Chris Hewitt of Empire Magazine have published a small article on the Empireonline website regarding a quote that Transformers star Josh Duhamel gave them when they bumped into him on the set of When In Rome last week. The quote he gave them was in relation to their question regarding what was the difference for his character, Lennox, in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, compared to the original Transformers Movie.  Josh's reply was"“I guess who he’s working with is probably the biggest change,” said Duhamel, before adding once more, presumably for emphasis. “Who he’s working with.”".  Empire are reading into this that the Autobobts and Decepticons will be teaming up to face a more powerful enemy, in their minds that is The Fallen, though when you read the Transformers 2 Game summary, it could also be a powered up Starscream, perhaps using a fragment of the Allspark in an "Underbase" style powerup.  Of course, this is all speculation at this stage, but time will tell.

Hasbro has updated the US Transformers website with various instructions for upcoming releases of the Transformers Animated toyline such as Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime, Elite Guard Bumblebee, the Activators, and the Shift Tech Optimus Prime Handheld game are available, along with instructions for the currently released Transformers Animated toys.

In addition, the instructions for Ultra Magnus reveal that he is compatible with Headmaster.

Thanks to TFormers for the spot.

Snakas has updated his blog with some information from this months issue of Dengeki Hobby Magazine.  Below is an english summary of Snakas post.

 The magazine contains images of Transformers Henkei Hot Rodimus as well as the western version of Classics Sunstreaker and Prowl.

Much like Figure King, an article was also published on Transformers Encore Thundercracker and Skywarp, including images of the previous releases of these figures.  Images of Enore Bumblebee and the Minibots are also shown.

Transformers Alternity is mentioned in the magazine but no information or preview image was published, unlike within Figure King.

Finally, The Marvel Cross overs, and Binaltech BT-18 and B-20 are also published, with the focus being on the new Bluestreak figure rather than Meister

This isn't really news related, and is blatant advertising of an auction we have on eBay, but we are currently selling of parts of our Transformers DVD collection, as we basically no longer have space to keep it.

The collection includes some brand new, sealed, items (Transformers Headmaters, Masterforce and Victory (with Zone) DVD's from Madman Entertainment) as well as some not-for-sale items from Metrodome (check-discs from Series 2, 3 and 4 of G1). Other items include the Metrodome Generation One DVDs, series 1,2 part 1, 2 part 2 and 3/4, along with a few miscellaneous Beast Wars DVDs and Transformers Takara.

Here's the full details.

Metrodome Check Discs
1. Season 2 Part 2 - 3 Discs
1. Season 3 & 4 - 4 Discs

Metrodome Box Sets - Region 2
1. Season 1 - �25
2. Season 2 Part 1 - �25
3. Season 2 Part 3 - �25
4. Season 3 & 4 - �30

Madman Entertainment - Region 0 - SEALED NEVER OPENED
1. Transformers Headmasters - $59.83 (AUD)
2. Transformers Masterforce - $59.83 (AUD)
3. Transformers Victory including Zone - $59.83 (AUD)

Maverick - Region 2
1. Transformers Takara - �9.99

Universal - Region 2 and 4
1. Beast Wars Vol 1 (The Agenda 1-3, Optimal Situation, Deep Metal, Changing of the guard, Cutting Edge) (Region 2,4) - �5.99

Rhino
1. Beast Wars (Region 1) Vol 1 (Beast Wars Part 1, Beast Wars Part 2, The Web, Equal Measure, Chain of Command, Power Surge) - $20
2. Beast Wars Vol 2 (Fallen Comrades, Double Jeopardy, The Probe, Gorilla Warfare, A Better Mouse Trap, Victory) (Region 1) - $20
3. Transformers Heroes The Rebirth - $20

The total retail value of this set is �232.59, excluding the check discs and the auction has no reserve, starting at the low price of just 99 pence.

Snakas has updated his blog with some information from the latest issue of the Japanese hobby magazine Figure King (フィギャア王) which is issue125.

The issue contain articles on the Japanese release of the Marvel Crossover series as sell as images Henkei Prowl and Sunstreaker, though it was the US versions that were used in the photographs.  The Japanese version of Classics Ramjet (Henkei Ramjet) and Classics Skyfire were also shown.  If that was not enough, the issue contains a the "Metroplex Story" which contained the history of the figure from a dialcone concept art, through the original G1 release and onto the Encore reissue.

An article was also published on the Transformers Alternity line with a silhouette of the Convoy figure being shown along with the words "Next Transformer Coming Soon".  The line is described by the author as a series that will succeed the concept of Binaltech.

Finally images are shown of the packaging of Encore Skywarp and Thundercracker which are released in June

YTV have updated their listings for this coming Saturday to with three episodes of Transformers Animated showing as being aired at 11am, meaning that is is extremely likely that they will be showing the final episodes of Season 2 of Transformers Animated this weekend.  This would be the English language debut of the last episodes of the show as Nick Toons stopped just just a few weeks ago.

