Hasbro

2007-08-16T15:59:07Z

72.72.236.191: /* Questionable brand decisions */

'''Hasbro''' is the owner of the Transformers brand in most markets beyond the Japanese, where it is owned by [[TakaraTomy]].

==History==
Hasbro was originally founded in 1923 as "Hassenfeld Brothers" by brothers Henry and Helal Hassenfeld from Rhode Island. The company originally sold textile remnants, but soon moved into manufacturing pencil boxes and school supplies.

In 1952, Hasbro first rose to fame with the release of a toy named [[Optimash Prime|Mr. Potato Head]], which is still very popular today.

In 1964, Hasbro had an even greater success with the original [[G.I. Joe]] toy designed by Don Levine, which caused Hassenfeld Bros. to grow to be one of the largest toy companies in the USA. In 1968, the company would change its name to "Hasbro Industries, Inc."

Through a series of importing licenses and spin-offs, G.I. Joe would ultimately lead to the [[Microman]] and [[Diaclone]] toylines by Japanese toymaker [[Takara]], which in turn would lead to Hasbro's release of the original Transformers toyline in 1984.

In 1984, Hasbro would also buy out a competing toy company named [[Milton Bradley]] (MB), which whould result in the merged company briefly assuming the name "Hasbro Bradley, Inc." After the merger was completed, the company changed its name into simply "Hasbro, Inc." Milton Bradley's European facilities would also be used to manufacture the initial wave of Transformers toys to be released in Europe before the merger was completed. (See also: [[Generation 1 Europe (toyline)]].)

In 1995, Hasbro transferred control of the Transformers franchise to its [[Kenner]] subsidiary, then phased out the Kenner brand in 2000.

==Hasbro today==

===Employees===

* [[Alfred J. Verrecchia]], President and Chief Executive Officer
* [[Brian Goldner]], President Toy

====Boy's Toys====
* [[Vickie Stratford]], Design Project Manager (Boy's Toys)
* [[Joe Kyde]], Designer (Boy's Toys, Exclusive Division)

=====Transformers Brand=====
* [[Greg Lombardo]], Director of Marketing
* [[Aaron Archer]], Design Director
* [[Eric Siebenaler]], Lead Designer
* [[Jared Wade]], Designer
* [[William Rawley]], Designer

===Relationship with fandom===

[[Image:Hasbrotour-fleshlesskitty.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hasbro showed they love the fans by giving a tour of their offices during [[BotCon 2007]]. Hasbro showed they hate the fans by including '''this'''!]]

[[Fandom|Fandom's]] relationship with Hasbro is as paradoxical and confusing as our relationships with our [[Wikipedia:Alcoholism|Parents]]. They are an incredible source of joy and happiness, as well as the focal point of rage and blame for pretty much everyone in the Transformers community. To much of the fandom, Hasbro's actual involvement in the Transformers franchise is rarely acknowledged when not negative. Many view their activities to subsist entirely of:

* Slapping fans in the face.
* Getting things all wrong.
* Screwing up Takara's toys.
* [[Chip Chase|Being Lazy]].
* Trying to make money.
* [[Ruined FOREVER|Ruining everything forever]].

When they found the time to create and maintain a successful, celebrated franchise that was the basis of twenty years of obsession and happiness for the exact same fans is unknown.

===Questionable brand decisions===

Hasbro now recognizes that abruptly and graphically killing off nearly all of the 1984-85 cast in the [[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|animated movie]] was a mistake that hurt the brand. They've learned their lesson, and now mostly kill relative [[Blackout (Movie)|nobodies]]. <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-06-28-transformers-main_n.htm USA Today: "Transformers: From Toy Story to Serious Art?"]</ref>

Hasbro has also occasionally been criticised of creating the entire Transformers universe. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

==Trivia==
* The [[Decepticon]] [[Flamewar]] collects Hasbro memorabilia.

[[Category:Companies]]

==Footnotes==
<references/><div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Hasbro