SDCC 2022 day 2 - Friday July 22nd

Day two of this year's SDCC and we get the full reveal of Earthspark - cartoon and toyline.

But before we look at that, a follow up from yesterday, with a leaked image of the back of Legacy Skullgrin's packaging, showing the alt-mode.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072350.jpg

And the Pop Vinyl Unicron figure was released at SDCC as well, which we can see has a different exclusive sticker on it to the ones released outside of SDCC (like here in Australia).

Some other follow-ups to yesterday...

The display cases were updated at the Hasbro exhibit, to include the new Legacy and GEN Selects toys that were revealed this weekend.

The main Legacy display case, with the new "A Hero is Born" 2-pack, and Dragon Megatron packaging... plus the Shattered Glass Flamewar toy.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072346.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072347.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072348.jpg

And also on display is the last of the GEN Selects toys for this year - DK-3 Breaker, which is the blue redeco of Trailbreaker.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072349.jpg

The DK-3 Breaker toy is now up on Amazon Australia for au$45, for release November 15th.

Earthspark cartoon...

First we had the cast and characters revealed by Nickelodeon...

(note in the press release that the cartoon is exclusive to the Paramount+ streaming service, but does note that it could be on Nickelodeon channels in other countries like ours... which is still not free-to-air for those of us who don't pay for tv)

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072301.jpg

Quote:

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NICKELODEON, PARAMOUNT+ AND ENTERTAINMENT ONE ANNOUNCE TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK VOICE CAST AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO 2022

Paramount+ Original Animated Series Coming Exclusively to the Service This November Will Star Sydney Mikayla, Zion Broadnax, Benny Latham, Jon Jon Briones, Kathreen Khavari, Zeno Robinson, Danny Pudi, Alan Tudyk, Rory McCann, Cissy Jones and Diedrich Bader

First Look of Transformers: EarthSpark Revealed During Exclusive Panel Featuring Voice Cast and Creative Team Members

Nickelodeon, Paramount+ and Entertainment One (eOne) today announced the voice actors breathing new life into original and franchise favorite characters in the upcoming Paramount+ original animated series Transformers: EarthSpark. The all-new animated series (26 episodes) introduces a new generation of Transformers robots–the first Transformers robots to be born on Earth–and together with the human family who welcomes them in and cares for them, they’ll redefine what it means to be a family. Transformers: EarthSpark is set to debut exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. in November, and on Paramount+ and select Nickelodeon channels internationally. The new series joins the globally recognized Transformers powerhouse franchise.


The news was revealed during an exclusive panel at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2022 featuring voice cast members Danny Pudi (Bumblebee), Kathreen Khavari (Twitch), Zeno Robinson (Thrash), and co-executive producer Dale Malinowski and executive producer Ant Ward. Mike Cecchini (Editor-in-Chief, Den of Geek) moderated the panel, which also revealed a first look at the series.


The new voice cast and their Transformers: EarthSpark characters are:

• Sydney Mikayla (Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts) as “Robby Malto,” a smart 13-year-old boy with an abundance of moxie and charisma. Robby is frustrated by his family’s recent move to a small town until he discovers Transformers bots and is now living the ultimate dream.
• Zion Broadnax (Day Shift) as “Morgan ‘Mo’ Malto,” Robby’s 9-year-old younger sister. Though she’s emotionally mature for her age, she’s able to look at everything with a wide-eyed sense of optimism and hope. For her, family comes first no matter who you are or where you’re from.
• Benny Latham as “Dot Malto,” the mother to Robby and Mo, surrogate mother to the Malto-bots, and wife to Alex. She’s a loving mother and ex-soldier, so she can flip that switch when she’s pushed.
• Jon Jon Briones (Ratched) as “Alex Malto,” the father to Robby and Mo, surrogate father to the Malto-bots, and husband to Dot. He’s a college professor with a Ph.D. in Transformers History who loves sharing his Filipino heritage and wealth of Transformers knowledge with his human and bot kids. He can also rattle off dad jokes like a pro.
• Kathreen Khavari (Dead End: Paranormal Park) as “Twitch Malto,” an Earth-born Terran born out of primordial sludge in the cave waters of Witwicky, Pennsylvania, like her brother Thrash. She’s a keen observer of everything around her.
• Zeno Robinson (Big City Greens) as “Thrash Malto,” an Earth-born male Terran and a cheeky wild child. Like his sister, Twitch, he was born out of primordial sludge in the caves of Witwicky, Pennsylvania. He’s a bringer of fun and good times with a happy-go-lucky attitude.
• Danny Pudi (Community) as “Bumblebee,” a fun-loving veteran Autobot who serves as a mentor to the Terrans as they learn what it takes to be Transformers robots. Bumblebee has a lot to learn about being a big brother and role model. He’s suddenly in a position of authority, which makes him nervous and afraid to show any cracks.
• Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien) as “Optimus Prime,” a courageous Autobot leader who has forged a new alliance with humans. The birth of the Terrans has given him renewed hope for the future.
• Rory McCann (Game of Thrones) as “Megatron,” the father of the Decepticon faticon who believes in making any sacrifice necessary for the survival of Cybertronian civilization. He’s a headstrong idealist but isn’t unwilling to adjust his strategy when victory hangs in the balance.
• Cissy Jones (The Owl House) as “Elita-1,” the physically gifted and confident second-in command of the Autobots. Elita-1 is fair and never overbearing to the team. She listens to everyone and is a bot the Terrans look up to.
• Diedrich Bader (Better Things) as “Mandroid,” the villain. He was a scientist-soldier in the war, jaded and ultimately, very anti-Cybertronian. With this new anti-Transformer ideology, he believes Earth and its humans need his protection and surmises that the annihilation of all Cybertronians is the best for the planet.

