Transformers Company News on Seibertron.com

Corgi International Ltd To Develop Transformers Collectibles in 2007

Date: Sunday, December 31st 2006 3:21pm CST
Categories: Company News, Collectables
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.businesswire.com

Permanent Link
Views: 71,005

Business Wire has reported on the merger between Corgi International Limited and Master Replicas earlier this week. Corgi International Limited is best known for manufacturing toy models and Master Replicas for creating Scaled movie models and replica's of movie props for movies/brands like StarWars and StarTrek.

In the press release for this merger, it was also mentioned that Corgi International Limited will develop unique collectibles in 2007 for several well-known brands, including Transformers. The following is the complete press release as reported on Business Wire.

"HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Corgi International Limited (Nasdaq GM: CRGID) today announced that the merger with Master Replicas Inc. has closed. Michael Cookson and Jennifer Klatt of Master Replicas Inc. have been named CEO and CFO, respectively, of Corgi.

Cookson commented, “The new Corgi combines three high quality brand names (Corgi Classics, Master Replicas, and Cards Inc.) into a single entity that expands the depth of its licenses, its collectible categories and its range of products.”

The new Corgi now holds licenses for many of the highest grossing film franchises of all time including Batman, Disney Classics, Harry Potter, James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, and others.

The company will be developing unique, collectible products under three brands. New products will begin arriving at retail in the spring of 2007 for Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars 30th Anniversary, and Transformers and in the fall of 2007, for The Golden Compass.

Corgi Classics will focus on collectible die cast vehicles and figurines, Master Replicas will continue to develop and produce movie prop replicas and high end collectibles, and a third brand will develop licensed products for the gift and toy channels.

For more information, please visit www.Corgi-International.com, www.MasterReplicas.com and www.CardsInc.com.

About Corgi International

Corgi International develops and markets a wide variety of both licensed and unlicensed collectible products – ranging from high end prop replicas to toys and gifts. The company holds licenses for many of the top film franchises of all time, including Batman, Disney Classics, Harry Potter, James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, and others. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices in Walnut Creek, CA, Chicago, IL, and the United Kingdom.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed above and without limitation, changes in market demand for Corgi International products, changes in economic conditions, dependence on certain customers and other risks described in the company's annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. The company undertakes no obligation to revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances".

Interview with CEO and Vice President of TakaraTomy, Sato Keita

Date: Thursday, December 28th 2006 7:09pm CST
Categories: Toy News, People News, Company News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): ipc-tokai.or.jp and Allspark.com

Permanent Link
Views: 41,701

In the latest issue of Hyper Hobby magazine there is an interview with Sato Keita. Sato Keita is the CEO and Vice President of TakaraTomy. According to Sato Keite future plans for the Transformers franchise in Japan are for a "Music and Sports" focus. Also Superdeformed figures are planned for the movie characters. Click here to see the original report and the click here to read a translation.

TakaraTomy Updates Website with Kiss Play Autorooper Gallery

Date: Wednesday, December 27th 2006 6:13pm CST
Categories: Toy News, Company News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): Autobase Atachi and Takaratomy.co.jp

Permanent Link
Views: 29,078

TakaraTomy has once again updated their website. They have added a flash gallery of the recently released Kiss Play Autorooper. You can check the gallery out by clicking here.

Sony Gives Thanks to the Fans

Date: Wednesday, December 6th 2006 4:47pm CST
Categories: Company News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.transformersthemoviedvd.com

Permanent Link
Views: 21,006

SONY BMG Music Entertainment has thanked the fans who contributed to the recent Transformers: The Movie - 20th Anniversary Special DVD release in their latest news letter. The following has been taken directly from their news letter.

"December 6, 2006

Happy Wednesday!

We wanted to take the opportunity to thank every fan who contributed to the success of this DVD - on December 2nd, we debuted on the Billboard DVD Charts at #10!

Don't forget to download your bonus TRANSFORMERS cell phone wallpaper, accessible through the DVD exclusive site! There are also three additional cell phone wallpaper designs that you can purchase - get Optimus Prime, Hot Rod and Unicron for your phones!"

