I am discovering and re-discovering Transformers Animated at the same time. Discovering that the toy line expanded so far beyond the amazing deluxes, voyagers and leaders from my original flirtation with the toy line, and re-discovering repaints and toys I had long forgotten about, and re-living the enjoyment of experiencing new moulds from the line. It’s been a while since deluxes have been so impressive and such complete, uncompromising toys. When the sub-deluxe toys are as good as the Activators and legends, it’s no surprise that everything from there upwards impressed so much. A shame that not everyone feels the same way though, to this day discussions about Animated bring out intense loyalty in some and palpable repulsion in others.

A Voyage Of Animated Discovery – Part 2 | Source Blog <- CLICK TO READ





All the best
Maz

 

what?

 

I double this. Where did this rumor start?

 

fuck that rumor. i already got my heart broken once today and that doesn't help.

 

I also never heard this rumor, and if true, it makes me SADZ. Animated being canceled was one of the most depressing parts of the 25th anniversary for me in '09. Despising ROTF and having Animated canned. It was a sad summer, except for the fact that there were lots of TF shirts in stores...

 

S'funny, as I was thinking the Animated reruns on the Hub could've been an opportunity to market Animated toys in some capacity, much as how G1 reruns arguably help market Generations toys in a fashion.

 

"The tragedy is, if rumour is to be believed, that Transformers Animated figures were offered to North American retailers for release in 2014 (proposal initiated in early 2013) to coincide with the Animated cartoon re-runs being shown on the hub, but there was zero interest from retailers and the project never came to fruition. Allegedly, two main concepts were put forward, an ‘all star’ line up of show characters that focused on the best toys that represented the most prominent characters, and the other was a collector-oriented line that included most of the unreleased moulds and decos. The plans are rumoured to have only gotten as far as a few printouts showing possible figures, but no further. "

 

Really wishing that this were not the case    

 

It's an unsubstantiated rumour that should be taken with a pinch of salt. It doesn't even have the usual fanboy provenance where I can say a friend told a friend and I trust them both, although it came from someone who I trust they simply said that they overheard a conversation between Hasbro marketing employees.

Reading the article again, it does sound a little bit too much like proven fact, whereas I should maybe have made more of the fact that it was just a rumour and something that was of possible interest that could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

One of the things I wanted to tap into was the romanticism and wistfulness that surrounds fans of the animated series, especially when they talk about what didn't come out and how the line ended and what remained. Fans of Binaltech obviously wish that that line continued but when you talk about it with them it's obvious that they realise the designers had run out of ideas and continuing the line may not have given us any more genius pieces.

With animated it's quite different in that the continuation of the line is something that fans still dream about, and I find that a very appealing part of the animated legend. My friend realised how much I was getting into animated again recently and this came up in a conversation, so I thought it would be a fun addition and a good way to end the article. It was interesting enough to me, and seemed to make a reasonable amount of sense, but I didn't want to make a huge deal of it because there isn't a traiI that can prove that any of this anything more than rumour or supposedly overheard discussion. Maybe that's why he was smart enough to never actually post it publicly  

All the best
Maz

 

Another good read Maz.

I must admit to having a bunch of none show colour figures when they were released and selling then on sharpish. Roadbuster Magnus was the one I disliked the most due to the head just not fitting in with the overall paint scheme. Yellow Ratchet was another which I couldn't come to like. Now though I wouldn't mind having them again... Ah regret  

 

As much as I like the Atomic Lugnut he doesn't trump the original for me. He is GLORIOUS though.

Still remain unconvinced by Roadbuster Magnus as well. He's so 'almost' amazing.

Freeway Jazz remains a constant regret in passing, as despite many a heated argument, I really love that mold. I need to get one soon.

And damn you for making Rescue Ratchet look cool.

 

I am willing to start an internet rumour campaign to bully Hasbro into releasing Fugitive Wasp.

Source: I am on the internet.

 

I was on a bit of a hiatus when Animated was happening and while I passed by some of the toys occasionally it would be years until I watched it. I actually still haven't bought any of the toys because I have a very modest collecting budget and I've had other priorities but I do want at least one TFA figure. Maybe Jazz, maybe Blackarachnia, maybe Sentinel Prime... The latter is imho the freshest character in the show because he's a really good secondary antagonist that can't be dealt with the same way as the human villains since he isn't really an enemy. He's just a jerk. They made some pretty good choices with the writing for that show.

 

Get on it. I'll back you up. Got a bit of wood with a nail through it and everything.

Really well said. I don't think this point is made nearly enough.

 

Great article again, Maz. Sad rumour is sad.

 

I would say the rumour isn't right. Surely the best place to release some animated figures would be under Generations? I know they've gone all IDW now but I don't see why they can't release some animated figures in there.

Hasbro seem to be about streamlining transformers into two catagories, main line and generations, even back then so I don't think the rumour holds much weight

 

If they ever release TFA figures in Generations, I suspect they'll do that during or shortly after the upcoming cartoon. It moves even closer to the expressive style TFA has so there would probably be a bigger appeal.

 

Great stuff Maz, maybe it should be titled "Voyage of Animated RE-Discovery" since you're re-entering the world of Animated  .
I'm also guilty of passing up the repaints, but regretting it now.

 

Thanks for another great article, Maz!

I highly encourage you to track down an affordable Stunti-Con Job set, as well as the other remaining Botcon figures like Fisitron/Ironfist and Toxitron.

Really, thanks to some incredibly clever remolding and repainting, partially thanks to Derrick Wyatt's involvement, I feel the Botcon Animated figures are among the best Animated toys.


This is the first time I heard about that rumor of Animated toys returning. If this is true it's really unfortunate...hopefully some unreleased Animated figures, as much as they'd clash with other figures, will re-appear in a future Generations line...


I have some of the repaints of this line...most are pretty great. I'm still missing Freeway Jazz, Rescue Ratchet and Roadbuster Magnus, along with some Japanese exclusives like the Elite Guard crew (count me in as somebody who really wants Elite Guard Prowl, but I never could find myself to get it for the prices it's going for!).
Shadowblade Megatron is retroactively my Animated IDW Stealth Bomber Megatron.  

 

Oh Animated Blackout...how I wished I was able to own you...