Brian Goldner Comments on Megatron

COO of Hasbro, Brian Goldner, once again provides a little insight on the intended toy designs for Starscream and Megatron over on Don Murphy's forums. The most important part for may would be "Throughout time [Megatron] has had a very big gun...."

Good Afternoon--Let me answer your questions. Starscream is simply the coolest, most aggressive military jet in the skies. The military has given us unprecedented access to deliver this character to the audience in the most compelling way. He is Very much like G1. As noted to Nelson earlier in the week, the details, deco, weapons, and sculpt itself will change as we move from grey model to final form.

Megatron is an early style board. Without revealing too much of the story, there is a very important reason for his look to have evolved from pure G1; although the final look is a work-in-progress--ILM has just recently begun all their CGI development. Megatron has a iconic personality, and approach that dates back to G1. Throughout time he has had a very big gun....

Good sign, makes you wonder what is coming. I am still undecided on Megatron. The leaked designs are sweet, actually quite fantastic and should be fun to watch on the big screen and see in toy form. The problem is its just not a Megatron we know and love. I can't decide (yet) if I think that is important or not.

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COO of Hasbro Comments on Starscream

More notes from Transformers movie related big wigs. The first is a message from producer Don Murphy and now another note from COO of Hasbro, Brian Goldner. Hasbro is the American side producers of the Transformers line who are committed to producing the movie related line, which is the past is an indication needs to be ready to hit shelves by late May on the outside. He is speaking on the grey Starscream toy prototype, seen here:

Please let the people on the board know that any grey models they have seen are VERY early forms of toys and will be revised and changed, and will gain tremendous detail as they move toward finished products...

thanks and regards,
Brian Goldner

Its kind of sad its necessary for him to do this. The image is of a grey figure. Its screams prototype. Prototype in turn indicates that its still being worked out and updated. Its the whole point of the prototype is to allow tinkering with the final design until its locked. I will reserve judgment on the toy once see a picture that is close to the final design (and hopefully not so close to brother of Waspinator). They have at least 8 more months to tweak the design so I am not worried. The detail though, based on what little have seen, should be a joy to behold.

- be so glad when better quality pics without that ridiculous watermark comes out. Also made update to reflect original source of the note, thanks Shan

Leaked Toy Images, Movie Robot Mode?

In this weekend of Transformers news comes leaked images of the potential plans for Optimus Prime, Starscream, Blackout and Scorponok. Since toys nowadays can do a remarkable job of recreating the characters and moments from the movies, its safe to say these images give a strong hint at to what the Transformers modes will look like in the movie. If they can pull of this detail for the toys, I can't wait to unleash my inner 10 year old with them.






As an aside, TFW2005.com, I understand why people use watermarks(referring those HUGE yellow words on the above images), but when the watermarks interferes with the image being displayed, you are taking the protecting of intellectual data (that usually isn't even your data to begin with) a little to far. Drop the watermark in the corner like everyone else. Or fade it, but do something so that it doesn't interfere with what you are presenting. When you have professional photographers that don't even do that, you should know you are taking the watermark a little to far.
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SDCC '06: Transformers Toys

TFormers.com has posted a ton of pics of toys that are being show at the San Diego Comic-Con. Personally I can't wait for the release of Transformers Titanium Figures (some of which just pose, others transform) and the Classics line. Both lines harken back to the G1 days while making use of better design and technology available to toys today.

Titanium pics here.
Classic pics here.
Cybertron Repaints here and here.
Masterpiece Prime here.
MP-4 Convoy here. (sweet toy, I have the Japanese release of same)

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Toyfare Transformers Article

Toyfare is out and in it is a combination of new and old rumors regarding the Transformers movie.

"AutobotWonko" over at tfans.com forum provided the highlights:

- Cybertron does appear in the film, but most takes place in the American Southwest.
- Rumored battle in downtown LA
- Spike will be Sam Witwicky and Sparkplug is still Sparkplug
- Bernie Mac sell Bumblebee to Sparkplug
- Josh Duhamel is Commander Lennox and he leaders an elite military unit to "fight a gargantuan Scorponok in the desert!"
- Optimus Prime, there is rumored test footage out there if you google "Transformer Test Video" (Which was fan-made. A link to it is here.)
- Bumblebee is a yellow 1975 Camaro. (pics here)
- Ironhide is a pickup truck
- Jazz and Ratchet are unsure beyond Jazz will be pimped out and Ratchet a ambulance.
- Megatron is a Cybertronian Jet
- Starscream is a F-22 Raptor jet
- Devastator is a M-1 Abrams Tank (pic here)
- Brawl is a police car (pic here)
- And finally, Soundwave: "Now a boombox (he supposedly sneaks onto Air Force One!), this fan-favorite reportedly stands 4 1/2 feet tall and may be renamed Soundbyte!" (the bit about Air Force One is old, the renaming rumor is news to me.)

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Transformers Classic Toyline Announced

Hasbro announced that their next Transformer toyline is Transformers Classics, which updates the original generation 1 toyline using modern designs. The line will be released in November 2006 and the initial wave 1 will include redesigned Starscream, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Hot Rod (now Rodimus) and Astrotrain (not sure if he is a triplechanger). Also Megatron will be return in a gun form but due to current laws, not the realistic gun he use to look like but a futuristic blaster.

Click here for the press release.
Click here for some pictures for the new toys.

Now what does this mean in regards to the movie? Nothing since that toy line will be separate and based upon what designs the filmmakers and Hasbro execs approve. However until then, at least get some G1 goodies using modern toy designs and manufacturing which means something that G1 didn't have before - articulation and no stickers.

Botcon '05: Transformers release date moved

Botcon 2005 also release some new information in regards to the live action movie and some old in regards to cuts made to the animated movie way back when. In current movie news, sadly we have to wait our live action fix as the release date has been moved from July 4th 2006 to Thanksgiving 2006 and now they have staked out July 4th 2007. Yet, thats a 7. So just a touch under two years assuming they get a script anytime soon that they like. This also would make current casting choices difficult as a star maybe A list now but this time next year could be on the C list. On top of that, it wouldn't suprise me if this effects Michael Bay as director.

Also revealed was some cuts made to the initial script including how the Devastator was defeated in the Battle for Autobot City (where Optimus died) and that Galvatron played a part in Ultra Magnus's "death".

Botcon '05: Star Wars Transformers

Botcon 2005 is this weekend and pictures and news updates are filtering to many of the Transformer sites. Most of the news is toys related including this great picture of a Darth Vader transformer coming out at the end of the year as part of the Transformers Star Wars line. More pictures here.

There are also more pictures of Cybertron, Universe, and Alternator toys.

Ug, its quiet

All is quiet on the movies news front. Its pretty annoying really.
In toy news, Re-issue of Galvatron has been announced and coming out in December.
In comics news, Transformers #0 is coming out in October from IDW. Issue 0 is only a $1 which for today's comics is cheap.