UK DVD updates from Metrodome

Date: Monday, November 27th 2006 5:53pm CST
Categories: Company News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.metrodomegroup.com

Permanent Link
Views: 24,891

In a communication from Metrodome to several Transformers sites, the following updates were revealed to us. The third Takara box of the series Transformers: Victory is on course to be released on December 26th. A podcast of the first episode of Victory is expected to be put online on their TransformersDVD Board late December.

The release of the UK version of the 20th Anniversary special of Transformers: The Movie has been pushed back to a May 2007 release date. This version will be remastered straight from the negatives to a PAL conversion. The movie will be presented in a widescreen format and will not use the same soundtrack on the movie that was used in their previous 2005 release of Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed, which contained several errors. Chris McFeely, who has done commentary on the HeadMasters, MasterForce and Victory boxes, will be consulting in all the material to make sure this DVD release will be the best release to date.

According to thetransformers.net the TransformersDVD site will also be updated and relaunched next year.

Updates on Hasbro Trademarks

Date: Tuesday, November 21st 2006 6:35pm CST
Categories: Toy News, Company News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): Transformers @ The Moon

Permanent Link
Views: 19,576

Hasbro has been very busy over the last year seeking new trademarks. The status for many of Hasbro's filings has changed. According to Transformers @ The Moon the following trademarks have been updated:

"Knockdown - (76665720) - Approved for Publication of Opposition.
Menasor - (serial number 1411528) - This registration has been renewed under section 8 (10 year renewal). Interestingly enough this is a renewal for the 20 year old mark
Steamhammer - (76663880) - Approved for Publication of Opposition.
Fast Action Battlers - (76666003) - Approved for Publication of Opposition.
Decepticon Frenzy - (76665019) - Non-Final Action Written
Cyber Stompin' - (76665721) - Approved for Publication of Opposition."

Hasbro Seeking to Trademark More Than Meets The Eye

Date: Monday, November 13th 2006 7:00pm CST
Categories: Toy News, Company News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): Monzo of TFW2005

Permanent Link
Views: 18,980

Once again Hasbro is seeking new Transformers trademarks. This time around they are trying to Trademark the phrase More Than Meets The Eye. Monzo of TFW2005 has come across six different applications. Each one is filed for a different Goods and Services. Click here for links and descriptions.

New pictures of Hasbro G1 Reissue Soundwave in box

Date: Friday, November 3rd 2006 10:39am CST
Categories: Toy News, Company News
Posted by: Down_Shift | Credit(s): Toys R' Us.com

Permanent Link
Views: 21,596

Toys R' Us has a new picture of the Toys R' Us exclusive Soundwave. At this time it only shows the front of the box, but is very nicely put together none the less.

This box is based on the Classics packaging and shows art work for Soundwave rather then just a picture of the figure.

To see the product listing, click here

Hasbro updates Transformers site with more Classics pictures

Date: Thursday, November 2nd 2006 5:35pm CST
Category: Company News
Posted by: Down_Shift | Credit(s): Transformers.com

Permanent Link
Views: 23,563

Hasbro has updated their site to include pictures of Wave 1, which include:
Mirage & Grimlock
Classic legends - Fireflight, Leo Prime, Trypticon, Perceptror
Demolition team and Night Rescue Team.

See them all here.

They also have a preview for wave two, which is the same as the previews we've seen since Botcon.

Lastly they have included Bios and Box shots of Optimus Prime, Megatron, Rodimus, Bumblebee, Starscream and Astrotrain.

They also have included the new Transformers Flash game on the main page with a "watch demo" feature.

Check out all the transformers mayhem here

More International DVD deals with TV Loonland

Date: Thursday, November 2nd 2006 9:33am CST
Categories: Company News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.c21media.net

Permanent Link
Views: 16,472

C21 Media has reported that TV Loonland, who owns the media rights to the original series of the Transformers in Europe and several other parts of the globe, has made new DVD deals with YTV in Canada and Selecta Vision in Spain for the Transformers brand.