Months ago we reported that TakaraTomy were shifting their toy production factories away from China to Vietnam in order ot save money. Well it looks like they already have shifted some Transformers production as Actoys.net member feng423999 has a video (See below) along with some images of the upcoming Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Leader Class Starscream figure, complete with "made in Vietnam stamp. As we previously commentated, its possible that when production fully shifts away form China, that this will result it less toys being leaked from the factories and appearing for sale, at least for a while.

Craig's List have posted another listing for a casting call in in Chicago by a company named Joan Philo Casting who are looking for "Ukranian or Ukranian-looking people", who know how to handle firearms for a shoot in April.

The listing should be considered a rumour as there have been scams in the past using this type of advertising to request fees to apply. Either way you can see the post here

Amazon.com has updated their "Transformers: Exodus" product page with the following description of the Exodus novel.

"For twenty-five years the colossal battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime has captivated Transformers fans around the world. Yet the full story of the conflict between the two most famous Transformers—everything that happened before Optimus and Megatron arrived on planet Earth—has always been a mystery . . . until now. Here, for the first time told in its entirety, is the thrilling saga of Optimus and Megatron before they were enemies, before they even knew each other.

“Freedom is every Cybertronian’s right!” After Megatron utters these immortal words, the caste-bound planet of Cybertron is rocked to its foundations. Megatron, an undefeated gladiator thug, gives voice to the unspoken longings of the oppressed masses—and opens the mind of an insignificant data clerk to possibilities previously unthinkable.
Long before becoming the honorable Optimus Prime, Orion Pax is a mere office underling, an unlikely candidate to answer an outlaw’s call to revolution. But Orion is determined to meet this defiant enemy of all that Cybertron stands for, no matter what he has to do, or how many laws he has to break.

What happens between Orion Pax and Megatron forever changes the destiny of all Transformers. This gripping, action-packed novel reveals all the loyalties and treacheries, trust and betrayals, deadly violence and shining ideals, as well as the pivotal roles played by other characters, including Starscream, Sentinel Prime, Omega Supreme, and one of the thirteen original Primes, the last link to Cybertron’s glorious Golden Age.

Discover how meek disciple Orion Pax becomes the fearless leader Optimus Prime; follow the tantalizing clues about the lost Matrix of Leadership and the lore surrounding it; find out why the two allies fighting a corrupt regime suddenly turn on each other, and what triggers their epic war. Transformers: Exodus provides everything fans ever wanted to know about one of the fiercest rivalries of all time."

MTV have posted an article entitled 'Transformers 3' Script Complete, Josh Duhamel Says in which they post some quotes from the Transformers actor when the spoke to him at ShoWest in Las Vegas yesterday.Here is a quote:

"I read it yesterday," he said of the script. "I think that after reading it, I was really pleasantly surprised and happy. They did a great job."

While Duhamel was understandably tight-lipped about plot details, he did reveal that the script includes new robots and story elements from foundational "Transformers" story lines. "Some really cool stuff happens," he said. "They put a lot of time and thought into this. What I think is really cool is they went back into the history of 'Transformers.' They didn't really make anything up. They're using stuff that actually existed in the story from before."

KO Toys has in packaging images of the upcoming Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Battle Ops Bumblebee toy.

You can see the images here.

Seibertron.com has received a copy of some emails relating to a wardrobe modelling gig for Transformes 3

Quote:

Our friend’s two e-mails listed the 'casting call' first as an unidentified movie, but then the second seemed to be made more specific, directly stating it was for Transformers 3. His theory for the second e-mail with the ACTUAL movie listing-- not enough folks responded with interest toward the first e-mail--.

Now, unfortunately it seems the parts the actors were to play were simply to model wardrobe and such for the movie for pictures, but it was stated that each actor would be seen by the director, so ‘you’ may have had a chance to parlay this into something more.

The response for this event has closed, and it was supposed to actually be 'performed' on THURSDAY. However, it is good to know that things are moving forward and that we do have a few clues about the human element of the movie: more military men of all ethnicities, 18-35 years old. Another interesting note though is that they listed a separate 'casting call' for military men who are also of Iranian/Middle Eastern descent.

TakaraTomy have updated their website with the Nest Online videos previously available by Hasbro, only this time with Japanese subtitles.

The second episode is available on the 19th of March.

Thanks to Snakas for the spot.

Nelson has updated Michael Bay's blog with the following announcement

"Spoke with Michael today and got some little info on TF3: there will be big action sequences shot in Chicago and Moscow this time around.

Also, Mike will match the amount raised by the TF2 DVD/Blu-ray sales for the Make A Wish Foundation.

Stay tuned"

Titan Magazines have sent us the following release and images for the latest issue of the UK Transformers comic book.

