The History of Transforming Robots! (abridged)

[Dave McFly]

True, i have i think Deluxe Bumblebee from the last movie, regular and the Premium one (the ones that had painted car bodies, and a redone head with the 'battle mask' deployed). I have Premium BB in bot mode and regular in car mode. I thought it was funny that the 8 dollar BB was more movie accurate in both robot mode and transformation than the 100 dollar 'Ultimate' one that i am glad i passed on . As for the Leader Prime from ROTF, whoever designed him is freaking brilliant, if you look at him in robot mode you cannot even TELL he transforms into a truck and vice-versa, plus the switch blade 'energy blades' that store in his arm are a VERY nice touch !

[The Lizard]

I still say the Human Alliance Bumblebee is the best version of that character. Unfortunately the other Human Alliance TFs aren't as good. Skids and Mudflap are pretty movie-accurate, but of course I hate their movie designs to begin with.

The recently-released pics of the upcoming Human Alliance Barricade were quite disappointing...



Bumblebee is still the best HA toy by far.

[The Lizard]

More custom collectors companies are getting into the act and designing their own transforming robots, as seen here with the 2009 "RoboBus"...

[vm-01]

Excellent thread! I just joined beacuse of it.

I remember a series from my childhood where a ship or jet actually broke into several pieces, then a computer generated blueprint appeared and the pieces would arrange themselves around it forming a giant robot. I do not think it was included and I think it should. And I would like to know what it was called.

[Damien Rage]

Originally Posted by sto_vo_kor_2000

Loven this thread.

I got a question for you.

Do you recognize these robots???

This (the ship) kinda reminds me of The Pheonix from Gatchaman. The villain (Zoltar?) was some evil intergalactic drag queen? Ok no, but he wore pink lip gloss. lol. Correct me if I'm wrong on names. But I think was called G-Force in the US. The 70's were a long time ago.

[vm-01]

Originally Posted by vm-01

Excellent thread! I just joined beacuse of it.

I remember a series from my childhood where a ship or jet actually broke into several pieces, then a computer generated blueprint appeared and the pieces would arrange themselves around it forming a giant robot. I do not think it was included and I think it should. And I would like to know what it was called.

I finally found out what series it was. It is called "Laserion". But I knew it as "el super laser".

[Bebop Cowboy]

Today's date is 9 June 2011. I just found this thread. Lizard this is an absolutely amazing thread and you should be commended for putting this together. How..I'm not sure, but I knew the Transformers were put together from different lines but I didn't know where from. Thanks for all the information and reminding me of all my favourite toys I had when I was a kid... man I wish I knew what happened to them.

As a child I had several of the small die-cast metal Collector's Shogun toys Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger and Getter Robo from memory. I had no idea of their origins unlike my Masters of the Universe toys that provided a comic. As a kid I had them an was unaware of what their significance was at the time. Man I wish I still had them.

Then I got a large die-cast toy which I had no ida what it was from my grandparents for Christmas one year. It was my favourite but I lost it soon after and was devatsated. I now know it was Daltanious but it was just a joy to have it. The detail on these toys far out weighed anything else I had in my toybox.

This thread not only gave me so much info but brought back child hood memories and makes me wish I had a time machine to go back and buy all of the awesomeness.

Thanks again Lizard!

[The Lizard]

Originally Posted by Bebop Cowboy

Today's date is 9 June 2011. I just found this thread. Lizard this is an absolutely amazing thread and you should be commended for putting this together. How..I'm not sure, but I knew the Transformers were put together from different lines but I didn't know where from. Thanks for all the information and reminding me of all my favourite toys I had when I was a kid... man I wish I knew what happened to them.

As a child I had several of the small die-cast metal Collector's Shogun toys Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger and Getter Robo from memory. I had no idea of their origins unlike my Masters of the Universe toys that provided a comic. As a kid I had them an was unaware of what their significance was at the time. Man I wish I still had them.

