Pre-Transformers - Revision history

FortressMaxxing: /* Diaclone, Micro Change, and the rise of pre-Transformers */

2026-03-23T15:15:11Z

Diaclone, Micro Change, and the rise of pre-Transformers

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 23 March 2026
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	While Cosmocountach was Takara's first experimentation with a robot-to-car transforming toy, it would still be a while until a fully-fledged line centered around this concept came to be. By [[1980]] they kicked off ''[[Diaclone]]'', a toyline ostensibly about robots and vehicles with transforming elements, but at this point, still very much in the traditional vein of the Japanese toys of its era: the robots were mechs with pilots rather than sentient beings, the transformations were usually centered around large unitary modules that combined to form the robots, the designs followed an anime-esque traditional "super robot" aesthetic (although curiously, Takara would also at one point try and go for the Gundam-pioneered "real robot" market by selling a few ''Diaclone'' model kits under the "Real Type" sub-brand! <ref>[https://www.scalemates.com/kits/nitto-927-dia-attacker-phantom-color-type--1271075 Diaclone Dia Attacker Phantom Color Type] on scalemates.com</ref>) and the majority of vehicles were spaceships or futuristic land vehicles rather than real-life machines. In [[1981]], they introduced the [[Diaclone#1981\|Dashers]] to the toyline, a trio of small robots with more traditional robot-to-vehicle transformations akin to what would later be seen in the ''Transformers'', but alas, these also converted into futuristic vehicles. By 1981, Takara had also introduced the "Change Attacars" subline, which would, for the first time in ''Diaclone'', feature real-life automobiles... That converted into attack vehicles for the Diaclone pilots rather than robots. Makes you wonder: what if you combined both and made a line that had cars... ''And'' robots?		While Cosmocountach was Takara's first experimentation with a robot-to-car transforming toy, it would still be a while until a fully-fledged line centered around this concept came to be. By [[1980]] they kicked off ''[[Diaclone]]'', a toyline ostensibly about robots and vehicles with transforming elements, but at this point, still very much in the traditional vein of the Japanese toys of its era: the robots were mechs with pilots rather than sentient beings, the transformations were usually centered around large unitary modules that combined to form the robots, the designs followed an anime-esque traditional "super robot" aesthetic (although curiously, Takara would also at one point try and go for the Gundam-pioneered "real robot" market by selling a few ''Diaclone'' model kits under the "Real Type" sub-brand! <ref>[https://www.scalemates.com/kits/nitto-927-dia-attacker-phantom-color-type--1271075 Diaclone Dia Attacker Phantom Color Type] on scalemates.com</ref>) and the majority of vehicles were spaceships or futuristic land vehicles rather than real-life machines. In [[1981]], they introduced the [[Diaclone#1981\|Dashers]] to the toyline, a trio of small robots with more traditional robot-to-vehicle transformations akin to what would later be seen in the ''Transformers'', but alas, these also converted into futuristic vehicles. By 1981, Takara had also introduced the "Change Attacars" subline, which would, for the first time in ''Diaclone'', feature real-life automobiles... That converted into attack vehicles for the Diaclone pilots rather than robots. Makes you wonder: what if you combined both and made a line that had cars... ''And'' robots?
	[[File:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|''Diaclone'' No. 1 Countach LP500S — the first ''Diaclone Car Robot'' and the predecessor mold that eventually led to [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Toys\|Sunstreaker]].]]		[[File:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|''Diaclone'' No. 1 Countach LP500S — the first ''Diaclone Car Robot'' and the predecessor mold that eventually led to [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Toys\|Sunstreaker]].]]
	It would only be in [[1982]] that ''Diaclone'' would see the introduction of the [[Diaclone#1982 - Car Robots\|Car Robots]] subline, spearheaded by designer [[Kōjin Ōno]]. Born as a product of both creative preferences within the design team towards more realism and extensive market research that'd show this too was the leaning of kids at the time (Ōno mentions that the team would frequently survey children in a park near Takara's headquarters <ref>"The park was conveniently located right in front of our company, allowing us to conduct surveys of children there. Of course, nowadays, such practices would be an absolute no-no from a compliance standpoint (laughs). But, as I mentioned earlier, there's a certain persuasiveness in directly hearing from children through these surveys. Their enthusiastic support played a pivotal role in propelling us forward in our development efforts." - Kōjin Ōno, Figure King #316, May 2024 (translation provided by [https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono5.html Soundwavesoblivion.com]</ref>), ''Car Robots'' would be the first instance of a line-up fully centered around a suite of robots that transformed into realistic automobiles. The first figure in this series, "Diaclone No. 1 Countach LP500S", would set the stage for the line's design direction, with many other toys following suite - the most legendary of these being "No.17 Battle Convoy", a [[Optimus Prime\|certain red and blue robot that converted into a truck]] - and the rest is history. The line was broadly successful and by the end of 1982, a grand total of 22 Car Robots molds had been produced.		It would only be in [[1982]] that ''Diaclone'' would see the introduction of the [[Diaclone#1982 - Car Robots\|Car Robots]] subline, spearheaded by designer [[Kōjin Ōno]]. Born as a product of both creative preferences within the design team towards more realism and extensive market research that'd show this too was the leaning of kids at the time (Ōno mentions that the team would frequently survey children in a park near Takara's headquarters <ref>"The park was conveniently located right in front of our company, allowing us to conduct surveys of children there. Of course, nowadays, such practices would be an absolute no-no from a compliance standpoint (laughs). But, as I mentioned earlier, there's a certain persuasiveness in directly hearing from children through these surveys. Their enthusiastic support played a pivotal role in propelling us forward in our development efforts." - Kōjin Ōno, Figure King #316, May 2024 (translation provided by [https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono5.html Soundwavesoblivion.com])</ref>), ''Car Robots'' would be the first instance of a line-up fully centered around a suite of robots that transformed into realistic automobiles. The first figure in this series, "Diaclone No. 1 Countach LP500S", would set the stage for the line's design direction, with many other toys following suite - the most legendary of these being "No.17 Battle Convoy", a [[Optimus Prime\|certain red and blue robot that converted into a truck]] - and the rest is history. The line was broadly successful and by the end of 1982, a grand total of 22 Car Robots molds had been produced.

