The Transformers brand team sat down with multiple fan sites, streamers and the like today to discuss all things Transformers, specifically the reveals we got at the first livestream of the year last week. TFW2005 was able to join in and we’ve shared some notes from the event after the break. Read on to check it out, including the first reveal of Cybertronian Mode Jazz!
Update – official pics and product info for Jazz added.
** Below are very short notes from the Transformers Brand Team roundtable today. This is ALL PARAPHRASED, jotted down quickly during the event.
Transformers Team present:
Delaney Norris
Ben MacCrae
Mark Maher
Evan Brooks
Sam Smith
Rodimus Primal – Cassette Bots – completing the sets and thoughts on Soundblaster / Twincast having dual chest piece? Mark – love to complete mini teams, stay tuned. Thought about the dual cassette, budget is always a concern. Blaster sculpt is so clean, would have to re-engineer significantly to get it in there. Same back and forth with head, so lots of difficult decisions with him.
Matt T – SS Airazor – similarity with Kingdom transformation, coincidence?. Was accurate to ILM (actually MPC) model at the time. Movie actually referenced toy transformations of original toys to make models so the new toys happen to also reference those original transformations and have similarities.
Russ – Which comes first – toys or concept for the movie?. In this instance, movie is first. Try to match what media has done. Each different project will pass data back and forth up front at different levels.
Jack – Volvo Optimus – was that the original Amazon Prime? Can’t comment on products (or lack there of) that haven’t been released or announced. Have relations with Volvo due to movie Devastator, so they took a page from the Star Wars team and did the Holiday Prime. Continuing a good partnership with Volvo, more uses are coming.
Anthony P – Two years – any way to fast track changes, or 2 years solid to change/fix something. Issues with yellowing an example. Working on shrinking that, changes depend on starting from scratch or not. Big issues require an investigation. If product, at least 6 months. Early on can be adjusted. A few months before release – then not too much, becomes more of “don’t do it again”. Skyquake takes feedback from Bulkhead and Arcee Prime designs, was just in time before it was too late.
Anthony B – What Universes do you want to tap into that you haven’t? Evan – Energon, Mark – Machine Wars, Sam – Nothing off the table.
Jeremy B – Metalhawk from Cyclonus – Was that planned at start of design or after the fact. – Many times it is planned, but with Metalhawk it was after the fact and just in time to go into production. Have a running list of characters and alt modes with notes on possibilities for alt versions later. Takara is also involved, they’ll come back with suggestions based on initial ideas.
Protoman – how many heads pre-planned? Usually 1 extra planned. Rare cases with more or less. Sometimes the extra piece is a weapon, or a faceplate. Example – Core Nemesis – Axe was there. Got a lot better over time with aligning.
Matt G – Evo Fusion (actually Junkion Tech) – Easier or harder since they break apart? Sam – Since they retain transformation AND break apart – much more difficult engineering wise. The vehicle part swapping was the major hurdle but came out awesome
Russ – Weapon packs – Lots of potential plans, but brand and Hasbro are retail first, so difficult to justify it taking up a space in development if it will be Pulse only etc.
Ryan – Any plans to address retail exclusives of core characters that are hard to get? – We are aware of the market. In recent times, Netflix etc – they do have an exclusivity window and have to respect that. Bumblebee they have to resign with Volkswagon to put that out again (which is not a major issue, VW is good partner). Cosmos was unexpected. Soundwave is out of exclusivity now.
Chris – Are the tapes on their own mold or part of Blaster mold (re: Clear parts, window). It was same mold but there is some spray to change color or tint between pieces / figs. But that is why tapes are clear, due to Blaster’s window.
Kevin – Studio Series vs kids line. Studio Series got helped by the delay a bit because it allowed in-movie items to be on shelf with movie. They will be watching what moves, how and when since this is all new with Studio Series. Earthspark and ROTB kids lines are same team, and this group can’t answer much about them.
Matt K – Crashbar – Development or personality info? – Marcelo Matere, Dan Khanna helped with conception. Marcelo integral to development. Pushed more towards the Junk and apocalyptic vehicle vibes of the day. Wanted to keep colors the same, show they are part of the team. Cadets – just something Mark made up while talking about them where they are smaller, newer, less experienced. Not official canon, but internally they referred to them as the kids due to size. Keep eye on sculpt for Crashbar, secrets in there.
TFW2005 – Firetruck mention at last livestream (had to do it) – Firetruck was not specifically mentioning RID Prime or anyone else, just a general comment. Do appreciate the feedback and RID requests since the livestream, and in general love for generations other than G1. Officially can’t confirm or deny anything in production or not. Evan showed off RID Railracer and Build Team, said he would love to be able to do some of the combiners from that era.
Juan B – What are some of the favorite engineering the team has come up with for the modern lines. Evan – Siege Hound was amazing, standardized articulation. Mark – things we are working on now, can’t talk about (laughs). Skids to Crankcase was a good one. Jhiaxus, making his robot to space jet work. Sam – The Junkion interchangeable vehicles was a high point, they want folks to be able to create and build, and it exists because of the fan feedback.
