Transformers Digital Media News on Seibertron.com

Transformers Focused Fan First Friday This Week- Star Saber Strongly Hinted At

Date: Monday, August 23rd 2021 2:24pm CDT
Categories: Event News, Rumors, Company News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Bounti76 | Credit(s): Transformers Facebook

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Views: 104,657

Well, Transformers fans, it looks like we are going to have a big reveal this coming week! The Transformers official Facebook page has posted that on Friday, the Transformers team at Hasbro will be doing a Fan First Friday streaming event on their YouTube channel. This isn't anything unusual- they've been doing FFF and Transformers Tuesday events all year- but it looks like we're going to get something pretty big revealed. Given their use of the phrase "Let's say go!" in the post, it seems they're going to reveal the HasLab Transformers: Victory project that was teased several weeks back. Seeing as how that was Autobot Supreme Commander Star Saber's catchphrase in the Victory cartoon, it's highly likely that we'll be seeing a reveal of a Star Saber figure in a few days.




While their post is by no means a confirmation of a Star Saber figure, it's hard not to speculate that it will be a new version of the Fan favorite Autobot. If it turns out to be true, this would also be the first transforming version of Star Saber released in the U.S. market; his previous G1 and Masterpiece figures were only released in Japan, as was the Victory cartoon (though the MP was available from online e-tailers in the US).

So are you pumped to see what the big reveal is? Hoping to see what the remaining Kingdom figures are going to be? There's only one way to find out, and that's to tune in this Friday at 11am ET on Pulse's YouTube channel. See you all then!

(You can check out the original Facebook post by clicking the photo above).

Twincast / Podcast Episode #282 "Lost and Found"

Date: Sunday, August 15th 2021 11:02am CDT
Categories: Site News, Digital Media News, Podcast
Posted by: xRotorstormx

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Views: 73,196

The Seibertron.com Twincast / Podcast is back at it again with your host ScottyP and xRotorstormx for another fun filled episode on this Fan First Friday Eve - which thankfully went better than expected when it comes to the amount of 'new' Transformers news that we didn't cover.

Episode #282 “Lost and Found” is available directly and in our RSS Feed, and should appear on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio and many other Podcatcher sites within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.

Here's what on the agenda:

• First up, images have leaked for Kingdom Pipes, Blue Bluestreak and Shadow Panther.
  
  
  
  
• Hasbro announced another Fan First Friday event, which brings up a great listener question from Mr. Micromaster in which he asks the crew whether we prefer official reveals or product leaks.
  
  
  
  
• Following up the discussion on product leaks, new listings have been discovered for the Legacy and Studio Series lines for 2022.
  
  
  
  
• ScottyP breaks down his first impressions after getting MPM-12 in hand.
  
  
  
  
• Next up, another great listener question - this time from Tuliodude and our thoughts on Armada Masterpieces.
  
  
  
  
• Mr. Micromaster is back with another listener question, this time about our past Transformers misfortunes.
  
  
• Next, coming out of left field, are some crazy new Masterpiece figures Crosscutand Nightbird.
  
  
  
  
• Closing out this episode is another round of bragging rights.
  
  

Twincast / Podcast Episode #281 "Netflix Kingdom Reviewed"

Date: Tuesday, August 3rd 2021 7:31pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Digital Media News, Podcast
Posted by: Tigertrack

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Views: 95,210

Here we go! The podcast crew gives their thoughts on the recently released on Netflix show. This is the 3rd installment (and final) in the War for Cybertron series. How did the mixing of vehicles and beasts fair? Was the ending of the series satisfying? We'll share our ideas and we'd love to hear yours.

Episode #281 “Netflix Kingdom Reviewed” is available directly and in our RSS Feed, and should appear on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio and many other Podcatcher sites within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.

Wazzpinator say spoilerzzz ahead… biggezzt spoiler… WAZZPINATOR iZ not in show. Makes Wazzzpinator angry. Stupid rat bot, and bird bot are in it, even car and truck bots, but NOOOOO not the beZt bot. Two cat botzz, but no wazzzp bot.

Wazzpinator reviewz thizz show and givezzz it one star…

Puny human hozt ScottyP reviewzzz and dizcuzzes thiz non-showz episodezzz with silly ghozt bot, Mzr. Starscream, and another stupid cat or car bot, Wazzpinator not know, Tigertrack… they say watch and share…Wazpinator not agree.