	{{stub\|Micro Change, other non-Car Robots Diaclone molds}}		{{stub\|Micro Change, other non-Car Robots Diaclone molds}}

FortressMaxxing: /* When the opposite happened */

2026-03-10T10:45:37Z

When the opposite happened

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:45, 10 March 2026
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	* A handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) were redecoed from the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]].		* A handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) were redecoed from the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]].
	Beyond Takara, this also happened with a pair of companies that distributed ''Transformers'' product:		Beyond Takara, this also happened with a pair of companies that distributed ''Transformers'' product:
	*The ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' series was a tiny short-lived toyline ~~in Argentina~~ that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures, likely released under the new branding in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by passing off the import toys as national products.		*The Argentine ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' series was a tiny short-lived toyline that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures, likely released under the new branding in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by passing off the import toys as national products.
	*South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also at one point sell a pair of ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' toy giftsets under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names, without any mention of the ''Transformers'' brand on the packaging.		*South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also at one point sell a pair of ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' toy giftsets under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names, without any mention of the ''Transformers'' brand on the packaging.

FortressMaxxing: /* When the opposite happened */

2026-03-10T10:40:16Z

When the opposite happened

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:40, 10 March 2026
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	==When the opposite happened==		==When the opposite happened==
	[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline~~, I guess?~~]]		[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline. Go figure.]]
	As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there have actually been a few instances where later ''Transformers'' molds were themselves re-released as part of other toylines! Although these are pretty rare occurrences (the overwhelmingly majority of Transformers molds released over the years have remained exclusive to the ''Transformers'' brand), the most notable examples come from Takara:		As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there have actually been a few instances where later ''Transformers'' molds were themselves re-released as part of other toylines! Although these are pretty rare occurrences (the overwhelmingly majority of Transformers molds released over the years have remained exclusive to the ''Transformers'' brand), the most notable examples come from Takara:
	* The 1990 ''[[Brave]]'' series is a well-known sister franchise of the ''Transformers'' (as well as a spiritual sucessor of sorts to it, serving as Takara's leading transforming robot toyline for a couple of years before the ''Transformers'' brand would [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)#Transformers: G-2\|eventually return]] to Japan in 1995), with various figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled and re-released as characters from the series.		* The 1990 ''[[Brave]]'' series is a well-known sister franchise of the ''Transformers'' (as well as a spiritual sucessor of sorts to it, serving as Takara's leading transforming robot toyline for a couple of years before the ''Transformers'' brand would [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)#Transformers: G-2\|eventually return]] to Japan in 1995), with various figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled and re-released as characters from the series.

