BotCon guests and event details (not toy reveals)

[griffin]

As estimated in the previous location/dates news topic, March looks to be the month for promoting the Convention, releasing details and the Online Brochure... with less than 4 months before the event.

I am pleasantly surprised that they have actually promoted an element of the convention online before the toys this year (yes, they showed off one toy in last month's Magazine), and it feels... more fan-friendly for not giving us the usual first-impression of mere revenue raising.
Toy reveals will be in a different topic, because most people interested in the toy reveals are not too interested in what is at the Convention, and toy updates would be buried in this topic.

The first convention details are three Gen1 guests. (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/) (yay :p )
A surprise, considering the bulk of living major Gen1 VAs are at a Texas convention during this weekend.
- Susan Blu (Gen1 Arcee & Marissa Faireborn, BW Transmutate) - previously at BotCon 98
- Michael McConnahie (Gen1 Tracks & Cosmos, RiD Hot Shot & Ironhide) - previously at BotCon 02, 04, 09, 11
- Hal Rayle (Gen1 Pipes, Shrapnel, Snarl) - first BotCon
(details from here (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#7))


For those of us who are still struggling to work out their travel itinerary, due to not yet knowing how many days you will need at the convention, and what pre-convention events are on offer.... lets hope that they release the Brochure and pre-registration soon.

[UltraMarginal]

I've got to admit that I was looking forward to another toy reveal but the news of these three attending is pretty interesting stuff. especially Susan Blu being the voice of some very iconic characters. Isn't she also a voice director ? I was under the impression that she worked on Transformers Prime?

[griffin]

A fourth guest has been announced (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14guests.html) - Jack Angel.... the voice of Astrotrain, Ramjet, Omega Supreme, Smokescreen, Breakdown and post-Movie Ultra Magnus.

This will be his first BotCon, and like many of the original series voice actors, he's getting on in his years, so it will be good to finally get him as a guest.... after a late cancellation for BotCon 2011 due to health reasons.

[UltraMarginal]

Botcon also tweeted that they'd be announcing Guests every Thursday which is good.
sounds like they have taken on someones advice cough Griffin cough.

Hopefully this means a guest or two on Thursday and a figure on Friday so maybe 4 -5 weeks before they release the brochure and another week or two after that when they open registration.

I'd suggest Jack angel is pretty healthy, he only recently did Pappa Smurf so he's working pretty steadily.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

sounds like they have taken on someones advice cough Griffin cough.

Ha ha ha. I thought the same thing.

Suan blu is a regular Voice diirector on lots of Kids Tv shows. I've seen her name on many many shows.

shame the club still doesn't understand the amount of effort some people have to go through to organise a trip over there.

[griffin]

Another Gen1 VA guest (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=18135) - Samantha Newark, who voiced Ariel, but not Elita-1 (who she became, after events in War Dawn).
Looks like she did some other minor female voice parts in the TFs cartoon, but her total contribution was rather minor compared to the other various Voice Actors from Gen1.
I'll be surprised if she remembers anything at all... or if she will talk more about being the role of Jem in that cartoon instead.

I like that they are looking for new Gen1 Voice Actors (especially since most of the big names are going to be in Texas that weekend), but this was one that even I didn't list as a potential VA guest (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#7), even on the "minor roles" listing.

[UltraMarginal]

today another 2 guests have been revealed on the Botcon Website (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/)

Derrick J. Wyatt and Marty Isenberg!

This is cool, DJW was at botcon 2011 and is a cool guy, Marty Isenberg is known for writing some of the better animated episodes. I would like to hear what he has to say about TF Prime.

[griffin]

David Kaye is this week's announced guest (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14guests.html).
For those unfamiliar, he is best known for voicing Beast Wars Megatron, but also Animated Optimus and Armada/Energon/Cybertron Megatron, as well as a small role on TFPrime (as Hardshell).

This is one guest that helps FunPub get a "30 years of (Voice Actor) guests", if they were aiming to have at least one "30th Anniversary" element to the convention this year.

