Mark it down: today is the day Transfans came ’round on Michael Bay’s Transformers.
Yes, the Transfans, those recalcitrant defenders of all things transforming (and, according to a recent Pew study, the most wedgied fanbase in geekdom), are finally getting things to break their way. Though they’ve howled in disgust at unrecognizable character designs, organized protests over the casting of Hugo Weaving as the voice of Megatron (over Frank Welker, who did for sentient guns what James Cagney did for gangsters), and blown a gasket over Optimus Prime’s metallic kisser… all of that will be forgotten, because the man who is venerated above all others in the Transfan community has given his seal of approval.
That’s right: Tattoo from The Big Boy Morning Show on Power 106 has consented to appear at the grand unveiling of the Transformers building wrap. I know.
Now, Tattoo has not, to the best of my knowledge, seen the finished film, nor has he voiced his definitive approval of Bay’s interpretation of the toy line that launched a golden age in cost-effective limited animation as it is typically farmed out to Japanese and Korean studios. Though I’d love to have Tattoo on record saying, "Transformers is gonna blow it out the box!", would he be attending something as monumental as a building wrap unveiling if he still harbored misgivings over the film? Doubtful.
But don’t take my word for it. Ask Tattoo yourself in the Kinko’s parking lot on Vine just south of Sunset. And make sure to get there at 7:00 AM sharp, ‘cuz the first fifty people to show will receive a free Transformer toy. As additional inducement, you’ll also get to tour The Sector 7 Mobile Command Unit. Yes, you read that correctly. The Sector 7 Mobile Command Unit. As if breaking bread with Tattoo weren’t enough! In other news, John Lennon and George Harrison have come out of hiding to announce that The Beatles are getting back together.
You’ve got to give Paramount/Dreamworks credit: they’re promoting Transformers like the big swingin’ ding-a-ling of ’07 that many of us want it to be. And now the Transfans are on board, too! I never thought I’d live to see such days.
In case I wasn’t clear, the event will be held Thursday, May 10th, 2007 at 1440 North Vine in the Kinko’s parking lot between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. On the off-chance that Mapquest is kicking your ass, just look for this:
