In 2016, Machinima Inc. and Hasbro Studios collaborated to develop an Internet-based animated series titled **Transformers: Combiner Wars**. Following the completion of my creative direction during the pre-production phase of this series, I undertook the roles of director and producer for a short film entitled **Prelude**. In advance of the series premiere, a collection of four prelude videos was released, which elaborated on certain events relevant to the narrative of Optimus Prime.
Client: Hasbro Studios, Machinima Inc.
Directed/Produced: Manabu Gaku Inada
Writer: George Krstic, FJ Desanto, Eric Calderon
Composite Artist: Tasayu Tasnaphun
Layout Artist: Kaichiro Terada
Monotone Shading: Angela Sung
Miniature Model: Charles Villacara
Year: 2016
Directed/Produced: Manabu Gaku Inada
Writer: George Krstic, FJ Desanto, Eric Calderon
Composite Artist: Tasayu Tasnaphun
Layout Artist: Kaichiro Terada
Monotone Shading: Angela Sung
Miniature Model: Charles Villacara
Year: 2016
Comic strip storyboard depicting pre-war memories and the exile of Optimus Prime and Megatron. Art by Manabu Inada.
The film opens with Optimus Prime living a solitary life, as seen through the personal lens of a car window.
Concept art of mechanical buttes by Manabu Inada. Miniature model created by Charles Villacara.
Concept drawing of Dead City. Concept art by Manabu Inada.
Dead City. Miniature model by Charles Villacara. Photo by Manabu Inada
Inside Dead City: Line drawing by Kaichiro Terada, shading by Angela Sung. Concept art of mechanical buttes by Manabu Inada with a miniature model by Charles Villacara.
Optimus Prime visits the old battlefield. Line drawing/layout by Kaichiro Terada, shading by Angela Sung, art direction and color rendering by Manabu Inada.
Background features 2D line drawings and 3D miniature models by Kaichiro Terada and Charles Villacara, with art direction and color rendering by Manabu Inada.
Optimus Prime and the Autobots face Megatron in a dynamic scene featuring 3D CGI in the foreground, 2D art in the middleground, and a miniature model in the background. Artwork includes character line drawing by Kaichiro Terada, a miniature model by Charles Villacara, and graphic composite by Manabu Inada.
Cybertron City. Damaged buildings. Art direction and color rendering by Manabu Inada; miniature model by Charles Villacara.
Kitbashing using Bandai's Star Wars and Gundam kits with a plastic sheet. Miniature models created by Charles Villacara.
Optimus Prime with Energon Axe. Layout drawing by Kaichiro Terada.
