes, or a complete humanoid face.

I remember when I realized as a kid the mouthplate on Cybertron Prime could come up, and then later after seeing G1 (I’m too young to have seen it when it was new but watched it rerun on the Hub in the early 2010s) always used the lever on the back of his head to make the faceplate move when he talked. Honestly I much prefer the plate mouth. It’s more clearly robotic and alien whereas the mouth looks a bit too human on a lot of the characters in my opinion.

I read that in the movies that Autobots have more human-like face meanwhile Decepticons have monstrous insectoid or reptilian face.

I cannot put into words how fascinating these videos are (or how traumatizing the comics would have been if I'd read them as a kid). Thank you for these.

optimus with a mouth does work for some outside of g1.but the original g1 I gown up with always has he's faceplate on

Optimus Prime should always have a face plate that moves up and down when he talks. That is Optimus Prime.

We got ya covered Rodimus! Rewatching rn!

I say yes to the retractable faceplates and yes they should move up and down when in use

Since most Transformers have their best designs from G1, I’d go with the faceplates. Don’t forget to make them move up and down as they speak please!

It sucks what Paramount did to the original video. Anyways I really enjoyed this video, it is a subject that always intrigued me. As for me I like the idea of the removable/switchable faceplate. My first G1 toy was Bumblebee, and I never had an issue with his toy face. In fact I used to imagine it as a battle mask and that was years before seeing it on Beast Wars.

I like the retractable masks. they look good on the transformers and look really cool when they're flipped up right before a fight. I wish they had them up more though

This is a great educational presentation! Having a moving faceplate was used to show human-like expressions to their character. Personally, I would prefer some to move their faceplate to show variety such as seen with the classic G1 characters. I even enjoyed the lighting of certain features such as Wheeljack and Shockwave as they talked. Well done enjoyable TF thesis!

I like the face place with no mouth under. With so many Transformers it helps give more of them a more district character, and reminds us more they are living robots. just like Shockwave just has the eye. It's up to the artists to make it work.

This reupload has lightened our darkest hour!

This video was just as good the second time lol.... salute good sir!

idea of faceplates making those "combat masks" are good but not for every single transformer optimus was built specifically for war so his faceplate should stay on also because i got used to it

7:28 I always wondered how they could see when they were in their alt-mode. I've always assumed it was through the headlights although it need not be just the headlights, they theoretically could have sensors all around their bodies giving them a 360 degree view like a dragonfly.

I personally love optimus having a retractable face plate it to me makes him feel like he is letting down his guard when he is in a safe space but when it is time for battle he puts it on

They should all keep their faceplate up! We’re in a pandemic!

A re-upload i wonder. Oh wait Paramount.

I never viewed faceplates as being protective, because in the original series they were never shown to be retractable. Instead, I imagined faceplates being prosthetic, or perhaps just being different for the sake of variety. I prefer the prosthetic notion, because it means certain characters have suffered significant injury during the war. Likewise for characters that have only one hand. Similarly, I saw characters with a visor rather than individual optics as wearing glasses/sunglasses.

Optimus prime with no mask is my sleep paralysis demon

It makes sense that cybertronians would have a deployable battle mask. In the heat of battle it's better to be safe than sorry.

Optimus Prime Looks Ridiculous With A Mouth.

Stay home, stay safe, watch rodimus primal Michael bay is the bane of my life.

Optimus prime relationship with the auto bots reminds me of Michael Knight's mission with K.i.t. lol

I'm dying of laughter, seeing some of these images (cough cough, 16:55). Awesome video!

Surprised you still don’t have 1,000,000 subs yet

There were Decepticons in the first episode of Season 3 that had faceplates and were shown to ingest Energon cubes with them on but they would slightly open and close when they consumed them.

battle masks are a thing which add to which Persona they're putting on because remember a detailed person has personas like the visors of the Rescue Bots are obviously there to tell if they're acting like living beings or just simple machines while the battle mask of Optimus shows whether he's just being everyone's dad or Optimus Prime ready to rip off Decepticon faces

I like the transforming faces (Bayverse Baby, I know.). I like them having mouths during casual times, then faceplates during battle.

