User:Nevermore/Sandbox: Difference between revisions
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
==Generation 1== | ==Generation 1== | ||
[[Image:Overbite-instructions.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh sure, he's a giant metal shark with arms and legs, but he's not an ''attack monster'' till you stick some guns on him.]] | [[Image:Overbite-instructions.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh sure, he's a giant metal shark with arms and legs, but he's not an ''attack monster'' till you stick some guns on him.]] | ||
All toys from [[Hasbro]]'s 1984 ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' line-up used full-color photos of the toys themselves to illustrate their instructions, with little arrows pointing out the required parts movements for the individual transformation steps. The toys used were actually either [[prototype]]s or recycled ''[[Diaclone]]'' or ''[[Micro Change]]'' production toys. This is most evident in the case of [[Bluestreak]], whose instructions depict him in the infamous blue and silver ''Diaclone'' color scheme, whereas the actual ''Transformers'' toy is entirely silver and sports a different deco. | All toys from [[Hasbro]]'s 1984 ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' line-up used full-color photos of the toys themselves to illustrate their instructions, with little arrows pointing out the required parts movements for the individual transformation steps. The toys used were actually either [[prototype]]s or recycled ''[[Diaclone]]'' or ''[[Micro Change]]'' production toys. This is most evident in the case of [[Bluestreak]], whose instructions depict him in the infamous blue and silver ''Diaclone'' color scheme, whereas the actual ''Transformers'' toy is entirely silver and sports a different deco. These instructions were later recycled when some of these toys were reissued by Hasbro in Europe as part of the "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" line in 1990 and 1991. | ||
The [[Mini Vehicle|Mini-Cars/Mini-Vehicles]] and the [[Mini-Cassette]] two-packs featured instructions printed on the back of their blister cards, as did smaller toys from later years that also came packaged on cards. All the toys that came packaged in boxes, meanwhile, featured their instructions printed on a sheet of paper, officially called an "Instruction Booklet" (a name that was dropped after 1989), which was included inside the packaging. The sheets originally came in a format slightly larger than a playing card and could be folded out horizontally, printed on both sides. The instruction sheet for larger toys additionally also had to be folded out vertically. Carded [[combiner]] team members also came with additional instruction sheets, printed on a small, heavily-folded sheet of paper, which showed how to convert all of them into their combined mode. Boxed team members simply had the same line art for the gestalt assembly printed on the back of their instruction sheets. Combiner giftsets had all instructions on one single sheet. | The [[Mini Vehicle|Mini-Cars/Mini-Vehicles]] and the [[Mini-Cassette]] two-packs featured instructions printed on the back of their blister cards, as did smaller toys from later years that also came packaged on cards. All the toys that came packaged in boxes, meanwhile, featured their instructions printed on a sheet of paper, officially called an "Instruction Booklet" (a name that was dropped after 1989), which was included inside the packaging. The sheets originally came in a format slightly larger than a playing card and could be folded out horizontally, printed on both sides. The instruction sheet for larger toys additionally also had to be folded out vertically. Carded [[combiner]] team members also came with additional instruction sheets, printed on a small, heavily-folded sheet of paper, which showed how to convert all of them into their combined mode. Boxed team members simply had the same line art for the gestalt assembly printed on the back of their instruction sheets. Combiner giftsets had all instructions on one single sheet. | ||
Starting in 1985, all new toys stopped using photos for their instructions, now using black and white line art depictions of the toys instead, with two-tone color shading to clarify which part was to be moved. Typically, Autobot toys featured gray and red highlights, whereas Decepticons were color-coded gray and purple. In subsequent years, the shading was limited to a single color, and the overall was reduced to the most necessary minimum. [[Micromaster]] Patrol four-packs also introduced alternate colors for highlighted parts that weren't directly faction-related. The [[Micromaster Combiner]] Squads and the [[Action Master]] single packs from 1990 even omitted highlight colors entirely, only featuring only black and white line art with red arrows indicating movement | Starting in 1985, all new toys stopped using photos for their instructions, now using black and white line art depictions of the toys instead, with two-tone color shading to clarify which part was to be moved. Typically, Autobot toys featured gray and red highlights, whereas Decepticons were color-coded gray and purple. In subsequent years, the shading was limited to a single color, and the overall was reduced to the most necessary minimum. [[Micromaster]] Patrol four-packs also introduced alternate colors for highlighted parts that weren't directly faction-related. The [[Micromaster Combiner]] Squads and the [[Action Master]] single packs from 1990 even omitted highlight colors entirely, only featuring only black and white line art with red arrows indicating movement. | ||
All the ''Generation 1'' toys included a verbal description of the action to be taken ("Grasp rear section of [[Blades (G1)|helicopter]] and extend back"), in addition to the visual illustration. With weapons in place and arms swung forward, the instructions would note in congratulatory fashion that "Blades is now ready to battle the evil Decepticons!" Canadian Generation 1 toys featured text descriptions in both English and French, which resulted in somewhat cluttered spaces. Toys released by Hasbro in Europe, meanwhile, featured a drastically reduced amount of verbal instructions depending on how many different languages the instructions had to cover—the more alternate languages in the same instructions, the less text the instructions featured. Many European exclusive tail-end generation 1 toys and all European Generation 2 toys even omitted verbal descriptions from their instructions altogether. | All the ''Generation 1'' toys included a verbal description of the action to be taken ("Grasp rear section of [[Blades (G1)|helicopter]] and extend back"), in addition to the visual illustration. With weapons in place and arms swung forward, the instructions would note in congratulatory fashion that "Blades is now ready to battle the evil Decepticons!" Canadian Generation 1 toys featured text descriptions in both English and French, which resulted in somewhat cluttered spaces. Toys released by Hasbro in Europe, meanwhile, featured a drastically reduced amount of verbal instructions depending on how many different languages the instructions had to cover—the more alternate languages in the same instructions, the less text the instructions featured. Many European exclusive tail-end generation 1 toys and all European Generation 2 toys even omitted verbal descriptions from their instructions altogether. | ||
Revision as of 10:46, 5 October 2009
| This article is about my second version which combines the original version and my own first version.. For my first version, see User:Nevermore/Sandbox/old. |
All Transformers toys that can be transformed converted between different modes come with instructions. Usually, those are included in the form of a sheet of paper (once called "instruction booklet"); however, some smaller toys have them printed on the back of their packaging instead (usually only for toys that come packaged on blister cards).
