TF08.net member 蛤蟆 has posted some high resolution images of the Transformers Blackarachnia figure on their message board. You can view the images here.

Credit to TFW2005 for the news

We have updated the Lugnut Toy Image dump on TransformersAnimated.com with images of the finished Lugnut toy which are from an auction on eBay.

UK fans remember that Transformers Animated starts within the UK in just 19 days on NickToons, as exclusively announced here.

There is an eBay auction for the sold out Botcon 2008 Optimus Prime figure which you can find here. We have mirrored the image below. Click for full size.

Our Prototype and Concept area has been updated with new images of transparencies of some protoytpe Generation One Transformers toys. The images may be hardcopies, although we are not sure, and include Pretenders, Headmasters and Seacons.

• Snap Trap transparency
• Waverider transparency
• Chromedome and Brainstorm Transparency

Your grandparents remember a rah-rah line of 12-inch dolls with kung-fu grip, providing a male alternative to Barbie. Your older siblings (or, gasp!, parents) grew up with a highly stylized, action-packed, endearingly goofy cartoon franchise fueled by 3 3/4-inch action figures. You might recall anything from G.I. Joe Extreme to the Classic Collection, to pop-culture references like "knowing is half the battle."

Now, a star-powered G.I. Joe movie has begun filming. But the question remains: What will the movie's Joes be like? For the answer, we went straight to the only man who commands both Destro and General Hawk.

Brian Goldner is the chief operating officer at Hasbro, which first introduced Joe to action-minded adolescents in 1964, and is also the executive producer on the "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" movies. " 'G.I. Joe' has just gone into filming this past week, with a great cast and a tremendous story all based on the comics and the animation," Goldner said. "I think fans, and fans to come, will really love what we're doing."

(In the MTV Movies blog, Goldner talks about the possibility of G.I. Joe's classic vehicles showing up in the movie.)

Undoubtedly, such statements are as musical to the ears of longtime fans as the TV show's theme song. But stars like Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller and Marlon Wayans have been met with varying degrees of enthusiasm from such fans, and Quaid himself recently confirmed that many beloved characters — including Wild Bill, Shipwreck and Tomax and Xamot — won't be in the flick.

"We all really loved what G.I. Joe was about in the '80s; we loved that story arc and the concept of Joe vs. Cobra," said Goldner, explaining that the people who created those characters will return, even if some of their creations won't. Comics writer Larry Hama, Goldner confirmed, "is onboard, and he's working with us on the script.

"And you may see him in the movie," he added.

Noting that the flick, directed by "Mummy" mastermind Stephen Sommers, will largely sidestep the TV show and be more "about the comic books," Goldner revealed some of the major characters and plotlines the film will explore. "We all know of the Arashikage [ninja clan], and we all know of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, but we need to build that story," he explained. "We all know the story of Duke, and the story of the Baroness. ... We know the story of Destro, but do we really? We need to go back and tell the origin story of how you get a Scottish arms dealer, who comes forward in history — how does that happen?"

"And Cobra Commander," he added, referring to the evil terrorist leader who fan sites have reported will be portrayed by "Brick" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. "In effect, this is all about the rise of Cobra Commander. ... For fans, they're really going to love this, because we take them on a journey. ... We have to go through the first chapter and then build from there."

Goldner was also eager to respond to the controversy over rumors that the patriotic nature of "G.I. Joe" was being toned down in order to be more appealing to a worldwide, post-9/11 audience. "Duke, in our story, really represents the pre-1983 G.I. Joe," he said, linking Channing Tatum's character to the dolls of the '60s and '70s. "If those fans that grew up on the 12-inch Army man are looking for where their anchor should be, it's in Duke; he's the leader of the team and clearly American.

"But the story, just like in the comic books, was a story that took us all over the world," he continued. "That's all we were really trying to get at. And everything else that fans have heard, about the early ideas or contemplations, that's really gone. ... We're talking about a story that's going to take us all over the world, from the desert to under the water, to the mountains to cities. ... Clearly, the American military is involved, as are other forces. But at the end of the day, the force that matters is the G.I. Joe force, and the Pit, and all the things that relate to that."

We caught up with Goldner at the New York Toy Fair, where he was giving fans a sneak preview of the G.I. Joe toys of the future. At the front of his thoughts, however, was the real-life stars who'd soon be creating the action figures' action. "We think it's amazing to have Channing Tatum as Duke, because I think he has a different kind of fanbase," said the executive producer, who in May will become Hasbro's CEO. "Clearly, Sienna Miller has a wonderful fanbase. Dennis Quaid as General Hawk, he has a tremendous fanbase. So bringing them all together, as an ensemble cast, is going to be really dynamic and something that people haven't seen before. But it'll still be very true to G.I. Joe."

