Transtech: The Transformers Era That Never Was

Transtech: The Transformers Era That Never Was

Imagine a world where Transformers Armada never happened and the brand had gone a completely separate route. Back in the early 2000s, that was almost the case. After the smash success of Beast Wars and the hugely divisive follow-up that was Beast Machines, Hasbro originally planned a third era — one that would build on the existing direction and pave further towards fusing the technological and organic themes prevalent at the time. This was the series that never came to be. This was Transtech. Although never fully realised and ultimately abandoned well before fruition, plenty of details about Transtech have since emerged over the years, including a plethora of concept art and character designs, as well as prototypes for several of the toys. It all paints a wildly distinct picture to where Transformers went instead, with Hasbro changing gears to port over Robots in Disguise 2001 before performing a seismic line-wide reboot with Armada. Yet it's fascinating to now sit and pore through what might have been, particularly given how incredibly creative so many of the Transtech ideas prove to be upon further examination. Featuring a mix of classic and Beast era characters, intricate gimmicks, non-humanoid designs, and vehicle modes unlike anything you've seen elsewhere, this is a window onto the road not travelled at the turn of the century. Had it been taken, Transtech would have sent Transformers on a very different journey for the years that followed — and here we explore exactly what that might have looked like. Patrons can get access to all the artwork and photos discussed in this episode via our Discord here (accessible for just £1 per month): https://discord.com/channels/974758218381287445/1511701662958616777 This episode began life as a Patreon commission by Tarngaryan — thanks for the brilliant suggestion! — Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear... Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com [https://www.tripletakeover.com/] Join the conversation with us on Discord Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover [https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover]

Missing Link Ironhide: A Bold Reimagining or a Step Too Far?

With Missing Link Ironhide having just been fully unveiled, there's a lot to talk about. Perhaps more than any other release in the TakaraTomy line, this one has defied fan expectations and delivered something that no one could have predicted by entirely reimagining the classic toy from the ground up. The result feels in the spirit of a vintage design, but much more in the style of the character's fictional portrayals from over the years. But what did we make of it all? On the one hand, it's not hard to see where the inspiration has come from. The original toy was a real hand-me-down oddity from Diaclone, featuring unusual proportions, a separating 'sled' module and, most infamously of all, a very non-traditional stickered seat face set behind its windshield. People have been imagining a suitable 'upgrade' of it ever since the childhood playgrounds of the 1980s, with plenty of custom efforts and add-on kits made available over the years. In that sense, Missing Link Ironhide feels like the culmination of decades of fan desire. However, there's also no doubt that some collectors had a firm idea of what Missing Link was all about — rightly or wrongly — and were hoping for something a little more faithful in terms of overhauling the original, causing palpable disappointment upon reveal. Are those expectations fair, though? And do they sit in line with the core brief of what Missing Link is supposed to be about? We explore whether the line was ever really about pure vintage accuracy, or if it's always been about something more interpretive. This episode was recorded just prior to the subsequent reveal of Missing Link Ratchet, but still, there's plenty of relevant speculation and in-depth discussion about how this latest effort has landed, whether we're excited for it, and just what it might mean for the future of the line. — Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear... Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com [https://www.tripletakeover.com/] Join the conversation with us on Discord Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover [https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover]

Action Masters: Did Non-Transforming Transformers Kill the Brand?

Released at a time when Transformers were already firmly on the wane after six years on toy shelves, 1990's Action Masters were Hasbro's attempt at 'rebooting' the line by bringing back familiar A-list characters and delivering them in more 'action figure' style. The concept was inherently divisive from the start: they're Transformers that don't transform. For a brand built entirely around transformation, this felt to some like abandoning the core premise. Soon seen as having killed the franchise after they proved to be the last year of original series product in North America (even though it continued elsewhere in the world), Action Masters have never quite shaken the infamy ever since. The very mention of them online typically triggers passionate reactions about how they represent everything wrong with late-G1 desperation, a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Transformers special. However, there are also collectors who have given them a sharp reappraisal in more recent times, finding a lot to admire about these admittedly clunky efforts to deliver something different — even if the flaws are there for all to see. Today we give this derided roster another look, taking in the vintage charm these surprisingly unposeable specimens possess, alongside the goofiness of the accompanying accessories and vehicles they were packaged with. We discuss what Action Masters were trying to achieve, why the concept failed so spectacularly with fans, and whether modern collectors approaching them without the baggage of 1990 can find merit in their quirky existence. Did they really deserve the hate, or were they simply the wrong idea at the wrong time? The action is alive — whether you want it to be or not. — Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear... Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com [https://www.tripletakeover.com/] Join the conversation with us on Discord Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover [https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover]

Transformers Big Stinkers: Do They Deserve a Second Chance?

This episode is the opposite of our Hidden Gems discussion. Rather than bigging up amazing Transformers toys that nobody mentions, we're re-assessing former releases which are already well known — but not in a good way. These are the perceived stinkers, the Renford Rejects, the real bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. The toys that as soon as they're mentioned online, everyone will quickly jump in to give them a major kicking, swiftly pointing out in elaborate detail why they are just plain bad. And it's not so much that we disagree with a lot of the points commonly made — it's more that we think the toys we're putting in the spotlight maybe have more going on beyond their all-too-often highlighted flaws. Sometimes a toy can be a bit of a letdown but still offer something that makes it otherwise enjoyable, or perhaps it just doesn't deserve the harsh reaction it so typically garners. Maybe the hate is justified, or maybe time and perspective reveal redeeming qualities that got lost in the initial backlash. That's what we're evaluating here, as we each choose a toy from Transformers history to sit in the dock and be judged all over again. We examine why these figures earned their reputations, what they actually get right despite their failings, and whether the community's collective memory is fair or simply piling on. Some might still be irredeemable disasters, but others might surprise you with hidden merit that's been overshadowed by swift judgement. Do they deserve the hate? There's only one way to find out. — Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear... Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com [https://www.tripletakeover.com/] Join the conversation with us on Discord Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover [https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover]

Q-Transformers: Takara's Adorable Choro-Q Homage

Q-Transformers is a 2014 Japanese exclusive line centred around being both a homage to and a spin-off from Takara's own classic Choro-Q line of super-deformed cars (known as Penny Racers in the West). Except here, the central gimmick isn't a pull-back-and-go mechanism but the ability to transform from licensed-but-chibified real world vehicles into familiar robots in disguise characters. Plus, as the name suggests, they're super cute! We examine what makes this line a real sleeper hit for collectors. Despite their tiny size and unparalleled accessibility on the aftermarket, the toys boast impressive levels of detail and paint far beyond what you might expect. With a wide range of desirable and often unusual car model choices employed — from classic sports cars to obscure Japanese market vehicles — there's plenty here for Transformers fans and petrolheads alike to appreciate. We also unpick the origins behind the execution of the toys, comparing them to vintage Choro-Q design and indeed the Micro-Change-inherited minibots from Transformers' earliest years. There's a surprising amount of heritage baked into these diminutive figures, connecting them to decades of Takara's toy design philosophy. The enthusiasm at play in this episode is palpable throughout. This one started as a Patreon commission by our patron John Pearl, but we thought it was so deserving of the full episode treatment that here we are. Fair warning: this is peak enablement territory. — Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear... Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com [https://www.tripletakeover.com/] Join the conversation with us on Discord Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover [https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover]