BotCon 08 panels - Hasbro Design team.

[dirge]

Going with the "young inexperiened theme" my guess would be BM=Nightscream, Energon=Ironhide.

Now there are two concepts that don't need revisiting!

[Paulbot]

A better toy for both of those two would be nice... but how could you improve Sideburn???

[i_amtrunks]

I'd love an Energon Ironhide who's head doesnt show through in Alt mode.

If he could still powerlinx with Jetfire that would just be a bonus.

[griffin]

So we get Cheetor as the token BW figure, Hot Shot as the token Armada toy... so what yellow figures will get the token treatment from RID, BM and Energon?

Someone in the audience actually questioned this same thing as well. The Hasbro people responded to say that the Hotshot toy was to be released about 6 months after Cheetor, so wouldn't be looking like an assortment of yellow.
They also mentioned that the characters chosen were ones that were most well known, or most reflected the identity of that particular series.
Cheetor and Hotshot are key identities for their respective series, hence their inclusion in the anniversary line.

[i_amtrunks]

Someone in the audience actually questioned this same thing as well. The Hasbro people responded to say that the Hotshot toy was to be released about 6 months after Cheetor, so wouldn't be looking like an assortment of yellow.
They also mentioned that the characters chosen were ones that were most well known, or most reflected the identity of that particular series.
Cheetor and Hotshot are key identities for their respective series, hence their inclusion in the anniversary line.

It's a decent idea.

But it does mean that if Energon gets the 25 year treatment, Ironhide is the bot of choice...