Transformers News: Category - "Transformers Interviews and Articles"
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Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Saturday, 7th May 2011 at 12:02:48 BST
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Its the evening here within the UK, so I thought I would bring you some non-news news to end see you through the next few minutes. Why non-news news? Read on to find out.
Hasbro's web admin staff in charge of their documentation section have continue with their strange trends when it comes to maintaining the instruction sheets that are available online. Having recently added Transformers Dark of the Moon Megatron and then removed the instructions and then also adding and quickly removing several other Dark of the Moon instruction PDFs now they have seemingly gone back in time as on the 29th April at around half 4 in the afternoon (BST), they added a new instruction sheet entry complete with PDF file. Who was this for? Well Leader Class Starscream .... again. Yes the 94192 leader class figure who's instructions have already been made available by Hasbro for sometime, received another copy of the PDF file. Did they mean to upload this rather than a Leader Class Dark Of The Moon Starscream instruction sheet? In my opinion ... yes. There is no indication that the listing was suppose to be for a DOTM release, just that Hasbro's admin staff are not checking what they have already uploaded.
Don't worry, the admin here at Transformers At The Moon are on the case and we will continue our Instruction Sheet vigil to bring you the very latest additions to the Hasbro instruction sheet archive from actual new toys and documents, to re-submissions by over zealous office staff both here on the news page as well as within our dedicated Hasbro Instruction Sheet archive section. That section contains 854 instruction sheet entries that have appeared on Hasbro's documents section, with copies of 815 PDF instructions. Sadly we missed some when the vigil was broken and those instructions have remained removed.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Sunday, 1st May 2011 at 22:22:26 BST
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Having recently posted the instructions for Transformers Dark Of The Moon Megatron on their website, Hasbro have since posted more instruction listings for more Dark of the Moon figures only they have not yet added the instruction sheets themselves and have actually removed most of the Dark of the Moon related instructions sheets, including Megatron. Of the 32 recent added instructions, only the instruction sheets for Transformers Dark of the Moon MechTech Bumblebee remain available.
Below is a full list of the most recent additions to Hasbro's instruction sheet document section, with a link to our own mirror of the Dark Of The Moon Bumblebee figure in case that also get pulled
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Commander Class BLACKOUT
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Commander Class IRONHIDE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Commander Class MEGATRON
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Commander Class OPTIMUS PRIME
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Commander Class POWERGLIDE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Commander Class SENTINEL PRIME
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class AUTOBOT RATCHET
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class AUTOBOT SKIDS
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class AUTOBOT TOPSPIN
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class BARRICADE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class BUMBLEBEE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class CRANKCASE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class CROWBAR
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class LEADFOOT
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class MUDFLAP
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON CYBERVERSE Legion Class SIDESWIPE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class AUTOBOT RATCHET
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class AUTOBOT SKIDS
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class AUTOBOT TOPSPIN
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class BARRICADE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class BUMBLEBEE Instructions
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class CRANKCASE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class ROADBUSTER
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class SIDESWIPE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Deluxe Class STARSCREAM
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Leader Class BUMBLEBEE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Leader Class SENTINEL PRIME
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Voyager Class IRONHIDE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Voyager Class MEGATRON
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Voyager Class OPTIMUS PRIME
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Voyager Class SHOCKWAVE
- TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MECHTECH Voyager Class SKYHAMMER
We will let you know when they instructions become available to view, along with keeping you up-to-date with the latest additions.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Wednesday, 27th April 2011 at 10:32:08 BST
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Japanese publisher Million Hero have updated their website with some more small images and information on their upcoming book Transformers Generations 2011. The update includes an small preview image of the Transformers Unite for the Universe comic that comes in the book and is written by Simon Furman and drawn and coloured by Guido Guidi.
There is also a small preview of the contents and confirmation that the book will cover the later part of the Transformers Animated releases, Transformers United, Transformers Revenge as well as some information on the first waves of Transformers Dark Side Of The Moon.
The book also covers a new "Who's Who" for the "Transformers Hall of Fame", a look at some Generation one catalogues and Kabaya figures
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Tuesday, 26th April 2011 at 15:13:14 BST
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I have updated the In The Media section of the website with a collection of new Japanese hobby magazine scans. Today's updates are:
We currently have over 250 issues of various Japanese hobby magazines scanned into the website and have many others that we are currently archiving, making Transformers At The Moon one of, if not the, largest resource for Japanese hobby magazine scans in the world.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Monday, 25th April 2011 at 13:59:53 BST
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Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Sunday, 24th April 2011 at 14:59:14 BST
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On Wednesday, Jim Sorenson updated his blog, Disciples of Boltax, with another updated from the Ron Friedman auctions this time focusing on the ancillary materials that came with one of the main folders. "There were two cool folded-up posters, which I've done a quick job
digitally putting back together, and a series of pages detailing why you
should do business with Hasbro on this soon-to-be-huge franchise, as
well as a list of existing licensees." explains Jim.