I think certain series like Prime and Animated handle the retractable faceplate better than others (The Bay Films)

Optimus should always have his mask I think. Animated Optimus gets a pass, since he’s very different. I do also like the Optimus Primal/Galaxy Convoy style of face. But I don’t like the complete lack of faceplate in The movies, Prime, RID 2015, and Cyberverse. Soundwave should ALWAYS have a faceplate however.

Optimus Prime works better with just his faceplate, he doesn´t need to have a mouth or lips

Short verion: Great video! I think retracted masks can be a good Idea but it has to be used relatively sparingly, when it makes sense, and differently from character to character (like maybe Bumblebee's mask isn't so much for combat but for handling high speeds. And on others maybe they only use it in conjunction with certain heavy weapons). Otherwise the designs lose the ability to convey certain important things about the characters and can feel wierd and impractical on more powerhouse-y characters in the field. Long version: Great video and a great history of the subject. I didn't realise the decision on the bay movies was so storied! Cybertron was my first series so I had to learn the retracable thing was not always so. I kind of like the retractable thing but I think it's largely missused. Namely in how, when they go retractable they seem to use the retracted state more often than the deployed state. I always thought it should at least always be up whenever they're in the field. You don't bring a helmet to a fight and put it on *after* the fight starts. You could just wind up getting jumped and take a plasma-flail right to the chops. I think retracted masks are best used farily sparingly unless it's a character that is normaly best known as not having one like Bumblebee. (At least "Talking Bumblebee" is known this way, I'm glad they're getting back to that version.) That way it can really highlight certain character moments, it feels more "Special" that way. Prime would especialy benefit from this as I think the series that go too far with the retracted state really mess up comunicating certain things about prime through his design. Ironically I think the plates can say more about certain characters than mouths. Either thier internal sturdiness and dependability like in Prime's case or thier mystery and cold distance like in Soundwaves case. They say different things in each case when combined with other design descisions, such as two blue eyes instead of a red visor respectively. When retractable is done right I think it both makes sense from a world-building standpoint and can be used to communicate what it is that the character the masked design tells us is there comprises. Masked tells us "who" while unmasked tells us "how". (Atleast in my eyes, obviously mileage may very.) That doesn't work if that sturdy, dependable character or distant and mysterious one is never well established to begin with, which is what I think happens when they go too far with having it retracted. Add to that the fact that you could still have good character exploration with the mask up and I see why some people would just like to have it stay up. I think the only time it didn't feel kind of wierd was in animated, and that was because it was a radically different and much younger Prime who didn't yet embody the characteristics that mask would have conveyed. So in that unique case I think it was a good descision because the "Who" is so different from nearly every other example. Despite what can go wrong in the other cases where it's over used, personally I like the extra possibilities having the option of a retracted one offers. Especialy for downtime scenes like Prime at a bar on cybertron or in his quarters, not brooding but maybe figuring something puzzling out, or speaking with an old friend, or even communing with the matrix or something. Maybe if the series in question really earns it with solid characterization and not over using it ahead of time, it can get blown off in a major battle with Megatron, but that would have to be pretty well done to not feel kind of corny. Overall I think it has potential but it needs to be used with more awareness of how well those masked designs convey character. P.S In any event, I agree that the lower jaw aproach from rescuebots academy kinda feels uncomfortable and his whole design is wierdly brutish and Barbarian-ey for a show targeted at such a young audience. P.P.S As for the moving masks I'm for it. It gives the faces life and feel's like there's something under it which again, I like from a worldbuilding standpoint.

9:57 Fat Tony Prime been eating too many energon cheese burgers...

The original iconic look all the way

When it comes to Optimus and Soundwave, keep the faceplates on. Seeing this video reminded me wich series I liked better. Also wWheeljacks fins not glowing as he spooke? Blasphamy. I agree that unless they make light or something to indicate speach just make the faceplate move.

first time I seen prime without a mask was the cybertron line, at first I wasn't a fan but later on I got used to it, at this point I like the idea where the mask/face plates are used for battle and off outside battle, Im not too fussed over what they do next but long as the design for the character is good

While G1 design will forever have a place in my heart, I think Optimus Prime a sliding facemask makes sense especially in interacting with humans because it makes him seem more “relatable” and less alien. Think of it like pareidolia, we like looking for faces because they’re relatable to us

Optimus Prime never needed a mouth, and should never have one! That’s that!

