An appeal for help

Due to setbacks caused by having to spend money I can ill-afford on replacing my only pair of shoes, which were disintegrating.  As well as replacing my mobile phone (essential for both jobseeking and for Universal Credit) for the first time in nearly 20 years, due to the shutdown of sub-4G networks and the disconnection of my number.  I need to ask for help if I'm to avoid plunging into unarranged overdraft and being unable to buy food.  If you are able to help, please visit my Gofundme

Transformers: The Ultimate Doom and Countdown To Extinction storyboards

Thanks to Ryan King and originally owned by contributing artist Peter "Aeon Flux" Chung, the Sunbow Marvel Archive now hosts full storyboard sets for The Ultimate Doom, Part 3 and Countdown to Extinction.

These storyboards see the moment FIRRIB was born as Frenzy makes his cartoon debut, as well as Jetfire's adventures in his original toy-based design.

To view these sets as galleries, head to: Storyboard Viewing Gallery

Or for downloadable versions, alongside the virtual library of material for seasons 1 and 2, head to: The Transformers, Part 1

Transformers: The Immobilizer storyboards

The Archive now hosts storyboards for The Transformers episode The Immobilizer, which marks the debut of Carly to the franchise.  The 12th full set and the 21st episode overall to have storyboards showcased at the Archive, they include art by Vincenzo Trippetti, Peter Chung, David Russell, Gregg Davidson and others.

To view in gallery form, head to: The Immobilizer storyboard gallery

Assorted additions

Over the last two months, several small and ongoing additions have been made to the Archive

On the Marvel Muppet Connection page, storyboard samples have been added for three Muppet Babies episodes: Who's Afraid Of The Big, Bad Dark?, Raiders Of The Lost Muppet and From A Galaxy, Far, Far Away.  Additionally, storyboards for the animated segments on two commercials advertising Fraggle Rock's promotional tie-in with McDonalds Happy Meal.

On the Marvel's New World page, an expanding collection for the 1990 series Kid 'n Play.  Storyboards for Play's Place and Quantum Rap, as well as model sheets for Rap-O-Mania.  Also, samples from a storyboard test sequence, drawn by Larry Houston, for the ultimately unproduced Siegfried & Roy cartoon in 1992.  As detailed in the promotional flyer photographed below.

Jem: music video storyboards

Some sample pages of Jem music video storyboards drawn by Larry Houston have been added to the gallery page, from the episodes Britrock and A Change Of Heart.

Head to Jem music video storyboard gallery

The Paul Davids Collection, Part 1

To view and purchase original artwork by Paul Davids, visit: Shop Art | Paul Davids Art

With thanks to turbobluestreak for his hard work and to the man himself for his permission, the Sunbow Marvel Archive now hosts part of Paul Davids' collection of G1 cartoon production material, saved from his time as episode writer and Production Coordinator on seasons 2 and 3.

The current collection consists of

Chaos

• Outline, depicting a far different story to the one that made the screen
• First draft script
• Final script, further reworked and cut down
• Full storyboard
• Models and background layouts

Return Of Optimus Prime, Part 2

• The eight pages missing from the previously available version of the script, reintegrated along with Sunbow memos detailing changes required for Parts 1 and 2 of the story.
• Models and backgrounds, including the Solaris and Jessica Morgan's full exo-skeleton, not used in the show

Misc.

Also included are recap scripts for 20 episodes of the cartoon that aired on the Bozo the Clown Show in 1986.  These were written by Michael Charles Hill and gained him membership in the Writer's Guild of America.

These are in addition to the various items Paul Davids has sold off over the years, which have come to the Archive via deals with private owners.  Such as the Cosmic Rust full script and storyboard, as well as the 186 page 1986 character binder revealed earlier this year.

To view the new items, head to: The Transformers, Part 2

To view the Chaos storyboards as a separate gallery, head to this link

Ron Friedman 1932-2025

Variety has reported that TV and film writer Ron Friedman has passed away at the age of 93.

In late 1982, Sunbow Productions hired Ron to write the first G.I Joe animated five-part miniseries, the resounding success of which led to: 

• The writing of three more miniseries on G.I Joe: The Revenge of Cobra, The Pyramid of Darkness and the teleplays for Arise, Serpentor, Arise! 
• Acting as an interim dialogue editor on Transformers, beginning with Roll For It and ending with Make Tracks.
• Development and writing outlines for the initial fifteen-segment version of Bigfoot and the Muscle Machines
• Co-development (with Doug Booth) and the writing of an ultimately unproduced three-part miniseries for Air Raiders.
• Writing of two versions of the script for The Transformers: The Movie
• Writing the initial outlines for G.I.Joe The Movie

The Sunbow Marvel Archive sends condolences to his family and friends.