Not long ago, J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias), one of the executive producers/directors, are in talks with Hasbro making a live-action film based on the Microman series. Hasbro bought the license over the 70’s classic series as it was part of the company’s long term strategy which lead to its phenomenal debut of Transformers G1 in the 80s, thanks to Takara’s (blessed) efforts in expanding Microman product lines into this range of vehicle-transforming robots called Diaclone series.
After reading their article, I decided (with plenty of enthusiastic reasons) to go online and research further what made Microman such a hit in the late 70s….
And here’s what I encountered!
Microman series 1976-1980
From the look of this video, it consolidates all the great Microman commercial series, showcasing all the different models were made during that 4-5 year tenure. Here are some of them.
Microman Vintage Commercial – One
Microman Vintage Commercial – Two
Microman Vintage Commericial – Three
Later on, Takara,( its original company name before being rebranded as TakaraTomy) saw its Microman toylines’ potential to expand them, and eventually created an entirely new brand of toylines called the Diaclones, which are the shape-shifting miniatures that can disguise themselves into any toy vehicles ie cars, devices, airplanes, trucks etc.
Aka that’s how Transformers G1 series was born.
Here’s a couple of interesting early making of Transformers.
First Jazz Appearance
First Optimus Prime Appearance
First Dinobot Appearance
So, there you have it. Plenty of history going on here behind these vintage Japanese TV ads and how Transformers’ evolution gotten here.
Rest assured I’m certainly looking forward to watch Transformers G1’s predecessor in the big screen!!
Was reading this post at Coolest Gadgets.com. If you really like Transformers 2 after watching it, you can have this awesome 4 Gig USB memory stick selling for about USD $30.00. Something that’s just been released this month. It comes with a shape of the Autobots’ ensignia and its usb head piece is just the forehead of the Autobot forehead.
This is not really ‘new’ news. It’s been out for quite some time (more like 9 days ago) as I read from this Transformers 2 Facebook fan page. Been busy with work at my new workplace for the past week.
A couple good prices offer from Amazon and Ebay.
It comes with two disc special edition. It has about 9 discs in total vs the single edition which has 14 discs in total. Both of them come at a price of USD $39.99, but Amazon now offers a slash price of 45% discount (USD $21.99), which is a good buy to have. Comes with either in blue ray or dvd.
Not too sure how long will they arrive in New Zealand stores. But I’m keen to get these so I think I’m going to get them online within the next few days.
Are you looking forward to getting your copy of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen?
One of my favourites (or everybody favourites, if you lived through the 80s) of all time. It was one of my first favourite mecha shows to watch other than Macross.
Who would have thought this long-line of Japanese toys made by Takara (aka Takara Tomy as of 2006) were reused or rehashed in this cartoon version that everybody get so much craving for? Having to learned that Takara’s toylines range Diaclone and Microman series were scooped up by Americans when American toy maker Hasbro came to see Takara at the Tokyo Toy Show in 1983. They were keen to have their toylines range because they were impressed how their scale models were designed to include humanoid figures to sit/drive in them and they’re able to transform into humanoid forms. Since Hasbro bought the rights to their product lines, the company and its key people began their marketing heavily on these as one major toy line range, hence the name “Transformers†was born. So what this evolution possible?
What started was that Takara made Microman toylines that were based on one of Japanese cyborg anime series called Henshin-Cyborg 1. The series’ popularity spawned many of these 3-inch cyborg models are that tiny many kids grew to like them so Takara made one of many great commercials on these such as below.
After its success, Takara made another spin-off of Microman series (using the same toy design development) which you have miniature size vehicles that are transformable into humanoid figures. Since then, Takara had made a number of Diaclone TV commercials in the early 80s such as this (featuring Optimus Prime in its formative days).
There are a number of countless Diaclone commercials featuring other familiar Transformers characters such as Ironhide, Ratchet, Bumble Bee just to name a few. And that’s probably the reason why Hasbro made a wise decision to have them and reinvented them into a branch so people in my generations would never forget how and why it was considered as one of the great childhood cartoon stories that’s ever produced of all time.
Henceforth, Hasbro decided to give us two distinctive factions.
