Transformer World 2005

We’ve mentioned her before on a news post regarding Transformers 4. Back then, she was auditioning for a role on Transformers 4 at the Chinese Talent Search, but now Miss Li Bingbing has confirmed she is starring on the upcoming Michael Bay Transformers Live Action Movie.

"A report on m1905.com -- a Chinese film-related portal operated by the state-owned China Movie Channel, one of the film's three co-producers -- quoted a statement from Paramount Pictures, Sid Ganis’ Jiaflix Enterprises and China Movie Channel as saying that Resident Evil: Retribution star Li Bingbing will board the production. She will soon be joined by other well-known actors as well as newcomers recruited from a talent-scouting competition."

Fresh from the official Transformers Facebook page is the eagerly awaited Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters Legion class Air Vehicon coming to a store near you this summer.

Check out more images of the Beast Hunters Air Vehicon after the jump.

Frequent visitors to our 2005 Boards Transformers Toy Discussion forum will perhaps have stumbled upon the Masterpiece Speculation Thread - where rumors and speculation on upcoming Masterpiece Transformers releases are shared and notes are compared. 2005 Boards member iGrimlock has come up with a very interesting theory that we thought we might share with you - it might be a coincidence, or it might be the first hint that a Masterpiece Mirage is coming our way in the future.

Takara-Tomy have been uploading Generation 1 episodes on to their Youtube channel. They are not always in order, not always uploaded on a strict schedule or anything. Generally, the episodes are going up roughly in sequence and roughly monthly, but once in a while, a random episode gets thrown in. They started on September 30 2012, not with the first episode but with A Plague of Insecticons. This was the episode where Sideswipe used his piledrivers that the Masterpiece toy came with - and it was uploaded the month before the release of Masterpiese Sideswipe.

After this episodes were uploaded in order until December 2, 2012. The episodes uploaded at that time were Auto-Bop, an episode where Soundwave got a lot of focus fighting Blaster, and Auto Berserk, the Red Alert focus episode. December was the month when Masterpiece Soundwave was originally planned for a release and the month of Masterpiece Red Alert's release.

The next batch of episodes to be uploaded came earlier than might be expected from the previous trend and included Roll For It, which is an episode where both Prowl and Bluestreak were prominently featured. This time, the upload preceded the announcement of the Masterpieces by about a month.

Coincidence, or a deliberate move on Takara-Tomy's part, these episode uploads all corresponded to toys which were either about to be released or shortly afterwards announced for the Masterpiece line.

Which brings us to the point of this whole speculation - Takara-Tomy just uploaded another out-of-sequence episode, the episode Traitor. Traitor focuses on a few characters including Bombshell and Cliffjumper, but it is the episode that is most strongly identified as the characterization of the Autobot Mirage.

Given the established trend, is this a coincidence, or is this a subtle hint that a Masterpiece Mirage lies ahead, in our future? Bear in mind there are also whispers of Takara-Tomy having licensed the alternate mode for Generation 1 Mirage...

Join in the speculation and be sure to keep it TFW for more news and rumors as they surface!

By way of ACToys member 11-11 we can now share with you some out of package in-hand images of Generations Trailcutter, or as he was known in Generation 1, Trailbreaker. The Autobot force-field specialist is a part of the IDW comics themed Generations Deluxe Wave 5 - one of the most anticipated assortments of Deluxe class toys in recent memory! Check out the images at the link above or mirrored attached to this post.

With the US release of the Beast Hunters Ultimate Class - which will feature Beast Hunter Optimus Prime and Beast Fire Predaking - drawing ever nearer, Target have begun to put out the shelf tags for both of these releases. By way of 2005 Boards member JamesBenjamin who passes this information to us we can confirm that the price for both toys will be $59.99. The Target DCPIs are also as follows:

Beast Fire Predaking: 087-06-1976
Beast Hunter Optimus Prime: 087-06-1967

No word as yet on when these can be expected - but with them out in Australia and now the shelf tags appearing in Target, a first sighting at US retail is potentially days rather than weeks away.

Vangelus and Seth Buzzard hook up with one Icha-B-zero-D to chat about old-timey Transformers fandom and the power of a simple napkin.

You can download and comment on it here: WTF @ TFW - Episode 251

If you use iTunes and regularly subscribe to podcasts, you can add us to your player and have the software download each episode automatically each time we update. To do that, and give us a reviews on iTunes, click here: Transformers Podcast on iTunes.

The Official Transformers Facebook page has posted official images of the new Beast Hunters Cyberverse vehicle set, the Autobot Driller. It's a redeco of last year's Decepticon Driller and it comes with a redeco of Beast Hunters Cyberverse Bumblebee. Check out the images at the link above or attached to this post.

With the release of Beast Hunters Ultimate Class Optimus Prime and Predaking at Australian retail, lots of pictures have been coming our way from Australian fans who have been lucky enough to add these two to their collections. We have mirrored a selection of the best images here, but open the links below to check out lots more photos:

Beast Hunter Optimus Prime by griffin-of-oz and Kal El of Krypton
Beast Fire Predaking by griffin-of-oz, LMiura, and Ozformers' member Colin78


Also, check out Kal El of Krypton's video review of Beast Hunter Optimus Prime:

A brief promo for the next episode of Transformers Prime aired at the end of Project Predacon. Chain of Command sees Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack and Bulkhead journey to the Scottish Hebrides to stop the Decepticons' latest plot. Will the former Wreckers and Ultra Magnus be able to put aside their differences and fight together against the Decepticons, or will Wheeljack's recklessness and Ultra Magnus' by the book approach cause a scism in the Autobot ranks? Tune in to Hub Network next Friday at 7:30 ET to find out - and check out the preview below:

Examiner has posted an article mentioning that Transformers 4 filming is underway in Austin, Texas. That’s not the only thing the article reveals; it also highlights the character name of Mark Wahlberg.

"Di Bonaventura Pictures and DreamWorks SKG in association with Hasbro are set to begin production on the Paramount Pictures science fiction action film "Transformers 4". Casting directors are auditioning actors in Los Angeles, as well as Austin, TX where filming will take place beginning late May, 2013. The extras will be cast throughout filming. Additional shooting will take place in various locations including China. This project is currently being referred to as "Untitled Transformers Sequel," and will the first feature film to be shot using smaller digital IMAX 3D cameras.

Starring in "Transformers 4" is Jack Reynor in the starring role of a race car driver. The talented and beautiful Nicola Peltz has been cast in the female lead role of Reynor's girlfriend. Mark Wahlberg has signed on to play Nicola's father Flynn Vincent. Sophia Myles will play a major role as a scientist. Peter Cullen returns as the voice of Optimus Prime, and Glenn Morshower reprises his role as General Morshower. Kelsey Grammer was recently cast as the lead villain named "Harold Attinger". Directors Guild of America DGA Award winner Michael Bay will return to direct his fourth installment of the film series from a screenplay written by Ehren Kruger."

For more information and how to become an extra, visit Examiner.com.

2005 Boards member Cobra Zartan has shared with us more images of the test shot of Generations Trailcutter. These new images show both modes of Trailcutter, and of interest to many of you will be the size comparison images, showing how Trailcutter scales up against Prime mainline Bumblebee and Generations Fall of Cybertron Soundwave. Read on to check out the images.

Those of you watching Transformers Prime Beast Hunters last night might have been pleasantly surprised to see that the opening has been updated with some new footage! The new opening follows the same three-stage format of the original but with tweaks and changes throughout:

• The theme music now features a deeper rhythm behind the main theme.
• Bumblebee now appears in his new black "Stealth Bumblebee" deco
• Optimus Prime now appears in his new beefed up "Optimus Prime 2.0" form
• The Predacon makes a couple of appearances, breathing fire on the road at the beginning and then again on the battlefield at the end of the intro
• The Autobot's team pose at the beginning is now a battle-ready one, with weapons drawn.
• Shockwave now appears alongside Megatron and Starscream in the final battlefield sequence.
• The intro now ends with Optimus Prime delivering a "dragon punch" to the Predacon.
• In spite of all this, several ongoing characters are absent from the intro, including Knock Out, Smokescreen and Soundwave.

