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Who invented transforming robots (Diaclone cars/trucks inparticular)? We know that Don Levine invented action figures, namely GI Joe, but who was the first to invent a robot that could transform into a vehicle/animal? What was the first Diaclone/Micro Change character invented that later came into production? Was Convoy the first, or just the most popular? Thanks in advance- (Fred has heart-attack from variant-information overload.) "Of course. Of course. It's all so clear now." -Bones McCoy Well, you wants, you gets. :-) Take it with a grain of salt, as always. Here's a short timeline for the Pre-TFs. For specific inventors of TFs, please visit the patent pages. For a product listing of Pre-TFs by year, see the Complete Pre-TF Listing. For a text presentation of the outline below, click here. Otherwise, read on, and...enjoy.
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1960: Dakkachan: The little symbol used by Takara up through the 80s (insert crude drawing of the little winking bear here). 1974: Microman Cosmo-Countach (lambo to 1/2 robot, must buy, please sell me one). 1979: Diecast Gundam (clover) plus tv show. 1981: Gundam (plastic models) (Bandai). 1979-80: Chokokin (Bandai) Daimos, etc. 1982: Chokokin (Bandai) Guardian, Godmars, Vehicle Vltron, etc. (Interesting side note: a TF-liscenced walkietalkie being sold in the dealer room is shaped to look like Godmars.) 1980: Diaclone. :-) Waruder and standard mini-drivers, etc, the Great Robot Base (folloed by Fortress X in 82). 1981: Microman. :-) Ravage (cyber-dober descendent, oddly called Jguar, a cat...), Condor, and the Frenzy/Rumble robot. 1982: Macross. :-) This is where the valk from Takatoko toys comes in, as well as the GPB armor set. 1982: Machine Robo. Yeah, the gobots, powersuits, the base, etc. 1983: Diaclone. Car Robot- Ironhide, Sunstreaker, etc. 1983: Microman/change. Takara Perceptor, Blaster. 1983: Beetlus (Beetras, Takatoku Toys). Deluxe Insecticons (by the way, the ladybug apparently never even made it to prototype stage?). 1984: Dinosaur Robo, Trainrobo, Constructor Robo. 1985: Zazai Gattai (Free Combination). Pre-Superion (never released in this format) Also: The Road Vulcan, which we saw two years ago as that large unknown truck/robot!! Oh my god!! More Notes: The TF storyline: (via press-release explaining the story) confused the Japanese, as they followed the storyline of the old toys. :-) They found it silly, childish even (faction symbols? Sentient? No drivers?), but the kids liked it.
1985: Henshin Sentai (Changeforce). Takara watches Hasbro, then attempts to create a story using existing Japanese Microman/Diaclone storyline. It was a way to get rid of old Pre-TF stock. (Apparently, this never quite worked out...but damn, the concept art of Blaster shooting Magnus, unreal!) |
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Followup Notes: -Ravage reminds some people of the cyber-dober from the 1975 MicroForever line. -Contrary to a certain article, the 82 Valk from Macross was not the first transforming robot (82). That honor goes to 1975 Raideen (robot/bird), followed by Combattler V (1976) as the first gestault. -Takara wanted a way to unite the storylines, didn't like the American version, but Hasbro was bigger, thus won out. -The reissue Diaclones are NOT popular with the Japanese. -Italy (Gig): Mego was the middleman (helped with Microman/naut for American market, if you recall), and had the contact with Takara. When Mego went bankrupt, Gig went directly to Takara. -Diakron and Kronoform in the US: Mego, again, was the middleman. :-)
-When they went Bankrupt, Hasbro stepped up to the plate. Interesting sidenote: Diakron and TF in America at the same time, because Takara's left hand didn't know what its right hand was doing. (Takara: "Oops...") :-) |
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Are they ancestors? Cousins? Have a look at the pre-transformers that might have been. More... |