Snakas has published his round up of the latest issue of Dengeki Hobby Magazine which you can read here in Japanese. The issue contains pretty much the same contents as the latest issue of Figure King including Transformers Encore Metroplex, Suntory Limited coffee boss campaign, Transformers Henkei, Transformers Alternity and the Transformers Marvel Crossovers.

The Henkei article confirmed that Streak is slightly recoloured from the Western release, and that Galvatron and Ironhide will be released in November in Japan.

The Alternity GT-R figure is listed as going on sale in January 2009 for 4,725 yen which is the latest source saying that the figure has slipped from a November 2008 release, back to 2009. Once again, the profile and character name were not published.

Finally, more information and images were published on the Chara-Hobby 2008 exclusive Transformers Henkei Wildrider.

The 127th issue of Figure King magazine was released today in Japan and includes article on Transformers Encore Metroplex, the Suntory Limited coffee boss campaign figures, Transformers Henkei Prowl, Sunstreaker and Galvatron, the heavily delayed Binaltech Convoy, Alternity Convoy, Transformers Crossovers and an article on the TransformArt exhibitions.

The article on Encore Metroplex covers the history of the character including pictures from Scramble City and the G1 cartoon, as well as highlighting the mould difference on the tank turrent (Slammer). The article also confirms, once again, that the toy will be the chromed legged rubber wheeled version.

The Suntory Limited coffee boss campaign figures, which we first reported on the 18th August, are highly cartoon accurate non-transforming figures, think back to the SCF toys, and like those have chase figures, the chrome toys, of which the parts will be spread over a few cans.

Images are published in the issue of the Transformers Henkei Prowl and Sunstreaker figures. The images are of the Japanese versions and not the US figures. The toys are due out in October, and the magazine announces that Galvatron will be the next Transformers Henkei toy released after these toys, with a picture of his head being published.

This issue of Figure King states that the much delayed Binaltech Convoy figure will finally be released in Japan on the 2nd October 2008. Previously the figure had been reported as being released at the end of September via he TakaraTomy Generation One website.

The article on the Alternity GT-R figure publishes the prototype image which was recently seen on the internet. It also states that the automatic transformation system has been dubbed "Synchronized Tec" in a similar way to the "Automorph Technology" Hasbro use on the Transformers Movie toys. No information was published concerning the name of the character, the retail price or the release date.

Credit goes to Snakas for the original report.

Seibertron.com have an interview with David Laye which they posted last night.

David Kaye, just made a brief visit and answered some hot questions pertaining to his role as Optimus Prime and about the Animated Series.

Cybetron.ca have an online Q&A with Hasbro Canada arranged where you can submit your questions online to them. They will then take the best 10 and submit them to Hasbro for answering.

Bear in mind that this Q&A will be with Hasbro Canada and not Hasbro US, so they probably wouldn't be able to answer questions to do with the toy design / production process.

TFWorld2005 have two scans from the August edition of Hyper Hobby showing the Transformers Henkei Prowl and Sunstreaker toys as well as Transformers Encore minibots.

You can see the scans here.

TFWorld2005 have a video interview with Gregg Berger, the voice of G1 Grimlock (amoung others)

You can see the videos on You Tube or on TFW.

Transformers Hispanos have posted an interview with IDW Publishing Editor Denton J. Tipton. Denton talks about a variety of subjects including Transformers Animated, featuring a Dinobot story (from Simon Furman and Nick Roche).

To view the complete interview, click here.

Thanks to Seibertron for the spot

Snakas has posted a report on the contents of this months Dengeki Hobby Magazine. Here is a basic summary.

Transformers Movie Battle Damaged Optimus Prime was shown. The information on the figure was the same as this months Figure King, but the photograph was larger.

The Transformers Binaltech BT-19 and BT-20 figures were featured in an article.

On the Henkei front, the Japanese Hot Rodimus figure was shown as were the western releases of Jetfire and Ramjet. Snakas notes that Figure King has much more information on the figures.

Encore Omega Supreme and the Mini-bot set were featured with the same information as Figure King.

A "correction article" was published on the downsizing of Transformers in Japan which also covered the revival of the Binaltech line. Snakas publishes a quote from the article which talks about quality over quantity, and how the line (Transformers) is now becoming more popular again.

Finally there is an article discussing the relationship / connection between Zoids and Transformers. The article talks about how in trying to get everything ready for the Transformers Movie in 2007, the developement of Zoids was put on the backfoot.

Tim Bradley is a freelance designer, illustrator and author who worked full time for Hasbro in 1998 as well as freelancing for them in 2004. Tim worked on various Hasbro properties (Transformers, Star Wars, Jurassic Park), including Beast Wars, Beast Machines and Transformers Cybertron. Tim recently agreed answer a few questions regarding not only his work as a toy designer, but also as an illustrator and published author. You can read our exclusive interview here.

Dark Ramjet of TFWorld2005.com has had a chance to sit down with Transformers Voice Acting veteran David Kaye. David voice's Optimus Prime in Transformers Animated, as well as a few other characters, but rose to fame (in the Transformers franchise) as Beast Wars Megatron.

David is now the most credited Voice Actor in the Transformers franchise (on the sheer number of series he has worked on), with Transformers Animated being his sixth Transformers series. Only Robots in Disguise and the original Transformers series are missing his talents.

Thanks to Simes for posting the following news / request concerning Auto Assembly 2008 on our Transformers Message Board.

Well, Auto Assembly 2008 is already shaping up to be something special and we can make our first announcement for the convention... Issue 9 of the convention fanzine The Cybertronian Times will feature an exclusive interview with Mark Ryan - the voice of Bumblebee in the live action movie!