Visit Jim's blog to view the post and MegaUpload to download the PDF file.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Saturday, 22nd January 2011 at 16:25:09 GMT
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You may remember that on the 22nd December we reported that Jim Sorenson had posted extended G1 profiles for Swerve, Hupcap, Roadbuster and the Deluxe Insecticons over on his blog Disciples of Boltax. In that post Jim made mention to the fact that he had lost the profile for Roadbuster's partner Whirl, well I got in touch with Jim as I though I might well have it with some other behind-the-scenes papers I have around. Well since then I have sorted through my notes and I do indeed have the extended profile along with the smaller tech-spec version, both from documents dated 3rd December 1984. So without further-a-do, I would like to present to you Whirl's full profile
5993 Deluxe Helicopter - 1985 - 12/03/84
Autobot Helicopter
Code Name: Whirl
Function: Aerial Assault
Profile:
Whirl is one Autobot who really loves his job. As a helicopter, he doesn't just fly, he careens across the sky in what appears to be a wild, joyful dance. But the crazy patterns he spins and weaves in flight only disguise the method to his madness. He calculates that an enemy would be far more terrified by someone who appears to be insane than by a purely rational opponent. Indeed, he is right. One single, lunatic dive of Whirl's will often send Decepticons scurrying for cover even before he starts firing at them. "An attack of insanity can be just as effective as an attack by a proton bomb," says Whirl.
Abilities:
As a helicopter, Whirl can fly at a speed of 400 mph. He has a range of 16000 miles. His manoeuvrability is amazing -- he can fly at virtually any angle except upside down, and even that he can achieve while doing loops. He packs four incendiary-shell cannons and a high-energy photon beam rifle. He has enormous strength in robot mode and carries a hand-mounted null-ray module that shields him from any energy beam directed at him, and a leg-mounted paralyzo-box that injects a powerful, disabling fluid when bought into contact with other robotic life.
Weaknesses:
Being reckless, Whirl is prone to disabling himself by damaging his rotor blades.
Here is the tech spec profile that I also have, which is the same as the one used on the box.
Tech Spec:
AUTOBOT WHIRL
AERIAL ASSAULT
Loves his job ... careens across sky spinning and weaving wild, crazy patterns. Believes enemies are more terrified of him if he acts insane during an attack. Flies at 400 mph, range 1600 miles. Amazing manoeuvrability ... can fly at almost any angle. Carries 4 incendiary-shell cannons, hi-energy photo beam rifle. Great strength as robot... has null-ray module on hand, paralyzo-box on leg. Reckless... prone to rotor blade damage,
If used logically, madness makes a great weapon.
Str: 8 Int: 8 Spd: 8 End: 8 Rnk: 6 Crg: 9 Frp: 8 Skl: 8
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Sunday, 9th January 2011 at 13:58:56 GMT
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In a follow-up to the news we bought you yesterday afternoon regarding Hyper Hobby Feb 2011 containing an article and images of a newly unearthed Generation One Prototype of Rodimus Convoy that TakaraTomy recently found in a warehouse, we can now bring you some low resolution images thanks to Masabon from TFW2005.com. The figure is actually a hardcopy and is significantly taller than the released version. According to the text this was the original Rodimus toy that was designed by Takara but the toy was nixed by Hasbro in favour of a smaller, cheaper version that was eventually released.


We will keep our eyes out for higher resolution scans, and if we find them we will let you know.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Wednesday, 29th December 2010 at 09:56:39 GMT
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I have updated the website with image galleries of the latest issues of both
TV Boy and
Figure King. Both issues contain pages dedicated to Transformers United as well as Masterpiece Rodimus including another interview with the designer (in Figure King)
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Tuesday, 28th December 2010 at 19:19:54 GMT
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Snakas has posted his round-up of the contents of the Feb issue of Hyper Hobby Magazine and as part of it has announced a very interesting turn of events that took place at the TakaraTomy offices this year. As part of an interview regarding Masterpiece Rodimus, the content of which is very similar to other magazines, Snakas reveals that two photographs are shown of prototypes of the 1985 Rodimus figure that Takara Tomy only recently found in an warehouse. The article then goes on to talk about that design, the concept and decide of the Masterpiece figure and what had to change during the design process. Snakas does not go into a great deal of detail but instead urges people to go out and buy the magazine. We will keep an eye on out for scans of the article as it sounds like it will be very interesting.
