Auto Assembly 2009 Questionnaire Deadline Approaches

The guys behind AA have sent over the following release regarding the AA2009 questionnaire

"We've had a fantastic response to the paper and online surveys we've been running for Auto Assembly 2009 to help us make next year's Auto Assembly convention the biggest and best Transformers convention EVER that Europe has ever seen, but if you haven't already completed the survey, you've still got time! The closing date for the survey is the end of September 2008 and everyone who completes the survey and gives us their details will be entered into a FREE draw to win a family ticket to Auto Assembly 2009!!

Even if you didn't attend Auto Assembly 2008 - or even if you've never attended an Auto Assembly event before - we still want to hear your views, and we'd love to hear from those of you who live outside of the UK who are considering attending in the 25th anniversary year next year. Don't forget that EVERY vote counts in this survey!

We will be taking all of your responses into consideration in planning for next year, as well as all of the additional comments you may make and we've already had some wonderful ideas come forward and some VERY useful comments that we will be taking on board for next time so those of you who have already responded have started to shape Auto Assembly 2009!

You can find the survey here:-

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DkIO_2b1E485TJD6KbOum8Mg_3d_3d

Once the survey closes, we'll publish the results and produce a follow-up survey to go into more detail about the convention itself based on the decisions we reach and find out EXACTLY what you want from the convention!

Thanks in advance and we hope to see many of you there next year!

Simon and Sven
Auto Assembly

web: www.autoassembly.org.uk
forum: http://autoassembly.proboards7.com
email: autoassembly@aol.com
tel: +44 (0)7860 948296

Fatguy has updated his blog with more images and information from the TransformART! exhibition which took place in Japan recently.

If you've not already had a look at the event then you may want to pop over and see what Fatguy has to say.

We reported about an art exhibition of Transformers art, calledTransformART, which was to take place in august. Well the event is now on, started on the 8th August running until the 31st August at the Art Center Ongoing which is located in Kichij�ji, a neighborhood within the city Musashino within Tokyo, several blocks from the Kichij�ji Station.

Artwork ranges from the involved professionals to those who had grown up and/or were inspired by the series and includes concert art for unreleased and released figurs.

Art Center Ongoing's page of TransformART.

Gizmodo's page on TransformART

Simes has sent the following reminder to all Auto Seembly 2008 attendees to let them know they can now leave their ideas for Auto Assembly 2009 online.

Hi everyone!

Just a quick reminder about the AA2009 questionnaire that was in everyone's packs last weekend... Well, I've just done an online version of it now with a few extra tweaks and questions so if you haven't already completed it or if you want to do the extra version, you can find it here:-

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DkIO_2b1E485TJD6KbOum8Mg_3d_3d

The free family ticket prize draw still applies and you can enter and do the questionnaire even if you didn't attend AA this year!

Cheers,

Simon

The BBC were in attendance at Auto Assembly 2008 on the weekend and have now published their article and image gallery from the event on the Birmingham section of the BBC website. The article have quotes from both Sven and Simon and also mentioned howover �30,000 was spent by fans at the event, that is an average of over �70 per person. Not bad for a country going into recession.

Although finalised numbers will still need to be confirmed, Auto Assembly 2008 broke the previous UK and European Transfomers Convention attendance records (previously of 400 set at Auto Assembly 2006).

There were 398 pre-registrants this year, and around 415-420 people attending (from early figures).

Hasbro UK were displaying three Transformers Animated hardcopies, Leaderclass Bulkhead, Roll-Out Optimus Prime and Deluxe Cybertron Megatron. The three hard copies, in display cases, will be given away via the Hasbro UK store in September. We'll be posting more details on how you can enter the draw (UK residences only) to win these one-of-a-kind Hardcopy figures. Oh and yes there are mold differences.

Just a quick reminder to all fans, especially those in the UK, that Auto Assembly takes place tomorrow in Birmingham. The event, which is all set to break the UK attendence record for a Transformers Convention, is packed with 13 guests, a display of unreleased Transformers (from G1 to Universe), the first ever Hasbro UK apperance and display at a Transformers Convention as well as being filmed for the BBC Midlands and a DVD of unknown origin (though we have an idea of what it could be for).

The guest of honour is Dan Gilvezan, the voice actor behind Bumblbee in the original Transformers cartoon, as well as various other 80's cartoons such as Spider-man.

Thanks to Simes for sending over whast will probably be the final Auto Assembly 2008 press release. Transformers At The Moon will be attending the event where we will be displaying some unreleased figures from our collection at our table, so make sure to stop by and say hello.

AA 2008 Even More Guests!

We're just FOUR days away from Auto Assembly 2008 and as we promised, we've got yet another couple of last minute announcements to make...

* TWO MORE GUESTS CONFIRMED! *

We have now confirmed two more guests for Auto Assembly 2008 bringing the total to THIRTEEN! We are now being joined by John McCrea and Lee Bradley. John and Lee have both been working on Titan's Transformers comic for some time and John is going to be working on Titan's upcoming Transformers: Animated title. They have both also been working extensively in the comic industry and will be making their Auto Assembly debut.

