SDCC may be coming to a close, but we have one last piece of news to share. TFW was able to ask both Hasbro and Kotobukiya some questions on the show floor, encompassing a variety of different subjects.
You can view the Q&A after the jump!
(Massive thank you to Exastiken from TFW, Evan from Hasbro and Kotobukiya for making this happen!)
Hasbro –
Q: Could we see High Moon video game figures in Studio Series?
A: Anything’s possible.
Q: Likewise, could we see Studio Series expand to include things like off-screen movie toyline characters, TV show characters or comic characters?
A: Same – anything’s possible.
Q: Are any generations off limits for Legacy?
A: No, no limits.
Q: So, will we see Animated?
A: Yes! Evan said he saw the rumors about Animated not being available for use, but those rumors are incorrect. They have all rights to all Transformers characters.
Q: Anything on a new Transformers PC/console game (or Activision re-releases)?
A: Can’t comment on new game releases, don’t know anything.
Q: How has Cybertron Metroplex sold so far?
A: Metroplex did well, just don’t have exact numbers at the moment.
Q: Do they intend to continue Titans?
A: Yes, plan is to keep them going.
Q: Any chance of a new Tidal Wave?
A: They hear the fans, they KNOW.
Q: What led to the more open fan interaction via Instagram accounts?
A: Mark pushed for the Instagram initiative.
Q: And are they happy with the experience so far?
A: Yes, really happy with it.
Q: Are they open to redos of Studio Series characters that have already been done?
A: He personally would like redos, but not certain as of right now if it’ll actually happen.
Q: Is Cyberverse a possibility for Legacy?
A: Yes.
Q: Do they have any plans for Cyber Planet keys?
A: May release the keys as a weapons pack.
Q: How about Minicons?
A: Once they move more fully into Armada, Minicons are indeed something they’ll have to think about.
Q: Additional allotments of Velocitron Cosmos?
A: Walmart can run more if they want more. For Pulse, what they had is what they had.
Q: Could we see G1-ified versions of the new Dinobots like Scorn?
A: For a G1 Scorn, would prefer that in Studio Series somehow.
Q: Next Haslab?
A: The next TF Haslab is being worked on, but can’t give any dates/details.
Q: How about Shattered Glass Haslabs, like Unicron or Victory Saber?
A: IF they wanted to move in that direction, they would probably have to test the waters with something like Shattered Glass Titans first (Omega Supreme was mentioned).
Q: A new Cybertron Optimus Prime and Wing Saber?
A: Thinks it’s totally doable to have Wing Saber attach as a backpack to Siege Cybertron Optimus Prime.
Q: More Cybertron Titans?
A: Anything’s possible, but daunting since that’s a lot of Titans. Jokes about Cybertron Titans being the Titans for the next 5 years or so (Starscream, Primus, Quickmix, Menasor, etc).
Q: As you move further into Unicron Trilogy characters, could we see Powerlinx from Armada/Energon incorporated into their new Legacy figures?
A: Evan wants it to happen.
Q: What TF figure would you personally most like to make?
A: Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime.
Q: Possibility of the 13 Primes happening as figures?
A: Mark and Evan talk about doing them all the time, actually. If it happened, The Fallen would be a tank “as expected”.
Q: Could the Takara Armada OP happen as a Haslab?
A: Because it’s an Optimus, it hypothetically would never be a Haslab.
Q: Did the delay of ROTB cause any figures originally planned for 2023 to be shifted to later?
A: None that he can think of.
Q: Are they looking into other ways the Takara Armada OP could be released?
A: He would be mainline for sure if they did him.
Q: Would it be the same one we saw or an all-new one?
A: It’s possible it’d be based on the previous one, or it could be a new one, depends on how things work out.
Q: What weapons pack accessory would you want to happen?
A: Gut gun for Cheetor.
Q: How long will Legacy run for?
A: 3 years. As far as he knows, the current plan is for it to be a trilogy.
Q: Can we expect to keep seeing non-G1 stuff after that?
A: Yes.
Q: You said we’ll see Animated in Legacy, so what is the Animated character you’d most like to do?
A: Ratchet, Optimus, or Lockdown. Says Ratchet “needed to be done better”.
Q: Most wanted Beast Machines character?
A: Vehicons.
Q: If G1 Megatron was to be done in SS86, how would he be handled? Obviously he probably wouldn’t turn into the gun, so a tank?
A: More than likely a tank, yes.
Q: For Earthspark, could we see Voyagers/Leaders in addition to the Deluxes, or could we see Earthspark characters in Generations?
A: It’s possible, but sticking with Deluxe scale for now. Maybe later down the line.
Q: For Legacy Animated stuff, would they be in the original style or more G1-ified like the TFP toys?
A: The latter, however they have heard the stylization feedback about the TFP figures, so they are working on trying to find a better balance regarding G1-ification.
Q: Could we also see more accurate versions of them and the TFP characters in Studio Series though?
A: Entirely possible, they’re talking about expanding Studio Series beyond movies.
Q: What led to them expanding to more non-G1 stuff after the heavy G1 focus in Prime Wars and the first two chapters of WFC?
A: Designers wanted to bring in the characters, and characters that needed updates, and people were getting tired of the same ones.
Q: Will Legacy have any kind of story like WFC did? Shows, comics, etc?
A: Not to his knowledge.
