In an move that we all saw coming, it has been announced that MP-12 Lambor (Sideswipe) will indeed be recoloured as MP-12A Red Alert.  The figure should sport the sirens which he will need making him a partial remould.  The question, however, is what colour head will they give him?

Takara Tomy have updated their website with images of this years Tokyo Toy Show exclusives.  The event, which is being held June 16-17 in Tokyo Japan features two exclusive Transformers a crystal (clear coloured) version of Transformers Prime Optimus Prime and a Black Henkei Convoy called Nemesis Prime. Both figures are limited to two per attendee with the toys priced at ¥5,000 each.

Hasbro have now published several official images of the toys for the upcoming video game Transformers Fall of Cybertron.  The toys are Fireflight, Kickback, Ultra Magnus, Sideswipe and Starscream and can be seen below.

The Autobots

The Deceptions

Good new for fans of Transformers Prime, TakaraTomy have now released official images of their upcoming Arms Micron Bulkhead (AM10) and Arcee (AM11) figures.  You can view the images below.

The Allspark and ToyWizard are both reporting that Malaysian retailers are starting to list two new TakaraTomy figure, Transformers Encore 23 Sixshot and Transformers Masterpiece 11S Sunstorm.

Sunstorm is rumoured to be a recolour of Transformers Masterpiece 11 Starscream (the new mold) and for some reason Toywiz are speculating that Sixshot may be the Figure King Lucky Draw Black Sixshot.

Allspark link

ToyWizard Sunstorm

ToyWizard Sixshot

Kapow Toys have posted new images of some upcoming TakaraTomy Transformers: Prime Micron Arms figure.  The series features new toys with Minicon/Micron partners that turn into weapons.  The main new figure that is shown is a recolour of Transformers Prime Starscream toy as Skywarp! This figure is, currently, a Japanese exclusive item.  You can view the order page here.

TakaraTomy have updated their website with new official images of their upcoming Transformers United figues:

• UN-28 Axalon - Repaint of Transformers Car Robots GelShark / Transformers Car Robots Skybyte
• UN-29 Ark Unicron
• UN-30 Optimus Primal
• UN-31 Beast Megatron

The World Hobby Fair 2012 recently took place in Japan which showed of some upcoming Transformers Prime figures as well as some new campaign Microns. The Optimus Prime figure that was shown appears to be a slightly recoloured version of the First Edition toy and is showned "powered-up" with the new Microns. which can be held by the figure or attached to points on his body.  The first Micron to be named is Firebolt "Clear Version", who is a re-release of Pinpointer from the Power Core Combiners line, and was given away at the event.  You can view the images from the show below.

FullMetalHero.com have posted an image gallery and short review of the TakaraTomy release of Transformers Prime Vehicon.  The figure, which is painted as oppose to being plain plastic like the Hasbro release, is out now in Japan.

Lets kick off 2012 with in-hand images of the Transformers Alternity Goldbug toy from Takara-Tomy, thanks to Autobase Aichi and Snakas.  The figure is a recoloured version of Transformers Alternity Bumblebee and Cliffjumper using metallic gold paint and with a dark blue head based on the G1 Throttlebot character / toy.

TFW2005.com board members SydneyY and Masabon have posted a translation of an interview with TakaraTomy team producer Noriaki Maeda which was recently published within Figure King magazine.

The interview consists of five questions:

1. Firstly, looking back upon this year's Transformers series, what are your thoughts?
2. What were the popular items in 2011, or the product sold unexpectedly well?
3. What were the reactions to the MechTech weapon giveaways and MechTech campaigns?
4. Why did you resume "United" series at this point?

The intervie­w explain why Arcee was released in a blue colour scheme as part of Darkside Moon in Japan, which was basically as a teaser for her appearance in Transformers: Prime to prepare the Japanese audience in advance.  Being a motorcycle Transformer, she proved popular with Japanese children which was a bit of a surprise to the TakaraTomy staff

Recently we reported a news story regarding allegations regarding factory conditions at a factory in China called Jet Fair that Hasbro used to produce many of their products including Transformers. Well Hasbro issued a press release on the 22nd of December regarding the factory, a copy of which you can view below.

Hasbro Inc. Statement Regarding NGO Allegations on Factory Conditions

Immediately following some unsubstantiated allegations posted by an outside group regarding working conditions at the Jet Fair factory, Hasbro, together with ICTI, deployed a team to investigate, as we take such claims very seriously. Following an unannounced, nine-hour inspection of the facility this past week, we are satisfied that Jet Fair meets with Hasbro's rigorous requirements.

While Hasbro is committed to continual improvement in all facets of corporate social responsibility, including continued ethical product manufacturing at Jet Fair and all factories that produce Hasbro products, the inflammatory allegations made by the NGO in their report were unsubstantiated by our investigation. As a matter of course, Hasbro will continue to monitor conditions at Jet Fair and all of our factories.

The Company has a strong track record and has had long-standing policies and processes in place for years to help ensure good working conditions, including health and safety, at factories making our products. We strive to conduct business throughout our supply chain in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and we utilize not only ICTI-- but also our own on-the-ground workforce-- to monitor social compliance.

For more information about Hasbro's comprehensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, including more detail regarding Hasbro's policies and practices related to ethical product manufacturing, please visit Hasbro.com/csr.

You can vierw the original press release at http://csr.hasbro.com/new01-news.php.

Other investigations have been made into the author of the report which bring into question his track record. As well known and respected Transformers related researcher Nevermore points out the writer of the report was already found just last week to have written a similar report about another Chinese factory where he had made some unsubstantiated claims as well. http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/22/kardashian-family-sweatshop-claims-not-true/, http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/21/kim-kardashian-factory-china-slave-labor-tmz-live/#.Tvnnppd6hIG. Whilst there may still be truth to the original report, these latest twist do back up Hasbro's stance.

Our thanks go out to Nevermore for the update on the story.­

­TakaraTomy have published a video on their YouTube channel with a video featuring their designers Hironori Kobayashi, Hisashi Yuki and Hisao Nishimoto discussing the Transformers figures Striker Optimus Prime, Leader Sentinel Prime as well as the Cyberverse series. The video can be viewed below and contains subtitles in English for non-Japanese speaker.

HK-TF member lowbcousin has posted some images of the TakaraTomy CH-01 Chronicle Optimus Prime two-pack.  The set consists of a recoloured Transformers Dark of the Moon Deluxe Optimus Prime, with a recoloured MechTech weapon along with a reissue of Generation One Optimus Prime.

TakaraTomy and Uniqlo have released an image of their UT Megatron T-shirt which will be available at their Harajuku store in Tokyo Japan.  The official TakaraTomy page also includes an image of an uncoloured, or possibly recoloured, Optimus Prime that you can see the image below.