Transformers: Go-Bots (toyline): Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The line was released in a transitional time for the ''Transformers'' brand, and ended up being bounced around madly over its lifespan. | The line was released in a transitional time for the ''Transformers'' brand, and ended up being bounced around madly over its lifespan. | ||
Buoyed by the success of [[2001]]'s ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)| Robots in Disguise]]'', Hasbro sought to expand ''Transformers'' beyond the 5~13 age group. Following the sporadically-released ''[[1-2-3 Transformers]]'' toys, the "preschool Transformers" line shifted to Playskool, which brought out a series of toys that were simpler, softer-edged, more colorful, and above all ''less expensive'' than the ''1-2-3'' toys, designed to transform from robot to alternate mode in three (or fewer) steps. | |||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
Revision as of 21:33, 16 May 2017
| The name or term "GoBots" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see GoBots (disambiguation). |
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Transformers: Go-Bots, released through Hasbro subsidiary Playskool in 2002, was the third Transformers toyline intended for preschool-age children, and it was the longest-running up until Rescue Bots. The line was very briefly and low-key advertised with a limited-release short-run cartoon.
In Japan, the figures were sold as part of the Kids' Transformers: Rescue Hero Go-Bots toyline, which included toys from the Tonka 1-2-3 Transformers series as well.
Overview
The line was released in a transitional time for the Transformers brand, and ended up being bounced around madly over its lifespan.
Buoyed by the success of 2001's Robots in Disguise, Hasbro sought to expand Transformers beyond the 5~13 age group. Following the sporadically-released 1-2-3 Transformers toys, the "preschool Transformers" line shifted to Playskool, which brought out a series of toys that were simpler, softer-edged, more colorful, and above all less expensive than the 1-2-3 toys, designed to transform from robot to alternate mode in three (or fewer) steps.
Toyline
Playskool Big Adventures: Transformers
| Basics | Megas |
 |
Transformers: Go-Bots
Given a rebranding for 2003, the new assortments of Go-Bots started in on the extensive redeco-ing pretty quickly to fill out the assortments.
| Basics | Deluxes
|
Megas |
Go-Bots
The line got rebranded again in late 2003, dropping the trappings of Transformers, including getting a whole new faction symbol. And the redecoes only got more and more numerous.
| "Botropolis" Basics | "Mission: Earth" Basics | "Glow-Bots" Basics | video pack-in Basics | |||||
Deluxes
|
Mega "Ultra Jets" | Mega "Flying Fists" | Ultras | |||||
| Supers |
Transformers: Go-Bots
And now we're back to being directly associated with Transformers again in mid/late-2004. Oy. But we're keeping the Go-Shield symbol. A few pieces also get re-released, notably the "Flying Fists" jets.
| "Secret Shield" Wave 1 | "Secret Shield" Wave 2 | "Invisibility Force" Wave 1 | "Invisibility Force" Wave 2 | |||||
Deluxes
|
Megas |
Exclusives
Unreleased
- Aero-Bot Helicopter (rescue chopper)
- "Mystery Bot" (Basic Go-Bot)
Trivia
- Designs of various Playskool Go-Bots (and one 1-2-3 transformer) were plagiarized for use as characters in the Chinese cartoon "Robo Warriors". Ironically, these plagiarized designs would later be plagiarized themselves, with the cartoon "Martial Mecha Saga" basing many of the show's robot designs on those of "Robo Warriors" (Both cartoons were produced by different companies).[1]
