"How We Made Transformers" in 1984

The Guardian article "How we made Transformers", is worth reading for Transformers fan. It isn't a definitive history or anything but just a little insider look at the beginning of the franchise with comic writer Bob Budiansky, basically the "father" of Transformers, and TV series editor Bryce Malek.

The full article is here, few highlights below.

Bob Budiansky:

One name I’m proud of is Megatron. Back in 1983, the threat of nuclear war felt very real – and destructive force was talked about in megatons. At first, Hasbro rejected it for sounding too scary. Gently I said to them: “Well, he’s the main bad guy. He’s supposed to be scary.” Luckily, they changed their minds.

A Hasbro executive told me that any toy that lasts two Christmases is considered a success – that was their barometer. Transformers lasted six or seven years before they started dying out. It seemed like a good run. I don’t think anybody had a clue that they would come back as a multibillion-dollar movie franchise. I certainly didn’t.

Bryce Malek:

Some writers pitched really inappropriate stuff for a kids’ show, such as the Transformers meeting space prostitutes. Oddly enough, no one ever provided us with any of the toys – we worked from photocopies of designs. I actually went out and bought a few but I never got Optimus Prime. He was too popular. You could never find one.

I really wanted to emphasise the human characters in the show, to give the audience something to identify with. But in retrospect, I think the kids just really liked the robots. We were working so fast, the plots were full of holes. But I know from fan letters that kids would simply fill in any gaps with their own stories.

New Clip for Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Transfer

Below is a new clip via AV Club from Transformers: The Movie (1986) that shows of the improved look of the 30 year old cartoon movie (sheesh that makes me feel old) as it has gone under a 4K transfer for the transition from DVD to Blu-ray. From what I can tell it does seem the colors and line work is the crispest I have seen, maybe to how it looked when say it in theaters so long ago (yep actually did see it in theaters first week was out). When viewing just make sure the hit the gear icon and verify the display quality is at least 720p or higher. The Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Edition will be released on September 13 and now available for pre-order: Standard | Limited Edition

Transformers: The Movie Remastered 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Announced

The last time Transformers: The Movie (1986) was released for home video was the 20th Anniversary of the movie in 2006. Today Hasbro and Shout Factory have announced that the 30th Anniversary edition is coming to Blu-ray and "will be newly remastered and transferred in HD from the original 35mm elements". I am not sure if that means they are spending the effort to clean up and fix any errors in the print or not. The full list of bonus content has not yet been determined. The movie is set for release on September 13, 2016. If a Transformers fan, if you have never seen this movie, I do highly recommend at least watching this movie once. It may both explain and utterly confuse you about older G1 fans (like myself).

Linkfest - Christmas Time Is Here

Hopefully just in time for Christmas wish lists and gift giving (to fellow TF fans or yourself), here is a ton of reveals on Hasbro's Combiner Wars figures, Takara Masterpiece figures and a bunch of 3rd party figures with the year long emphasis on combiners. The 3rd party output remains painfully high for wallets with the combiners contining unabated (and most looking amazing) but now there is a more heathly mix of other, often Masterpiece scaled, figures. In addition to the reviews there are galleries to upcoming 3rd party toys, licensed statues, and action figures. To start though is some fan-art including a custom paint job, transforming Lego, and more. On a side note for Transformers: Robots in Disguise fans it has been confirmed the second season is also the final season with only 16 episodes and will end with a "movie" that is equal to 3 episodes. Exactly when it will start airing has not been revealed. On to the info dump.

Fan Art
Custom IDW Optimus Prime and Shockwave - Sadly this version of Optimus Prime and Shockwave isn't available. This custom paint job from LEK Custom Toys was inspired by the artwook from Transformers: Devastation IDW comic book from a few years ago that added a shiny sheen to all the TFs as a kind of hybrid of metal and cartoon look. The result is pretty fantastic looking. Even more images can be found at their Facebook page.

SDCC 2015 Day One Transformers News

I had planned to wait until the end of the weekend and just sum up all of the Transformers news from the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) but it seems just do to the panel schedules that most of the news has already been released. Hasbro had their Transformers Brand Panel where they showed off the Victorion combiner (yep all repaints) and few other sets that are planned for release sometime in the fall. They also revealed a new cartoon web series with Machinima and another trailer for the Transformers: Devastation video game. At this point all that seems left in the news department will be from IDW's panel and usually they just tease the same material already released in the 3 month advance comic book solicitations. On the movie front I seriously doubt there will be any info. Below are the highlights with links to pictures from Thursday's first official day of SDCC.

