Its that time of the month when it pleases us to be able to bring you not only the latest batch of NPD Sales figures, but also other information on how Transformers has been performing as a property here within the UK.

First up, Easter. Easter fell early this year which lead to a increase in toy sales with double digit growth in the Action Figure sector. Transformers continued to perform well, despite a significant drop in the number of figures available, though it was Ben10 that out shined all other action figures with its sales over the Easter period accounting for 1/5 of the entire category!

Here are the sales charts both for March as well as the Year To Date. Transformers are marked in bold

March 2008 (� Sales)
1 Cars Assortment - MATTEL
2 Ben 10 Collectable Figures 10CM - BANDAI
3 Ben 10 Omnitrix FX Watch - BANDAI
4 In The Night Garden Talking Plush - HASBRO
5 In The Night Garden Mini Plush - HASBRO
6 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Figures - BANDAI
7 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE LEGENDS - HASBRO
8 Tamagotchi Connexion - BANDAI
9 Hot Wheels Car Assortment - MATTEL
10 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE DELUXE - HASBRO

March 2008 (Unit Sold)
1 Hot Wheels Car Assortment - MATTEL
2 Cars Assortment - MATTEL
3 Ben 10 Collectable Figures 10CM - BANDAI
4 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Figures - BANDAI
5 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE LEGENDS - HASBRO
6 In The Night Garden Mini Plush - HASBRO
7 WWE Ruthless Aggression - VIVID
8 Dr Who 5-Inch Figures - CHARACTER OPTIONS
9 Ben 10 Omnitrix FX Watch - BANDAI
10 Pokemon 4CM Figures - BANDAI

Year To Date (� Sales)
1 Cars Assortment - MATTEL
2 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE LEGENDS HASBRO
3 In The Night Garden Talking Plush - HASBRO
4 In The Night Garden Mini Plush - HASBRO
5 Ben 10 Omnitrix FX Watch - BANDAI
6 Ben 10 Collectable Figures 10CM - BANDAI
7 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Figures - BANDAI
8 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE DELUXE HASBRO
9 Hot Wheels Car Assortment - MATTEL
10 WWE Ruthless Aggression - VIVID

Year To Date (Unit Sales)
1 Hot Wheels Car Assortment - MATTEL
2 Cars Assortment - MATTEL
3 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE LEGENDS HASBRO
4 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Figures - BANDAI
5 Ben 10 Collectable Figures 10CM - BANDAI
6 In The Night Garden Mini Plush - HASBRO
7 WWE Ruthless Aggression - VIVID
8 Dr Who 5-Inch Figures - CHARACTER OPTIONS
9 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE DELUXE - HASBRO
10 TRANSFORMERS CLASSICS MINI-CON 3PK HASBRO

Jiza toys have published some more images of their "in-progress" Perfect Transformation Iron-hide figure that will be on sale at this summers Wonderfestival. You can find these new images, along with others that have been published over the last two months (since our last report) which include images showing that the toy will actually be a Brainmaster Ironhide figure.

On the 18th April 2008, TransformersAnimated.com began running a poll to see who its visitors would have like to see appear in the Transformers Animated TV show. Well the poll have now closed and we can bring you the results.

Q. Who would you like to appear in the show?

• Jetfire - 35%
• Unicron 26%
• Hot Rod - 23%
• Waspinator - 10%
• Sixshot - 6%

Snakas has updated his blog with an article which reports on the contents of this months Hyper Hobby Magazine, the June issue. Below you will find a summary of the Transformers related contents.

Transformers Encore figures Omega Supreme and Bumble (Bumblebee) and the Minibots are shown once again in the magazine. Snakas comments that the face change for Omega Supreme is quiet obvious and is a big improvement on the original.

A larger picture of Transformers Henkei Hot Rodimus is published as well as the western versions of Ramjet and Jetfire.

Battle Damaged Optimus Prime, BT-19 and BT-20 are also included in articles within the magazine.

e-Hobby have updated their website with some more images of their upcoming exclusive Guardian robot figure. You can view the images below.

