G1 Names: Wreck-Gar?
- The Reverend
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G1 Names: Wreck-Gar?
I always found it interesting that the G1 Transformers appeared to have been given a fair amount of thought in their naming - usually related to their particular abilities, personalities, etc. Especially in the early years (later on, I think they just named the Micromasters randomly). But WTF does "Wreck-Gar" mean?!?
If I recall correctly, Budiansky named everyone (or at least prepared a shortlist of names to get past Hasbro's legal department) EXCEPT the movie cast. So while 'Hot Rod' and 'Blurr' are fairly standard and 'Ultra Magnus' works as intended, we get nonsense names like 'Arcee,' 'Kup,' and indeed 'Wreck-Gar.' I don't think anyone has so far taken credit for naming them.
That said, 'Cyclonus' is a nonsense name that is pretty cool for some reason.
I wonder if a single human being was responsible for the very silly names of Beast Wars or if they were committeed together with the lights off.
That said, 'Cyclonus' is a nonsense name that is pretty cool for some reason.
I wonder if a single human being was responsible for the very silly names of Beast Wars or if they were committeed together with the lights off.
- Red Dave Prime
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Ah, I think Kup is a good fit for the Character.Terome wrote:If I recall correctly, Budiansky named everyone (or at least prepared a shortlist of names to get past Hasbro's legal department) EXCEPT the movie cast. So while 'Hot Rod' and 'Blurr' are fairly standard and 'Ultra Magnus' works as intended, we get nonsense names like 'Arcee,' 'Kup,' and indeed 'Wreck-Gar.' I don't think anyone has so far taken credit for naming them.
That said, 'Cyclonus' is a nonsense name that is pretty cool for some reason.
I wonder if a single human being was responsible for the very silly names of Beast Wars or if they were committeed together with the lights off.
This probably isnt it but according to a quick search gar in latin means to cause something (I could be very wrong here, the website isnt the best) so is it possible his name means to cause wreckage?
- Springer85
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Yeh, I think the TF:TM cast's names are a little bit more nonsensical and tangenty just to sound more futuristic. Most of them sound a bit like words but also largely nicely different from all those shitty extant characters you now hate because they've just been butchered. It's just a crasser version of the 'jam two words together, slap on a tech spec' stuff Bob did with the odd twist. The leaders are the most obvious - Hot Rod Prime and a galvanised Megatron.
The Movie is probably, overall, still the most mental and suicidal thing Hasbro have ever done. Wipe out the successful and popular cast (preferably in the most traumatic way possible), replace them with thumbnail sketches who have really terrible toys. Add Stan Bush and a bunch of 9th-rate celebs (carefully picking ones who are still just about big enough not to do the TV series), make it as violent as possible to exclude 99% of the likely audience - maybe throw in a swear to make sure of the job. Wait for the box office to roll in.
The Movie is probably, overall, still the most mental and suicidal thing Hasbro have ever done. Wipe out the successful and popular cast (preferably in the most traumatic way possible), replace them with thumbnail sketches who have really terrible toys. Add Stan Bush and a bunch of 9th-rate celebs (carefully picking ones who are still just about big enough not to do the TV series), make it as violent as possible to exclude 99% of the likely audience - maybe throw in a swear to make sure of the job. Wait for the box office to roll in.
- The Reverend
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- inflatable dalek
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Arcee is probably has the silliest thinking behind it as she's not remote control.
Mind, Optimus Prime, the one name from the orginal line up that we know for sure wasn't Bob's, doesn't fit the standard naming convention either. I wonder what a Budiansky style name for him would be?
Mind, Optimus Prime, the one name from the orginal line up that we know for sure wasn't Bob's, doesn't fit the standard naming convention either. I wonder what a Budiansky style name for him would be?
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- Red Dave Prime
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I now want the new version of the wreckers to contain Springer, Impactor, Whirl and Keith.
Funny aside: My Mom used to mind the neighbours kid and he loved the cartoon movie (I had the vhs of it and this was a good 5 or so years after the release and he was only 4) but he always thought that Optimus Primes name was "Brian" which I found cute.
Funny aside: My Mom used to mind the neighbours kid and he loved the cartoon movie (I had the vhs of it and this was a good 5 or so years after the release and he was only 4) but he always thought that Optimus Primes name was "Brian" which I found cute.
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- The Reverend
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Agreed; overall they didn't do badly considering they had to drum up, what, fifty, sixty, seventy new names for the things in a couple of years right at the end of the line. But still, they're either stupid (Cement Head and Terror Tread, who sound like a Nickleodeon cartoon pitched at 14 year old Gen Xers) or just words related to their alt modes with minimal imagination (Stakeout, Flak, Hubs). And some of them just don't really make much sense - Sidetrack, Roadhandler (he handles on roads? Should ****ing think so...), Roadhugger (he has grippy tyres... wow, I'm scared...).The Reverend wrote:
Yeah, the MM's names are a bit cringe-worthy at times. Some of em aren't bad, but others are unfortunate - Heave, especially
- Red Dave Prime
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That spaceship Bruce thing is fantastic.
Maybe when Maximus returns from his breakdown in MTMTE he could have a new personality - the super-camp spaceship Bruce!
I reckon naming Transformers is a tricky enough prospect. The name needs to appeal to kids first and foremost and suit the toy (hence why so many are linked to the alt-mode) As silly as Road Hugger and Cliff Jumper sound (kidding!!!!) they work better for a toy series than Xaaron would.
Maybe when Maximus returns from his breakdown in MTMTE he could have a new personality - the super-camp spaceship Bruce!
I reckon naming Transformers is a tricky enough prospect. The name needs to appeal to kids first and foremost and suit the toy (hence why so many are linked to the alt-mode) As silly as Road Hugger and Cliff Jumper sound (kidding!!!!) they work better for a toy series than Xaaron would.
Xaaron is quite a bad name, isn't it? Furman took a while to get the hang of the naming conventions. 'Impactor' is an early one that works, but 'Toomandi,' 'Tornado,' 'Flame,' and 'Triton' just don't cut it.Red Dave Prime wrote: I reckon naming Transformers is a tricky enough prospect. The name needs to appeal to kids first and foremost and suit the toy (hence why so many are linked to the alt-mode) As silly as Road Hugger and Cliff Jumper sound (kidding!!!!) they work better for a toy series than Xaaron would.
Always liked 'Flak' from the Micromasters, myself. You're right that there's no imagination to it but it's a good roboty name.
On these thoughts, 'Trainwreck' might have been a good alternate name for Wreck-Gar. Sure, he's not a train, but it sort of links in to the idea of the Junkions as being accustomed to limb-rending damage on a daily basis.
- Death's Head
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