Livejournal user torikai has posted on details of the Japanese voice cast over on the Transformers Animated LJ community.

Optimus Prime will be voiced by Hiroki Takahashi (Beast Wars II Starscream/Hellscream, Mantis, Autolauncher and Car Robots Guildo and Build Hurricane.
Bumblebee will be voiced by Daisuke Kishio (Chad in Super Link [Kicker to Western viewers]
Sari will be voiced by Satomi Akesaka
Megatron will be voiced by Norio Wakamoto (Flame Convoy in Galaxy Force)

It's also worth noting that JAM Project will be performing the opening themesong.­

Actor Jeffery Combs has announced on his website that he will be voicing Ratchet in the next Transformers cartoon series Transformers: Prime.  According to Jeffery, the series will consist of 26 episodes and will air on the new Hasbro-Discovery channel The Hub in the Autumn.

TRANSFORMERS: PRIME

Debuting later this fall Hasbro in conjunction with Discovery Communications Inc will release a new Transformers cartoon on a new TV channel currently called Discovery Kids called Transformers: Prime.

Jeffrey Combs will be the voice of Ratchet, a very well known character in the Transformers world. There are 26 episodes scheduled for the first season. Exact details of the show are currently unavailable but will be posted here as soon as they are made available.

Jeffrey is quite thrilled with the opportunity to be cast in the role of Ratchet. He's not able to talk too much about the show this early in the production but did have this quote: "What I can say is that it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a prestigious project."

- Fall 2010 will bring the launch of the new packaging look.
- NEST National Redemption Program will run in the Spring with a Hunt for the Decepticons Promotion in the fall.
- 3 TV commercials focusing on A) Core B) Combiners C) Battle Ops Bumblebee
- New Hasbro network programming will begin
- Video game from Activision War on Cybertron
- 6 New Webisodes plus flash comics
- Core Play: 10 assortments, 4 of which are new - focus is on boys 5-9 and collectors using popular movie characters
- Young Kid Action: 2 assortments, 1 of which is new
- Role Play: 3 assortments, all 3 are new
- Deluxe Movie Figures: Melee Bumblebee, Ironhide, Ratchet and Sideswipe
- Deluxe Generation Figures from Activison 2010 game: Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Megatron and Soundwave plus Autobot Drift
- Voyager Figures: Ratchet, Optimus Prime and Sea Spray
- Leader Class: Starscream with light up eyes and chest
- Battle Ops Bumblebee: Guardian duty and battle mode - lights, sounds and speech
- Power Core Combiners: Scout Robot, Mini-Con and Scout Vehicles interact
- Power Core Combiner 5-Pack combined in robot mode
- Activators: Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream and Ironhide
- Role Play Masks: Bumblebee and Optimus Prime
- Role Play Weapon: Optimus Prime's Energon Sword with lights balttle and conversion sounds and phrases from Prime
- Role Play Costume: Characters like Optimus Prime in small and medium for kids

Update:It appears the TFW2005 didn't want to share this information with the public as the thread that it was originally published in has since been removed.  But do not fear, this news article will remain

Since its been a quiet few days I thought it was a good chance to bring you a round-up of this months Transformers related trademark applications made by Hasbro Inc.

We collate the information each day from the USPTO for thousands of applications made by Hasbro to ensure that the information is as up-to-date as has been legally published.  We now have 428 trademark applications within our database, with over 6,000 historic status records of those trademarks.

1. ELITA-1 - Update December 7th, 2009 - This trademark has been extended for the fourth time.
   
2. WARPATH - December 7th, 2009 - The Warpath application is still suspended.  But it has finally been updated to have the suspension checked and have now been sent to an attorney for actioning
3. MIXMASTERS - December 7th, 2009.  The Mixmasters trademark is now in the same state as Warpath.  That is the suspension on the trademark is now with an attorney.
   
4. SIDESWIPE - December 4th, 2009 - This mark has still not been registered, however Hasbro have filed an extension as they try to push it through.
   
5. TRANSFORMERS - December 3rd, 2009. This mark, which is specifically within the category of "entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of movies and on-going animated television series" has been granted an extension, and should come through next year
   
6. SPARKPLUG - December 2nd, 2009 - Hasbro recently filed a request to extend this mark.
   
7. REVENGE OF THE FALLEN - December 1st, 2009 - Having rejected the opposition to this mark in October, the USPTO have not requested further documents from Hasbro.  This mark was submitted under the category of "Interactive entertainment software, namely, video game programs, computer game programs, computer game software; computer and video game apparatus, namely, video game machines for use with televisions; sunglasses".  Interesting that Sunglasses come under the same category as video games isn't it.
   

