Transformers Cartoon News on Seibertron.com

COTM: Silverbolt

Date: Saturday, September 1st 2001 11:49pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Cartoon News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 260,024

COTM: Added the Aerialbot Commander "Silverbolt" as September's COTM

Rebirth DVD images

Date: Sunday, August 19th 2001 11:46pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Cartoon News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 262,712

Image Archives: I began working on the REBIRTH - DVD image archive earlier today. Expect to see the images posted sometime in the next two weeks. Maintenance: Fixed the Destron Drone images and added the Firecons to the Masterforce image archive.

Masterforce image archive is now online

Date: Sunday, August 19th 2001 11:40pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Cartoon News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 265,393

Image Archives: The Masterforce image archive is now available! Make sure you check out some of these rare, never before seen images today!

Masterforce update and Blast Punch Optimus Primals for sale

Date: Saturday, August 18th 2001 11:37pm CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Toy News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 285,122

Site News: I am about ready to unveil the Masterforce section of images. There's a little over 600 images that will be a part of this section. Look for it sometime Sunday or Monday. Market Watch: I still have Blast Punch Optimus Primals for sale. You can purchase them through my listing(s) on eBay or buy them from me privately for $30.00 a figure.

COTM: Superion

Date: Monday, July 30th 2001 11:25pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Cartoon News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 288,114

In COTM: Added Superion as the August 2001 COTM.

Masterforce screen capture news

Date: Monday, July 30th 2001 11:23pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Cartoon News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 295,856

Maintenance: Simple maintenance was conducted on the site. I added rotator code on the main spotlight and hotspot images on the front page. This will give the page a different look almost everytime you visit the page.

In The News: I have begun working on the Masterforce images again. I finished screening through another episode, adding over 120 pictures to the archives on my computer. I will be screening through about 4 or 5 more episodes this week. Once I've finished those, I will begin sorting through the images to see which ones I want on the site. On a sidenote, I purchased a correct version of the Rebirth DVD. I will have screen captures of this series posted in the next couple of months.

Beast Wars Series Premieres With Winning Ratings In U.S.

Date: Monday, May 27th 1996 12:01am CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Press Releases
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Mainframe

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Views: 759,387

New 3-D Computer Animated series Produced By Alliance Multimedia and Mainframe Entertainment Beats all kid competition in majority of markets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27 - Toronto - BEAST WARS^TM, the all-new high-tech animated i children's television series which previewed in 85% of the U.S. with an exciting two-part mini-series, earned impressive ratings for its world premiere in April, 1996, it was announced by Steven DeNure, President, , I Alliance Multimedia.

In New York, the largest U.S. television market, BEAST WARS^TM earned a 4.6 rating, 15 share, which marks a 21% increase in ratings and a 33% increase in share over the previous week's programming, and a 35% increase in ratings and 36% increase in share over the lead-in.

Nationally, BEAST WARS^TM earned equally impressive ratings in the 30 overnight markets, averaging an increase over its lead-in in 77% of the markets and beating all competition in over 70% of the metered ':1 markets. BEAST WARS^TM is the action-packed battle for control of a uniquely powerful energy source called "energon". From a distant peaceful planet populated by highly evolved robotic beings, the ruling Maximals^TM chase a renegade band of evil Predacons^TM through time and space, only to crash land on a mysterious earth-like planet. The planet is so rich in energon that it causes the robot's chips to overload, forcing both groups to adapt by splicing their cybergenetic code with the DNA of indigenous animal forms. When the two sides meet they revert to their metalloid forms to do battle. Outnumbered, the Maximals must use their skill and cunning to prevent the Predacons from acquiring enough energon to fuel their relentless drive to dominate the universe.

"BEAST WARS is the next step in the evolution of3-D computer animation for television, and confirms Mainframe Entertainment's position as the leader in the field," said DeNure.

