ARMADA news from Toy Fair 2002!
By Ben Yee of BWTF.com
2002 will see the most ambitious Transformers relaunch in recent history. Recognizing the heritage of seventeen years of Transformers, while trying to appeal to a younger audience, Hasbro presented Armada at this year's Toy Fair.
Armada's concept is simple, but has massive play potential. Armada introduces a new faction to the Transformers war: the Minicons. The Minicons are a group of Transformers who were sent off Cybertron thousands of years ago. Now they have crashed on Earth. Found by three human children in the year 2010, these small Transformers can all transform into robots and vehicles, but also have the added bonus of enhancing a Transformers' powers and abilities. The key words for Armada are "Combination" and "Integration", describing the play pattern for these toys.
Armada will begin to ship in June 2002, due in stores around July. A 52 episode cel animated series will begin to air in September 2002. The animation style looks very refined and similar to the look of Robots in Disguise. Down the line, Takara is expected to introduce this series in Japan. Hasbro hopes to run the program from September of 2002 all the way to Fall 2003.
For those who missed the days of individualized package art, fear no more. In conjunction with Dreamwave Productions, Hasbro is using their artists for packaging artwork. Also, Dreamwave's drawings of the Transformers are being used as reference by the show's animators. According to the Hasbro reps, there will be litte disparity between the way the toys look in the cartoon and how they look in the comic book.
Please keep in mind that the toys shown are only the first wave of Armada toys. More are due as the year goes on. Note: I was rushed out of the Transformers room fairly quickly so I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked to. However, more pictures are on the way tonight/early tomorrow. Also, please take a look at: Altered States Magazine for some great Toy Fair 2002 Armada coverage.
- Air Defense team (Jetstorm, Sonar, Runway)
- Air Defense team (Combined as sword)
- Air Defense team (Vehicle modes)
- Destruction team (Buzzsaw, Drillbit, Dualor)
- High Wire (Rescan from Toy Fare Magazine)
- Land Military team (Wreckage, Knockout, Bonecrusher)
- Street Action team (Merged as Perceptor)
- Street Action team (Showing Grindor and Sureshock)
Cyclonus
- Cyclonus with Crumplezone (Vehicle modes)
- Cyclonus with Crumplezone (Robot modes)
- Cyclonus with Crumplezone attached
Demolisher
Demolisher is a Decepticon tank. Looking both brutal and cool at the same time, Demolisher comes with a Minicon that helps "unlock" extra weaponry. Despite looking "G1 blocky" to some people, this toy actually has a very nice aesthetic. Its sharp lines and hard edges give it a very hardcore military feel. His Decepticon symbol is actually molded into the toy, which is a nice touch. Expected Release: August.
Hot Shot
- Hot Shot (On card)
- Hot Shot and Jolt (Vehicle modes)
- Hot Shot (Robot mode)
- Jolt (Robot mode)
- Hot Shot with engine/Minicon inserted, opens up claws in the front.
- Hot Shot Dreamwave Art
Laserbeak
This Transformer is a role play toy. Consisting of three modes,
Laserbeak is a gun, digital camera and bird. The biggest shocker:
he's an Autobot! Features electronic sounds. Expcted Release: August.
Red Alert
- Red Alert and Longarm (Vehicle modes)
- Red Alert and Longarm (Robot modes)
- Longarm (Robot mode)
- Red Alert Dreamwave art
Starscream
Starscream returns as a sleek and powerful jet. In robot mode, his wings detach and unfold to become very sleek looking swords. In jet mode, attach a Minicon and dual missile launchers flip forward! Starscream will also feature lights and sounds. Expected Release: August.
Megatron
- Megatron (Tank mode, side view)
- Megatron with Leader-1(Tank mode, forward view)
- Improved scan of Megatron from Toy Fare
Optimus Prime
- Improved scan of Optimus in robot mode
- Robot Mode with Matrix chamber open
- Vehicle Mode
- Base unfolded with Sparkplug to the left
- Cab and trailer separated
Optimus Prime is back, bigger and more powerful than before! Once again the Autobot leader is a semi truck. His color scheme is true to the original Optimus Prime, consisting primarily of greys, silver, blue and red. Optimus Prime will be packaged with a Minicon sports car known as Sparkplug. Long time fans will recognize this name as having been the name of Spike Witwicky's father. A nice touch there.
