Transformers Linkfest

More linkfesting, with three video reviews and multiple galleries of upcoming toys, most of them Japan exclusives or fan releases.

Human Alliance Jazz Comparison Gallery
Click the link to view the differences between the Hasbro and Takara release of the same basic figure. Part of the Human Alliance line, this figure comes with Captain Lennox. There are cosmetic changes to the paint job of Jazz and Lennox, nothing major really just odd as the companies often release identical toys in the main lines. My best guess being is that Takara's attention to detail required them to adjust the figure to a more movie accurate look.

Official Re-Issue of Predaking Images
Takara has released official pictures of the re-issue of the re-issue of the Generation One combiner Predaking. This figure was already re-issued around 2005 (if remember right) and coming out again. I am not sure if there is much of a difference between the releases but it looks like a gold color paint job was added. The toy is coming out in late November and so far no indication of a stateside release.

Transformers Linkfest

Another linkfest, this time with a brief look at a life size Optimus Prime statue, more toy galleries, confirmation that the Takara Movie Masterpiece Starscream is the Hasbro leader class toy, a Pawn Star's Transformers collection, and a new toy video review.

Life Size Optimus Prime
A few weeks ago China showed off its Transformers love with an impressive 33 foot tall statue of Optimus Prime that was constructed with junk car parts. For comparison, the movie version is 32 feet tall. The statue was placed at the Bird's Nest at the Beijing Olympic Park. Thanks to TheChief for the link.

Masterpiece Movie Starscream
Click the link for a gallery that shows off the Masterpiece Movie Starscream that Takara is releasing. The gallery has the Masterpiece version photographed with the Hasbro's Leader class Starscream that started hitting store shelves. Based on the images, it is conclusive that these are identical molds with the only difference being the paint job and weapon accessory.

Transformers Linkfest

Time for another "linkfest". More galleries of upcoming toys from Hasbro and Takara including Generations, Buzz Lightyear and Ghost Starscream. Also videos of the War for Cybertron credits and Hound fan art.

Official Transformers Generations Gallery
Click the link to view a gallery that shows off the 3rd wave of Transformers Generations toys. This wave, due on stores more or less now, is W4C Megatron, W4C Soundwave, Classic Red Alert and Darkmount (based on G1 Straxus).

Dreadwing and Smokescreen Gallery
A look at new additions to the Transformers (minus ROTF) line that is hitting stores soon. Dreadwing is voyager sized and based on the Generation 2 toy. Smokescreen is a shuttle that can attack to Dreadwing's ship mode. Mostly I just like the shade of blue but beyond that think will wait for a review before determine if worth buying.

Transformers Linkfest

Autobot City Concept Designs
Click the link for three images that show off an artist concept of Autobot City that seems to be the basis of the design used in animated Transformers: The Movie. The artwork was created by Floro Dery who was the visual creator for The Transformers cartoon and the movie back in the 80s. As the art shows, the transformation of the city into battle mode played a part into the design.

Sears, KMart W4C Comic as Pre-Order Bonus
Sears and KMart are offering a Transformers: War for Cybertron comic as a pre-order bonus for the game. It is assumed it is the same comic as being offered by Austrilian retailer JB Hi-Fi which is written by Alex Irvine and art by Don Figureroa. Personally I would recommend just sticking with a free character as offered by Gamestop, Amazon and Best Buy.

TF Linkfest - Masterpieces, Donald Duck and More

Another linkfest, more images of up and coming Transformers and a look back at the toy line from 1986.

Masterpiece Ghost Starscream
Click the link to check out a yet another version of Masterpiece Starscream. Same toy from around five years ago, but now with clear plastic. I think this makes for the fifth or sixth version which can get tiresome. Still this is a pretty sweet looking version. Currently a Japan exclusive, available sometime in June.

Night Ops Ratchet Gallery
Gallery of the new repaint for Ratchet, now in a military type paint scheme.