Generations Devastator Available for Pre-Order

If, like me, you are looking to get hold of Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Devastator, then Amazon might have you covered. The retail site has a pre-order listing for the 18" toy that combines from six Voyager sized Constructicons. The release date is currently set for August 1, 2015 for a price of $150 with free shipping. and you can find a picture review here. As for its retail store release, so far this is all we have but I assume at some point it might hit Walmart, Target, etc in the states at least.

You can pre-order Devastator by clicking here.

Botcon 2015

Botcon 2015 completed its annual TF love fest this weekend in Chicago, Illinois. Since it is a non-movie year the focus was mostly on Combiner Wars and Robots in Disguise with Hasbro on hand to present some of their late 2015 to early 2016 plans which to no surprise includes more Combiners and a whole lot of repaints for both lines. On the Transformers: Hall of Fame front, Frank Welker (voice of Megatron), Prowl, Predaking, and Vince DiCola (composer for Transformers: The Movie) were inducted. No movie news or anything major to report. Since Botcon bans 3rd Party toys (per Hasbro directive), nothing to report there either. Hit the links below for summaries of all the various panels and galleries to upcoming Transformers releases.

G1 Based Transformers: Devastation Coming to Consoles (Updated)

Pure XBox has posted multiple screenshots for Transformers: Devastation, a new video game from Activision. Currently the only thing that is known is from the screenshots which shows that the game focus on the Generation One version of Transformers with the classic look of Devastator, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee. Even more interesting is the cel-shaded graphical style looks like it was lifted directly from Transformers: The Movie with all the shiny gleam on the everyone. Hasbro doesn't really do exclusives. Since the site reports they have confirmed it is hitting the 360, it is safe to assume it is going to PS4, PS4, and XBox One. The Wii U is iffy as it tends to force studios to practically rebuild the game from scratch and with its lackluster sales many studios decide its not worth the expense. Hopefully the full details will be revealed at next week's E3. Any case you check check out the screenshots here.

Update: A leak on Best Buy Canada has confirmed the game is set for release on October 6 for the PS3, PS4, XBox 360 and XBox One with Platinum Games as the developer. The game looks like it uses the same graphics engine the company developed for The Legend of Korra video game which wasn't exactly critically acclaimed but they have an over all good track record so hopefully they learned from Korra. From the listing:

Overview
Face off against Megatron and battle it out with the Decepticons in Transformers Devestation. Equipped with fast action capabilities, this game allows for instant robot to vehicle attacks, slam downs, counterattacks, and infinite combos for a unique master combat system. Five difficulty levels also deliver hours of intense gameplay.

More Information
- Autobots face off against the Decepticons when Megatron discovers a way to harness the enormous power of plasma energy to cyberform Earth
- PlatinumGames signature fast action allows instant robot to vehicle attacks, slam downs, counterattacks, and infinite combos for a unique master combat system
- Features 5 playable Autobots including Optimus Prime, Bubblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, and Grimlock
- A deep customization system and 5 difficulty levels with overhauls in enemy composition deliver hours of intense gameplay
- Actors from the original TV series reprising their roles include Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Dan Gilvezan (Bubblebee), Frank Welker (Megatron and Soundwave), and more

Linkfest - Combiner Wars Continue

The Combiner Wars continue for Hasbro with an upcoming release of the Protectobots and for most of the 3rd party companies who have released either completed around four or five combiners this year with another 5 or so set to finish by year end. It is an embarassment of riches for fans but also quite wallet draining if trying to keep up, especially if trying to get all the combiners. That is before you include the 6 or so Dinobot lines that also in works from these companies.

Much like how combiners wars are a nod to the past so too are some of the links below with a look at potential Action Master designs using combiners as action figures, some behind the scenes info from Transformers: The Movie and 35+ year old commercials from Japan that feature many of your favorite G1 Transformers before they became Transformers. There are also links to galleries to the first 3rd party Grimlock, Prime 1 Studios Age of Extinction statue line, and a stop motion video.

