Hasbro Inc have updated Transformers.com with a new dedicated Transformers Animated section. The area contains buddy icons, news, profiles and a few new images of some of the characters. The Autobot profiles contain a little sound byte from each of the characters.

Don't forget you can stay up-to-date with the latest Transformers Animated news and information over at TransformersAnimated.com

Steve Fritz has written an article over at Newsarama.com regarding Transformers Animated. The article mainly discusses information that has already been released, but it also covers some of the characters that didn't make the final show, such as HotShot and a female Red Alert .

"Bumblebee was originally Hotshot in the development,” he admits, but we were told that Bumblebee was going to be a breakout character in the live action movie, so we happily swapped that one out. Ratchet was originally Red Alert, and believe it or not, was female! Bulkhead at one point was going to be the crusty veteran, but we shifted his role when we changed Red Alert to Ratchet.".

The article also confirmed that the leaders of the Autobots, on Cybertron, are Ultra Magnus (Jeff Bennett) and Sentinel Prime (Townsend Coleman).

Hinatatiki has been updated with a full gallery of the Japanese release of the Transformers Movie Night Watch Optimus Prime figure, both in and out of packaging.

You can see the full gallery of the Japanese figure here, and then compare it to a full gallery of the UK released figure in our Transformers Toy Gallery area

Simon Furman has updated his blog with a teaser for the upcoming IDW Spotlight on Grimlock

....this one’s been a long time coming, inasmuch as I pointedly didn’t want to lean too heavily, too early in the evolution of the IDW/TF-verse, on what’s become almost my signature character across the various eras of Transformers in comic form. But, having trailered Grimlock (and his Dynobots) in Spotlight Shockwave, it was only a matter of time before the linguistically-strangled one (and don’t go reading into that that I’m necessarily going to play IDW/TF-verse Grimlock like previous incarnations!) got a Spotlight of his own. That begged the question, who was IDW/TF-verse Grimlock?

How was he different? What drives him? What makes him who he is? I wanted to make sure that this Grimlock was presented as completely as possible as quickly as possible, and that we got well and truly inside his head.

Anyway, the actual events in Spotlight Grimlock (as well referencing Spotlight Shockwave, naturally) spiral out of the catastrophic conclusion to Devastation #6, in more ways than one. On the one hand, Skywatch, the alien-aware, off-the-radar government organization responsible for the salvage/reactivation/reorientation of Ravage and Laserbeak (in Spotlight Soundwave, etc), attempt to bolster their ‘pet’ anti-robot robot strike team with a Dynobot (or so). Things, naturally, don’t go to plan (for reasons which will surprise you, I think), and this in turn sets in motion a blazing confrontation with another of the previously-introduced cast (and no, I’m not saying who), who gets some decent page time in Devastation #6.

Though self-contained, Spotlight Grimlock is most definitely a sequel to Spotlight Shockwave, inasmuch as it deals with the consequences (to Grimlock himself and the other Dynobots) of Grimlock’s actions therein. Spotlight Grimlock is also a key part of what’s coming next. Its crunching head-to-head opens the door for one of 08’s (several) big ‘events.’ Can’t say more, as I’m sworn to secrecy right now, but it’s a crowd-pleaser!

Spotlight Grimlock is drawn by Marcelo Matere and hits in March 08. Don’t miss it, really, DON’T MISS IT.

Tformers.com have a few new images of the Japanese DVD exclusive Blackout 4500X repaint, which comes with a metallic coloured Scorponok toy (small) and is meant to me more Film Accurate.

You can see the images by clicking the link above.

Thanks to Da Razorclaw at TFWorld2005.com for pointing out that a game on the Cartoon Network Transformers Animated website includes some pictures of previously unannounced and some announced, but not previously seen, characters.

This is a pretty nice on-line battlecard-type game. I've found its pretty addictive.

The real news is that it reveals some new characters! In addition to giving us our first clear looks at Prometheus Black, Headmaster, and Nanosec, it also reveals that Ironhide and Scrapper are future characrers!

It seems there are also two more playable decks yet to be added; the computer can use them, though, it seems.

Scrapper and Ironhide can only be seen in the opponent's decks, thus far.

Hasbro Inc have updated Transformers.com with a release regarding news reported by fan sites. The article, which you van read in full below, states that as the news has not come from official sources, that people should treat them as rumours. The date of this release comes on the heals of the Transformers Animated press packs being sent out as well as recent reports on the Transformers Classics 2.0 figures. Since the Animated news has come direct from the studio producing the series, the most likely news to which Hasbro are referring is the Transformers Classics line. More on this in the coming weeks

"The coming year is going to be very exciting for Hasbro’s boys properties. We realize that fans are anticipating 2008 as much as we are, and that speculation on our line is a large part of the excitement. Fans of Hasbro’s boys brands may be noticing some information circulating on the web. While you may be tempted to believe that this information is accurate, we want to remind our fans, that unless product information or images are posted on an official Hasbro brand site, brand Q&A, or released by Hasbro’s Corporate Communications team, the information is not authorized and therefore not official. We do not want to get consumer hopes up when rumors turn out to be unfounded.

We can’t wait to share great information, images and products with fans of all ages at the appropriate time as determined by Hasbro and, as appropriate, our licensors."

From Variety

eBay seller Heerotoysmaker has listed another auction for a testshot of the upcoming Transformers Animated Starscream figure. The figure has markings written onto the wings, most likely to identify the factory from which it originated.

You can view the images below.