While Bumblebee didn't have a great deal of dialogue in the film, Mark had a lot more involvement in the film than you might think... He worked on the throughout filming as the on-set voices of several different characters right into editing, prior to the actual casting of the main voice actors prior to his casting as Bumblebee. He then also voiced Ironhide and Hoist for Activision's game based on the film.

We're open to your suggestions for questions for Mark so feel free to post them on the Transformers Forum of Transformers At The Moon and we'll pick the best ones to send to him! As always, the fanzine will be available to pre-order for all attendees booking for the convention and a limited number of copies will be sold after the event subject to availability. Simon and Sven Auto Assembly 2008

TFW2005 have put up a short interview with Hasbro Inc designer Eric Siebenaler. Eric is one of the main people in charge of the upcoming Transformers Animated line.

You can read the interview here.

CORPORATION: Trying Times for Transformers Toymaker

With the Steven Spielberg-produced Transformers a summer smash in theaters worldwide, these should be happy days for Tomy, the Japanese company that makes the shape-shifting toys on which the blockbuster film is based.

Yet with news headlines dominated by made-in-China scandals involving toymakers such as Mattel (MAT), there's no fun in Toyland. Tomy, like so many other Japanese and Western toy companies, relies on factories in China to manufacture most of its toys, and that Chinese sourcing is now causing big problems.

On the heels of Mattel's Sept. 4 announcement of a recall of Barbie accessories and other toys due to worries about dangerous levels of lead paint, the share price of Tomy, which has product-licensing agreements with Mattel, is languishing at a four-year low. Tomy shares fell 2.6% on Sept. 5 in Tokyo trading, marking their lowest level since August, 2003. The stock price is down more than 22% this year, compared to a 6.2% drop for the Nikkei index.

Quality problems associated with Chinese production are the biggest immediate concern for investors. On Aug. 17, Tomy said it would recall Chinese-made toy cars that it markets and distributes for Mattel in Japan after finding lead in the paint. That move wiped 10% off the stock price, although the company bravely insists it has no regrets. "We want to provide consumers as much proof as possible so as to guarantee the quality of our products," says Seiichiro Wasahara, a spokesman at the company.

Bringing Back Old Fans
While the China scandals dominate the headlines now, Chinese factories aren't the only problem for Tomy. Just as worrying, at least in the longer term, is that the company's main market, Japan, is shrinking as the population ages. Statistics show just how bleak the future is. By 2030, the National Institute of Population & Social Security Research predicts Japan's population of 127.7 million will fall by almost 10% and that youngsters will number fewer than one in 10, from around 13.6% now.

To fill the void, the company is targeting adults for one of its hottest toy rollouts in years. To coincide with the release of Transformers in Japan, Tomy is rereleasing dozens of the morphing robot toys that the company hopes will be a hit with generations X and Y. "The Transformers have had an image in Japan of being only for children," says Masahiko Yamazaki, who leads Tomy's marketing effort. "We'd like to bring back old fans and create a new market for adults."

The need to appeal to a broader audience is clear. In the past, Japan's toymakers had plenty of toy and game tie-ins to TV programs and movies for kids. But with Japan's youth population rapidly declining, they're being forced "to expand the market by increasing the targeted age range," says Fumiaki Ibuki, editor of Toy Journal.

Tough Competition from Astro Boy
The prized demographic in Japan: baby boomers' kids, who are now in their 20s and 30s. These consumers, known as junior boomers, have cash to burn and kids with whom they are eager to share memories of their childhood.

When Takara [later bought by Tomy] first released Transformers in the U.S. in 1984, the giant robots that could morph into cars, planes, and other vehicles were a novelty. A year later, they were introduced in Japan to rave reviews. But the toys' popularity ebbed a few years later, and only the most die-hard fans have remained loyal. What's more, Tomy's Transformers now have to hold their own against a slew of other robot characters -- from Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy to giant flying robots such as Mazinger Z and Gundam -- that have proven far more enduring.

That's likely to make it a hard slog for Tomy in Japan, where the company has exclusive rights. [Hasbro (HAS) owns the Transformers' marketing license in the U.S. and other key overseas markets.] Though 300 million Transformers toys have been sold in more than 130 countries over the years, Japan has only accounted for 10% of sales.

No Earnings Transformation Expected
But that hasn't deterred Tomy. Ahead of the film's release, the company sold 16 different robot characters from the movie, and this month another two dozen will appear in stores worldwide. There is even a collaboration with Nike (NKE), called Free 7.0, which looks like a sneaker but contains a robot inside, and an Apple (AAPL) iPod version is expected soon. Eventually, 80 different products are slated for release.

Tomy says it hopes to do more than $50 million in Transformers sales this fiscal year, through March, 2008. That might be possible, but sales in Japan so far have been disappointing, according to Mizuho Investors Securities. Says Shoji Morita, an analyst at Okasan Securities: "In the U.S., there are many success stories of a hit movie leading to a hit toy. In Japan, however, hit products are always connected to TV anime or TV programs such as Pokemon and Gundam."

In fact, few expect the Transformers to help Tomy's earnings much. Tomy produces Transformers for U.S. toymaker Hasbro, but the Japanese company's profit margins from the arrangement are miniscule, and Transformers-related sales have amounted to less than 10% of the company's total.

But even if the Transformers flop, some analysts think Tomy will still get by. In the first quarter, Tomy's operating earnings swung to a profit of $500,000 from a $2.6 million loss a year ago, and sales rose nearly 15%, to $342 million. Etsuko Tamura of Mizuho Investors Securities says Tomy's Tomica trains and Barbie-look-alike Licca-chan dolls are big enough sellers to lift the company's profits this year. For the financial year, she projects operating profits will grow 57%, to $40 million. If only Tomy's stock price could show a similar recovery. "It's disappointing as we've had healthy revenue growth," says spokesman Wasahara.

From Yahoo business news.