FortressMaxxing: /* When the opposite happened */

2026-03-10T10:36:13Z

When the opposite happened

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:36, 10 March 2026
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	* A handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) were redecoed from the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]].		* A handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) were redecoed from the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]].
	Beyond Takara, this also happened with a pair of companies that distributed ''Transformers'' product:		Beyond Takara, this also happened with a pair of companies that distributed ''Transformers'' product:
	*The ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' series was a tiny short-lived toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under the ~~aforementioned entirely~~ new ~~name name, likely done~~ in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by ~~trying to pass~~ off the import toys as national products.		*The ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' series was a tiny short-lived toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures, likely released under the new branding in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by passing off the import toys as national products.
	*South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also at one point sell a pair of ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' toy giftsets under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names, without any mention of the ''Transformers'' brand on the packaging.		*South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also at one point sell a pair of ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' toy giftsets under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names, without any mention of the ''Transformers'' brand on the packaging.

FortressMaxxing: I think this piece of trivia is interesting enough to merit its own section tbh

2026-03-10T10:34:43Z

I think this piece of trivia is interesting enough to merit its own section tbh

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:34, 10 March 2026
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	Notably, most of these releases would canonize said decos as new characters, a good portion of which would later get all-new toys in modern toylines like [[Masterpiece]] and the "[[CHUG]]" ensemble!		Notably, most of these releases would canonize said decos as new characters, a good portion of which would later get all-new toys in modern toylines like [[Masterpiece]] and the "[[CHUG]]" ensemble!

			==When the opposite happened==
			[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
			As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there have actually been a few instances where later ''Transformers'' molds were themselves re-released as part of other toylines! Although these are pretty rare occurrences (the overwhelmingly majority of Transformers molds released over the years have remained exclusive to the ''Transformers'' brand), the most notable examples come from Takara:
			* The 1990 ''[[Brave]]'' series is a well-known sister franchise of the ''Transformers'' (as well as a spiritual sucessor of sorts to it, serving as Takara's leading transforming robot toyline for a couple of years before the ''Transformers'' brand would [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)#Transformers: G-2\|eventually return]] to Japan in 1995), with various figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled and re-released as characters from the series.
			* A handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) were redecoed from the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]].
			Beyond Takara, this also happened with a pair of companies that distributed ''Transformers'' product:
			*The ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' series was a tiny short-lived toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under the aforementioned entirely new name name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.
			*South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also at one point sell a pair of ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' toy giftsets under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names, without any mention of the ''Transformers'' brand on the packaging.

	==Notes==		==Notes==
	*The act of licensing out Japanese transforming robot toys (and robot toys in general) to Western markets appears to have also started with Popy. Popy started off as a part of [[Bandai]], but separated from them in [[1971]] to explore other avenues, creating lines such as the ''Popynica'' line, which made toys for the ''{{w\|Kamen Rider}}'' franchise, and the ''{{w\|Chogokin}}'' line, which made toys for franchises such as ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. The toys released in these two lines ended up being licensed out to [[Mattel]] as part of their popular ''{{w\|Shogun Warriors (toys)\|Shogun Warriors}}'' franchise in the 70s. The aforementioned ''Brave Raideen'' also licensed out to Mattel. All of this would eventually lead to the creation of the ''{{Gb\|Machine Robo}}'' toyline—but due to the declining popularity of robot toys in the very early-80s—Popy was reintegrated into Bandai in [[1983]], which thus led to the partnership between Bandai and [[Tonka]], that created ''[[GoBots]]''.		*The act of licensing out Japanese transforming robot toys (and robot toys in general) to Western markets appears to have also started with Popy. Popy started off as a part of [[Bandai]], but separated from them in [[1971]] to explore other avenues, creating lines such as the ''Popynica'' line, which made toys for the ''{{w\|Kamen Rider}}'' franchise, and the ''{{w\|Chogokin}}'' line, which made toys for franchises such as ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. The toys released in these two lines ended up being licensed out to [[Mattel]] as part of their popular ''{{w\|Shogun Warriors (toys)\|Shogun Warriors}}'' franchise in the 70s. The aforementioned ''Brave Raideen'' also licensed out to Mattel. All of this would eventually lead to the creation of the ''{{Gb\|Machine Robo}}'' toyline—but due to the declining popularity of robot toys in the very early-80s—Popy was reintegrated into Bandai in [[1983]], which thus led to the partnership between Bandai and [[Tonka]], that created ''[[GoBots]]''.
	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
	~~[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]~~
	*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products. South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also, at one point, sell a pair of giftsets with ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' figures under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names rather than under the ''Transformers'' brand.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.

