Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline

Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 1:15AM CST

Categories: Toy News, Rumors
Posted by: Emerje Views: 63,192

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Five years ago Hasbro went all out with Thrilling 30 to celebrate the Transformers franchise's 30th anniversary in 2014, and now it looks like they're once again in the festive move! While Hasbro hasn't made a statement on their plans we did get a quick glimpse of what appears to be a 35th anniversary subline displayed at Toy Fair based around War for Cybertron: Siege. Thanks to a photo posted on the personal Twitter account of Ryan Penagos of Marvel we're shown a series of repaints featuring Soundblaster, Bluestreak, Optimus Prime and Megatron. Or, more specifically, mockups of the packaging as the only figure actually shown is Soundblaster. There's been some speculation that the two faction leaders may be given toon shaded decos, but this has not be confirmed. The side of the box shows a large "35" rather than the more elaborate logo shown by Takara Tomy at Wonder Festival 2019 Winter.

After the photo was taken the figures and boxes were removed before media representatives were allowed to view the displays. Considering they're shown next to the Walmart exclusive G1 reissues it's entirely possible, but again not confirmed, that these will also be exclusives and only displayed to shop to buyers from different stores as Toy Fair is, first and foremost, a trade show for the toy industry. There's even a small possibility that these will never see the light of day.

So what do you think of this potential celebration of the franchise's 35th anniversary? Any characters you hope will turn up? Sound off in the Energon Pub forums below!

Credit(s): Ryan Penagos on Twitter

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Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011356)
Posted by Wolfman Jake on February 19th, 2019 @ 1:38am CST

The idea that these were briefly there for more of a solicitation for special retail distribution makes some sense. Maybe it was put up specifically for Walmart to consider adding to their G1 Vintage exclusive deal? In any case, it's strange that only a sample of Soundblaster was physically present. I'm sure it was actually just a hand painted Soundwave figure too, and not a real production sample of Soundblaster. The battle damage is still on the chest door like on Soundwave, but nowhere else on the figure, because it has been painted over in glossy black, obscuring the original paint weathering details. I don't know why they didn't try to mock-up a "clean" version of Optimus Prime or Megatron, or repaint a Prowl into Bluestreak, though. Maybe they only had time to do one and only a spare Soundwave was at hand?

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011362)
Posted by Sentinel_Primal on February 19th, 2019 @ 1:50am CST

Hm... Weren't Star Convoy and Armada Prime marked with similar looking cards? Cause if so, could the 35 year anniversary celebrate all generations, not just G1? I hope so cause if it is true, then there's a chance Armada Prime will appear state side and it won't cost an arm and a leg to try and get. Though, as I say this, it's so much of a pipe dream that I should start saving up for the figures I plan to get here and Armada Prime

Edit: Oh, nevermind. Guess that's what I get for not clicking links in the article before commenting :oops:

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011364)
Posted by Nemesis Primal on February 19th, 2019 @ 1:55am CST

Wolfman Jake wrote:The idea that these were briefly there for more of a solicitation for special retail distribution makes some sense. Maybe it was put up specifically for Walmart to consider adding to their G1 Vintage exclusive deal? In any case, it's strange that only a sample of Soundblaster was physically present. I'm sure it was actually just a hand painted Soundwave figure too, and not a real production sample of Soundblaster. The battle damage is still on the chest door like on Soundwave, but nowhere else on the figure, because it has been painted over in glossy black, obscuring the original paint weathering details. I don't know why they didn't try to mock-up a "clean" version of Optimus Prime or Megatron, or repaint a Prowl into Bluestreak, though. Maybe they only had time to do one and only a spare Soundwave was at hand?

Bluestreak might be absent due to having different accessories than Prowl, given both the weapons present in the cutout and the differences in armaments between Sideswipe and Red Alert.

I'm hoping that like Sideswipe and Red Alert, Bluestreak having a more involved and less monochromatic paint scheme compared to Prowl will make the mold look better to me and convince me to grab him, as he's one of those characters I've never really experienced due to my not being born during G1, but like the look of as a kinda overshadowed background guy.

...plus I only just actually read his bio on the wiki the other day and it's surprisingly deeper than I expected, so I like him more now.

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011366)
Posted by leokearon on February 19th, 2019 @ 2:15am CST

No problem having Soundblaster and Bluestreak, but why put them in a (probably) exclusive line. There isn't anything special about these, they could easily be general releases. The packaging is also boring, they could have made it look like a G1 box or something that just a siege box with a big 35 plastered on the side

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011369)
Posted by Emerje on February 19th, 2019 @ 2:50am CST

leokearon wrote:No problem having Soundblaster and Bluestreak, but why put them in a (probably) exclusive line. There isn't anything special about these, they could easily be general releases.

