Chris McFeely and Jim Sorensen reveal the earliest known draft of The Transformers: The Movie. In it, Tankor replaces Kup, and Blurr and Magnus die on Junkion. Two unreleased Transformers Animated shorts surface online after 13 years. Hasbro’s stock is down 19 percent, and Bloomberg reports the company may sell or restructure its entertainment assets. Chris finds Studio Series 86 Wheelie the best cartoon Wheelie yet, and Matt raves about Legacy Blitzwing and Leadfoot.
News
The Earliest Draft of The Transformers: The Movie
Chris McFeely’s thread covers the TF Nation panel he and Jim Sorensen gave on the earliest known script draft. In that draft, Hot Rod, Magnus and Tankor lead in place of Kup. Arcee is a medic, and Wheeljack survives but is a jerk. Blurr and Magnus were meant to die on Junkion, and the Matrix is closer to a life essence. A train that becomes a giant snake has Brian demanding a HasLab. One host says most changes come in the first act, and the draft moves closer to the final film after that. Brian, who has watched the movie in the triple or quadruple digits, loves learning something new about it. [Source: Chris McFeely on Twitter]
Unreleased Transformers Animated Shorts Surface
Two Transformers Animated shorts that never got an official release appeared online from master tapes. One is Starscream’s fantasy and the other is called Logo. One host notes they were screened at BotCon and shown privately by Marty Isenberg, but most fans never saw them. Blade linked them in the RFC Discord. The crew calls them the first new Animated media in about 13 years, and the post drew about 1,400 retweets. [Source: not found]
Buzzworthy Bumblebee Rise of the Beasts Energon Escape 2-Pack
Rise of the Beasts figures show up on Buzzworthy Bumblebee cards as an Energon Escape 2-pack. The crew suspects they are retooled Energon Igniters. One host thinks Hasbro repackaged toys already made for the movie’s original release date using generic Buzzworthy templates. [Source: BWTF]
Hasbro Considers Sale or Restructuring of Entertainment Assets
Yahoo Finance reports Hasbro stock is down 19 percent in six months, mostly from rising costs. Bloomberg reports Hasbro may refocus eOne on in-house brands or sell some or all of it. Chris ties the shift to the death of former CEO Brian Goldner, who championed the entertainment push. He adds that the Paramount agreement reportedly ends this year. Brian argues the movies diluted the brand at retail. Another host says the bigger problem is too many overlapping lines and repeated characters on shelves. Another blames empty shelves and unstocked back rooms for hurting sales. [Source: Bloomberg]
Hasbro To Change Its Toy Distribution Strategy
TFW2005 reprinted a magazine report that Hasbro may stagger product launches to absorb supply chain delays. Chris expects the same amount of product, released in smaller groups by price point instead of big monolithic waves. One host hopes the change does not raise prices again. [Source: TFW2005]
Shattered Glass Perceptor on the Way
An overseas store that previously leaked Crasher lists a Shattered Glass Perceptor, likely meant as Magnificus. One host expects it to use the Studio Series Perceptor mold. He thinks the Titans Return mold would have suited Magnificus better, since its Headmaster could be Gamid. [Source: not found]
What We Got This Week
Chris grabbed Studio Series 86 Wheelie at retail on Amazon after a Discord tip. He calls its robot mode the best cartoon Wheelie ever, despite visible fists in vehicle mode. A flip-up canopy reveals the robot face as a nod to the original toy.
Brian got core class Studio Series 86 Ratchet and does not understand why it is in Studio Series. He warms to it after finding a catch that lifts the head back into place, and the windshield closes over it.
Don got core Ratchet and is not enjoying it, so he may give it to a friend who loves Ratchet. He hopes his new Override is unbroken and has a spare Clampdown and Cosmos for anyone who needs them.
Matt got R.E.D. Megatron on clearance and an unbroken Override. His Wreckers Leadfoot is the G2 fix he has craved for years, despite some paint bleed. Legacy Blitzwing is fantastic in robot mode, even with a weak jet mode. He also bought Brian’s Micron Legend Tidal Wave, which he and Chris call one of the best Transformers toys ever.
Rob had nothing this week.