Hasbro has updated it's official Transformers Animated website with a few wallpapers of some of the characters.

For more wallpapers, and more characters, then check out Transformers Animated.com's wallpaper section.

A Japanese boxset of Transformers themes is now available for ordering online. The DVD will be released on the 26th March 2008. You can view the official listing page at Columbia Japan. Details of the tracks can be viewed over at CDJournal.com, though here is a summary.

Music from the Original Series (Fight. Super-robot life Transformer)
Headmasters (Fight. Super-robot life transformer 2010)
Victory (Fight. Super-robot life transformer V)
Masterforce (Transformer Super-god Masterforce)
Beast Wars (Beast Wars Super-life Transformer)
Beast Wars Metals (Beast Wars Metals Super-Life Transformer)
Armada (Super-Robot Life Transformer Micron Legend)
Energon (Transformers Super-Link)
Transformers Zone (Transformer Z New Captain General Dai-Atlas appears)
Beast Wars II the Movie

Thanks to Snakas for the report.

Titan Magazines have updated their MySpace site with some pencil artwork, and the colour cover, from Issue 9 of the UK exclusive Transformers Comic. Issue 9 will be released on the 29th Feb 2008.

The Toy Retailers Association Awards took place last night as a part of the British Toy Fair. Hasbro won the main prize, Toy of the Year 2007, and below you can find a full list of the winners.

Transformers won the Film License of the Year award.

Toy of the Year 2007: In The Night Garden Blanket Time Igglepiggle, Hasbro
Outdoor Toy of the Year: Flashing Storm, Martin Grossman
Puzzle of the Year: Rubik's Cube Original, Drumond Park
Game of the Year: High School Musical DVD Board Game, Mattel
Creative Toy of the Year: Moon Sand Castle Set, Spinmaster
Boys Collectable Toy of the Year: Doctor Who Figures, Character Options
Boys Toy of the Year: Ben 10 Omnitrix F/X, Bandai
Innovative Toy of the Year: Flytech Dragonfly, Character Options and Picoo Z R/C Helicopter, Silverlit
Girls Collectable Toy of the Year: Sylvanian Families, Flair
Girls Toy of the Year: Rose Petal Cottage Playhouse, Worlds Apart
Film Licence of the Year: Transformers, Hasbro
Pre-School Range of the Year: Peppa Pig, Character Options
Pre-School Toy of the Year: Roary The Racing Car R/C Roary, Vivid

Hasbro have issued a press release regarding both Transformers Animated and the Transformers Universes Classics line during the British Toy Fair which is taking place right now in London England.

"2007 was a hugely successful year for Transformers, with a blockbuster movie supporting an ever popular toy range. 2008 is set to be just as exciting with the release of the new Transformers: Animated series. Hitting TV screens from march, it's a great twist to the classic story of the "robots in disguise"

Transformers will be exploding into living rooms across the country with the all-new Transformers: Animated series set to launch this Easter. featuring on Nickleodeon, fans everywhere will be treated with the next generation of the popular struggle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The series will be supported by a whole new range of action figures in the style of the new cartoon with some familiar faces such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron. The full toy line will be available mid year.

Transformers: Animated is a high-octane, animated action-adventure series based on the beloved 1980s 'robots in disguise' of toy and cartoon fame. The Autobots continue their battle against the Decepticons on Earth and this time they have human friends to help them in the search for the AllSpark, such as their energetic 8-year-old guide, Suri Sumdac.

Also launching this Autumn / Winter is the Universe Toy Range which is set to capture the classic Transformers styling, going back to Generation 1 and the Beast Wars, bringing back your favourite characters to excite and inspire a new generation of Transformer fans.

2008 is going to be another big year for the 'robots in disguise' and fans are going to be with them every step of the way!

New Products Include:
Transformers AllSpark Blasters - �19.99
Movie Screen battles - �19.99
Legends AllSpark Battle Packs �5.99
Animated Range - �4.99 - �49.99
Universe Range - �2.99 - �39.99 "

Credit to Action-Figure.com for the report.

