Botcon, DAY TWO

SPOILER ALERT: SYNOPSIS OF FIRST BEAST MACHINES EPISODE AT END OF UPDATE

Lots of info today from the Hasbro/Mainframe presentation and questions panel. To start off the two hour meeting, we were treated to an exclusive screening of the first episode of Beast Machines.The episode was fantastic, and far exceeded everyone's expectations. The animation is incredible and quite better than Beast Wars. The new forms are incredible but they do not appear to transform in the show. They seem closer to morphing; at least this is what it appears from the first episode. Upon speaking to the Hasbro/Mainframe reps that were there, they did assure us that the toys do transform, but the morphing effect in the show itself is represent the fact that transforming is no longer just a mechanical thing, but more of a spiritual thing, and the show will bring out more of the character's personalities and bring more depth to the show. All in all, the episode shows much promise for the show and the toy line. The show has been signed for 26 episodes broken into two seasons, and the first toys are due for a November release in time for Christmas. In response to a question about the delay in us seeing such toys as Dragon-Megatron and Blackarachnia, they did assure us that they are on their way to the stores. More information on the toys from Hasbro is that we will also see a release of different sizes for different characters, including a super mega size that they compared to the size of a house cat. They did not say which characters will be released in this size. The prototype that they brought was of Cheetor and of a droid general (one of the non-major characters they will be releasing). The toys are VERY articulate and very detailed. All in all a very nice surprise. One question that was asked was if we would ever see any promotions or print ads for the 15th anniversary of the original Transformers, and they answered that we may see it, but nothing is set in stone. The question of a feature film also arose, and the rep from Hasbro assured us that there is always talk of a feature film as the line is quite popular and 'you never know'. Among other information that came from the reps, most notable is that the 'much talked about but never released' episode Dark Glassis merely a rumor. The episode itself was never made and made it as far as pre-production before it was decided against.

Pictures of the art room and upcoming toys will appear here tomorrow, including pictures of Dragon-Megatron, Blackarachnia, a WB Kids Rhinox, and more, including the location and date of next year's Botcon.

Pics of notable acquisitions from the dealer room today

SPOILER ALERT OF BEAST MACHINES FIRST EPISODE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

The first episode's title is 'The Reformatting'.

In the opening scene, we see Optimal Optimus (in his original gorilla form) running from a group of laser-shooting droids on Cybertron. He runs for a bit and escapes into a moving train where he meets up with Rattrap (also in his original rat form). As the droids are shooting at the train and they flee from the train, Optimal gets a sort of sixth sense on which way to go. Optimal and Rattrap run, eventually being saved briefly by Cheetor (also in his original Cheetah form). As the now group of three run, Optimal gets another premonition of where to run and they drop underground through a blasted hole, landing on a spider web, and we see Blackarachnia (original form in case you didn't guess) come forward and greet them. By now, we learn that they cannot transform and are stuck in their beast forms. Because of this, we learn that if they cannot transform soon, their systems will shut down and they will be no more. They are getting weaker as Optimal gets another premonition and they begin to climb down deeper into the depth os the Cybertron underground. They are getting weaker and Blackarachnia, who is spinning the web they are climbing down, collapses and drops, making the other three also drop to the ground below. It is pitch black and they appear to be giving up. Optimal stands and makes a couple of statements about not giving up and throws a barrel. The barrel shatters what appears to be a great pane of glass and there is a bright light. We find out that the bright light is the Oracle. The Oracle instructs Optimal that if they are to survive, they must be reformatted and that 'the answers you seek are sowed from the seeds of the past'. Optimal agrees and we see him emerge in his new Silverback form. He instructs the others that they must be reformatted to survive. Cheetor emerges in a much sleeker form, Rattrap in a a sleeker, meaner look, and Blackarachnia in an almost daddy-long-legs form. After they are finished being 'reformatted', the Oracle disappears and they hear a buzzing. The droids have returned and in a showy stance, the four attempt to transform and find they still cannot transform, so they run. They present an impressive, almost martial-arts stance of fighting in their beast forms and toward the end, Optimal has a revelation that the key to transforming comes from the legend of how the robots that first came to Cybertron learned to transform.. They learned from looking within themselves and through many years of hard work and training. In an instance of understanding, we see Optimal morph into a quite stunning version of Optimus and defeat the droids. The others return from defeating the droids that followed them individually and see him transformed. Optimal seems to lose concentration suddenly while trying to interrogate a droid, and morphs back into his Silverback form. Blackarachnia, Cheetor, and Rattrap are impressed and want to know how he knew how to transform. Optimal answers that he understands now and explains this legend of how the first one learned to transform. He says that there is much training to be done and that it must begin now. The episode ends with them walking away.