Transformers Animated.com has been updated with the information from the Cartoon Network fact sheets, covering the Transformers Animated profiles as well as Transformers Animated Voice Actors bios.

We've also highlighted the first official blooper, with Jeff Bennett being credited for the character Detective Fanzone. The correct name for the character is Captain Fanzone.

As mentioned in the previous news article we received the press pack from Turner Broadcasting today which included the profiles for the main human characters in Transformers Animated.

SARI SUMDAC
(Voiced by Tara Strong)

Although Sari is one hundred percent human, she’s an “honorary” AUTOBOT. As the adopted daughter of robotics magnate Isaac Sumdac, Sari lived a sheltered life until she met the AUTOBOTS. Obsessed by his work, Sumdac had little time for Sari growing up. As a result, she was raised largely by his domestic robot drones, whom little Sari came to love as deeply as any parent, nanny, teddy bear and/or imaginary friend.

Sari is also integral to the survival of the AUTOBOTS. When they first awakened on Earth, the ALLSPARK scanned for technology that would allow the AUTOBOTS to blend in with their environment. But it scanned something else first: an organic life form—specifically, a pre-pubescent girl who was hanging around her father’s robotics factory. Call it an accident or call it destiny, but the ALLSPARK projected part of itself onto Sari in the form of THE KEY. Wearing it on a chain around her neck, Sari can use the Key to absorb the ALLSPARK energy and store it like a battery, providing an emergency power supply and healing source for the AUTOBOTS in battle. It also provides Sari with an almost psychic connection to the AUTOBOTS. She can sense when they’re in danger and when DECEPTICONS are near.

Sari acts as the unofficial ambassador to the planet Earth for the AUTOBOTS, cluing them in on such alien concepts as junk food, school, sleep, popularity, shopping, belching contests, fashion and the dreaded tow away zones.

ISAAC SUMDAC
(Voiced by Tom Kenny)

As the founder of the modern robotics industry, Sumdac single-handedly transformed the city of Detroit from the crumbling symbol of a declining automobile industry to the gleaming, thriving beacon of the future it becomes in the 22^nd Century. And his public awe and deep gratitude toward the AUTOBOTS is largely responsible for their elevated superhero status on Earth.

One night in the late 21^st Century, the young Sumdac thought he saw a falling star cascade into his back field, but it was something much better. It was the smoldering, non-functioning remains of the head of an alien robot, Megatron. Turns out, after his battle with OPTIMUS PRIME and the AUTOBOTS, a badly damaged Megatron ejected from his ship and crashed to Earth, landing in Sumdac’s field. In the decades that passed while the AUTOBOTS slumbered in stasis at the bottom of Lake Erie, Sumdac was able to reverse the Cybertronian technology engineered by Megatron and usher in the Automatronic Revolution of the 22^nd Century.

But what Sumdac doesn’t know is that the remains of the cybernetic alien he recovered may be more functional than they appear. And Megatron has been manipulating Sumdac to bring Earth technology to a level that will allow him to reconstruct his battle damaged body and a whole new army of DECEPTICONS.

CAPTAIN FANZONE
(Voiced by Jeff Bennett)

Unicron.com had already hinted at seeing the first 3 episodes of Transformers Animated, known as the Transformers Animated Movie, and now both themselves and Benson Yee have updated their respected sites with reviews of the episodes.

Be warned, spoilers are included.
Unicron.com
BWTF.com

We've also now received a copy of the Transformers Animated press pack (via email, not in the post so we didn't get the DVD), but we do have access to the profiles and images. The profiles are already on Transformers Animated.com's profile page, and most of the information was already covered there, but be sure to check that site out for a full rundown.

We are also in the progress of redrawing all of the images in vector graphics, so you can expect some more wallpapers in the near future.

Thanks to The Allspark for the news.

The Nielsen Company has released its year-end look at the most popular trends among Americans during 2007. The firm monitors media and consumer spending trends including television, internet, movies, DVDs, music, mobile, books, advertisers, video games and consumer purchasing trends.

Spider-man 3 topped the box office chart, closely followed by Shrek the Third, Transformers, POTC: At World’s End and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (data from Jan 1st to December 9th 2007). Spider-man 3 and Shrek the Third also took the number one and two positions in the box office sequels listing.

Happy Feet topped the DVD sales chart (through to November 18th), followed by Transformers, 300, Night at the Museum and The Departed.

Credit: Licensing Biz

Cool Toy Review is featuring a list of Hasbro's 2008 Action Figure products (planned for US releases in 2008). Assortment and the Number of Items are revealed, although not exact details of who is in what.

"For their Transformers collection, Hasbro is putting a strong focus on the new Animated version of the characters, and we’ll see the following:

Transformers Animated Voyager Assortment
9 figures

Transformers Deluxe Animated Assortment
15 figures

Transformers Leader Assortment
3 figures

Transformers Animated Activators Assortment
8 spring-loaded quick transforming figures

Transformers Universe Deluxe Assortment
8 figures

Transformers Universe Ultra Assortment
4 figures

Transformers Universe Assortment
8 figures

Transformers Movie Screen Battles Assortment
4 figures with scaled human figures

Transformers Universe Robot Heroes Assortment
13 two packs

Transformers Allspark Battle Packs Assortment
8 two packs

Transformers Animated Battle Pack w/DVD

Roll Out & Command Optimus Prime
Optimus comes to life via automorph technology. This talking figure can automatically transform.

Marvel Legends Transformers
Well, there are 8 of these planned, and we guess some people might like them…

Note: The Transformers Universe lines is the official name for Transformers Classics 2.0