Killer 3 Contest Winner

Turns out the winner of the Killer 3 contest from Pontiac was someone that learned about the contest from my site. Apparently its getting around some and emailed the Transformers Live Message Boards admin Chad about his experience at the Transformers Premiere on June 27th.

Here is the email with personal information removed just in case:

I just wanted to say I've been checking the blog several times a day for a long time. I have a subscription to Maxim Magazine but I heard about the Killer 3 contest on the blog first. Long story short I entered and won! I saw the premiere on the 27th and It was amazing. I grew up with the Transformers and continue to be a fan today. I might not be as big a fanatic as many but I never stopped following the Transformers. I went to the premiere in L.A. and met Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, and Peter Cullen! I got some great pictures with them and the cars and I still have a Pontiac Solstice comming! I guess after all that I'm biased but I thought the movie was perfect and a great interpretation of the Transformers in relation to the climate that the world is in today. Just wanted to share that with you guys and say thanks for keeping the blog going. Just one last question, does anyone else look at the "Wreckage" figure and think that it was probably intended to be an "earth form" Megatron and it just didn't make it? If you look at the figure and compare it to Megatron in the movie (who I thought was bad ass!) the cannon in the chest is similar and the head on wreckage is pretty megatronish. Well thanks again and keep up the good work. I'll be looking for the blog for the sequel!

Congratulations on the win and for enjoying the blog. As for Megatron, in the leaked script it was never indicated he would get an earth mode. For a while there where rumors, fed by the producers, that he would get a fighter jet mode, but I don't think there where ever plans to create an earth mode for him. As for Wreckage, he was a designed character for the movie that got canned in the pre-production phase. The drone toys exist for Transformers: The Game also exist for the same reason. The design work was already done, might as well use em. Purely practical.

Transformers Related Random Stuff

Tonight is the premiere in LA (webcast here) and figured good time as any to post various humorous clips and whatnot from readers been sitting on. Also the picture in the top left of this corner is a 1280x1224 wallpapoer created by Kevin, a site reader. Thanks Kevin.

The first video is a comedy short from Gabe of FAYM Productions staring Soundwave. The second video is an Optimus Prime cake. The last one is Gobots: The Movie from Black20 Pictures that paradies the TF trailers among other things. Thanks Kaya for the link.

Soundwave: The Touch

Optimus Prime Cake

Gobots: The Movie

An Email From Stan Bush and Botcon

Stan Bush, he of "The Touch" and "Dare" from the 1986 animated Transformers: The Movie, sent an email asking me (hey I am on somebodies radar at least) to post about his upcoming new album and performance at Botcon (a yearly Transformers convention) that starts June 28th.

Stan Bush's message:

To all those who dare to believe,

My new studio album "IN THIS LIFE" (+2 bonus Transformers tracks) is available for pre-order at www.stanbush.com

I'm working on some other distribution methods as well, but this is your chance to purchase the album direct from the source!

Here are a couple snippets from reviews of IN THIS LIFE... and these are from the European release, they didn't even have the two bonus Transformers tracks on them!

Andrew McNeice of Melodicrock.com rated my newest album a 96% "Must Buy" and states that it has the potential to score the coveted "album of the year" award!

Juha Harjula of Melodic.net gives the album an excellent 4 star rating and says, "...Stan Bush is back with a brand new album and he is hungry as ever."

For those that are attending Hasbro's Botcon I will be doing a couple panels, autograph sessions, and even a fully plugged performance at the awards show! I will also have a dealer table setup and will be selling my newest album and other memorabilia as well. So come on by, and pick something up to be signed. Check out my Botcon page here:

http://www.botcon.com/botcon07/guest07-bush.cfm

I look forward to meeting all of you, and TIL ALL ARE ONE!

All the best,
Stan

CHUD Angers Megatron

Apparently in an interview (no new info) with Peter Cullen, CHUD writer Devin Faraci managed to annoy the voice of G1 Megatron Frank Welker by saying "“Cullen’s Prime is good voice work, and it doesn’t have the over the top silly quality of Frank Welker’s Megatron.” Frank decided to respond to it. In a forum, it would be a call to arms, but since didn't occur there, it just a discussion that is interesting to read. And nope, this doesn't relate to the movie in any real way, just Transformers related.