FortressMaxxing: /* Notes */

2026-03-10T10:13:41Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:13, 10 March 2026
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	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
	[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]		[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
	*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.		*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products. South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also, at one point, sell a pair of giftsets with ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' figures under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names rather than under the ''Transformers'' brand.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.

FortressMaxxing: /* Notes */

2026-02-26T23:11:03Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:11, 26 February 2026
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	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
	[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]		[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
	*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds were ~~themselves~~ also re-released as ~~parts~~ of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.		*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.

FortressMaxxing: /* Notes */ A note on TFs that are themselves "pre-Xes" to other toylines

2026-02-26T23:10:16Z

Notes: A note on TFs that are themselves "pre-Xes" to other toylines

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:10, 26 February 2026
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	*The act of licensing out Japanese transforming robot toys (and robot toys in general) to Western markets appears to have also started with Popy. Popy started off as a part of [[Bandai]], but separated from them in [[1971]] to explore other avenues, creating lines such as the ''Popynica'' line, which made toys for the ''{{w\|Kamen Rider}}'' franchise, and the ''{{w\|Chogokin}}'' line, which made toys for franchises such as ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. The toys released in these two lines ended up being licensed out to [[Mattel]] as part of their popular ''{{w\|Shogun Warriors (toys)\|Shogun Warriors}}'' franchise in the 70s. The aforementioned ''Brave Raideen'' also licensed out to Mattel. All of this would eventually lead to the creation of the ''{{Gb\|Machine Robo}}'' toyline—but due to the declining popularity of robot toys in the very early-80s—Popy was reintegrated into Bandai in [[1983]], which thus led to the partnership between Bandai and [[Tonka]], that created ''[[GoBots]]''.		*The act of licensing out Japanese transforming robot toys (and robot toys in general) to Western markets appears to have also started with Popy. Popy started off as a part of [[Bandai]], but separated from them in [[1971]] to explore other avenues, creating lines such as the ''Popynica'' line, which made toys for the ''{{w\|Kamen Rider}}'' franchise, and the ''{{w\|Chogokin}}'' line, which made toys for franchises such as ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. The toys released in these two lines ended up being licensed out to [[Mattel]] as part of their popular ''{{w\|Shogun Warriors (toys)\|Shogun Warriors}}'' franchise in the 70s. The aforementioned ''Brave Raideen'' also licensed out to Mattel. All of this would eventually lead to the creation of the ''{{Gb\|Machine Robo}}'' toyline—but due to the declining popularity of robot toys in the very early-80s—Popy was reintegrated into Bandai in [[1983]], which thus led to the partnership between Bandai and [[Tonka]], that created ''[[GoBots]]''.
	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
			[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
			*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds were themselves also re-released as parts of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.

FortressMaxxing: /* Pre-Transformers lines */

2026-01-26T11:32:44Z

Pre-Transformers lines

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:32, 26 January 2026
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	==Pre-Transformers lines==		==Pre-Transformers lines==
	The molds released across the Generation 1 toyline — counting [[The Transformers (toyline)\|the original American version]] and its subsequent [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)\|Japanese equivalent]], as well as its many [[Generation 1 toylines in Latin America\|permutations across Latin America]] — add up to a bulk of figures whose roots can be traced back to a staggering ''twelve'' (or ~~[[Pre-Transformers#Honorable mentions\|~~maybe even thirteen]]!) different toylines, produced by a total of seven (or, again; potentially eight!) different manufacturers, the majority of them based in Japan.		The molds released across the Generation 1 toyline — counting [[The Transformers (toyline)\|the original American version]] and its subsequent [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)\|Japanese equivalent]], as well as its many [[Generation 1 toylines in Latin America\|permutations across Latin America]] — add up to a bulk of figures whose roots can be traced back to a staggering ''twelve'' (or, if the Knickerbocker story is correct, maybe even thirteen!) different toylines, produced by a total of seven (or, again; potentially eight!) different manufacturers, the majority of them based in Japan.