Then I got a large die-cast toy which I had no ida what it was from my grandparents for Christmas one year. It was my favourite but I lost it soon after and was devatsated. I now know it was Daltanious but it was just a joy to have it. The detail on these toys far out weighed anything else I had in my toybox.

This thread not only gave me so much info but brought back child hood memories and makes me wish I had a time machine to go back and buy all of the awesomeness.

Thanks again Lizard!

Thanks for the kind words! I honestly wasn't sure if this thread was still around or not. It probably belongs in a general TF toy thread or something. Glad there are people out there still enjoying it.

[sto_vo_kor_2000]

Originally Posted by Damien Rage

This (the ship) kinda reminds me of The Pheonix from Gatchaman. The villain (Zoltar?) was some evil intergalactic drag queen? Ok no, but he wore pink lip gloss. lol. Correct me if I'm wrong on names. But I think was called G-Force in the US. The 70's were a long time ago.

The original english dub was called "Battle of the Planets" [1978].the team was called G-Force.

A number of years later [1986] they did a 2nd english dub, trying to stay closer to the original scripts, they called that showG-Force: Guardians of Space.

[Rodimus_2316]

Does anyone have, or know where I could find, all the Transformers Generation 2 toy catalogs? I think they were released by each "wave" of each year, when I saw them online last years ago, but lost the link, and can't find them in a google-search. In my google-search for it, however, I ran into this thread, and saw other posted Transformers catalogs. Also, all the G1 mail-order catalogs of each year would be nice, as well as info on when they all (G2 also) were released, precisely.

Thanks in advance.

[johnn34]

Thank for sharing I learned something from this. I watched Tetsujin 28 when I was kid…I like robots which are based on Japanese cartoons.


__________________________________________

Japanese Cartoons

[The Lizard]

Been a while since I've been here, but I feel the need to update this thread with the last couple years releases in the awesome Transformers Masterpiece series:

Early 2011 (Japan release, US release late 2011) - MP-9 Hot Rod/ Rodimus Prime:



2011 (Japan release, US release 2012)- MP-10 Optimus Prime, rescaled and resculpted:



Late 2011 (Japan release, Released in US in 2012 as Thundercracker color scheme) - MP-11 Starscream, resculpted with improved leg transformation:




2012 (Japan release) - MP-12 Sideswipe (AKA: Lambor)



Coming soon, scheduled end of 2012 (Japan release) - MP-13 Soundwave w/ Laserbeak, other cassette minions released in early 2013:



Great stuff, eh? Good to see the TF toy line continuing on with quality in Japan, regardless of what we see happening with the movie toys in the US.

[KyleStark]

Lizard this is a good history lesson..... I am going to research even more cause I am a transformer fan.... might try to find these and get off ebay

[Goldenage]

Nice thread..however it should be noted that the first transforming robot was actually the precursor to G1 Sunstreaker. In 1974 Takara registered the patent for the Microman Cosmo-Countach. It was a sentaur-like version of Sunstreaker...robot upper body, car lower body. http://www.kaikodo.net/by4/653.html

[G1er]

Originally Posted by The Lizard

VI. Transformers Beginnings

Now we come to the point in the history of the actual Transformers toys that many TF fans might be familiar with. Let's start at the beginning and bring things up to speed with a quick timeline:

1964 - US toy company Hasbro introduces the 12 inch tall soldier doll "G.I. Joe"

1970 - G.I. Joe brought to Japan and sold by Takara toy company as "Combat Joe"

1971 - Takara releases Combat Joe dolls with superhero costumes and sci-fi themes and accessories (a concept similar to the Captain Action doll from the 1960s)

1972 - Takara introduces the "Henshin Cyborg", a 12 inch Combat Joe spin-off doll with clear robot body parts and a metallic head

Henshin Cyborgs with G.I. Joe

1974 - Takara produces smaller 3.75 inch tall versions of the Henshin Cyborg and calls this new toy series "Microman"


1975 - Microman vehicles and robots are produced. They don't transform, but they have interchangeable parts

1976 - Microman figures and vehicles brought to the US and sold by Mego as "Micronauts"

1980-81 - Takara introduces the "New Microman" toy line featuring the 3.75 inch tall miniature cyborgs with new special battle machines and playsets.
A spin-off toy line from this is also introduced by Takara, called Diaclone (AKA "Diakron") - a series of vehicles and combiner robots that are driven by human-sized cyborg pilots. The scale of these toys is 1/64, so the pilot figures are only one inch tall. The original 1980-81 Diaclone robots (mostly combiners) were designed by Shoji Kawamori and Kazutaka Miyatake, who would later go on to design the mecha for Macross.