As for reviews, the links include Hasbro's Combiner releases of Cyclonus, the Protectobots, Stunticons, along with Robots in Disguise Jazz & Drift, Playstation Optimus Prime and Masterpiece Star Saber. For third party releases there are a ton of reviews to go with their now overkill output. Iron Factory and 3DX has three releases of their legend scale lines. ToyWorld completes their not Throttlebot combiner after over a year of nothing on that front while also releasing a solid take on not Astrotrain. The number of not Dinobots in the works has reached at least six lines that I can think of including two of them being combiners. Probably need to develop a cheat sheet to keep up at this point. Warbotron has completed their not Bruticus combiner that looks spectacular while Unique Toys reaches the halfway point on their not Terrocons. Those are just some of the many reviews linked below.

Hasbro Partners with Vimeo On Demand to Sell Cartoon Digital Copies

It looks like Hasbro has worked out a new revenue stream for many of their cartoons now that The Hub is defunct. The company has joined with Vimeo to sell and rent episodes of cartoons from their library including the 80s Transformers cartoon and more recently Transformers: Prime and Robots in Disguise. Other series that will be available are My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, G.I. Joe, Transformers: Rescue Bots, G.I. Joe: Renegades, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters, Littlest Pet Shop, Pound Puppies, The Adventures of Chuck & Friends and B-Daman Crossfire. The price per episode will be $2.99 to buy or 99 cents to rent with entire series runs costing $40. The program has already launched at Vimeo on Demand.

Linkfest - Dinobots and Combiners Oh My

It has been a months since did my last linkfest and its shows with an epic ton of video reviews for upcoming figures from Hasbro's Combiner Wars line and all the third party figures. Below are a bunch of reviews for the first wave for the Combiner Wars with an occasional look at an incomplete combiner as Hasbro chose to swap a Stunticon with an Arialbot for each wave to emphasize their ability to swap to create "new" combined robots. Also a look at the first wave of Robots in Disguise toys along with Masterpiece Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee.

For third party reviews the theme is the Dinobots with four lines coming this year. Two of them are Masterpiece scaled figures from Fanstoys while Planet X's are based on War for Cyberton, and one is regular scaled release (from Fansproject) while last is a combiner (from Toyworld). Hopefully the reviews below will help in deciding which of the four to commit to. The 3rd party pattern remains combiners. Other than the Dinobots there are currently takes on the Terrorcons, Combaticons, Technobots and Protectobots. Before the reviews here are links to some upcoming releases, two 80s Transformers videos, and an update on Transformers: Robots in Disguise cartoon series.

Update: Added this reveal of Combiner Wars Devastator. No real deal details except that he may follow the G1 version with six characters merging and come complete as a collection rather than sold individually. Hopefully more will be revealed at the New York Toy Fair that starts Feb 2.

Linkfest - Combiner Wars

The news on the Transformers 5 front remains dead and probably will for a while but that doesn't mean the toys stop coming. In a few cons Hasbro and 3rd party vendors teased about the next six months or so of releases. For Hasbro that means Angry Birds, Combiner Wars and Robots in Disguise toys.

For third party companies, the theme remains combiners with upcoming releases of combiners but it seems the theme for 2015 is Dinbots with at least three separate sets coming one of which will be an actual combiner. Other galleries include a look at Optimus Prime turning into a Playstation 1 console, a look at Ultimetel Prime, and more. On the video review front we have looks at the next wave of Generations Deluxe and Voyager toys, look at two versions of Swoop, reviews of the not Technobots, more Masterpiece figures including Wheeljack, and bunch more.

Linkfest - Dinobots and More

If last few years seemed like 3rd parties focused heavily on combiners, it seems this year has become about the Dinobots as at least three or so companies are prepping their own Dinobot homages. In that realm we have galleries for not Computron, not Swindle, not Sky-Byte, and early look at the not Throttlebots combiner. On the official products front, Takara is working on their take of the Sega Genesis Transformer and a new paint job for Evasion Mode Prime. Hasbro has released images of some of their Angry Birds Transformers line and a look at some TF4 exclusives. In the licensed products realm, Hot Toys is releasing their take on Optimus Prime while Prime 1 Studio has movie inspired busts in the works along with a large and expensive Starscream statue, and Kubrick is releasing their own Bearbrick Transformers. In addition have a look at apartments that kind of transform through creative use of space. On the review front, a look at 28+ toys that have been released or about too. A few favorites include a look at Generations Jetfire, iGears new design of the Seekers, not Skullcruncher, Guardian, not Sludge and a Dinobot combiner.

