Toy - Revision history

BerylRoll at 20:12, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T20:12:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:12, 7 May 2026
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	The vast majority of the toys are made of plastic, held together with metal screws and pins, along with the occasional adhesive. The plastics used in Transformer construction have generally increased in flexibility and durability over the years, allowing toys to survive child-inflicted trauma that would have destroyed early Generation 1 toys.		The vast majority of the toys are made of plastic, held together with metal screws and pins, along with the occasional adhesive. The plastics used in Transformer construction have generally increased in flexibility and durability over the years, allowing toys to survive child-inflicted trauma that would have destroyed early Generation 1 toys.

	Die-cast, used as an accessory material from 1984 to 1986, has been all but abandoned due to its excessive cost, shipping weight and design limitations, though it has reappeared in the fan-oriented ''[[Transformers: Alternators#Binaltech\|Binaltech]]'', [[Titanium Series]], and [[The Transformers: Masterpiece\|Masterpiece]] sublines.		Die-cast, used as an accessory material from 1984 to 1986, has been all but abandoned due to its excessive cost, shipping weight and design limitations, though it has reappeared in the fan-oriented ''[[Transformers: Alternators#Binaltech\|Binaltech]]'', [[Titanium Series]], and ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece\|Masterpiece]]'' sublines.

	''Related articles:''		''Related articles:''
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	The main exceptions to this system - the types of non-transforming items that we do list as "toys" - are:		The main exceptions to this system - the types of non-transforming items that we do list as "toys" - are:
	*[[Action Master]]s, non-transforming toys representing characters that in the fictional universe ''are supposed to be'' non-transforming.		*[[Action Master]]s, non-transforming toys representing characters that in the fictional universe ''are supposed to be'' non-transforming.
	*Non-transforming items packaged as accessories with transforming toys and meant to depict in-story interactions; for example, the many gun-mode inclusions of [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Masterpiece\|Megatron]] with ''[[Masterpiece]]'' toys so they can appear to hold him, or ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)\|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' [[Slug figure\|micro-figures]] that depict scale differences with [[Ark (G1)#Toys\|larger]] [[Unicron/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy\|characters]].		*Non-transforming items packaged as accessories with transforming toys and meant to depict in-story interactions; for example, the many gun-mode inclusions of [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Masterpiece\|Megatron]] with ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece\|Masterpiece]]'' toys so they can appear to hold him, or ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)\|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' [[Slug figure\|micro-figures]] that depict scale differences with [[Ark (G1)#Toys\|larger]] [[Unicron/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy\|characters]].

	Beyond toys and toy-like merchandise, {{SITENAME SHORT}} has never seriously attempted to catalogue the far, ''faaaaarrrrrr'' larger spectrum of Transformers merchandise available, such as clothing and apparel, stationery and school supplies, foods, party goods, etc. At this point, it would probably not be possible for us, or anyone, to do so.		Beyond toys and toy-like merchandise, {{SITENAME SHORT}} has never seriously attempted to catalogue the far, ''faaaaarrrrrr'' larger spectrum of Transformers merchandise available, such as clothing and apparel, stationery and school supplies, foods, party goods, etc. At this point, it would probably not be possible for us, or anyone, to do so.
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	===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===		===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
	[[File:BW II e17 Megastorm Galvatron Figure.jpg\|thumb\|right\|150px]]		[[File:BW II e17 Megastorm Galvatron Figure.jpg\|thumb\|right\|150px]]
	[[Megastorm]] ~~is seen playing~~ with a [[Galvatron (BW)\|Galvatron]] ~~action figure (~~which he ~~can~~'t transform on his own). {{storylink\|Who Is the Leader!?}}		[[Megastorm (BW)\|Megastorm]] played with a Galvatron action figure he took from the actual [[Galvatron (BW)\|Galvatron]] and which he couldn't transform on his own. {{storylink\|Who Is the Leader!?}}

	===''Cybertron''===		===''Cybertron''===
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	===''Animated'' continuity===		===''Animated'' continuity===
	[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)\|Sari]], [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)\|Wreck-Gar]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)\|Bumblebee]] were ~~seen~~ playing with toy versions of their compatriots. {{storylink\|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}		[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)\|Sari]], [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)\|Wreck-Gar]], and [[Bumblebee (Animated)\|Bumblebee]] were playing with toy versions of their compatriots. {{storylink\|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}

