The official social media channels for Hasbro are currently kicking off the first ever HASCON event, over in Rhode Island! As the convention takes under its mantle several Hasbro properties, we are tuned it to follow all event Transformers (with some inevitable sides of GI Joe and the other characters in the shared universe such as Rom, MASK, and more).
And we're in the panel room with Seibertron.com as the Transformers brand team runs through the various members of both Hasbro and Takara Tomy personnel present for the talk! Three Japanese designers have joined the Hasbro team for the event too: Shogo Hasui, Takashi Kunihiro, and Hall of Fame inductee Hideaki Yoke, plus interpreter Daizo Uehara.
The Last KnightThe first product presented and discussed has to do with the concept of Story, and Transformers: The Last Knight - the team shows a clip introducing the Allspark Tech line (which you can see covered
here, too).
The team is particularly excited about the story-driven features of the new toy line, from the electronics to the voice clips included in each of the figures.
Next is more The Last Knight coverage, with the Knight Armour line of toys (as previously seen
here, for example). Hasbro actually collaborated with Takara on the design for this line, and the helmet designs for the various figures are inspired by actual military wear from across the world.
Robots in Disguise Combiner ForceSwiftly moving on to the Robots in Disguise toy line, with discussion of the collaboration with the animation studios and the creation and design of the combiners from the show (such as Ultra Bee and Menasor). Discussing how the concept had to adhere to the idea of the multiple modes being compatible with each other, while also appealing to the multiple toys in one all in one box.
After the major combiners, the team discusses the Crash Combiners instead, showing Strongarm and Optimus Prime as examples.
Generations - Power of the PrimesDiscussing the idea of reveals, and how the Prime Wars trilogy. Prime Masters being reintroduced along with the confirmation of Optimus Primal as new Prime after fan vote.
Dinobot Slash - first female Dinobot, collaborated with Takara Tomy to create the Legends scale new character.
Dinobot Slug
Dinobot Swoop
Dinobot Snarl
Dinobot Sludge
Voyager class Grimlock - poseable, interacts with Prime Masters.
Yoke-san actually talking about the Dinobots' history and how it influenced current designs
All new Dinobot combiner announced: Volcanicus!
Sludge is leg, Snarl is other leg, Swoop and Slug is arms, Grimlock is torso.
Ankle tilts!
Had to think about the joints system for the combiners, in order to hold up the whole figure. Right amount of friction was hard to get.
Leader class reveal - Optimus Prime. Evolving Deluxe Orion Pax into the Autobot Leader.
Some design topics talking about getting the right space and friction for the Deluxe to fit.
Discussing the interactive and play pattern for the Matrix and the other Prime-help crystals, blending old stories with new toyline.
ExclusivesTitans Return Arcee and Titans Return Ultra Magnus, as seen before.
Optimus Prime Power Bank also seen before.
A final teaser was the silhouette for Predaking, as per the mockup seen
recently.
Q&AA question about a new Shockwave, which 'will be taken into consideration'.
