Animated Toys

[Bogatan]

Dont. Seriously. First theres no certainty that they'll be released individually as theres already a deluxe Prime. Secondly I think the Cybertronian mode Prime is great, better than the Earth mode carded figure. Third Megatron is much better than the voyager version IMO. Fourth Primes axe is cool. Fifth the battle damage is pretty stylized so for a change it looks good.

Andy

[The Doctor]

Oh, right. So the versions in the 2-pack are not available seperately then? The deluxe Prime and Megatron are different moulds then?

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

Yup so far there isnt a deluxe Megatron available besides the two pack one. And the Prime is a completely different mold to the individual deluxe.

Oh my god my new keyboard makes typing possible.

Andy

[The Doctor]

Ah, right. Thanks for clearing that up. Guess I will plump for the 2-pack then! Agent of TRU, I'm counting on you!

-Ralph

[grahamthomson]

Is there a range-wide gimmick that is featured in most/all of the Animated toys?

You know, like Automorph in last year's range, the Cyberkeys for Cybertron and so on.

[The Doctor]

Not that I'm aware of, unless you count the very different styling of the characters to be a gimmick.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

There is a sort of Automorph thing going on with the voyagers, particularly Starscream, not sure about deluxes.

Andy

[Nigel]

Jun 5, 2008 18:59:03 GMT @grahamthomson said:

You know, like Automorph in last year's range, the Cyberkeys for Cybertron and so on.

Those are generally quite pointless gimmicks in my opinion. After several years of needless gimmicks that do little to enhance the toys, with Animated Hasbro seem to have realised that the best gimmick is the original one that distinguished Transformers from other toys in the first place.

[grahamthomson]

I was quite impressed with most of the Automorph gimmicks last year.

But I think the likes of Energon really, really suffered (especially the Autobots) since the designs had to allow for all the combinations. That sort of thing was nice as a one-off for the Multiforce.

I think the mistake is having a gimmick that is prevalent throughout an entire year's worth of toys. Even as far back as the Pretenders and Micromasters that sort of prevalence made for a very boring year of Transformers.

[Nigel]

I found Automorph quite hit and miss. Generally, I found they would have transformed just as well in a more traditional manner, rendering the Automorph superfluous. In a few cases, the feature didn't work very well. (Blackout springs to mind.) I found the best one to be Jazz, an uncomplicated mechanism that served to improve the look of the robot and which actually worked better as an Automorph than it would have as a manual transformation.

I thought the best gimmick in the movie line was one that wasn't an Automorph feature at all. Scorponok's rotary mechanism is a superb piece of engineering. I was amazed at the way it worked whatever the attitude of the arms and to make it also work in conjunction with Blackout's rotors was brilliant.

[Shockprowl]

Ungh, blasted Superlinky-what-ever-the-smeg it was called was pants. Cyberkeys were reasonable. The few movie toys I have have ok automorph. But I'm all for the gimmick is that they transform.

[Shockprowl]

Damn it Damn it Damn it Damn it Damn it Damn it! DAMN IT!!!

I blasted well knew this would happen! Or should have!


We were at TRU in Leeds on Monday spending vast amounts of cash on toys for Piglet's upcomming 2nd birthday. I scouted off to the Transformers section, as one does. There was Prime/Meg 2 pack, voyager Starscream, voyager Megs, Lockdown and...

Prowl.

Got him.

Opened him.

Transformed him.

Love him.

What a fantastic figure! Great transformation and fightability! The chin still freaks me out though. Brilliant how they've gotten such symetry from a motorcycle. Ah bollocks. Gunna have to buy more now. Bugger Crap Hairy Bum Flaps. No! NOOOO!!! I must restist!


I M U S T R E S I S T ! ! ! ! ! !

[The Doctor]

I feel your pain. Now I have sampled the Animated line myself, I must have more. More! MORE!

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

I'm still tryin' to fight it!!! GHAAARUMPH!!!!!


What are these Activators like anyone? If they're decent, the delux Starscream might save me some meat-balls. (yeah yeah I know I go on 'bout Classics Seekers needed to be voyager, but what ya gunna do? Meat-balls is meat-balls! And Mrs Shockprowl is Mrs Shockprowl!)