In an awesome feature, when you transform Optimus Prime's cab into robot mode, it sends out an IR signal to the trailer, making it automatically transform into a Minicon base! Then to make things even cooler, the trailer and the robot combine to form a super Robot! This larger robot has design elements that range from the original Star Convoy all the way to Web Diver.
Optimus Prime will include electronics such as lights in the hands and on the main body of the figure itself. In a very nice touch, the cab/robot's chest flips open and reveals an Autobot Matrix! This is the first instance of an American Autobot leader being released with a Matrix (No, I don't count Prime from RID since he is technically a Car Robots toy).
- Mock up packaging for the CCG
- Mock up boxes for the CCG
- Display area with a great shot of Cyclonus' art
2.1.2002
Hasbro trademarks a new wave of names!
By Zac Shipley of Transfandom
Thanks to Monzo (the MAN for trademark info!) we've got a fresh batch of a whopping 24 names applied for trademark by Hasbro.
Returning character names include Depthcharge, Downshift, Knock Out, Perceptor, Ramjet, Ransack, Terradive, and Thundercracker.
Brand new names are Dirt Boss, Dualor, Dune Runner, Firebot, High Wire, Iceberg, Negatevo, Oceanglide, Oval, Scattor, Sideways, Sky Blast, Sparkplug, Sureshock, and Waterlog.
Not all of these names may be used this year or at all, and the older names could just be Hasbro trying to protect their properties from the past. To see the specific trademark information, click here.
2.1.2002
Armada and G1 Comic Plots!
By Tim Formas of Transfandom
Rhinox42 has posted news at The AllSpark regarding the plot lines from the upcoming Generation One and Armada comics from Dreamwave. His information came from the new issue of Wizard, and the information can be seen here. Thanks to this information, the inclusion of mini-cons in the toy packs is clearer. With Toy Fair only a few weeks away, tons of information is on its way. We'll keep you updated as more information rolls in!
12.5.2001
Transformers Armada - The New TF Show !?!
By Torg of TFexchange
Rumors are flying about a new Transformers show that is set to air in late 2002. From posts and reports found on The AllSpark, Seibertron and Usenet we have been able to conclude quite a bit about a new show that will tentatively be called 'Transformers Armada'.
The Show
The new show is based somewhere in time in an "alternate universe" not related to the G1 or Beast Wars series though it is said to tie the two together somehow. Additionally, the Beast Machines and RiD story lines will be explained as well.
The Characters
The great news is Armada will include a variety of new and old Transformers characters. This includes G1, Beast Wars and RiD characters. The list we have gathered so far includes:
- Unicron
- Glavatron
- Optimus Prime
- Cheetor
- Rattrap
- Prowl
- Starscream
- Shockwave
- Hot Rod
- Tarantulas
There are also reports that a whole new line of toys will be included with the new series. Hasbro and Takara are said to be working together on the toy line. Our understanding is that Hasbro will do the figure design and Takara will manufacture them. We won't be seeing just a bunch of repaints. In addition to the show figures listed above, there is word that new characters and their figures will be introduced in the series.
Mainframe is Back!
The production work is being done by Mainframe, the force behind the incredible Beast Wars and Beast Machines computer naumated television shows. No one knows for sure if the show will be computer generated or animated, but we are willing to guess that it will be the former.
More to Come
We are currently working with our sources to confirm these reports, though much of this is based on a supposedly real interview with a Hasbro representative on the AllSpark message board. We will be posting more information as we receive it.
Please keep in mind these are only rumors. At the time of this writing, neither Hasbro nor Takara has released anything about this or any other plans for a new Transformers show.