Hasbro 1996 ToyFair Catalog
From The Allspark and TFWiki is the above gallery that shows off the Transformers from 1986 in all their glory. Apparently the images show some differences from the final versions that hit store shelves but I don't know for sure what those differences are.

Disney Label Donald Duck
Click the link to view a gallery of the Japan exclusive toy that has Donald Duck mixed with a little Bumblebee that has an alt mode of a Bug. Or check out the video below that shows off the toy. It’s a bit long; some of it tedious, so up to you’re to decide which way to check out this new toy that I believe is out now.

Alternity Starscream and Disney Label Buzz Lightyear

New images of the next Alternity and Disney Label toys have hit the web. Alternity A-04 Okamora Orochi is Starscream and Skywarp with car modes while the Disney Label gives Buzz Lightyear a transformation mode into a shuttle. The two Alternity's are identical except for head sculpt and color scheme.

For Disney Label, unlike previous editions (with Mickey and Donald), Buzz's alt mode isn't intended to invoke a Generation One counterpart. Before now the images didn't have the detail needed to determine if the purchase of these Japanese exclusives is worth the $50 or so asking price. Click the links below for the full gallery of each. No idea on release date but probably early summer.

Alternity A-04 | Buzz Lightyear

Transformers Linkfest

Alternity A-4 and Transforming Buzz Lightyear
The Disney Label is expanding to include a transforming Buzz Lightyear while the Alternity version of Starscream and Skywarp seems to be have been confirmed to be a Mitsuoka Orochi according to the images below from BigBadToyStore.com.


G1 Transformers Game Coming to iPhone
Glu Mobile's Transformers G1: Awakening is "coming soon" to the iPhone. The game is apparently a converted version of a mobile game that was released sometime in late 2008. The game appears to feature many G1 classic characters and looks almost like a version of Advance Wars. Below is a non-audio trailer of the mobile version.


VES Nominates Revenge of the Fallen
The Visual Effects Society has announced their nominees for the 8th Annual VES Awards and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen received one for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture" (wow that is a mouth full). The competition includes 2012, Avatar, District 9, and Star Trek. Sadly this is the year of Avatar so Michael Bay and co is going to have to get use to saying "It is just an honor to be nominated."

Transformers: Animated CGI Style
Click the link to view three images of what appears to be a CGI version of Transformers: Animated toys for the Versus sets that will be released with the rest of the line for Japan. The images include Optimus vs. Megatron, Bumblebee vs. Starscream and Ratchet vs. Lockdown.

Toshiba's Device Label Ad

From Seibertron.com below are two images of Toshiba's current flyer that highlights their US release of the Transformers Device Label line that was first announced at CES last week. The flyers show a retail price of $39.99 for Tigatron and Ravage working 4GB USB drives (the Takara release was 2GB) while Trypticon and Grimlock, both working usb mouses, are retailing for $49.99. The ad includes a 15% off code for accessories (so assume works on these items) which is 15accy09b. Going to the link ToshibaDirect.com from the ad does not yet seem to work as unable to find Transformers for sale yet.

Transformers Device Label Coming Stateside?

Transformers gets a little love at CES currently going on at Las Vegas. In this report from TekZilla, it is suggested that the Device label line of Transformers may no longer be a Japan only exclusive with Toshiba releasing the mouse and thumb drives to the states for $40. Sadly no information on when and who might be carrying them.

Transformers Linkfest

More links to more Transformers related galleries and news of note.

Transformers USB Thumb Drive
From Paramount Digital Entertainment, a limited edition run of 20,000 4GB USB drives in the Autobot logo shape that comes with own unique ID number and a copy of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on it. The price is about 20 pounds and appears to be a UK exclusive, released as part of the promotion for the November 30th home video release of the movie in the country. If in that area, click here to order. Thanks to Kaly for the link.

Premium Ironhide Custom
Link to a gallery of a fantastic custom paint job of Ironhide using the 2007 toy as the base. Thanks to Shane for the link.

