Target: 2016

[Verno]

We have something of an idea as to what the next few years will hold in regards to Transformers in general terms.

2012 - Prime/Comics
2013 - Generations/Probably some more comics and some more Prime
2014 - TF4 and all the associated meh'ness
2015 - Probably more TF4 stuff

But what about 2016?

We would assume that TF: Prime would have wrapped up by then, but possibly may have moved into a sequel of some kind.

2 years after the 4th movie has come out, it's likely we've seen the last of it.

The comics' current storylines are likely to have long been resolved, so where do they go next?

I'm only making stuff up, so feel free to do the same. What do you think 2016 will hold for Transformers?

Will the TF reins be handed over to the Japanese to provide a filler line, as happened with RID after the enormous success of Beast Machines, while Hasbro figure out what the hell to do next?

Let's start something of a time capsule of speculation.

[griffin]

They do have a long-term plan story-wise, which has so far encompassed Prime and WFC, that relates to the First 13... Something that they are still only revealing a bit each year (mostly at BotCon). It seems to be leading up to something, or at least sets a foundation for future (and current) series to draw from. It's just that each series (so far) is drawing from that foundation, but heading in slightly different directions.
(something we may continue to see for years to come - stories that are building on this foundation framework, but end up having a partial linkage to each other)

[Verno]

Do you see that long-term story line manifesting itself in another (although not necessarily a sequel) tv show, Griff?

And BotCon stories in the past haven't really added anything to the main storyline of the universe they're inhabiting. I speak of course mainly of the BW tie ins that had no effect on the events of BW itself, but we're simply there as a bit of a novelty.

Why would Hasbro put important information about the continuing universe within a resource like BotCon and risk it being missed by the majority of the young fans who most likely wouldn't attend BotCon?

[Paulbot]

Why would Hasbro put important information about the continuing universe within a resource like BotCon and risk it being missed by the majority of the young fans who most likely wouldn't attend BotCon?

No it's not a BotCon story (like the FanPub comic books). What Griffin means is that at BotCon presentations Hasbro has been revealing information/art from their new story bible - such as the identity of some of the first 13 transformers. This is the sort of stuff that has been the basis for the Exodus/Exiles novel as their new collective origin.

Verno, I think I know where your speculation is heading, but do you want someone else to say it? ;)

Okay I will speculate.... Maybe it's time to get a little... wild.

Beast Wars 20th Anniversary!

A whole new Generations-style line featuring deluxe toys of the whole first season show cast, with voyager size figures for Optimus, Megatron and Rhinox. (Rattrap and Airazor and Terrorsaur come with some accessories - Vok artifacts, CR chamber, Auto-guns? - that allow them to be smaller but sold as deluxes... fans will complain, the Japanese will release them in twopacks)

Beast Wars Cyberverse toys too. Legion and Commander size figures of all the show cast as appropriate. Maybe some of the first Japanese beasts too. New versions of Orcanoch and Arachnid cyberverse playsets. New Axalon and Nemesis cyberverse playsets.

Masterpiece BW Megatron, yes. It even comes with a rubber duck accessory.

What about a new cartoon? Or the original cartoon given a makeover, completely re-rendered with modern cgi? And now through the magic of the Cybernet Space Cube: the computer-enhanced stories of the Maximals, Beast Wars Generation Two. Now with added shadows.

A direct-to-DVD sequel/prequel/sidequel (either CGI or Cel) could even be a possibility.

[Sharky]

A series of 20th anniversary beast wars figs would be awesome... But it is also the 30th anniversary of the movie isn't it.... So would we see unicorn make another appearance!!

[Verno]

No it's not a BotCon story (like the FanPub comic books). What Griffin means is that at BotCon presentations Hasbro has been revealing information/art from their new story bible - such as the identity of some of the first 13 transformers. This is the sort of stuff that has been the basis for the Exodus/Exiles novel as their new collective origin.

Ok, I'm with you now. That seems to make a lot more sense.


Verno, I think I know where your speculation is heading, but do you want someone else to say it? ;)

Okay I will speculate.... Maybe it's time to get a little... wild.

Beast Wars 20th Anniversary!

