A month ago we reported
the early details about Shout! Factory's plans to release
The Transformers - 25th Anniversary Matrix of Leadership Edition: Collector’s Set, a 16-DVD compilation of every episode from the original "G1" animated TV series, plus new bonus material (both on- and off-disc). The set will be available to buy starting at the San Diego Comic-Con International, running July 23-26, 2009. Afterward it will be available exclusively by direct sale through Shout! factory for a while, before being sold in local retail stores.
At the end of last week it was discovered by fans that the website Shout! will be using for direct online sales,
TransformersCollectorsSet.com, had been kicked off with a "placeholder" graphic which is shown at the bottom of this story. The graphic includes a first public look at the "
Matrix of Leadership" packaging, which is a box that is divided in the center: it pulls out from both sides (much like the Matrix shown in the stories would) to reveal an inner "core" where the discs are stored safely in plastic digistack trays. We've got a close-up of the picture from that placeholder graphic. But take that picture with a grain of salt! In a post made
in the official thread for this set at Shout!'s message boards, Brian Ward (the DVD Producer for this release) states that "
The image in that placeholder on the collectors set page is close, but not entirely accurate. I believe it was taken from a version that was 90% finished. We added a couple of details, particularly to the background." He also has some additional comments there, including this one: "
Trust me, it's a cool box. The G.I. Joe set is pretty sweet, too."
There are also separate indications that the actual *information* in the placeholder graphic at the direct-sale website may not be the finalized, completely-correct info yet, either. We don't have details so far on what is or isn't accurate yet, as the studio hasn't formally announced the title yet. Nor is there anything there so far about pricing, availability date, or other necessary specifics. But stay tuned, and we'll keep you updated as we find out more! Our thanks to reader Chris Lariviere for being the first to alert us about it. Here are the promised images:
