This page contains affiliate links. We may earn commissions when readers interact with or purchase items through these links. For more information, see our affiliate disclosures here.

How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

There is more to Transformers than movies, cartoons, comics and toys. Discuss anything else Transformers here.

How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Va'al » Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:55 am

Motto: "Till All Are Pun!"
An interview with Hasbro executives over at Business Insider gives us a look at how the company pitches, chooses, nudges and ultimately lands on the big screen their originally (mostly) plastic properties - Transformers obviously included! Check out some snippets below, and read the whole piece here.

With several more brands set to get the movie treatment in the next few years, we spoke with Hasbro Chief Marketing Officer John Frascotti to find out exactly how the company selects which of its toy lines get adapted to the big screen and how you can possibly turn a board game into a movie.

"We look for those brands that have story and character at their foundation because inevitably for any type of storytelling format, whether it's a movie, a television show, a digital comic ... it has to have great story and great characters at its foundation," says Frascotti.

[...]

"When you look at brands like Transformers and G.I. Joe they actually have a lot of lore and storytelling behind them already. So, in the case of Transformers, it's a 30-year-old brand and it had a long history of storytelling," said Frascotti. "Very similar, G.I. Joe who was founded in the '60s. Since then there's been a lot of storytelling and development in terms of comic books and television shows and movies and all types of rich storytelling. In those cases, where there's already a lot of storytelling in place, I think the roadmap is a little more evident."

After the success of "Transformers" in 2007, Frascotti says Hasbro continued to pitch other brands while studios began approaching them as well.
User avatar
Va'al
God Of Transformers
Posts: 17010
News Credits: 6188
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:00 am
Location: Italy
Buy from Va'al on eBay

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Rated X » Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:59 am

Motto: ""Assumption is the mother of all screw ups.""
Weapon: Saw-Edged Pincer
Thats gotta be the most corporate response Ive ever heard. Maybe its time to lock the suits in the basement and let kids and fans run the company.
Rated X
Banned
Posts: 8420
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:25 pm
Location: Miami, Florida
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 2
Endurance: 10
Rank: 7
Courage: 10+
Firepower: 10+
Skill: 8

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Shuttershock » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:27 am

Indeed, it's good to have a brand with a long list of interesting stories and characters. And then, the movie studios can fold that list up into a little paper football, flick it into the trash, and do whatever they want.
Shuttershock
Gestalt Team Leader
Posts: 914
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:48 pm
Buy from Shuttershock on eBay

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby OptimalOptimus2 » Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:39 pm

Motto: "Munkky not trukk!"
Weapon: Oxidating Laser
An Ouija movie? Looks like I'm buying a Ouija board!!!
Rodimus Prime wrote:You can't make me disappear. I am not feet. Image

I'm sorry but this has to be the most ridiculous statement of all Seibertron history.
Image
User avatar
OptimalOptimus2
Gestalt Team Leader
Posts: 984
News Credits: 13
Joined: Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:49 pm
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 9
Endurance: 10
Rank: 10
Courage: 10
Firepower: 10
Skill: 6

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Nemesis Maximo » Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:04 pm

Motto: "Always Be’s-ing and do’s-ing, never cheesing or choosing!"
Weapon: Gatling Cannon
Image
Back at it again!
Marvel Legends Domino

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Eat my ass funpub.

Burn wrote:And this is for taking Nemesis Maximo seriously.
*high fives Silly in the face*

carytheone wrote:I can't be assed to do any better right now.
User avatar
Nemesis Maximo
Gestalt
Posts: 2658
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:59 pm
Location: Northern Lower Michigan
Alt Mode: Lounge Lizard
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 5
Endurance: 6
Rank: 5
Courage: 10
Firepower: 10+
Skill: 7

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby MCutter » Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:13 pm

"We look for those brands that have story and character at their foundation..."
*cough*battleship*cough*hungryhungryhippos*cough*

"... because inevitably for any type of storytelling format, whether it's a movie, a television show, a digital comic ... it has to have great story and great characters at its foundation,"
Then we strip out 50-99% of the characters and story and replace it with an assortment of random aliens, sexy girls or "romance" sub-plots, stereotypes, and fart/sex/embarrassment jokes.

Pull the other one; it's got bells on it.
MCutter
Micromaster
Posts: 86
News Credits: 1
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:38 am

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Convoy » Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:33 pm

Rated X wrote:Thats gotta be the most corporate response Ive ever heard. Maybe its time to lock the suits in the basement and let kids and fans run the company.


I didn't want to say anything because I thought I might sound paranoid. (Does that sound paranoid?... Oh, wait!)
By what I've learned recently I'd rather know how Hasbro decides which movies get toys.

edit:
Thanks, Chuck Dawg
Last edited by Convoy on Thu Jul 17, 2014 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Information wants to be free.
Convoy
Fuzor
Posts: 279
News Credits: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:36 am

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby PrymeStriker » Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:50 pm

Motto: "When did I get this tattoo?"
Weapon: Thrust Gun
So, in the case of Transformers, it's a 30-year-old brand and it had a long history of storytelling," said Frascotti.


