Is the Transformers Animated toyline being cancelled?
While no official word has come from Hasbro about the future of Animated, whether it be the cartoon or the toyline, there is a growing mountain of evidence to conclude that indeed, the toyline may be nearing its end, nearly half a year earlier than expected.
It started a month ago with our own report that season 3 would be the FINAL season of Transformers Animated. Soon after, details leaked from the animation studio that season 3 would indeed be the final season, with character deaths and future storylines being editted out of the storyboards.
For Animated fans, Toy Fair 2009 was a whopping disappointment, with only two new Animated figures for 2009 being shown via stock images (no actual toys on-hand at the convention).
Two days ago, one of our sponsors, BigBadToyStore.com, announced that Hydrodive Bumblebee and Golfire Grimlock were cancelled by Hasbro. Other board members quickly noticed that TransformersClub.com, the official collector website for Transformers fans, had removed a number of listings for Transformers Animated, as well as having late 2009 shipping dates for a number of Animated products that should be available now, some as late as December 24th, 2009.
Yesterday, reports came in that some Target and WalMart stores have Transformers Animated listed as “cancelled”, and will be receiving no further shipments other than what is already in-stock or shipping now from their warehouses. After speaking with a Hasbro vendor, he stated that Transformers Animated has an end date of May 29th, 2009 … which would be the same release day as Transformers Revenge of the Fallen movie toys. He also stated that big retailers often put product as non-replenishable for a number of reasons weekly, and that it could be anything from changing a mod-set to too much stock being on-hand to justify re-order.
Hasbro has yet to respond to our request for comment on this information.
Stay tuned … and feel free to join the discussion on this hot topic.
OmegaScourge
haven't bought a TF toy since Energon….but i am sad to see the best TF cartoon in a while go away…but so long they dont go back to the awful Armada/Energon/Cybertron art and gimmick, the next one might be not so bad.
MetaKathro
well that sounds resonable
Hollywood Hoist
You make a well phrased argument, it's intelligently written and has many good points. Hopefully Hasbro will see your post and completely change their view on Animated and continue the line.
Thank you for your contribution. It's as if you were channeling William Shakespear when you wrote your post. it's good to see that the poetic nature of the English language isn't loss. By the way are you a lawyer cause it seems one with such an eloquent way of speaking and clearly a master of debate would inevitably be an attorney. Kudos to you good sir and may your opinion continue to fly… straight out of your ass.
Laser_Optimus
As much as I hate Bay… yeah, can't really argue the point.
On a side note… it's nice to see that the Voyagers and Deluxes will be sticking around long enough for the last few known waves to dribble out (must have Rodimus, Arcee & Blackout!). I can also understand the Leaders being NCF… I mean, we've already recieved the three new molds and two repaints we were going to get from the line (unless it went on longer, but that doen't look at all likely now)… so no real surprise.
wildfly
Ah! So now it has further to fall! J'accuse Monsieur Bay!
SPLIT LIP
Yes, FUCK MICHAEL BAY for making a movie that made so much money and sold so many toys it gave Hasbro enough money to even continue Transformers Animated and just keeping Transformers in general alive. FUCK him for making Transformers so damn successful! You heartless bastard, Bay! How could you?
I think he was being sarcastic.
Jetcols
Michael Bay has brought Transformers back to the world and allowed the franchise to reach heights its never reached before.
Unfall
You forgot to say F***YOU MICHAEL BAY!!! (who is in fact the reason its getting the shaft)
SPLIT LIP
How is it a bad decision? Animated, as much as we love it, isn't as profitable as the movie. In these times more than others, it's actually best to put all your eggs, or at least most of your eggs, in your best basket. Better than putting them in the smaller, less maintined basket that's bound to break and smash ALL your eggs. Plus, it's partly if not mostly retailers faults because they don't want the poorly selling Animated, only the highly profitable movie figures.
Good to see that new stuff we know is coming out can still come out.
ORIO
Well thats comforting. Hopefully get to see the Cliffjumper activator soon then.
ams
Your posts seem to be quite thoughtful and rational. You must be new.
On topic, it definitely makes sense for at least the middle price range TFA items to continue to be available. There are a few new things coming, Activators are pretty well-liked, and $10-$20 items are still good "impulse buys" for parents/kids. Plus, it's different from the movie stuff, and variety rules in retail.
Scourge_151
Seems sensible to me.
wildfly
ROTF will be on in multiple cinemas in multiple cities in multiple countries the world over. Hasbro can circumvent television stations and reach potential customers that they otherwise wouldn't. I'll miss the Animated cartoon too, but i very much doubt they're huffing paint, are making bad decisions, or are not in their right minds.
Fort Max
Well that makes sense, we already knew there wasn't going to be any more animated leader toys.
MetaKathro
F**k. what is hasbro huffing paint up there? who in there right mind would make all these bad decisions?
Pimpimus Prime
Yeah, it would make more sense to stock Movie Leaders as the Animated ones haven't been selling too well.. at least around here.
Ace Convoy
I feel sad
MY 400TH POST!!!!!!!!
yet I'm still sad
Dom
Apology accepted as its good news. If this had been confirmation the line was over we would have strung you up
wildfly
I suspect, (but can't prove) that Leader class movie toys sell relatively well compared to Leader class Animated toys not just because the movie franchise is bigger, but also (perhaps) because the movie line tends to attract an older buyer with more purchasing power.
Tim Formas
My local Targets have the Leader-class marked as NCF as well.
For the next little while, looks like its Deluxe, Voyager, and Activators for Animated.