The article:

Earlier this week I ran an interview with Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers cartoon as well as the new Michael Bay movie. In the intro to that interview, I said this:

“Cullen’s Prime is good voice work, and it doesn’t have the over the top silly quality of Frank Welker’s Megatron.”

Well, guess who was reading. The next day I got an email from Megatron himself, voice actor Frank Welker, taking polite issue with what I wrote. That began a small email exchange between he and I. Here’s what he said:

Hey Devin,

Just read your great interview with my old friend and arch nemesis (Optimus Prime) Peter Cullen. You can see why Peter is so well liked and does such great service to his character...he is a class act!

I wanted to let you know a little bit about my voice as Megatron. When I designed the voice, I was intentionally trying to make it different from all of the typical villains, robotic or otherwise, that I had heard and played in the past. With that in mind and considering the metallic quality and his rage, I was pleased along with the producers and the toy company with the end result. Also, we seemed to have satisfied and inspired a very large and vocal fan base. Of course when you do something that is different you will always run the risk of being over the edge but hopefully you achieve what the
audience responds to viscerally and you get a following. I was overwhelmed with the fabulous response from the fans.

I understand your opinion and respect you for stating it, however I am disappointed that you found the voice silly. That was never a goal...over the top, maybe, but silly no...gulp, that was the last thing on my mind.

Thanks for keeping your eye on the "Transformers." Enjoy the movie, and the game. Hopefully, we can continue to entertain you....but without you laughing in all the wrong places.

Best regards,
Frank Welker
Megatron "Leader of the Deceptions"

Floored to hear from Megatron, I dropped a line back to Frank. He replied, quoting my email to him. Those segments are in bold.

Thanks for taking the time to drop a line.

Not at all, I appreciate the dialog.

As a writer, the worst thing I can do is not make myself clear, which is what happened with the intro to my interview with Peter Cullen. I didn't intend to disparage your work but to merely say that the voice you gave Megatron, while appropriate for the conext and setting of a cartoon, doesn't sound - to me - like one that would translate to a live action film. To me it's similar to the way certain aspects of comic books can't be properly translated to the film versions, but that doesn't take away from how much those elements work in their original medium.

No problem. I think I understand but I am not sure I totally agree with your analogy.

My impression - and this is just coming from my point of view as a film fan and critic - is that much of the work you did on Megatron would need to be scaled back and toned down to fit the more realistic world Michael Bay was creating, whereas in the cartoon you could be more dramatic. A toned down Megatron wouldn't, in the end, be the Megatron that the fans of the original series had come to know.

Yes, I think you are right there is a film technique that might require vocal changes and nuances but these are well within "Megs" range and the end result the voice would still be Megatron. As to a toned down Megatron not sounding the same , I couldn't disagree with you more. I would hope any actor worth their salt would be able to maneuver comfortably in and around a character especially one they established and be able to transcend whatever was objectionable. I suppose you could argue that after 25 years of acting experience between the original series production and now, plus over 90 motion pictures in which my sole job was to create sound and emotion to what I saw on screen, I would find it surprising and hugely disappointing if I couldn't take a character I created and make it transfer to any media let alone film. There would be much self flagellation and I know my agent would take away my parking space!

My goal would have been to make it believable but more importantly...memorable. I think memorable would be of high value. Darth Vader, I remember....King Lear, all I remember was he had an English accent and wore a long coat!

Devin, I think it is just one of those voices you either like or you don't like but the fact there are strong opinions means, in my mind, I've done my job. However, I do truly believe a lot of fans will miss hearing that scraggly, scratchy, but very identifiable voice.

That being said, the production team of this film has worked very hard to bring out a product that will satisfy the old time fans and create a new generation of "Transfans." I think the feature will do very well and in the end, with all the technology, sound, and voice enhancement; even Mel Brooks would have made a good Megatron. Now that would be, "silly" but worth the price of admission and the cholesterol from the popcorn!

One side note, apparently their are folks who believe sticking with the tired and true is a good thing. I am happy to say that Peter Cullen and I did "Transformers the Game" for Activison which will be co-released with the feature. Again, the work that went into making this a "fan blast" is really something. There is a lot of material from the feature including the live actors!

Working with my old partner Peter was a blast. With the game and the movie, toys etc., Peter is a very busy man and I couldn't be happier for him. Though it pains me to say this....I will say it in his honor:

MEGATRON: " Roll out Optimus Prime!"

