Have Transformers officially jumped the shark?

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by Shaun_C, Jun 28, 2006.

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  1. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    I don't believe Transformers has "Jumped the Shark". There are a few things to consider on the subject:

    Different markets have their own ups and downs at different times, as well as different market or cultural biases. Japan and Europe kept TF toys going well after the USA declined and gave up (for a while). Seems a little premature to me to say TFs as a whole are in decline because Takara threw in some girly figures for the Japanese market, especially when Hasbro's shown no interest in doing anything similar, not to mention gearing up for the likes of Classics and Movie toys in the next year-plus.
     
  2. godsenddeath

    godsenddeath . TFW2005 Supporter

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    Jumping the Cybershark!
     
  3. McBradders

    McBradders James Franco Club! Veteran

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    [​IMG]
     
  4. The Phazer

    The Phazer Well-Known Member

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    Transformers jumped the shark in 1986. Some might argue that it recovered (me included, but it took a long time), some wouldn't.

    Kiss players does not seem to me to be a sign of the apocalypse. Certainly there's nothing about Convoy and Melissa that is really any different from BTA (which is because that's what it was originally intended to be) simply wrapped around a slightly more nonsensical plotline, though the notion of including radio dramas with toys is awesome. BTA was fine. The biggest shame really is that we're not getting the proper story of Binaltech continuing, because it was awesome. The Atari thing is weird, but it's only tangentally connected to Transformers in the first place, so I think it's pretty easy to ignore.

    Phazer
     
  5. Lance Halberd

    Lance Halberd oh hai

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    Exactamundo!

    It refers to a point at which a marked increase of a product's quality is noted.
     
  6. Overlord II

    Overlord II Starscreamicon Leader TFW2005 Supporter

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    It refers to the episode of "Happy Days" when Fonzie jumped over a shark in Hawaii....Many point to this episode as the beginning of the end to the series.


    By the way I am in no way close to 15,000 posts:tongue: 
     
  7. KA

    KA Well-Known Member

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    my sig rules cause it encourages discourse.

    carry on, motherfuckers.
     
  8. Master Megatron

    Master Megatron Action Bastard

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    meh..this stuff doesn't affect me much. I think it's one of the best years for transformers, despite what people say.
     
  9. McBradders

    McBradders James Franco Club! Veteran

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    Then, dear Lance, explain Worf and Son playing COWBOYS!

    GO ON!
     
  10. Ops_was_a_truck

    Ops_was_a_truck JOOOLIE ANDREWWWWWS!!!!!!

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    I love that episode. :D 
     
  11. McBradders

    McBradders James Franco Club! Veteran

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  12. EagleEyeJoe

    EagleEyeJoe Well-Known Member

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    I can't see how Transformers has jumped the shark.. primarily because the example used is a Japanese product. Sure.. most anyone who browses a Transformers board knows about the "kiss" line up from Takara/Tomy. That leaves the other 90% of American consumers who have no idea and are happy that way. This is Hasbro's buying pool.

    As "Ops Was A Truck" said earlier... Hasbro reinvents the line each year. The product moves, the storyline is re-invented. Could the line be "jumping the shark" with adult collectors? Perhaps a small segment... in which case they are replacable by the fan base Hasbro has been growing sine Robots in Disguise.

    I can only speak for myself, but with the new Alternators coming out, the Classics line and the Titaniums... I have not planned on buying this much Transformers merchandise EVER in my life. So, it's far from jumped the shark for me.
     
  13. Team Jetfire

    Team Jetfire Pop-POP!

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    Whoa...

    I have never heard the 'Jumped the Shark' saying before, but I do think it has validity. Historically most transformer ideas and series are developed in Japan and brought over to North America and for a while there, Japan was a year ahead of anything to come over here. That being said if Japan hasn’t developed anything for the next year, except for this Kiss nonsense what is going to happen down the road?

    But like OPS so passionately explained there are many things to look forward too as a transfan. Just hope that the movie will spark a new direction in the transformers, or we can KISS the franchise goodbye
     
  14. Autobus Prime

    Autobus Prime Transit Former

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    HP:

    Well, I can't see that the Melissa figure is *really* that offensive on moral grounds -- I mean, the old Max Fleischer Betty Boop cartoons are rather worse (and quite funny) but neither they nor TF-Kiss is overtly pornographic.