Q: How about depicting a story through box art or back of the box? Like a connecting story across packaging.
A: Possible.
Q: Will Generations Selects be continuing?
A: Not going anywhere. Any rumors about it stopping are false.
Q: Most obscure character you’d like to bring in?
A: Velocity, Javelin, Camiens, Mistress of Flame.
Q: Is there a possibility of a “Haslab Lite” to introduce specific recolors/retools of the more obscure Transformers characters fans are hoping for at the standard mainline scales (Core/Deluxe/Voyager/Leader)? As in, smaller scale stuff, as opposed to the big “grand” items like Unicron/Victory Saber.
A: It’d probably just be Generations Selects or Pulse exclusives, but they would like to bring back Fan Votes.
Kotobukiya –
Q: Was putting your items on Hasbro Pulse ever a possibility?
A: Actually did want to do that, but there were some timing and legal issues, so were unable to in the end.
Q: Will recolor versions happen?
A: They are in the planning phase, hope to eventually get them out.
Q: How about Shattered Glass as a redeco lineup?
A: Both Hasbro and Kotobukiya were supportive of the idea.
Q: With these recolors, will they make extra accessories or additional figure tweaks?
A: Would like to, yes.
Q: Will we see fembots?
A: Can’t answer.
Q: Will the line expand outside of G1 characters in general?
A: It’s something that will maybe be considered, but G1 characters right now are the ones they’re releasing, so for now the focus is there.
Q: How have responses/sales been so far?
A: Don’t think Convoy/Optimus Prime has closed yet in terms of preorders, so haven’t actually gotten official orders from vendors yet (recommends placing orders by some time in August so they can actually see how many sales they’ve gotten). In terms of promotions it’s been going pretty well.
Q: What led to the creation of the line?
A: The person in charge of Transformers Bishoujo, she LOVES Transformers. She was like, “I want to make a Transformers Bishoujo”, it came from her. So then reached out to Hasbro and the process went from there.
TF Hot Rod
They know and addressed the yellowing issue, they talked about it at the roundtable after Legacy wave 2 revealed.
DarkEyes
No comments about the yellowing plastic issue?
This is the white elephant in the room. All these shows mean nothing is official Transformers products have that low quality.
It’s hard to support the brand with those quality issues.
Negativedark
So our chances of getting more Cosmos is dependent on Wal-Mart. I\'m not fully optimistic. G1 of Scorn though is something I\'d love.
TF Hot Rod
No not yet, I’m trying to listen to this a minute in and yeah that is hard to hear.
f-primusunicron
i have a question, given we still waiting for official alt mode pics, do the tfs transform anymore or do we have to buy the alt modes separatedly?
Fc203
Anyone posted this? Audio is not good.
TF Hot Rod
Maybe but I don't know how big the changes would be.
But also at the same time a Legacy version is gonna be the only way we get this design in plastic form, same for a Hot Shot.
If they made the og prototype now i'd probably be way more than it would be in 2009/2010.
Thundershot
Maurader Megatron’s design was cool, but if we get a G1ified animated Megatron, I want the original design first!
Girl Pants
The harder angles of the armored-up look would actually be more compatible with the Generations style than base Megatron, so it'd probably work out pretty good too!
TF Hot Rod
Would be dope.
JockerStudio
If they're really going to do Animated Legacy figures, I hope they make a Marauder Megatron somehow. I really, really want that Megatron
(Even if I'm an Autobot, yes)
Girl Pants
In terms of selling Liokaizer at retail, I think it could work just fine. Some people will also just buy a cool toy if they see it. People bought Fossilizers and other novel characters/designs. I haven't read Marvel G1 yet and yet I'll be there day one to get Jhiaxus.
In my own mind at least, each of the Liokaizer guys is unique and cool enough of a design on their own to sell. Much like the ROTF Constructicons, I think they're interesting enough to sell on their own over the months. The hardcore fans will definitely buy them all but others might just nab the one or two who spark their interest.
That all said, something like Haslab is probably the best way to get the most ideal version all in one go.
drmick
You snooze, you lose.
Q Prime
Was it not that later they did a reissue, but only of four of the Seacons?
WishfulThinking
Grand Max was definitely made to order, since he was crowdfunded. Greatshot was simply available through pre-order. I don't know if he continued for a bit beyond that window in availability but he was essentially treated like a Selects figure in Japan. Grand Max, BTW, fell short of the 3000 print mark, IIRC…so he is pretty limited in comparison to other figures out there.
Fenrys
Yep, all of Takara's Generations Selects were that way if I recall correctly, as were their Grand Maximus and Greatshot.
Thundershot
It’s been a couple years, but I could swear they had a timed preorder period, not a set limit of product. They were more or less being made to order.
edit:
That’s how I remember it as well. Thank you!
Fenrys
Actually, they were made to order. Takara said "hey, here's these things you can order, you have till this day to do it. We won't run out of stock because they're not produced yet, but once the cutoff date is reached, that's it, no more orders will be taken" (paraphrased of course).
PloverNutter
How were they unlimited? They were a Takara Gen Selects release, not a HasLab, so they weren’t made to order.
Thundershot
The Seacons were unlimited when it came to how many they had available. Someone could have ordered a thousand if they wanted. I do recall the last two only having a two week order window while the others were a month, but there was still no limit on how many could be produced.