Bumblebee, Soundwave 2-pack Packaging (sort of)
If you’re interested, a look at the packaging for Battlefield Bumblebee and Infiltration Soundwave. Both repaints of the deluxe toys, Bumblebee looks about the same as the cannon one while Soundwave has a red and blue color scheme of sorts. It is believed this packaging is not US bound.

Transformers 25th Anniversary Memorial Stamp Set
From Nikkon Broadcast is a stamp and trading card set. It includes 10 stamps, 50 JYP ($.55), five trading cards and special edition portfolio. It is for the Japan market only.

Transformers Encore #19
Tomy Takara has officially announced the release of Big Mission Cassettes Volume 3 for later this month for around $47. Japan only release, it will include Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, and Overkill.

ROTF Gold Prime
Click the link for a look at a gold painted version of Optimus Prime (Leader class but not sure). I guess part of a contest.

Alternity Bumblebee and Cliffjumper Video Review

Peaugh has posted new Transformers video reviews, this time for Alternity Bumblebee and Cliffjumper. Alternity is Japan exclusive Transformers line that is a successor to the Binal-Tech/Alternators toy line. The result is a detailed, complex transformation that gives your classic characters a real world alt mode from real car companies. The toys are now available for $50-$60 (my store recommendations: BigBadToystore.com, TFSource.com and Digital-Toys). Overall the toys are looking sweet. I plan on ordering them to add to my Alternity and Binal-Tech collection.

Transformers Linkfest

Lot of new links to various Transformer galleries including new Alternity gallery with review, look at Legends Devastator in G1 colors, Masterpiece Nemesis Prime and more.

Alternity Bumblebee and Cliffjumper Gallery
Huge 84 image gallery of the now finished version of the next figures in the Japan exclusive Transformers Alternity line. The alternate mode is the Suzuki Swift Sport and the two are essentially identical except for color and head mold. The Alternity line are small (about Deluxe sized) but detailed toys with complex transformations and use of die-cast in their construction. The average stateside import price is $50.

Alternity Bumblebee Video Review
In addition to the above gallery, here is a video review of Alternity Bumblebee that shows off the gimmicks and the transformation of the toy. Due to cussing can't exactly call it safe for work nor is it as good as Peaugh's but gives you an idea of whether the toy is worth the extra cost.(via TFW2005)



Masterpiece Optimus Prime in Black
Gallery of in package MP Prime in yet another re-issue (I think fifth version). This time the Japan exclusive is sporting the black and teal that tends to be associated with Nemesis Prime.

EZ Collection Devastator in G1 Green (mirror)
Click the link to view an official gallery of images from Takara of the repaint of Legends Devastator that remains a Japan exclusive. He is sporting the G1 green that the Constructicons first had back in 1984. Thanks to Christopher and RY for the links.

Next Masterpiece Toy Hint
In an interview with TF designer who created MP Prime, Buster Prime, and more Hirinori Kobayashi hints that the next figure in the MP line will come from the Season 3 line of toys. That season was dominated by characters from Transformers: The Movie.

XBox Revenge of the Fallen Avatars
Now available on the XBox Live Marketplace is Transformers: ROTF clothing and helmets for your avatars. The helmets (Megatron, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime) cost 240 MS points and the shirts (7 types total) are 80 MS points.

Device Label Grimlock and Trypticon
Now available in Japan are these two new Transformers from the Device Label line. Grimlock and Trypticon are identical (except for paint job) whose alt mode is a fully functional optical mouse. The average cost stateside $50 each.

Another Leader Starscream Gallery
A new high-quality gallery of the upcoming toy that almost seem like official images. No clue when Leader class Starscream reaches stores, actually thought he would have by now for the Holiday season but maybe he is being held back for the 2010 wave of toys. Thanks to Kaly for the link.

MP Grimlock Stateside, Device Label, and More

Device Label Cats
A new gallery shows off Tigatron and Ravage and their packaging for the upcoming Transformers Device Label line that is being released in Japan only. In this case the alt mode is a working 2GB USB thumb drive. Other figures in the line will include a laptop and mouse. It appears the toys are around scout sized but don't have a scout sized price of around $50.

