OK -- I'm going to delve into something that's been bothering me recently. And that topic is why/how Power Rangers and other Bandai brands are outdoing Transformers.

 

Personally, I will always love TFs above all else -- they were my first exposure to transforming robots, and that's why they've stuck out in my mind the most. Now, during the early '90s, like most youngsters, I was a PR fan. I had to have the toys, I watched the show, etc. But now as an adult, more than ten years later, I look back and feel embarrassed that that was part of my experience growing up. But I'll never be embarrassed to admit to being a Transfan. But what about today's market and the kids these days?

 

They prefer Power Rangers.

 

Why? Probably because the toys are HUGE (I think I saw a Mega Zord that was 2 feet tall) and the fact that the shows are at least mildly entertaining (though I did like the original series, I think all the spinoffs are terrible). Transformers shows have suffered and gone downhill ever since the end of the Beast era and RID -- Armada and Energon were both atrocities against Transformers in every way -- at least the shows. I love the Energon toys, and the Armada toys were hit or miss for me. But I think the new Power Rangers toys are mediocre, and display almost no sense of good design, not to mention a distinct lack of articulation, whereas Energon was the most articulated line of TFs yet, as was Alternators. And speaking of Alternators, those toys far surpass and outdo anything Bandai can come up with -- be it Veritechs, Gundams, or Zords. They're probably the best transforming robot toys that ever will be, and 20th Anniversary Prime is something I'd rather have than another Gundam that looks like the main Gundam from every other series.

 

So, what're your thoughts/opinions? I just want to hear what others think on why Transformers has been losing out as a franchise lately -- the Takara/Tomy merger is proof that Bandai still has an unfair grip on the toy industry. I don't know if Galaxy Force and the big-screen movie will revive the franchise, but here's hoping.

1)  On average they're a lot less complex to 'Morph'  than it is to Transform a TF in a relevant price range.

 

2)  Bandai pump a lot of money into advertising.  The program is on all the time. Where's the Tf cartoon on?  CN. (every now and then)

 

Kids are impressionable, sheesh look at all the money spent on advertising stuff like Pokemon and the one dozen associated rip offs.

 

 

 

Hasbro are not aggressive enough about advertising Transformers. 

 

Period.

If the movie is any good and the publicity, there very well could be a resurgence. I think one thing hurting Transformers sales is I Hardly ever see any comercials or other TV advertisement. Back in the day, Transformer commercials made sure to spot light every single figure in the commercial and show off its special gimmick. The last commercial I saw with Superion Maximus, they didn't even mention what his name was. And how hard would it have been for them to say"Uh Oh Optimus Prime and Superion Maximus! Megatron has his own Combiner Warriors!!*Show a glace at Decepticon Combiners* Will this be the end of the Autobots?!" Then in the next commercial they could spotlight Bruticus and Constructicon Maximus as well as Spotlight Optimus joining with Wingsaber, then team Superion Maximus to overthrow the Decepticons.

 

Dont even let me get on all the commercials that could have made the Alternators a world wide super success. Real cars Transforming in live action commercials interacting with real people or even famous actors! Everyone would be talking about that. 

I was really too old to be into PR merchandise, but I still watched and enjoyed the original series, as well as Zeo, and enjoyed them for what they were, which was ultra-cheese the likes of which had never been seen before.  I'm still a big fan of the original PR, and I'm proud of that fact, but I never had any of the toys.  HOWEVER, I will make two comments: One, after a long haitus I did watch Time Force, some of Wild Force, most of Ninja Storm, and some of Dino Thunder, and although some seasons were definitely inferior, they were all a lot more entertaining than what I saw coming out of Armada or Energon, programming-wise.  I still enjoy watching PR on occasion, but the last two seasons of TF were just a chore for me to try and sit through.  Two, PR toys seem to have degenerated a GREAT DEAL over time.  I don't know what bearing this has on your argument, I just wanted to say that I remember the original Zords etc being a LOT more articulated and detailed than the ones currently being produced, which are just 2-foot bricks with some of the worst transformation schemes I have EVER seen.  Example: Dino Thunder - their zord had a tail for one arm and a head for the other?  WTF? 

