AKOM: The Worst Transformers Animation Studio

[@michaelpapp5518]

You’re probably thinking of the term “tell tale”. A tall tale is something of an unbelievable story.

[@theluckiesteh9058]

Sure, the Toei episodes had errors up the wazoo but AKOM came in and made it even worse.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

"No fear. (AKOM gets hired to do your animation) 1 fear."

[@calvinstraveldreams]

It’s not just the errors, but the much cruder art style that makes AKOM episodes look bad. Specifically the characters consistently look “off” in terms of proportions, with really strange expressions as well-like they were drawn by children. It’s especially noticeable because while Toei episodes have lots of errors, the overall art style is actually quite good by 1980s toy cartoon standards, whereas the AKOM episodes look like GoBots episodes, or even like 1970s era Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

[@KazuyaMithra]

An interesting fact about AKOM: Part of the reason they switched studios was because the season 1-2 series director Kozo Morishita (who is Toei Animation's chairman) left Transformers and started directing Saint Seiya; right after working on Transformers The Movie. That's how Nelson Shin went from producer to series director during season 3.

[@larrychilders6599]

And then they went to Dragon Ball Z after Saint Seiya

[@beartrapinuwuland]

That image of "all" the combaticons makes me think of how funny it would be to have some form of action master type figure of the different combiners but in the same scale as the other figures

[@misterbadguy7325]

The funny thing about AKOM was that the Simpsons animators apparently had a pretty fond opinion of them, claiming they consistently put in the best work. They even threw in an homage to the studio in that one episode where Bart and Lisa write Itchy and Scratchy scripts under Grandpa's name--at the award ceremony, there's a He-Man-esque cartoon named "Strongdar, Master of Akom."

[@PrincessMatrix]

I think that's because of the shows themselves. The Simpsons was a smash success, so they obviously put their A team to work to ensure they stay in their good graces. Transformers and Batman were toy commercials (Granted, Batman went above and beyond, but the studios at large were mostly interested in making a cartoon to advertise the toys), so they didn't put in as much effort

[@TF80s]

@@PrincessMatrix No, it's because the studio was only starting out when they worked on Transformers, most of the animators weren't that experienced, Transformers was their first series...obviously over the years they improved, especially by the time it got to the Simpsons era. The Simpsons was also a much easier cartoon to animate given it's simplified character models and backgrounds.

[@ShinSeikiEvan]

Simpsons are much easier to draw than Transforming robots. AKOM bit off WAY more than they could chew.

[@Doglad98]

​@@PrincessMatrix AKOM did get fired from working on Batman the Animated series, and I feel like that was their wake up call to not screw up that badly again.

[@KazuyaMithra]

Another important note: the reason for AKOM winding up with so many incorrect models was because Toei Animation was ultimately responsible for creating the final models and having final say over which Sunbow designs DO and DON'T get altered; seemingly without Sunbow knowing in some cases. AKOM simply took what was received from Sunbow, and seemingly never corresponded at all with Toei (Toei having shifted their priorities by this time in favor of Saint Seiya, until Takara created the G1 sequel series).

[@RodimusMinor1987]

Seeing Akom draw a Snarl in Rodimus colors amongst the Decepticons still haunts me with how bad it was

[@Critter97]

10:12 Core class Bluestreak and deluxe class Ironhide and Ratchet.

[@Transfixed]

9:34 "telltale signs" is the term you're looking for. Good topic, I learned a lot about Akom today 👍

[@KasumiKenshirou]

Nelson Shin is the guy who started AKOM that you're referring to. He directed the 86 movie and prior to that rotoscoped the lightsabers in the original Star Wars. (I think his work might have been redone in the Special Editions.) He was involved with an interesting piece of lost media: an animated feature called Empress Chung, which was a co-production between North and South Korea. 6:44 Modern Simpsons doesn't look all that great. The characters are animated very robotically compared to the earlier seasons from the 20th Century. This shot at 15:00: A lot of them are more than just miscolored, but off-model as well. I think some of them are just derivative generic robots that they slapped together from pieces of other characters. 15:13 They did the inconsistent number of Cyclonus Armada vs. Sweeps mistake in the movie, so at least it's not a new mistake. The movie never had THAT many Cyclonuses, though. 18:07 Hot Rod is also missing his yellow spoiler from his back and has a Decepticon symbol on his chest. I honestly don't mind Hun-Gurr being that large, if Abominus were even larger.

[@chasen0436]

if Hasbro got Sunrise Studios to do a Transformers show that would be epic

[@calvinstraveldreams]

Unfortunately, won’t happen given that Sunrise and Bandai are tight, and the rivalry between Bandai and TakaraTomy.

[@jessopjessopjessop860]

Worth noting that the owner of AKOM was Nelson Shin - who directed the '86 Movie.