I'm going to guess it's because there's nowhere else to stick them in Siege so they're using exclusives to throw fans a bone, just like they're doing with Skywarp.

Emerje

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011370)
Posted by leokearon on February 19th, 2019 @ 2:54am CST

Emerje wrote:
leokearon wrote:No problem having Soundblaster and Bluestreak, but why put them in a (probably) exclusive line. There isn't anything special about these, they could easily be general releases.

I'm going to guess it's because there's nowhere else to stick them in Siege so they're using exclusives to throw fans a bone, just like they're doing with Skywarp.

Emerje

Making them exclusives is not giving fans a bone, it's giving fans a kick in the teeth, since not all fans will be able to get them.

Also they should make Soundblaster and Skywarp general releases, Siege really needs more 'Cons

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011371)
Posted by Emerje on February 19th, 2019 @ 3:00am CST

leokearon wrote:
Emerje wrote:
leokearon wrote:No problem having Soundblaster and Bluestreak, but why put them in a (probably) exclusive line. There isn't anything special about these, they could easily be general releases.

I'm going to guess it's because there's nowhere else to stick them in Siege so they're using exclusives to throw fans a bone, just like they're doing with Skywarp.

Emerje

Making them exclusives is not giving fans a bone, it's giving fans a kick in the teeth, since not all fans will be able to get them.

Also they should make Soundblaster and Skywarp general releases, Siege really needs more 'Cons

Give the choice between exclusive or nothing I'll choose exclusive 100% of the time, even if I don't stand a chance of ever getting them myself. I'm not so selfish as to deprive my fellow fans just because I can't get something.

Emerje

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011372)
Posted by Coptur on February 19th, 2019 @ 3:07am CST

nothing different skywarp now being an exclusive.

as long as Soundblaster is marketed as a different character and not a powered up Soundwave i'll be happy.

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011374)
Posted by Emerje on February 19th, 2019 @ 3:25am CST

Just keep in mind that we don't actually know these are exclusives yet. To use some marketing jargon, Hasbro has opened many new release avenues such as the online exclusives which are basically just available everywhere online, not just any one store (Selects or May Mayhem for example). Even if they aren't sold at standard retail it may not matter.

Emerje

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011403)
Posted by Randomhero on February 19th, 2019 @ 8:37am CST

leokearon wrote:
Emerje wrote:
leokearon wrote:No problem having Soundblaster and Bluestreak, but why put them in a (probably) exclusive line. There isn't anything special about these, they could easily be general releases.

I'm going to guess it's because there's nowhere else to stick them in Siege so they're using exclusives to throw fans a bone, just like they're doing with Skywarp.

Emerje

Making them exclusives is not giving fans a bone, it's giving fans a kick in the teeth, since not all fans will be able to get them.

Also they should make Soundblaster and Skywarp general releases, Siege really needs more 'Cons

Bad guys don’t sell as well as good guys. That’s a fact. That’s why there’s always more autobots. It’s not like these are going to be hard to obtain even if they are exclusives. It’s not like the old days. They are a lot easier to obtain than they were a few years ago.

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011404)
Posted by Cobotron on February 19th, 2019 @ 8:40am CST

Really hoping that Bluestreak is a thing. I'd love to have him in my life!

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011468)
Posted by Wolfman Jake on February 19th, 2019 @ 2:02pm CST

My hope is that Soundblaster will come with red plastic light piping for his eyes, so I can just switch the eyes around for him and Soundwave, giving myself a more screen accurate Soundwave with red eyes. I've always liked Soundblaster with yellow optics like the G1 toy, even if he too had red eyes in The Headmasters.

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011475)
Posted by Ultra Markus on February 19th, 2019 @ 3:02pm CST

Coptur wrote:nothing different skywarp now being an exclusive.

as long as Soundblaster is marketed as a different character and not a powered up Soundwave i'll be happy.

that's exactly what soundblaster is though

Re: Hasbro prepares for Transformers 35th anniversary with potential new subline (2011533)
Posted by Albatross250 on February 20th, 2019 @ 6:12am CST

Ultra Markus wrote:
Coptur wrote:nothing different skywarp now being an exclusive.

as long as Soundblaster is marketed as a different character and not a powered up Soundwave i'll be happy.

that's exactly what soundblaster is though