First Transformers

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Revision as of 18:57, 31 January 2018 by NewtypeS3 (talk | contribs) (Well, Jet totally showed up in a Kre-O comic.)
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This looks cooler upside-down.

First Transformers (ぼくのトランスフォーマー Boku no Toransufōmā, "My Transformer") is a Transformers toyline initially produced in 1986. It was the first Transformers line specifically aimed at "1-3-year-olds", demographic younger than the standard "5 and up" target age group. Its toys have their own cute, rounded faction symbol that is called Cybertron Jr.

Neither the characters nor the symbol have ever appeared in any fiction... until 2013, where Jet-kun made an appearance in one of the Kre-O comics. Since the Optimus and Malignus finally did so in mid-2008, it's only a matter of time before Dump and Racer also show up...

The concept of the line would later be revived in the 1-2-3 Transformers toys marketed through Hasbro's Tonka brand.

Toyline

Playskool released 3 unnamed First Transformers toys in the United States in 1986: a race car, a dump truck and an airplane. In 1987, these 3 toys were released in Japan, now called Racer-kun, Dump-kun and Jet-kun. ("-kun" is an affectionate/diminutive Japanese suffix commonly applied to names given to young males.) All three were released in the US again in 1993 with various new decos and retooled parts, but still without names. Another curious point of difference is that the original toys were recommended for "ages 1-3", while the reissues were targeted for "ages 2 & up".