Hasbro have filed for 14 new Transformers related trademarks with the USPTO, most of which are either Transformers Animated or Transformers Universe related. You can view all of the details in our Transformers Trademark area which is updated constantly throughout the day by our dedicated news-bots, but here is the list which included some suprises.

1. Autobot Camshaft
2. Autobot Wheelie
3. Scrapper
4. Autobot Cosmos
5. Autobot Blades
6. Decepticon Bludgeon
7. Decepticon Heavy Load
8. Mudflap
   
9. Brawn
10. Oilslick
11. Mixmaster
12. Blitzwing
13. Warpath
14. Lugnut

We have added another two videos to the Transformers Video section of the website, this time from Episode 19 of Transformers Animated called Mission Accomplished. Both of the videos focus on Starscream and his "discovery". The videos can be viewed both on TransformersAnimated.com and Transformers At The Moon. The new videos are:

Starscream Awakes and Immortal Starscream

We have updated the Transformers Video section of the website to contain two videos from Episode 18 of Transformers Animated. The episode, Return of Headmaster, first aired in Canada on the Saturday 19th April and then in America a week later.

The two clips are:

Sentinel Prime's Press Conference

Optimus Prime Vs Headmaster

You can view the videos at both TransformersAnimated.com and Transformers At The Moon

In a strange update to the BBFC website a new entry for Transformers appeared a few weeks ago. The listing was for a 23 minute 23 second U rated video called Transformers - Optimus Prime Vs Megatron - The Ultimate Battle. That title is the name that was used on for the DVD that came with the Transformers Classics Optimus Prime / Megatron 2 pack. The DVD is listed as containing a photo gallery as well as the episode. It seems some what strange that the DVD would just be rated, considering that the toys are no longer on general release. Its also unlikely that this is a mis-entry for the Transformers Animated DVD, as it simply is not long enough. Could it be that the Classic 2-pack will be re-released within the UK shortly, and hte DVD was re-classified, or are the BBFC just that far behind.

Derrick Wyatt has updated his blog with a preview images of some of the Transformers Animated characters which should make an appear in the cartoon series in Seasons 2 and 3.

The images appear to be off Swindle, Jetstorm, Wreck-Gar, Skywarp, Shockwave, Mixmaster, Blurr, Jetfire and Thundercracker.

Derrick also added

"About Gurren Lagann: No, actually. I hadn't seen Gurren Lagann until after we had finished most of the first season of TFA. I wish I had, because I would have had the Headmaster robot transform with stubby little legs. And maybe Masterson's head popping up out of the top of the robot."

and

"About the inspiration and influences on TFA: I'm always inspired by Gainax's designs. They are by far my favorite animation studio in the world. I just hadn't seen anything on Gurren Lagann when we started TFA. We've definitely been inspired by that and Diebuster since. Prowl and Soundwave's glasses are a nod to 2000 AD's ABC Warriors. That and Mighty Orbots were the biggest influences on the designs.

As for Shockwave: There is a reason for his color change, but I can't explain that now. I do hope to get him repainted to his normal colors somewhere down the road. "

as well as

"About the Seekers: You go right ahead and dream, you never know what could happen.
Mumbo: I DID design the Amazing Mumbo, he was my favorite character from Titans. If you scroll way back through this blog you will find some drawings of him. Good times! Same thing with the Transformers sketches, there are some a few posts down from this one. I am always doodling other characters I want to put in the show. Some may even show up!

Curse you Bigbot.com for your daily ebay rarities! (J/K!) I have to look through those things obsessively every day, and I can never afford them!"

Hasbro have posted a few press released regarding the items that they had on display, as well as announced, at Botcon. Click the links below to view the press releases

News from BotCon: New Wal-Mart Exclusive Movie Deluxe Figures

News from BotCon: Target exclusive Voyager Deluxe Comic Packs

News from BotCon: Toys R Us Titanium 6” Exclusives

Botcon 2008 Recap

Denton J. Tipton, editor for IDW Publishing, has posted an update to his blog with an extract of the script from issue on of IDW's forthcoming Transformers Animated Issue 1. The winner of his art contest won the full script, but you can see the extract in this blog article.

Dont't forget to check out In The News page to find out when Denton's blog is updated along with another 27 websites