Believe it or not Paulbot, that wasn't actually were I was going with this!

Not that I'm complaining about your suggestions though :p

Given BW got the 10th anniversary treatment, I doubt they'd pour the resources into such a line, but we can dream.

In all honesty, I was looking for what we might expect from a post-movie Transformers landscape. The movies have done wonders in getting new blood involved in the franchise, and they are now reaping the rewards with Prime on TV.

But four years is a long time. And as popular as rehashing old ideas is, will fans be looking for the continuation of what has come? Will they get it? Or will the whole thing have been rebooted again?

[Paulbot]

I think with the decreasing sales of DOTM that the 2014 movie line will be planned as a one-year wonder, with more effort put into the Transformers 30 anniversary line that year. TF:Prime toys might eg out one more year but it will be getting too tired by 2016. Even though the 2014-15 TF:Prime cartoon, which will be reworked to be more like a sequel to the movie (Clone Wars style) will give it a little boost something new will be in the works.

By 2016 I seriously think that a Beast Wars anniversary type line (running alongside another more traditional line to go with a brand new, rebooted, vehicle-TF cartoon) could be the go. After nearly ten years of yellow cars named Bumblebee, having a transforming bee could be the fresh take the line needs.

[Verno]

If IDW let me write a little series for them, I could get us to TransTech way before 2016.

TransTech, with it's Mecha/Evangelleon (sp) vibes, would be an incredible new direction for the franchise. No Optimus, no Bumblebee. And a new starting point to work from, and then reboot from again, and again, and again...

[Hursticon]

Much as I'd love to see all the BW related stuff come to fruition that's been mentioned in this thread :D, I'd like to think that Hasbro hasn't been going to all this effort in creating this new narrative base for nothing and I really hope that an end has come to the era of tri-yearly reboots. :cool:

I sincerely hope we will start to see sequels, loose or firm, to what has been established in recent years (Comics, Games and TV) but I'd also like to see a little bit more of an allowance for contribution in favour of those at Takara when it comes to such media; I think the whole separation factor that resulted in RiD and The Unicron Trilogy, along with G1 Headmsters, Masterforce & Victory as well as BW II & Neo whilst adding to diversity it tends to be completely mis-handled by the West (Hasbro) and in the majority of cases results in obscurity. :o

I guess I'd just like to see a little more unity with the brand and continuity, rather than splintering and rebooting. :)

[Verno]

Couldn't agree more there, Hurst. A common goal for the two companies.

Learning from histories mistakes is a must. Hasbro's plans fell through in regards to TransTech, mainly because the Beast Machines toys were a step backwards, which was enough to lose momentum, and ultimately stalling. It was left to Japan to produce a filler line, then ultimately carried the franchise it seems.

[Paul Agnew]

How about a decent Galvatron to mark the occasion? ;)

[Verno]

Surely MP Galvy can't be far away?! How long has the Mp line been around now? And what number are we up to? 17? That's not bad considering they've only used 2 molds!

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Surely MP Galvy can't be far away?! How long has the Mp line been around now? And what number are we up to? 17? That's not bad considering they've only used 2 molds!Soon to be 11, and with 4 molds.:) Unless you count the JP Movie MPs, which ups it to 13-14 with 6-7 molds.
Much as I'd like to see a decent MP Galvy, I have the horrible suspicion that if they did make one his traditional Alt-mode would be changed to something 'more realistic' than a funky space-laser-cannon. We're more likely to see a G2 Megatron tank mold or somesuch IMO.
Worse yet, it's even less likely we'll ever see a BW TM2 Megatron MP.:(

[Verno]

More realistic? After all the hoo-haa with Megatron being a real gun I'm sure a crazy weird gun should be no trouble at all.

TM2 Megtron is already a Masterpiece! All they can do is make him bigger and I don't think it's overly necessary.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

It's the same general principle as why they haven't done a G1 style Soundwave, the alt-mode is implausible for a modern toy. Grimlock is sufficiently iconic that I can see him being an exception, and MP Rodimus can sort of pass for a real vehicle if you're a myopic pyromaniac, but G1 Galvatron traditionally transforms into something like this (http://members.fortunecity.com/zobovor/galvatron_diecast_cartoon.jpg).
It's not impossible and I'd love to be wrong, but given how few and far between the MP line is, how costly they are, and how they love to milk the repaints I'm not holding my breath.

