
The descendents of the Autobots and Decepticons continue the war started by their ancestors in a new era where Maximals and Predacons battle it out for supremacy! This section will also cover reviews of the Vintage Beast Wars toys released in 2021-22. In 1984 the toy world changed forever as robots from various Japanese toy lines including Diaclone and Microman came together as one cohesive line known as The Transformers! This section will include reviews of reissues released throughout the years.īeast Wars Transformers (1996-2001, 2021-22) In general, any reviews marked with an asterisk are reviews that still need to be added.
#Transformer autobot toy series
This section is dedicated to the reviews of the action figures that make up the Transformers universe starting from the original series all the way to the present day. Generation 1’s legacy would rule the Transformers into a new millennium, having established the universe, the concepts, and the main characters that are still most memorable today.Transformers began as robots from different Japanese Transformers lines cobbled together under one banner and story. Japan would see new designs for a further two years, and Europe for another three. At the end of 1990, the series was cancelled in the United States due to tanking sales. Popular characters from early in the series were rendered as non-transforming action figures, including weapons or vehicles that could transform. Previous subgroups also saw new designs that shrunk and simplified their concepts.Īs the line came to a close, the final subgroup threw the old ethic to the wind: Action Masters. Larger toys simply contained one Micromaster figure and a base or playset. Some of these smaller robots, the Micromasters were sold in teams of four or six simple, tiny figures. began to slow in the late ’80s, Transformers downsized in an attempt to offer toys at a lower price-point, and capitalize on the popular “micro” toy concept. However, every year presented more combining teams.Īs sales in the U.S. Some robots could be disguised as monsters or humans by hiding in a hollow “shell”. Many of these gimmicks involved a smaller “partner” who could become the head, weapon, or engine of the larger figure. Subsequent years featured more and more robots with fictitious or sci-fi alternate modes, and toys focused in groups on specific gimmicks.
#Transformer autobot toy movie
It was not a new concept, but accounted for nearly half of the releases that year.įollowing the animated movie in 1986, the original story thread frayed and lost its hold over toy design. The main theme shifted to Transformers that could combine in teams to form larger robots. Many of these followed in the tracks of their predecessors, including use of some unproduced designs penned for previous toylines. In 1986, the success of Transformers justified investment in new and unique designs. These black and silver square stickers featured prominently on the toy, and would change colors when heated to reveal the allegiance of the character.


These toys had differing design ethics, but most transformed into recognizable real-world vehicles, and had limited articulation in robot mode.ĭuring this time, many competing brands of shape shifting robots were on the market, so Hasbro designed the “rubsign” as a mark of authenticity. The early years, 1984-1985, focused on toys originally manufactured in different colors for other brands, such as Takara’s Diaclone and Microchange, Bandai’s Macross and Takatoku’s Dorvack and Beetras. The line is by far the most diverse in terms of toy styling and design. which saw limited 1984 releases), and in Japan from 1985- 1992 (with many variations from the other regions.) In the U.S., the toyline ran from 1984- 1990 in Europe, from 1985- 1993 (except the U.K. Generation One, originally known simply as “The Transformers” is the first series of Transformers. Japan Equivalent: Beginning with G1 - Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (1985) Movie - Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) (116).