[@OptimusPhillip]

I think the word you're looking for is "tell-tale sign." As in, a sign that tells a tale.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

"Akom." Me: "NOOOOOOOO!!! (Blinks) What? Sorry, force of habit."

[@Patrick2480]

AKOM was found by a Korean guy that worked in the 60s in the US, then move back to South Korea, thats why in The Rebirth end credits its mostly korean names of the staff

[@TransDrummer1312]

So it was a Korean sweatshop basically. No wonder it was all-expenses-spared.

[@Cdr2002]

16:49 blaster looks vaguely like Miles O’Brien to me there This feels like foreshadowing

[@vustvaleo8068]

so working on Batman TAS is the first and only time they got fired? that is like setting a new record, lol.

[@Headcrabman9999]

The phrase you're looking for is "tell-tale"

[@Isolder74]

It involves a lot of heart!

[@CHASEMARC]

to be fair if AKOM was given old, outdated pictures of the transformers how could they get it right?

[@katsomeday1]

I loved in "The Autobot Run" where AKOM animated Chip Chase standing up from his wheelchair to catch a grenade. Then again Chip could rip a 5 1/4" floppy apart like it was nothing, so feats of strength like pushing himself out of his chair to catch it are believable. 😆

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

Quick question- would the Newage or Magic Square Constructicons scale well with SS86 Ultra Magnus? Because I have the morbid desire to replicate that infamous error from “Carnage in C-Minor” just because it’s hysterical to me. Magnus just looks like a perturbed Dark Helmet responding to his underling saying “no, I didn’t see you playing with dolls, sir!”. I also want to see a Titan Class or Commander Class Broadside just so I can replicate the scene of Broadside using his ship mode to one-shot Devastator.

[@crimsondynamo615]

Also have to replicate broadside and ultra Magnus heiling each other

[@DetectiveBarricade]

Hard to say considering 86 Ultra Magnus isn't out yet, but I'd suspect either set of unofficial Constructicons would be in the realm of "close enough". I wouldn't expect Ultra Magnus to be able to actually hold them like in the episode, mind you.

[@larrychilders6599]

Ah Akom, the Studio Live of Transformers

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

15:02 I know it's an animation error, but personally I like to think that this is actually us finally getting to see Cyclonus' "Armada" that Unicron promised but never delivered on.

[@symbiote1982pk]

It's telltale signs, tall tales refers to outlandish, unbelievable stories, often lies.

[@feralstorm]

AKOM gets a lot of work on many series by being one of the less expensive animation studios. They're far from incompetent, but how well they do depends heavily on the nature of what they're doing. Their work is fine on simpler, less ambitiously-animated shows like the Simpsons, but with more dynamic animation or complex character designs, like TF or Batman TAS, they stumble more frequently.

[@rafy2983]

The inconsistencies are atrocious, this is the worst crime against Transformers, worse than Bayverse

[@IsiahTomas]

Worse than Kup's assassination in IDW's Transformers/Visionaries crossover? Or the Decepticon that kicked the puppy in the anime one time?

[@ThePageofRage]

Animation errors didn't make Bumblebee piss fuel onto John Turturro's head.

[@genyakozlov1316]

​@@ThePageofRageThat was actually one of the better jokes of the first movie. All humour involving Sam or his parents is way worse, especially his parents.

[@mechanwhal6590]

(Laughs in Kiss Players)

[@XenotHedgehog]

Ramhorn hitting the guardian robot reminds me of the YGO card Super Rush Recklessly. I want that screenshot of Metroplex with the Eiffel Tower animated to make it look like he's playing electric guitar.

[@marvelfanatic9535]

AKOM was the reason why the animation from X-Men: TAS was bad at times

[@MikeD974]

Akom might have had bad animation but still thought season 3 was the best in g1

[@alphatrion100]

I agree. Alot of the stories were good!

[@krewlsorrow354]

I've been looking more into AKOM over the last few weeks. Funny how this video pops up (the algorithm, no doubt). The thumbnail made me think of something. It feels as though during the run of season 3, the Constructicon Scrapper got shafted by AKOM rather harshly in episodes that included him. He was mostly obscured and incorrectly animated (Rebirth part 1 being an example).

[@dylancrossman8502]

I actually do like Optimus’s backpack being grey. It kind of looks like his trailer folds up and becomes it.

[@robrice7246]

14:53 I know there's a fan website dedicated to it, which should work as a Legacy sub-line.

[@jd213_]

Akom eps have their moments where characters are kinda drawn nicely, even if it's not amazing. And I'm so sick of CG TFs, I think I'd rather see Akom give TFs another shot rather than another CG series,

[@samurexatlas7373]

9:39 Tell Tale Tall Tale is a big lie.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

I mean. "tell" and "tall" are only 1 letter off.

