An extensive series of in-hand images of the Asian market exclusive Transformers Dark of the Moon Year of the Dragon Ultimate Optimus Prime has posted over on ACToys. 

­ ­

Our thanks go out to Dan Gilvezan for letting us know that an audiobook version of is recently released book "Bumblebee & Me" is now available for download on audible.com. The book is read by Dan himself and can be found at http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B006NY1QP0&qid=1324486559&sr=sr_1_2

PreviewsWorld has updated with a preview of IDW's Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime. This special is­sue, the 125th Transformers comic published by IDW, is written by  James Roberts and John Barber, with art by Nick Roche.  This new team will be looking after the comics from January.

­ ­ ­ ­

Planet Iacon, the Singapore Transformers Fans Group on Facebook has posted a new image of the Year Of Dragon Ultimate Optimus Prime in robot mode.

This Asian Exclusive figure is the repaint version of Transformers Dark of the Moon Ultimate Optimus Prime to commemorate the coming Year Of Dragon for Lunar Calendar.

• AM-01 Optimus Prime ¥4,000 (Voyager)
• AM-02 Bumblebee ¥2,800 (Deluxe)
• AM-03 Cliff Jumper ¥2,800 (Deluxe)
• AM-04 Ratchet ¥2,800 (Deluxe)
• AM-05 Megatron redco ver ¥2,800 (Deluxe)
• AM-06 Skywarp ¥2,800 (Deluxe)
• EZ-01 Optimus Prime ¥1,000 (Cyberverse Commander)
• EZ-02 Megatron ¥1,000 (Cyberverse Commander)
• EZ-03 StarScream ¥1,000 (Cyberverse Commander)
• EZ-04 BumbleBee ¥500 (Cyberverse)
• EZ-05 Cliff Jumper ¥500 (Cyberverse)
• EZ-06 Legion Ratchet ¥500 (Cyberverse)
• EZ-07 Vehicon ¥500 (Cyberverse)

The Transformers facebook page has posted this week's Transformers Prime cast and crew fan Q&A session with Production Coordinator Meredith Rodgers.

Yessie Nieves asks: What are the main tasks you are in charge with as Production Coordinator and how did you get to be part of this awesome project?

MEREDITH RODGERS: My main tasks are overseeing the work of the Production Assistants, implementing the scheduled deadlines per department as provided by my producer and being my Production Manager’s right hand. Some tasks involve design reviews and animation reviews. It's up to me to make sure that information is properly dispersed and executed. Animation is so much fun, but get the wrong color on an Autobot and that’s a big problem! Since Transformers is such a huge franchise we really have to be delicate in designing from the vast lore of the brand. I was very lucky to land this job and for a Transformers G1 fan, it’s awesome!


Michelle Stosez asks: What is the target time frame for each stage of production? Storyboard, VO recording, Editing, PR..etc...? What is the total time frame from pre-production to completion for an entire season?

MEREDITH RODGERS: I can tell you that not all productions have the same time frame. It depends on many different factors to determine the schedule. For Transformers Prime, storyboarding for one episode takes about six weeks. Designs from conception to final art take approximately eight weeks. Records can take up to five hours depending on how many people are recording. Each department also has to do some area of prep which is also figured in and usually several different episodes are overlapping in various stages. Our management team has been in the business for some time now, so I would say that we have a pretty smooth production process.


Cassidy Klassen asks: What were some cool ideas that, for whatever reason, just couldn't be used in the show?

MEREDITH RODGERS: Transformers Prime has a nice story arc that does not usually happen in an animated series. But we all love the action too! There has to be a balance of story and action. In some episodes we have to cut some of the action to help the story and some times we find it necessary to cut a line or two to keep the action moving. Both are hard decisions. For example in "One Shall Rise:Part 2," we had to cut quite a few action shots with Optimus Prime fighting Unicron. The action was so cool, but we needed to get to the following scenes with Ratchet and the team joining him in the fight. Maybe the edits will be included as extras on the upcoming DVD!


Cambria Castle asks: What sorts of skills/interests does it take to perform the job of a "Production Coordinator"? Is there something special added to the usual list when you work on a show like Transformers with a high quality standard and a serious fan base behind it?

MEREDITH RODGERS: A production coordinator should be someone who has good organizational skills, is able to juggle several different tasks and be a positive motivator. I have a Computer Animation degree which has served pretty useful since Transformers Prime is a CG show. There is definitely some serious thought that goes into each aspect of the production. Transformers Prime goes through many different approval processes. Since the show raises the bar on children's animated series, we have to constantly up the ante and push the show towards great storytelling, action packed storyboards, and animation that is out of this world! We need to make sure that Optimus Prime is pleased with our work!


Jocelyn Simmons asks: Are you a [Transformers] fan, and if so, for how long and what brought it on?

MEREDITH RODGERS: I have been a fan of Transformers since the eighties; I grew up watching Transformers G1! I have to admit that what brought it on was the converting sound. I remember sitting in the kitchen in my parents' old house and I peeked around the corner to see my brother watching it. I was hooked! I hope all of you enjoy the show as much as our crew. We truly enjoy hearing the feedback from the fans.



--Meredith Rodgers is the Production Coordinator on Transformers Prime. In animation, the Production Coordinator assists with the flow and details of the production process from pre-production (writing and design) through post production (editing and sound). As the Production Coordinator, Meredith helps manage the day-to-day running of departments (schedules, assignment lists, project review, etc). Meredith is the soccer mom of Transformers Prime, making sure every episode has what it needs before heading out the door. She loves working with so many different kinds of art (sketches, transformations, color scripts, CG models) to ensure that what Prime artists see in their heads is what fans see on the screen.