Hasbro, maker of the Transformers: EarthSpark toyline, and a production partner on the animated series, also participated in the panel presentation.

Transformers: EarthSpark is created and co-executive produced by Dale Malinowski (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and executive produced by Ant Ward (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). The series is developed for television by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Big Kids Animation, Nickelodeon. Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Mikiel Houser, Executive in Charge of Production and for eOne by Kari Rosenberg.

---

And then a preview trailer was released on the Transformers facebook page... and screenshots can be seen here.

The red bot is called Twitch, the silver bot is called Thrash.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072319.jpg

This is the main villain - Mandroid.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072320.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072321.jpg

The main family.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072322.jpg

An Arachnamech.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072323.jpg

Looks like Bombshell...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072353.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072354.jpg
.

Earthspark toyline....

Official images and details...

Posted on the official Transformers facebook page was a description of the size classes for Earthspark, and the robot modes of some of them -

Quote:

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Revealed today at San Diego Comic Con! Transformers: EarthSpark introduces a new generation of Transformers robots - the first Transformers bots to be born on Earth. With 5 scales in the line, there’s something for everyone.




Convert and pose out new characters and fan-favorite bots with Transformers: EarthSpark Warrior Class and Deluxe Class!



Forge a connection with Transformers robots like never before with Transformers: EarthSpark Tacticon figures that convert around a finger!



Fun in every flip! Convert 1-Step Flip Changer figures from robot mode to alt. mode in 1 exciting step by flipping the bot in the air!



Bring the human and bot connection from the animated TV series to life with Spin Changer Bumblebee with Mo Malto!

---

No release details yet, but since the cartoon is coming out in November, these toys would need to be released before that, or soon after, as toylines don't do as well if there isn't any "advertising" on TV or the Movie Screen.

Three of the size-classes are the same as we had in Cyberverse, and these toys are very similar in appearance to Cyberverse toys. (some are even just redecos of Cyberverse toys, or are remoulds)

Tacticon (also known as Finger Warriors) are small simple converting toys that can be used as finger puppets. Unknown price, but likely to be about us$5.
Toys revealed - Bumblebee, Megatron, Optimus Prime.

1-Step Changer - same concept from Cyberverse. Price will be us$10.
Toys revealed - Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Wheeljack.

Warrior - same concept from Cyberverse. Price will be us$15.
Toys revealed - Elita-1, Optimus Prime, Skywarp (black redeco of Cyberverse Starscream toy).

Deluxe - same concept from Cyberverse, and first wave has another "Build A Figure" - Mandroid. Price will be us$20.
Toys revealed - Bumblebee, Megatron, Twitch, and BAF Mandroid.

Spin Changer - probably similar to the large toy gimmick of Cyberverse. Price will be us$30.
Toys revealed - Bumblebee with Morgan "Mo" Malto (figurine), Optimus Prime with Robby Malto (figurine).

