Should Transformers Have Removable Faceplates?

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?
REUPLOAD of a video that was originally published on October 23, 2020. Thanks Paramount....
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[@RodimusPrimal]

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: kzbin.info​ 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.

[@MrStarfighter14]

I'm on team mask.

[@jackytran4885]

I'm with both team mask & team retractable face plate confirmed

[@benpaterson2237]

Prime and Soundwave's faceplates are iconic parts of their design, but it makes sense for them to be retractable if other cybertronians such as Bumblebee get the same. I'd make it so that for one reason or another characters like Prime prefer to wear their facemasks most of the time outside of combat.

[@Darth-vade123]

Face plate 100%

[@rebelliousbynature99]

@Rodimus Primal I have a question for you. Are Transformers able to transform transform at will, or do they require an access code of some sort? In the original G1 series, you would always hear autobots transform or decepticons transform.. In its sequel series beast wars, you would always hear maximals maximize and predicon's terrorize. Which has me wondering if they didn't say those words would the transformers be able to transform. Or did they need to hear those words because that was the access code for their transformation?

[@wergar_the_warwolf6834]

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

[@jakeutage374]

Ahhh that sounds so cool

[@chrisstory563]

unlike gobot that had more oddball designs on some characters. like a talking windshield LOL

[@SRobot08]

New trend: faceplates

[@Dystnine]

​@@chrisstory563 GO BOT designs sere weird. There was a tank guy who had his head as the cannon.

[@Theorymus]

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

[@RodimusPrimal]

Luckily it wasn't a strike, but a claim. I instead fixed it by using more still images in places that worked to still get the point across.

[@The_Mimewar]

Paramount: we bought this years after you loved it! It’s our now! Pay us!!!”

[@wherestycenat]

@@RodimusPrimal i love the videos man.

[@skeaneable]

@@RodimusPrimal can you discuss humans who upload their brains to become Transformers themselves or vice versa where there are Transformers who assumed human disguises (Pretenders)

[@jeydgamer5173]

Vvvv v vvv v vvvv

[@Good7Bad13]

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

[@eur0be4t3r]

I was gonna say something similar but it depends on the animation

[@dragonlord3376]

Soundwave with a mouth is the stuff of nightmares

[@DomFortress]

Faceplate animation alone can't emote because the visual needs to be accompanied by the audio feedback from vocal tone. Such as how a stoic sounding Optimus Prime hardly raises his voice unnecessarily, yet commands attention from his postures and gestures being heroic. Mouth movements might be necessary for dramatic expressions that require intensity, however subtleness is an art form of how to project one's voice.

[@demonking86420]

My top votes are Animated and Aligned

[@PotatoKernels]

@@demonking86420 but it seems weird to see Optimus without a faceplate in battle, like in animated

[@Starcat5]

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!

[@jimmnotjames5235]

I agree, Prime did... well, primes mouth pretty good, but bayverse is pretty wierd... Just please never give soundwave a mouth....

[@ichiko_sakura]

@@jimmnotjames5235 agreed soundwave looks better without a mouth

[@Moonstalker]

I actually loved what they did with primal and later optimus. he uses his battle mask when things are going to be more serious. To be honest I'm fine with either designs, mouth, retractable masks and always masked Or even weirder designs with only a single eye, retractable visors, having two different eyes, lights, removable helmets etc. I mean there is so much variety with transformers mostly because transformers uses many elements from many mech genres and even created some.

[@plantainsame2049]

​@@jimmnotjames5235 I like what Transformers Prime did specifically in the episode Orion packs because the mouthpiece gone the entire episode but then the immediately when he got turned back into Optimist it snaps back and it's like an oh s*** he's back moment

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

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

[@JudasMahorn]

So like what we see when OP’s face gets Micheal bay’d?

[@Stardust_Nova]

That'd be so cool... Like, a good Darth Vader.

[@KiwiTheRetroGal]

_I'm pretty sure Orion Pax was shot in the chest by Megatron not in the face so he shouldn't have battle damage to his head_ 🤔

[@ichiko_sakura]

It could be used to hide his face form megatron

[@elgusaniiiodeljuego6823]

I don't know why Optimus wouldn't fix his face.

[@Storm-fl3mp]

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.

[@Toon_Lucario]

KZbin must have thought that maskless G1 Optimus was too much for KZbin

[@jpeake13]

"Massless" Hrmm, can't help but feel like ya meant something else right there.

[@Toon_Lucario]

@@jpeake13 my bad fam I had a typo

[@ciomuda2406]

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

[@ciomuda2406]

I have seen it it’s cursed

[@ciomuda2406]

Yep

[@ciomuda2406]

Exactly

[@johnreel0161]

Have you seen cyberverse?

[@ciomuda2406]

Yes Jesus ik the non face plated grimlocks

[@Stardust_Nova]

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.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Totally agree.

[@Kamenriderneo]

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.