BEAST WARS^TM executive producers are Christopher Brough, Steven DeNure, Stephane Reichel and Ian Pearson. Jonathan Goodwill is Producer.

Alliance Communications Corporation is a worldwide filmed entertainment company headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Paris and Shannon. Its shares trade in Toronto and Montreal under AAC and it is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol ALLIF.

Mainframe Entertainment is the world's first producer of full length computer generated family programming located in Vancouver, Canada.

Hasbro Can't Toy with Optimus Prime

Date: Saturday, March 28th 1987 12:01am CST
Categories: Cartoon News, Toy News, Company News
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Original Source Unknown

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Views: 836,034

** ORIGINAL SOURCE UNKNOWN **

Written by Lane Crockett

Kids not only say the darndest things, but when they speak as one, they get things done. Ask Alfred C. Carosi.

Carosi is a corporate vice president of marketing services with Hasbro, a toy company. Hasbro happens to be the creator of Transformers, a popular children's program featuring a range of robots as heroes and villians. They're called autobots.

Locally, the series can be seen at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on KMSS, Channel 33.

Hasbro, in an effort to revamp its toy line pertaining to Transformers, used its feature-length film of the same name to kill off Optimus Prime, leader of the good guys on the TV series.

The philosphy of Hasbro in terms of toy product is to turn its entire line every two years and introduce new toys. The company thought the feature film a good place to kill off Optimus Prime and give a reason for his disapearance from the toy line.

"There was immediate reaction," says Carosi. "We got a lot of phone calls and letters from kids. We were frankly surprised at the number of letters. When we killed off Optimus Prime, I thought they might be a little bit upset, but we had new heroes for them in the movie. That didn't seem to matter."

So for the first time, Hasbro brought back a series figure. Optimus is back on the TV show, but he's still out of the toy line.

"We did it because the kids seemed to really like him. He's in all the new episodes, but he wasn't a part of the series after the movie. That could be confusing because we killed off a bunch in the movie... easily half a dozen.

"We didn't get any letters about any of the other characters. Based on that, we took a look at bringing Optimus back. If Bobby Ewing can come back, why not Optimus Prime?"

In the storyline returning Optimus, Carosi says, the reaction was fantastic from the kids. Generally speaking, he says, Transformers ratings were up in major markets like New York and Chicago, where Hasbro is headquartered.

Although Optimus doesn't find himself in the toy line right now, Carosi says Hasbro is seriously looking at bringing the toy back next year.

Oddly, Optimus was not the leading toy in the Transformers line. He sold for $20. Carosi says some of the lower-priced ones sold better. Of the larger toys, Optimus was No. 1 at his price range.

"Optimus was leader of the good autobots, I guess that's why he was so popular. He was replaced in the movie by Rodimus Prime, who is the hero in the new episodes. Optimus came back and took over in a two-parter. He was Rodimus' father figure.

"Well, we've done it and we learned. The key is to be responsive to the kids, not upset them. We did that inadvertently. By definition, what we do should be fun."

Carosi says the feature-length film did well and engineered good responses from kids. It is now being readied for videocassette release.

"Hasbro probably won't do another film," Carosi says. "They are very expensive to produce. We lost money on Transformers and My Little Pony, which we also created."

Hasbro's most popular creation is the G.I. Joe animated show. Transformers is No. 2. G.I. Joe was created in 1964. Carosis says, in 1982, G.I. Joe was made into action figures.

"There's no one G.I. Joe now. He has become a G.I. Joe team. By the way, the good figures outsell the villains."

The lead seller for the bad guys is a figure called Cobra Commander, who appears on G.I. Joe.

As for Optimus Prime, he seems to be secure now. Hasbro has learned not to tamper with him. After all, he has an army of youngsters backing him.

Editor's Note: This newspaper article was obtained through Linden High School's micro-fiche film library during my senior year in 1995. Linden High School is located in Linden, Mi. See ... it pays to save all that stuff!!!