12.5.2001
Hasbro Trademarks Armada & Character Names
By Torg of TFexchange
Tuesday, December 04 @ 00:11:19 CST
In what may be the most signifigant piece of news yet to confirm a new Transformers show. We have confirmed that Hasbro Inc. has recently filed trademarks for the name "Transformers Armada" and 14 other character names. Including:
- Blackout
- Blurr
- Comettor
- Daytonus
- Fortess Maximus
- Inferno
- Jetfire
- Leader-1
- Longarm
- Lazorbeak
- Red Alert
- Runway
- Side Burn
- Swindle
Each of the trademark filings has a "Goods and Services" description attached to it that says:
..."toy action figures, toy vehicles and toy robots convertible into other visual forms."
From this it seems that these are specifically for toys of some sort. Wheather there is a correlation to the new show is anyones guess. Though I bet there is a relation to some of them at least.
The interesting thing is Hasbro filed trademarks for many of the RiD names at almost the same time last year. Is there a pattern here? I can't help trying to make an association considering a similar series of events, with a show air date rumored at about the same period next year.
Info from Transformers Exchange
11.16.2001
Air, Land, Competitive Sportscar w/ Helicopter, Utility Crane w/ Tractor, Missile Tank w/ Military Vehicle, Helicopter w/ Tank Starscream w/ F-1 Racer, Rescue Vehicle w/ Crane Megatron w/ Mobile Artillery Truck Optimus Prime w/ Mini-Con Recorder #1
11.14.2001
"Well this should be of GREAT interest to those very people. A lot of shaking sources in the fan community has revealed that Hasbro has copyrighted the name "Transformers: Armada" for the 2002 line. The show is to be produced by the CGI studio Mainframe (who also did Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Reboot, and will be tackling a new SPIDERMAN series). The voice cast they normally use will be tapped for this new show as well.
Its going to feature characters from all over the Transformers history, and a good deal of time travel and/or dimensional crossovers to get them together. Optimus Prime will be back to lead the Autobots, and will be joined by old favorites Prowl and Ironhide, but will also have Cheetor, Rattrap, and Silverbolt from Beast Wars. The bad guy side is shaping up to be even more diverse with Galvatron, Shockwave, Starscream, and Tarantulas forming some kind of alliance...under the direction of UNICRON. yes, the giant planet-eating robot made famous by Orson Welles in Transformers The Movie over 15 years ago will be making his grand return.
There was a prototype of Unicron made by Hasbro's sister company Takara that was made a number of years ago, and Hasbro is working on retooling, altering and IMPROVING the mold to modernize it. its about a foot tall, so its not the tallest transformer ever, but the bulk should make him pretty close.
The name "Transformers: Armada" probably implies more than I can see. Picture a fleet of ships like the one the Autobots crashed onto earth years ago, all packed with Transformers from all over the galaxy looking to end the war with the Decepticons once and for all!
There is still much to finalize with this series, but it should be what fans past and present are waiting for. if this line is as successful as Robots In Disguise is, then you can COUNT on another movie being made".
-Astrotrain
11.7.2001
Unicron is a titled CHARACTER.
- Galvatron is returning, due to the big planet eater being around
- Optimus Prime, of some sort, is returning, whether it be the RID Prime or the G1 Prime is unknown, since the story does involve taking characters from different "series" and bringing them together
- The story doesn't take place before Beast Wars. It doesn't take place between G1 and Beast Wars. The series itself takes place around this time, in an alternate universe, so to speak (unfortunately, a story can be changed in the stroke of the "delete" key, so this may change as time goes on).
- RID and BM are finally explained in this series. Megatron's control of Cybertron in BM is explained and clarified (its much more than "he made a virus and wiped out everyone but him, bwahaha").
- Continuity of all the series' that had everyone going "Huh?" will be cleared up.
- We'll finally see what exactly RID has to do with any of the Transformer universe.
- Want to know a big hint on the proposed story? Beast Wars has a major tie in.