[@samurexatlas7373]

@@s.p.d.magentaranger1822 I know, he asked and I answered. It was a simple response.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

@@samurexatlas7373 Ye. Just trying to maybe give a rationale. You gud. :)

[@YIONON1]

Back in the 80's nobody liked TheCore, when it aired me and my friends just went outside to play😮‍💨

[@panelvixen]

It gets worse, Rhino.

[@IndyCrewInNYC]

I remember "City of Steel" one of my favorites from Season 2, utterly ruined by Akom and its ugly pastels and creamcicle colors. 🤮

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

Same, bro. The concept is so awesome, but...AKOM...

[@sabregunner1]

TJ, i think you mean "tell tale" tall tale is like paul bunyon and pecos bill

[@echotransformer]

TJ you create fantastic content…I’ll admit I was very surprised AKOM animated Only Human, it was definitely one of the better ones with brighter colors, decent proportions a bit more gloss and fewer goofy movements

[@TF80s]

Are we sure he's right about Only Human though? As far as I'm concerned, that was one of the best looking eps in season three.

[@ShadowWingTronix]

Double-checked the numbers: season 1 was 16 episodes, and three of those were a miniseries they just shoved into the first full season. It only aired once a week. Season two is when they started airing FIVE days a week so you can see where they needed help to fill the required week count (if memory serves back then 13 weeks was a season for kids TV) on a larger schedule. When Hot Rod is being attacked by Hun-Grr his backpack thing is missing. Just today I saw a couple of PSA videos with Spider-Man and a group of more cartoony designed kids and the occasional adult. Spidey wasn't quite the same as the 80s cartoon, which would have been weird even though it was also by Marvel Productions, but the animation wasn't that bad. I guess it depends on their time crunch?

[@unnamed12346]

AKOM honestly sometimes made the weakest of Toei look like they were animated by Seasoned Pros sometimes (Especially Carnage in C Minor, like mercy, why is it this horrendous?)

[@philipjohnston5822]

AKOM did an episode of B:TAS? How?

[@capmodesty]

They did several, there are accounts from the showrunners about just how unimpressed they were with the quality

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

By falling aft-backwards into it?

[@philipjohnston5822]

@@s.p.d.magentaranger1822 This is a good way of putting it.

[@mattr75]

Akom: the gift that keeps on giving

[@vxrdrummer]

As an episode, I love the Core. It just hurts me how badly its drawn. The one I struggle to watch is the Autobot Run. It's just beyond bad and I'm surprised TJ didn't mention it. I watch G1 episodes most days and the AKOM ones are always difficult to cope with, as for the most part, they are well written episodes.

[@maximusprime3459]

The switch in animation is jarring when re-watching the series.

[@curbydinobot8633]

The reason Broadside had different looks and sizes

[@mrf19741]

All of the animation in Carnage In C-Minor haunts me to this day. Seeing Devastator, Brawn, and Huffer fighting against Decepticons is just Sacrilegious!

[@Smacgregor88]

AKOM proves with Simpsons they still can't do good with Transformers. AKOM = the animator Racheal Lillis voiced in her Jessie range (Animation Runner Kuromi)

[@primusvsunicron1]

video on the rushed nature of The Unicron Trilogy please

[@KamenRiderSeiryuXV0]

The worst Animation Studio, Akom. Not compatible when pairing Transformers.

[@GreenLanternPrime01]

When I saw the thumbnail for this video the first thing that popped into my mind was "City of Steel"!

[@scifiguy26]

I noticed & hated that as a kid some episodes looked like anime👍 & some episodes looked like it was animated by Hanna-Barbera👎 🤮

[@dialNforNinja]

That Face of the Nijika screen cap explains why the new Legacy Ultra Magnus has such a small head, at least. Animation accuracy!

[@nilesbrook4216]

Akom is the Bizarro to TMS Studio’s Superman

[@LittlePixieBot]

Since Toei was working on the movie, why didn't Hasbro/Sunbow utilize TMS over Akom? Sure Akom is cheaper, but it also reflects in the animation. You get what you paid for.

[@bonorbitz]

My guess is because making the movie was expensive, and S3 had to be produced at the same time in order to air in the fall after the movie’s release. So, Nelson Shin, director of the movie offered AKOM to do the whole season for a set amount of money which was competitive, low, and didn’t allow for corrections and adjustments.

[@1cioda]

Ah AKOM. Responsible for so many issues in animation. Check out some of the earlier BTAS episodes for a few good examples

[@jetseekers]

BTAS?

[@Regrocks81]

​@@jetseekersBatman: The Animated Series.

[@s.p.d.magentaranger1822]

Three words: CAT. SCRATCH. FEVER.

