Gates of Hell

Summer is a Spooky Season.

Don't Look In The Mirror

Summer is a Spooky Season.

I've been waiting for this video to get put on YouTube for a while now. Xiaolong is a Chinese ghost hunter who does a lot of live streams of his explorations. His videos consist of him and usually a friend exploring an abandoned or spooky location looking for ghosts. They'll attempt to communicate with the ghosts inside the haunted location and often get the wits scared out of them. The videos are a mix of funny and spooky. Often you'll hear them yelling out AT the ghosts. That's because a common belief there is aggressively yelling curse words will ward off a harmful spirit.

While the entire video is a pretty good watch, there's a few key points to watch out for. One of the funniest things I've ever seen in these videos is around minute mark 40:10. While looking inside a chest, one of the ghost hunters farts and scares the other. At minute mark 58:55 the two attempt to communicate with the spirits. In between the two bickering they get a few scares. The main event though is around minute mark 1:29. The two find a mirror and look into it. A second looks gives them the scare of a lifetime.

Summer is a Spooky Season.

Friday Night Frights- Ghost Hunting In A Chinese Cemetary

It's time for another edition of Friday Night Frights here on Zone Base, a weird ass site about robots and monsters. This week we have a live stream from ghost hunters in a Chinese cemetery. The crew of Bajul TV manage to contact the spirit of a woman buried in the cemetery. *cough* It's TOTALLY REAL GUYS. Outside of the *cough* ghost, they had a pretty good video going on here though. Streaming from a cemetery late a night would have made for a good spooky time even without ghost hunting on the itinerary. It's a pretty fun time still and admittedly the effects aren't bad for such a small production.

Nezha Transformers are pretty neat

A video of somebody playing with a Nezha Power Up Pack figure popped up on Facebook Friday (I held this for today) and man does it look neat. While the Nezha Transformers looks to be mostly Cyberverse toys and character models with new characters and toys, the new Power Up pack figures (assuming they'll be more) have a bit more to them. Seemingly decently articulated, and storing the figurine of the toys driver type character (I'm assuming Nezha pilots his robot) in the chest, it's a pretty neat looking toy.

I mentioned a million times before about the more simple toys like Cyberverse figures being extremely similar to older Transformers toys. Nehza really makes me think of a fancier G2 toy, like Laser Optimus Prime. Before that one guy snorts and guffaws before asking for a donation, I don't mean that super literally. I meant as in about the same complexity and a similar enough build.

Warrior Class Hot Rod feels like a lost Brave toy to me, some Energon Igniters have very similar engineering and builds to G2 Aquaspeeders. Honestly the entire Power series felt like they could easily been adapted from Aquaspeeder or Rotor Force molds with the detachable pull back gimmick. Nezha makes me think early 90's super robot toy, and looks to have the same complexity of Laser Prime. The driver figure isn't anything new, but makes me think of Robotman/Biotron a little in execution. Though the new characters and look is super fresh and original and that's so hard not to like.

Nezha:Transformers trailer online!

Here is Nezha: Transformers' latest trailer, see Nezha in his Transformer suit! pic.twitter.com/S0JCsTDHdR

— Yicai Global 第一财经 (@yicaichina) December 11, 2019

Real talk, I'm a little under the weather. I don't feel good and sometimes when I'm this way I need a little pick me up. Seeing the first footage from the Nezha:Transformers cartoon did just that. After what feels like an eternity, finally there's something! A little while back I wondered if the show would be a repacking of Cyberverse stuff as it's pretty much straight up Transformers and probably a easy repackage for foreign markets. Looks like it was for the most part.

I don't make cartoons, but I'm sure reusing the cgi models in this new cartoon was a budgetary move. Probably relieves a bunch of the workload when most of the cast is already sitting as a cad file. Fortunately they're good looking models and makes for a good looking robot show. I don't know how well the show will turn out, but I really want to watch it.

Transformers X Nezha

I've been watching this line develop as much as I could since it was announced. A Chinese exclusive Transformers series, Transformers X Nezha will be a cartoon and toy line for the Chinese market involving Chinese mythology. Details have been pretty scarce. Mainly getting a 'it's coming' blurb occasionally without anything really concrete. Honestly I had assumed it would be mainly a new cartoon involving current Transformers toys in a new setting. Today images of the toys were leaked out and I can't lie. I'm interested.

The image above doesn't reflect the line as a whole. There could be all sorts of size classes and such. Right now all we have is a fuzzy picture of what looks like a 3 pack of Legend/Legion scale figures. My affinity for this size class isn't a secret, nor is my fondness for the more unique things that happen in Transformers. I've been wanting Terracotta Army Transformers forever, and while this isn't the same thing, it's close. That traditional old world Chinese armor looks GREAT and really lends itself to Transformers design. Optimus Prime is a Samurai, Megatron a Sphinx. Ancient Chinese armor? Perfect.

I hope these aren't to hard or expensive to get, as I want some. I'm not saying I plan on going whole hog or anything, but definitely want a few and plan to pay attention to this. It's neat, it's cool, and it's different. Seeing as Tu Xingsun looks to be using the Prime Knock Out legion/legend class mold to some extent... and I'm seeing other familiar parts on the other two... I wonder how many original toys will be produced for this series vs remolds and recolors. Either way, I like this.

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).

An Animated Happy Meal toy

I kinda wish I had gotten more of the Transformers Animated Happy Meal toys when they were out. I got a few, but not all. They were probably the last of the transforming kids meal toys available, and not too badly done either. Not that I've minded the non-transforming ones much. Just, it was nice to get a fully functional Transformers with those tiny boxes of fries and baggie of mutant apples.

Robotechno

I intend to put some extra attention towards Robotech in the not too distant future. It's been forever since I've watched more than an episode at a time. I've got a few DVD sets and the whole series is on Netflix, I just need to set aside the time to do so... which is the challenge. For the record, I'm specifically talking about Robotech, not regular Macross or anything. Never been that concerned with the Harmony Gold situation either to be honest. I just want to re-watch Robotech at some point, I like it.

Thinking I want to stock up on some of the Robotech keshi Super 7 has been making. They've done a great job as usual. They've done some ReAction figures as well, but I'd rather just keep it small. I have some older stuff and anything new I buy wouldn't be... Look, I have a mini figure addiction.

Chinese Coke commercial

I could go for a Coke right now myself.

Botbots Pop Punk commercial

I just hope my theater has Bumblebee cups!

 

I've got my tickets for Bumblebee reserved for an early Sunday afternoon showing, and I'm super excited. Really looking forward to seeing what looks like a great Transformers movie. I'm also looking forward to getting the collectors cup and popcorn bucket (assuming my theater has them), as I usually do that. Then this past weekend I see news that in Singapore theaters not only have Bumblebee swag, but also selling a Bumblebee reissue in combos! Dude! Sure, it's the same Bumblebee that's (finally) appearing at my local Walmart stores, but there's a certain something about getting one at the theater! I'd totally be up for something like that. Imagine if it was some sort of exclusive version. Like instead of the 2004 face the current Walmart Bumblebee has, it had the original head or maybe a sparkly plastic. Even a 'theater edition' sticker on the package or something. Sure, it's be next to impossible to get one then (because they'd sell out in less than a second), but that's just cool.

[Hornet] Rises trailer

I ran the title through Google Translate, I may have did something wrong, but Hornet Rises is just the best name ever. I think I wish his name was Hornet now.

I'm really excited for this damn movie, and I don't care if you think it's lame.

Transformers Ramen Resturant

I've made my love for ramen known here before, so when I randomly decided to enter Transformers and ramen into a search at the same time... I had no clue this would pop up (I was hoping for neat licensed instant lunch cups). This news completely passed me by last year when The Last Knight was in theaters (sadly, because this is the kind of thing I go crazy over). Apparently a ramen restaurant in Hong Kong called Ramen Iroha had a promotion for The Last Night featuring Transformers theming all over their restaurant. I found this video and this TFW2005 post showcasing the promotion and the sadness I'm feeling over missing out on this is absolutely ridiculous. Completely ludicrous. For starters, I live in Georgia. There isn't a Ramen Iroha here. We had that rad Sonic promotion (sadly, doesn't seem like anything for Bumblebee), but this puts those excellent slush cups to shame. I would love to get some of that neat stuff they were selling with the logos on it. Sure, I can grab a set of chopsticks easily, but I'd stockpile Transformers branded ones.

You think I'm joking?

I've found myself recently wondering what kind of cool set up could feature Transformers somewhere like Gatlinburg or Myrtle Beach. Somewhere that's a touristy place that would make sense. There's that neat Simpsons attraction at Myrtle Beach that makes me wonder if a Transformers themed similar thing would be a hit. Some sort of attraction like a museum or a 4D movie, a store, maybe a cool restaurant. Maybe have some of the SEGA arcade games set up. I'm sure it's be great.

Good lord I'm practically in tears just looking at the menu. Forget MP44, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY MY JAM.

MY SPECIFIC JAM.