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

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 , 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.

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.

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.