In other content Transformers United is the main theme that the magazine focusing on, covering the normal releases as well as the e-Hobby exclusives though there are general images and articles on both Masterpiece Rodimus and the re-issue of Masterpiece Megatron.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Tuesday, 28th December 2010 at 16:56:48 GMT
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TFW2005.com have posted a translation of the interview that was published in Figure King with TakaraTomy's Hironori Kobayashi. The interview is regarding his work on the Masterpiece Rodimus figure. You can view it
here.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Monday, 27th December 2010 at 09:51:55 GMT
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S250 has posted some images, some from bxjg.abang.com, from the Transformers Generation 2010 book. The images mainly focus on the pages dedicated to Masterpiece Rodimus, but also include two scans of Transformers Heroes (concept that lead to Transformers Animated) as well as a scan of the Transformers United figures.
You can view his mirrored images here at TFW2005.com
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Tuesday, 23rd November 2010 at 21:19:37 GMT
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As part of our continual and leading coverage of the Ron Friedman auctions I thought I would bring you details on the final prices of each of the lots along with a quick round-up of who some of the winners are.
First up the winners. Jim Sorenson and co won 6 auctions that will be scanned and made available on both The Allspark and TFWiki. They raised a total of $1608 some of which will go to charity. The auctions they won were Lot 93265, 93266, 93267, 93268, 93276 and 93279. These auctions include scripts for Season 1 of Transformers, several scripts from season 2 of Transformers, the Habro briefing document (that I personally will be very interested in seeing) and the final draft script for Transformers: The Movie. Other winners include Monzo, Kjeevah and G1son sho all one "yet-to-be-confirmed" items.
Here is the breakdown of every auction that ended, along with the final price including the "Buyers Premium".
Lot 93264 - Transformers Animated Series Script Collection - $334.60
Lot 93265 - Transformers Miniseries and Episodes #1-6 Script Collection - $507.88
Lot 93266 - Transformers TV Series Episodes #10-16 Script Collection - $262.90
Lot 93267 - Transformers Sunbow/Hasbro Briefing Book in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Related Photographs, Designs, and Model Sheets Group - $836.50
Lot 93268 - Transformers TV Scripts in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder - $215.10
Lot 93269 - Transformers TV Scripts in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Ultra Magnus Toy Prototype Snapshot Photo Group - $262.90
Lot 93270 - Transformers TV Series Audition Dialogue and Character Notes - $1015.75
Lot 93271 - Transformers: The Movie Revised Script Treatment (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1984) - $1314.50
Lot 93272 - Transformers Character Guide Sheet Group - $1195
Lot 93273 - Transformers Character Sketch Photocopy Group - $836.50
Lot 93274 - Transformers TV Series Poster - $657.25 (This item normally sells for just $40)
Lot 93275 - Transformers First Season Script Group - $262.90
Lot 93276 - Transformers TV Scripts in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Related Material Group - $262.90
Lot 93277 - Transformers Fact Book in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Related Promotional Material Group - $687.13
Lot 93278 - Transformers: The Movie Final Draft Screenplay with Outline - $597.50
Lot 93279 - Transformers: The Movie Revised Final Draft Script - $448.13
Lot 93280 - Transformers: the Movie Script Group - $2005.21
Lot 93281 - Transformers Series Bible - $836.50
Lot 93282 - Transformers: the Movie "Arcee" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $507.88
Lot 93283 - Transformers: the Movie "Galvatron" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $507.88
Lot 93284 - Transformers: the Movie "Sweep" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $448.13
Lot 93285 - Transformers: the Movie "Decepticon" Plane Painted Cel Model Sheet Group (Cyclonus) - $478
Lot 93286 - Transformers: the Movie "Blurr" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $334.60
Lot 93287 - Transformers: the Movie Wheelie Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $262.90
Lot 93288 - Transformers: the Movie "Old Kup" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $227.05
So that is a total of a whopping $15,305.59!
