Skip to content
Pop Culture Hall
  • Inductees
  • Brands
  • News
  • Community Supporters
  • Industry partners
  • Announcements
  • Causes we Support

PCHOF’17 – Transformers Changed the Toy Industry Forever

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Ron Ruelle
transformers comics

transformers original

transformers bumblebee

When Transformers were first introduced, they seemed like an obvious success. What kid wouldn’t like playing with cars and robots at the same time? Even so, when they debuted as “more than meets the eye,” the designers had no idea how much more they would turn out to be. For their success in changing the toy industry forever, Transformers are a 2017 inductee in the Pop Culture Hall of Fame.

Transformer toys feel like they have been around forever, but they really got their start as recently as 1984, when Takara Tomy of Japan and Hasbro of the United States teamed up to update the Japanese Micromen and Dioclone toys. The older toys have been humanoid figures that could fold or transform into other objects. but the Transformers line rebooted them as robots disguised as cars, trucks and other forms of transportation as well as the occasional boombox or other object.

transformers optimus prime

Transformers began almost simultaneously in toy and television forms. The toys came with a rich backstory involving ongoing interstellar between the “good” Autobots and “evil” Decepticons. Details varied from the official explanation of the TV show versus the toys and even the wildly popular comic books, but based on their popularity, kids didn’t mind the discrepancy too much.

At one point they became so big, they even teamed up with G.I. Joe to form one of the most potent toy and media crossovers ever.

The toys would go in and out of production in the 1990s, but In the 2000s, Transformers took on a new life as a series of big budget, CGI heavy movies. The enormous box office numbers and continued sales of toys indicate there will always be more than meets the eye with these robots.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Post navigation

 PCHOF’17 – Pop Culture Hall of Fame Salutes G.I. JoePCHOF’17 – Wonder Woman Lassoes Pop Culture Hall Induction 

Newest Community Supporter

Newest Industry Affiliate

Announcements

  • Legion M Teams With The Actors Fund to Combat COVID-19
  • Final Fantasy Figures and a Fan Favorite Remake
  • Power Rangers Meet Ninja Turtles!

On Facebook

On Facebook

Twitter

Tweets by popculturehall
  • Contact Us

Get the Pop Culture Hall of Fame's latest news straight to your inbox

Copyright 2015 - 2023 - Pop Culture Hall

Pop Culture Hall of Fame

Get the Pop Culture Hall of Fame's latest news straight to your inbox