Respectfully,
Frank Welker
Megatron, Leader of the Decepticons.

PS: Here is a current version of Megatron and Optimus Prime posted on YouTube. Enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sICSbW8iilc

Thanks to Frank Welker, a man at least as classy as his nemesis Peter Cullen, for taking the time to reach out.

MSNBC Transformers Articles

MSNBC posted an article about Transfans that came from the Associated Press so may appear elsewhere. Its actually a rather fair article that doesn't paint fans as creeps as articles of this nature tend to do, probably because the reporter resents the assignment. In this case, I think the reporter is a fan as they had enought knowledge to interview Ben Yee who is a bit of a Transformers databank. He was a consultant for Beast Wars (a cartoon series that influenced the movie writers) for instance and has been involved in multiple TF related projects.

The article:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Benson Yee was a Star Wars-obsessed kid when something new caught his eye in a toy store during a family vacation: Transformers — “robots in disguise” — that changed into vehicles or other objects.

“I didn’t know what they were, but I wanted one,” Yee said of the toy Hasbro introduced in 1984. His uncle bought him seven that day.

More than two decades later, Yee, 31, has 3,000 pieces in his Transformers collection and his own Web site, Ben’s World of Transformers, www.bwtf.com.

Yee is one of many men now in their late 20s and early 30s who grew up surrounded by Transformers — the toys, the cartoon, the comic books — and who are experiencing childlike anticipation of the July 3 release of the “Transformers” live action movie. The film is being executive produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Michael Bay of “Armageddon” and “The Rock” fame.

“If there is a way for them to reach into the core of me and bring out a piece of my childhood, I think they did that,” said Yee, an IT consultant from Elizabeth, N.J., who saw clips of the film at New York’s Toy Fair this year and plans to see the whole thing six days early at BotCon, the annual Transformers convention being held in Providence this month.

The toy line was one of the hottest toys in the 1980s for boys (and even some girls). It centered on the battle between the two factions of the robot race: Decepticons, which strive to dominate the universe, and Autobots, which believe in peaceful coexistence with humans.

It’s that mythology, based on archetypes of good and evil, the highly developed characters, the complexity and uniqueness of the toys — even the catchy cartoon show theme song that now-grown men still remember.

For many, names like Optimus Prime, leader of the heroic Autobots, and Megatron, evil ruler of the Decepticons, are as burned into their consciousness as Luke Skywalker and G.I. Joe, said Chris Byrne, an independent toy consultant.

“It wasn’t just part of their entertainment,” Byrne said. “It was part of their social structure, the interaction around it.”

Jules Washburn, 29, of Somerville, Mass., had several of the toys when he was a kid and first heard about the movie last year when he was checking out Spielberg’s projects online.

“I saw the ’Transformers,’ and I was like ’What!? OK, this could be completely awesome,”’ he said. “Then you notice the director is Michael Bay, who is the king of over-the-top action like ’Armageddon,’ and you’re like ’This could be huge!”’

While Washburn and his friends aren’t “the type of guys to go to opening night wearing robot outfits or anything,” he said they’re excited to see it.

Dylan Glassford, 26, an artist in Markham, Ontario, who goes by the name “Ninjatron” in Transformer fan-dom circles, said the movie’s release is validation for the hobby he’s had since he was a teenager.

“It kind of justifies the fans and what we like and what we spend our time on and our money on,” he said.

To Glassford and others, the appeal of Transformers is the strong characters and the staying power of the “more than meets the eye” concept. “Now the world gets to see in a big budget movie ... Transformers are cool and they always have been,” said Glassford, who illustrates an eight-page comic book for TransformersCon, Canada’s annual Transformer convention. “I hope that kids like it too, so that we can have a new generation of fans.”

Hasbro, of course, has been feeding the excitement, as have the studios, Dreamworks and Paramount, both owned by Viacom Inc. The first preview of the movie was released last summer before the hit “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” The 1986 “Transformers: The Movie” animated film was re-released on DVD, and Hasbro last year put out “Transformers Classics,” based on the original toy line. This month, it put out another toy line based on the new movie.

This year’s BotCon, besides featuring an early screening of the movie, will also include a tour of Hasbro’s headquarters in Pawtucket.

Brian Savage, who organizes BotCon, said the movie has raised the awareness of Transformers among the general public. While BotCon has been around since 1994, and last year drew 2,200 people, estimates for this year’s convention from June 28-July 1 range from 4,000 to as much as 8,000, Savage said, the biggest BotCon yet.

“I think we’ll have a lot more Transformers fans after July 4,” he said.

New Stan Bush Transformers Theme

Stan Bush has released a snippet of a new Transformers theme. For those not familiar, Stan Bush was one of the singers and writers for the animated Transformers: The Movie soundtrack back in 1986. He is of the famed "The Touch" that most Transfans could probably sing to you whether they would admit to it or not. I don't know if its official with the movie release or him just doing his own thing. Thanks to Chad T for the link and don't forget to check out the message boards.

Click here to listen to the mp3 formatted song.

Lion's '86 Transformers Theme Cover Video

A band named Black Lab have recorded a cover of Lion's Transformers theme that opened the 1986 animated Transformers: The Movie and posted it on the net in a video using a re-edited version of the various trailers and TF footage that has been available online. Below is the YouTube video and can go to Black Lab's site by clicking here. Thanks to tactilecontact for the info.

Transformers Live Message Boards Are Open!

Thanks to the efforts of Chad T. this blog now has its own forum to discuss all things Transformers and whatever else people want to talk about. My part in this he emailed with the idea, I said cool! He did all the setup and design and so forth. So while I would like to take credit, it is not mine to have. So thank you Chad.

Being a generally lazy person and not fond of moderating, all I ask is people be civil to each other and keep things around PG rated as kids could end up reading it. Other then that have fun.

Join the Transformers Live Forum today.

Transformers Mention on Colbert Report

The May 8th edition has a very brief mention of Transformers on The Colbert Report. It occured at the end of the opening tag when Stephen Colbert, while pointing directly at the camera, said "Hey! Transformers. Robots or cars. We're at war. Pick a side."

Not much but more then Transformers usually get in anything. Colbert's also a bit of a geek so he may actually know what he was talking about...or not. Besides, that and the Daily Show is some of the best TV on TV.

TF Countdown Clock Revisted

Thanks to Shawn from www.transformersfans.com for giving me the code to use his countdown clock. I prefer the days countdown over the months countdown. Makes it funner to see the time knocked off. Note that the countdown is for the US release date.

Transformers Countdown Clock

I decided to add a countdown clock to the left sidebar for no particular reason. Also have all the trailers and movie posters further down on both columns.

What do you think? To much? Maybe too much stuff piled on? What can go and what should stay? Any other site suggestions? Feel free to email me or add some comments on what you think.

Oh yeah, another question. I noticed that the official Transformers website has a webmasters section to it. Thinking of signing up but not particularily happy about giving them personal information nor possibility of giving them some content control without at least some knowledge of what the trade-off is. Promotional material alone doesn't seem worth it to me. Anyone know anything about the program, recommend it or not?

Site Update Note

As probably already noticed, I got bored and decided to re-arrange things on the website to hopefully make it easier to get information using archives, labels and links while still have the ads that help give me a little spending money. It seems this three column format is a bit less interferring but I could be wrong. In the header I added release dates for various countries but if find out the dates are changed or wrong, be sure to let me know.

Additions:
- Change to blogger 2.0 format
- Movie related links are added
- Added additional links for feed subscribing
- Organized the Labels and added them to older posts
- Added embedded YouTube files to Transformers trailers
- Added the various posters released for the Transformers movie
- Added feedburner subscriber counter

I think this new setup works but what do you think? Based on a few comments, wondering if I should flop the side columns so ads on the left, navigation things on the right? Goal is to make things easier, not more confusing so be sure to let me know what you think.

New Live Free or Die Hard Trailer

The new Die Hard 4 trailer is now out at Yahoo Movies for the curious to see. What does this have to do with Transformers? Not much really except as a direct competitor for consumer dollars. The showdown between these two movies will probably help determine if a Transformers sequel occurs. The standoff here reminds me of Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribean from last year. Both made money, both have sequeals, but there is an argument to be made the Pirates probably cost Superman a good deal of ticket sales. Just to ensure a sequel is green lit, I am hoping Transformers emerges a clear winner. Course doesn't mean I will not see both. Love the Die Hard franchise and even if was unsure about going, the inclusion of Mary Elizabeth Winstead (yum) in the cast insured my ticket purchase.

Click here for hi-def trailers.

