Robots In Disguise: The Legendary Rise Of Transformers Toys
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Ever since their debut in 1984, Transformers have captured the hearts of children and adults around the world. Over the past 40 years, these toys have continued to evolve and improve, reaching new heights of popularity with every generation. Let’s take a look at the franchise’s humble beginnings, the toys that started it all, and how Transformers remain some of the best and most popular toys around.
Where many toy lines are created based on pre-existing characters from comics, games, TV shows, and movies, Transformers began with the toys. The first Transformers toys were based on the Japanese figures Microman and Diaclone, created by Takara Tomy. In 1984, Hasbro and Tomy rebranded these toys for Western audiences. Hasbro hired Marvel Comics to create the backstory and characters, leading to a successful comic series that ran from 1984 to 1991. Since then, Transformers comics have been published by a number of different publishers, most recently IDW Publishing. The Transformers cartoon began in 1984 and was adapted into The Transformers: The Movie in 1986. The many TV series and movies that followed continued to captivate new generations of fans.
Transformers toys remain at the heart of the franchise. The first toy line, later known as Generation 1, featured iconic characters such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Devastator who could transform into vehicles such as cars, trucks, and tanks. Made from a combination of plastic and die-cast metal, these figures had limited articulation and basic transforming capabilities compared to modern toys. At the time, however, they captured hearts and minds. Transformers became a common household name – and ultimately one of the best-selling toy franchises.
The Vintage G1 reissues are a Transformers toy line beloved by the franchise’s long-time fans. This line launched in 2018 and closely matches the look and feel of the original Generation 1 toys. The transformations are more limited and the toys have fewer points of articulation compared to later generations, but they capture the nostalgia of the early Transformers. From the Bumblebee bot who transforms into the iconic yellow Volkswagen (later changed to a Camaro in the Michael Bay movies) to the classic Autobot Hod Rod from the 1986 movie, these toys celebrate the Transformers franchise’s early years and the characters that made it so successful.
In 2003, Hasbro launched the Transformers Masterpiece line. The toys are made using modern techniques, molds, and colors, and with smoother transformations than the Generation 1 line. Masterpiece toys remain one of the most popular lines sought after by adult fans and collectors. For example, the Movie Masterpiece Series MPM-12 Optimus Prime figure, inspired by the 2018 Bumblebee movie, has articulated hands, head, chest, and waist. It has a removable Matrix of Leadership that fits inside the figure’s chest and its accompanying Ion Blaster attaches to both the robot and truck modes. With this level of detail and articulation, it’s easy to understand why these figures are in such demand.
The Transformers Studio Series is another popular toy line among fans of the recent live-action and animated Transformers movies. Film-accurate representations, attention to detail, and intricate designs characterize the Studio Series. The highly articulated joints allow for dynamic poses and seamless transformations. The Studio Series 87 Deluxe Class Bumblebee from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) is a great example of how far toy design has come. Dark of the Moon is the third movie in the live-action series directed and produced by Michael Bay. Bay is credited with rejuvenating the Transformers franchise in 2007 and bringing it center-stage for a whole new generation. This Studio Series figure has all the details from the movie to complement Bumblebee’s bot-to-Camaro transformation. It’s highly articulated and honestly just looks great. Another popular toy is the Studio Series 112 Deluxe Class Optimus Prime from the animated Transformers: One movie (2024), with an old-school look and beautifully smooth transitions from Autobot to truck.
Over the years, crossovers between Transformers and other popular franchises have produced exciting and innovative toys. The 1986 G.I. Joe and Transformers four-issue comic series from Marvel Comics is still beloved by fans of both franchises. In the comic, the G.I. Joe team and the Autobots teamed up against Cobra and Megatron. One of the most popular toys from this crossover is the classic Soundwave Dreadnok Thunder Machine with Zartan and Zarana. The figures are inspired by the original toys and artwork from the 1980s and will almost have you rooting for the bad guys. With Paramount’s announcement of a Transformers/ G.I. Joe movie due to theaters in 2025/2026, it seems we’ll have even more great toys to look forward to.
Other popular collaborations include Transformers x Ghostbusters, a limited-series comic published in 2019 by IDW to celebrate both franchises’ 35th anniversaries. The Ectotron action figure is a fantastic example of how great these crossovers can be. Ectotron converts from robot to Ecto-1 Cadillac mode, inspired by Ecto-1 from the original Ghostbusters movie. In 2020, Hasbro celebrated the upcoming release of Top Gun: Maverick (2022) with a special Transformers x Top Gun toy. Autobot Maverick converts from robot to F-14 Tomcat and features the iconic red, white, and blue helmet from the movie.
Even after 40 years, it’s clear the Transformers franchise is only getting better. From an action figure-inspired comic series and cartoon, it has grown into a multi-billion-dollar franchise and spawned countless movies, TV series, and crossovers. The toys appeal to children and adults alike. Whether you’re a collector of classic Autobots and Decepticons or enjoy creative collaborations with other franchises, there’s something for everyone to love and admire about Transformers toys. And with more projects in the works at Paramount and IDW Publishing, the Transformers franchise is undoubtedly preparing to enjoy another 40 years of success.
Do you own any Transformers toys, or did you own any in the past? Who is your favorite character and why? Tell us about it in the comments section below! And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, for all things collectibles, pop culture, online deals, and more.
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