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What Are Toy Transformers?

"Transformers" are a line of action figures launched by the Hasbro company in the mid-1980s. They've been supported ever since with subsequent releases; in 2011, "Transformers" are well-recognized toys. The concept behind these toys is "robots in disguise." Each figure is able to shift between a humanoid robot form and a vehicle form with only basic manipulation from the user. "Transformers" toys have been featured in various cartoon shows and movie releases.
  1. History

    • The origins of the "Transformers" brand lie in Japan, where the toy company Hasbro purchased the rights to various toy robot brands in the early 1970s. They united these brands into the concept of "Transformers." Both the first toy line and the original TV cartoon were launched in 1974, with the toy series including the now-popular robots Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. Adaptations and new lines of toys soon followed, along with an animated movie in 1986 and live-action films in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

    Figure Adaptations

    • Since the launch of the first set of "Transformers" toys, Hasbro has not rested on its laurels; the new toy lines have expanded the concept through adaptations and new features. In the 1980s, Hasbro released battery-operated "Transformers" such as Omega Supreme, a robot that could walk and light up when fitted with batteries. "Constructicons" were also released. These robots were tiny, but could be put together to create a larger toy. The "Powermaster" line, meanwhile, contained special features only accessible via the use of a smaller robot toy. In the 1990s, Hasbro launched color-change figures, which contained parts that reacted to water to display wear and tear.

    Figure Lines

    • The first few "Transformers" lines are known as generations one and two. These ran from 1984 to 1990 and from 1992 to 1995, respectively. These initial collections included many characters now recognizable thanks to their appearances in the live-action Hollywood movies, such as Starscream and Megatron, along with lesser-known robots such as Bruticus, Superion and Scorponok. Generation two featured characters from the original line, but in new forms. Later in the 1990s, Hasbro expanded the "Transformers" concept to include "Beast Wars" -- robots that turned into animals or dinosaurs. In 2002, they launched "Armada," a set that featured the Unicron character from the 1980s animated movie.

    Significance

    • The "Transformers" lines have had a profound effect on action figures; their transformation abilities have inspired toy designers to further consider interactivity. The release of the "Transformers" live-action movies in the 2000s helped to galvanize sales of "Transformers" toy products. The second live-action film boosted 2009 figure sales in China by up to 90 percent, as reported by the China Daily website.


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