Fleer Trading Cards has acquired the rights to create trading cards based on Hasbro's Transformers brand.  The license will allow Fleer to manufacture both traditional trading cards as well as 3-Dimensional trading cards.  Fleer plans to launch its first series of Transformers cards in the fourth quarter of 2003.  Fleer's first Transformers card series will focus on the characters in the Transformers Armada television series currently airing on the Cartoon Network.  Future Fleer releases will chronicle the rich, 20-year history of the Transformers as well as future programs (see 'Hasbro Launches New Transformers Line') and the highly successful Dreamwave Productions' Transformers comic book line (see 'Top 30 Comics -- April 2003').

Rhino Home Video, which has done an excellent job releasing the classic Transformers series on DVD (see 'Transformers Season 2: Part I DVD Box'), has now acquired the exclusive North American rights to the contemporary Transformers Armada anime series.  The Transformers property, which was launched in 1984, will have its twentieth anniversary in 2004 -- so fans should have a lot to look forward to next year including the launch of the new Transformers Energon cartoon as well as trading cards and DVDs based on Transformers Armada and other earlier series.