Hobbyists of all stripes can relate when I say this – there’s nothing like opening up a toy for the first time. The sheer tactile experience of releasing a sealed figure from its prison, that heady new plastic and cardboard smell that wafts out, and those sturdy new joints combine to create a sort of magic that’s virtually impossible to replicate through any other event.
And if you’re one of the lucky few to be the first to lay their hands on that figure – that magic is multiplied fivefold. Tenfold if you also enjoy photographing your Transformers and curate an online visual diary of your acquisitions.
Now, imagine a conference room full of seasoned collectors, who’ve been fans of Transformers their whole lives, being given such an opportunity – to experience that incredible feeling of opening a new toy – nay, to be among the first in the country to open a new Transformer.
That’s exactly what happened at Hasbro Singapore’s first official Transformers Fan Preview event last Thursday (27 June). Planet Iacon, Singapore’s premiere Transformers Facebook Fan Page, was invited down for a preview of the upcoming wave of new Transformers to hit shelves. Several other associates of Planet Iacon were also invited to the event, which was graced by Hasbro Singapore’s marketing team.
Which wave was that? Well, it’s none other than Wave 3 of the Transformers: Siege line. Longtime fans will know that Transformers: Siege is the main 2019 line of Transformers, and is part one of the War for Cybertron trilogy. The War for Cybertron line focuses on the early days of the epic Great War between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Since the premise of the line is that the Transformers are battling on their home planet, Cybertron, figures are reimagined in their Cybertronian modes.
The event opened with a informative keynote by Brand Manager Jiang Haipan of the history of Transformers, as well as updates on the current product lines for the series – including Transformers: BotBots, Transformers: Cyberverse, Transformers: Studio Series, among many others. An in-depth explainer of the COMBAT system of interchangeable weapons for the Transformers: Siege line was also given, to show fans just how far they could go when it comes to personalising their own Transformers.
Before closing, Jiang teased fans with a reminder of the core premise of the Transformers brand, telling them that they should “expect the unexpected when it comes to the future of Transformers.”
An extensive product display was then revealed, consisting of the following figures from the Transformers: Siege line:
Battlemasters
- Caliburst
- Smashdown
Micromasters
- Blackjack & Hyperdrive (Sports Car Patrol)
Deluxe Class
- Red Alert
- Refraktor
- Brunt
Leader Class
- Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime
Commander Class
- Jetfire
There was also a surprise addition from the Movie Masterpiece line, consisting of:
- MPM-8 Megatron
- MPM-9 Jazz
The display showed Megatron tearing Jazz in half, as a reference to the climatic battle of Transformers (2007).
After a Facebook Live presentation by Planet Iacon, fans dove into the figures with gusto.
“It’s amazing how much Hasbro cares about its fans,” said Darren Tan, administrator of the Planet Iacon Facebook Page. “To hold an exclusive Fan Preview for collectors in Singapore is testament to their commitment and concern in making sure that fans all over the world are thrilled by the new releases.”
Wave 3 of Transformers: Siege is out in stores this week. You can also purchase them from Hobby Ark Toy Store and Robo Robo.
Images courtesy of Planet Iacon.
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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