Dixon C – ROTB Cheetor – Beast Machines transformation inspiration? The new SS figs are based on the movie models at time of development. However, the movie team pulled from prior toys, so there is a loop going on. RE: possibly putting designers on the boxes – awesome, but probably difficult due to the amount of text needed and how much is there now. They try to shout out Takara and others in the streams and online so people can get their dues. RE: Cheetor – when they got started, they sent their idealized versions of each characters and movie teams took it as input, but finals were studio.
End of stream reveals & notes
Buzzworthy Bumblebee Cybertronian Jazz
Movie Velocitron Hot Rod listing – currently not planned to come out anywhere. Maybe later, but not right now. Majority of exclusives for Spring – ROTB.
Dirge / Earthspark non exclusives – repack, refresh? Always trying to figure out where to get them back in. Buzzworthy, stores, etc etc.
How much do you pay attention to the secondary market? They do, try to understand what they underproduced, and try to get fans who are new opportunity to get items they missed.
Dirge – straight re-release.
Transformers Buzzworthy Bumblebee Legacy: Evolution Origin Autobot Jazz
(Ages 8 and up | Approx. Retail Price $24.99 | Available April 2023)
Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures for boys and girls. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of More Than Meets the Eye, bringing together every generation of Transformers like you’ve never seen before. The new Transformers Buzzworthy Bumblebee Legacy: Evolution Origin Autobot Jazz action figure stands at 5.5-inches tall and is inspired by the first episode of The Transformers animated series. The figure converts from robot to Cybertronian hovercraft mode in 20 steps and includes blaster and hook accessories that attach to the figure in both modes. Use Jazz’s Evo-Fusion battle feature to combine the hook and blaster into a grappling hook accessory. The Transformers Buzzworthy Bumblebee Legacy: Evolution Origin Autobot Jazz
Is part of the Buzzworthy Bumblebee collection, which includes some of the most buzzworthy Transformers and is available exclusively at Target.
MagnusPrimal
Yeah, Jazz has already been clearanced at my Target.
80sforged
I still cannot get over that Target has not shipped their Jazzs yet. My area (not known to be early on the distribtution list) already had them come and go. I was able to buy one at Hasbro, then a second at a B&M a couple months a go. Now we have a ton of death scene Prowl/Ironhides and Towlines.
fschuler
Yeah, I was gonna say the preorder fulfillment delay is probably kind of a blessing for some people! Most Target exclusives seem to be stocked like mad and lots of them end up on clearance.
T-Hybrid
Sorry you guys ended up having to wait so long for your figures. You're definitely more patient than I am. I eventually just bought one on Clearance in the store and cancelled my PO.
Ravewind
Just got an email from Target that the release date for my preorder will be 8/23. Here's hoping they finally get it out.
Autobot Spike
just an update, I complained to their customer service via chat. They apologized, said they were working on getting new stock, and they’d update my shipping date. A couple of days later and now I got a shipping update and I should have him by August 30.
-A.S.
2fabdad
Went to target today. They had 3 Optimus in the back but couldn’t sell me one because he comes out tomorrow and they also couldn’t find the box. They checked stock of the area… he is plentiful. No worries.
geekatron prime
That should be fine since there is a release date listed. There never was one for OG Jazz.
jamarmiller
yeah I never got my pre-orders either, luckily I was able to finanlly order some off of Hasbro Pulse. This makes me very worried about the troop builder pack
MehWave
I found mine on clearance in the wild. I didn't bother preordering, since I remember the ORIGIN bumblebee warming pegs on sale for a while
2fabdad
I canceled mine to spend money on something else(not waiting)…
It will be more fun to find in the wild.
MonsterMash
The release date is blank on the product listing. Unless they fix this, it will never ship.
butz
No idea, but my attempt to preorder it via Target never came in either. After what seemed way too long (especially since other people had him in hand for some time by then), and dealing with the test-charges, I got annoyed and ordered it from Pulse. Eventually, after having the figure in hand myself for a while, I cancelled the Target preorder that still had not come in.
geekatron prime
Have no idea. I don't think anyone's has shipped from the target.com preorder. Better off finding it in store since some have been found on clearance. Like I said I got one from pulse then found an extra in store. I canceled my preorder since it wasn't going anywhere and has no release date on their site.
Autobot Spike
So mine still hasn’t shipped from Target… what’s up with that?
-A.S.
geekatron prime
I canceled my preorder for this on target.com. Already got him from Hasbro Pulse a few weeks ago. Wanted a second one just to have. Found one at my local target, so I won't be needing that preorder anymore.
Ottertron
Clocked this on Cults3D –
You bet your collective ASS I'll be buying a second BumbleJazz and printing this off!! It'll have to wait til next payday, though, as I'll need to buy some white resin.
Get it here – https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/transformers-origin-jazz-cybertronian-chest – and it's FREE!!!
RodimusRex
I don't think any designer in the history of this franchise has cared what the underside of a vehicle looked like.
MonsterMash
Not really. If you're going for the G1 look. The sides would have to be smooth and closed, concealing the legs, which are kinda low on the siege seeker in alt mode. The front is also too thick to match the animation.
The shell would have to fold up so the bot mode looks nicely. If the bottom of a siege seeker was covered up in a shell, it would either be a removable part or look very odd in bot mode as you'd have a big chunk of stuff to place and fold.