Pokeformers: Difference between revisions
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'''Pokeformers''' is a derogatory term often used to refer to the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' toyline]] or its accompanying fiction by members of the Transformers fandom who weren't particularly fond of the series. The term is a [[wikipedia:portmanteau|portmanteau]] of the terms "[[Wikipedia:Pokémon|Pokémon]]" and "Transformers". | '''Pokeformers''' is a derogatory term often used to refer to the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' toyline]] or its accompanying fiction by members of the Transformers fandom who weren't particularly fond of the series. The term is a [[wikipedia:portmanteau|portmanteau]] of the terms "[[Wikipedia:Pokémon|Pokémon]]" and "Transformers". | ||
Fans began referring to ''Armada'' as "Pokeformers" because the ''whole premise'' of the ''entire show'' is collect as many of those stupid little [[Mini-Con]]s as possible, which is like, a ''total rip-off'' of "Gotta catch 'em all!" from that retarded ''Pokémon'' show. Also, because, you know, ''Pokémon'' and ''Armada'' are both stupid kiddy shit for babies, not awesome hardcore stuff for the mature adults who are the ones who ''really'' [[Misconceptions_and_urban_legends_about_Transformers#Other|buy all the Transformer toys]]. Seriously, if you don't like something—''anything''—just say it's like ''Pokémon''. That will totally win the argument. | |||
Yeah. | |||
[[Image:Leader-1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Grab 'em while they're hot!]] | [[Image:Leader-1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Grab 'em while they're hot!]] | ||
The comparison between the two series is of some limited merit, though. The ''Pokémon'' age bracket is the same as the majority of the ''Transformers''-buying age group (pre-teens), and [[Hasbro]] quite deliberately aimed to get their attention with the comparatively cute Mini-Cons. (Clearly, it worked, as kids bought them like they were buttered crack. Hasbro representatives at [[BotCon 2004]] admitted that the Mini-Cons were far more popular with kids than they'd anticipated.) In regards to the attached fiction, many early ''Armada'' episodes were driven by the search for [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s (though [[Unicron|the focus]] shifted pretty dramatically away from that about halfway through the series.) The show brought some quasi-anime aspects to ''Transformers'', mirroring the style's predominant popularity at the time in the US (though this was [[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|hardly unprecedented]]). And like the titular Pokémon, the Mini-Cons are small, adorable, surprisingly powerful in combat, somewhat slavishly bound to their "owners", and given a rather limited range of linguistic expression (though this was not an [[Targetmaster#Japanese Targetmasters|entirely new concept, either]].) | |||
Many of these comparisons apply primarily to the cartoon series. In [[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|the comics]], Mini-Cons were every bit as verbose and articulate as their larger brethren. The comics furthermore did not play up the search for Mini-Cons nearly so much as the cartoon; the Mini-Cons were more akin to fugitives on the run than hapless objects to be collected. | |||
It could be fairly stated that both ''Pokémon'' and ''Armada'' both simply tapped into a tried and true marketing approach [[to sell toys|to sell their product]]. Furthermore, ''Armada'' was far from the first to ''Transformers'' [[franchise]] to use the "[[combiner|Collect them all!]]" approach; it has been a common marketing theme of the [[Transformers brand]] (actually, ''every'' toy franchise) since its inception. | It could be fairly stated that both ''Pokémon'' and ''Armada'' both simply tapped into a tried and true marketing approach [[to sell toys|to sell their product]]. Furthermore, ''Armada'' was far from the first to ''Transformers'' [[franchise]] to use the "[[combiner|Collect them all!]]" approach; it has been a common marketing theme of the [[Transformers brand]] (actually, ''every'' toy franchise) since its inception. | ||
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Revision as of 03:26, 30 December 2007
Pokeformers is a derogatory term often used to refer to the Armada toyline or its accompanying fiction by members of the Transformers fandom who weren't particularly fond of the series. The term is a portmanteau of the terms "Pokémon" and "Transformers".
Fans began referring to Armada as "Pokeformers" because the whole premise of the entire show is collect as many of those stupid little Mini-Cons as possible, which is like, a total rip-off of "Gotta catch 'em all!" from that retarded Pokémon show. Also, because, you know, Pokémon and Armada are both stupid kiddy shit for babies, not awesome hardcore stuff for the mature adults who are the ones who really buy all the Transformer toys. Seriously, if you don't like something—anything—just say it's like Pokémon. That will totally win the argument.
Yeah.
The comparison between the two series is of some limited merit, though. The Pokémon age bracket is the same as the majority of the Transformers-buying age group (pre-teens), and Hasbro quite deliberately aimed to get their attention with the comparatively cute Mini-Cons. (Clearly, it worked, as kids bought them like they were buttered crack. Hasbro representatives at BotCon 2004 admitted that the Mini-Cons were far more popular with kids than they'd anticipated.) In regards to the attached fiction, many early Armada episodes were driven by the search for Mini-Con storage panels (though the focus shifted pretty dramatically away from that about halfway through the series.) The show brought some quasi-anime aspects to Transformers, mirroring the style's predominant popularity at the time in the US (though this was hardly unprecedented). And like the titular Pokémon, the Mini-Cons are small, adorable, surprisingly powerful in combat, somewhat slavishly bound to their "owners", and given a rather limited range of linguistic expression (though this was not an entirely new concept, either.)
Many of these comparisons apply primarily to the cartoon series. In the comics, Mini-Cons were every bit as verbose and articulate as their larger brethren. The comics furthermore did not play up the search for Mini-Cons nearly so much as the cartoon; the Mini-Cons were more akin to fugitives on the run than hapless objects to be collected.
It could be fairly stated that both Pokémon and Armada both simply tapped into a tried and true marketing approach to sell their product. Furthermore, Armada was far from the first to Transformers franchise to use the "Collect them all!" approach; it has been a common marketing theme of the Transformers brand (actually, every toy franchise) since its inception.