A member of ACToys.net has posted the first image of the upcoming Transformers Animated Blackarachnia figure in packaging. For more information on this female Decepticon, why not drop by her character page over at Transformers Animated.com, where you can download some exclusive wallpaper.

Its official, Transformers was the best selling Action Figure line in the UK for 2007!! Yes you read that right, despite only being on sale for half of the year, the Transformers Movie Legends series beat its main rival, Dr Who and Power Rangers to claim the number 1 spot based on units sold. Overall, 2007 was a great year for UK sales of Transformers, proving that the line can still be a success on this shores. In December both the Movie Legends and the Deluxe Assortment stayed in the Top ten chars on both monetary value and units sold. What also happened, and this may come as a little surprise, the Transformers Classics Mini-con Three pack sold the 10th highest number of units in 2007 of any toys! Yes Transformers appear in the Unit sales chart three times, at number 3, 8 and 10.

Below you will find the NPD charts for both December 2007 as well the Year-To-Date figures for 2007. What also should be noted is that in the Retail Store charts Transformers Beatmix Bumblebee was also the 2nd best selling toy in The Entertainer stores in December 2007.

December 2007 �
1. Bob It Extreme 2 - Hasbro
2. Baby Annabell Doll - Zapf Creations
3. Flytech Dragonfly - Character Options
4. 20q - Mattel
5. Transformers Movie Legends - Hasbro
6. V.Smile TV Learning System - VTech
7. ITNG Hugle Snuggle Iggle Piggle - Hasbro
8. Cars Character Assortment - Mattel
9. Kid Tough Digital Camera - Fisher-Price
10. Transformers Movie Deluxe Assortment - Hasbro

December 2007 Units
1. Hot Wheels Basic Car Assortment - Mattel
2. Chars Character Assortment - Mattel
3. Transformers Movie Legends - Hasbro
4. 20Q - Mattel
5. Dr Who 5-Inch Figures - Character Options
6. WWE Ruthless Aggression - VIVD
7. Bop It Extreme - Hasbro
8. Transformers Movie Deluxe Assortment - Hasbro
9. Ben 10 Collectable Figures - Bandai
10. Transformers Classics Mini-con Three Pack - Hasbro

2007 Year To Date (�)
1. Tamagotchi Connexion Assortment - Bandai
2. Dr Who 5-Inch Figures - Character Options
3. Cars Character Assortment - Mattel
4. Baby Annabell Doll - ZAPF Creation
5. Transformers Movie Legends - Hasbro
6. Transformers Movie Deluxe Assortment - Hasbro
7. Flytech Dragonfly - Character Options
8. Hot Wheels Basic Car Assortment - Hasbro
9. Power Rangers Mystic Force Light Figures - Bandai
10. WWE Ruthless Aggression - Vivid

2007 Year To Date (Units)
1. Hot Wheels Basic Car Assortment - Mattel
2. Cars Character Assortment - Mattel
3. Transformers Movie Legends - Hasbro
4. Dr Who 5-Inch Figures - Character Options
5. Power Rangers Mystic Force Light Figures - Bandai
6. WWE Ruthless Aggression - Vivid
7. Tamagotchi Connexion Assortment - Bandai
8. 20Q - Hasbro
9. Transformers Movie Deluxe Assortment - Hasbro
10. Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver

Update: For those wondering what Novembers charts looked like, here they are

November 2007 � Sales

1. Baby Annabell Doll - ZAPF Creation
2. Kid Tough Digitial Camera - Fisher Price
3. Girl Tech Digi Makeover - Mattel
4. Flytech Dragonfly - Character Options
5. Huggle Snuggle Igglepiggle - Hasbro
6. Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer - Hasbro
7. V Smile TV Learning System - VTech
8. CARS Transforming Mack Playset - Mattel
9. Transformers Movie Assortment - Hasbro
10. 20Q - Mattel

