Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Out Now

A friendly reminder that Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Blu-ray is now out. Not sure how widely available it will be so check your local retailer's websites first just to verify or order from Amazon: Standard | Limited Edition

The movie comes on two discs, both with the 4k restoration. One is the full screen version, helpful if want to relive watching it old school via TV re-runs and VHS or you can watch it widescreen like it appeared in theaters or on DVD. Besides the 4k restoration, there are three new featurettes. The main one is the "Til All Are One: Looking Back at Transformers: The Movie" with interviews with some still living members of the voice cast as they discuss making the movie along with talking about the soundtrack with Stan Bush and Vince Dicola. The others is "Transformers: The Restoration" which provides an overview of the 4k restoration and "Rolling Out The New Cover" with Blu-ray cover and long time IDW Transformers artist Livio Ramondelli. From the 20th Anniversary DVD release they carried over special features include three featuettes (The Death of Optimus Prime, Cast & Characters, and Transformers Q&A), commentary track with story consultant Flint Dille, Susan Blu (Arcee) and movie director Nelson Shin, storyboards, trailers and TV spots.

Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Restoration Clip

With the release of the trailer, we now have a clip at one of the special features for the September 13th release of Transformers: The Movie for the first time on Blu-ray. To make the leap to high def, a restoration process had to be completed. The clip below provides a look at the improvements that were discovered as they went through the 4k-grade restoration. The movie is now available for pre-order in Steelbook or normal case for $20 at Amazon.

Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Trailer. Steelbook Sale

It took a while but its finally happened. The Steelbook edition of Transformers: The Movie (30th Anniversary Edition) is now on sale for $19.99. Previously it was $34.99. The movie is being remastered for the Blu-ray high-def format with additional extras. To movie is set for release on September 16. To pre-order: Amazon | Best Buy

Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Steelbook for Pre-Order

While no details on extras have been revealed, the Steelbook version of the 30th Anniversary release of Transformers: The Movie (1986) on Blu-ray for the first time is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The price is $34.99 but hopefully will drop once get close to the September 13, 2016 release date. There is no mention of "exclusive" so its possible this version will be available elsewhere.

On a somewhat related note, Transformers: Prime the Complete Series Boxset (3 seasons) is also available for pre-order. Release date is August 12 with current price of $144.99 which mostly definitely has to go down by the release date.

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).

Transformers: Robots In Disguise Season 1 DVD Set Announced

Shout! Factory has announced they are releasing Transformers: Robots in Disguise Season 1 on 4 disc DVD set on May 10th. No word if there will be a Blu-ray release but doubtful as Shout! Factory tends to focus on DVDs for most of their releases including all the previous Transformers cartoons. The retail price is $29.93 with $5 off if pre-ordered from the company directory. Likely it will also be available on Amazon and few other retailers too. As for when Robots in Disguise season 2 will start, still no word on when except sometime in the next few months.

Linkfest - Not Transformers The Movie

Transformers 4 movie news remains light but the toys keeps coming be it official or otherwise. In this edition we have a look at Transformers: The Movie concept art and inspired 3rd party toys, look at upcoming 3rd party Masterpiece no Dinobot Slag, more headmasters, new waves of official Hasbro toys and lots of reviews. Also of interest is a fan made transforming papercraft cigarette box, an $1000 Optimus Prime, new DVD set, and official Nikes.

Transformers: The Movie Concept Art - Hit the link for a look at some of the concept art created by animation supervisor Floro Dery for the G1 cartoon and the 1986 movie. It has lots of details that did and did not eventually get used such as am early Junkion spacecraft, Cybertron's robot mode and more. It is really beautiful and detailed art that shows that a lot of thought and care went into designing the world of Transformers. Maybe Botcon should consider him for entry into the TF Hall of Fame.