SDCC 2014: Hasbro Teases Robots in Disguise Cartoon, New Combiner Toys

Thursday was the official start of the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. The yearly convention is nowadays used as a big old smorgasbord of movie and TV news but the comic book and toy side still gets a little of the spotlight. Hasbro was on hand and held their panel that picked up where Botcon 2014 left off. At the panel they introduced two new Generations combiners, teased the new Transformers: Robots in Disguise cartoon series along with a few toys and spoke about a few other things. Summary and links to the galleries are below along with the teaser video for the cartoon. All slides from the panel are here.

Bizarre History of Transformers' The Touch

Vulture has written an interesting (for TF fans anyway) article that traces the history of Stan Bush's The Touch from 1986's Transformers: The Movie, through Boogie Nights and to today with interviews from Bush himself and few other Hollywood types that have used the song over its nearly 30 year history. The full article is here.

Botcon 2014

Botcon 2014 was held this weekend in Pasadena, California. Like previous one, it was a chance to get a look at some of Hasbro's plans for the Transformers line for the next year. No major news was revealed but Hasbro is continuing the lines along the same paths as this year. For Age of Extinction they showed off a bunch of upcoming one-step changers and multi-packs that use existing molds. The most interesting toy news was on the Generations front with plans for a G1 inspired designs for Megatron and Optimus Prime, official return of the headmasters with Brainstorm. Part of that is two firsts - after nearly 30 years getting a true G1 Transformers: The Movie inspired version of Arcee along with for the first time to my knowledge having a Chromia figure that isn't simply a repaint of Arcee but an actually new mold (Cybertronian motorcycle). IDW revealed a few of their upcoming mini-series plans involving Windblade and Drift. Below are highlights from each of the panels. After that are links to a ton of official photos along with galleries from the floor. Last but not least is a video of Hasbro's toy display. Basically the news looked good but I also get the impression that Hasbro was holding back for San Diego Comic-Con.

Linkfest - Masterpiece Kre-O

Botcon is this weekend so figured better push this out as has been a while. As usual 3rd party releases dominate as they are constantly announcing something including two different versions of not Computron, a take on G1 Jetfire, Metroplex, repaints, and more. Takara has revealed their repaint of Evasion Mode Prime, a look at Masterpiece Bumblebee, Wheeljack, MP Ultra Magnus and yet another repaint of MP-10 Optimus Prime. Hasbro also is planning to release their own official take of Jetfire for the Generations line. On the cartoon front, no news on the new series but Shout Factory is planning something for Botcon along with the release of Transformers Animated and Beast Machines box sets. As usual, lots of video reviews including generations toys, not Cy-Kill, not Blaster, a $2000 statue and more. To start though is this cool Kre-O take on the classic Generations One line.

SDCC Exclusive: Transformers 4 Dinobots in G1 Colors

Hasbro has revealed what will likely be the must have set of the San Diego Comic-Con 2014. Which means it will sell out almost immediately. At a cost of a whopping $160 dollars you can get a repaint with TF4 mold versions of Voyager Grimlock, deluxe Snarl, Strafe and Slug in their gold, red and chrome look from the Generation One days. It includes a unique packaging of the Autobots G1 Ark base with Teletraan-1. Full gallery of images here. Always annoying how SDCC brings out the best stuff from toy companies for a limited window that the regular public can't enjoy or afford.

Casey Kasam Dead at 82

Casey Kasem, probably famous to most people as the co-creator and host American Top 40 radio program, has died at the age of 82. For many he might be also known as the voice of Shaggy in Scooby Doo and Robin on Super-Friends. For Transformers fan, he was the voice of Cliffjumper, Teletraan-1, Bluestreak, and Dr. Arkeville. He essentially retired in 2009 when his top 40 programs and stopped doing voice work a long time before that. For me, I remember from his top 40 program that I often listened to in childhood and well into my adult life. Condolences to his family.

Transformers Hall of Fame Voting Begins

Botcon is next week and with it is Hasbro's now annual Transformers: Hall of Fame induction. Generally two humans and 2 or so Transformers are inducted each year with one of them decided by fan voting. This year's fan vote inductees are G1/IDW Arcee, Beast Wars Blackarachnia, G1 Devastator, Beast Wars Optimus Primal, and G1/IDW Hot Rod/Rodimus. Touch call as all are solid characters. Click here to vote, voting open until June 18th with winner announced at the Transformers Fan Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 20.