Hasbro Q&A/May 2009
From MediaWiki
Question archive, and links to the answers from, the May 2009 Hasbro Q&As, which the answers slipped until after BotCon, i.e., they were two weeks late and actually arrived in early June.
Questions
ActionFigs.com
- ActionFigs.com: With the new movie, there are 2 main line toy systems for the Constructicons, one which turns from vehicles into individual robots, and another which converts vehicles directly into the combined robot mode. However, based on Hasbro info, neither system is "complete", one system does not combine, while the other doesn't have individual robot modes. Obviously, you guys know how to make combiners after 25 years of it. So what is the real reason behind this choice? And will there be a reversal of this decision down the line?
- ActionFigs.com: Not exactly toy-related, but could you share any insight on the origin of some of the more "unusual" character names from Transformers: The Movie? Most follow the rather straightforward conventions we've seen before (like Blurr, Hot Rod, Wheelie, Scourge), and Kup appears to be short for "pickup," but some are puzzlers. Is Springer named after Frank Springer, the late artist who drew the original Marvel miniseries (before if became a monthly)? What is an "Arcee"? Why is a zombie spaceship with no wind-based powers "Cyclonus"? And why the prefix "Galva-" in "Galvatron"?
- ActionFigs.com: In the last few years, a cottage industry has cropped up around Transformers collecting that lets consumers upgrade their TFs. Although the starts were murkier material, lately we've seen higher and higher-quality projects come to life, from sticker overhauls to add-on parts to important accessories, and more all made by the fans, for the fans. How does Hasbro feel about all the fan-made accessories such as the fansproject Classics Ultra Magnus upgrade kit, or the Lukis Bros' Animated Allspark?
ActionFigureCollectors.com
- With the success of the new GI Joe Resolute online animated shorts is there a chance that Transformers will receive a similar treatment, possibly in a more "G1" style?
- Are there any cross promotional plans with Shout! Factory in the works for the G1 DVDs? For instance a DVD and G1 Classic figure combo pack?
- Can you give us some insight into the future of the Animated line and what might come after TF Animated in terms of both toys and cartoon?
AllSpark.com
- How long is the ROTF line scheduled to run? While there may not yet be a concrete end date yet, is there product slated through Christmas '09 or even Spring of '10? When it ends, will we see a return to Animated and Universe, or something new?
- Is there a difference between obscure characters and brand new characters to the Hasbro design team? Do Hasbro's toy designers prefer to have complete freedom in designing a toy (or repainting an existing one) to make a brand new character or the challenge of modernizing the appearance of an old character (either through a new mold or repaints) while still keeping it recognizable as being the same character?
- Transformers fans have noticed that a number of the recent secondary and tertiary retail store exclusives have been prior figures in new packaging. For an example, there are the Cybertron Scouts in Universe packaging. Why is this done? Is it excess/leftover stock simply put into new packaging, or new stock manufactured solely for the re-release?
ASMZine.com
- Has Hasbro ever considered a subline of Transformers marketed to girls?
- The recent Toys R Us exclusive Universe toys (Autobot Countdown and Darkwind) have an amazing number of paint applications, with many many parts that are completely covered in paint. Are these parts using the same "mask and overspray" method, just several times over (one spray for the flat part of the tire, two or three more to get the rounded side, etc), or is there some other process that doesn't take up more spaces in the allotment of paint applications?
- During Energon and Cybertron, it was revealed at one point that freelancer artists were brought on to design one or both modes of a toy, and sometimes to flesh out the mechanical detailing of some designs. Is this practice still in use, or have things been consolidated under Hasbro's roof since the design work on the 2007 movie toys began?