Transformers: Prime Season 2 Blu-Ray, DVD Sets Coming

The last half of season 2 of Transformers: Prime starts tomorrow. It looks like it will be 11 straight weeks of new episodes as Hasbro and Shout Factory have announced that Transformers: Prime Season 2 set will be released on November 20th for DVD and November 27th for Blu-ray just in time for Christmas. The four disc sets will include all 26 episodes, Optimus Prime: Up Close and Personal Panel with Peter Cullen being interviewed by Larry King and interviews with the production team. Doesn't look like there will be any commentaries and the like. Currently Amazon has pre-orders up for the set with DVD set priced at $20.95 and shoutfactory.com - Blu-ray set at $41.93. Full press release below.

Linkfest - Prime Masterpieces

This week’s linkfest is about little odds and ends to play catch up on after last week’s SDCC. To start, we have a cool fan creation that mixes Optimus with Warhammer, news that Hasbro’s mini-war with 3rd party toys continues, another 3rd party toy gallery, a new G1 reissue, new TF Prime themes, Masterpiece Prime US vs Takara comparison, and video reviews of Wave 1 Fall of Cybertron toys, SDCC Exclusive toys, and more. If interested in the SDCC panels, click here for links to videos of more then 100 panels that where held that week.

Orktimus Prime
Hit the link with a gallery of images for Orkitums Prime and interview with its creator madscuzzy. This version of Prime is based on Ork Truckk used for Warhammer game products only with that Transformers touch. It took two months to create using 3rd party Gundum parts and 1.5 ork trukk kits. The paint job proved to be especially difficult but as the images show, the final result was pretty darn cool.

Hasbro Bails on TFCon
Hasbro has announced that they have cancelled their New Product Preview and Q&A panels at TFcon this coming weekend because of the allowed sale of 3rd party TF toys at the Con. The Canada's Annual Transformers Convention is being held from July 27th to 29th in Mississauga, Ontario. They will still have a product display. The 3rd party market is not violating any law or copyright which is why Hasbro is applying pressure in ways like this (they also tried to get online stores to ban the products). If legal is an issue I am sure Lego would love to have words about the Kre-O line. Hasbro has chosen to ignore the collector's market as not having enough mass market appeal to reach the profit margins they desire (see Breakdown below as example). Takara has attempted to meet the need with their Masterpiece line (and BinalTech in the past). The 3rd party market (and Hasbro's SDCC exclusives) has clearly demonstrated that collectors are willing to pay a premium for new and unique products. Transformers' Collectors Club of repaints does not count as a meaningful effort to fill that niche. Nothing wrong with Hasbro's choice, from a business perspective I get it. I just can't agree with Hasbro's attempt to punish fans and conventions when others decide to fill a market area they chose to ignore using the same tactics Hasbro uses to their own benefit (see Kre-O). I applaud any convention (like TFCon) that refuses to bend to their unreasonable demands. Note: Botcon, being officially attached to Hasbro, as no choice but to comply.

Linkfest - Generations

Time for another linkfest summarizing the latest in new regarding Transformers. This edition has a look at the concept art for Ironhide, video and galleries of next wave of toys including Transformers: Generations, another Fall of Cybertron Bruticus box set, Cobra Commander crossed with Soundwave, four TF: Prime toy reviews, a stunt award of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, a real life transformers, and more.

Transformers: Prime Ironhide Concept Art
TF Prime artist Ken Christiansen has posted his concept art for Ironhide. At the post he writes about his approach to the character. The result is a pretty "bad ass Ironhide" that seems to combine the classic G1 touches with the physical impressive look of the movie version. While the character has yet to be confirmed as appearing in the TV series, Hasbro has made a Commander class figure that will be coming out soon. A deluxe version is in the works but Kup gets first crack at the mold in release order. (via Seibertron)

Botcon 2012 Display Videos
Hit the link for 10 videos that show off all the products that Hasbro had on display at Botcon a few weeks ago. Most are scheduled for release this year with Generations coming out next Spring.