[@megrimlock4713]

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

[@scarydave7245]

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

[@isidrorodriguez1441]

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

[@rashounjohnson9562]

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

[@dwainmarsh9139]

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.

[@schmidington]

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

[@omegamaximus1727]

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

[@aguyonyoutubewhoisofnosign8373]

He looks like he’s saying, “Ngggyahhhhh, I’ll get you Autobot rascals!” as if he was a Deception

[@kage_tactical]

Gives me Shattered glass ultra magnus vibes

[@Windfly8888]

Oh thank God, I’m not the only one who thinks that

[@yashmandla1234]

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,

[@60sspider-man29]

What about straws that go under the faceplate?

[@Gabrhil]

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

[@erikbjelke4411]

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.

[@MassHystarix]

Anybody can wear the mask, but Peter is Spider-Man

[@harlannguyen4048]

Also, contract reasons. A lot of actors do want their faces shown in the movie.

[@weelzneal4768]

The internet series Red vs Blue is proof that we dont need to see a face or mouth

[@Lazrael32]

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.

[@StormGardenHedgefleet]

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

[@uc9507]

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?*

[@AdamDeOldSport]

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

[@MD-1982]

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

[@pio0055]

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

[@NicholasConstantinou-kl6db]

I feel that way too. You could tell from his tone, he was straight up undermining some of the most iconic parts of the franchise and low-key diminishing the relevance of the fanbase's opinion, instead of simply explaining his vision and aesthetic choices, like any decent director would. Besides, despite not being identical, the G1 based designs of the Bumblebee movie look amazing and prove that it could have likely worked from the beginning.

[@e-pearlm]

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

[@MarvNARK]

It's dumb. Makes no sense why that would be a part of them

[@TFfangeek]

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.

[@michaelharris7445]

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.

[@dekuavatar8777]

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

[@Naga-Raja]

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!

[@natek4488]

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.

[@darkousdragon1166]

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

[@JDog2656]

Exactly. It’s like the mask comes on and you know it’s about to go down. 😎

[@knightsofcybertron2079]

I agree with you there

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

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

[@OLIV3R_YT]

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

[@kingschwag4208]

100% G1 was the best gen hands down.

[@StoryArtsConcepts]

Agreed

[@StoryArtsConcepts]

@@kingschwag4208 depends on what you look for. But I do agree in terms of toys and designs

[@soundsofstabbing3627]

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

[@matthewreynoso6904]

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!

[@timothylewis2527]

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.

[@arceuslordofcreation8824]

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

[@silashenderson1628]

We got ya covered Rodimus! Rewatching rn!

[@Shizuma]

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.

[@Davestar-fj7kp]

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

[@Comkill117]

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.

[@sdp728]

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

[@BladeCrossEXE]

My personal take: depends on the character. For Optimus PRIME, and Soundwave, faceplate all the time, moving or otherwise. (Although the DOTM "Time to find out" with the face plate closing was badass.) Optimus PrimAL, removable. Battle masks, I think they're cool, when used properly. If it's not done right, Optimus Prime with a mouth just looks cursed, like Earthspark, and even TFOne. Orion Pax w/o a mask is fine, but when he goes Prime, he needs the mask.

[@omegamaximus1727]

11:16 That’s a terrible move , Michael Bay, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, and Paramount, they can go burn in hell.

[@ryszakowy]

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

[@TinyRobotED-tm9rs]

Ahh yes handgun, the classic everyday item

[@RodimusPrimal]

Yep. In Japan, toy guns are STILL legal. Prior to 1988, toy guns in the US did not have to have the orange cap. As kid, I remember going to a convenience store and buying cap guns.

[@MichaelAlexKawa]

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.

[@Tivis7]

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

[@g1optimusprime401]

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

[@thedragonslayer7294]

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

[@RodimusPrimal]

Proof Bay doesn't know what he's talking about.

[@jackytran7435]

The original 8th continuity of transformers: IDW comics (12:56) G1 continuity family (0:55-9:26 to 15:38 to 16:01) Robots in disguise 2001 (9:47) The Unicron trilogy (9:32-9:51 to 10:24) Cyber verse (14:52) Aligned continuity family (13:24 to 13:34-14:19 to 14:32-14:41) Animated (12:38) Live action movie films (11:12 to 15:21)

[@jackytran7435]

Peter Cullen/Optimus prime/Orion pax: *laughter* "amazing! A booty trap that actually catches boobies." "I'm open to suggestions & you don't need to raise your hands before you speak!?" *Laughing* "just as it always was like the rest of New York City. Autobots, transform & roll out!" Garry chalk/optimal Optimus/Optimus primal: "it's time to transform & roll out!"

[@twistedyogert]

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.

[@plantainsame2049]

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

[@Gmk4667]

I think Transformers should have removable mouth plates because it allows for more expression and facial emotion

[@cinostheultimatepredator161]

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

[@torrancemoore6152]

They gravitated towards human faces but in the first movie all the autobots were based on animals face wise

[@kingschwag4208]

Stupid. Bay is such a bitch

[@glory2cybertron]

It's a dumb scifi/fantasy trope where evil==monsters. The Decepticons were a crime syndicate turned political movement and its military wing, not robotic orcs.