Autobots Logo
Decepticon Logo
The story sets in a far away distant planet called Cybertron, and the two forces are battling out for the greater control of the planet. Autobots were fighting for peace and justice whilst Decepticons sought for power, domination and control. The battle was fought for many millennia. Several millennia later, the Autobots wanted to come up with an ultimate strategy that will end the war with Decepticons. They want to start the space exploration to find raw source of energy that will help them accomplish that goal. However, little did they aware, the plans were eavesdropped by Decepticons and so Decepticons decided to ‘join’ the exploration in their own space ship as well. Soon, once both of them caught up with each other, the intense fight took up in the Autobot spaceship. Next few brief moments, their spaceships made a collision course into the Earth’s stratosphere and Autobots crash-landed onto a volcano. All of them remained lifeless.
Four million years later, they were revived again as new technologies were invented. And Autobots and Decepticons learned to adapt the Earth’s environment and began to transforming into all sort of vehicles. Later in the series, the battle between the two forces ensues and once again the war of the Transformers resumes…
They are two great leaders of the two factions.
We have Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, seen as very honourable, compassionate, strong, pragmatic, possess strong leadership qualities and a very wise leader.
Then we have Megatron, Leader of the Decepticons, leader of the Decepticons, seen as the tyrant, vile, cunning, evil, greed for power and seeks for interplanetary domination with the final quest of eradicating all the Autobots in all galaxies, starting from our solar system.
And then you have the Autobots and Decepticons teams who follow their respective leaders, all of them share one purposeful goal of winning the Transformers war. With an impressive cast of characters, we see a large array of Autobots and Decepticons, each has a unique characteristics when they transform from robot mode into humanoid mode and vice versa.
Autobots
Dinobots
Aerialbots
Decepticons
Insecticons
Constructicons
Combaticons
Since the series ran for 98-successful episodes between 1984 and 1987, numerous toy production lines came out from the series and many new Transformers series came out such as Headmasters, Beast Wars, Machine Wars, Robots in Disguise etc etc. Transformers franchise really became a serious hit for many kids around that time and they just flocked to their toy stores like crazy buzzy bees sucking out all the last boxes of Transformers toylines to bring them home. I was like that one of them. All of the Generation Mechs were, I’m sure.
Transformer’s popularity was its raw power of attraction that has kept people for talking about it for years and generations, even after the series ended. And now we have several websites that are dedicated to these such as Transformers.com (by Hasbro), IDW Publishing, TransformersClub.com, Botcon.com and several other unofficial fansites more to come.
We’ve seen the two latest Transformers movies that’s recently came out towards the end of first decade of 2000 since Transformers: The Movie back in 1986.
And to remind ourselves that have seen Transformers G1 and recall those four seasons of episodes, here are their intros. (If you haven’t, then sit back, relax and watch the intros and I would put a recommended suggestion you get its DVD/Blue ray release.
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
I remembered after the entire series ended at its fourth season, the continuity of Transformers saga went on but it was divided into a couple of streams, and one of them was produced in Japan, where they gave us The Headmasters, Super-god Masterforce, Victory and Zone. They were broadcast mostly in Japan/Asia in the later years. Looks like I have another Transformers subcategory to write into my list of mecha chronology. It’s going to be a long while.
In the meantime, let’s us rejoice the fact what is to one of the best childhood cartoon series that’s ever produced, throughout our lives. For the past, the present and the future. And it’s all thanks to this one little figurine that turn Takara’s and Hasbro’s imaginations into a reality. A reality that results in achieving incredible scale of critical success to its franchise.
It was one particular night last Tuesday.  And I was just tweaking my Twitter setup and there’s this twitter follower by the name of  ’The Obedient Robot’.  He’s got a blog of his own apparently.  Clearly, his blog theme is everything but robot inside and out, after I checked his link.
As I scrolled down, I stumbled upon a funny Youtube video about a decepticon that know how to breakdance so well, like any ordinary good breakdancer would normally do! Â Check his groovy moves!!
And when you’re done with that, check out this other funny Transformers dance video by the leader of the Autobots! Optimus Prime! A complete parody of the Evolution Dance video (viewed as the greatest Youtube viewing numbers of all time)!
I would just imagine if this one comes available in the Dance Evolution games series…. ^^
Ha! Like I wish! Given the fact I couldn’t afford it after looking at these many zeros in its price figure. Seriously, this would be a very nice collection to add, if you’re into hot cars of all sorts. Or in my case… Transformers cars. :)
And what better way to own one is to have this cool looking Transformer action figure that TakaraTomy has been busy working on since Tranformers: ROTF movie release not long ago.
