Events range from workshops for aspiring designers to a showcase of the brand`s 27-year history, taking fans from the classic `Generation 1` era to the later renditions of the series from `Beast War` to the current `Transformers Prime` animated series.
Speaking of history, what better way to get psyched up for the Cybertron Con than having a look back at the franchise`s genesis, via a chat with its founding father? F*** magazine sits down for an exclusive interview with Hideaki Yoke-San, Takara`s lead designer and the man responsible for the franchise`s inception.
A 35-year veteran with Takara and Takara Tomy and a designer of over 1,000 robots, Mr Hideaki was an integral part of the design team for the Micro-robot series, the prototype that would later evolve into the Transformers series.
Could you tell us about the inception of The Transformers design? What gave you the first brainwave to conceive it?
The transforming form function was a popular trend for boys` toys in the late `70s to `80s. During that time, I was midway through my career as a young designer, and wrapping my head around trying to achieve that effect in a smaller size.
As I had created several prototypes of advanced models of transforming, it was a logical step to bring the life-sized gear theme for these transforming forms, or Transformers, to our gear line.
Did you ever imagine when you helped to create these designs that the franchise would be as big as it is today?
No, never ever! The franchise we see today is more than anything I could have ever imagined. I would say that it is more like a dream come true to me.
We hear that Perceptor is your favourite design, but which other designs rank 2nd and 3rd on your list? Was there any design that you recall having to spend more effort on?
My 2nd favourite design is Reflector. It`s not a popular character today, and isn`t featured in the movies, and it also has less `transforming magic` than the more popular designs, but working on these smaller robots before the franchise started kicking off has a lot of nostalgia value for me.
For the Transformers junkies out there: how old do you reckon Optimus Prime is today?
Since he existed in an age of young Cybertron before the war, he must be nearly nine million years old today in the measure of our solar system.
What do you feel is the biggest strength of the Transformers franchise, and what accounts for its long-lasting appeal?
I think it has to do with the balance between the product line and the whole world building, fantasy part of it. We`ve keep the toy line innovative over the years, and we`ve been having great new stories being introduced through various media, from TV to comic books, video games and now Hollywood movies.
I think it also has to do with the idea that Transforming is a `playful` pattern that has something inherent in it to amaze people and make them feel a sense of wonder. The concept of transforming itself is what intrigues people, and it`s that idea of change which is an important aspect at play.
How did you feel when you saw the designs of the Autobots and Decepticons being modified for the big screen in Michael Bay`s movies?
It was just a really big `Wow!` moment to me. I was so excited to see how they came to life on the big screen. At the same time, I was slightly nervous when I saw them on the big screen at first, because I was worried that they had missed the cue. Maybe I`m too close to them in that sense.
How can you see the franchise evolving in the future?
We have been spending a lot of effort to innovate the product line every year to make it fresh and exciting, and our designers` expertise and passion makes this responsibility possible.
I think we can now proudly say that Transformers has proven its longevity over a generation, so that both fathers and their children can sit down and spend time playing with the toys or watching the films together.
The Transformers franchise represents to me an evergreen playground for future customers, if the next generation of designers adhere to the key factors of its success, I`m confident that we can make it sustainable for future generations across the world.
Transformers Cybertron Con 2012 will be held at Resorts World Convention Centre from 11th to 14th March. For more info, visit www.cybertroncon.com