3A TRANSFORMERS - DOTM Starscream - Reveal

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by FACEBOX, Sep 21, 2015.

  1. decemberist

    decemberist Well-Known Member

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    Mmm I don't want to disappoint anyone – the sentiment and support is extremely appreciated, but with licensing it's a lot more complicated. There are multiple parties involved from different countries and each company has their specific requirements, contracts, expenses, fees, the span in years of each contract, and compensation, renegotiations and renewals, distribution rights, etc, etc.

    Best to leave the business dealings to the companies involved and the legal and licensing departments. We've had dealings in the past with well intentioned fans trying to get active petitions or try to get involved with licensing who have gone so far as to reach out to creators and artists or companies on behalf of 3A without any actual 3A staff involvement or knowledge and it can create some awkward, complicated, and unfortunate consequences for all parties involved.

    We're a pretty small staffed company with a full plate so if a return to the movie line happens, it wouldn't realistically be able to happen until at least the end of 2017 to mid/late 2018. It takes about nine months to a year of dev for each figure not including production on top of the ones we're already deeply (and contractually) involved in from original lines to licensed.

    We'll see how things go once the rest of the DOTM figures ship and how G1 does. Everything depends on if the support is there and how successful the figures are.
     
  2. Digidemon

    Digidemon Pimp-Bot 5000

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    Perfectly understandable. I was pretty much "venting" more than anything.
    It's a huge disappointment to say the least, but I'll just keep my fingers crossed that more movie figures happen. :-/
    Best of luck with your G1 stuff.
     
  3. Megatron118

    Megatron118 Excelsior! Moderator

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    I am still slightly disappointed, but I understand. I look forward to Optimus and Starscream, and wish you all the best w/ future endeavors. We expect great things!
     
  4. OriginalFire

    OriginalFire Well-Known Member

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    Can you at least tell us why the line was canceled, besides having poor sales, I can't see why it would be cancelled. It seemed to sell out, at least the first two figures did. I have Prime on order and was hoping for some more of these guys. Perhaps the line need a chance to grow, there was only Bumblebee that came out and the reviews I saw were excellent. This was beyond disappointing to be honest, I was so excited and a company was finally doing movieverse figures right. The movie versions don't translate well into "regular" Transformers, but they looked amazing in this over sized and highly articulated action figure form.
     
  5. decemberist

    decemberist Well-Known Member

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    Understand nothing was canceled and certain characters sold very well, but licenses only last for a certain period of time and are usually for a specified amount of figures. We're really happy with how all of them turned out.

    Having grown up with G1 and being given the chance to pursue the license is an absolute dream so we're all thrilled to be able to do our own spin on the characters.
     
  6. iOnlyEatEnergon

    iOnlyEatEnergon Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for taking the time to explain all that and best of luck on the G1 line. Will keep an eye out to see what you guys do. I hope you guys have the chance to get back to this line in the future. Or at least discuss the opportunity of getting more characters out when you guys have the space and time. Would be awesome to see more characters done in this quality. I'm sure a lot of people would love to see it continue as well.
     
  7. yyh2046

    yyh2046 Well-Known Member

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    Great info. My genuine concern is: for most movie fans, highly detailed sculptures are the "ultimate" collection because they're closer to movie images. However, some G1 fans might not care for the "add-on" details that were not seen in the original cartoon. They may choose, instead, the more affordable MP series as the "ultimate" collection.

    I really hope 3A does well and will be able to continue the movie line, but I'm concerned how this move towards G1 will play out.

     
  8. iOnlyEatEnergon

    iOnlyEatEnergon Well-Known Member

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    It has more to do with them actually having the chance on putting their own spin to the G1 line. It's one thing to just copy and paste an already existing design and push that out to the market. They've been given the chance to put their own artistic take on it so it's a big thing for them. So it's understandable that they want to focus on this. I just hope they take another shot at the movie line when they have the chance.
     
  9. OriginalFire

    OriginalFire Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the response :) 
     
  10. Timothy.R

    Timothy.R Well-Known Member

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    are you at all worried that the masterpiece line has and is continuing to give us very accurate transformable versions of our favorite G1 characters?

    that's my fear anyways. i do hope the G1 figures sell well, i hope masterpiece has no affect on these 3A figures, and i'm excited to see them. but for me, i'm more interested in the movie stuff.

    the masterpiece figures are almost* perfect representations of G1 characters. the movie figures on the other hand only sort of resemble their on screen appearances. that's why i think the 3A movie figures are great. they're beautifully intricate, look perfectly accurate, and really take up some missing spots in collections.
     
  11. decemberist

    decemberist Well-Known Member

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    Nope, not worried. What Takara/Hasbro do with the Masterpiece line really doesn't affect us or our goals. We're not out to make perfect representations of the cartoon or upscaled versions of the original toys – we're doing our own thing with G1.

    It's an exciting challenge to capture the essence of the characters while blending what Ash brings with his own unique touch and how the 3A team makes them a reality.
     
  12. Megatron118

    Megatron118 Excelsior! Moderator

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    I don't want to bump the Optimus thread, so I'll ask here since we recently got new pictures of Starscream: any new pictures or updates of Optimus? I'm still not completely convinced from the lookbook
     
  13. Raiju

    Raiju Navel Shocker Veteran

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    Thanks for clarifying with all of that information!
     
  14. Bobbatronus

    Bobbatronus Bullet Sponge

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    I totally understand. I am so passionate about all the things you guys at 3A have done with Transformers, that it is hard to let go.

    I am super excited for your take on the G1 versions, and eagerly await pictures.
     
  15. Digidemon

    Digidemon Pimp-Bot 5000

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    Well, I had to break down and order the exclusive of this guy on his final day of availability. Gave in to the impulse.
    I missed out on Bee's exclusive, but I now have $1290 plunked down on the other three. :-/
    No big deal. Frankly, the only thing that still bums me out is that this is it for the line. (TRULY hope I end up eating those words!)
    SHIT. :-( (Broken record, I know.)
     
  16. FACEBOX

    FACEBOX Well-Known Member

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    Well, there's always HotToys. They sure know how to milk a licence. (See IronMan)
    I'd still prefer 3A though, and am glad to at least be getting all 4.
     
  17. Mewtwo

    Mewtwo Transform & Bamboo out

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    Going back on topic for a moment, is there a set date for when Starscream will be released?
     
  18. decemberist

    decemberist Well-Known Member

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    Starscream sometime in Third Quarter 2016. Megatron this month (January) and Prime somewhere at the end of 1st Quarter.

    Bumblebee ended up taking so long due to combo of the volume of orders and just our factory generally being backed up due to delays.
     
  19. FACEBOX

    FACEBOX Well-Known Member

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    Well, thanks for that little bit of info. I take it this means that things are now back on shedule?

    More importantly, I hope you have a great New Year.
    Cheers G.

    -FB
     
  20. Mewtwo

    Mewtwo Transform & Bamboo out

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    3rd Quarter counts as anything from July,Aug,Sept. Right? And thank you for the reply. :)