New Bandai Toys Look A Lot Like Tonka GoBots

Zobovor

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Apr 18, 2016, 7:22:26 PM4/18/16

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There are pictures of the upcoming Machine Robo toy line, showcasing all-new, all-huge versions of Cy-Kill, Leader-1, Tank, and Screwhead:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/colour-images-of-action-toys-new-machine-robo-figures-aka-gobots/35146/

Naturally, I want to see the main six GoBots characters from the cartoon redone, and somebody somewhere at Bandai must surely recognize that it's those particular Machine Robo toys that are going to have the widest appeal. But even Tank and Screwhead look amazing.

Zob (seriously, I am blown away)

Travoltron

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Apr 18, 2016, 8:29:02 PM4/18/16

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Bandai's not doing these. That's the only thing that's keeping me from
getting excited over this. They're being made by a company called Action
Toys. They also did a licensed Roadbuster a while back that I never bought.

http://www.actiontoys.com.hk/

I can see Scooter and Cop-Tur coming later, even though they had little
to no presence in the anime. Not sure about how real-life cars like
Crasher would work in 2016 though.

Zobovor

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Apr 18, 2016, 11:22:10 PM4/18/16

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On Monday, April 18, 2016 at 6:29:02 PM UTC-6, Travoltron wrote:

> Bandai's not doing these. That's the only thing that's keeping me from
> getting excited over this. They're being made by a company called Action
> Toys.

Oops, my bad.

Zob (reading comprehension is hard)

David Connell

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Apr 19, 2016, 9:35:48 AM4/19/16

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Honestly, I'd prefer the main cast of Machine Robo: The Revenge of Chronos, even if that's a little more niche. And I think that's what they're actually doing, rather than Gobots. You'll notice the drill tank is called "Rod Drill" rather than "Screwhead".

Or maybe a mix, backed up with a Machine Robo - Challenge of the Gobots crossover? If Hasbro would be willing to license the Gobots characters out, that is.

Wonder what the status of the characters in Japan would be anyway. Bandai owns the toy designs, but what about the Gobot characters based on those designs? Hasbro owns the characters (but not the toy designs) in their markets.

mathewi...@gmail.com

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Apr 19, 2016, 2:34:49 PM4/19/16

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On Monday, April 18, 2016 at 8:29:02 PM UTC-4, Travoltron wrote:
> I can see Scooter and Cop-Tur coming later, even though they had little
> to no presence in the anime. Not sure about how real-life cars like
> Crasher would work in 2016 though.

They displayed prototypes of five others - The Machine Robo counterparts of GoBots Blockhead, Fitor, Spay-C, Turbo and Snoop.

I don't think Cop-Tur, Crasher or Scooter's counterparts appeared in Revenge of Chronos, which is the line they licensed, so toys for them seem unlikely.

Mathew

Travoltron

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Apr 19, 2016, 2:53:55 PM4/19/16

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"Crasher" and "Scooter" did appear, but weren't major characters.
Especially Scooter, who only appeared for a brief cameo in one episode.
Cop-Tur never appeared AFAIK.

http://machinerobo.wikia.com/wiki/Porsche_Robo

http://machinerobo.wikia.com/wiki/Scooter_Robo

mathewi...@gmail.com

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Apr 19, 2016, 6:06:07 PM4/19/16

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Thanks for the links. I just checked out the episodes. Porsche Robo is in his white colors, so I think GoBots fans will be a little upset by how it won't look like Crasher.

Mathew

Zobovor

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Apr 20, 2016, 12:35:10 AM4/20/16

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On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 7:35:48 AM UTC-6, David Connell wrote:

> I think that's what they're actually doing, rather than Gobots. You'll notice
> the drill tank is called "Rod Drill" rather than "Screwhead".

Sure, sure. I'm just using the names I'm more familiar with. Everybody knows what I mean when I talk about police car Sunstreaker, but not everybody knows what a Diaclone Countach LP500S Super Tuning is off the top of their heads.

Zob (had to look that up)

Travoltron

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Apr 29, 2016, 8:59:29 PM4/29/16

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This Machine Robo toy is also coming out too:
http://hlj.com/product/UNC88240

It's by a different company than Action Toys. I think I may pass on
this. I already have the vintage Baikanfu toy from the 80's and the $300
Soul of Chogokin one they did nearly a decade ago.

Travoltron

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May 18, 2016, 5:24:27 PM5/18/16

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Action Toys' Spencer Talks Machine Robo, Gobots and More

http://masterforceuk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/action-toys-spencer-talks-machine-robo.html

Zobovor

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May 18, 2016, 9:48:45 PM5/18/16

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On Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 3:24:27 PM UTC-6, Travoltron wrote:

> Action Toys' Spencer Talks Machine Robo, Gobots and More

Interesting read. I think this is the first time I've seen a toy company directly reference the phenomenon that collectibles are getting bigger so that, when they're in adult hands, they can still feel like the tiny toys that we held as children. It's been a theory of mine for a bit so it's nice to get some kind of confirmation.

Shame about Cop-Tur and Crasher! Maybe the third-party guys will come to the rescue one day and fill in the gaps...

Zob (still trying to catch up on vintage GoBots)