Transformers: Beast Machines
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
16) Will the YTV network be showing Beast Machines?
Beast Machines will be shown on Fox Kids in the U.S. As for other territories... I really can't say!
17) Will the Transformers in the Beast Machines series still have the ability to Transform?
Absolutely! Sort of...
18) I was wondering exactly how many episodes there will be in the first season of Transformers Beast Machines?
13 in the first season, 13 in the second.
19) Are the transformers going to go to Cybertron? Will we see more of Cybertron in Beast Machines?
Now *that's* an interesting question! Have we ever been to Cybertron before?
20) Will the American TF series ever tie into the Japanese ones?
Probably not, for all *kinds* of reasons (most of them legal/copyright-related).
21) Besides the five "rough" carry overs, how many (number) other main characters will be regularly featured?
Oh, ten or so.
22) A few months ago, a preview picture was released advertising
Transformers Beast Machines. It featured what looked like a giant ape, a
rat, and some other unidentifiable creature. Should we consider this to be
a glance at things to come as far as the look of the characters in the new
show?
What you saw were rough designs, but it *does* indicate the direction in which we're heading. (A giant ape? A rat? Well who could *that* be?!)
23) Why Beast Machines? Personally I liked Beast Hunters better. Was it a Hasbro decision?
To me, Beast Hunters sounds like a show about Marlon Perkins' Evil Twin. Somebody came up with Beast Machines. But since we couldn't use "War" or "Battle" or any other such terms in the title (some places don't like kids watching "War" shows -- hence the alternate title Beasties for Beast Wars, and ShadowRaiders for War Planets). Everybody concerned wanted a uniform title worldwide, and so far Beast Machines was the best one, and is apparently written in stone. In any event, a rose by another name..., when you see this show, you'll be hooked whether it's finally called Beast Machines or Cajun Cooking On The Bayou. I'm telling you, it's gonna be dynamite!
24) What does a story editor actually do?
Well, first of all, it involves eating a LOT of breakfast cereals (high on my list: Quisp, Cap'n Crunch, and Count Chocula).Seriously, Story Editors are the head writers. We determine the direction of the shows, the ways the characters will change throughout the series, and which stories are told. Basically, we're in charge of the stories. And in the case of this series, we are coming up with storylines ourselves and hiring (the best!) writers to give them life. (Normally we'd take pitches from writers to see what kind of stories they'd want to tell. But since we're doing this as a novel for television, we're deciding ourselves out of sheer necessity how each chapter will be shaped.)
The first three years of Beast Wars was a reflection of Bob Forward and Larry DiTillio. The next two years will be a reflection of Marty Isenberg and Bob Skir.
Although Marty and I will be the Story Editors (read: Head Writers) of the new series, MARV WOLFMAN actually developed the storyline that we'll be following. The shape of the world, the conflict between our heroes and the new villains, the very nature of the new villains themselves, were all Marv's invention and contribution; Marty and I are deeply indebted to him.
25) I would like to know how to break into animation screenwriting. I am currently applying to grad school for film but I was wondering how to start the process of getting into the field. What do you recommend?
Lots of Quisp, Cap'n Crunch, and Count Chocula! In addition, take LOTS of writing classes, and courses in animation -- traditional as well as computer animation. However, animation classes are for background -- Marty and I do not animate. We write. A lot. So write a lot, and read as many scripts as possible.