As for BW TM2, I love the toy to bits but there are quite a few improvements an MP could make. He could do with a bit more poseability in the neck, tail, and wings, poseable beast mode claws, and above all covering up the head above his tail in beast mode. And of course there's the accessories to dream of: an official pair of Golden disk accessories, the energon knife he 'operates' on Rampage with and/or Rampage's Spark torture cage-dooley, and most importantly his rubber ducky. Rubber Ducky deserves an official toy dammit!
Even then I'd think if HasTak ever does do a MP BW Megs they'll do him in T-Rex mode, either TM or first Earth alt-mode.

[Hursticon]

As for BW TM2, I love the toy to bits but there are quite a few improvements an MP could make. He could do with a bit more poseability in the neck, tail, and wings, poseable beast mode claws, and above all covering up the head above his tail in beast mode. And of course there's the accessories to dream of: an official pair of Golden disk accessories, the energon knife he 'operates' on Rampage with and/or Rampage's Spark torture cage-dooley, and most importantly his rubber ducky. Rubber Ducky deserves an official toy dammit!
Even then I'd think if HasTak ever does do a MP BW Megs they'll do him in T-Rex mode, either TM or first Earth alt-mode.

Not to mention VTOLs that have the right orientation in Bot mode, more accurate paint details & a Transmetal-Driver. :D

[loophole]

Masterpiece Cyclonus for 2016

[Hursticon]

Masterpiece Cyclonus for 2016

Now that I'd prefer a million times more than an MP Galvatron, Cyclonus is the coolest out of the original 3 Unicron Heralds by a country mile! ;):cool:

[Cat]

Soon to be 11, and with 4 molds.:) Unless you count the JP Movie MPs, which ups it to 13-14 with 6-7 molds.
Much as I'd like to see a decent MP Galvy, I have the horrible suspicion that if they did make one his traditional Alt-mode would be changed to something 'more realistic' than a funky space-laser-cannon. We're more likely to see a G2 Megatron tank mold or somesuch IMO.
Worse yet, it's even less likely we'll ever see a BW TM2 Megatron MP.:(

6 molds, soon to be 7. (or 6 and 1/2 I guess, depending on how you view MP11 Starscream).

Two completely different Optimus Primes, Megatron, seeker, Rodimus Prime, Grimlock.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

6 molds, soon to be 7. (or 6 and 1/2 I guess, depending on how you view MP11 Starscream).

Two completely different Optimus Primes, Megatron, seeker, Rodimus Prime, Grimlock.My bad, 6 it is.

[Verno]

It's the same general principle as why they haven't done a G1 style Soundwave, the alt-mode is implausible for a modern toy. Grimlock is sufficiently iconic that I can see him being an exception, and MP Rodimus can sort of pass for a real vehicle if you're a myopic pyromaniac, but G1 Galvatron traditionally transforms into something like this (http://members.fortunecity.com/zobovor/galvatron_diecast_cartoon.jpg).
It's not impossible and I'd love to be wrong, but given how few and far between the MP line is, how costly they are, and how they love to milk the repaints I'm not holding my breath.

Sure they love their repaints, but half the molds are one offs - Megs, Grimlock and Rodimus. They're not likely to get repainted into anything else. And unless the next mold is Ironhide/Rathchet who could be retooled into each other respectively, Hasbro are going to have to face the fact that one-off molds are the only option in the lines future.

You see Grimlock as sufficiently iconic, yet Soundwave isn't? I'd have thought a cassette player would be moreso that Grimlock, and Galvatron too for that matter. Iconic in every way!

As for TM2 Megs, you're right, a few improvements would be nice, but they could do that with an ultra sized mold. As for the accessories you mention, most of them are synonimious within T-Rex and TM Megatron. The only accessories TM2 Megs had was a judges wig and the Covenant of Primus.