Transformers Comic 2.10 - On Sale 25 February!
Check out the latest issue of Transformers Comic for action-packed features, games, puzzles, competitions and lots more! Issue 2.10 also includes 'Bring me the head of Optimus Prime', a fantastic 8-page comic story written by Robin Etherington and featuring art from Jon Davis-Hunt. Find out more on the story from the synopsis below and check out the sneak peeks attached!

Bring me the Head of Optimus Prime!
Deep in the heart of Montana, in a wild forest region, a private militia force has executed a daring plan – the capture and imprisonment of Optimus Prime.  They are led by Tyler ‘Trophy’ White, a dangerous hunter with a passion for killing, stuffing and mounting rare animals and now obsessed with adding a Cybertronian skull to his macabre collection. Under his orders a small commando group launched an attack upon the Malmstrom Air Force Base, near Montana Falls, in order to acquire an NNEMP (non-nuclear electromagnetic bomb). The attack was made to look like the work of the Decepticons and enough damage was caused to attract the attention of the Autobots and roll his plan into action!­

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­Its that time to bring you the latest NPD toy sales charts for the UK.  This month we can also bring you the charts for the whole of 2009. Overall Hasbro can be very pleased with Transformers, though not as strong as 2007 the line features in all four charts as was also back up to number three in the monthly "toy property chart".

The top five properties within the UK for December 2009 were:

1. Ben 10
2. Star Wars
3. Transformers
4. Thomas and Friends
5. Peppa Pig

UK December 2009 (£ Sales Value)

1. KidiZoom Camara - VTech
2. Go Go Hamster Packs - Character Options
3. First Steps Babywalker - VTech
4. Transformers Movie Deluxe - Hasbro
5. Bop It - Hasbro
6. Monopoly - Hasbro
7. The Logo Game - Drumond Park
8. Monopoly City - Hasbro
9. Star Wars Clone Walker And Droid Assortment - Lego
10. Baby Annabell 2009 White - ZAPF Creation

UK December 2009 (Unit Sales - Volume)

1. Match Attax Cards - Topps
2. Hot Wheels Basic Car Assortment - Mattel
3. Transformers 2 Movie Legends Assortment - Hasbro
4. Ben 10 Alien Force 10cm Figures - Bandai
5. Go Go Hamster Packs Assortment - Character Options
6. Transformers Movie Deluxe Figures - Hasbro
7. Star Wars CLone Walker And Droid Assortment - Lego
8. LP Gets the pets - Hasbro
9. Bionicle 2HY Cans 20009 - Lego
10. Play Doh Single Tub Assortment - Hasbro

UK 2009 Year Sales (£­Value)

1. Kidizoom Camera - VTech
2. First Steps Baby Walker - VTech
3. Ben 10 Alien Force 10 CM Figures - Bandai
4. Star Wars Clone Walker And Droid - Lego
5. Transformers Movie Deluxe Figures - Hasbro
6. Bakugan Starter Pack - Spin Master UK
7. Hot Wheels Basic Car Assortment - Mattel
8. Smart Trike Plus Girls - Mookie Toys
9. Ben 10 Alien Force 15CM DNA Figures - Bandai
10. Ben 10 Ultimate Omnitrix - Bandai

UK 2009 Year Sales (Unit Volume)

1. Hot Wheels Basic Car Assortment - Mattel
2. Match Attax Cards - Topps
3. Ben 10 Alien Force 10cm Figures - Bandai
4. Cars Vehicle Assortment - Mattel
5. Transformers 2 Movie Legends Assortment - Hasbro
6. GoGos III Explorer Pack - Magic Box
7. Bakugan Booster Pack - Spin Master UK
8. LPS Get The Pets - Hasbro
9. Play Doh Single Tub - Hasbro
10. GoGos CB Evolution Booster - Martomagic

­I have uploaded some new Japanese hobby magazine galleries this morning. You can find galleries of both the Feb and March 2010 issues of Dengeki Hobby as well as the March issue of Hyper Hobby Magazine. All some some Transformers figures shown within them. The March issue of Hyber Hobby actually includes their "Top 10 Toys for 2009" lists, of which Transformers has three figures appear in the list for top robot toys. RA01 Optimus Prime at number 5, RA-24 Buster Optimus Prime at number 8 and Disney Label Mickey Mouse at number 10.

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Dengeki Hobby 2010-03
(322 images)

Dengeki Hobby 2010-02
(4 images)

Hyper Hobby 2010-03
(120 images)

In a Tweet Tyrese Gibson has stated that he will return as Sgt Epps in Transformers 3.

"Yes I will for sure be in Transformers 3.. Get Ready!! Epps is here to STAY!! "