Check out the new intro below:

Site sponsors Captured Prey and our own Internet Personality Vangelus have joined forces to help further the fight against Juvenile Diabetes. They are having a charity raffle with the prize being the very pre-production model of the FansToys Quake Wave reviewed by Vangelus.

To enter, here is what you need to do:

1. Visit JDRF.ORG.
2. Click on the "Donate" button.
3. Select "General Donation", and donate at least $5.00.
4. Take a screenshot and send it, or forward your confirmation to:jdrfdonation@capturedprey.com by 11:59PM Eastern time on May 27th, 2013
   
   That's it! You'll receive a ticket number back in a few days, and we'll draw for the winner soon after the entry period closes.

Now, here's the technical stuff:

• You may enter as many times as you like, HOWEVER, to do so, your donations MUST be above the minimum amount. IE, you can't enter twenty times with twenty $5.00 donations. But you CAN enter twenty times with, say, twenty $10.00 donations. Multiple $5.00 donations are awesome, but they will be combined in pairs if submitted.
• Entries close at midnight on the morning of May 28th. Any entries received after this time will not be eligible.
• Captured Prey will provide shipping, at our discretion, to the winner. The shipping method and speed will vary depending on where you are located.
• Your prize is a production sample. It is identical to the retail figure, but does not include packaging. We will include the solid-color hand and gun arm parts, and the winner will receive the alternate forearm parts when those are released, too.

Just recently, the Transformers: Legends game by Mobage just wrapped up a game event, "Unleash the Beasts". Hopefully, gamers are ready for more, as an new event titled "Cold Delivery" is now live! The event features Cosmos, Jetfire, Sky Lynx, and Omega Supreme as the bosses. For this event the special Spacebridge characters are two of the most feared Decepticons to be spawned by Unicron, Scourge and Cyclonus! TFW2005.COM member puma was not only kind enough to let everyone know about the event, but also took a screen shot of the start page.

If you have an iPhone or an Android, this is a free downloadable app that you can download by clicking here (data transfer charges apply, of course). This game is a multi-player card-based battle game that features much of the Classics-Generations characters, featuring new character artwork on each of the battle cards. This game allows the player to go through stages as well as teaming up with allies to beat bosses during events like the one reported here!

TFW2005.COM features an ongoing discussion for the game itself going on here, as well as a the Transformers: Legends Mobage Social Group. If you're jumping in on the fun of this game, then jump into the discussions here as well!

Takara-Tomy has added a promo to their Youtube channel for their iteration of the Bot Shots line, BeCool. The video features some cute stop-motion of the toys and an irritatingly catchy song to go with it all. Check it out below:

The guys of Charticon announce another update on their upcoming, inaugural convention with yet another guest - Ken Christiansen, an illustrator who has been working on Transformers in a variety of capacities over the last few years. The Charticon organizers had this to share with us:

We are very happy to announce another guest! Ken Christiansen will be joining us for the show as well!

Ken Christiansen has been working as an illustrator and concept designer for over fifteen years. Starting as a video game concept artist, at Nintendo of America (Ridge Racer 64, Pokemon Puzzle League), then moving to Los Angeles to work in games for the Walt Disney Company (Kingdom Hearts, Finding Nemo). In 2004, Ken started his own company, Bad Flip Productions, working for video game clients like Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, and Activision. After working with Activision on Transformers the Game, and the Revenge of the Fallen game, he began working freelance in media development for Hasbro Inc. (Transformers), doing concept art for their film, tv, book, games, and toy initiatives. That expanded into media development beyond the Transformers brand, including Star Wars, Spider-Man, and more.

Ken’s current work includes the cover runs on the Transformers Prime series (IDW), Star Wars Fighter Pods, and Ultimate Spider-Man Spider Pods. Along with other random bits and pieces, hanging off pegs in the toy aisles, book shelves, and video game departments…

Bad Flip Productions' Facebook Page

Bad Flip Productions' Blog

You can find out more information about attending Charticon by going to their website as well as their Facebook page. Join in on the discussion about this convention here on our forum as well!

We have been getting reports that the next assortment of Beast hunters Cyberverse Commanders have been released in the US. Reports of sightings have come to us of Cyberverse Commander Shockwaves in both Washington State and also in California. Shockwave is not the only new toy in the assortment, as the remolded Commander Starscream is also in this assortment - so both should now be at retail if you are searching for these new releases.

The sightings were made at the South Center Target in Kent, Washington and also at the Fox Hills mall Target in Culver City, California - so if you're on the West Coast, check your Targets - they seem to be getting these in first. Happy hunting everyone!

Artist Ken Christiansen has posted up a new piece of preliminary design work that he did for Hasbro during the development of Transformers Prime and the Aligned Continuity. The latest post on The Bad Flip blog shows off an unused tank alternate mode for Megatron - a sleek combination of realistic and futuristic design sensibilities which pays homage to tank form Megatrons from across the Transformers series.

Do you prefer this to the alien spacecraft that Hasbro ran with in the final version, or do you feel that a sleek tank form would have lent some nice variation to the Decepticons of the Aligned Continuity? Hit the discuss button below to share your views.

Make of this what you will! IDW will be crossing over Transformers with the breakout hit of the Hub Network, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, in a convention exclusive cover which will be offered at Botcon 2013 in San Diego.

Check out the original report at Comic Book Resources. You might note that the cover is listed as "convention exclusive" rather than "Botcon exclusive" so it might well be offered at other events, such as San Diego Comic Con.

Shogo Hasui of the Takara-Tomy design team is tweeting some new images of upcoming releases now! Hasui-san has tweeted a pair of images showing off the Masterpiece versions of Prowl and Bluestreak / Silverstreak / Streak. These new images show just how awesome and dynamic these designs are, with the robots even capable of kneeling realistically. Check out the new images of the next additions to the growing Masterpiece series of classic Transformers characters!

Are you excited for an all-new Transformers Prime tonight? Project Predacon airs tonight at 7:30pm ET on Hub Network. If you thought one Predacon was almost too much for the Autobots to handle, well, who ever said the Predaking was the only successful cloning attempt?

Check out the latest chapter of the Beast Hunters saga tonight, and in the mean time, check out these stills via Buzzfocus!

Our friends and sponsors Robot Kingdom has dropped us a line about new preorders and arrivals at their site. Check out a summary of the hot items below, and read on to check out the entire newsletter.


Takara Transformers Asia Premium Series APS-02 Brawl.
Pre-order. Start Shipping on 31st May 2013. US$129.9/pcs

Hasbro Transformers Generations 2013 Voyager Wave 4 Sealed case of 4
Pre-order, available in June/July 2013. US$119.9/sealed case of 4

Hasbro Transformers Generations 2013 Voyager Wave 4 Set of 3.
Pre-order, available in June/July 2013. US$84.9/set of 3

Hasbro Transformers Generations 2013 Voyager Sandstorm.
Pre-order, available in June/July 2013. US$32.9/pcs

Hasbro Transformers PRIME Platinum Edition Ultra Magnus.
Pre-order, available on 27th May 2013. US$59.9/pcs

Hasbro Transformers Fall of Cybertron Metroplex.
Pre-order, available in August 2013. US$129.9/pcs

Takara Transformers Fall of Cybertron TG-23 Metroplex.
Pre-order, available on 28th September 2013. US$169.9/pcs

Excellent Toys CR-M01.
Pre-order, available in July 2013. US$79.9/pcs

Hasbro Transformers Generations Deluxe 2013 W3 set of 4.
Pre-order, available in Jun/July 2013. US$59.9/set of 4

KFC CST-01E Energon Rhinohorn.
Pre-order, available in May 2013. US$19.9/pcs

Hot on the previous teasers of the highly-anticipated Metroplex for the Generations line, Hasbro reveals an official image of Scamper, the Legends/Cyberverse-sized figure that will be packaged with Metroplex. With an official image release, it is an indicator that the actual release is getting closer and closer! Also, this image gives us an "official" close look at this figure, allowing us to see both modes!