Time Warner Joins Transformers Bandwagon

In Hollywood, when an idea looks like its a money maker, there is usually only one response - copy it. That seems to already be occurring for Transformers. The movie is not even out yet clearly Warner Bros have decided to join the sentient robot bandwagon as sooner as possible with DC's Metal Men optioned as a new movie for Warner Bros.

The Metal Men are basically sentient, shape changing or transforming robots of a particular metal type. One is made up of lead, another mercury and so forth. Warner owns DC comics. Out of all the properties they have available to make movies from, they just happened to choose one that is the closest analogy to Transformers? That is too much of a coincidence for me to believe.

Movie not even out and a competitor is already acknowledging its probably success mostly sight unseen. I am betting the powers that be at Dreamworks are pleased.

Random Stuff

Slow news week, figure post about a few things that readers sent my way. One of them was sent by Brian F. in regards to costumes that tranform. Worth watching, there are a total of 10 videos, one of which is below. The rest can be found here.


A bit of info passed by "Dave" from the March issue of "Total Film" has an interview with Shia LeBeouf regarding Soundwave.
Q: What are the Transformers like?
A: Man the magic is there. It’s like a f**king wizard put this sh*t together. They built a small robot that transforms out of a cell phone- and the sh*t really does it. It really moves. They control it. You’ll see. He’s called Soundwave.

Q: Can you describe a day on set?
A: Mike would say. “All right, this chopper is gonna fall right here, this persons going to be lit on fire running down the street, were going to have a huge f**king blast right here, the street’s going to fall out right here, this building’s going to fall, you guy’s are going to do a little bit of acting, then we’re going to blow this sh*t here…”

Q: So is there any story?
A: Mike didn’t dumb it up – there’s much more sh*t they wont let me tell you. It’s gonna be sick man….

I think Shia has his info confused. The cell phone isn't Soundwave and I doubt its Soundbyte. More then likely its one of the "Real Gear" toys and part of a scene where the Allspark brings to life a couple of Earth based electronic gear.

Thanks for the info and hopefully soon the advertising blitz will begin providing lots of information to post about. Of course, more then likely most of it will be a retread of the Los Angeles shoot press day, but still. Sadly no news on the final trailer but I am still going with Spider-Man 3 as the date.

Transformers Sleep Pants at Target

An eagle-eyed poster over at TFW2005 discovered Transformers sleep pants. Sadly no price or other information was provided. An item I want. If anyone happens to come across them, be sure to add the price and maybe a review in the comments.

Hasbro Press Release: Transformers Timeline

Hasbro has a day of news today for its various properties in pre-prep for the New Your Toyfair starting Februrary 14th. The first is a timeline just covers the major landmarks of the Transformers franchise. Whoever posted the press release forgot to proofread it as the site doucments have lot of extra symbols and the like that usually occur as a result of a cut and paste from one document (say Word) to another so that the special symbols (: , ' etc) get changed into something funky.

The press release:

TRANSFORMERS – originally dubbed “The Transformers” -- heralded an entirely new way to interact with action figures, giving kids the power to literally change the toys from one form into another (initially, from robots to vehicles). As the iconic theme song went, there was “more than meets the eye.”

But that was only the beginning. With intriguing personalities, captivating story lines and great battle action, Hasbro firmly entrenched the TRANSFORMERS brand into the pantheons of modern pop culture. Over the past two decades, the TRANSFORMERS brand has emerged as one of the most successful properties in action figure history, spawning numerous television series, comic books, and even a feature length animated film.

Today, the TRANSFORMERS brand has a devoted following of fans of all ages, with Optimus Prime and Megatron captivating a whole new generation of fans. The franchise is about to be taken to a new level with the July 4th premiere of the first-ever live-action feature film, TRANSFORMERS, from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, directed by Michael Bay and executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

A timeline of key TRANSFORMERS brand milestones follows

Pre-1984
· Hasbro secures the rights to many changing/converting robot brands in Japan and creates the umbrella name THE TRANSFORMERS to unite them. Takara, a Japanese toy manufacturer saw the potential for future TRANSFORMERS growth and becomes Hasbro’s lead partner in the development of new TRANSFORMERS products. This successful alliance has lasted for more than 20 years.

1984
* The TRANSFORMERS toy line is launched by Hasbro, with a classic theme song that had kids all over the U.S. reciting the refrain “Robots in Disguise.” There twenty-one toys in the original set, including OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, BUMBLEBEE, JAZZ and STARSCREAM. This is the beginning of what has come to be known the “Generation: 1” era.

