The Transformers Phenomenon: Re-Releasing 25 year old toys.
1984 was the year that brought us the cultural phenomenon that is Transformers. Giant robots waging war and the earth is caught in between. Serving as merely a 22 minute commercial for the accompanying toy line the cartoon was a raving success spawning countless other cartoons and toy lines.
In 2007, Hasbro in partnership with Paramount Pictures launched the first of what would eventually become a trilogy of transformers based movies attempting to bring in new fans to the franchise, as well as catering somewhat to the existing now adult fan base that used to watch them as a kid in the 80's.
However that is only one side of the story; before the Transformers were THE Transformers a Japanese company going by the name of Takara was already putting out transforming robot toys as early as the 1970's. Under the line names of Microman and Diaclone these transforming robots would be re-branded into what we know as the 1984/85 Transformers toy line.
Fast Forward to the year 2007 Hasbro is putting out their first feature film directed by Michael Bay while Takara catering to the mature audience as it usually does reveals Transformers Encore.
The Encore line as it name suggests is a line of toys directed at adult collectors that would re visit their child hood toys and offer a more accessible way of obtaining them. Transformers toys at that point and still today can fetch unfathomable prices in the range of hundreds or even thousands of dollars if they are in good shape.
The Line started off with the release of the 2 main characters Optimus Prime, known in japan as Convoy, and Megatron.
To further drive the point home, the packaging used is emulative of the original 1980's packaging style. Rectangular boxes rather than cards with plastic trays inside that hold the figure.
This appeals enormously to collectors as it lets them place the figure back in the package.
At this point there's been 19 sets released. Including figures such as Soundwave the radio-cassette player, Omega Supreme the rocket base and tank, Metroplex the large City among others.
Number 20 is awaiting release and will be Devastator the large combiner made up of green and purple construction vehicles.
Sadly this line is exclusive to Japan, and can only be acquired by importing them through online stores.
However Hasbro does every so often cater to fans. In 2002 they began a series of toy releases entitled The Commemorative Series. Comprised of 9 installments it released a variety of figures from the 1984/85 toy line including Optimus Prime. Megatron was unable to be released in that series due to child safety laws which prevent the release of authentic looking gun toys. The Commemorative series was a Toys R' Us exclusive in North America.
Past that series Hasbro continued to release some 1980's figures to the market in different venues, be them Conventions, store exclusives or even their own online store.
Once such release was the 1986 Seacons. A group of marine based transformers that could combine to form the evil Decepticon Piranacon. It was an online store Exclusive for Big Bad Toy Store among others.
It was the first time all 6 Seacons could be purchased as a gift set since 1986 in North America (yes it was made available through the Transformers Collectors Club, as an exclusive prior tot his in different colors), and contained all accessories for the 6 different figures. and believe e there are a ton of accessories in this set.
In a future review we'll take a look at that particular release.
In 2007, Hasbro in partnership with Paramount Pictures launched the first of what would eventually become a trilogy of transformers based movies attempting to bring in new fans to the franchise, as well as catering somewhat to the existing now adult fan base that used to watch them as a kid in the 80's.
However that is only one side of the story; before the Transformers were THE Transformers a Japanese company going by the name of Takara was already putting out transforming robot toys as early as the 1970's. Under the line names of Microman and Diaclone these transforming robots would be re-branded into what we know as the 1984/85 Transformers toy line.
Fast Forward to the year 2007 Hasbro is putting out their first feature film directed by Michael Bay while Takara catering to the mature audience as it usually does reveals Transformers Encore.
The Encore line as it name suggests is a line of toys directed at adult collectors that would re visit their child hood toys and offer a more accessible way of obtaining them. Transformers toys at that point and still today can fetch unfathomable prices in the range of hundreds or even thousands of dollars if they are in good shape.
The Line started off with the release of the 2 main characters Optimus Prime, known in japan as Convoy, and Megatron.
To further drive the point home, the packaging used is emulative of the original 1980's packaging style. Rectangular boxes rather than cards with plastic trays inside that hold the figure.
This appeals enormously to collectors as it lets them place the figure back in the package.
At this point there's been 19 sets released. Including figures such as Soundwave the radio-cassette player, Omega Supreme the rocket base and tank, Metroplex the large City among others.
Number 20 is awaiting release and will be Devastator the large combiner made up of green and purple construction vehicles.
Sadly this line is exclusive to Japan, and can only be acquired by importing them through online stores.
However Hasbro does every so often cater to fans. In 2002 they began a series of toy releases entitled The Commemorative Series. Comprised of 9 installments it released a variety of figures from the 1984/85 toy line including Optimus Prime. Megatron was unable to be released in that series due to child safety laws which prevent the release of authentic looking gun toys. The Commemorative series was a Toys R' Us exclusive in North America.
Past that series Hasbro continued to release some 1980's figures to the market in different venues, be them Conventions, store exclusives or even their own online store.
Once such release was the 1986 Seacons. A group of marine based transformers that could combine to form the evil Decepticon Piranacon. It was an online store Exclusive for Big Bad Toy Store among others.
It was the first time all 6 Seacons could be purchased as a gift set since 1986 in North America (yes it was made available through the Transformers Collectors Club, as an exclusive prior tot his in different colors), and contained all accessories for the 6 different figures. and believe e there are a ton of accessories in this set.
In a future review we'll take a look at that particular release.
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