1980 Diaclone catalog

1982 - The first two transforming "Car Robots" are introduced as part of the Diaclone line. These will later go on to be released in the US as the Autobots "Sunstreaker" (after a color change to yellow) and "Ironhide", so these are technically the first of the Transformers.

1982 Diaclone catalog

Also in 1982 - Popy releases the first toys in its transforming "Machine Robo" series, that will later be released as Gobots in the US by Tonka in '84 .


1983 - Another spinoff from the New Microman toy series debuts from Takara - "MicroChange", a series of minature robots and vehicles disguised as life-size tools and houshold items. This first wave of MicroChange toys includes several robots that will go on to be Transformers, including the Walther P-38 "Gun Robo" (Megatron) and "Cassette Man" (Soundwave). Also included in this first wave of MicroChange are the "Mini Car Robo" robots, intended to be disguised as toy "penny racer" cars. These will later become the Transformers mini Autobots "Cliffjumper", "Bumblebee", "Gears", "Brawn", "Windcharger", "Huffer", and the so-called "Bumblejumper".

Microman/MicroChange 1983 catalog page

Meanwhile, the 1983 Diaclone wave introduces many more future Transformers, including "Battle Convoy" (Optimus Prime), "Jet Robo" (Starscream/Thundercracker), and the "Insecter Robo" (Insectacons).

1983 Diaclone catalog pages

Finally and perhaps most importantly, 1983 was the year that Hasbro representitives visited the Tokyo Toy Fair, saw the potential in the Diaclone and MicroChange toy lines, and made the historic deal with Takara to market these toys in the US under a new name and storyline.


Next...More than meets the eye!

i found this video on tfw and i had to join this community just to show you this video and to thank you for your info. i have had your post saved for a long time now and i was just so happy i could not wait to thank you and show u this video, so here it is
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqiQdw1zmuM

[The Lizard]

Originally Posted by G1er

i found this video on tfw and i had to join this community just to show you this video and to thank you for your info. i have had your post saved for a long time now and i was just so happy i could not wait to thank you and show u this video, so here it is
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqiQdw1zmuM

Four months later, I finally show up and get to see that video. A great piece of toy history - thanks for sharing!

Also, this time of year marks the anniversary of the first wave of Transformers toys sold in the USA in 1984, so happy 30th anniversary to the TF franchise!

[tko95tt]

I saw this awesome post and had to register! Back in the 80's there was this Japanese car toy. It consisted of like 10-15 cars and it combined together to create one huge vehicle. It sort of looked like a tank. I saw it at Shirokiya back in Hawaii and on a commercial. Anyone know what I'm talking about? TIA!

[SymbioteSeb]

MP Transformers are freaking amazing, can't wait for Wheeljack!(my personal favorite autobot)
Let's also give some love to the Generations line, case and point, Springer. The person who designed that should be in charge of everything a Hasbro. Genius.

[Quiof]

Federal Men by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster already had piloted robots in New Comics #8-10 (1936):

http://brad-ricca.com/history-proves...-atlantic-rim/


https://ultraboy8888.wordpress.com/2...9-federal-men/

http://fourcolorshadows.blogspot.com...ster-1936.html

https://ultraboy8888.wordpress.com/2...0-federal-men/

http://dccomicsartists.com/superart/JOE_SHUSTER2.htm

http://mikegrost.com/federal.htm


The brazilian comic strip Audaz, o demolidor by Messias de Mello debuted in A Gazetinha #445 (December 17, 1938).


