Toy Fair 2013 - Hasbro Reveal New Transformers TV Show For China and Beast Hunters Products Coming!

by Jack on February 8, 2013

Just in are details from the Hasbro New York Toy Fair 2013 Investor Event podcast posted on the corporate site. The annual event covers details of the newest products the company has planned for the coming year. This year they are sharing news with investors about a new Transformers TV Series for Chinese Fans, Transformers Construct-Bots, Relaunch of Transformers: Beast Hunters and the many new products they will be offering to support the new series. Read more below for details and highlights form the event.

Brian Goldner; President and Chief Executive Officer of Hasbro spoke first with the announcement that Transformers Prime would be relaunched as the "Beast Hunters" series:

Let me highlight to you some of the new brand initiatives for 2013" said Mr. Goldner. "We are completely re-inventing Transformers and it’s called Transformers: Beast Hunters. Speaking of Transformers If we take a look at the revenue history of the brand, a few key facts emerge. First when we started this brand it was much smaller that it is today. That was before we created our blueprint to activate our brands. Transformers was the first brand we fully activated and now revenues are twice the size they were that times. Second, you can see the impact of global TV. Our strategy for Transformers is 10 percent bigger in 2012 than 2010 where we didn’t have television following the movie.

The product side of the things was presented by John A. Frascotti; Global Chief Marketing Officer, Hasbro who walked us through what they are doing with Transformers and the new Construct-Bots as well as the Beast Hunters:

Our Transformers: Prime television show is now broadcasted in 182 countries around the world as well as streamed digitally. This year we are introducing two big new initiatives for Transformers; The first is called Beast Hunters and it’s a whole new story that will drive across all products, all entertainment, all licensing. A real focal point for us. The second is an entirely new segment and a new play pattern called Construct-Bots.

So let’s start with Beast Hunters. When you look at Transformers, the story was historically about Autobots vs. Decepticons. But we felt that time was right this year to create new storyline and new characters to the large existing Transformers fan base but will also recruit and attract new fans into the franchise. So we are introducing this year Transformers: Beast Hunters. With all new enemy characters, shown here on the screen is Predaking; he’s the leader of the Predacons faction and you’ll see a replica of him downstairs. We are delivering all new play experiences and all new digital engagement. And of course we will execute Transformers: Beast Hunters around our entire strategic blueprint with new characters in all of our products; in our Transformers figures, In Transformers Bot Shots, In Transformers: Kre-O as we invite all kids to the Beast Hunters Hunt. At Hasbro Studios we’ve developed entirely new Beast Hunters Television Series and we’ve also developed wide array of digital assets that will leverage throughout the year. I would like to share with you this morning, a quick look at our new Transformers: Beast Hunters Entertainment.

To support this new IP we have developed cross category Beast Hunters Retail Programs that will feature broad array of our toys as well as Licensed Lifestyle Products.

This spring we are expanding Kre-O portfolio with new Kreons and building experiences for Transformers, G .I .Joe and Star Trek. Starting with Transformers we’ve had lot of success with our Micro Changers collection so we are going to expand Micro Changers and we are going to expand to a new category called Micro Changers Combiners; which allows you to combine the micro changers into a giant robot and of course we’ll be introducing 8 new Beast Hunters Building Sets.

Later in the Q&A, it was mentioned by Brian Goldner a Transformers TV Series is being developed and will air exclusively for Chinese Transformers Fans:

We have Transformers: Prime in China, And we are also developing a new TV Series for Transformers indigenous to the Chinese Market. Transformers is one of the popular brands there. The brand was there in the 80s so we are making a Brand New TV Series that is produced in China with Chinese partners and will air in CCTV [China Central Television].

Check out the Transformers slides below for more details. You can also listen to the podcast and download the entire PDF presentation at the Hasbro Corporate Media Events site.

157 Image(s) - Click to Enlarge

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Last 10 comments - ( Read All Posts )

Tripredacus 2013-02-11 @ 3:24 pm

That Kre-o Devastator looks interesting.

FREEFALLL666 2013-02-10 @ 7:26 pm

Well with prices rising unjustly and paint quality falling rapidly...

nevaborn 2013-02-09 @ 9:21 am

Already had a 4-5 years of buying 1-2 formers. Its depressing in the UK. Dont even feel like a collector anymore as theres so little worth buying. What we do get seems to be the cheap overpriced rubbish the states doesn't want.

I would say only option to get the good stuff is import but thats costly and cant think of many official figures id really care to import in last few years.

Sad thing is ever since the movies the quality of figure has declined but price gone up. Now we have blocky figures that dont feel like Transformers. Animated and Prime i feel have a lot to answer for with this. But I think overriding factors while Ill skip this as I have done prime and animated is stock level and variety in the UK which is non existent these days and price. Honestly the tiny little figures for £12+ ... I remember back in BW days that was £5 and they did more and looked a trillion times better. Hell Armada ( one of my favs ) they were big and blocky and you had a good size figure for £10 and £20 for something like Overload one of best moulds tbh.

Now we have this trend of tiny almost one piece plastic figures for £12+ and its just not worth it. Very sad.

The only official figure this year I think I would buy is MP Soundwave but even that feels a bit incomplete with accessories. Also they need to be a bit cheaper for what they are. Again overpricing.

So as above said only thing worth looking at is 3rd party stuff. The Predaking looks stunning but limited quantity and price makes it too unrealistic. Gone are the days I can drop £300 on a former. It is the sort of quality the Hasbro combiners should be at. Instead of just constant repaits more of which were getting this year, also wheres the size. Sell over sized combiner figs at £10 each thats a good profit.

Sorry to rant just not been on in a while and its frustrating lol.

formerly nortagem 2013-02-09 @ 3:47 am

of course I wasn't looking to buy much Hasbro items this year with maybe 3-4 purchases total. Most of my interests and $$ are going towards 3rd party products.

With the shear scores of those coming out, I'm certain a LOT of collectors share that sentiment. :thumb

Dark_Supreme_Jetfire 2013-02-08 @ 11:02 pm

of course I wasn't looking to buy much Hasbro items this year with maybe 3-4 purchases total. Most of my interests and $$ are going towards 3rd party products.

Fatherdeth 2013-02-08 @ 10:45 pm

:agree

Transmitte 2013-02-08 @ 7:32 pm

Eh, I needed a year off from collecting anyhow.

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Toy Fair 2013 - Hasbro Reveal New Transformers TV Show For China and Beast Hunters Products Coming!

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