[@torrancemoore6152]

@@glory2cybertron I didn't like that aspect of it either. Their villains because of opposing ideology, they're not genetically evil or something. Then again, that would require depth and nuance which is something almost none of them got in those movies.

[@warblerab2955]

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

[@RazyelKayneReviews]

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

[@Blakewyattdunfee]

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

[@thehoopsobserver9078]

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

[@photodude24]

Optimus and Soundwave should never be without the faceplate. Drove me crazy that Optimus had a mouth in Bayformers

[@senpaigarr]

I always love that quote from Bay "I'd love to show the fans how lame that would look" (talking about the G1 designs on screen).....then almost everyone loves the designs used for the Bumblebee movie. THEY LOOK AMAZING lol.

[@MassHystarix]

I think some of the bumblebee movie designs are really creepy

[@EC-ms1jr]

I personally just don't like the live action movies in general.

[@OptimalMario]

Did you know Optimus Prime from the Bumblebee movie is only 16 ft" ? His new design looks amazing but at the cost of him being really short

[@senpaigarr]

@@MassHystarix Which ones do you feel that way about? Just curious.

[@MassHystarix]

@@senpaigarr arcee, cliff jumper, brawn, ironhide

[@eternalmaximum6899]

It’s been sadly announced that Jose Delbo has passed away a few days ago

[@RodimusPrimal]

I heard about that too. I talked about it in my last news video.

[@henrymatos9551]

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!

[@dominicballinger6536]

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.

[@Mardanzo]

the ultimate argument against the need of having an exposed face to emote properly is Tokusatsu in general

[@oolooo]

While I love seeing Optimus smile , I far prefer to see him without a Mouth

[@samsarex4318]

Optimus prime with no mask is my sleep paralysis demon

[@Shenanirats]

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.

[@torrancemoore6152]

Have faceplates move. Having them be retractable is fine except for soundwave. Also I think they don't all have to look like prime. Movie Bumblebee's was pretty cool and unique in my opinion.

[@lcc2348]

As bad as some of Optimus' mouths can be, I still think they're better than him having a speaker in his face

[@TheWanzYT]

This reupload has lightened our darkest hour!

[@Traph]

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

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

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

[@josiahcastillo9896]

I like bay version of prime

[@torrancemoore6152]

@Total Transformers I like the bayverse prime designs too, but I understand why people don't like optimus having a mouth.

[@josiahcastillo9896]

@@torrancemoore6152 that's OK I'm one of the rare people that loved that loved the bayfims

[@doublea761]

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

[@S197Szymonik]

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.

[@TSFCaesar]

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!

[@TheNotoriousAC]

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

[@EternalRoman]

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.

[@random_gamer_guy82]

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

[@Vesuvio_NA]

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

[@G2_Convoy]

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.

[@BigOSnackary]

I think the perfect way to do the masks was how they did it in transformers 2007. Having the mouth under the mask but the mask moving as they spoke.

[@ericmeckl2904]

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.

[@artisticfoxstard4383]

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

[@alphamarigi]

Optimus Prime should hide his mouth like Kakakuri from One Piece.

[@TheMerciless187]

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

[@six000six]

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

[@mechamanblade8465]

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.

[@RodimusPrimal]

I'm okay with that as well for certain characters. Optimus, Soundwave, and Grimlock do not look right without their faceplates as permanent moving fixtures.

[@animusmon]

12:49. Fun fact about Animated. Many of the Autobots was in fact wearing helmets. We see this in the episode "Where is Thy Sting", when Wasp disguised himself as Bumblebee.

[@JG1985XX]

The original iconic look all the way

[@ProZoidPlayz25]

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

[@twistedyogert]

In 2020, Hasbro tried to get Megatron to wear a mask, but he vaporized the person who told him to.

[@juliana.lymond2622]

Optimus Prime Looks Ridiculous With A Mouth.

[@poseidon2363]

Except TFP Optimus

[@kongokevful]

51 year old G1 fan. Some things should never change. It's a part of their character....who they are. I can't imagine Superman without his iconic "S" shield. He just wouldn't be Superman without it.

[@anjalaa4825]

In the 2007 transformers film when prime fights megaton in the final battle, his battle mask moves up and down as he spoke. That was something I wish continued throughout the franchise

[@Paw_Lover86]

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.

[@JacobKaiju]

I like that Bay complained that the original Transformers were boxy and wouldn't translate to the big screen that well, than Bumblebee came out, and proved otherwise. Just food for thoughts. I'm not against retractable faceplates, though I do want them to move up and down when the characters are speaking.

[@Nameless-ln5mr]

I like to think of retractable face plates as a “game face”. That means, when the face plate comes up, the bot it belongs to is no longer playing around.