http://artistamessiasdemello.blogspot.com.br/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/messiasmello/

http://www.messiasdemello.com.br/

according to Overstreet's Comic Book Price Guide, Bozo the Iron Man was the first robot to appear in a comic book cover, but, however, not he, before he and the Audaz. In fact, the first robot in a magazine cover was a robot created by Hergé (creator of Tintin) in Les Aventures de Jo, Zette et Jocko, more precisely the story arc "Le 'Manitoba' ne répond plus", published in Le Petit Vingtième in 1937.



http://www.toonopedia.com/bozorobo.htm




Jackie Law and the Boy Rangers (1943)


http://awesomerthanthou.blogspot.com...th-robots.html

http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Loco
http://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=35766

http://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=21262

[Gabe99]

OCTOBER 7, 2015:
Diaclone, One of the Toys That Begat Transformers, Is Making a Comeback

[Gabe99]

Exclusive: Titan Comics Partners With Harmony Gold USA For New ‘Robotech’ Comics

Originally Posted by Kieran Shiach

Titan Comics has proved itself one of the premier publishers for licensed comics of late, with properties such as Doctor Who, Dark Souls and Assassin’s Creed. Another much beloved property joins the Titan family early next year as the publisher has partnered with television production company Harmony Gold USA to bring beloved anime Robotech to comics.

Robotech first debuted in 1984, and was originally created with animation from three separate Japanese anime. The combination of three distinct franchises led to Robotech becoming an epic spanning three generations, as brave mech pilots in Veritech fighters battled to defend the Earth from alien invaders who came seeking the mysterious energy source known as Protoculture.

Since the end of the cartoon there have been many efforts to produce sequels or spin-offs, including 2012’s Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and 2013’s Robotech: Live Love Alive. Last year, James Wan was attached to direct a live action Robotech film from Sony Pictures, but as of April the deal with Sony has yet to be finalized.

Robotech has a long history of comics adaptations going back to 1984, when DC Comics published Robotech Defenders. Since then, the property has turned up at the likes of Comico, Eternity Comics, Wildstorm, and most recently, Dynamite Entertainment, which published a Robotech/Voltron crossover in 2014 by Tommy Yune, Bill Spangler and Elmer Damaso.

The new Robotech series is set to debut early in 2017. Titan is expected to announce the creative team in the coming weeks.

The strange story of Jetfire, and other Transformers toys
Hasbro's Transformers toys are 30 this year. Ryan looks back at their strange origins, including Jetfire's complicated history...

Originally Posted by Ryan Lambie

Finally, we come to the Transformer with the strangest history of all. A robot capable of transforming into a fighter jet, he was much larger and more intricately designed than his Decepticon rival, Starscream. Fans of Japanese anime would have immediately spotted why Jetfire looked so different from the other Transformers: he originally appeared as a Super Valkyrie Fighter in the series Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, which first aired in 1982.

Designed by Shoji Kawamori, the Super Valkyrie was one of the most iconic mecha creations of the 1980s, and it's little surprise that the company Takatoku rushed a transforming toy based on it as the series took off. Hasbro clearly recognised how popular the Valkyrie design would be in the west, so they purchased the design from Takatoku, renamed the robot Jetfire, and added it to the Transformers family, alongside a number of other designs from the company, such as the Deluxe Insecticons.

(Interestingly, there's another link between Transformers and Super Dimensional Fortress Macross. Designers Shoji Kawamori and Kazutaka Miyatake, who would later design Macross, had been contracted by Takara to help create the Diaclone toys back in 1980.)

Problems arose when Takatoku went out of business in 1984. Japanese giant Bandai bought up Takatoku, and with a Macross movie renewing interest in the series, Bandai decided it wanted to re-release the Valkyrie toys in Japan. The following year, Macross appeared in America (albeit in modified form) as part of the Harmony Gold series Robotech, which meant that kids across the country would see the Jetfire design in an entirely different context.

