We welcome you to another Hasbro Event Coverage. Following the Toy Fair 2017 related Media & Investor Update back in February, Hasbro graciously hosted their annual Media & Investor Day to let us in on their future plans regarding various Hasbro properties. Transformers, being a ‘Franchise Brand’ received the spotlight as any other year.
Brian Goldner; CEO of Hasbro Inc., gave a brief outline of what each brand hopes to achieve in the coming year. Brand Teams then took over the stage to explain what Mr. Goldner told, in a detailed manner.
Additionally, we received our first look at Stretch Armstrong And Flex Fighters animated series as well as Micronauts and Littlest Pet Shop: Unleashed.
Transformers Franchise related highlights:
- Transformers Cinematic Universe – Bumblebee and Transformers 6
- Next Transformers Animated Series – Transformers: Cyberverse, Rescue Bots Academy
- Hasbro’s Initiatives In China
You can check out a detailed report regarding each item, after the jump.
Debbie Hancock was the first to speak, welcoming everybody to the event.
Brian Goldner (CEO and Chairman of the Board)
Brian Goldner stated that they are well on their way on a 20-Year plan (2010 – 2030).
Hasbro’s plan is Content -> Commerce -> Innovation
‘Digital’ will overtake when it comes to ad revenue.
All major Hasbro brands are story-driven.
My Little Pony and Transformers are the leading brands at Hasbro.
Boulder Media to deliver new Transformers Animated content to TV.
Hasbro’s China revenue is up 20% last year thanks to Transformers. Hasbro partnered with China’s JD.COM to promote Transformers: The Last Knight products in China.
Deb Thomas (Chief Financial Officer)
Deb Thomas fondly mentioned Transformers 2007 for helping Hasbro to enter a new era of business from 2010.
Revenue from Entertainment based products have grown from 15% (2004) to 38% (2016).
John Frascotti (President)
Brand Blueprint is Hasbro’s roadmap. Consumer Insights and Storytelling are the foundations of the plan.
Consumer Insights team have been doing some major research. They even research Storytelling formats and platforms.
Global appetite for stories have grown. Therefore storytelling content drives Hasbro nowadays. Brands are story-led. Hasbro will continue to make feature films.
Hasbro owned Boulder Media will deliver Transformers Animated Content cost-effectively in the future.
Content is King!
Hasbro’s 7 Franchise Brands bringing in 50%+ revenue to the company.
- Transformers
- My Little Pony
- Nerf
- Monopoly
- Littlest Pet Shop
- Play-Doh
- Magic The Gathering
Surprise news came as it was mentioned that it was Hasbro who has requested from Paramount to push The Bumblebee Movie release to December 21st, 2018.
Hasbro Franchise Brand Team
Steven Davis, Meghan McCarthy, Samantha Lomow, Josh Feldman, Victor Lee and Finn Arnesen came onto the stage to talk about Hasbro’s Franchise Brands.
Hasbro will deliver at least one Animated Feature Film per year. Transformers, My Little Pony and Stretch Armstrong.
Transformers rose to Franchise status with the Line Action Movie series.
Theatrical Release next year with Transformers Universe: Bumblebee
New Animated Series following Transformers: Robots In Disguise.
Titled as Transformers: Cyberverse (Chapter 1)
From the looks, the series is a redux of Transformers G1 with Chapter 1 (Season 1) releasing in 2018 and Chapter 2 releasing in 2019
Team explained why kids love Bumblebee.
Transformers: Bumblebee is a film for all ages. Travis Knight is bringing in heart into this film.
Youngest TV Audience will get Rescue Bots Academy. 11 Minute for each episode.
Transformers: Cyberverse will focus on characters. The series will be available via TV and Online.
Older audience will receive the continuation of the Machinima series. Titans Return will be the next chapter. Voice talent from the 1986 feature film will return.
Update: When inquired more on the Animated Feature Film during the Q&A session, Hasbro confirmed that the movie is based on the current Movieverse. Hasbro will partner with Paramount Pictures via their own Allspark Pictures.
A question was asked regarding how Franchise Fatigue will affect Transformers. If the answer is “Storytelling”, how is it helpful? Answer: Hasbro only just started to tell the Movieverse stories. There’s quite a lot of stories to tell including more stories happening on other planets.