Before this, Meredith lived in New York, working as a Production Manager/Coordinator on several animated series for Animation Collective. She also worked as a Design Coordinator at Curious Pictures and painted backgrounds for Clifford's Puppy Day's at Scholastic Entertainment. Meredith has a degree in Computer Animation from Full Sail University.

A Chinese factory called Jet Fair has been slammed in a damning report published by GlobalLabourRights.org.  The 34-page PDF file, available to download here, covers conditions at the factory that produced Hasbro products including the Transformers: Prime figures.

The GLR group focus on the factories Transformers output even though it is not an Hasbro owned factory, and suggests that workers at the factory are body searched three times a day to try to stop goods from being smuggled out of the plant.

It is certainly an interesting reading into what is sadly common place still within Chinese factories when it comes to pay and working conditions.

Our thanks go out to Blueshift of ­Transmasters UK for the link to the article.

Savcon have sent out the following update:

­With great pleasure Savcon would like to announce that Mr. Daniel Ross, The voice of Starscream in the Transformer : The Movie Video Games, will be the 4th Voice Actor to appear at Savcon in 2012.

Mr. Ross also is a Hollywood Actor and master impressionist.
More recently Mr. Ross can be found in the Ninja Vs. movies that are hugely popular.
His future projects include : "Lovely Molly","Ninjas vs Monsters", "Soulmate", "All in the Game"
Some notable Impressions of TF Characters include : Waspinator, Ravage, Terrorsaur, Dinobot, Tarantulas, Quickstrike & Grimlock.

Welcome to the show Mr. Ross!!

Be sure to join Mr. Ross along with our other guests, Gregg Berger, Neil Kaplan and Lee Tockar, June 23-24 2012 only in Savannah, Georgia!!­

1. Autobot Peaceman - named after Peacemaker, Pointblank's Targetmastr partener, an orange version of Transformers Power Core Combiner Chopster.  Toys R Us Japan Exculsive
2. Fracas - named after Scourge's Targetmaster partner, a blue version of the Transformers Power Core Combiner Groundspike.  Exclusive to Yamada Denki, Yodobashi Camera, Edion Group, Ishimaru, Deodeo, Eiden and Midori.
3. Aimless - named after Misfire's Targetmaster partner, a light purple version of Transformers Power Core Combiner Throttler.  Joshin, Kidsland and Bic Camera Exclusive.­­

Dairycon have announced the first Exclusive for the 2012 Show -  Neoknight - aka G.B. Blackrock.  Blackrock as one of the human allies of the Autobots from the original US Marvel comics and founder of the Neoknights superhero team who played a role in the final issues of the Marvel run.

Dairycon 2012 will be held over April 27-28th, 2012 at the historic Ramada Plaza's Crystal Ballroom in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. Registration is open now, head on over to the Dairycon homepage to pre-register yourself today

Maz, who runs TF-1.com, has just published a new article on the Ceji Joustra Diaclone line.  The article, which is over 10,000 words and contains over 100 images, is the result of his 14 worth of research.

Rather than try to describe this article to you, I thought it would be best to let Maz himself elaborate on the piece.

"For the last month or so I've been putting together the biggest, most comprehensive and ambitious article I have ever written, numbering over 10,000 words and containing over 110 photos. It is the fruit of nearly 14 years of collecting and the incredible contributions of many generous, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and unique collectors throughout the world.

This one feels like my life's work, but I cannot take sole responsibility for it by any stretch as the credits will show just how much input others have had in shaping what I hope will be for the forseeable future, the definitive article on the conception, history, evolution and fate of the Ceji Joustra Diaclone toy line from Europe.

Ceji Joustra Diaclone Overview

• Diaclone roots and inception
• Joustra Diaclone comic cover scans
• Pictures of all Joustra Diaclone toys found to date including never before seen world first Wave 2 pictures!
• Magazine and print adverts for Joustra Diaclones
• Dealer Catalogue scans from 1984 and 1985
• Theories on unanswered questions and mysteries around the toy line since day 1
• Eventual fate of the Joustra Diaclone line and what happened to the toys
• Paul Vromen's incredible sidebar artwork for this article

As if that wasn't enough, it is absolutely a wonderful pleasure to introduce a brand new website dedicated entirely to the Ceji Joustra Diaclone toy line created by RpChristophe, a French collector, researcher, enthusiast and someone I consider a great friend:

JOUSTRA DIACLONE

• Full scans of all Joustra Diaclone comics found to date
• Exploded packaging images for all Joustra Diaclone toys found to date
• Bio of the Joustra Diaclone wave 1 artists Paul & Gaetan Brizzi
• Available in French and English

• New packaged and loose images

• Info and pics updated to reflect discoveries made by Mijo at 20thcenturytoycollector.com

• New photos of packaged and loose Mexican Prowl
• Updated copyright stamping variant information
• Paul Vromen's Prowl artwork added to sidebar

• New variant of Mexican Smokescreen "Smokestreak" found

Massive thanks to all involved, especially Christophe, Mijo, JB, Paul and all article contributors. It's been an unforgettable joy to work with you all, and get to know you all.

A teaser trailer for Transformers: Prime - Season 2 has now aired. You can view the trailer below.

The Hub have released the following preview video for Transformers Rescue Bots

­­­