OJ Simpson will help you see the Transformers in person

What a world we live in. It just seems like yesterday OJ Simpson... yeah. I've never had Pioneer Chicken. It's a west coast chain... or was... I think there's like one or two left. The point is I've never had it. But if I had, I could have taken advantage of their coupon books for all sorts of discounts at Universal Studios, including free admission. That's super crazy. These days a ticket is around a hundred bucks a day. Back then, all I needed was a winner winner chicken dinner. If only the creative team at Universal would have included references to the old Transformers Base Camp in the ride. Though I guess the meet and greets generally reproduce the atmosphere. Unfortunately I can't get in for free with a bucket of chicken. Because if so, my arteries be damned.

Ooh baby, do you know what a tickets worth? Ooh, Metrobase is a place on Earth.

A little over a year ago, I talked about the Transformers Land planned for Universal Studios in Beijing China. So earlier in October the same blog covered the park more in another post that I somehow missed during all the Halloween hoopla. I know this falls under the rumors category, but seriously, these guys are always right. Like, they cover all their bases and even address when things change. It's really neat. So more information regarding the Transformers Land below and I quote:

This new land has a clone of the Hulk coaster found at Islands of Adventure. Plus it will feature another Transformers: The Ride found at other Universal Parks. From the press release:

An expanded story was specifically developed for the character Metrobase, who is a Titan, a robot the size of a city. In conjunction with top Chinese scientists, Metrobase selected this Energon rich site just outside the city of Beijing to serve as the N.E.S.T. Beijing headquarters– a top-secret, technologically-advanced zone where an alliance between humans and Autobots developed to protect the Earth. The land is filled with Cybertronian architecture and advanced technology that creates an immersive experience that brings “guest agents” into the world of Transformers like never before.

 So the setting for the land is a movie version of Metrobase. A kinda obscure Metroplex repaint mostly appearing in Japanese manga. Who now serves as the setting for a theme park area. Neat.

That's amazingly out of left field. I can't help but to speculate on the merchandising potential for this. I imagine the Supply Vault store would have plenty of Evac and the new Studio Series Megatron toys on hand, but wouldn't a Metrobase repaint of the Generations Metroplex be nuts? If you've ever been in a Supply Vault at Universal Studios, you know they're not shying away from big ticket items. Something like that would drive a specific section of the fan base nuts (like me).

Megatron for Grad Night

Inside the Studio Series

While the news of Sideswipe and WW2 Bumblebee in Studio Series was revealed at NYCC, recent pictures of Takara's releases of them has my mind whirling a bit on Studio Series. There's a few I have yet to get already, and quite a bit I plan to get. I should have jumped on Lockdown when I saw him. I decided to wait a bit and never saw him again. Farts. Sideswipe is a must have though. I absolutely love movie Sideswipe and this is looking to be the defacto version of him. The WW2 BB just looks cool. Definitely getting Dropkick, too good to pass up. I'm very drawn to Barricade. Admittedly I prefer his TF5 incarnation more, but that does look great. Rumor has it there's a Cogman coming and that would be good. I've yet to find one of my own in the wild and another chance would be welcome. Hopefully it's a Titanmaster as well.

I've heard speculation of Cogman and the upcoming Drift to be repacked TF5 toys with a few touch ups. That's fine, TF5 figures were basically a precursor to Studio Series as is. Berserker from TF5 and Studio Series Crankshaft seemingly share engineering. I've yet to get any of the Camaro versions of BB, mainly holding off for the upcoming movie edition with interchangeable parts. I jumped on the VW version at site though. Really dig the movie VW Bumblebee design. Still hope they do a Studio Series version of Evac from the ride. Not only because I'm a big fan of it, but because I think it just makes sense. Good looking bot, not to mention a premium version would just make sense for the Supply Vault. Also... I'd just like to have one.

Transformers Land

I don't make my love of Universal Studios or the Transformers Ride at Universal Studios any secret. So when I came across these conceptual images of a Transformers land for the in development Beijing Universal Studios Park, of course I got super ridiculous. Right now it's not confirmed, so there's no guarantee it will be a reality, but man wouldn't it be cool... and slightly depressing. The Orlando park is expensive enough of a trip, let alone going across the globe and then going to the park. Yikes. One thing of note is the re-theme job of the Incredible Hulk roller coaster as a TF coaster. That's a pretty good use of resources and one of the most popular coasters these days.