	===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon continuity===		===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon continuity===
	[[H.B. Luskey\|Mayor Luskey]] had [[Ezra Greene\|Doc Greene]] ~~make~~ souvenir [[Rescue Bot]]s ~~made~~ in honor of [[Bot Appreciation Week]]. [[Evan (RB)\|Evan]] and [[Myles]] had several of them reprogrammed as mischief makers. {{storylink\|All Bots Great and Small}}		[[H.B. Luskey\|Mayor Luskey]] had [[Ezra Greene\|Doc Greene]] made souvenir [[Rescue Bot]]s in honor of [[Bot Appreciation Week]]. [[Evan (RB)\|Evan]] and [[Myles]] had several of them reprogrammed as mischief makers. {{storylink\|All Bots Great and Small}}

	===Ask Vector Prime===		===Ask Vector Prime===

Doomdorm64: /* Toy aging */

2026-02-18T20:55:08Z

Toy aging

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:55, 18 February 2026
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	*chrome flaking, a problem common on the [[Transmetal]] toys — see ''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''.		*chrome flaking, a problem common on the [[Transmetal]] toys — see ''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''.
	*embrittlement of poorly-mixed [[plastic]]s that can cause a toy to disintegrate — see ''[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''.		*embrittlement of poorly-mixed [[plastic]]s that can cause a toy to disintegrate — see ''[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''.
	*damaged [[Sticker#Pros and cons\|stickers]] — though third-party companies can offer unofficial replacements.		*damaged [[Sticker#Pros and cons\|stickers]] — though third-party companies can offer [[Sticker#Aftermarket replacements\|unofficial replacements]].
	*acid damage from keeping batteries inside them too long; while less of an issue among modern ''Transformers'' figures, owners of older figures with electronics should still keep it in mind.		*acid damage from keeping batteries inside them too long; while less of an issue among modern ''Transformers'' figures, owners of older figures with electronics should still keep it in mind.
	{{-}}		{{-}}

Doomdorm64: /* Toy aging */

2026-02-18T20:43:33Z

Toy aging

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:43, 18 February 2026
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	Transformer toys are, to put it bluntly, not meant to last forever. They are marketed to a fleeting and transitory age group, with the notion that if they survive a few years, their work is done. Thus collectors who have retained their toys for decades can find some disturbing surprises as their toys age, regardless of how carefully the toys have been stored. Among the most common problems are:		Transformer toys are, to put it bluntly, not meant to last forever. They are marketed to a fleeting and transitory age group, with the notion that if they survive a few years, their work is done. Thus collectors who have retained their toys for decades can find some disturbing surprises as their toys age, regardless of how carefully the toys have been stored. Among the most common problems are:

	*plastic discoloration — see ''[[Photodegradation]]''		*plastic discoloration — see ''[[Photodegradation]]''.
	*cracking of [[rubber tires]] and the rubber tubing on [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Generation 1\|G1 Shockwave]].		*cracking of [[rubber tires]] and the rubber tubing on [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Generation 1\|G1 Shockwave]].
	*liquidy deterioration of softer rubbery plastics, such as the [[Pretender Monster]]s' rubber Pretender shells, the nosecone on [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#Generation 1\|G1 Cyclonus]], and the tank treads on ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)\|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Bludgeon (ROTF)#Revenge of the Fallen\|Bludgeon]]		*liquidy deterioration of softer rubbery plastics, such as the [[Pretender Monster]]s' rubber Pretender shells, the nosecone on [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#Generation 1\|G1 Cyclonus]], and the tank treads on ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)\|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Bludgeon (ROTF)#Revenge of the Fallen\|Bludgeon]].
	*chrome flaking, a problem common on the [[Transmetal]] toys — see ''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''.		*chrome flaking, a problem common on the [[Transmetal]] toys — see ''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''.
	*embrittlement of poorly-mixed [[plastic]]s that can cause a toy to disintegrate — see ''[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''.		*embrittlement of poorly-mixed [[plastic]]s that can cause a toy to disintegrate — see ''[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''.
	*damaged [[Sticker#Pros and cons\|stickers]] — though third-party companies can offer unofficial replacements		*damaged [[Sticker#Pros and cons\|stickers]] — though third-party companies can offer unofficial replacements.
	*acid damage from keeping batteries inside them too long; while less of an issue among modern ''Transformers'' figures, owners of older figures with electronics should still keep it in mind.		*acid damage from keeping batteries inside them too long; while less of an issue among modern ''Transformers'' figures, owners of older figures with electronics should still keep it in mind.
	{{-}}		{{-}}

