Cybertron Philippines was able to get in touch with fan-favorite [and somewhat underrated] artist Guido Guidi for a quick QnA. Guidi is a longtime Transformers fan, and an even longer-time artist, having drawn since the age of 4. Currently working on IDW’s TF Spotlight: Galvatron and on covers for various other TF projects, as well as the co-author of YOU CAN DRAW TRANSFORMERS, Guido remains as pleasant and humble as ever.

YOU

[CYBPH] Tell us a little about yourself.

[GG] I’m born and raised in Italy, but actually I’m half from Switzerland… always loved to draw since I was 4… my first drawings were the dinosaurs seen in the science books!

[CYBPH] How did you get into Transformers?

[GG] I was already got hooked with Diaclone and Microman in 1984, then next year the Hasbro’s Transformers were the natural evolution of things, and my interest increased even more (I was 12 years old)
I remember the Dinobots being my favourites. the thing I really loved was the fact the Transformers were sentient robots, a concept I always loved.
This is when I started drawing TF !

[CYBPH] When and how did you get your start working professionally?

[GG] I started drawing paid comic strips I think on 1998, my first jobs were mainly parodies of old anime and movies (X-files, Hokuto o Ken). Then I moved on a sci-fi horror project for the french market, but the publisher gone bankruptcy and I abandoned the project (doesn’t sounds new eh?)

[CYBPH] Is there anything non-Transformers you are currently doing, or would like to be doing?

[GG] Not right now. But back in 2005 I worked on Marvel characters for Panini UK: I did a few short stories for FF4 and X-men (Marvel Rampage), and also I did a couple of illustrations for A.T.O.M.
I’d like to do a sci-fi comic, something along the lines of Alien, with monsters and creatures.
Another thing I really would love to do, would be designing creature/mechas for movie or videogames.

TRANSFORMERS

[CYBPH] Who are your favorite characters?

[GG] Most of the original G1 cast from season 1-2-3. Optimus Prime, even if I had a preference for the Decepticons – like Starscream, Galvatron, Cyclonus, Megatron, Soundwave, the Constructicons.
Also I loved a lot Beast Wars (as much as G1 I’d say) : Megatron, Dinobot, Optimus Primal.

[CYBPH] What is the best Transformers story you have ever read?

[GG] Hard to say! In the past, I really enjoyed the whole G2 comic run… as single comic, I think the Spotlight: Galvatron (that I got the chance to draw), is in my opinion one of the most intriguing scripts I read recently.
Also Nick Roche’s Spotlight: Kup was really interesting both as story and artworks.

[CYBPH] Why do you think Transformers has been such an enduring franchise?

[GG] Because they evolved and “transformed” during all these years, even trying very innovative concept such Beast Wars. All this kept the franchise live.

[CYBPH] For you, what is the most underrated Transformers-related thing [character, series, toy, anything]?

[GG] In Italy Beast Wars, for sure. I found a very few guys who loved the series… even because was aired first on early mornings (7.00 AM) and then the night (24.00)! So no much people got to enjoy the show properly.

[CYBPH] Any thoughts on the 2007 movie? Aesthetic, impact, ease or difficulty of drawing, etc.?

[GG] The approach is very different and innovative (as Beast Wars did in the late ‘90). At first I was kinda skeptical. After working on related merchandising, those designs grew on me a lot. Especially the Decepticons. I saw that clip from MTW awards, and the scene with Bonecrusher charging on Optimus Prime is incredible.

[GG] I can’t wait to see the movie (in Italy 06/28), and I really understand why all the changes and apparently strange choices (Megatron), on screen these things are awesome. Blocky G1 would have looked like a Pixar cartoon, not a sci-fi movie for larger audiences. As for drawing them… well at first it was a real pain… I never got to draw something that complex. After rmonths, I developed a better approach, now I can draw an Optimus Prime almost without references – Of course I skip most of the 10100+ parts of the CGI

[CYBPH] Your job notwithstanding, which part of Transformers do you appreciate more: Toys or Fiction? Why?

[GG] Fiction first: because (in my opinion) G1 and Beast Wars cartoons are perhaps the best things ever produced for TF- and the 2007 movie is gonna be memorable. Just think how the G1 cartoon portrayed the Starscream toy. That design was simply beautiful even for today’s standards. Simple but effective. I [really loved] the Toei Doga animation on G1.

Then toys: I still collect them, but I buy only those related a character I like (I have 3 different BW Dinobot!).

TRANSFORMERS: ARMADA/ENERGON

[CYBPH] What was working with Simon Furman like?

[GG] Really smooth, Simon is always a true gentleman and a great pro. Also is always open to artist’s input. And of course he does his job with passion!