Device Label Software Screenshot
The USB Transformers also come with "Transformers Desktop Defender" which essentially has a digital image of Tigatron or Ravage roaming around your desktop. Click the link to view screenshots and more info on the app.

Masterpiece Grimlock Stateside
In a quick interview with Hasbro's Transformers team, they said "We are pleased to announce that the next Masterpiece item that we will be releasing will be Grimlock in 2010. We are excited to be able to offer this item within the U.S. and will certainly share more details as we get closer to releasing him." Up until now the toy was a $100 plus toy released in Japan. Since the last three Masterpieces (Optimus Prime, Starscream, and Skywarp) have all been exclusive to Wal-Mart, it’s not a reach to assume the same will happen again.

Official Legends Gallery
New gallery that shows off upcoming Legends class figures including Arcee, Jolt, and Soundwave.

Official 2010 ROTF Toys and Mighty Muggs Gallery
Click the link to view a bunch of new pictures of the next wave of Revenge of the Fallen toys including Shadow Command Megatron, Defender Optimus Prime, Midewipe, Lockdown, Brawn, and more. Thanks to RY for the link.

ROTF Ramjet and Skywarp Sale
Wal-Mart is offering an online sale for Starscream repaints Ramjet and Skywarp with $10 Wal-Mart eGift card for $34.00. Click the link if interested in the purchase.

More Transformers Galleries

Once again, another link fest of various Transformers toy news. Thanks to RY for many of the links.

Leader Starscream Back Package
Above is the single image of the back of the box for Leader class Starscream. Based on the pictures which show a better designed chest plate and more authentic look to the movie than the Voyager class toy. This is turning into the first version of Starscream that I might actually buy.

Fast Action Battler Spark Blast Jolt
Click the link for gallery of official images for the upcoming repaint of Jolt. Yep, another repaint. At the rate Hasbro is going there will not be a single mold from the ROTF toy line that doesn't have at least 1-2 repaints. For completists news like this must cause nightmare. Personally it just makes me not bother buying any toys until all the repaints are out so can pick the color scheme I like most.

Recon Ironhide New Head Sculpt
Click the link for images of Ironhide's new head design to go along with the new paint job along with a few images that compares this toy with the 1st Ironhide from the Revenge of the Fallen line.

Scout Scattershot
More official images, this of Scattershot that is part of the upcoming NEST sub line of Revenge toys and is one of the few new molds that is part of the line as it is a homage to the Cybertron character (the G1 version was a jet and trigger master figure if I remember correctly).

Skids and Screech Images
Exclusive to Transformers Generation 2009 magazine, these new toys are painted to remind you of the movie Twins.

Disney Donald Duck Monochrome
Even though the toy isn't even out yet, the Japan only figure is getting the repaint treatment in black and white (I guess a nod to his B&W cartoon origins). Bigbadtoystore.com already has the figure up for pre-order for $50 if you’re interested.

Legends Wave 5 in Packaging
Click to view images of Legends class Autobot Wheelie, Bluesteel Sideswipe, Power Armor Optimus Prime and Soundwave in their packaging.

Transformers This and That

In a lazy mood so lifted the below links wholesale from a comment by Scorpio (thanks!) that include galleries of various Transformer repaints (Bludgeon, Bumblebee, and Devastator), more images of the Device Labels toys, and pics of the Concept Corvette that Sideswipe was modeled after.

Bludgeon - Based on the G1 comic book character, alt mode a tank.

NEST Bumblebee - Link to small gallery and auction for the repaint.

Supreme Devastator repaint - Currently Japan only repaint of the Supreme class figure. As far as I can tell, the most significant change is the red colored head instead of gray to make it more movie accurate.

Device Label - I posted about these before, but these seem to be better images of the line that is based off of computer devices. Also very expensive as each is around $50.

Concept Corvette - Gallery of images of the car from the National Corvette Museum. Still a pretty car, still not sure if will ever be released for public purchase.