The next question would seem to be a logical one: Will the Joes we know and love be replaced by toy versions of Marlon Wayans and Arnold Vosloo? "Well, what was so magical about the '80s G.I. Joe was the 3 3/4-inch product," Goldner said, revealing that the dimensions of the star-faced toys would be along the lines of the "Real American Hero" line. "[That size] gives people a chance to get all the figures but get all of the vehicles. So it's going to be in that scale. ... Very true to where we were in the 1980s, and then we'll take it forward.

"Steve Sommers is very different," Goldner said, contrasting him with "Transformers" director Michael Bay. "But he's perfect, because if you think about his movies like 'The Mummy,' it's the perfect action/adventure movie. If you think about what we're trying to do for G.I. Joe, really bringing back that '80s G.I. Joe from the Marvel comics — those first 155 issues are really our focus. If you think about that, you'll understand what we're trying to get at with all those characters and all the intricate relationships.

"I don't think you'd see this movie as wacky," he promised, alluding to some of the more eccentric characters from the cartoon show. "I think you're going to see this movie as being inspirational for younger kids and totally in the sweet spot for the guys who grew up on G.I. Joe."

In August 2009, we'll see it with our own eyes. In the meantime, "G.I. Joe" continues to shoot all over the world, with a budget so huge that it makes the U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier play set look like something you'd get at a 99-cent store.

The broken link on the Transformers Animated characters page linking to Ultra Magnus' character page has now been fixed and links to the correct url.

Sorry for any confussion.

The Transformers Collectors Club have released a promotional video featuring the latest club exclusive, Topspin.

Hasbro have issued yet another press release for figures from the Transformers Movie line which you can read here.

Spring 2008 Exclusives only at Target
Be sure to head to target this spring and summer fore these great movie exclusive TRANSFORMERS action figures.
Movie Character ALLSPARK Deluxe Figures
Each of this assortments 4 movie characters – BUMBLEBEE, AUTOBOT JAZZ, BARRICADE and DECEPTICON BRAWL – is packed in robot mode in a premium display package to showcase the robot’s AllSpark Powered blue deco highlights. Look for these figures at Target in mid-April; $9.99 SRP

BUMBLEBEE
The ALLSPARK empowered AUTOBOT hero is ready to adventure across the galaxy, fighting DECEPTICONS wherever they’re found.
AUTOBOT JAZZ
Though he was badly damaged – almost destroyed – in the final battle AUTOBOT JAZZ is back. Thanks to the power of the ALLSPARK he’s more powerful than ever.
DECEPTICON BRAWL
With his cannons powered up by ALLSPARK energy, DECEPTICON BRAWL has more destructive power than ever, and he’s setting his sights on blasting the AUTOBOTS to pieces
BARRICADE
BARRICADE uses his supercharged ability to disguise himself to cause havoc among the humans helping the AUTOBOTS. Thanks to the ALLSPARK, he’s almost impossible to detect among similar human vehicles
Premium Series DEEP SPACE STARSCREAM
The TRANSFORMERS Movie Premium series concludes with this exclusive STARSCREAM with metallic deco and added movie details. Deep Space Starscream’s enhanced deco is based directly off of an actual F-22 Raptor. The codes on his vertical stabilizers (“FF 1st FW”) indicate that the particular F-22 Raptor that he scanned for his jet mode was from the 1st Fighter Wing (“1st FW”) based out of Langley Air Force Base. Like the real F-22 fighter, parts of his deco are a shiny metallic while other parts are a flat gray. Available June 22 at Target; SRP $19.99.

Fleeing the catastrophic battle that led to the destruction of MEGATRON, STARSCREAM retreats to a nearby power plant where he can siphon enough raw energy to repair himself of the minor damage he has suffered from human weapons. His frame repaired and reenergized, he boosts out of the atmosphere, headed for deep space. As he accelerates past the moon, he sets his sensors to long-range scan, hoping to find evidence of nearby DECEPTICON reinforcements he can bring back to Earth to destroy the AUTOBOTS and their human allies.

Hasbro have issued the following press release via Transformers.com

Take your first look at these awesome exclusives infused with AllSpark Power that will be at Wal-Mart this spring.

THE FINAL BATTLE: ROBOT HEROES 5-pack
Following on the popular g1-themed Robot Heroes 5-pack from 2007, this pack brings together 5 exclusive figures to recreate the movie’s final dramatic battle scene in the unique styling of ROBOT HEROES. Find it at Wal-Mart now, SRP $9.96

Together with their new human comrades, the AUTOBOTS battle the DECEPTICONS to the finish in the final fight for possession of the AllSpark. The crowded streets of a human city are the battleground. The pavement cracks and melts from the power of the giant robots’ weapons. The destruction is legendary as the mighty metal warriors hurl each other against the sides of buildings, and fill the air with laser fire. Neither side will stop fighting until their enemies are totally destroyed.

Includes OPTIMUS PRIME with ALLSPARK POWER, MEGARON with metallic finish, Battle Damaged BLACKOUT, Battle Damaged AUTOBOT JAZZ and AUTOBOT RATCHET with ALLSPARK POWER.

Exclusive Movie Deluxe Figures

By selecting some of the coolest molds from the past, the TRANSFORMERS design team has created four new movie (and G1) inspired characters with AllSpark Powered deco treatments. Read notes from designer Joe Kyde and see images below. Look for these characters at Wal-Mart now, SRP $9.96.

DIVEBOMB
This DECEPTICON jet uses deco inspired by the Russian Air Force SU-37 Flanker- F prototype. The design team went with this deco to provide something that had realistic cues but still stood out. The “Decepticon Air Force” marking is the same as that used on the Decepticon Movie Starscream G1 redeco, and is roughly based on the real-world Philippines Air Force roundel.

DIVEBOMB tries his hardest to make friends with the other DECEPTICONS, but they go out of their way to avoid him. Everyone recognizes his skill an aerial fighter, his intelligence as a tactician, and his positive attitude towards the goal of total DECEPTICON domination. Unfortunately, his reactor containment is so bad that other robots can't stand to be near him. Wherever he goes, he leaves a trail of toxic fumes, and he emits so much radiation that it short-circuits the sensor systems of those nearby.

JOLT
The design team originally intended this character to have a darker purple deco--similar to that of the old Micromaster Roadhugger. When a name change was required this mold from Cybertron worked even better as a reimagining of the Generation 2 DECEPTICON Laser Rod Jolt.

Shortly after the final battle for the AllSpark, JOLT sought out BARRICADE for advice. Brought to life by the energy bursts thrown off the Allspark during the fight, he wanted to learn the finer points of lying and trashing stuff. After BARRICADE was done beating on him, DECEPTICON FRENZY made fun of him for a while, and slashed his tires. That was his first and only lesson, and he took it to heart.

BIG DADDY
This deluxe version of BIG DADDY is based on the Micromaster Hot Rod of the same name –a perennial favorite among the collector community. This DOWNSHIFT mold from Cybertron really lends itself well to this fan favorite.
BIG DADDY is more concerned with his paint job than with any war that might be going on. You'll most often find him cruising the main drag of whatever town he ends up in, or hanging out at the local beach. When he does roll out, he does it slow, so that all the pedestrians can get a nice, long look at his sleek lines and killer chrome. He's got his own crew of robots to roll with. They stay out of the way of the rest of the AUTOBOTS, and the AUTOBOTS stay out of theirs.

GRINDCORE
The design team decided that an AUTOBOT construction vehicle would nicely round out this exclusive assortment. GRINDCORE is loosely based on Micromaster Crush-Bull. To complete the AUTOBOT aesthetic, the traditional secondary purple cues were replaced with a rust red color. His name comes from a style of music that aptly fits his personality.
Whatever GRINDCORE is doing, he loves to do it loud. CYBERTRONwas always a pretty noisy place, what with everyone revving their engines, and then the war. Earth people really know how to make noise fun though. Human heavy metal is way cooler than the shock-pop he listened to in his home city of Vos. It's easy to find him on any construction project – just follow the incredibly loud music.

The toy images areas for Transformers Animated Blackarchnia and Ratchet, at TransformersAnimated.com, have been updated with some new images showing the back of the packaging of both of these toys as well as a close up of the bubble.

In additional to this, the cartoon image area of the following characters have been updated with images from Episode 11: Lost and Found.

1. Blitzwing
2. Bumblebee
3. Captain Fanzone
4. Lugnut
5. Optimus Prime
6. Police SWAT Officer
7. Ratchet
8. Sari Sumdac
9. Starscream