You can view all of the schedules for Transformers Animated on the Showtimes page on TransformersAnimated.com

Following on from the extremely powerful Transformers Movie Battle Rig Blasters (Prime, Starscream, Ratchet), Hasbro have released stock images for their upcoming Transformers Animated Optimus Prime Blaster.

TFWorld2005 have a copy of the image, thanks to their press account, which can be seen here.

The Allspark are reporting that the Transformers Collectors' Club Topspin toy has finally started to ship to members.

Onyx Minor reports that he received his Topspin today, so keep your eyes on your mailboxes for this final limb to the Club combiner!

We wait to see when ours and other international members will receive theirs.

Chris Ryall has updated his blog with an image from the cover of Transformers Animated issue two, due for release in September. The art was done by one of the show's designers, Maramba Myrberg.

The cover features Cyrus Rhodes fighting against Prowl.

The following month, October, sees the release of the Transformers Animated comic in the UK. Ths comic may feature a mixture of new UK Transformers Animated comics as well as reprinting the US version, or my just take over from the Transformers Movie UK comic, with the Beast Wars backup strip.

The giant Transformers hand which was used to count down the days till Transformers was released in 2007 may be set to be reused to countdown towards Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (aka Transformers Movie 2).

The giant handed was spotted in the Hasbro offices during a My Little Pony tour, yes you did read that right. Pictures can be found on TFW.

Cartoon Network has updated their Transformers Animated Schedule with sinformation confirming that Transformers Animated will receives an hour-long season 2 finale

Cartoon Network has decided to air Episodes 28 and 29 as a one-hour finale on Saturday, July 5th at 10:30 AM Eastern/Pacific. The hour-long finale will then repeat the following day (July 6th) at 10:30 AM Eastern/Pacific as well.

Sol Fury has posted the following roundup from TFcon (the Canadian Transformers Convention).

- Hasbro Canada will be starting up a quarterly Q&A through Cybertron.CA
- There is a big push to get more exclusives out in Canada – aiming for near to 100% in the next two years. Keep watching Cybertron.CA for release news.
- Specific exclusive news – the Universe comic two packs will be coming to Zellers. Zellers and TRU will be getting the Minicon 12 pack. Zellers will also be getting the Deep Space Starscream very soon. Unfortunately though Movie Ultras Jetstorm and Wingblade will not be making it to Canada.
- More bad news – due to licensing issues, the Canadian release of the 25th Anniversary Optimus Prime will not include the DVD with More than Meets the Eye.
- Some good news – the generic packaging, such as on the first wave of Universe, will be superseded by the individualized packaging around about wave 3 or 4 of Universe.
- Hasbro Toy Store is making progress with setting up shipping to Canada, but it is not quite ready yet.

The rest of the Q&A session related to broader questions about Hasbro releases in general.

- Masterpiece Thundercracker and Skywarp at domestic retail – there are no firm plans to do these two yet, but they are being kept in mind, possibly for 2009 store exclusive releases.
- Reviving Alternators – there are no plans in the short term, as it was deemed that Universe would have the broader appeal since Alternators was far more narrowly focused on collectors. It was not completely ruled out, though.
- Computer games – Activision has two in the works, an Animated game for late this year, and a Movie game for next year.
- G1 DVDs – it’s still too early to announce any plans, but Hasbro stated they bought back the rights with the intention of using them so watch this space.
- The Marvel and Star Wars Transformers will not feature Transformers characters as the team do not want to mix the fantasies. So no Iron Man that turns into Starscream, for example.
- 6 inch Titaniums – the finished tools will get released. The unfinished ones unfortunately will not. The finished tools referred to are the War Within Grimlock and Prowl who will be TRU exclusives in the US.
- Transformers Animated – there are no specific plans for guest or one shot characters, however it was stated that the design team like to try to make 100% of the characters who appear in the show.
- Animated Legends – no dedicated line, however, some may be done as Universe Legends.
- No plans to make Animated humans as toys.
- There are no specific plans for a dedicated Universe ficition, although you might see some cameos in the comics or other media.
- There is the possibility for some overlap on the Universe and Animated lines, where the two characters are different – Prowl was cited as an example, one being a black motorbike and the other a white police car.
- When the question of combiners was brought up, the reply was “potentially”. 
- Hasbro could not comment on the possibility of getting more Dinobots or Sunstorm in Universe.
- They have no current plans to release the black Arcee repaint from the Japanese movie line domestically.
- Robot Heroes Dispensor is the only version of the Mountain Dewbot that is getting released. There are no plans for Leader Blackout or Voyager Bonecrusher.