* PRE-BOOKING DEADLINE IS TONIGHT! *

Don't forget, pre-bookings close TONIGHT so if you haven't already registered, you've got to get your bookings in by 9:00 pm GMT so we can process them and get your booking confirmations out in the post to you tomorrow to ensure that they reach you before the convention.

* NEW EUROPEAN RECORD IMMINENT... *

Bookings have been flying in and we have almost hit the total figure that we had in 2006 and that means just a few more and we have set a NEW European record and we will do this easily from on the door bookings!

* BBC AT AUTO ASSEMBLY 2008 *

It is looking very likely that not only will Auto Assembly 2008 be filmed to be included as a bonus featurette on a DVD, but it now looks as if the BBC will be sending a camera crew to the convention for their Midlands Today programme so expect to see a couple of camera crews around during the day!

Well, we're almost there but who knows what else might happen in the next 48 hours... See you all on Saturday!

As always, for all the latest information on Auto Assembly 2008, to book online or to download booking forms or for more information on anything in this weekly update, visit the website at www.autoassembly.org.uk


Simon and Sven
Auto Assembly 2008

email: enquiries@autoassembly.org.uk
web: www.autoassembly.org.uk
forum: http://autoassembly.proboards7.com

tel. +44 (0)7860 948296 / +44 (0)7804 951406

TFWorld2005 have live coverage of the SDCC Hasbro panel on their website. Here's a basic overview of what's been said so far.

• Showed Activators Cliffjumper repaint. Deluxe Blurr. Voyager long arm/Shockwave.
  One toy, 2 different robot modes., tank mode alt for shocky.
• Black and purple animated repaint of Megatron.
• Moving on to Universe. Showing Ironhide.
• Now showing Sideswipe.
• And, now showing silverbolt.
• Stormcloud powerglide redeco is based off a micromaster of the same name
• Now showing robot heroes, various packs, nothing new
• Fall 2008 Exclusives. showing SDCC exclusives
• wall mart exclusives - cybertron and classics repaints in real world paint schemes.
  
• Saw Cybertron Hot shot, Classics mirage in there, will clarify rest in a bit. Pic flashed quick on screen.
• RE animated dinobots - they want to do as many as possible. no other confirmation.
• The Wal Mart exclusives would be the already-seen Breakaway, Fracture and Crankcase, methinks.
• 25 years discussion will focus on all generations showing prime - WILL HAVE SHORT STACKS. Peter cullen voice box in package
• Showing deluxe hound and ravage
• Showing targetmaster deluxe Cyclonus, Awesome Transformations.
• Deluxe Cheetor - new transformation, more cat like robot mode, 1st era BW cheetor, no TM,
  
• universe voyager inferno no ladder, has water cannon, very boxy, Universe Inferno = G1. Red fire truck
• universe legends brawn and beachcomber.
• Universe legends Bumblebee (classics style), with COSMOS. Legends Cosmos
• BM Cheetor VS Tankor Robot heros.
• RID Prime, super mode, vs RID Megatron those were Robot Heroes
• Mighty Mugs- Prime first, more are coming.
• Talking up movie. Cant answer movie questions.

From the Q&A

• No plans for More Masterpiece in america, but everything is on the table.
• New Universe stuff, will there be ones on original 13 - will talk more later as comic comes out
• Animated - season 3 is it greenlit? They are working on it, but not officially picked up
• Animated Wreck Gar is coming.
• People want classics seaspray. They said we'll see
• Robot heroes Sari? Have specs drawn up, have to wait and see if it can work in market. (Archer has desire to do human characters.)
• Will there be a Deaths Head Marvel Transformer. No Plans, but they like the idea.
• No plans to do more IDW characters, but is open to idea, cross promotion in comics is important for non core characters.
• Question - Alternators ? Crowd explodes, wants them too.
• Headmasters, Masterforce, Victory in 25th line? - "We are celebrating all the eras" - So thats a maybe? "Better than a Maybe"
• Animated Omega Supreme? No plans yet.
• On Animmated Waspinator figure - Possible. Not sure if that was meant for Ani or classics.
• Animated seeker repaints - "We love our repaints"
• Animated Soundwave - May have another "instrument" in his arsenal
• More Macdonalds toys to come with second Movie
• Isenberg - "Honestly I dont know" when saked about female starscream clone
• Leader animated Lugnut? - Have to gauge market and demand first.
• Universe Unicron - No plans for new mold

The Transformers Collectors Club have updated their members only area with a preview image of the second Transformers Classics / Universe Seacons, Overbite. Members of the TFCC can need to sign in to that website to view the image which will probably be made publicly available in a few weeks.

TFWorld2005 have coverage of the San Diego Comic-con running at the moment (on their board).

Hasbro are yet to show anything new at the event, and there is unlikely to be anything Earth shattering shown at the event from Hasbro.