BotCon 2014: Transformers Fan Experience

[JeffSaylor]

Fans Roll Out To Special Transformers Event...

CLICK HERE FOR A TRANSFORMERS FAN EXPERIENCE PHOTO GALLERY TOUR!

Fans from around the world made Southern California their home this past weekend with two fan events that celebrate all things TRANSFORMERS. Pasadena was home to the official BotCon convention while Universal Studios Hollywood, the Entertainment Capital of LA, hosted their very first exclusive Transformers Fan Experience. And it was all perfect timing as Transformers: Age of Extinction stomps into theaters nation wide on Friday.

Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood’s special event cost $75 but included admission to the theme park/ working studio as well as exclusive after-hours access to the award-winning thrill ride Transformers: The Ride – 3D and many other attractions, including the brand new Minion Mayhem ride that opened earlier this year.

HASBRO PANEL – DINOBOTS AND HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

An exclusive panel with many of Hasbro’s Transformers team gave fans a closer look at the popular Dinobots with DINOBOTS: FROM GENERATION TO EXTINCTION. The Hasbro team combined cartoon footage, toys, video games, movie footage, and conceptual art to tell the Dinobot story. Being a fan of mainly G1, it was a great way to see the evolution of the Dinobots from its various incarnations. And we also learn why some names don’t stick around (Slag isn’t a very nice word in the UK apparently). Pop-up commentary by Teletraan 1 was particularly entertaining.

Hasbro took the opportunity to also announce which characters would become a part of the TRANSFORMERS HALL OF FAME. Arcee and Rodimus (or Hot Rod or Rodimus Prime, etc etc) were inducted, but the team also wanted to introduce a human to the Hall of Fame as well. That honor went to Stan Bush, song writer for many iconic moments in The Transformers: The Movie.





TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION PROPS

Parked outside of the Transformers: The Ride – 3D was the latest version of Optimus Prime in all of his semi-truck glory. While I wish this prop was on permanent display all summer long, the Fan Experience was how you were able to get up close and personal.

A brand new weapon was also on display next to Optimus. What it does or how its used remains to be seen! We’ll find out soon, won’t we?





UNIVERSAL PLAZA

The new area in Universal Studios Hollywood is Universal Plaza and it was where a lot of the Fan Experience took place. There you could take pictures with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, or Megatron (also available on the Lower Lot near the ride), shop for some Transformers merchandise or get a sketch of your favorite Transformer by the IDW Transformers Comic team!





STAN BUSH LIVE

The night capped off with musician Stan Bush live in concert. Mostly playing tracks from his upcoming album, he finally won the night by asking fans for help him out with a few tracks they might know from The Transformers: The Movie.

For the Transformers fans, it was a night and weekend they won’t soon forget. Attendees to the Fan Experience also went home with a commemorative event lanyard, limited edition memorabilia poster and an Energon cup... to turn all of their favorite drinks into Energon.

Will there be another Transformers Fan Experience? Hard to say but, but this event went off without a hitch.

TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens in theaters nationwide Friday.

TRANSFORMERS: THE RIDE – 3D can be experienced at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando.

CLICK HERE FOR A TRANSFORMERS FAN EXPERIENCE PHOTO GALLERY TOUR!

By David Yeh
Photography by David Yeh

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