[@Critter97]

They even got fired from that show because of their subpar work.

[@mistyknightsbionicarm]

They shitted up xmen too

[@shawnkarg3794]

I was so underwhelmed by S3 as a kid. Optimus was dead, Rodimus was a wishy-washy replacement, Galvatron became a farce of Megatron, Grimlock got dumbed down into comic relief, and the Quintessons sucked. The Starscream ghost episodes and Optimus returning (for real or as a zombie) were meager highlights in the season.

[@windsweeper8002]

I'm surprised they didn't do the Return of Optimus Prime. The first episode was horribly animated though to be honest it was badly written anyway and the human villains voices were terrible.

[@carlosmiramontes9666]

In season 2 Optimus Prime’s head is more square and Season 1 head is more round and it looks like he’s wearing a hat.

[@superquad7]

If i had unlimited income, I'd pay for a high-end animation studio to reanimate "Five Facesof Darkness" at least. It's criminal that good of a story isnt animated with the brst of quality.

[@LightBloxVidsYT]

Hard to believe that this is the same animation studio that worked on the Simpsons and Animaniacs

[@Rabbitlord108]

Maybe 2D. But here's an idea for a future video. What's the worst in terms of 3D animation?

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

Cough cough Machinima

[@nickdeltufo3857]

Pick any episode from Energon. To the point where some scenes they would briefly swap back over to 2D for the Transformers.

[@Rabbitlord108]

​​​​@@nickdeltufo3857I find it so weird that they did that. It's so jarring it's not even funny (Cybertron having the Transformers be 3D animated and the humans be 2D animated is something I also find jarring. Even if it's to a lesser degree) It's not Season 1 of the Iron Man cartoon using CG for part of Tony's suiting up segment odd. But still odd nonetheless.

[@JohnWilliams-wl9px]

@@EternityKingdomsHeadHonchoMachinima didn’t animate anything. The actual animators were Tatsunko production a famous studio in Japan.

[@Rabbitlord108]

@@JohnWilliams-wl9px Yeah. I know that thanks to the Ruined Forever episode Diamond Bolt did on Combiner Wars.

[@TrueNomadSkies]

Selena looked fine as hell in that cat scratch episode just as she always did. Their work on Transformers was really where it shit the bed.

[@PowerRangersLostGalaxyFanFilm]

Speaking of AKOM, any episodes of Season 3 animated by them was very hard to watch. The cheapness and the quality of their animation weighted Season 3 and the Rebirth Miniseries down. Maybe the cheap animation of most of the bulk of season 3 set the tone of where the '86 movie set up. Given also it's somber melancholy post-Movie. Okay that's a bull crap reason. EDIT: Also, some of these AKOM episodes were featured in the Generation 2 Run of the show. Badly Enough when the G2 "cartoon" was cancelled in early 1995, they concluded with "City Of Steel" from what I heard.

[@TF80s]

Yeah, l never understood why they gave so many akom episodes the G2 treatment but then left so many of the far superior episodes out...crazy stuff.

[@destroyer_3002]

18:12 I noticed hotrod also has a decepticon badge. (I don't know if that's intentional)

[@LittlePixieBot]

It bothered me that Alom continuously gave Optimus Prime a white backpack when it's supposed to be ed. Occasionally, Toei would mispaint something here and there, but not in the entire episode.

[@Dystnine]

They did season 4 of Transformers and Prime's "mohawk" was coloured white the whole time. Also Bumblebee and Goldbug. Season 4 was weird.

[@raulzavala9061]

I think even any GoBot episode is better animated than an AKOM TF episode, I'm surprised Nelson Shin didnt have AKOM animate Transformers The Movie.

[@benwalters9725]

Congratulations Tj

[@jacksonbell6601]

I love this video

[@Enigma2K99]

Yes... YES. BURN THEM.

[@onespark100]

"Tell tale"

[@Ranma_Leopard]

Very enjoyable video

[@MutantsInDisguise]

AKOM was one of the reasons Transformers went from a phenomena to a failure after the snimated film.

[@julianlymond975]

*Animated

[@random_toaster]

Tell tale signs. 😊

[@A-Microwave]

here's some help, you mean to say telltale whenever you're saying tall tale

[@dylanphilpott8698]

Akom is kinda like ai upscaled art it just looks off

[@shanejayell]

I do remember season three being pretty bad....

[@robertoenbusqueda430]

En Ese estudio de animación parecían que dibujaban menores de edad.

[@Rojixus]

AKOM is the Devil.

[@windsweeper8002]

Akom was hired so the animation matched the poor writing.

[@santiago-r7i]

yes five faces of darkness is badly animated, also the horrible rebirth from season 4

[@santiago-r7i]

i agree akom is cheap