Know what I was thinking would be great for Alternators? Commercials that show a high-res CGI version of a car turning into a TF. And then they'd have something like "the new Corvette" or "the new Viper" and have something about the toy being available, so they'd promote the toy and the car at the same time.

I was really too old to be into PR merchandise, but I still watched and enjoyed the original series, as well as Zeo, and enjoyed them for what they were, which was ultra-cheese the likes of which had never been seen before.  I'm still a big fan of the original PR, and I'm proud of that fact, but I never had any of the toys.  HOWEVER, I will make two comments: One, after a long haitus I did watch Time Force, some of Wild Force, most of Ninja Storm, and some of Dino Thunder, and although some seasons were definitely inferior, they were all a lot more entertaining than what I saw coming out of Armada or Energon, programming-wise.  I still enjoy watching PR on occasion, but the last two seasons of TF were just a chore for me to try and sit through.  Two, PR toys seem to have degenerated a GREAT DEAL over time.  I don't know what bearing this has on your argument, I just wanted to say that I remember the original Zords etc being a LOT more articulated and detailed than the ones currently being produced, which are just 2-foot bricks with some of the worst transformation schemes I have EVER seen.  Example: Dino Thunder - their zord had a tail for one arm and a head for the other?  WTF? 

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I have the original Zords from the old show still, season 1 and 2. I think they were actually good, I mean the very first series reminded me of Dinobots. And I should mention I have one of those "Let's Draw Manga" books written by PLEX (they're the people who do designs for Bandai toys, if ya didn't know). They have some really bad designs in there, for example, a tank where the treads turn into goofy and wobbly-looking arms and the cannon doesn't turn into a side-mounted weapon or anything -- it just kinda tilts up on the back. And one where an SUV's spare tire becomes the head. Seriously, that's bad design. And they don't even try anymore with designing the toys, they're horrid these days.

And one where an SUV's spare tire becomes the head. Seriously, that's bad design. And they don't even try anymore with designing the toys, they're horrid these days.

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So if the SUV has a flat, it has to use its head. :tflaugh  I'm not a big PR fan, but by just looking at the toys on the shelves I can tell the quality has gone down. The new SPD figures look like Pretender rejects. I had a few of the original toys from the original series and the rangers have more articulation than most action figures today, and the Zords while still little more than bricks were no worse than any G1 or early G2 stuff.

 

PR is popular because its show is on when kids can see it. Kids are more interested in being able to act out their favorite show than if a toy is articulated or detailed.

 

{MG, don't knock the Veritech/Valkyrie it is one of the best transforming robot designs. It has even been used as a Transformer and as the basis for many others.)

I was never big on the Valkyries/Veritechs...sorry if I offended. I know a lot of people here like their designs, but it never did anything for me. Robotech never left as strong an impression on me as did TF, so forgive me if I don't sound positive on Macross.

 

Back to the topic, SPD really had some ugly designs from what I saw. And as much as I liked the original show, even that was cheesy by today's standards. I loved the original Dragon Zord though (he was the coolest). I even loved the season 2 ones based on monsters, probably my favorite set. But they've gotten uglier over the years, like it doesn't matter as long as they make a buck off the kids. That's how it is with most stuff these days.

I was never big on the Valkyries/Veritechs...sorry if I offended. I know a lot of people here like their designs, but it never did anything for me. Robotech never left as strong an impression on me as did TF, so forgive me if I don't sound positive on Macross.

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You didn't offend, it's just that TFs owe much to that design: Jetfire, the Cyberjets, the Armada seekers (to a degree), and Energon Starscream.

Yeah, I know they do...I like the transformation gimmick, but I never cared for the visual look of the Valks. But to each his own. If you ask me, the new designs are awful...some of them don't even use five robots to form a big one, just three. And they're all bricks...they have the same level of articulation as the first Zords did in their combined mode (moving arms...and...that's it). But I liked Voltron a lot, who seems to be one of the big inspirations for a lot of gestalt robots, even to this day. But the Energon gestalts had a lot more articulation than any other combined robot to date. But PR still outsells it. I think it's ridiculous how many spinoffs they've done and all have been successes, undeservedly so IMO (if you aren't even trying with the show or toys, why should you make money off of it?).