Silliness aside, if you want to actually listen to the review by the human crew with each episode broken down by ScottyP with insights and comments from guests- the radiant Mr. Starscream, and the long-missing Tigertrack- give the show a listen despite the fact that Waspinator hates KINGDOM and that there is indeed, no Waspinator in any of the episodes. We do not hold back, so other secrets of the series are spoiled as well.

SPOILERS A PLENTY LISTENERS!



Specifically we talk discuss topics related to voice acting, animation and transformations, character expectations versus character realities, and of course, how does it fair as the capstone to the WFC series. Plenty of things to like and also some things to criticize, as well. And yes, we ran out of time to talk about everything.

We finish up with bragging rights related to the recently released BUZZWORTHY BUMBLEBEE: BUMBLEBEE ORIGINS toy and the KINGDOM: RODIMUS PRIME toy.

Please share your thoughts, insights, likes and dislikes for the third installment of the WFC series below! Chime in on our thoughts and take us further in directions we didn't think of! We’d love to hear your ideas.

NOTE: You can also check out ScottyP's mostly spoiler free written review of the new chapter here.

Strange Goings-on Related to the Transformers Brand

Date: Tuesday, August 3rd 2021 6:14pm CDT
Categories: Rumors, Digital Media News
Posted by: ZeroWolf | Credit(s): BlazarFocused and Rebellium Dynamics on Twitter

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Views: 61,471

Greetings Seibertronians!

Today, we have some strange news to share with you all. A reader has sent us a link to a twitter account, belonging to one BlazarFocused. This self styled hunter of the paranormal tweeted a video they claimed to have taken, and we'll, there is a very recognisable sound in the short clip, roughly at the 40 second mark.



BlazarFocused also posted the same video to their TikTok account.

Not long after this account came to light, another twitter account flagged attention, Rebellium Dynamics, a company saying that they interested in transforming the future. The thing to look at here is the logo:



Nestled behind the logo is a wall of Cybertronian script. No idea on what the text says at this time.

Now, what do you think is going on?

Share your theories below and keep a look out for any more Strange happenings online that may be related to our favourite franchise of giant transforming robots.

Stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

Review of Netflix Transformers War for Cybertron: Kingdom

Date: Wednesday, July 28th 2021 10:42am CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Reviews, Digital Media News
Posted by: ScottyP

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Views: 185,409

Almost a year after Siege and another half of one departed from Earthrise, the final chapter of that Transformers Netflix series we thought we always wanted has arrived. Multi-channel brand synergy dictates that this chapter must make the worlds of War for Cybertron and Beast Wars collide, and for more on that here's the official synopsis provided by Netflix:

Having crash-landed on Earth, the Autobots and Decepticons are confronted by two rival Cybertronian factions from a future that their conflict has inadvertently created, as the heroes and villains of the classic BEAST WARS: TRANSFORMERS series make their WAR FOR CYBERTRON debut. Now the Autobots must team up with the Maximals to confront the Decepticons, who have joined forces with the Predacons, in the race to find the missing AllSpark. However, the Predacons are in control of the Golden Disk, a mysterious artifact which has a personal connection to Megatron and gives him an untold advantage over his enemy, Optimus Prime. Which faction will triumph in the final battle that will decide the fate of Cybertron’s future?

Does this chapter redeem the trilogy after the lukewarm Earthrise? Read on to find out, or tune in anytime after July 29th at 3 AM Eastern Daylight Time to make up your own mind.


Beast Wars fans are in for their first, or maybe second, foray into a world of ambivalence where you have to forget the characters you knew before and be ready to start fresh with new iterations while also keeping in mind the general archetype of the character you knew before because the new version will lean on that. If that sounds confusing, just ask a G1 fan about what this is like, as that's been happening for ages with constant new iterations of G1 characters that are close to their original portrayals but still just off enough that it's easier to compartmentalize them as a new thing entirely. When things pick up with the Maximals and Predacons on Earth, it's similar to what you remember from Beast Wars but indeed completely different under the surface, so be prepared for this. The provided setup works within the context of the story being told and through the course of the series' six episodes both the Maximals and Predacons feel like welcome, fitting additions - or at least they do through five episodes, but more on that later.


