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Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby Nekoman » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:48 pm

Motto: "Think for yourself, and think hard."
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They aren't dolls or action figures... They're my... fRiEnDs...

Don't they speak to the rest of you?
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby Insane Galvatron » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:21 pm

If you can brush it's hair, it's a doll. If you can't, it's an action figure.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby Gauntlet101010 » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:07 pm

[-(

They're not dolls. Sometimes it's not clear cut as to whether something can be called a doll or an action figure. There's some overlap. The original GIJoes were dolls for boys. And then there's the She-ra toys which were doll-like action figures. But both modern incarnations really escape being dolls. I think the lack of "hair" and changeable clothes is really the key here. There's also the overall look of the figure as well; while making a text definition can be tricky you'd never mistake a doll for an action figure (or vice versa) in modern toys. It just wouldn't happen. The overlap doesn't exist much today as boys shun anything viewed as "girly" so people make dolls more dollike and action figures more .... action figurey.

TFs, by and large, can't really be put into the doll category. Too inhuman, too hard and angular, and you really don't play with them in the same way we you'd play with a Barbie. You'll really have to go for an antiquated, outdated usage of the word to fit the average TF into the "doll" category.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby RhA » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:56 am

Motto: "BRING ME DANGER!"
If they are meant to invoke some kind of parental response, it's a doll. Dressing up, cleaning up, combing etc. Does your humanoid toy train you to be a parent? Doll.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby paul053 » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:20 am

Doll can be hugged.

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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby kirbenvost » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:46 am

Motto: "Deal with it."
Weapon: Sniper Rifle
Nekoman wrote:They aren't dolls or action figures... They're my... fRiEnDs...

Don't they speak to the rest of you?


:lol:

DISCHARGE wrote:I would like to thank my daughter's Barbie for lending Terrosaur this fabulous outfit
010.JPG
:SMUG:


:lol: :lol:

dinojack86 wrote:They are neither. If anything they are more closely related to "action figures" but I offer this- I firmly believe Transformers are their own thing, much like lego. People could call those action figures/action sets or whatever else but they're not, they're lego. That's just what they are. Transformers are Transformers, robots that transform into cars, trucks, guns, animals, etc. I think they're unique in that respect.


This actually makes the most sense to me. But for the purpose of classification, I would call them action figures. Of course, the argument that the term 'action figure' is a made-up marketing word is entirely valid. But even though modern transformers with their many points of articulated ball-joints are defnitely action figures, TFs didn't really find their origins in action figures per se. As we all know, G1 toys bear more resemblance to die-cast cars, if anything. And a further argument that they are not dolls would be vintage toy robots, the old plastic tin-type robots wouldn't really be considered dolls, in my opinion.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby Gauntlet101010 » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:03 pm

Legos aren't entirely their own thing. They are building blocks. They've become sophisticated, but at their core they still are the same as their wooden ancestors with letters carved into them. Nowadays Lego doesn't even have full rights to their own design. Not with Mega blocks and Kre-o and any other block you can toss in there. You may even be able to cross Legos with model building, but they aren't entirely their own category.

TFs relating to car models ... I can buy that to a point. Certainly the original line had some of this, and then there's alternators, the MPs, and the movie lines that further this. But nowadays I think it's pretty incidental.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby Yotsuyasan » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:26 pm

Motto: "No matter where you go, there you are."
Wow... I'm rather impressed that this thread has lasted more then two posts, never mind four pages! I'd have thought that the second post would have said, "Action Figures," and that'd be the end of it. Kind of like the website to tell us if the Large Hadron Collider has destroyed the world yet.

For those jokingly suggesting that things like the City Commander armor, or the various armor packs for Macross Valkyries would make them dress-up dolls... That really makes me wish I had been able to get this pretty rare accessory set for Max's Valkyrie:

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And for those that would argue that the phrase "Action Figure" was a marketing ploy designed to sell dolls to boys... Well yes, that may have been the original etymology of the phrase, but I think it has been in the lexicon for a sufficient period of time now to stand well enough on its own by now.

DISCHARGE wrote:I like the Transformer dolls that cry and wet themselves.


That'd be Starscream. You can even dress him up in his Coronation outfit.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby Gauntlet101010 » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:43 pm

I don't think clip-on armor or Starscream's coronation parts is in the same vein as putting on cloth clothes. Again, it bears similarity on paper, but in practice it's quite different.
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Re: Are Transformers action figures or dolls?

Postby RhA » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:18 pm

Motto: "BRING ME DANGER!"
Gauntlet101010 wrote:I don't think clip-on armor or Starscream's coronation parts is in the same vein as putting on cloth clothes. Again, it bears similarity on paper, but in practice it's quite different.


Okay.

How?
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