	====Molds released in Hasbro & Takara's ''Transformers'' toylines====		====Molds released in Hasbro & Takara's ''Transformers'' toylines====

Doomdorm64: /* Post-Generation 1 releases */

2026-01-24T20:17:03Z

Post-Generation 1 releases

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 24 January 2026
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	==Post-Generation 1 releases==		==Post-Generation 1 releases==
	As Hasbro and Takara would eventually make newer ''Transformers'' toylines throughout the following decades, they would also overwhelmingly rely on all-new original toy designs, with both companies therefore mostly leaving the old pre-Transformers molds to the realm of occasional commemorative [[reissue]] toylines (and neither company ever again releasing rebranded non-Hasbro / Takara toys as ''Transformers'', like Hasbro had formerly done with ''Macross'', ''Dorvack'', and ''Beetras''). Nonetheless, there would still be a few instances of figures and decos from pre-Transformers Takara toylines making their way into future Transformers toylines after the end of Generation 1.		As Hasbro and Takara would eventually make newer ''Transformers'' toylines throughout the following decades, they would also overwhelmingly rely on all-new original toy designs, with both companies therefore mostly leaving the old pre-''Transformers'' molds to the realm of occasional commemorative [[reissue]] toylines (and neither company ever again releasing rebranded non-Hasbro / Takara toys as ''Transformers'', like Hasbro had formerly done with ''Macross'', ''Dorvack'', and ''Beetras''). Nonetheless, there would still be a few instances of figures and decos from pre-''Transformers'' Takara toylines making their way into future ''Transformers'' toylines after the end of Generation 1.

	===Pre-Transformers figures released after Generation 1===		===Pre-Transformers figures released after Generation 1===