* The TRANSFORMERS animated television series debuts with a mini series titled “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.” New episodes began in September, airing on Saturday mornings.

* Marvel Comics releases four-issue TRANSFORMERS comic series titled “The TRANSFORMERS.”

1985
* Hasbro releases second series of TRANSFORMERS toys, highlighted by the introduction of DINOBOTS and CONSTRUCTICONS (the first group of figures that can combine to form a larger robot).

* Two TRANSFORMERS figures are introduced with battery-operated functions: SHOCKWAVE has a flashing light and sound effects, and OMEGA SUPREME walks and has a tank with a turret that spins and lights up while rolling around a track.

1986
* The animated feature film titled TRANSFORMERS: The Movie was released in theaters, featuring many of the characters that the new toys were modeled after. It featured the voice talents of Leonard Nimoy, Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Robert Stack, and Orson Welles, and a rock soundtrack.

* Hasbro introduces cities for both the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS: METROPLEX for the AUTOBOTS and TRYPTICON for the DECEPTICONS.

1987
* The HEADMASTERS and TARGETMASTERS figures are introduced into the TRANSFORMERS toy line.

* Hasbro introduced FORTRESS MAXIMUS, the largest TRANSFORMERS figure at the time, measuring a whopping two-feet-tall.

1988
* Hasbro released the PRETENDERS, robots that disguise themselves inside an included shell, and MICROMASTERS, very, very small vehicle that changes into robots.

* OPTIMUS PRIME is revived with a new TRANSFORMERS figure from Hasbro, featuring ‘POWERMASTER” technology wherein a smaller robot is used to unlock a special feature on the larger, more deluxe figure.

1989
* Hasbro introduces four of the TRANSFORMERS fans’ favorite characters back into the toy line: BUMBLEBEE, JAZZ, GRIMLOCK and STARSCREAM.

1990
* TRANSFORMERS ACTION MASTERS are released by Hasbro. These feature action figure versions of both classic and interesting new characters that don't change modes, but have vehicles and partners that do change modes.

1992
* Late in the year Hasbro introduces “TRANSFORMERS: Generation 2.” All of these toys are re-colored versions of figures from the early years of TRANSFORMERS: JAZZ, SIDESWIPE, INFERNO, STARSCREAM, RAMJET, OPTIMUS PRIME, the DINOBOTS, and CONSTRUCTICONS.

* There is a Generation 2 Television animated series, which featured all-new CGI graphics.

1993
* Hasbro introduces a new TRANSFORMERS feature into the lineup. Color-change cars have weapons that shoot water and parts that change color when hit by water, creating "battle damage."

* MEGATRON is revived by Hasbro and introduced as a tank with projectile weaponry and electronic sound effects.

* As a prelude to the new TRANSFORMERS comic, MEGATRON first appears in the G.I. JOE comic series.

1994
* The first BotCon, a TRANSFORMERS fan convention, is held in July in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The annual event has been held every year since, and continues to attract TRANSFORMERS fans from around the globe!

* The AERIALBOTS and COMBATICONS TRANSFORMERS are revived by Hasbro with some new friends, the LASER RODS with light-up engines and weapons, and the ROTOR FORCE with rotor-weapons that can travel across a room.

* Hasbro introduces one of its most popular TRANSFORMERS to date – DREADWING, a Stealth bomber with three modes.

1995
* The animated series titled TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS debuts and is an instant hit.

1996
* Hasbro releases the TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS toy line, featuring characters from the animated series. AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS are replaced by MAXIMALS and PREDACONS, robots that turn into animals and insects. This line also introduced the first female TRANSFORMERS figure, BLACKARACHNIA.

1998
* Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS line expands with the introduction of TRANSMETALS, figures depicting mechanical animals with chrome-painted features. Some of these figures feature three or four conversion modes.

1999
* The TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS animated series evolves, introducing new characters and taking on the name TRANSFORMERS BEAST MACHINES.

2000
* TRANSFORMERS BEAST MACHINES figures are released by Hasbro, including new DINOBOTS and BEAST WARS figures with alternate colorations.

2001
* Hasbro re-introduces TRANSFORMERS as ROBOTS IN DISGUISE, returning to the classic concept of robots that change into cars, trucks, and other vehicles. The TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE series debuts.