I got all this info from Theme Park University, one of my favorite sites on the internet. If you dig enough around the site you might see why. It's fascinating!

Golden Lagoon reference in post title

The new night-time  lagoon show at Universal Studios Orlando has started shows recently, and man is it something to see. If you skip ahead to 11:59, you can see the ultra cool Transformers segment that uses scenes from the various movies, but also from the ride. Or you can just watch the whole thing, it's neat.

Universal Studios Japan Nightime Parade featuring the Transformers

Some time back I posted about the then upcoming Nighttime Parade at Universal Studios Japan that would feature Transformers, Jurassic Park, and other park characters. Welp, it's finally became a thing and video from the parade is starting to make the rounds. Check out just how awesome the Transformers look in those parade floats. That certainly would be a spectacle to see right in front of you.

USJ 新ナイトパレード

『トランスフォーマー』①

シカゴの摩天楼にそびえたつ、巨大なバンブルビー！ 高層ビルがドリラーの攻撃を受け 見ると、その先にいるのは……#USJ #トランスフォーマー #TF #TRANSFORMERS pic.twitter.com/SFX5jy2IiI

— USJ情報局 L.C.A.STUDIOS (@LCASTUDIOS_USJ) May 14, 2018

USJ 新ナイトパレード

『トランスフォーマー』②

バンブルビーの先にいるメガトロンはシカゴの街を破壊します！

さらに大型トラックからオプティマスプライムへ変身するシーンも再現される予定でしたが、今回は中止に…

どうしたコンボイっ(笑）!!#USJ #トランスフォーマー #TF #TRANSFORMERS pic.twitter.com/QrXXQOjKVI

— USJ情報局 L.C.A.STUDIOS (@LCASTUDIOS_USJ) May 14, 2018

Evac said I could ride with him any time

Wonder what his gas mileage is?

Ever since the idea hit me that there should be a a Studio Series Evac, I can't not think about how nice it would be. In all honesty, the regular Evac toy is a really nice figure (keep thinking a special stealth edition would be cool). I just can't help but to think a premium edition as a Studio Series would be great. They could realistically spruce up the original figure (if they wouldn't choose to make a new toy). Maybe some new accessories, like the gun he uses in the ride, the Allspark fragment, etc. Give the figure a more premium paint job. Maybe metallic, that'd be sharp. And his included diorama could be the N.E.S.T hangar or better yet, the Universal Studios gate or ride building. Maybe even give him his own number to drive people who like completing series nuts.

The Science of Transformers the Ride 3D

I ran across some cool promotional videos for Universal Studios and was delighted to find this neat little thing. It's an informative video on the Transformers ride that goes a little into how things work as well as the design of Evac. It's pretty cool to see these little things and some great shots of the ride itself.

Cybertron Land

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

I'm admittedly excited for the planned trip to Universal Studios Orlando we're hoping to make come next Christmas. I'm literally bubbling with a form of excitement that can best be described as ... there's no definition. My excitement defies definition. Earlier today I was thinking about a post I made  in which I mentally dreamed up a small expansion to the Transformers ride. Then as I was thinking about it, it occurred to me... why not a mini Transformers land?

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

In the 80's, in the Hollywood park, they had a neato Transformers meet and greet area with costumed actors and photo ops. What I'm concieving isn't very different. After all, you already have the great costumed actors at the Transformers meet and greet. But how about a few dynamic static scenes similar to the Jurassic Park section at Islands of Adventure with a few more Transformers characters? Pepper that in with the ride, supply vault, the meet and greet and my earlier day dreamed game and snack set up and I think you got a pretty neat little area. Heck, set up another store and sell some more cool stuff even!

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

Evac is awesome

I happen to think Evac is the coolest idea. Just a great way to experience a ride based on the idea of robots that transform into cars and stuff. How about you ride inside a Transformer? What if he transformed into your ride vehicle? All of the point of view action is literally your point of view since your inside Evac's vehicle mode. Seeing the ride vehicle and system is the same used in Spider-Man, that would make one excellent crossover toy. I already have some Evac toys, but I'd double dip for a Spider-Man version!