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 23 March 2026
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	While Cosmocountach was Takara's first experimentation with a robot-to-car transforming toy, it would still be a while until a fully-fledged line centered around this concept came to be. By [[1980]] they kicked off ''[[Diaclone]]'', a toyline ostensibly about robots and vehicles with transforming elements, but at this point, still very much in the traditional vein of the Japanese toys of its era: the robots were mechs with pilots rather than sentient beings, the transformations were usually centered around large unitary modules that combined to form the robots, the designs followed an anime-esque traditional "super robot" aesthetic (although curiously, Takara would also at one point try and go for the Gundam-pioneered "real robot" market by selling a few ''Diaclone'' model kits under the "Real Type" sub-brand! <ref>[https://www.scalemates.com/kits/nitto-927-dia-attacker-phantom-color-type--1271075 Diaclone Dia Attacker Phantom Color Type] on scalemates.com</ref>) and the majority of vehicles were spaceships or futuristic land vehicles rather than real-life machines. In [[1981]], they introduced the [[Diaclone#1981\|Dashers]] to the toyline, a trio of small robots with more traditional robot-to-vehicle transformations akin to what would later be seen in the ''Transformers'', but alas, these also converted into futuristic vehicles. By 1981, Takara had also introduced the "Change Attacars" subline, which would, for the first time in ''Diaclone'', feature real-life automobiles... That converted into attack vehicles for the Diaclone pilots rather than robots. Makes you wonder: what if you combined both and made a line that had cars... ''And'' robots?		While Cosmocountach was Takara's first experimentation with a robot-to-car transforming toy, it would still be a while until a fully-fledged line centered around this concept came to be. By [[1980]] they kicked off ''[[Diaclone]]'', a toyline ostensibly about robots and vehicles with transforming elements, but at this point, still very much in the traditional vein of the Japanese toys of its era: the robots were mechs with pilots rather than sentient beings, the transformations were usually centered around large unitary modules that combined to form the robots, the designs followed an anime-esque traditional "super robot" aesthetic (although curiously, Takara would also at one point try and go for the Gundam-pioneered "real robot" market by selling a few ''Diaclone'' model kits under the "Real Type" sub-brand! <ref>[https://www.scalemates.com/kits/nitto-927-dia-attacker-phantom-color-type--1271075 Diaclone Dia Attacker Phantom Color Type] on scalemates.com</ref>) and the majority of vehicles were spaceships or futuristic land vehicles rather than real-life machines. In [[1981]], they introduced the [[Diaclone#1981\|Dashers]] to the toyline, a trio of small robots with more traditional robot-to-vehicle transformations akin to what would later be seen in the ''Transformers'', but alas, these also converted into futuristic vehicles. By 1981, Takara had also introduced the "Change Attacars" subline, which would, for the first time in ''Diaclone'', feature real-life automobiles... That converted into attack vehicles for the Diaclone pilots rather than robots. Makes you wonder: what if you combined both and made a line that had cars... ''And'' robots?
	[[File:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|''Diaclone'' No. 1 Countach LP500S — the first ''Diaclone Car Robot'' and the predecessor mold that eventually led to [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Toys\|Sunstreaker]].]]		[[File:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|''Diaclone'' No. 1 Countach LP500S — the first ''Diaclone Car Robot'' and the predecessor mold that eventually led to [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Toys\|Sunstreaker]].]]
	It would only be in [[1982]] that ''Diaclone'' would see the introduction of the [[Diaclone#1982 - Car Robots\|Car Robots]] subline, spearheaded by designer [[Kōjin Ōno]]. Born as a product of both creative preferences within the design team towards more realism and extensive market research that'd show this too was the leaning of kids at the time (Ōno mentions that the team would frequently survey children in a park near Takara's headquarters <ref>"The park was conveniently located right in front of our company, allowing us to conduct surveys of children there. Of course, nowadays, such practices would be an absolute no-no from a compliance standpoint (laughs). But, as I mentioned earlier, there's a certain persuasiveness in directly hearing from children through these surveys. Their enthusiastic support played a pivotal role in propelling us forward in our development efforts." - Kōjin Ōno, Figure King #316, May 2024 (translation provided by [https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono5.html Soundwavesoblivion.com]</ref>), ''Car Robots'' would be the first instance of a line-up fully centered around a suite of robots that transformed into realistic automobiles. The first figure in this series, "Diaclone No. 1 Countach LP500S", would set the stage for the line's design direction, with many other toys following suite - the most legendary of these being "No.17 Battle Convoy", a [[Optimus Prime\|certain red and blue robot that converted into a truck]] - and the rest is history. The line was broadly successful and by the end of 1982, a grand total of 22 Car Robots molds had been produced.		It would only be in [[1982]] that ''Diaclone'' would see the introduction of the [[Diaclone#1982 - Car Robots\|Car Robots]] subline, spearheaded by designer [[Kōjin Ōno]]. Born as a product of both creative preferences within the design team towards more realism and extensive market research that'd show this too was the leaning of kids at the time (Ōno mentions that the team would frequently survey children in a park near Takara's headquarters <ref>"The park was conveniently located right in front of our company, allowing us to conduct surveys of children there. Of course, nowadays, such practices would be an absolute no-no from a compliance standpoint (laughs). But, as I mentioned earlier, there's a certain persuasiveness in directly hearing from children through these surveys. Their enthusiastic support played a pivotal role in propelling us forward in our development efforts." - Kōjin Ōno, Figure King #316, May 2024 (translation provided by [https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono5.html Soundwavesoblivion.com])</ref>), ''Car Robots'' would be the first instance of a line-up fully centered around a suite of robots that transformed into realistic automobiles. The first figure in this series, "Diaclone No. 1 Countach LP500S", would set the stage for the line's design direction, with many other toys following suite - the most legendary of these being "No.17 Battle Convoy", a [[Optimus Prime\|certain red and blue robot that converted into a truck]] - and the rest is history. The line was broadly successful and by the end of 1982, a grand total of 22 Car Robots molds had been produced.