Then Hasbro released a lot more official images, which now gave us a look at both modes of these figures.
(Mandroid and Spin Changer Optimus were not in the official images - they were in the display case, which is in the next post)

These first two images show the size differences of the five size classes.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072317.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072318.jpg

Tacticon (finger puppets)
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072308.jpg

1-steps
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072309.jpg

Warrior Elita-1
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072306.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072315.jpg

Warrior Optimus Prime
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072305.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072316.jpg

Warrior Skywarp
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072307.jpg

Deluxe Bumblebe
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072302.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072311.jpg

Deluxe Megatron
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072303.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072312.jpg

Deluxe Twitch
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072304.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072313.jpg

Spin Changer Bumblebee with Mo Malto
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072310.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072314.jpg
.

Earthspark display cabinet - with the new toys, plus two that were not included in the official images...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072324.jpg

Deluxe Twitch
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072325.jpg

Build-A-Figure Mandroid
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072326.jpg

Deluxe Bumblebee
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072327.jpg

Warrior Optimus
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072328.jpg

1-step Wheeljack
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072329.jpg

Warrior Skywarp
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072330.jpg

Tacticon Optimus
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072331.jpg

Tacticon Megatron
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072332.jpg

Tacticon Bumblebee
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072333.jpg

Warrior Elita-1
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072334.jpg

1-step Optimus
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072335.jpg

1-step Bumblebee
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072336.jpg

Deluxe Megatron
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072337.jpg

Spin-Changer Bumblebee with Mo Malto
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072338.jpg

Spin-Changer Optimus Prime with Robby Malto
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072339.jpg


And one final reveal at SDCC yesterday - the live unboxing of the Haslab Victory Saber toy, with screenshots from here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWons1-BPWo

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072340.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072341.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072342.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072343.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072344.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072345.jpg
.

There isn't likely to be anything new revealed in the remaining two days of SDCC, but if there is, I'll add them to this topic. (unless it is HUGE news)

As expected, there hasn't been anything new revealed for Transformers by Hasbro, so the fans at SDCC have been posting up photos of display cases and exhibits, including various license-holders.

At the Hasbro exhibit, they have the Haslab Victory Saber box in the display case...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072401.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072402.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/072403.jpg

And tfw have posted up some more photos from the Earthspark display case (nothing new, but there are more angles on the new toys).

Some of the other license-holders (we saw the licensed statues and action figures on the first day)...

Funko Pop Vinyl - they had a special (expensive) party at SDCC, and everyone got some limited edition figures, some of which included a "Freddy Funko" dressed in Optimus cosplay, with three versions - regular (1500 units), metallic (500 units), glow in the dark (500 units).
It sound like a lot of units to be just for the party, so either they gave away a lot of figures, or they were also being sold through their site or some outlet later.

Symbiote Studios - mostly known for their plush toys, but also do t-shirts and pins.

Icon Heroes - had on display some Transformers book-ends (books? what are books? :p ), a 30cm Optimus statue, and a Unicron pen-holder which you could even stick pens through the "broken" eyes.

Checking out IMDB to see who the new Transformers cast is, and what they are best known for in the past...

- Sydney Mikayla (best known for General Hospital) as “Robby Malto,” a smart 13-year-old boy.
- Zion Broadnax (nothing major yet) as “Morgan ‘Mo’ Malto,” Robby’s 9-year-old younger sister.
- Benny Latham (new to acting) as “Dot Malto,” the mother to Robby and Mo.
- Jon Jon Briones (was in two episodes of Picard) as “Alex Malto,” the father to Robby and Mo.

- Kathreen Khavari (Ms Marvel in animated Mavel shows since 2018) as “Twitch Malto,” an Earth-born female Terran.
- Zeno Robinson (mostly voice roles since 2008, including the 2022 MOTU cartoon and Young Justice) as “Thrash Malto,” an Earth-born male Terran.

- Danny Pudi (best known for Community) as “Bumblebee”.
- Alan Tudyk (as Dutch in Transformers Dark of the Moon, and many other roles) as “Optimus Prime”.
- Rory McCann (best known for Game of Thrones) as “Megatron”.
- Cissy Jones (mostly voice roles since 2004) as “Elita-1”.

- Diedrich Bader (best known for Drew Carey Show, and was in the 2021 MOTU cartoon) as “Mandroid,” the villain.

I don't know if its me getting older or how the show/toys are looking, but I have no interest at all in Earthspark.

I actually forgot that this set included Holi & Fire.
Im even more excited for its release now.