Doomdorm64: /* Toy aging */

2026-02-18T20:41:14Z

Toy aging

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:41, 18 February 2026
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	*chrome flaking, a problem common on the [[Transmetal]] toys — see ''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''.		*chrome flaking, a problem common on the [[Transmetal]] toys — see ''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''.
	*embrittlement of poorly-mixed [[plastic]]s that can cause a toy to disintegrate — see ''[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''.		*embrittlement of poorly-mixed [[plastic]]s that can cause a toy to disintegrate — see ''[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]''.
	*damaged [[Sticker#Pros and cons\|stickers]]		*damaged [[Sticker#Pros and cons\|stickers]] — though third-party companies can offer unofficial replacements
	*acid damage from keeping batteries inside them too long; ~~this is not a flaw unique to toys~~, ~~but~~ owners of older figures with electronics should still keep it in mind		*acid damage from keeping batteries inside them too long; while less of an issue among modern ''Transformers'' figures, owners of older figures with electronics should still keep it in mind.
	{{-}}		{{-}}

M Sipher: /* Distribution and retail */

2026-01-07T23:05:24Z

Distribution and retail

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:05, 7 January 2026
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	{{-}}		{{-}}
	==Distribution and retail==		==Distribution and retail==
	[[File:Movie Allspark Legends pack.jpg\|right\|~~300px~~\|thumb\|Packaging! It's elegant, sleek, attractive, and lasts for about five seconds.]]		[[File:Movie Allspark Legends pack.jpg\|right\|upright=1\|thumb\|Packaging! It's elegant, sleek, attractive, and lasts for about five seconds.]]
	[[File:~~G1tigertrack~~ toy.jpg\|right\|~~300px~~\|thumb\|Some toys~~, like~~ [[Tigertrack]]~~, are exclusive to certain markets~~.]]		[[File:G1-toy Tigertrack.jpg\|right\|upright=1\|thumb\|Some toys are exclusive to certain markets and even specific outlets: [[Tigertrack#Toys\|Tigertrack]] here was only available in Japan via a magazine mail-away offer.]]

	Once the toys are manufactured and packaged, they are shipped from their place of birth in Asia to America. As of 1998, their first destination is a Seattle distribution warehouse. From there, they proceed to the distribution centers for the various chain stores that sell the toys at retail; at that point, control of distribution is out of Hasbro's hands. On average, it takes six to eight weeks from the time the toys ship from Hasbro to their appearance on retail shelves.<ref name="built1"/>		Once the toys are manufactured and packaged, they are shipped from their place of birth in Asia to America. As of 1998, their first destination is a Seattle distribution warehouse. From there, they proceed to the distribution centers for the various chain stores that sell the toys at retail; at that point, control of distribution is out of Hasbro's hands. On average, it takes six to eight weeks from the time the toys ship from Hasbro to their appearance on retail shelves.<ref name="built1"/>
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	*[[e-HOBBY]]		*[[e-HOBBY]]
	*[[Hasbro Toy Shop]]		*[[Hasbro Toy Shop]]
	*[[JUSCO]]		*[[AEON\|JUSCO]]
	*[[KB Toys]] (defunct)		*[[KB Toys]] (defunct)
	*[[Kmart]]		*[[Kmart]]
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	}}		}}
	{{-}}		{{-}}

	==Secondary market==		==Secondary market==
	[[File:FortMax eBay get a life.jpg\|right\|thumb\|upright=1.95\|You'll need to sell your arm, your leg and your kidney to buy this guy.]]		[[File:FortMax eBay get a life.jpg\|right\|thumb\|upright=1.95\|You'll need to sell your arm, your leg and your kidney to buy this guy.]]