The complex issue of who owned the rights to the Valkyrie design in what country led Hasbro to change Jetfire's appearance and name in the comics and television show; according to the Transformers story bible, intended to help the writers on the comics and TV show, "JETFIRE has been "transformed" into SKYFIRE - with a different model - due to legal reasons. Do not use this character unless necessary".

Like the rest of the Transformers, Jetfire (or Skyfire, as he was later known) would change greatly as toy lines came and went and the accompanying story behind them meandered in different directions.

The story behind the Transformers' formative years, then, is an unusually complex one. But ultimately, it boils down to two defining factors: the ingenuity of a varied group of Japanese toy designers, and the cunning of Hasbro, who, in conjunction with Marvel, created an enveloping mythos which is still being told today.

[Quiof]

Brick Bradford and the Metal Monster (02/13/1939 – 03/16/1940) 342 strips



Cover by Alex Schomburg (1948)



Il terrore di Allagalla, Luciano Pedrocchi (script) et Enrico Bagnoli (art), 1946

Portuguese edition

[Quiof]

Originally Posted by The Lizard

I. Background and roots
magazine. Almost an Autobot, but not quite...


Pulp magazine illustration of giant robot, ca 1939

A Dictator for All Time, shortstory by Raymond Z. Gallun, art by Jack Kirby, Marvel Stories, November 1940

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?854833


http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonan.../archives/4113

[Quiof]

Mexican comic strip, published in Brazil months before Audaz.


http://comicsgoldenage.blogspot.com/...rmopietro.html

[Gabe99]

Forbes MAR 13, 2017:
Yoshiyuki Tomino On 'Gundam', Newtypes And The Perilous Future Facing Humanity

Originally Posted by Ollie Barder

For anyone that is interested in anime, you will have likely heard of Yoshiyuki Tomino. One of the main forces behind the original Mobile Suit Gundam, he has since gone on to create and work on all sorts of fascinating series and movies. I caught up with him recently at Sunrise and ended up discussing all manner of things, from his work to what he thinks will await us in the future.

Tomino is a very big figure in Japanese animation, having written and directed many very successful series and movies. While he may be more known for his mecha-related anime, what has allowed his work to resonate and endure is down to the depth of his stories and characterization.

In that sense, the mecha in a series in Mobile Suit Gundam are closer to conduits for the characters that pilot them and the narrative is far more human as a result.

ANN 03/15/2017:
Gundam Thunderbolt Season 2 Anime's New Mecha, Character Designs Revealed

RGM-79/GH


Assault Carrier "Spartan"


Forbes 03/15/2015:
'Gundam: The Origin' Manga Review


Forbes MAY 11, 2017:
The First Arc Of 'Gundam: The Origin' Will Get A Western Blu-Ray And DVD Release This August

Originally Posted by Ollie Barder

The first four episodes of Gundam: The Origin, comprising the initial Char and Sayla story arc, will finally get a U.S. release on Blu-ray and DVD this August.

Previously, the individual episodes were only available as imports or streamed online. While these included English language dialogue and subtitle tracks, they were in fact the Japanese releases of the anime.

This new versions comprises the first arc in its entirety and bundles it as one handy collection, on either Blu-ray or DVD.

Gundam: The Origin is based on a manga retelling of the events from the original Mobile Suit Gundam from the creative standpoint of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. As he worked on the original anime, penning the characters and directing much of the animation, Yasuhiko has a unique viewpoint on how the whole Gundam saga came about.

Yasuhiko is also a greatly respected manga artist and anime writer/director in his own right. From penning the fascinating Venus Wars manga and later directing its excellent anime adaptation, he also went on to make the hugely influential Arion and the much loved Giant Gorg. Not to mention the glorious work he did on series like Crusher Joe.

So having Yasuhiko come back to retell Mobile Suit Gundamas a manga was a stroke of genius and it was thoroughly brilliant as well. The fact he is also directing the anime adaptation is also wonderful and the series has been met with great success in Japan.

Gundam: The Origin has done so well in fact that it is getting another arc, starting with the events of the Battle of Loum. This being a hugely important event in the Universal Century timeline and one that has never really been animated in any great detail before.