The story behind Transformers toys is legendary in the toy industry. Traditionally, popular characters from children's TV shows were seen as an opportunity to create spin-off toys. In the case of Transformers however, Hasbro landed itself some terrific Japanese toys called Microman and Diaclone which had everything required to make them a huge success. Except one thing... A clever marketing idea. The answer? Devise an animated TV show that would make Transformers a household name and shift millions of toys worldwide!
Nowadays, it is taken as read that children's TV and film characters are carefully crafted at the earliest possible stage of the process to translate well into highly marketable products. Transformers toys though, represented a distinct shift in how products could marketed to children - and how TV could be used as an ingenious way to kill off key characters and introduce new ones... Thereby creating a brand with a potentially infinite life-span.
In the case of Transformer toys though, we don't mind one bit about how they came to be! With such terrific characters as Optimus Prime and Megatron - and a highly inventive product design that made these 'robots in disguise' transform from vehicles into deadly robot figures with a few twists and turns - we say long may Transformers toys continue to do battle!
1st July 2011 was etched on Transformers fans minds as the launch date for the the third film in the Transformers series. Officially known as 'Transformers: The Dark of The Moon', several new Transformers vehicles featured in this battle laden movie. Transformers toys are only a small part of the merchandise associated with this third film, with party supplies, bedroom decorations, keyrings and kid's scooters all available with the Transformers 3 branding.
As if this wasn't enough excitement, June 27th 2014 was the release date of the fourth film in the series. Known as 'Transformers: Age of Extinction', the awesome Dinobots make a massive and popular return to prominence. Fans all over the world are searching their attics for examples of the original Dinobots toys. Grimlock the T-Rex, Sludge the Brontosaurus and Snarl the Stegosaurus are just three of the models that make it into this new movie. Cool super cars are also making an appearance with plenty of ‘good versus evil’ battles being promised to keep all the Transformers fans happy with anticipation!
The TV animated series also got a massive make-over in the shape of Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Full of action as ever yet with an amusing edge, Hasbro also launched all the latest robots and vehicles to match those in the series.
Needless to say, a massive selection of Transformers toys are available from many online retailers as well as from traditional High Street toy shops.
The world's most famous online retailer sells an unparalleled selection of toys.
The original catalogue shop now sells a huge range of toys at great prices.