November 2007 Unit Sales

1. Hot Wheels Cars Assortment - Mattel
2. Cars Assortment - Mattel
3. Transformers Movie Legends - Hasbro
4. 20Q - Mattel
5. Dr Who 5-Inch Figures - Character Options
6. Transformers Movie Assortment - Hasbro
7. WWE Rutheless Agression - Vivid
8. Ben10 Collectable Figures - Bandai
9. V.Smile Software Assortment - VTech
10. Bionicle TOA Mahri Assortment - Lego

Talk.Transformers member Lu has uploaded some more images of Transformers Animated Cybertronian Megatron, which we have mirrored in our second Transformers Animated toy image gallery..

Thanks TFWorld2005 for the spot

Simon Furman has updated his blog with information on the latest issue of Transformers (the comic by Titan Magazines) which is due for release on Thursday (tomorrow).

According to the toy booklet that comes with Transformers Movie Leader Class Desert Brawl, the Transformers Animated toys, will be released in the United States in June of 2008.

Credit to TFW2005 for the news

TFW2005 member, MegaHavok, has reported that Transformers Movie Leader Class Desert Brawl is out now in Wal*Marts in Corona, California.

TFWorld2005 have received some stock images of the latest wave of Transformers Robot Heroes line, which include Dispensor (the Mountain Dew robot from the Transformers Movie).

You can see the images here.

Hasbro have updated Transformers.com with the first official images of the Transformers Universe Classic Deluxe and Ultra Wave 1 figures. The images are of the unpainted prototypes and can be seen below.

Sunstreaker

Prowl

Powerglide

Tankor (Octane)

Onslaught

Here is a copy of the press release.

Get the inside scoop on wave 1 of the Transformers Universe Classic Deluxe and Ultra figures with first looks of grey model images, character names and design notes from the toys’ lead designer – Bill Rawley.

The Classic Series is back in Transformers Universe with updated versions of your favorite characters. We chose G1 characters that translate well into today’s world with realistically-styled “alt modes” and cues from the characters’ heritage to create awesome, updated robots. Wave 1 will hit stores in August 2008.

Transformers Universe Classic Deluxe

SUNSTREAKER
For SUNSTREAKER, the design team sought to create a cool concept sports car that was reminiscent of the character’s G1 form. In robot mode, the team modernized Sunstreaker’s head from G1, but originally weren’t able to achieve the proper fit to allow for the toy’s conversion. A final change to convert part of the “ear” panels allowed the team to capture the look it desired.

PROWL
In robot mode, it was important that Prowl have his shoulder mounted missile launchers, as he did back in G1. The design team also worked with TakaraTomy to create an innovative head reveal as part of the conversion process.

TANKOR
This triple-change converts to a robot, airplane and tanker truck. Originally planned as Octane, the team ended up having to change the name to Tankor. Like Prowl, this character also features an exciting head reveal. Painted with all the details, this guy looks like a mean Decepticon ready to blast and cut something to shreds.

Transformers Universe Classic Ultra

POWERGLIDE
For POWERGLIDE there were a few important design considerations. First, the design team wanted POWERGLIDE’s head to still have a dome-like point, but in a more updated way. Second, his wings needed to be in his shoulders as they originally were in G1. To stay true to the realistic nature of the Classic Series, the deco will be more silver than red, but with multiple red cues to connect to POWERGLIDE’s original look.

ONSLAUGHT
Bill chose ONSLAUGHT because he always loved his design and the two large signature barrels on the character’s back. The design team worked to retain that very characteristic silhouette in this new Ultra scale version of ONSLAUGHT. In choosing a vehicle mode, design went with a cool S.W.A.T. Urban assault vehicle to set it apart from the tanks in other TRANSFORMERS product lines. The vehicle choice and theme lent itself to the creation of a riot shield in robot mode. The final version does an excellent job recalling the G1 characters the design team grew up with.