GoBots

2007-07-18T07:57:41Z

76.81.183.203: /* Impact on Transformers */ Minor spelling corrections

{{disambig3|GoBots}}

[[Image:TonkaGoBotsLogo.jpg|right|thumb|Here they come to save the day!]]

The original '''GoBots''' were the main competition for [[Hasbro]]'s ''Transformers'' in the 1980s. Notably, their launch actually preceded that of the ''Transformers'' own, although they ultimately proved not to have the same level of lasting popularity.

==Toyline==
Premiering in 1984, [[Tonka]]'s ''GoBots'' toys were mostly small, similar in size to ''Transformers''' [[Mini Vehicle]]s, although they were generally more complex than similarly-sized Transformers. After the line's initial success, a series of larger ''Super GoBots'' toys was also released, featuring both new characters and larger versions of some pre-existing toys. Tonka also released a number of supporting toys such as spaceships, bases, the monster "Zod", and later a set of combining "Power Suits" which ''GoBots'' figures could be placed into.

In 1991, [[Hasbro]] bought Tonka and its subsidiaries (including [[Kenner]]), and at that time acquired all of Tonka's intellectual property, including jurisdiction over GoBots-related names and trademarks. The rights relating to the toys that made up the GoBots line, however, are still owned by Bandai, who had merely licensed them to Tonka for ''GoBots'''.

=Pre-GoBots=
''GoBots'' got its start as a Japanese toyline called ''Machine Robo'' which was created by [[Takara]]-competitor [[Bandai]]. ''Machine Robo'' toys were initially marketed in the United States under the name ''Machine Men'' by Bandai themselves, but the line didn't see widespread success until Tonka adapted the toyline into ''GoBots'' and created a new animated series for the brand, as well as an array of supporting merchandise such as coloring books, stickers, and even an official GoBots magazine.

''(For Transformers fans, this situation is similar to how some [[Generation 1 (toyline)|Generation 1 Transformer]] molds were released by Takara in the [[Diakron]] toyline before their partnership with [[Hasbro]] began.)''

=International=
Besides distributing them in the United States as ''Machine Men'', Bandai also sold the ''Machine Robo'' toys in other non-Asian countries before their partnership with Tonka began. Bandai appeared to retain the international marketing rights to the series following the change to ''GoBots'', and so adapted their international toylines when the line was rebranded.

In Europe, where the toyline began as ''Robo Machine'', the packaging changed over a period of time to reflect Tonka's developments, eventually touting iself as ''Challenge of the GoBots: a Robo Machine product''. In Australia, however, the toyline began with the ''Machine Men'' title, which it evidently retained even after the rebranding in the United States.

=Cartoon=
The cartoon, called ''Challenge of the GoBots'', was produced in the United States by Hanna-Barbara. It aired in some markets outside the US (possibly just Australia) with the title ''Challenge of the Machine Men''.

The cartoon focused on the interstellar struggle between the friendly Guardian GoBots, led by Leader-1, and their enemies, the Renegade GoBots, commanded by Cy-Kill.

In addition to the leaders, the main GoBot cast included Turbo (a rough-and-tumble Guardian), Scooter (a cowardly young Guardian), Crasher (a cackling Renegade madwoman), and Cop-Tur (a thuggish Renegade). The series was rounded out with human allies and enemies, along with various GoBot guest stars and other aliens.

Despite the tagline "Mighty Robots, Mighty Vehicles" the background material for the cartoon established ( most notably in the toyline's first minicomic) that the GoBots are not true robots, but rather alien ''cyborgs''. The GoBots began as a race of alien humans who slowly learned to [[Wikipedia:Transhumanism|replace their organic parts]] with mechanical ones.

The GoBots appeared in one theatrically released film, ''Challenge Of The GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords'', where they met the Rock Lords, voiced by television and movie icons such as Margot Kidder, Roddy Mcdowell, and Telly Savalas. A spinoff line Tonka was launching involving alien humanoids that transformed into rocks. (Yes, rocks. No, they must not have seen ''Big''. Or ''It's The Great Pumpkin; Charlie Brown''.)

=Impact on Transformers=
Following Hasbro's acquisition of Tonka and Kenner, the GoBots universe has largely remained idle - with some notable exceptions.

*Hasbro first put the newly acquired trademark to use on the G2 Color-Changer figure [[Gobots (G2)|Gobots]] in 1993, then again (albeit in hyphenated form) on a G2 subline titled [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]] in 1995.

*The most prominent GoBots-specific reference, beyond use of the brand name itself, came in the form of the ''[[Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]] [[Leader-1]], who was under the control of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and shares his name with the leader of the heroic Guardian GoBots.

*At one point, [[Unicron (Armada)|Unicron]]'s Mini-Con [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] was going to be called "Gobotron", in reference to the home planet of the GoBots. The idea, however, was ultimately discarded.

*Unexpectedly, the most direct usage of the GoBots characters in Transformers has come not from Hasbro, but Takara. As part of their [[e-Hobby]] line of collector toys, six [[redeco]]ed [[Mini Vehicle]]s were released as the "Dimensional Exploration/Experimentation Team [[GoBots (G1) | G1 GoBots]]". The included Bio and Tech Spec card alludes to concepts and technology from Tonka GoBots fiction, with the toys themselves representing various GoBot characters. However, the individual character names were dropped just prior to release, making their official status somewhat blurry.

*Several GoBots appear in the background in a number of [[Dreamwave]] Transformers comics as visual jokes.

*In the third volume of [[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers]], [[Cobra Commander]] refers to the Autobots as "glorified Go-Bots".
[[Category:Franchises]]

*[[Botcon]] 2007 followed up on the earlier e-Hobby use of the GoBots and continued the story begun there, specifically naming the white Bumblebee repaint [[Bugbite]] and thus solidifying the connection that was always implied. Apparently some actions or events from the Transformers [[Marvel Comics]] universe had resonated through the multiverse and devastated the GoBots universe, causing "time itself to come undone" the few survivors traveled there to seek either a solution or revenge.<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>

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GoBots