Let's see...
1984-1995 (Gen1/Gen2 cartoons) - Susan Blu, Michael McConnahie, Hal Rayle, Jack Angel, Samantha Newark
1996-2000 (BW/BMac) - David Kaye, Susan Blu (voice and director)
2001-2002 (RiD) - Michael McConnahie
2003-2006 (Unicron Trilogy) - David Kaye
2007-2010 (Animated) - David Kaye (plus Derrick J. Wyatt & Marty Isenberg)
2011-2013 (TFPrime) - David Kaye

EDIT (After seeing that David Kaye did a role on TFPrime)

I will be very impressed if they are intentionally aiming to get a full 30-year representation of Voice Actors (or guests).

[griffin]

It would appear that those are all the Voice Actor Guests, as FunPub are now starting their Comic and artist guests.... which has been their way of padding out the guest roster in the last couple years.

First one is IDW writer James Roberts (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14guests.html), and since we are back in California, expect most of IDW's writers, artists and editors to be at BotCon... but a fan convention is where you'd want to meet them, so it is a good idea to have as many as they can get.
The question will be if they have an IDW tour again this year, being three hours from Pasadena.

[griffin]

The cast of Rescue Bots is returning this year (https://twitter.com/botcon/status/459454219515203584)... which was probably the most entertaining panel last year, with the VAs playing off each other.
Not surprising, since the show is in LA and many of them probably live there to do their recording work... and since they were so entertaining (and I think Rescue Bots should be checked out by older fans), I'm not complaining about the recycling of them two years in a row.

The only problem is that they were treated as an ensemble, instead of as individual VA guests for the convention. So, they weren't part of the Golden Ticket reception, and weren't promoted individually like the other VA guests.

[griffin]

(waited for tfw (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2014-mass-guest-announcement-rescue-bots-179806/) to work out all the twitter handles for me. :p )

Steve Blum (Voice of Heatwave in Rescue Bots, TFPrime Starscream, RiD Dark Scream, Fortress Maximus and W.A.R.S),
Parvesh Cheena (Rescue Bots Blades),
Jason Marsden (Kade Burns),
Shannon McKain (Graham Burns),
Elan Garfias (Cody Burns),
Nicole Dubuc (Bumblebee and CAT, and writer for several Rescue Bots and Prime episodes),
Greg Johnson Writer (also worked on Beast Wars) and
Brian Hohlfeld Writer (also co-created the series with Dubuc and Jeff Kline.)

[griffin]

FunPub have released their preliminary list of people who have bought Artists tables for the Dealer Room's "Artist Alley" (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14artists.html), which includes a number of people who have worked on official projects, but some regular big names are missing (Khanna & Milne).

Since the Artist Tables are open to anyone, many are also just regular people trying to sell their creative drawings and customs (like in recent years).
(as long as it isn't anything mass-produced, it looks to be okay by Hasbro for people to sell one-off commission productions)

I think the current & recent IDW artists included in the list are - Josh Burcham, Ken Christiansen, Casey Coller, Bill Forster, Matt Frank, Andrew Griffith, Marcelo Matere, Robby Musso, Joshua Perez, Livio Ramondelli, Sarah Stone.


I like the idea of the Artist Alley, but maybe they should start noting the ones who have worked on official projects (maybe have them note their resume on their registration form), so that it is easy to recognise who the lesser known ones are, or even be enlightened as to who worked on fan-favourite projects that are not as obvious.
It's not to put down the amateurs at Artist Alley, as many of the "professionals" often aren't working on anything official anymore... but it would be nice to see if any of the unknowns have a resume of anything official (to have autographed or commissioned).

[griffin]

Looks like the Hall of Fame concept is continuing this year, as a number of American sites have apparently been invited to participate.
At the convention, it is likely to be something similar to last year, with just a simple announcement of the winner at the Hasbro panel.

[UltraMarginal]

Looks like the Hall of Fame concept is continuing this year, as a number of American sites have apparently been invited to participate.
At the convention, it is likely to be something similar to last year, with just a simple announcement of the winner at the Hasbro panel.