If they aren't meant to remove the face plates, then the plates should be moving. If not moving then a mouth beneath, best examples are BW Optimus Primal and TFP Optimus Prime!

I don't remember if I commented this on the old video but i'll comment ot again Having the face plates form when they go into battle has always been a nice touch for me. It shows both sides aren't pulling jokes and are gonna go into a serious battle mode.

Amazing video, man. Great stuff Edgy 9/11 joke there at the end.

I don't mind Optimus having a removable one in Transformers Prime but I grew up with G1 and prefer the style from it.

"He did not want any of the robots to look like pre-established characters, since he did not think to highly of the franchise" Why did they HIRE HIM, TO MAKE A TRANSFORMERS MOVIE?

TFP Optimus seems more designed of Michael Bays Optimus, rather than the G1 version. As for Wheeljack, he was a completely new character, straying from the mad scientist he was to a demolitions expert, so it makes sense that they change his design.

Watching this video makes me realize that there’s a chance that if soundwave appears in the next live action transformers movie, there’s a chance they’ll give him a mouth and that is something I really do not want to happen, I think soundwave should never have a mouth, just a face plate.

I feel like it's best in idw where some of them have retractable faceplates with a whole face and mouth underneath, while some just have a gnarly lookin intake port when you move a little hatch on the bottom. It's an interesting show of variation among the same species and I kinda love it even if I hate looking at the aforementioned intake ports

2:55 the irony that Brawn shoots Megatron with his own cannon, however years later Megatron would kill Brawn. As to the question, Prime looks weird with moving lips. I'm team faceplate

555 views, 111 likes. Great job.

I think that some Transformers should have removable face plates simply to explain why the G1 toys look differently than their cartoon counterparts. Characters like Bumblebee, Brawn, and Gears could have a Transformable "Battle Mask". They portrayed this with Jetfire in the Dreamwave and IDW comics and Bumblebee in the live action movies.

I still remember hearing Megatron saying "...ugly ass disguises" back when I was a kid in the episode "Microbots" Lol!!! Classic!!!

I think Optimus should always have a face plate. I also wondered if the reason Optimus has a face plate is to hide his Orion Pax face from Megatron so he couldn’t recognize him as well as his voice and design albeit similar colors of red and blue like pax

I think the retractable face thing is interesting. Having more than. Just eyes on Optimus helps to convey more emotion in him, making him less static and boring imo.

11:24 - 11:31 The People Who Made Bumblebee: What were you saying?

I'd love to see a video that overlapped Bays talk about how stupid blocky transformers would look irl with the visuals of the G1 inspired transformers from Bumblebee.

My kids love that looker book. They laugh themselves silly at cliffjumper's car eyes 😊

Optimus and Soundwave need faceplates that move.

There are always some things that can be improved, but some things are better done the old fashioned way the face masks on the G1 transformers were perfectly capable of being just as expressive as their counterparts faces, they should be left alone! They are part of their iconic characters!

Personally as someone who grew up watching the Bay films I heavily prefer the removable face plates.

You have shown me a new Nightmare fuel. That one Optimus is just scary. Now I wonder what Megatron would look like if he had a face plate to go with his robot mode

I think Optimus Prime is best with the faceplate. It's just odd to not have it. I was fine with how Optimus Primal was handled, since he's a different character. Ok, the Primes from other continuities are too, but still! Of course, the whole thing about retractable, it makes you wonder why no one else has a faceplate they can use in though battles. But, it definitely varies greatly on each version. And good god the way Prime died in the Marvel comic! It's even worse than the movie! How many times and how horribly does Prime have to die?!

This was a great re-upload. face plate are super important, as long as it respect the source material. Don't add them to those who didn't have them, but keep them on those who did