Transformers People News on Seibertron.com

The Founder of Takara, Yasuta Sato, Passes Away

Date: Saturday, March 2nd 2019 2:01pm CST
Category: People News
Posted by: william-james88 | Credit(s): japan times

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 20,172

Some sad news today, as we learn of the passing of the man dubbed The King of Toys, Yasuta Sato. We learnt from Japan Times that the founder and long time chairman of Takara died at the age of 94. His original company started as Sato Vinyl in 1955, which later became Takara Vinyl in 1960 and simply Takara in 1966. He was chairman of Takara when the Microman and Diaclone toys were both developed and later picked up by Hasbro to become the Transformers brand we know today.

He leaves behind a wonderful legacy. We thank him for all the wonders he made possible and our thoughts are with his family.

Hasbro Clarifies How Pulse will not be a Threat to Retailers + Pulse Letter from John Warden

Date: Sunday, February 24th 2019 2:22pm CST
Categories: Toy News, Event News, People News
Posted by: william-james88

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 35,954

Pulse launched last week and one of the concerns was how this may be a threat to retailers who sell Hasbro items. It came up in the investors presentation with the following question from Eric Handler:

I am intrigued by go to market pulse initiative. How do you balance being a global consumer products company with thousands or retail doors and how do you balance that in terms of not threatening those retailers with the go to consumer initiative.

To which Hasbro replied the following:

We have a unique take about how to approach and connect with our fans.
As everyone knows we have hundreds of thousands of doors around the world, our offering is really broad. When you look at what we are doing with Pulse, it's really a content and product initiative targeted at the fan economy. Its increasing our direct relation with consumers but in a very focused way and it will give us an opportunity to test and learn many things we can then bring to our partners globally. It's really not meant to be taking something for ourselves. It is allowing us to be the tip of the spear to foster these relationships and what we learn from this interaction will be shared with our partners around the world.

The quote above includes some shortening and it can be full heard slightly past the 2 hour mark of their investor presentation which can be heard here.

This definitely answers a few questions fans had. The fact that this is more fan focused than Hasbro Toy Shop would explain why toys like Cyberverse have not moved over to Pulse.

From this we can gather that the US collector market (meaning anyone reading this article) is significant enough to warrant investing in an interface to serve fans but not big enough for Walmart or Target to fear any loss in sales from Hasbro selling directly.

We could have guessed that, but it was fun to have at least one question that's been asked openly on these boards before answered by Hasbro's top executives.

Also, for those looking for a mission statement for both Pulse and the new Studio Select line, John Letter wrote a letter that was sent along with the new Voyager Combat Hero Megatron. You can read it below:

Artist Robby Musso Reveals His Original Line Art For Transformers Titans Returns Box Images

Date: Wednesday, February 6th 2019 2:49pm CST
Categories: Toy News, People News
Posted by: ZeroWolf | Credit(s): Robby Musso

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 30,671

Transformers Artist and friend to the site, Robby Musso has dropped us a line to let us know that he has shared several of his original line art drawings for the Transformers Titans Returns Box Images that he worked on! He shared the images on his Facebook account and we have mirrored them here in all their glory for you to feast your eyes on:

Broadside



Blitzwing



Brawn



Astrotrain



Bumblebee



Alpha Trion



Chase



Kickback



Megatron



Overlord



Octane



Optimus Prime



Sky Shadow



Gnaw



What do you think of this work? Do you have a favourite piece? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

Transformers Designer Eric Siebenaler to attend TFcon Los Angeles 2019

Date: Sunday, January 13th 2019 5:13pm CST
Category: People News
Posted by: ZeroWolf | Credit(s): TFcon USA 2019

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 16,656

TFcon USA Los Angeles 2019 is only two months away now but the guests keep on coming.

The good folks over at TFcon have reached out to us to let us know that Transformers designer Eric Siebenaler will be attending the con and hosting a Q&A panel at the convention and have a table. Eric was the lead designer of Transformers Animated and was largely responsible for it's development.



Here's the full press release announcing his attendance:

TFcon wrote:We are very happy to welcome Eric Siebenaler former Senior Product Designer on the Transformers brand to TFcon Los Angeles 2019. Siebenaler is best known in the fandom for being largely responsible for developing the Transformers Animated series, serving as its lead designer and will be involved in a Q&A panel and will have a table at the convention.

Eric Siebenaler is presented by The Chosen Prime.

Will you be attending this convention? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews.

TFcon USA 2019 Guest Update - Bill Ratner

Date: Thursday, January 3rd 2019 7:15pm CST
Categories: Event News, People News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): TFcon USA

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 15,880

TFcon has announced their latest guest update: Bill Ratner! People will recognize Ratner as the voice of Dashiell Faireborn in the Transformers Generation 1 cartoon. He is also better known by his code name Flint in G.I. Joe.

TFcon 2019 is earlier than normal, taking place in Los Angeles, California from March 15-17. The guest roll call already includes Michael Bell, Neil Ross, Alan Oppenheimer, Paul Eiding, Arthur Burghardt, Michael Horton, Morgan Lofting, Jack Lawrence, Alex Milne, Donald F. Glut, Ron Friedman, Melendy Britt, Jack Angel, and Dan Gilvezan, and is advertised as a Generation 1 reunion. Tickets are currently on sale! Continue to follow Seibertron.com for all the latest guess updates and news!

TFcon is very happy to announce Bill Ratner the voice of Dashiell Faireborn in the Transformers Generation 1 episode The Killing Jar, better known by his code name Flint in G.I. Joe will be joining the G1 Reunion event happening at TFcon Los Angeles 2019.

Bill will be taking part in autograph sessions with the attendees of America’s largest fan-run Transformers convention on the Sunday of the convention. Please check the TFcon website for the full guest signing schedule prior to the event for exact times. Bill Ratner is presented by Ages Three and Up.