2002
* The TRANSFORMERS ARMADA animated series debuts. Hasbro also launches the ARMADA toy line, featuring MINICONS, which connect to larger figures to enable new features. MINICONS were a bit hit with a new generation of young fans.

* Hasbro re-issues TRANSFORMERS GENERATION: 1 toys exclusively at Toys R Us.

2003
* Hasbro introduces the first-ever TRANSFORMERS UNICRON toy based on one of the most evil TRANSFORMERS characters ever! UNICRON is also voted one of the top 12 toys of the year by Toy Wishes.

* TRANSFORMERS ALTERNATORS toy line is introduced, featuring authentic looking licensed vehicles that change into familiar characters.

2004
* TRANSFORMERS CELEBRATE ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY. From Hasbro's action figures to the animated series, comic books, and video games, a new generation of kids have discovered the thrills of the TRANSFORMERS saga.

* The TRANSFORMERS ENERGON theme is introduced, along with new TRANSFORMERS ALTERNATORS vehicles and new toys from the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE line, a collection of the best TRANSFORMERS toys from years past.

* Hasbro introduces a 20th Anniversary special version of the heroic OPTIMUS PRIME robot as a fan-requested tribute to the original 1984 toy.

2005
* The TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON line is introduced by Hasbro, featuring CYBER KEYS that unlock weapons and new features within each figure.

* Hasbro announces that together with DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures, they will bring the TRANSFORMERS saga to the “big screen” on July 4, 2007 with a live-action, feature film directed by Michael Bay (Armageddon, The Rock, Bad Boys I and II) and executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Hasbro’s COO, Brian Goldner. Produced by Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. Story by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman and John Rogers. Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman. The film stars Shia LeBoeuf, Josh Duhamel, Bernie Mac, Tyrese Gibson, Megan Fox, Jon Voight and John Turturro.

* New comic book licensee, IDW Publishing, re-launches a new line of TRANSFORMERS comics.

2006
* Production begins on the live action feature film and the anticipation in the fan community builds exponentially.

* The TRANSFORMERS CLASSICS toy line is released by Hasbro, featuring a selection of favorite characters from Generation: 1 with new designs and re-colorations. Characters in the line include MEGATRON, OPTIMUS PRIME, ASTROTRAIN and BUMBLEBEE.

* The animated TRANSFORMERS movie (1986) is re-released on a commemorative DVD from Sony BMG.

2007
* Hasbro unveils its new TRANSFORMERS toy line, based on the live action movie from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures, with the release of all-new action figures, games and role play toys.

* TRANSFORMERS toys and merchandise is set to go on sale June 2.

* For the first time ever, BotCon will be held in Providence, Rhode Island, near Hasbro’s hometown on June 28 through July 1.

July 4, 2007
* The TRANSFORMERS movie is released in theaters!!!

Generation One Viral Videos

Two video have hit the web that use CGI to integrate G1 toys into "real world" environment in pretty neat ways. Its possible the videos are studio sponsored but considering its all G1 based with no movie related anything in them it seems unlikely. It just seems some creative Transfans decided to have some fun.

Car Park on YouTube:


Transforming Bug on Google Video UK

(source)

Brief Site Note

I have made some slight modifications to the site to hopefully with getting information from it and to it a little.

Blogger already has built-in RSS feeds but now I have also signed up for feedburner to provide additional avenues along with a long on the right hand column to make it easier for readers to add the site to readers.

In addition, with the instructions from Tech Wrap and Exploding Boy, I added the ability to Digg posts and add them to Del.icio.us., the links of which are at the bottom of each post.

Finally, while looking into the above, I found out about Freshblog, which provided a way to create a drop-down menu for the archives rather then a long list that clutters up the right hand column more then it already it.

If know about any other ways to improve the site and also to help drive traffic to it, let me know. No promises on my using it, but always open to suggestions.

Transformer Books at Amazon Japan

Amazon Japan has posted the information for three five movie tie-books for the Japanese market. It seems to be aimed mostly at those learning to read (English maybe based on the cover images). The main thing to take from this is this more then likely demonstrates the official version of Bumblebee, Barricade, and a few others. Thanks to Joey C for the links.




UPDATE:
Thanks to site reader Lucas, he has found two additional books up on the Japan site, a Transformers Sticker book and Transformers Movie Novel.