[CYBPH] Could you describe the nature of working on the comic? It seemed to be a unique breed of beast indeed, what with tying into a toyline but not entirely tying into a cartoon, and shifting art teams as well.

[GG] Working on toys can be somewhat frustrating… I remember the days I was working on Armada/Energon and I was using toys as references. If it was for me, I’d have used just the model sheet from animated show, but by DW standards, it would have turned out too much undetailed. The bad thing for me, was that I became too worried about the “details” and that created me problems in getting a smooth storytelling and panel flow. As much as I loved Armada Megatron I remember him as a nightmare to draw. Not to mention Armada Optimus Prime or Energon Scorponok.

Wish I could draw a comic inspired by the upcoming new Transformers Animated Series… that would be a direction I really would like to explore!

I’d prefer leave that crazy mechanical/technical drawings to artist who are really competend with that aspect, like Don Figueroa or E.J. Su.

TRANSFORMERS: HEARTS OF STEEL

[CYBPH] What was working with Chuck Dixon like?

[GG] Unfortunately I didn’t have any direct contact with Chuck Dixon… only with IDW.

[CYBPH] Could you describe how you came up with the steampunk-themed redesigns for the Transformers?

[GG] I did some research about 1800’s technology… you know trains, ships… with the exception of Shockwave -there was a too much limited range of stuff, so I decided to go with non-realistic alt-modes.
I preferred to use the style of that technology (pipes, bolts, decorations, etc.) so to create vehicles that look like they came from the 1800. I used a “Wild Wild West” and Otomo’s “Steamboy” approach.

[CYBPH] What was your favorite redesign from the mini-series?

[GG] I think Shockwave- unfortunately he got very little show time, but I couldn’t know that in advance… same for Prime and Megatron.

[CYBPH] Some have commented on the story being a little compressed toward the end. Was the story originally intended for a six-issue arc as opposed to the four-issue arc it was released as?

[GG] I always thought it was a 4 issue arc. Can’t really say though, I only received the 4 scripts as they are.
Anyway, I agree that the end was compressed… I hoped to make Astrotrain showing is flying mode, or to have a glimpse of 1800’s Megatron and Optimus. Who knows if in the future…

[CYBPH] What would you say about revisiting this unique alternate universe for another story?

[GG] It was interesting, but really hard… mainly because I did a lot of research for an era about I know very little, perhaps I even exagerrated (I tend to be nitpicky). I did research for everything, from clothes, lamps, trains/machines, buildings etc. If I had to redo a such comics today my approach would be very different.

In a first approach IDW talked me about doing the 1986 animated movie adaption… but then I got offered to do Hearts Of Steel and I accepted beacuase I was intrigued about doing some redesign (I thing I love, but never got the opportunity). Sincerely I still think the animated adaption would have been my real cup of tea.

YOU CAN DRAW TRANSFORMERS

[CYBPH] First off, congratulations for a great-looking compendium!

Thanks!

[CYBPH] What’s it like being the main art source for a how-to book?

[GG] It was a lot of fun… I really enjoyed drawing tons of pencils sketches of so many TF characters, especially since I don’t get to draw G1 characters very often.

[CYBPH] What was the working process behind this book like?

[GG] I received layouts and guidelines for every page, already organised by Simon Furman and DK . I only had to draw sketches, keeping in mind the actual space available for each image. It was a lot of sketches (96 pages)!

[CYBPH] Is there anything that ended up on the cutting room floor that could’ve made the book even better?

[GG] As far as I know nothing has been cutted out, everything I’ve drawn was put in the book.

TRANSFORMERS/ARTWORK

[CYBPH] How did you get into drawing?

[GG] I started when I was 4 years old… Dinosaurs books, Disney comics, and japanese anime from the ‘70 (go Nagai characters) got me first into drawing.

[CYBPH] When did you discover your talent for drawing Transformers?

[GG] As soon as I started watching the cartoon, back in 1985… well at first it wasn’t really “talent”

[CYBPH] Which characters are easiest for you to draw? What about the most challenging?

[GG] G1 Optimus Prime, Starscream. The most challenging ones have been Armada Optimus and Megatron, Energon Scorponok. Not to mention all the TFs from the movie, especially Frenzy!

[CYBPH] Describe your creative process. How do you get down to work?

[GG] I study first the script, take notes about which references and stuff I may need for each page. Then I lay down breakdowns, usually quick, rough sketches on A4 sheets or smaller, sometimes right on the actual art board then I go over again an again adding details

[CYBPH] Who are your art influences?

[GG] Mostly from the ‘70 anime (Mazingers), ‘80 manga (like Hokuto no Ken, JoJo) the G.I. joe and G1 Transformers cartoons, Floro Dery designs, G1 character design Masami Ban. As for comics: Jim Lee, Claudio Castellini, Joe Madureira, Mike Mignola, Adam and Andy Kubert, Andrew Wildman w/ S.Baskerville, Geoff Senior, Simon Bisley, Barry Windsor Smith… Just to mention a few

[CYBPH] How has your work evolved over the years since you started out?