I spent a lot of time in the first episode reflecting on the voice portrayals of the beast characters, and much will rightfully be made about a very questionable casting choice with Marqus Bobesich performing the role of Beast Wars Megatron. New voice actors in established roles is not only fine, it's an inevitability, so while I personally would have loved to hear David Kaye again the reality of the series' apparently low budget for voice talent (or maybe it's some typical corporate anti-union thing, who knows) dictates that some new voices are going to get used instead. The issue is, as it has been since Siege, voice over director Philip Bache. Bobesich sounds downright uncomfortable in the role, there's a strain at times which makes Beast Megatron feel more like a moody teenager than a Predacon Commander. The performance isn't necessarily bad, but it does make me feel sorry for the actor having to do something clearly outside of their practiced range. Bache's questionable handiwork is found many other times, with Beau Marie's Tigatron waxing and waning between "oh my god what is this?" and "this is just fine, actually", Justin Pierce's mostly well done performance of Optimus Primal having a notable spot or two of missed enunciation and a brief monologue with his back to the camera that has the speaking beats of a high schooler reading lines from a script for the first time, and of course Frank Marnocha's Siege Megatron and Jake Foushee's Siege Optimus can't go the whole series without a weird start-and-stop exchange that will put you to sleep, though they do find time to creep these iterations closer to their much, much better performances of these characters in Cyberverse.

A full-blown review of just the voice acting could occur, but since no one wants to read that much, know that it isn't all bad and is in fact mostly in that previously mentioned category of "this is just fine, actually." Jeanne Carr's Blackarachnia nails the character's tone, Krizz Kaliko sounds like he genuinely gets Dinobot, Erin Ebers provides great emotional range for Airazor and Andy Barnett might just make you love Rhinox all over again. Rattrap is picked up by Frank Todaro, who also voices Starscream, and it's this recurring role that steals the show as far as the voice-talent goes. As the story progresses, Starscream is given what I found to be one hell of a character arc, and Todaro is superb every step of the way in his portrayal of the legendary Decepticon Air Commander. A+ voicework can be achieved with D- direction after all.


The wider story carried through Kingdom is best left unrevealed here. It's nothing complicated, but if I get into detail implicit spoilers will immediately follow. Instead, let's talk about the writing on this chapter, because there are times when it feels like two different shows got pieced together. Mae Catt (whose name is not a Scottish pun about a cat writing television), who fans may recognize from Transformers: Cyberverse, handles the odd numbered episodes 1, 3 and 5 while Tim Sheridan, who wrote episodes on Siege and Earthrise, handles the even numbered ones. The odd numbered episodes, though mostly episodes 3 and 5 since they don't have so much expository work, do something very pleasantly surprising which was absent for most characters in Siege and Earthrise. These episodes build characters through dialogue and interactions where entertaining things are said that are still relevant to the plot and its supporting actions. Soundwave gets snappy and snobby with Megatron, Rattrap calls Optimus Prime "the truck", Wheeljack doesn't want to give something a literal Whirl - they're all moments that are small but end up being large in your memory. The even-numbered episodes aren't totally devoid of such moments, for instance, Hound's confusion over Optimus Primal's first utterance of "Maximize!" is great stuff. The issue in these comes down to a couple notable things, for one, how they suddenly insist upon the Autobots and Maximals being argumentative well after it's established that they're going to get along fine now. There are also some banal exchanges that threaten to stop any momentum dead, while in others, characters say things that either make no sense or are unconvincing, only for other characters to somehow totally follow them or be totally convinced into something. Either the characters in episodes 2, 4 and 6 are the stupid ones or I am; no offense taken if you choose to believe the latter.

Apart from some of the dialogue the greatest single improvement in Kingdom as compared to Siege and Earthrise, at least writing-wise, is the pacing. There wasn't a stretch of chore-like episodes in this one, which was a very welcome change that made this brief binge-watch much more fun.


The production itself is going to be very unsurprising to those who have already watched Kingdom's predecessors. Fantastic texture work and some downright amazing key frames continue, and perhaps the greater achievement here by Polygon is how they've managed to make the Maximals and Predacons look right at home beside the Autobots and Decepticons, even in beast mode. There are moments where the color work will amaze as well, but maybe I'm only noticing this now that I can watch Netflix in 4K HDR - thanks, Playstation 5. The only visual frustration this time around came in the overuse of bokeh on the edges of the screen. This show is almost literally too dark at times to watch during the day on an LCD or LED television, which is what most fans are probably going to have. The Maximals weren't the only ones despairing when the sun set in episode 2.