Thylacine 2000: /* Common gimmicks */

2025-04-03T20:30:47Z

Common gimmicks

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:30, 3 April 2025
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	*[[Spark crystal]]		*[[Spark crystal]]
	*[[Sparking gimmick]]		*[[Sparking gimmick]]
	*[[Water-squirting]]		*[[Water-squirting gimmick\|Water-squirting]]
	}}		}}
	{{-}}		{{-}}

Thylacine 2000: /* Common gimmicks */

2025-04-03T20:30:32Z

Common gimmicks

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:30, 3 April 2025
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	*[[Automorph Technology]]		*[[Automorph Technology]]
	*[[Autotransformation]]		*[[Autotransformation]]
			*[[Battery-powered motor]]
	*[[Combiner]]		*[[Combiner]]
	*[[Cyber Planet Key]]		*[[Cyber Planet Key]]
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	*[[Mini-Con]]		*[[Mini-Con]]
	*[[Missile]]		*[[Missile]]
	*[[Motorized movement]]
	*[[Pull-back motor]]		*[[Pull-back motor]]
	*[[Rubsign]]		*[[Rubsign]]
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	*[[Spark crystal]]		*[[Spark crystal]]
	*[[Sparking gimmick]]		*[[Sparking gimmick]]
	*[[~~Water-squirting gimmick\|~~Water-squirting]]		*[[Water-squirting]]
	}}		}}
	{{-}}		{{-}}

The Wadapan: /* Design */

2024-09-16T11:05:47Z

Design

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 16 September 2024
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	The toy design process begins with a range of character types and possible alternate modes. In the days of ''Beast Wars'', for example, a range of about 100 animal forms was considered.<ref name="built1">[http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html A guy on the Internet]</ref>		The toy design process begins with a range of character types and possible alternate modes. In the days of ''Beast Wars'', for example, a range of about 100 animal forms was considered.<ref name="built1">[http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html A guy on the Internet]</ref>

	Nearly all ''Transformers'' toys have a minimum of two forms, most commonly a humanoid "robot" form and an [[alternate mode]]. This means that even a fairly simple Transformer is much more complex than the typical action figure. Multiple alternate modes, [[articulation]], and complex transformations can multiply this many times over. TakaraTomy works out the transformation schemes; as of 2002, Takara still did this on paper. Hasbro would then overlay their detailing designs on the drawings. The entire process of taking a toy from concept to finished, mass-produced product takes approximately one year.<ref name="built2">[http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-bc02.html Some random web site]</ref>		Nearly all ''Transformers'' toys have a minimum of two forms, most commonly a humanoid "robot" form and an [[alternate mode]]. This means that even a fairly simple Transformer is much more complex than the typical action figure. Multiple alternate modes, [[articulation]], and complex transformations can multiply this many times over. TakaraTomy works out the transformation schemes; as of 2002, Takara still did this on paper. Hasbro would then overlay their detailing designs on the drawings. The entire process of taking a toy from concept to finished, mass-produced product takes approximately one year;<ref name="built2">[http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-bc02.html Some random web site]</ref> as of 2024, the teams were working roughly two years in advance of products going on shelves.<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=So Mark, Evan and the entire TakaraTomy team work about two years in advance, I think what’s exciting about the team is they have an opportunity to look into the distant future and gives us an opportunity to communicate with people here at the convention and understand what people want. And so when we think about brand architecture, and ultimately things like combiners, we do have to think into the future a little bit in terms of where those things slot in. I think that’s what he meant about that. 2026 and 2025 are linked together, I can say that, and if you can believe it we’re already starting to think a little bit about 2027. Now, that is a little far out, but in the Transformers universe, it’s closer than you think.\|link=https://news.tfw2005.com/2024/08/03/sdcc-2024-hasbro-interview-john-wardens-return-generations-studio-series-combiners-more-513802\|name=John Warden\|site=TFW2005\|title=SDCC 2024 Hasbro Interview – John Warden’s Return, Generations, Studio Series, Combiners, More!\|year=2024\|month=08\|day=03}}</ref>

	Because of their worldwide marketing, Transformers must be designed to meet many widely-varying [[For safety reasons\|safety laws]]. This often results in certain limitations, and even changes being made before toys are sold in the highly litigious [[United States of America]] compared to their Japanese releases.		Because of their worldwide marketing, Transformers must be designed to meet many widely-varying [[For safety reasons\|safety laws]]. This often results in certain limitations, and even changes being made before toys are sold in the highly litigious [[United States of America]] compared to their Japanese releases.

Abates: Reverted edits by DirkyBoo (talk) to last revision by Saix

2024-02-25T10:06:25Z

Reverted edits by DirkyBoo (talk) to last revision by Saix

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DirkyBoo at 09:39, 25 February 2024

2024-02-25T09:39:52Z

Replaced content with "Get that money"

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