Battleship The Movie - Hasbro is continuing its march in movie theatres with announcement that Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Hancock) will direct Battleship. It will be a live action adaption of the board game. Berg was calling the film "a contemporary story of an international five-ship fleet engaged in a very dynamic, violent and intense battle." If things go boom in entertaining fashion, I will be interested.

Disney Label Donald Duck Images

New images of Disney Label Donald Duck have popped up online thanks to Hobby Search. The images show off the Japan only figure in his yellow painted glory. His alt mode a Bumblebee-like Voltswagon Beetle. The tentative release date is December for around $45.00. (via Tformers)

More Alternity Bumblebee and Disney Pics

While the toys are still a few months away from being released in Japan, new images of the prototype for Disney Label Donald Duck and Alternity Bumblebee have been released. Disney Label is Disney characters that transform, and Alternity line uses real car models (with die-cast parts) for the alt mode of Generation 1 characters. Below is the one for Donald and a few images for BB, the rest can be found here.

Tokyo Toy Show Gallery

From the recent Tokyo Toy Show (that technically was "no photography allowed") are a few images that show off Buster Optimus Prime, the Alternity Bumblebee mold, Human Alliance Bumblebee and Skids, and the Device Label line. Below are few pictures but the full gallery that includes images of the Supreme Devastator and other ROTF toys can be found here. (via TFW2005)

Device Label Transformers

In the States our Transformers options essentially consist of Transformers: ROTF toys and left over Animated toys. In Japan, they get to purchase all that and more, often called "Labels" based on various grouping choices. I have posted previously of Disney Label, Alternate and others. A few months ago "Device Label" joined the line and it’s pretty darn cool but also expensive.

The line is essentially a transforming "computer" package of a laptop, mouse and a working USB thumb drive. The line will be five characters total, two of them repaints. The laptop is Blaster, the thumb drives Ravage and Tigatron and the Mouse will be Grimlock and Trypticon. Each toy will cost you around $50 to $60 to purchase with an estimated release date in September. Below are a few images with the full gallery here.

New Alternity, Encore Cassette Set and More

If you live in the land of the rising sun you already know that you get the best Transformers made on the planet. In non-movie related news, Takara has released a bunch of new toys it’s releasing for its various lines for Transformers that are exclusive to Japan.

A new Alternity vehicle to join Optimus Prime and Megatron. The new figure will be Bumblebee which will come in "champion yellow or "red pearl" (aka Cliffjumper). The Alternity line is 1/32 scale Transformers (so about Deluxe sized) with a license from Japanese companies for the alt mode that has die-cast parts. The tentative release date is November 2009 and costs around $50 each.

The Disney Label has two new additions with Donald Duck as Bumblebee with a white paint job and VW Bug alt mode and Mickey Mouse as Optimus Prime with Halloween paint job. The first release with Mickey Mouse is now hard to come by, costs $50 and seems big but is really about Scout sized.

Next up is Encore Re-issue #19, Cassette Big Mission 3 Set. This is a continuation of the re-release of the entire cassette Generation 1 Transformers. This set includes Frenzy, Rumble, Overkill and Laserbeak, costs about $50 and estimated release date is November 2009.

In movie related news, Generation One character Hoist gets homage with a repaint of Longarm from the first movie's toy line. Longarm was released as part of the Human Alliance set and later as a Deluxe figure. Full gallery here.

Finally, it appears the Transformers will get the bobble-head treatment based on the image provided by Brian and his sister (thanks!) that was found in Hawaii. I am not sure what others are involved but safe to assume it includes at least Megatron and Bumblebee.

If you are interested in getting most of these toys, especially the Japan only releases, you are going to have to order online. Most websites do have pre-orders and yes in most cases the cost is higher than your use to but that is the price of buying imports. The release date is just estimates, I have waited sometimes up to a year to get items I have pre-ordered (due to delays of the manufacturer) so patience is a requirement. Sites I have used in the past without problems and can recommend is tfsource.com, bigbadtoystore.com, and digital-toys.com.