The score by Alexander Bornstein must be mentioned, because suffice it to say that I was extremely critical of it in my previous War for Cybertron reviews. Outside of some recycling/call-backs to previous scoring, Kingdom opts for a more traditional sound in its score, and the improvement is downright exponential. Having a score that finally feels, mostly, like it's trying to be its own thing is extremely welcome and appreciated.


There's a segment of Transformers fans that is quick to apply hyperbolic praise to this series for being serious and edgy and dark, but the world sucks enough and while I personally want Transformers fiction to treat me like an adult some of the time I also want it to actually be fun to watch. With Siege and Earthrise I have a hard time saying they were fun experiences in retrospect. Kingdom was, mostly, a fun experience while retaining a slightly chunibyo quality, for better or worse. The final episode is a bit by the numbers and quick to wrap up a great deal of plot, but two episodes would likely have been too dragged out, so I'm not sure what the best answer here was. Things did feel like they got in a hurry to wrap up the trilogy and it left the impact of the beast characters in the dust for the most part, but at least they weren't totally forgotten like the Mercenaries from Earthrise who never appear or are even mentioned once in Kingdom.

Transformers television usually finds its stride somewhere in the middle of or late into a second season, and for the War for Cybertron trilogy this definitely applies. The last couple episodes of Earthrise spill into Kingdom and finally get on with telling a story that you want to watch. While there are enough things that still aren't as great as they could be holding it back, Kingdom is the most fun chapter of the trilogy by a wide margin.



The ending is satisfying but does manage to tease at least a possibility that more stories in the War for Cybertron universe could occur. I don't think we need that and to be more specific, the creative reins should be handed to either the Cyberverse team or totally new talent, but this trilogy was a good step in the right direction and a remarkable improvement over the Prime Wars trilogy which I still can't bring myself to even finish watching. It's no all-time great, but take another step up or two from here and Transformers' original streaming series pedigree might start to really attract more long-term attention.



Seibertron.com was provided with complimentary advance screening access to Transformers Chapter Three: Kingdom by Netflix for the purpose of this review. "Thank you" to Netflix and Hasbro for this access!

Studio Series Grindor & Ravage, Jolt, ROTF Bumblebee, and BB Thrust Officially Revealed

Date: Sunday, July 18th 2021 1:58pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Toy News, Digital Media News, Collectables
Posted by: Bounti76 | Credit(s): Transformers Instagram

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Views: 119,342

Thanks to Seibertronian EvasionModeBumblebee, we've been alerted to Hasbro's social media channels and their (finally) official reveal of the remaining Studio Series Wave 3 figures for 2021! These images come to us from the Transformers Instagram page, where the reveals have been dubbed #StudioSeriesSunday. We have official pictures of Studio Series 73 Leader Class Grindor and Ravage; Studio Series 74 Revenge of the Fallen Bumblebee with Sans Witwicky; Studio Series 75 Revenge of the Fallen Jolt, and Studio Series 76 Bumblebee Voyager Class Thrust! While these figures have been leaked for a while now (and even found in stores), we now have official confirmation and photos. Check out the photos below!



















While they're all transformed correctly, it appears that Jolt has been given a background for Dark of the Moon, or perhaps the first live-action movie, rather than the one for his big scene during the battle of Egypt. Hopefully, Hasbro will rectify this before the figure is released.

So how that we have the rest of Wave 3 officially revealed, do you plan on picking up any of these figures? Grindor will be shipping in cases with Studio Series 86 Leader Class Slug; Thrust will be packed with Studio Series 86 Voyager Wreck Gar; and Jolt and Bumblebee will be shipping with Studio Series 86 Deluxe Class Gnaw.

Let us know what you think about these figures below!

Twincast / Podcast Episode #280 "A Roar That Grasps Victory"

Date: Friday, July 16th 2021 6:55pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Digital Media News, Podcast
Posted by: ScottyP

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Views: 107,012

You can almost hear the theme song as the Seibertron.com Twincast / Podcast shows up to lay down the low-down on the latest Transformers news and speculation, as host Scotty P and Mr. Starscream join up to saber their way to victory. Confirmed news, rumors, rumorleaks, actual leaks, leaks that aren't leaks - this episode has a little bit of it all, unless you were hoping for leeks. Those are not on the menu, because this is a Transformers podcast.