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Saturday, 20th November 2010 at 12:21:20 GMT
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With approximately 30 minutes remaining I thought I would bring you an update on the current prices that the Ron
Friedman (one of the head writers for the first two seasons of
Transformers Generation One and Transformers: The Movie) auctions over on Heritage Auctions.com are standing at. Jim Sorenson is leading a consortium of bidders to try to buy the entire set and it looks like if they do they will be paying a fair amount of money. Currently the total bids stand at $6170 with individual auctions ranging from $55 to $850.
You can view a high-resolution mirror of all of the images here but here is a break down of the prices
Auction #1- $100
Season 1 Original Scripts for "Heavy Metal War" and "Plague of Insecticons".
Season 2 Original Scripts for, "City of Steel", "Changing Gears",
"Traitor", "Attack of the Autobots", "The Immoblizer", "The Autobot
Run", and "Atlantis Arise".
Auction #2 - $160
Photocopied scripts
for the original "More Than Meets the Eye" mini-series as well as revised drafts of the first 6 episodes immediately
following.
Auction #3 - $55
A ring binder that includes photocopies of the scripts for
episodes #10-16.
Auction #4 - $220
A binder with photographs, designs, and model sheets. This
includes several lists of characters that changed name between the
design and the final drafts.
Auction #5 - $75
Scripts for "Day of
the Machines," "Enter the Nightbird," "A Prime Problem," "The Core,"
"The Insecticon Syndrome," "Dinosaur Island, Part 1 and 2, "The Master
Builders," "Auto Beserk," and "Megatron's Master Plan Part 1."
Auction #6 - $110
A binder including images of prototype Ultra Magnus as well as scripts for "Fire in the Sky," "S.O.S. -- Dinobots," "Fire
in the Mountain," "War of the Dinobots," "The Ultimate Doom Parts 1-3,"
"Countdown to Extinction," "Heavy Metal War," and "Plague of
Insecticons".
Auction #7 - $850
More character design sheets, notes and bios, as well as audition dialogue for the Season 2 characters.
Auction #8 - $475
A 53-page revised story treatment for the 1985 feature film
Auction #9 - $400
Two sets of photocopied character guide pages compiled for the first
season of Transformers, including thirty-eight 8" x 14" color guides,
and another set of eighty-nine 8.5" x 11" black and white pages.
Auction #10 - $500
A set of four large black and white photocopies of Transformers characters including Wreck-Gar
Auction #11 - $325
Transformers: The Movie poster that hung in Ron Friedman's office
Auction #12 - $80
Photocopied scripts for "Transport to Oblivion", "Roll With It", and
"Divide and Conquer" with hand-written changes, from writers Dick
Robbins and Bryce Malek, Douglas Booth, and Don Glut, with revisions
from Ron Friedman.
Auction #13 - $80
Photocopied scripts "Blaster Blues", "A Decepticon Raider in King
Arthur's Court", "The God Gambit", "Make Tracks", and "Microbots."
Auction #14 - $70
A binder that includes various Transformers Facts including
Hasbro notes, toy photographs, a copy of Transformers#3 (guest starring
Spider-Man), scripts for "Desertion of
the Dino Bots, Parts 1 and 2," and "Megatron's Master Plan Part 2."
Auction #15 - $375
This is the final draft for Transformers: The Movie. It included a 179-page revised draft and 17 page character notes
Auction #16 - $200
Transformers: The Movie Revised Final Draft Script (Sunbow
Productions, Inc., 1985).
Auction #17 - $180
Transformers: the Movie Script Group (Sunbow Productions, Inc.,
1984-85). This was Ron Friedman's original unproduced first draft script dated
November 12, 1984 (132 pages), plus two sets of revisions including the
complete revised script dated February 13, 1983 (184 pages).
Auction #18 - $700
The G1 Series Bible. This contains character design pages and information on all of the original character from the show.
Auction #19 - $180
Coloured character sheets for Arcee in robot and vehicle mode.
Auction #20 - $375
Coloured character sheets for Galvatron in robot and vehicle mode.
Auction #21 - $130
Hand coloured character sheets for Scourge in robot and vehicle mode.
Auction #22 - $220
Hand coloured character sheets for Cyclonus in both robot and vehicle mode.
Auction #23 - $80
Hand coloured character sheets for Blurr in robot and vehicle mode.
Auction #24 - $90
Hand coloured character sheets for Wheelie in robot and vehicle mode.
Auction #24 - 140
Hand coloured character sheets for Kup in robot and vehicle mode.
Category: Transformers Interviews and Articles
| Submitted by: quartz -
on: Friday, 19th November 2010 at 21:32:19 GMT
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