Optimus Prime Alternity
After I read the link from DannyChoo.com and reading the amazing power on the actual car’s specs, I learnt how they did an amazing paint job of reconstructing Optimus Prime from cab-over fire truck into one of the hottest sports car on the planet (Bumble bee is not the only one that gets all the glitz and glamour being a Camero!). The aesthetics, the body parts, the arms, the legs. And especially his distinguishable face. How incredible is that!
Takara Tormy explains the reason for this design is to offer another dimension of the Transformers toyline ‘universe’, if that you may accurately call it. Cause after all, Transformers franchise has gotten several changes and (ironically enough) transformations over the past 2 decades with many versions of production toylines under different names since Transformers G1’s debut in USA and Japan such as the Pretenders and Micromasters. And now Alternity is one of the newer ones they have for a while now.
Apparently, you can purchase these online from HobbyLink.Japan for about 4500 Yen (USD $48.55). And it’s available in two colours, silver and black at the same size. They are other online stores you can get from as well, but of course prices do vary a lot depending on which supplier you’re going with and how good their services are.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s business article (which published a few days ago), Hasbro Inc is expectantly to earn huge sales margins with its frontlines toys of Transformers, thanks to the success of the Transformers sequel, “Transformers 2″. Turned out to be a such a huge crowd of many people of all ages and races, that the movie succeeded making USD $607 million so far, up till 6th July 2009. Market analysts said this would be biggest drawcard for Hasbro in a long while since the heydays of merchandising on Transformers: The Movie 25 years ago. They also predicted this movie will surpass their previous score of $482 in the previous Transformers prequel greater. Ultimately, this in turn makes excellent progress for the toymaker to continue making strong sales growth over its frontline of Transformers without much fail. According to the marketwatchers, they confidently believe Hasbro sales would exceed $500 million.
With the lastest box office rankings (along with their revenue potential)Â shown here, it’s hard to see the reason why Hasbro couldn’t reach their goals smoothly.
North American top 10, 3-5 July 2009
1. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, $42.5m. Total: $67.5m
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, $42.5m. Total: $293.5m
3. Public Enemies, $26.2m. Total: $41m
4. The Proposal, $12.8m. Total: $94.2m
5. The Hangover, $10.4m. Total: $204.2m
6. Up, $6.6m. Total: $264.9m
7. My Sister’s Keeper, $5.3m. Total: $25.9m
8. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, $2.5m. Total: $58.5m
9. Year One, $2.1m. Total: $38.1m
10. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, $2.1m. Total: $167.8m
Though that may be case for many children of all ages enjoying these toylines Hasbro promised, I personally couldn’t like them. Because they are actually more difficult to transform into robot mode or vice versa. The steps involved in transforming were way too confusing. Seriously, I got myself a Transformer Bumble Bee from the movie and it took me at least 30 minutes to get the Camero into a fully working functional robot without having to break it apart (and rejoin them). Â That sure was considerable stress to me! I never recall any Hasbro Transformers toy to be this complex to fold and unfold the arms and legs into 8 different directions, whereas in the good ole days, toys only needed one way to transform things.
Ah… The good ole days. Â Just like this Youtube footage where this chap has this massive collection of all the 80’s Transformers G1 collection over the years in his bedroom. Â When I mean all, I do mean all. Â Check it out.
Really super impressive. I would love to have the same desires and passion as the guy does when it comes to toy collection. Which sadly at this point of my life, I couldn’t afford them due to priorities in life like work, career, travel etc. Maybe not now. Perhaps someday.
Nevertheless, it’s good to find passionate people out there who’s into this as much as I am. Also, be sure to check out Robot-Japan.com, where a father of two also keeps a collection on all his robot toys that spans over the last three decades of mecha anime boom and he’s selling them online through e-bay selling.
Well… Actually it’s on since yesterday, according to our New Zealand time (our current date is 25th June at the time of writing). And many people lining up to watch the film in cinema complexes over the country, and you would expect to see long and massive queues just pilling up at every corner of the cinema entrance, teenage kids screaming hard out at their parents, begging them to watch the must-see-film of the year. One long queue after the other. Rest assured, even late night session would be sold out by now. So think twice before you head down to the theatre and finding yourself dumbstruck to be left stranded in the cinema complex.