	{{stub\|Micro Change, other non-Car Robots Diaclone molds}}		{{stub\|Micro Change, other non-Car Robots Diaclone molds}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:13, 10 March 2026
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	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
	[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]		[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
	*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.		*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products. South Korean licensee [[Sonokong]] would also, at one point, sell a pair of giftsets with ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' figures under the generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robot" names rather than under the ''Transformers'' brand.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:11, 26 February 2026
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	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
	[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]		[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
	*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds were ~~themselves~~ also re-released as ~~parts~~ of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.		*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds themselves were also re-released as part of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:10, 26 February 2026
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	*The act of licensing out Japanese transforming robot toys (and robot toys in general) to Western markets appears to have also started with Popy. Popy started off as a part of [[Bandai]], but separated from them in [[1971]] to explore other avenues, creating lines such as the ''Popynica'' line, which made toys for the ''{{w\|Kamen Rider}}'' franchise, and the ''{{w\|Chogokin}}'' line, which made toys for franchises such as ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. The toys released in these two lines ended up being licensed out to [[Mattel]] as part of their popular ''{{w\|Shogun Warriors (toys)\|Shogun Warriors}}'' franchise in the 70s. The aforementioned ''Brave Raideen'' also licensed out to Mattel. All of this would eventually lead to the creation of the ''{{Gb\|Machine Robo}}'' toyline—but due to the declining popularity of robot toys in the very early-80s—Popy was reintegrated into Bandai in [[1983]], which thus led to the partnership between Bandai and [[Tonka]], that created ''[[GoBots]]''.		*The act of licensing out Japanese transforming robot toys (and robot toys in general) to Western markets appears to have also started with Popy. Popy started off as a part of [[Bandai]], but separated from them in [[1971]] to explore other avenues, creating lines such as the ''Popynica'' line, which made toys for the ''{{w\|Kamen Rider}}'' franchise, and the ''{{w\|Chogokin}}'' line, which made toys for franchises such as ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. The toys released in these two lines ended up being licensed out to [[Mattel]] as part of their popular ''{{w\|Shogun Warriors (toys)\|Shogun Warriors}}'' franchise in the 70s. The aforementioned ''Brave Raideen'' also licensed out to Mattel. All of this would eventually lead to the creation of the ''{{Gb\|Machine Robo}}'' toyline—but due to the declining popularity of robot toys in the very early-80s—Popy was reintegrated into Bandai in [[1983]], which thus led to the partnership between Bandai and [[Tonka]], that created ''[[GoBots]]''.
	* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.		* As mentioned above, Hasbro's once-rival, Tonka, teamed up with Bandai in 1983, to create the ''GoBots'' franchise using licensed-out ''Machine Robo'' toys. Much like Takara's attempts at releasing their products in Western markets through the ''Diakron'' and ''Kronoform'' lines, Bandai attempted the same thing with ''Machine Robo'', releasing the ''{{Gb\|Robo Machine}}'' and ''{{Gb\|Robo Machines}}'' lines in Europe; the {{Gb\|Machine Men (North American franchise)\|''Machine Men'' and ''Robot Machine Men''}} lines in America and Canada, respectively; and the (unrelated) ''{{Gb\|Machine Men (franchise)\|Machine Men}}'' line in Australia—all of which had varying degrees of success, and ran concurrently with one another.
			[[File:Microman toy Mach Speeder.jpg\|upright=1.66\|thumb\|So ''Microman'' is a pre-Transformers toyline... And ''Transformers'' is also a pre-Microman toyline, I guess?]]
			*As a curious juxtaposition to the contents of this page, there are actually a few instances where the ''Transformers'' molds were themselves also re-released as parts of other parallel toylines: most notably via other Takara toylines in Japan, with a number of figures like [[Sixshot (G1)#Toys\|Sixshot]], [[Grandus (G1)#Toys\|Grandus]], and [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Toys\|Deathsaurus]] getting retooled into characters from the ''[[Brave]]'' series, plus a handful of later ''Microman'' toys (remember, the original toyline that ''Micro Change'' branched out of) being redecoed from toys like the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)\|Generation 2]]'' [[Laser Cycle\|Laser Cycles]], the ''[[Action Masters]]'' [[Armored Convoy#Toys\|Armored Convoy]] truck, and the [[Micromaster]] [[Rocket Base#Toys\|Rocket Base]]. On a more oddball note, there was also the small ''[[Invasion Galactica]]'' toyline in Argentina that consisted of a handful of repackaged Estrela ''Transformers'' figures under an entirely new generic name, likely done in an effort to avoid protectonist taxation by trying to pass off the import toys as national products.
	*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.		*The [[Action Master]] [[Treadshot (G1)#The Transformers\|Treadshot]]'s design was inspired by a toy originally manufactured by Sunmayor Ohkawa (サンマーヤ大川) Co., Ltd., the "357 Magnum Robo" (357マグナムロボ). It was later called the "Highway Patrol Robo" and released in [[GiG]]'s ''[[Trasformer]]'' line in Italy. It was even covered in Takara's ''[[Takara SF Land Collection Complete Works]]'' toy book for unknown reasons.