- As I stated days before the AllSpark post (shameless self plug, bwahaha), Mainframe is doing the work. Again, who do you think did the CGI for the RID Optimus Prime intro on the toy commercial?
- Guns. Lots of guns.
- Key characters. Up in the air at the moment are Cheetor, Rattrap, Prowl (G1/RID), Starscream (the one and only, Shockwave, Hot Rod, Tarantulas, and more.
- Joint effort by Takara and Hasbro. Meaning Japan will get this series once it has aired in America. All toys are designed by Hasbro and engineered by Takara.
- New figures gallore. Not as many repaints as seen in RID.
- And storyline wise, there's a reason we're seeing Prowl, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Mirage, X-Brawn, Skid-Z in RID...
Hasbro Rep:
Just had a few questions about Armada for you, based
> on a lot of the 'net-specualtion'. I know that things are
> still somewhat early, but I was hoping you could provide a
> few answers.
I'm still amazed at how the fans know so much so early. If
our competitors were nearly as persistant as you guys, we would
be in big trouble!
> Is the new line really 'Armada'?
As far as I know, it is. This could change if marketing has
troubles, as it did with Beast Machines, but everything seems
to be going that direction now.
> Who is making the new series?
Mainframe, who has given us big success with Beast Wars and
Beast Machines, is getting tapped for the new series right now.
I think they're already getting started on it, but I'm not the
right guy to ask.
> Where did Armada come from?
The story? I can't really say. That's not my department. I
know we're mixing a lot of old and new faces in the line. The
toy line is really just a big excuse to give the fans what they
want. By fans, I mean those who just got involved with Beast
Wars as well as those who remember the name of Optimus Prime's
girlfriend.
> Is Armada related to Transtech?
Yes. Some of the concepts for Transtech have been reworked for
the upcoming toyline.
> What toys are we likely to see?
The toyline is slated right now to be pretty modest, a little
bigger than what's planned for Robots in Disguise. But I
think our choices of characters are going to have a few people
drooling. The new Prime and Galvatron figures are very
impressive.
> When are we going to see them?
That's not quite set yet. The show isn't scheduled for late
summer of 2002, and we would like to have the show and toyline
come out at about the same time. It's going to have to depend
on if we think that Robots in Disguise can carry over that long.
> Any more on Robots in Disguise?
My part of that line is just about over. We're looking over a
lot of our 'Generation Two' line for possibility of rereleases
to help round out the line, and carry it over until Armada
comes out. All I can give you right now is a list of what we're
looking at.
You'll know more by Christmas. Probably before I do!
> What's your role in production?
I really want to answer that, and tell everyone how great it
is to be working on these toys and this product line.
Unfortunately, that's probably not a good idea. I'll just say
that I talked about it at BotCon once, and look forward to
doing so again.
> Thanks again!
I'm not sure how useful this all is for you or your friends at the All-Spark & DecepticonMatrix.com. But give them all my best, and tell them that we
do keep them in mind when we work on the line!Transformers ARMADA Toys for June 2002:
Info from BigBot
Armada Mini-Cons 3-pack Asst
- Contains: 12 3-packs
ITEM CODE: [ TF-80701 ]
< JUN 2002 >
SRP $107.88
Armada Super-Cons Asst
- Contains: 8 Figures
ITEM CODE: [ TF-80702 ]
< JUN 2002 >
SRP $111.92
Armada Max-Cons Asst
- Contains: 6 Figures
ITEM CODE: [ TF-80703 ]
< JUN 2002 >
SRP $155.94
Armada Giga-Cons Asst
- Contains: 4 Figures
ITEM CODE: [ TF-80705 ]
< JUN 2002 >
SRP $135.96
Armada Optimus Prime Semi Truck Case
- Contains: 2 Figures
ITEM CODE: [ TF-80706 ]
< JUN 2002 >
SRP
$109.98
Armada Role-Play Asst
- Contains: 6 Pieces
ITEM CODE: [ TF-80707 ]
< JUN 2002 >
SRP $113.94
Info from AintItCoolNews.com
Info from Transfandom
Info from The Allspark