Announcement at the Hasbro panel is what Seibertron are saying, it's a bummer that OTCA don't get asked to participate.
And a shame that they're not making as big a deal about it as they did in the first few years.

I wonder if they'll ever release a DVD with all the nominations videos, I'd buy that.

[griffin]

It seems that the Universal Studios event on June 20th is not just for BotCon attendees (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/rock-out-with-stan-bush-at-the-universal-studios-fan-experience-on-june-20-2014-180156/)... as tickets will be on sale for anyone to attend the after-hours events and activities. (it doesn't make it as special if the general public can attend, but could be necessary to keep the cost down for FunPub, especially if they aren't able to sell out attendee packages)
The program is said to have a Hasbro panel and a Stan Bush concert, along with some of the rides staying open for those extra 3 hours, but no mention of a sample or advance screening of the Movie.
(but we will get an exclusive poster... so that makes it worth it :p )

I'm happy to have Stan Bush back, as it has been a while.
(and I can harass him about some questions that have been bugging me for a while now)

[griffin]

Another guest has signed up at the last minute (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14guests.html) - Morgan Lofting, who voiced Firestar and Moonracer in the Gen1.

Looks to be a number of minor-role VAs this year from the original series... due to many of the big name VAs being guests at another convention that weekend.

[UltraMarginal]

Another guest has signed up at the last minute (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14guests.html) - Morgan Lofting, who voiced Firestar and Moonracer in the Gen1.

Looks to be a number of minor-role VAs this year from the original series... due to many of the big name VAs being guests at another convention that weekend.

Interesting that Botcon mentioned a women in animation panel, it will be interesting to hear how perceptions have changed over the years, especially compared to other industries.

[griffin]

The Schedule has been released (http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2014/BC14schedule.html), for anyone going.

[griffin]

Only one panel on the Friday, plus the Fan Film-fest... as everything was brought forward three hours to accommodate the Universal Studios visit.

Saturday night only has a BotCon retrospective presentation and MSTF.
The Universal Studios after-hours event had better be worthwhile, and provide us with dinner to make up for no dinner even this year. It's really the one "adult" element of the Convention each year, to have a decent dinner set-up, which will be one thing I'll probably miss most this year.


I just saw (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2014-toy-giveaway-for-150-lucky-kids-under-12-attending-on-general-admission-180213/) that they will be giving away a free Deluxe size toy to the first 150 children who are on general admission (walk-ins). The toys are most likely donated by Hasbro, since they are noted in the press release, but also because a Deluxe toy is US$12-15 in America, while general admission is $10 for children... making the freebie cost more than the admission price for the children.

[griffin]

Press release for the Universal Studios Friday night event (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/transformers-fan-experience-20-june-2014-details-revealed-180291/)... which doesn't say much more than what we already know.


Universal Studios Hollywood hosts the 2014 TRANSFORMERS FAN EXPERIENCE
When: Friday, June 20th from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Where: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 | Phone: (800) 864- 8377
Cost: $75, includes admission to all rides and attractions, in addition to the breakthrough thrill ride, “Transformers: The Ride—3D,” as well as after-hours access from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Tickets and more information: https://ushtix.com/Transformers, www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com

The TRANSFORMERS Fan Experience to include:


Exclusive after-hours access to Universal Studios Hollywood’s award-winning thrill ride, “Transformers: The Ride—3D”
Preview of yet-to-be seen TRANSFORMERS toys from Hasbro’s 2014 product line, including all-new merchandise from the TRANSFORMERS: Age of Extinction.
Panel and interactive workshops led by Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS brand team, including new inductions into the TRANSFORMERS Hall of Fame
Photo opportunities with popular TRANSFORMERS characters – Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee
Musician Stan Bush (TRANSFORMERS: The Movie) live in concert
Commemorative event lanyard, free limited edition memorabilia poster (while supplies last) and 10% off select merchandise.



10% off "select" merchandise could be good if it includes toys... but unlikely.