Sources indicated to me that the film went very well. I checked out on Facebook and I saw many avid fan’s profile status written with their excellent comments of the film. And reading this link on Hollywoodinsider.com, it sure is very promising to hear, considering the common notion of how sequels notoriously have the potential to be a greater flop than the original films. And (this is me) on a more personal level, sequels are worth to make if they can come up with something new and refreshing that the original do not have. I’m thinking if Transformers 2 were anything like how Terminator 2 pull off their massive results those 20 years ago, that would be definitely make my day!(or night) And I’m planning to watch tomorrow night with some friends. Can’t hardly wait! We’ll see it…
In meantime, here’s a couple of postive online reviews below by movie critiques that were submitted less than 24 hours since its debut in other parts of the world, I love to share. Very insightful comment, especially one of the critiques was saying something about GM’s concept Camero car (and others) put into its final promotional spin before the company’s going out with a big bang.
Now that Transformers 2 is edging closer and closer to reach our cinemas in New Zealand (and the rest of the world) I decided to take stroll into one of our busiest shopping centres in town, and wondering if there’s any good merchandising sales on Transformers. You would normally expect advertising companies will be promoting all of Hasbro’s Autobot/Decepticons characters in every shape or form such as video games, apparel clothing, toys, mugs, stationery etc some weeks prior to the official date release of the film. And sure enough there’s plenty to go around when shopping.
And today I got myself a couple of neat men’s Transformers-themed apparel, here!
Transformers T-Shirt in Red
Transformers Apparel with a hoodie
I was excited to have them after putting them on, making sure the sizes do fit well for me. Â And they sure do. Â It’s very refreshing to find that they bringing back the good old days of Transformers G1 when it was such a boon and everybody at the time were so hooked watching them and every kid would just go to the stores and buy all the Transformers toylines manufactured straight off by Takara they could get their hands on. Â And now, over 20 years later, the history somewhat repeats itself and we see the return of their major toylines in many toystores worldwide but this time it’s catching up well with 21st century modern trends and fashion very well, such as these. Â Check out their amazing embroidery of these clothes.
I’m so gonna enjoy wearing them on the night the film is released. :) Â Autobots, roll out!!
I went to one of those novelty fashion shops, minding my own business while browsing for any suitable clothing that fits my taste of fashion, which normally falls under the category of being out-of-ordinary or strikingly sophisticated. But I fear this shop doesn’t have anything like that so I knew I was going to turn my head around, looking for for the exit sign.
But before I even turned my head at a full 90 degree clockwise direction, something did capture my attention and my eyes could not stop staring the full 30 seconds. And there it was.
The Transformers Tees…
(Apologies for the picture quality. These photos were taken straight from my Samsung cameraphone. I was gonna try to adjust the contrast/brightness better to take a couple more shots. However, a salesgirl stopped me from taking them further… Apparently, taking photos in a public merchandise store is a straight violation to their store policy. I don’t know the precise details of the reason(I didn’t ask) but I believe they’re were thinking I’m planning to do something illegal trading with these, thus creating bad retail competition. Or to be put it more accurately, black market. Fair enough…)
They are incredibly cool. I just love the fitnesse and fabric designs of these t-shirts. Especially with this one, to start off with.
Optimus Prime T-shirt
It’s one of those casual trendy shirts where you have large emblem drawn in the background with an animal symbol sitting in the middle usually an eagle, bear, lion (Think Harley Davidson’s Logo). But in this case, we know have our brave fearless leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, taking centre stage, wielding his weapon upclose and standing very strong and bold. And it’s got the Autobots insignia below him and a great background that comes with flowery patterns as if they’re inspired from an Olympic flag. Totally awesome. I really wish I had the chance to buy these as well as the other two below.
Transformers T-shirts with Autobots andDecepticons emblems
Transformers T-shirt with Autobots emblem
I could have taken another shot for the other shirt with Decepticons insignia. But no. I was stopped short cause I was caught red-handed by the sales girl and she warned me to stop taking more photos with them. Bugger!!
Oh well. At least, I did get away with having these amazing shots. And with the upcoming Transformers 2 movie going to be released less than 8 days time, I think I might as well grab one. :)
They’re currently selling at a retail price around NZD $25.00 (that’s in USD $15.50).