[GG] I think I was about to evolve a lot before starting working on Armada. I was abandoning the anime style toward some more personal style, but it happened that finally I got the chance to work on Transformers comics.
So I had to go back to use amore anime like style. Also the fact of using inkers, instead of inking all by myself kind changed my method of penciling… I was used to pencil pretty loose, and with inkers I had to do tight pencils. This thing really damaged me. At least i learned to use multiple styles, even is this can be a bit frustrating sometimes. But I love experimenting new stuff.

[CYBPH] What is the biggest change in yourself [as opposed to your work] you’ve noticed since you started drawing professionally?

[GG] I’ve become too much nitpicky

[CYBPH] What is the most common misconception or incorrect idea people have about your work, or about being a TF fan artist in general?

[GG] That is always a fun thing that can be done in a couple of minutes. Sometimes is like to ask an architect “C’mon, build me an house for free, beacuse I know you like to do that, so I’m doing you a favor in asking that!” LOL

[CYBPH] What are your favorite TF art pieces you’ve done?

[GG] Hard to say… it’s rare that I’m really satisfied with apiece… I’d say The DW Predaking litho perhaps.

[CYBPH] What are your favorite TF art pieces from other artists?

[GG] Too many… for sure the “All are dead” cover with Shockwave from the old Marvel series (#5)?

[CYBPH] People have mentioned they love your art for the way it captures the look and feel of the old animation models while keeping it fresh, or for the effectiveness of your storytelling. What do you feel is your artwork’s primary strength?

[GG] The original cartoon is my main school about drawing. Never loved other mechas (beside Nagai’s ones) As for my primary strength, I hope it is the storytelling, and bringing the emotions even through robot’s faceplate like Optimus Prime..

[CYBPH] Which TF writers have you worked with? What makes each collaboration unique from the others?

[GG] Only Simon Furman and Chris Sarracini (Armada mini-comics). In both cases I found no problem at all in following their script. I remember Sarracini was very detailed about the angles, while Simon [left more room for] creativity. In both cases it was good.

[CYBPH] Who have you never worked with before [writer, inker, colorist?] that you would like to work with on a project, Transformers or otherwise?

[GG] As for colorists, I’d have loved to get my lineart colored by Alan Wang.

[CYBPH] What is coming up for you in 2007? What’s next? [Care to spoil us a bit? ]

[GG] More Tf movie related stuff (not comics) and, perhaps non-TF stuff!

[CYBPH] What’s your dream Transformers project for you to work on?

[GG] No doubts here: a G1 comic series that would tell the story between the end of cartoon season 2 and the ‘86 movie, all drawn like the original cartoon. Or what happened between Rebirth and Beast Wars. All following strictly the G1 US cartoon continuity. Couldn’t ask nothing better than that. I always wondered if a such thing could have a good response from fans.

[CYBPH]It would HERE, no doubt. What’s your dream non-Transformers project?

[GG] An “Alien” comic project perhaps. Never tried anything in that direction so far.

[CYBPH] Which writers/artists [that have already done Transformers work] would you put together for a dream project? what would the project be?

[GG] Writer Simon Furman, William Johnson or Makoto Ono on pencils, and M.D. Bright on colors.

[CYBPH] Now, which writers/artists [that have NOT already done Transformers work] would you put together for a dream project? what would the project be?

[GG] A TF story with Alex Ross on art duties and Otomo on the story (strange enough eh?).

[CYBPH] WORD ASSOCIATION:

* Optimus Prime – “the” Transformer
* Bumblebee – friendly
* Don Figueroa – War Within
* Autobot – cars
* Galvatron – Unstoppable
* Hot Rod – flames
* Megatron – bazooka
* Beast Wars – TERRORIZE!
* Starscream – ambitions
* Michael Bay – action
* Action Masters – G1 cartoon
* IDW – freedom
* Megan Fox – can’t reply, my girlfriend is watching me
* Energon – Cubes
* Grimlock – teeth
* Decepticon – purple
* Minicons – powerlink!!
* Chris Ryall – Chrischarger
* Cybertron – home
* Philippines – Make TF history (Floro Dery and Don Figueroa)

TO WRAP UP]

[CYBPH] What advice do you have for beginning artists?

[GG] Draw always, but not only by copying your favorite artists, but also from real life, this helps a lot in building our own style and approach.

[CYBPH] Any message for your Filipino fanbase?

[GG] Great to see that there’s a such active fanbase, and to have finally the opportunity to interact with them for the first time!

Guido’s Artwork:

Write a comment

Name

E-mail (will not be shown)

Website