Transformer ToysThe Transformer toys began as a combination of the popular Japanese Diaclone robots and Micro Change toys, renamed by Hasbro and brought to the United States in the early 1980's. The very first Transformers introduced were the now famous Autobots, which were similar to GI Joe and Star Wars toys in size. Later, larger versions of these toys such as Optimus Prime were released, but did not suffer the same decline in popularity once their size was increased. Following the popularity of the Transformers robots, an animated series was released along with feature length movies, and a comic book was also introduced by Marvel. These two media outlets spawned a whole host of other Transformers toys and accessories, from lunchboxes to clothing, in addition to their regular action figure line. Other popular types of Transformers toys were the Constructicons, which were essentially a team of smaller robots that combined to form one large robot, and the Dinobots, a group of stylized dinosaurs that changed into robots as well. With the success of the toys, movies and television shows, the first generation of Transformer toys were destined to become classics. The last year of production for the line that would be known as Generation One of the Transformers toys was 1990, but after only two years, Hasbro attempted to revive their successful Transformers robots' line by releasing Generation II, which consisted basically of re-releases of classic figures with new, more modern paint jobs. It wasn't until 1996, however, that Hasbro saw some measure of the success of the classic Transformers toys with their Beast Wars line, which much like the Dinobots, featured robots that transformed into beasts rather than vehicles. Finally, in 2004, with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the birth of the Transformer toys, a new line of toys and cartoon series were introduced, bringing the Transformers Robots in Disguise slogan back into the vocabulary of a new generation. Collecting Transformers toys can be more than just a pleasant trip down memory lane, especially if you loved playing with them as a kid. If you still have your old figures in good enough shape that you can still transform them without breaking them, then you're probably one of the minority. And if you have the original Generation One figures still on their original cards, then you're probably a true collector! These days, mint in the package Transformers robots can be hard to find, even online or on auction websites. In comparison to some of the other classic toys from the early 1980's, Transformer toys have only seemed to increase in value. Therefore, if you're a fan from way back looking to rebuild a lost collection or pick up a few favorites from your youth, it's a good idea to also pick up a collector's guide or recent price guide to make sure that you know what you're getting into. On the other hand, if you still have lots of your old Transformers toys in their packaging and are looking to sell them, be sure that you take a look at the latest price guide to make sure you aren't underselling your treasures or overcharging by so much that no one will take a second look at them. Taking care of your collectibles is also very important, and extremely valuable toys should be kept in a display case to keep the packaging from fading or warping with extreme temperatures or sunlight. Transformers toys are more than just a fun memory for many collectors, they are also a prime example of a design ingenuity rarely seen in these days of mass market, cartoon based action figures. Even though they have been around for more than two decades now, Transformers are still winning new fans every day and with every change in the line, so if you're looking to start collecting, now is as good a time as any to get on board. If the past is any indicator, the popularity of the Transformers, Robots in Disguise, is only going to keep increasing as time goes on. |