A careful eye will notice that the Autobot faction symbol in the image is a label. There is a good chance that the actual release will have this symbol tampographed onto the toy. While things may certainly change for the actual release, this image shows Scamper with a red face. The change to black like the Generation One figure may or may not be likely, but this image is consistent with the previous images we have seen, so it looks like Scamper will have a red mug.

For those wanting a little more G1 flavor to their Scamper, repainting the head from red to black will be a relatively easy chore. If your customization skills need some work, you have plenty to time to jump over to Radicons Customs and check out our robust Tutorials and How Tos (I'd recommend starting with the "Introductory" articles")!

We here at TFW2005.com are hoping that you are making the necessary arrangements to obtain this figure as we certainly are!

With all-new episodes of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters resuming at 7:30pm ET on Hub Network tomorrow, now seemed like a great time to share with you a new gallery of one of the newest releases in the Beast Hunters line. Grimwing is your classic noble villain archetype - a bad guy who believes in an honorable fight with a worthy foe, rather than trickery or elaborate schemes. He's partnered with Blackbeak, a drone beast like Laserbeak who is distinctly less honorable or chivalrous. They make an interesting pairing as characters - and all this is just from the bio!

As a toy, Grimwing is an imposing character in both modes. In beast mode, Grimwing is an Ursagrpyh, a change from the generic "dragon" types of the other Predacons. In beast mode, Grimwing clips together fairly tightly and can mount Blackbeak in two different locations, for two different two-headed looks. Grimwing's robot mode is a bit of a let down, though. While the main torso locks in relatively firmly, the shoulders do not lock into position - they hold in position almost entirely by friction, which I thought was a little disappointing. That being said, the robot mode does have an impressive silhouette and a nice, heroic stature. Blackbeak as an accessory is fun and versatile, though as a missile launcher he can't really shoot much further than an inch or two. He also cannot be firmly held in Grimwing's hand, but the missile fits in the hand quite nicely, and doubles up as an axe. Add into this that the capture claw also makes for a nice flail, and you have a weapon that does triple duty.

Overall, I feel my experience of Grimwing might have been biased slightly since right before him I got Springer and Blitzwing who honestly feel like a lot more toy for the same relative price point. Grimwing for his flaws is fun, and looks fantastic in both modes, so no faulting him there. But honestly this is a definite one to seek out at retail price rather than paying over the odds on the secondary market.

Open the link to check out our gallery:

Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Grimwing Gallery

By way of Comic Book Movie we can share a short clip from this Friday's all-new episode of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters, Project Predacon. In this clip, spoilers await, as Megatron explains the background behind the Transformers' latest scavenger hunt - a fact which is pointed out and mocked by Starscream!

Check out the clip below - and be sure to tune in at 7:30pm ET tomorrow, Friday 17 May 2013, for the whole episode!

For our Featured Ebay Auctions, we're taking a break from individual characters. Today we're bringing you some really great odds n ends from throughout the Transformers history. We have a bit of everything from Radios, Transformers Store Displays, G1 Roller Skates, G1 Tents, Watches, Trains, Battlin' Robots (aka Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots) and more. Check them out below.

• RARE Kre O Transformer Kreons Minifig Lego Complete Set Store Display | eBay
• Vintage 1984 Transformers Autobot Freedon Fighter Am Radio by Nasta Original Box | eBay
• RARE Toys R US Transformers Movie Tru Display Blackout Prime Free s H | eBay
• Transformers Matrix of Leadership Diamond Select Statue Replica NVR Display | eBay
• Optimus Prime Roller Skates Vintage Hasbro 1985 G1 Transformers | eBay
• Slumber Tent 1985 G1 Transformers Hasbro Vinage Free SHIP | eBay
• Decepticon Am Radio Headset 1984 Vintage Hasbro G1 Transformers | eBay
• Transformers Battlin Robots Mint in Box and Box Still SEALED 1980s | eBay
• 1998 Beast Wars Transformers My Little Pony McDonalds Counter Display w Toys | eBay
• Gen 1 Tyco Transformers Electric Train and Battle Set | eBay
• Optimus Prime Stamp Fun 1984 Hasbro Vintage G1 Transformers | eBay
• Time Warrior Watch 100 Complete Vintage 1985 G1 Transformers Mail Away | eBay
• McDonalds 2013 Transformers Prime Store Display 12x18 Toys Included | eBay
• Vintage G1 1984 Transformers Party Favor Blow Outs Thundercracker Blowouts | eBay
• Optimus Prime Toothbrush 1984 Vintage Hasbro G1 Transformers | eBay
• Hasbro G1 Transformers Hide N Sleep Tent for Twin Size Bed | eBay
• Tyco HO Slot Car Transformer White Mustang RARE NOC Aurora AFX Tomy | eBay

