ToyCo: Difference between revisions
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'''ToyCo''' ( | [[Image:ToyCo 400x400.jpg|right|thumb]] | ||
'''ToyCo''', Ltd. (株式会社トイコー) is a [[Japan]]ese toy company responsible for licensing the original [[Shockwave (G1)/toys|Shockwave]] mold to [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] for ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' toyline in the 1980's. | |||
ToyCo | ToyCo was founded on [[November 20]], [[1981]], in {{w|Sumida, Tokyo}}. They are still in operation today, mostly selling highly detailed toy cars. | ||
==Notes== | |||
*There is a [[South Korea|Korean]] toy company also called '''[https://blog.naver.com/toycokorea ToyCo]''' (토이코코리아) making and/or distributing a large variety of toys in Korea, including [http://toyco.co.kr/shop/shopdetail.html?branduid=804729&search=&sort= off-brand transforming robot toys], as well as licensed [http://toyco.co.kr/shop/shopdetail.html?branduid=823088&special=1 ''Transformers: Prime'' kids' inner tubes]. Other toys they make or distribute include battery-operated toys, and cheap ''[[Power Rangers (franchise)|Power Rangers]]'' and ''[[Hello Kitty]]'' toys that supplement the range of toys released by larger companies, such as [[Bandai]], in Korea. It is unclear if the two companies are related. | |||
*It had been believed for many years by the early-''Transformers'' [[fandom]] that ToyCo was a Korean company, as both Shockwave and the [[RadioShack]]-exclusive Galactic Man both feature "Made in Korea" stamps on their inner legs, where the original Astro Magnum toy featured a "Made in Japan" stamp instead. As it happens, the toy was only being produced in Korea around the time of the Generation 1 toyline, before ToyCo shifted production to [[China]] where it was cheaper.<ref name="tformers">[https://tformers.com/transformers-astro-magnum-tracking-down-the-shockwave-mold/9709/news.html "After the Astro Magnum was produced in South Korea, during the Transformers period, production shifted to China where the production cost was cheaper."] - Interview with ToyCo at Tokyo Toy Show in [[2008]].</ref> All things considered, it probably didn't help that the aforementioned Korean company also exists. | |||
*Following the licensing of the Astro Magnum mold to Hasbro, Takara, RadioShack and many other toy companies, the rights to the mold were sold on, meaning that any hopes for future [[knockoff|''official'' reissues]] of Shockwave are very slim.<ref name="tformers"/> | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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*[https://twitter.com/toyco_ltd ToyCo Twitter] (in Japanese) | *[https://twitter.com/toyco_ltd ToyCo Twitter] (in Japanese) | ||
*[https://www.instagram.com/toyco_ltd ToyCo Instagram] (in Japanese) | *[https://www.instagram.com/toyco_ltd ToyCo Instagram] (in Japanese) | ||
*[https:// | *[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvH7kPP4AdngBMJeohW77Q YouTube Channel] (in Japanese) | ||
[[Category:Companies|Toyco]] | [[Category:Companies|Toyco]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:42, 21 February 2026
ToyCo, Ltd. (株式会社トイコー) is a Japanese toy company responsible for licensing the original Shockwave mold to Hasbro and Takara for The Transformers toyline in the 1980's.
ToyCo was founded on November 20, 1981, in Sumida, Tokyo. They are still in operation today, mostly selling highly detailed toy cars.
Notes
[edit]- There is a Korean toy company also called ToyCo (토이코코리아) making and/or distributing a large variety of toys in Korea, including off-brand transforming robot toys, as well as licensed Transformers: Prime kids' inner tubes. Other toys they make or distribute include battery-operated toys, and cheap Power Rangers and Hello Kitty toys that supplement the range of toys released by larger companies, such as Bandai, in Korea. It is unclear if the two companies are related.
- It had been believed for many years by the early-Transformers fandom that ToyCo was a Korean company, as both Shockwave and the RadioShack-exclusive Galactic Man both feature "Made in Korea" stamps on their inner legs, where the original Astro Magnum toy featured a "Made in Japan" stamp instead. As it happens, the toy was only being produced in Korea around the time of the Generation 1 toyline, before ToyCo shifted production to China where it was cheaper.[1] All things considered, it probably didn't help that the aforementioned Korean company also exists.
- Following the licensing of the Astro Magnum mold to Hasbro, Takara, RadioShack and many other toy companies, the rights to the mold were sold on, meaning that any hopes for future official reissues of Shockwave are very slim.[1]
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "After the Astro Magnum was produced in South Korea, during the Transformers period, production shifted to China where the production cost was cheaper." - Interview with ToyCo at Tokyo Toy Show in 2008.
External links
[edit]- ToyCo web site (in Japanese)
- ToyCo Twitter (in Japanese)
- ToyCo Instagram (in Japanese)
- YouTube Channel (in Japanese)