[grahamthomson]

Okay, here's a suggestion;

Why not have a one-in, one-out policy. (And I don't mean replace Mrs Shockprowl with another wife.)

Whenever you want to get a new Transformers toy, simply get rid of an old one first. You could sell it on eBay and hopefully raise enough cash to cover the new purchase. That way you're not really ever spending that much money on new toys.

I appreciate the flaw in this is that it goes against the grain of collector mentality. But think of these new Transformers as what they actually are: Toys. What brings you more joy, opening a brand-new toy or keeping old ones that you might get bored playing with?

Just an idea. Or am I thinking too much like a woman?

[The Doctor]

I often put some out the door when I get new ones. With Animated coming out and enjoying the figures I've bought, I shall have to see what goes to make room!

Must. Have. More. More. More! MORE!

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

'Tis a bit woman sounding Tomo, but I appreciate the idea (you must have lovely breasts by the way).

I've managed to trade alot of the items I didn't want/ don't play with (play with! I'm 34!), and alot of the stuff I've left I wana keep! My trades list is all that remains of what I don't want anymore/ or decided to part with 'cos it sits in a box unused. So I suppose I've been doing your idea for a bit now, just running outa stuff to get rid of. When we finaly finish renovating and invest in a new home PC I hope to get on Ebay and load off some more stuff and indeed raise TF purchoosle funds. That'll keep Mrs Shockprowl off my back alittle more!

[grahamthomson]

I do have lovely breasts, as it happens. Plump, firm, and actually very hairy.

I have another idea as well. This time, altogether less woman-like:

Get yourself a secret offshore cash account and make regular, secret deposits, then, the week before a convention, say Auto-Assembly, withdraw everything out of it and keep it hidden. Tell Mrs Shockprowl you're withdrawing about £25 out of the joint account for the day.

While at Auto-Assembly, go absolutely fucking nuts with your secret cash stash buying the crap out of the dealers getting everything you've always wanted along with numerous impulse buys.

Then (and this is the good part) on the way home, dispose of all the packaging (or post it to your work address if you want to keep it) and take home a load of loose toys which you can then say to Mrs Shockprowl that you bought for cheap since they didn't have the packaging. I assume you explained to her the difference between a loose TF and a boxed TF (why, of course you did, you married her after all!)

The result is, you get all the TFs you wanted, she thinks you only spent £25 on them, and you get to keep all the boxes which you sneak home after a night shift.

Flawless.

[Hero]

Jun 8, 2008 8:16:47 GMT @grahamthomson said:

Okay, here's a suggestion;

Why not have a one-in, one-out policy. (And I don't mean replace Mrs Shockprowl with another wife.)

Whenever you want to get a new Transformers toy, simply get rid of an old one first. You could sell it on eBay and hopefully raise enough cash to cover the new purchase. That way you're not really ever spending that much money on new toys.

I appreciate the flaw in this is that it goes against the grain of collector mentality. But think of these new Transformers as what they actually are: Toys. What brings you more joy, opening a brand-new toy or keeping old ones that you might get bored playing with?

Just an idea. Or am I thinking too much like a woman?

I do that. Works for me.

[Gav]

Are Animated toys available in the UK yet? I haven't seen any....

*squints*

[Bogatan]

Yup whole of the first wave appears to be out at TRU.

Andy

[Nigel]

But nowhere else. (At least, no reported sightings that I know of.) They're not even supposed to be released in the USA until 22nd June. (It's only just occured to me that my supplier is expecting them the same date.)

[dyrl]

Well...

My stock of Animated have been selling out fairly well enough to allow me the pleasure of "rewarding" myself with the three Voyagers - Megatron, Starscream and Bulkhead.

Impressions:

Voyager Megatron (Cybertron mode):

This is the best main-line Megatron toy since Beast Wars Megatron. I HATED Armada Megatron, although he wasn't as bad, aesthetic-wise, as Cybertron Megatron (who was just horrible). What makes this Megatron so lovely is the extent to which he is a brilliant cross between G1 and Movie Megatron. His transformation to Cybertronian jet is sleek and sexy; the jet itself is not at all akward when you take into account that it is meant to be a Cybertronian flight mode more than anything else. In robot mode, the head is a fresh and amazing blend of G1 and Movie, and the general body is as well. It's basically everything you could have ever wanted out of a Megatron. Compared to Classic Megatron, this Animated Voyager is by far superior. Color probably has a lot to do with this; but the head sculpt for Animated Megatron is also superior; no Oscar the Grouch Eye-Brows, no unbecoming wings, and a chest that is far more rectangular rather than the blocky square we got with Classics. This Megatron is just lovely. The one down side is that the Particle Beam Cannon is aweful heavy and the attachment to the arm mechanism is not the best in the world.

Voyager Starscream:

Well. Where to start? I can't really comment on the jet because I hate the design. As a toy representative of an animated counter-part from a cartoon, I give it top marks for being faithful to the original - but I can't stand the original either, so that's nor here nor there. All in all, it is my opinion that the jet mode on Animated Starscream was an afterthought to the robot mode (which is wonderfully evocative of the character). The jet annoys me beyond comprehension. The nosecone is disproportional only because it must necesarily be so to telescope into itself during transformation. The wings are short and backwards only because they must be so in order to serve as the robot mode wings. The undercarriage is just a filthy mess - because it has to be in order to allow Starscream to transform.

All in all - this is an aweful jet. The one good thing I can say about it is that ever since Armada, Starscream has been getting aweful jet toys. Clumsy, bulky, non-linear, ugly, undercarriage full ugly jets. This particular Starscream does indeed have a truly wonderful robot mode - I'll give them that much. His skinny, tall frame - slightly hunched - is the perfect image for Starscream as nerdy intriguer who is clearly a bit of an outcast. The whole thing looks really good - it just screams Starscream! character wise- really good design - and very reminiscent of G1 in all the best ways while also retaining elements from the Movie a la Megatron (Animated Starscream's robot form is, despite being slim and angular...also a bit ape like)....

But the jet is just hideous. Hasbro doesn't know how to produce good jets. I know this jet is supposed to be "animated" and funky and all - but it still just doesn't look right.

Bulkhead:

Well - I knew I'd like him and I do. Love the transformation of his heels. Love the head, the neck, love the automorph feature...

Oh - I didn't mention that Voyager Megatron has the perfect Automorph - really really wonderful transformation!

In fact - at the expense of Bulkhead, I'd like to praise Hasbro for perfecting the Automorph and apparently incorporating it into the TFs for good.

These automorphs work without a hitch unlike the Movie line ones.

Deluxes are up next - but overall I am very much liking these Animated toys.

Happy I got rid of Armada/Energon/Cybertron long long time ago

dyrl

[dyrl]

I generally agree that gimmicks suck and I am truly happy that we are long past the Unicron Trylogy gimmick days.

Automorph is great - if done right and if it works.

The Movie toys were hit and miss in this regard because often times the Automorph didn't work.

Animated has working automorph that really does enhance the toys.

good stuff.

But generally the non-gimmick nature of the Animated line is a winner.

dyrl

[The Doctor]

Jun 9, 2008 13:13:45 GMT Bogatan said:

Yup whole of the first wave appears to be out at TRU.

Andy

Seems a bit scattered though. Plenty in TRU Edinburger but yet to see any in the 2 Glasvegas stores.

ASAIK, no sightings outwith TRU over here yet other than a Hamleys store.

-Ralph

[dyrl]

Good review on that Animated deluxe Prime

Can't wait to open mine

What I like most about him is the Warwithin feel - what with the tank treads (well, that's a bit more Star Convoyish) but especially with the wheel-shoulders - very nice.

dyrl

[legios]

Jun 9, 2008 15:30:35 GMT The Doctor said:

Seems a bit scattered though. Plenty in TRU Edinburger

[\quote]

Tarnation - I wish I was actually able to get out there from where I work in a reasonable timeframe.

Karl

[The Doctor]

The number 30 bus goes straight there, through an...interesting...area on the way.

-Ralph

[legios]

Jun 9, 2008 20:42:09 GMT The Doctor said:

The number 30 bus goes straight there, through an...interesting...area on the way.

-Ralph

Yeah, I know the area you mean. It is one of the areas in which my organisation works.....

Karl

[The Doctor]

There's an especially good bit where the middle word in a 'NO BALL GAMES' sign has been...removed.

'NO GAMES' it now says. I could believe it.

-Ralph