Instructions always give visual directions for how to convert the toy between its different modes and, if applicable, how to use its gimmicks and action features, either in the form or photos of the toy itself (or a prototype) or simplified line artwork. Additional text explanations were common in the early days of the brand, but have since been dropped at least as far as Hasbro's market is concerned.
If the toy includes loose accessories, the instructions will also depict the entire content of the package.
Generation 1
All toys from Hasbro's 1984 Generation 1 line-up used full-color photos of the toys themselves to illustrate their instructions, with little arrows pointing out the required parts movements for the individual transformation steps. The toys used were actually either prototypes or recycled Diaclone or Micro Change production toys. This is most evident in the case of Bluestreak, whose instructions depict him in the infamous blue and silver Diaclone color scheme, whereas the actual Transformers toy is entirely silver and sports a different deco. These instructions were later recycled when some of these toys were reissued by Hasbro in Europe as part of the "Classics" line in 1990 and 1991.
The Mini-Cars/Mini-Vehicles and the Mini-Cassette two-packs featured instructions printed on the back of their blister cards, as did smaller toys from later years that also came packaged on cards. All the toys that came packaged in boxes, meanwhile, featured their instructions printed on a sheet of paper, officially called an "Instruction Booklet" (a name that was dropped after 1989), which was included inside the packaging. The sheets originally came in a format slightly larger than a playing card and could be folded out horizontally, printed on both sides. The instruction sheet for larger toys additionally also had to be folded out vertically. Carded combiner team members also came with additional instruction sheets, printed on a small, heavily-folded sheet of paper, which showed how to convert all of them into their combined mode. Boxed team members simply had the same line art for the gestalt assembly printed on the back of their instruction sheets. Combiner giftsets had all instructions on one single sheet.
Starting in 1985, all new toys stopped using photos for their instructions, now using black and white line art depictions of the toys instead, with two-tone color shading to clarify which part was to be moved. Typically, Autobot toys featured gray and red highlights, whereas Decepticons were color-coded gray and purple. In subsequent years, the shading was limited to a single color, and the overall was reduced to the most necessary minimum. Micromaster Patrol four-packs also introduced alternate colors for highlighted parts that weren't directly faction-related. The Micromaster Combiner Squads and the Action Master single packs from 1990 even omitted highlight colors entirely, only featuring only black and white line art with red arrows indicating movement.
All the Generation 1 toys included a verbal description of the action to be taken ("Grasp rear section of helicopter and extend back"), in addition to the visual illustration. With weapons in place and arms swung forward, the instructions would note in congratulatory fashion that "Blades is now ready to battle the evil Decepticons!" Canadian Generation 1 toys featured text descriptions in both English and French, which resulted in somewhat cluttered spaces. Toys released by Hasbro in Europe, meanwhile, featured a drastically reduced amount of verbal instructions depending on how many different languages the instructions had to cover—the more alternate languages in the same instructions, the less text the instructions featured. Many European exclusive tail-end generation 1 toys and all European Generation 2 toys even omitted verbal descriptions from their instructions altogether.
Generation 1 instruction booklets featured a "main" image of the character on their outermost fold as some kind of "cover" art. In 1984, this was a recycled version of the toy's package art; starting in 1985, the "cover" image also changed to line art, but the nature of this art would vary widely: Sometimes it was a simplified line art reproduction of the package art, or a slight variation thereof; other times, it was a straightforward line drawing of the toy; and in other cases, it was a unique composition, showing an articulated interpretation of the toy, or occasionally a different design altogether. These variations appeared with little regard to toy assortment or sub-line. For example, Snapdragon's instructions feature line art of his toy, while his case-mate, fellow Horrorcon Apeface, has a line version of his box art.