Episode #280 “A Roar That Grasps Victory” is available directly and in our RSS Feed, and should appear on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio and many other Podcatcher sites within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

• Haslab teases its return to Transformers with something from Victory
  
• Pulsecon exclusive Beast Wars Ravage lets us reminisce on his classic appearance in the show
• It's not "Toy Galvatron", it's Galvatron II
  
• Shattered Glass Jetfire finishes up that sub-line, for now
• The out of nowhere Buzzworthy Bumblebee Worlds Collide pack has us buzzing with excitement for these surprise repaints
  
• Concrete Magnus and Shiny Megatron have us questioning life choices
• We were joking when we suggested doing this, but it is technically movie accurate!
• Jazz, is that you? Bumblebee Movie Blitzwing gives us a hint, as it is not.
  
• We answer a Listener question from Hydrargyrus about what Transformers works we'd like to see animated
• Bragging Rights closes out another episode

Twincast / Podcast Episode #279 "Clever Girl Summer"

Date: Sunday, July 4th 2021 3:15pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Digital Media News, Podcast
Posted by: ScottyP

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Views: 85,991

Summer is here and that means it's time for a new episode of the Seibertron.com Twincast / Podcast. Of course, every time of year means that. Every two weeks means that, or sometimes three like in this case, but at least during the episode you won't have to hear too much of that kind of rambling from host Scotty P and pals Megatronus and Rotorstorm - or will you? At any rate, tune in to hear thoughts on a busy few weeks in the world of Transformers as the talk hits up the latest on Transformers 7, Collaborative releases galore and yet more Bumblebugs.

Episode #279 “Clever Girl Summer” is available directly and in our RSS Feed, and should appear on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio and many other Podcatcher sites within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

• The beasts are rising with the seventh live action movie, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts getting formally announced
  
• We also talk about its potential status as a mess of ideas and opine on casting decisions
• Collaborative release talk kicks off with Jurassic Park
  
• Are we too old to understand J Balvin Soundwave? Yes.
• The rumorleak train continues to make sure no one can stay excited about things for too long with its latest revelations in the form of Dracula and Amazon Prime
• Megatronus can't decide how big Origins Bumblebee is
  
• We don't feel like a gold bug
• Some quick mention is given to upcoming Studio Series pals Jolt, Thrust and Grindor
  
• Bragging Rights take us to the end as usual

First Look at War For Cybertron: Kingdom Deluxe Class Red Alert

Date: Friday, June 18th 2021 12:00am CDT
Categories: Toy News, Rumors, Digital Media News, Store News
Posted by: Bounti76 | Credit(s): morgan_dfx on Twitter

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Views: 126,540

Thanks to Seibertronian Mindmaster for pointing us to the Twitter account of @morgan_dfx, who recently posted pictures of a possible Bumblebee Movie Thrust. This time, he's posted an in-box picture of the upcoming Kingdom Deluxe Class Red Alert!



From this picture, we can see that Red Alert will be based on the upcoming Amazon exclusive earth-mode Sideswipe. Like his regular mold mate, Red Alert will also be a store exclusive, to the Walgreens drugstore chain, at least in the U.S., like Siege Ratchet and Earthrise Bluestreak. It remains to be seen how his distribution outside the U.S. will he handled.

What do you think of this reveal? Excited to add another LamBro to your collection? Let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest Transformers news!

Possible First Look at Studio Series Bumblebee Movie Thrust

Date: Wednesday, June 16th 2021 4:44pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Toy News, Rumors, Digital Media News
Posted by: Bounti76 | Credit(s): morgan_dfx on Twitter

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Views: 140,637

Thanks to Seibertronian EvasionModeBumblebee, we were pointed in the direction of Twitter user @morgan_dfx, who posted pictures of a haul of new Kingdom Deluxes, along with Studio Series Wreck-Gar and what appears to be the rumored Bumblebee Movie Starscream repaint of Thrust! This figure appears to be a straight repaint of Starscream, with his color scheme of greens and white homaging Armada Thrust, rather than the maroon and black of G1 Thrust.





It still hasn't been revealed what figure is coming in the wave with Wreck Gar, though this figure seems a good bet.

What do you think about this figure being potentially released? Well you be adding it to your Fall of Cybertron display if it turns out to be legitimate? Let us know what you think below!