Yes. A long history of storytelling with very few cases of good storytelling. :roll:
Image
By "Kim Yura" & "Zimmo81"
Henry921 wrote:You can always be counted on to listen to reason, Pryme.

Dead Metal wrote:Have you ever, and i mean ever seen/read/heard something that is completely original and does not copy/homage/pay tribute to something else? Here's a hint: Nope. You never have and you never will.
User avatar
PrymeStriker
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5961
News Credits: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:57 pm
Location: Happytown, Hell
Alt Mode: An Enormous Red Rocket
Strength: 1
Intelligence: 1
Speed: 1
Endurance: 1
Rank: 1
Courage: 1
Firepower: Infinity
Skill: 1

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Convoy » Thu Jul 17, 2014 5:55 pm

PrymeStriker wrote:
So, in the case of Transformers, it's a 30-year-old brand and it had a long history of storytelling," said Frascotti.


Yes. A long history of storytelling with very few cases of good storytelling. :roll:


Hahaha! Even the writers admit it. Deadlines, man.
#printmoney
>:oP
Information wants to be free.
Convoy
Fuzor
Posts: 279
News Credits: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:36 am

Re: How Hasbro Decides What Toys Become Movies

Postby Convoy » Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:09 pm

MCutter wrote:
"We look for those brands that have story and character at their foundation..."
*cough*battleship*cough*hungryhungryhippos*cough*

"... because inevitably for any type of storytelling format, whether it's a movie, a television show, a digital comic ... it has to have great story and great characters at its foundation,"
Then we strip out 50-99% of the characters and story and replace it with an assortment of random aliens, sexy girls or "romance" sub-plots, stereotypes, and fart/sex/embarrassment jokes.

Pull the other one; it's got bells on it.


This post just made me laugh. Now you've got me expecting a blockbuster summer hit starring an alien female hippo who also happens to be sexy and looking for love. Include "sub-plots, stereotypes, and fart/sex/embarrassment jokes." Throw some explosions in there and call it a day! I'd pay $30 bucks to see it in 3D and buy garbage "food" for too much money!
What is it Team America says?


edit:

You could say she's hungry for love... but I wouldn't.

Rare double edit:

Tammy!?!?!?
Information wants to be free.
Convoy
Fuzor
Posts: 279
News Credits: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:36 am


Return to Transformers General Discussion

Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit our store on eBay
These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SKYFIRE Transformers RID Robots In Disguise Deluxe Basic complete 2001 230821A"
NEW!
SKYFIRE Transforme ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SKYBLAST JET MODE Transformers Attacktix Energon complete Hasbro 2006 190518"
SKYBLAST JET MODE ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Transformers Energon Volume 2 COMIC / PRODUCT CATALOG 2004 Landmine Hasbro"
Transformers Energ ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Warrior Class ENERGON AXE ATTACK OPTIMUS PRIME Transformers Cyberverse 2018 New"
Warrior Class ENER ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SMOKESCREEN Transformers Armada McDonald's Happy Meal Fast Food 2002 230719A"
NEW!
SMOKESCREEN Transf ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "STRONGARM Transformers Energon Class + instructions + comic Hasbro 2004 230427B"
STRONGARM Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "MEGATRON Transformers Cybertron Legends of Cybertron complete 2005 220813A"
MEGATRON Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "MEGATRON Transformers Cybertron Legends of Cybertron complete 2005 230719A"
NEW!
MEGATRON Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SHATTER Transformers Bumblebee Movie Energon Igniters Power Plus Series 2018 New"
SHATTER Transforme ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SKYBLAST ROBOT MODE Transformers Attacktix Energon complete Hasbro 2006 190518"
SKYBLAST ROBOT MOD ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Armada HOT SHOT Transformers Legacy Evolution Deluxe Class Hasbro 2023 New"
Armada HOT SHOT Tr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "MEGATRON Transformers Armada McDonald's Happy Meal Fast Food 2002 230719A"
NEW!
MEGATRON Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "NIGHT ATTACK MINI-CON TEAM Transformers Armada complete Hasbro 2003 231209A"
NEW!
NIGHT ATTACK MINI- ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "OPTIMUS PRIME Transformers Cybertron Burger King Fast Food Premium 2005 230719A"
NEW!
OPTIMUS PRIME Tran ...
* Price and quantities subject to change. Shipping costs, taxes and other fees not included in cost shown. Refer to listing for current price and availability.
Find the items above and thousands more at the Seibertron Store on eBay
Transformers Podcast: Twincast / Podcast #346 - Gas Station Jamboree
Twincast / Podcast #346:
"Gas Station Jamboree"
MP3 · iTunes · RSS · View · Discuss · Ask
Posted: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024

Featured Products on Amazon.com

These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Buy "Transformers Authentics Bumblebee" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Exclusive Cyber Battalion Class Shockwave Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Leader Evolution Rodimus Unicronus" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Blackwing" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Leader Evolution Rodimus Prime" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 10 Deluxe Class Movie 1 Autobot Jazz" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Windblade and Scorchfire" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Autobot Moonracer" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Deluxe Titans Return Autobots Throttle and Breakaway Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Sergeant Kup and Flintlock" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Micronus Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Attacker 8 Newman Action Figure" on AMAZON