Bleeding Cool News has posted the solicits for IDW's comics being published in August 2013 including a healthy dose of Transformers comics. There's plenty of awesome things to come, including after July's reveal that Star Saber would be joining the IDW Transformers comics universe, August will see Rattrap (of Beast Wars fame) join IDW's cast of Transformers in Robots in Disguise #20!

In August 2013 we will see the next installments of the ongoing series from IDW with the release of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters #4, Regeneration One #94, More than Meets the Eye #20 and Robots in Disguise #20. The month's releases are rounded out with two compilation issues, Transformers Monstrosity #3 of 4, collecting in print the digital-first sequel to Autocracy, and Transformers Prelude, collecting the six new spotlight one-shots Orion Pax, Thundercracker, Megatron, Bumblebee, Trailcutter, and Hoist.

Now updated with images of the cover art by way of Servo Slag!

What a blast from the past! Lmb3.net has obtained a 1986 Transformers The Movie Ziploc Promotion Salesman's Sample Kit. As kids, most of us probably never saw this back in the day. So it's interesting to see just what exactly was in this kit.

The kit itself came in a backpack. These kits came with promo sheets, copies of coupons to be used, a thermos, Powerdasher, iron-ons and amongst other items, sheets containing some revealing information. Just how well was the Transformers brand doing back in the 1980's? Here's the answer to that question:

The third sheet in the packet actually has some really interesting information on it (or at least, interesting to me. It talks about the Transformers brand expecting to make $300 million in 1986. It also states that Transformers made $100 million in 1984, the most for any first year series ever at that time. I’m sure that record has probably been broken, but I’d love to know how that stacks up all time.

It says that there would be $20 million spent on advertising, and an additional $3 million spent promoting the movie. Maybe I’m thinking about it by today’s standards, but $3 million to promote a movie doesn’t seem like a lot, even in 1986.

As we near the 30th anniversary of the Transformers brand, it's quite a revelation to know just how successful it was almost 30 years ago!

The author at lmb3.net was missing the Powerdasher figure and thermos from the kit. However his article has scans of several articles contained within the kit, including the iron-ons, promo sheets, and much more! Head on over to it to get a glimpse into the glory days of Transformers Generation 1!

TFcon is honored to welcome Transformers voice actor Jack Angel to TFcon 2013 for his first ever Canadian convention appearance.

The voice of Astrotrain, Breakdown, Cyclonus, Omega Supreme, Ramjet, Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus in the Generation 1 cartoon; he is also known to GIJOE fans as the voice of Wet Suit and Superfriends fans as the voices of Flash, Hawkman and Samurai. Mr. Angel will be taking part in Q&A panels and autograph sessions with the attendees of the world’s largest fan-run Transformers convention.

TFcon, the world's largest fan-run Transformers convention will take place July 26th to 28th, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre. You can pre-register online for TFcon 2013 via this link for the exclusives VAN GUARDIAN and ROSWELL.
TFcon 2013 features Canada's largest dealer room for Transformers merchandise, question and answer panels and autograph sessions with many special guests including Transformers voice actor DICK GAUTIER the voice of RODIMUS PRIME with more to be announced. The TFcon 2013 hotel block is now available.

TFYuki has posted an in-package image of the next two releases in the Takara-Tomy Transformers Generations line. Next up are the Voyager class Autobot Blaster to go with the Autobot Data Disks set recently released and the so far Japan-only Fall of Cybertron Skywarp - which right now looks like it will be the only way to get the third Seeker and complete the trio in their War / Fall of Cybertron guises.