    See, there's various ways of being "sick and wrong". This isn't pornographic "sick wrongness", it's "sick and wrong" in the way that Star Trek with an all-Hello Kitty cast would be.

    I do think TF-Kiss is absurdly stupid, though. Here we have this company with fantastic designers and engineers, and plenty of resources, and they come up with...this? Gosh. Even Micromaster Wrestling had some camp appeal. Even Carnage in C-Minor had an unusual theme for its plot. Binaltech had a fairly
    deep and elaborate story line -- has anybody read Hirofumi Ichikawa's treatment for the end of BT? His little 8-page Linkage comics? Sure, there's Stella of the shrinking wardrobe in Linkage, but it doesn't usurp the plot. There's talent in Japan; why don't they USE it?

    If I was Ichikawa I might dig me a grave so I could turn over in it. But words aren't enough. I just can't emphasize my utter exasperation. No, I must sing it.

    To any G1 theme:
    (I suggest the disco version)

    Kiss-Players! Moe that makes me cry!

    Takara merged with Tomy to supply perverse desires of all the lolicons.

    Kiss-Players! Moe that makes me cry!
    Kiss-Players! With giant saucer-eyes!
    Kiss-Players! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! boom.

    Heh heh.

    I'll tell you what....I'm really glad that Hasbro's TFs remain toys. I hope they do so for a long time. TFs as 'adult collectibles' would be less fun, more expensive, and rarer...I'd hate to see that.
     
  15. Lance Halberd

    Lance Halberd oh hai

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    That was one episode, ONE EPISODE!

    Out of one hundred and fifty two televison episodes and three feature films AB (after beard) I think they're allowed a quasi-shark jumping moment now and again.

    No ... you know what? Screw that! Worf and Alexander playing cowboys was not a jumping the shark moment at all! Not even a quasi one!

    It was merely a hopping the ray moment. So there.
     
  16. Megatronwp38

    Megatronwp38 Nobody defeats the DEVASTATOR!

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    I don't think TF's are declining. I think Hasbro is just taking more of the initiative and things are going to be coming out here 1st, ie the classics and most likely the movie toys. Has not been that way in a while and since Takara in recent years always got everything 1st people are getting freaked, thinking we will get this kiss line, which we won't, especially since we already have the Prime alt!

    To each his own. I do not see the kiss line lasting that long, just long enough to annoy everyone, especially since they can not decide if they are going to be die cast or not lol.
     
  17. Ops_was_a_truck

    Ops_was_a_truck JOOOLIE ANDREWWWWWS!!!!!!

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    I could have sworn I saw Fonzie flying over a shark when the Enterprise rammed the Romulan ship in Nemesis, though. I mean, maybe it was one of those "digitally inserted effects" that was only in the film and never made it to DVD, but I SWEAR it was there.

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Foster

    Foster Haslab Victory Saber Backer #3 Veteran

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    Are there any English transcripts of the radio show available? It's easy to assume the worst based on the pics and figure we've seen. This is one of the goofier TF concepts, but it there may actually be a story there. It's probably too early yet to say. But it's leaning toward teh suck.
     
  19. Zero Prime

    Zero Prime Windows user no more

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    I don't know which is more fun. Reading this thread or watching Twin Twists e-penis grow to outstanding levels.

    As for the figs that come with the new line, I my self don't agree with them, but at the same time it may bring in new buyers which is what business is all about.
     
  20. EagleEyeJoe

    EagleEyeJoe Well-Known Member

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    *buzzer sound*

    While the toys may have originated in Japan as Diaclone, the concept of "Transformers" originated in the United States courtesy of Hasbro and their creative team at Marvel / Sunbow Productions. Before that time, the Diaclone toys were simply mecha... undifferent from most Gundam toys.

    While recently, this trend has appeared to be that Japan has "gotten things first" it mainly is a reflection that Hasbro has allowed production to take place in Asia... not only the animation (which was always the case) but the writing and original dubbing. That adds time to the US release when scripts must be translated and re-dubbed with Western voice actors.

    Concept such as "kiss" remain wholely Japanese though, and you can count on the fact Hasbro would never follow that. Ever. In fact, its not so much of a line as a re-tooling of their binaltech line since there are no new molds except for the female figures (which would hold little if any interest for mainstream toy buyers).
     
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