In an interview with Moonbase 2, Michael Bell revealed the first information regarding the next, and as yet unnamed, Transformers cartoon. The information mentioned was:

1. Sue Blue is casting
2. Michael Bell auditioned for Ratchet, as well as a character under the name "General Fowler"
3. David Sobolov (Beast Wars' Depth Charge) also auditions.

Click here to listen into the podcast.

Since its been a slow news day and today is the day that all Freeview boxes within the UK need to be retuned in order to pick up Channel 5 and a few other stations its appropriate the Mr Neurie has sent us an reminder that all Freesat customers, that the free-to-air satellite service within the UK, who like the original Transformers cartoon (Generation One) that it is still airing everyday at 6pm on Kix (channel 606). Sky customers can also pick up the station on Sky Channel 627.

Kix is a channel from the CSC Media group that is aimed at 8-15 year olds.  Their official spiel reads "Kix is the first UK digital channel to be devoted entirely to boys who love action, music and extreme sports. The channel will appeal to all young boys with a desire to be cool.".  Of course 80's retro is still seen as cool, so us older fans have an excuse to watch ... like we need it.

Hasbro have issued the following press release regarding Hasbro Studios which makes mention to new programming being planned for many of their brands including Transfomers right at the end of the release.  Of course it could just be that they wanted to throw in some of their biggest properties into the press release and, therefore, does not mean that its a 100% certainty that Hasbro Studio will be behind the next animated incarnation of the Transformers brand.

Hasbro, Inc. Announces Key Executive Appointments for Hasbro Studios

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS - News) announced today the appointment of key executives at the company’s newly formed Hasbro Studios, which is based in Los Angeles. Industry veteran Stephen J. Davis, President of Hasbro Studios, will lead the “virtual” studio, which will produce shows based on Hasbro’s world class brands, deliver new branded content and produce programs from top third party content creators. Many of these shows will run on the new television network created by the joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA - News, DISCB - News, DISCK - News), that is planned to debut Fall 2010, as well as on multiple channels in international markets.

Davis has named the following individuals to take on key roles as part of the Hasbro Studios management team: Bob Boden currently Senior Vice President, Programming and Production Fox Reality Channel and former SVP of programming for the Game Show Network, will be Head of Reality and Game Show Development and Production. Michael J. Vogel, currently Director, Animated Programming, Sony Pictures Television, will serve as Head of Boys Animation. Brian Charles Lenard, Director, Scripted Development, RDF Media Group, Pangea Management Group and RDF USA, will take on the role of Head of Story Development. Mary Beth Bambridge, Head of Strategic Planning, William Morris Endeavour Entertainment, will be the company’s Head of Finance, and Kevin Healy, Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Hasbro Entertainment and Licensing will serve as Hasbro Studios’ Head of Legal and Business Affairs.

“There are a number of factors that makes heading up Hasbro Studios such an exciting opportunity,” Davis said. “First, great programming requires great content, and we have the unique opportunity to take an amazing portfolio of iconic brands into all new and creative places. Second, I have been given the green light to hire the best in the business, and the appointments we are announcing today demonstrates that Hasbro Studios will have the creative and intellectual firepower necessary to do great things. I am delighted with the team we are putting in place,” Davis concluded.

As previously announced, Hasbro Studios’ productions will feed all platforms, domestically and globally, including television, the Internet and mobile. New programming is planned based on brands such as ROMPER ROOM, TRIVIAL PURSUIT, SCRABBLE, CRANIUM, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, GAME OF LIFE, TONKA and TRANSFORMERS, among many others.

Seibertron.com member Editor reports that the Anime evolution convention that takes place this weekend in Vancouver, BC Canada will have quite a few guests who have worked on Transformers shows. Here is a quick list of who will be attending:

Gary Chalk (Beast Wars/Beast Machines Opimus Primal)
Brian Dobson (Cybertron Clocker/Red Alert)
Brian Drummond (Beast Machines Jetstorm, Transformers Armada, Energon,& Cybertron: Blurr, Shockblast, Jetfire & Jolt)
Gavin Blair supervising animator (Beast Wars)
Paul Dobson Sideways (Armada)

Credit to Seibertron.com