Making it fit in the Universe-al

I really love this ride.

I'm ridiculous. You reading this blog already realize this. But, I admit it, I'm ridiculous. Friday afternoon, while out doing some holiday shopping, I was at Ross buying some of the Autobots Unite Legion sets that have been showing up (just need that Megatron/Berserker set now). While in line, I was looking at the toys. They're obviously from the movie universe, but you know what I did? I started talking to my wife about the new Supply Vault Exclusive Snarl toy. He's not in the ride, but he has a ride exclusive toy. Then I looked down at the figures in my hand. Sure, Optimus and Bumblebee are in the ride. But Hot Rod and Ravenspar isn't. The set I haven't found yet, Megatron is in the ride (in an older body, but he's there). Beserker isn't. I'm sure versions of them are for sale in the ride store.

But, really, why would they be? They're from movies that came out after the ride was made. But wait, the ride was first released shortly after Dark of the Moon came out. Yet it heavily features bots from Revenge of the Fallen who (spoilers for an almost 10 year old movie) died in that movie years before the ride came out.

Does it really matter? Well, it is an official Transformers product and it's story line doesn't fit well with the series that it's connected to (yes I know it's just a ride). Sure there's also Generations and Robots in Disguise toys sold in the store, but that's obvious. That's other uses of the Transformers that well stated. Just like the Spider-Man store, they have other Spider-Man stuff. The thing is, you just walked off a very specific version of Transformers and there is branded that version Transformers immediate for sale. There's even figurine sets exclusive to Universal Studios featuring characters not in the ride. I have the set that's themed from Age of Extinction with Stinger, he's not in the ride. Hell, he doen't exist until a post NEST world that the ride is based in. There's a new figure set with bots from The Last Knight. Same post NEST world. Same Universal Studios exclusive set.

Ultimately, I'm thinking too much, but also I'd going to once again state that I'm ridiculous. I'll even risk the embarrassment to admit that thanks to the ride, I have a new found love for the movies. They went from being a summer spectacle based on my favorite toy line that I had a lot of fun with, to being part of my overall love for that ride. When the movies first started, IDW ran comics based in the movie universe that were a little removed. Giving the characters a little time to shine and honestly made some really good Transformers stories. Like the ride, they exist in a splinter timeline. According to the TFwiki, All movie related stories fall into the Tyran Universal cluster. The ride itself falls into the Tyran 1211.03 Theta (who comes up with these names?) stream.

In short, the ride falls into a splinter reality of it's own in the movie's overall setting in Transformers.So really, Hot Rod could just show up without any real rhyme or reason. Maybe he'd be riding Snarl like a cowboy while Ravenspar scanned the scene and reported what's going on during some in line videos. Really, any random Transformers movie character is game. Perhaps Megatron sent Beserker in that mission to grab the Allspark fragment. Maybe, Stinger is just another Decepticon in the fight and Sqweeks is one of Wheelie's buddies. Or even part of a Minion crossover.

Hey, in that meet and greet outside of the Supply Vault... Megatron sure is there. There's even that new nighttime parade in Japan featuring the Transformers. What I'm saying is Universal Studios is it's own Transformers continuity where everything is possible and super fun. I'm a little excited that by the next time I get to ride the ride, the Bumblebee movie will be out. That means 2 movies will have happened since my last visit. I'm excited to see what impact they'll have on the Supply Vault as well as my overall mental version of things.

I said right off the bat that I'm ridiculous.

Well, I didn't need wet wipes...

Talk about targeting your audience,

Of all the TF5 merchandising out at currently, this was the most surprising. We had made a last minute decision to run out to Walmart for a few things we were out of and while going through the pharmacy area my wife spotted a bunch of Wet Ones sporting not just Optimus, but a promotion for Universal Studios Orlando and Transformers The Ride 3D!

While it may not be a year or so until I get to visit that wonderful park again, and these will obliviously be used up by then, I can't help hoping to find another pack of these before my next visit. You know, for a quick clean up after a churro or something.