We can dream, but I'd say the MP line will remain a G1 Only Zone. This is why we start petitioning Hasbro now about 2013's Generations toys! Get some requests in early! :p

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Sure they love their repaints, but half the molds are one offs - Megs, Grimlock and Rodimus. They're not likely to get repainted into anything else. And unless the next mold is Ironhide/Rathchet who could be retooled into each other respectively, Hasbro are going to have to face the fact that one-off molds are the only option in the lines future.

You see Grimlock as sufficiently iconic, yet Soundwave isn't? I'd have thought a cassette player would be moreso that Grimlock, and Galvatron too for that matter. Iconic in every way!

As for TM2 Megs, you're right, a few improvements would be nice, but they could do that with an ultra sized mold. As for the accessories you mention, most of them are synonimious within T-Rex and TM Megatron. The only accessories TM2 Megs had was a judges wig and the Covenant of Primus.Yeah, but I like dragons. As long as I'm dreaming anyway...:(

I reckon tapedeck Soundwave is well worth the MP treatment (so is Cyclonus, or better yet Lugnut), but HasTak has a remarkable knack for not going with what I'd like them to do - hence why we don't have a Voyager Rhinox yet. Aside from Alternators and Titaniums, Grimlock has been a T-Rex in pretty much every toy incarnation and fiction incarnation to date, including the latest entry in the new 'official' aligned continuity. Lately Soundwave seems to more often be a car, or a plane, or a space bomber, or a somewhat hentai-esque satellite. Hasbro has been asked a few times over if they'll ever make a Tape Player Classics Soundwave, and every time they've said no since the alt-mode is too outdated. MP is a slightly different kettle of fish to Classics though.
Truth be told I'm surprised we got Grimlock and Rodimus - both of whom have been repainted (Grimlock has the comic colouration, Rodimus got the standard black repaint).
It would be possible to do a Toy colours and Cartoon colours repaint and I'd love to see it, but when they could do Ironhide/Ratchet, LamborSideswipe/Sunstreaker/Red Alert, and/or Prowl/SilverBluestreak/Smokescreen, not to mention just churn out Thundercracker and Skywarp Mk II along with some slight remolds to bring out the coneheads...poor Galvy just doesn't seem to be where the money's at. I'm not saying it's impossible, just really unlikely.
Of course, it's Takara who makes the MPs for the Japanese market, so if Galvatron's a sufficiently popular character here who knows? Besides the ubiquitous Prime, Bumblebee and Meister I'm not really sure who ranks up there in the Japanese favourite stakes.

As far as requests for 2013 goes, here's an angle to help us get a Rhinox: they could easily do G1 Headstrong, Ramhorn and (probably Botcon Exclusive) Stranglehold repaints/remolds.

[Cat]

Sure they love their repaints, but half the molds are one offs - Megs, Grimlock and Rodimus. They're not likely to get repainted into anything else. And unless the next mold is Ironhide/Rathchet who could be retooled into each other respectively, Hasbro are going to have to face the fact that one-off molds are the only option in the lines future.

You see Grimlock as sufficiently iconic, yet Soundwave isn't? I'd have thought a cassette player would be moreso that Grimlock, and Galvatron too for that matter. Iconic in every way!

As for TM2 Megs, you're right, a few improvements would be nice, but they could do that with an ultra sized mold. As for the accessories you mention, most of them are synonimious within T-Rex and TM Megatron. The only accessories TM2 Megs had was a judges wig and the Covenant of Primus.

We can dream, but I'd say the MP line will remain a G1 Only Zone. This is why we start petitioning Hasbro now about 2013's Generations toys! Get some requests in early! :p


I'd kill for the awesome evil Rodimus Prime repaint. That thing is beautiful.

And the new seeker mold has lots of potential, especially with Sunstorm on the way already. It goes in-hand with reports of TakTom wanting to silence some of the 3rd party/KO makers by doing schemes previously left untouched officially.

The new, smaller scale also helps increase efficiency, despite the upward tick in price.

Guess we'll see how the market reacts.

[SharkyMcShark]

I'm assuming there'll be some more really really boring Generations stuff, especially given that by then they'll surely have done every character that could be done.