-
1984 instructions featured the toy's package art. -
1985 instructions featured line art based on the package art. Tracks is in a slightly different pose than his final box art. -
Much of 1986 had straighforward line drawings of the toys. -
1987 was marked by line drawings of the toys, but in poses the toys themselves couldn't achieve. -
1988: Nightbeat uses his head lasers for the first (and almost last) time ever. -
1988: the Pretenders got a double cover panel. The first wave Pretenders had straight line art of the toys... -
...while the second wave got more of a character interpretation, with posing and altered proportions. -
1989: Hot House is so important that he isn't even in the art!
Generation 2
Generation 2 changed very little on the instruction booklet format. Toys that came on genuine blister cards still had their instructions printed on the back of their cards while boxed toys had their instructions printed on the usual separate sheet. Some larger toys, however, came in clam-shells with cardbacks which were unique tho the Generation 2 line. Like their boxed brethren, these toys also included separate instruction sheets.
The instructions themselves continued to use line drawings with additional written instructions, and the established wide variety of different-natured line drawings for their "cover" images. The quality of the cover art, however, took a sudden nosedive as the line neared its end.
-
1994: Laser Optimus Prime has tidy art based on his toy... -
...while Combat Megatron has a character interpretation. -
1995: Hooligan's art is not only terrible, but he's not even transformed correctly.
Beast era
Beast Wars continued to use line drawings of the toys with two-tone shading. The line art is often simplistic and somewhat crude, however, making it hard to follow at times—particularly as the toys became more and more intricate.
Carded toys (Basic and Deluxe) had their instructions printed on the cardback, similar to the smaller toys of Generation 1; boxed toys (Mega and larger) came with a booklet.
Early Beast Machines toys also used toy line art, at about the same level of quality and detail as Beast Wars. Later in the franchise's run, however, the line art was replaced by photographic images of the toys themselves, rendered in white and gray.
Robots in Disguise
Toy instructions from the Robots in Disguise line used line art, but at a much greater level of accuracy and detail than the Beast Era drawings.
Disclaimers and other text on these instruction sheets were trilingual. Perhaps related to that, Robots in Disguise was the first line to omit previous series' verbal instructions for transforming the toy, instead relying solely on the images to provide the information. This has become the standard, as no franchise since has provided verbal instructions.
Unicron Trilogy
Armada, Energon and Cybertron continued the use of higher quality line art (though ironically, the toys became much simpler to transform). With the corresponding proliferation of electronics during the Armada franchise, much of the instruction sheet was taken up by warnings and legal declarations regarding the batteries.
Pressed for space by the requisite trilingual packaging, even smaller toys like the Mini-Cons and Scout class toys began to get their own instruction sheets. Instruction sheet notes continued to be trilingual for Armada and Energon.
Cybertron saw a switch from two-sided sheets, to one-sided; in the US, the instructions were noted only in English. The same pattern -- line art, single-sided, booklet for all sizes -- was used for Alternators and Classics.
Movie and beyond
The Movie franchise toys continued to use one-sided sheets with detailed line art, but replaced the line art "main" image with gray-scaled stock photos of airbrushed toy prototypes. This remained unchanged for the Animated, Universe and Revenge of the Fallen lines, with only the background image the stock photos were super-imposed over changing with each line. US editions are in English only.
Problems with modern-day instructions
As the toys became more complex, Hasbro's instructions became less and less helpful. In some cases, they are unclear on vital steps or even skip steps entirely. For example, when Movie Voyager Class Starscream's instructions try to show how to flip out the legs, which are located on the underside of the jet mode/back of the robot body... the line art constantly shows a top view of the jet/frontal view of the robot body—in other words, the important steps occur on the opposite side of the body as opposed to the one the reader is looking at. [more examples needed]
Furthermore, in some cases the line art is based on early prototypes and depicts steps that aren't possible with the final toys, as some transformation steps, joints and features still present on the prototypes have been gutted for budget reasons. For example, Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Starscream's instructions depict the forearm cannons in a position where they are moved forward when illustrating the push-button missile firing gimmick, even though the cannons are molded in place on the actual toy.[more examples needed]
In the case of retools, Hasbro often fail to properly address the changes in the line artwork used for the instructions for those toys. For example, the instructions for Alternators Battle Ravage, a retool of Autobot Tracks, reflect the change from Tracks's hardtop Chevrolet Corvette to Battle Ravage's convertible model, but still depict the original Tracks head sculpt instead of the new Ravage head. An even worse example is Universe Sideswipe, a retool of Universe Sunstreaker, who not only sports a different head sculpt, but also uses a slightly different transformation scheme, with the upper torso rotated by 180 degrees as compared to Sunstreaker. Neither difference is reflected in the instructions' line art, which is simply recycled from Sunstreaker's instructions.
Trivia
- With the second wave of the 2008 Universe line, Hasbro changed multi-language text blurbs such as "Change to robot" in their European instructions from mixed case to upper case. Somehow, however, a weird error sneaked its way in: The Greek version of "Change to robot", previously correctly rendered as "Αλλαγή σε Ρομποτ" in mixed case, was changed to "ΑΛΛΑΓΗ ΣΕ ΚΑΤΑΠΕΛΤΗ" in uppercase... which translates as "Change to catapult".
