The Energon Pub

News Credits: 349 · by **Bed Bugs** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:30 pm

Have you ever wished that Transformers were targeted, more towards you? Well, that dream may come to fruition.

According to this article, Tomy/Takara is severely struggling, and is looking for new options.

The entire toy market in Japan is on the decline for two reasons. The first of which, is the Lead Paint scandal at Mattel. This has caused Japanese Toy Companies stock prices to fall dramatically.

The other reason is that the youth population of Japan is severely shrinking. So with fewer children for these companies to market their products to, they are looking at targeting new markets--Adults.

This could very well be the reason that the Encore series has been released from Tomy. It could also explain why Tomy is looking to reissue several rare and obscure characters like Skylynx.

So it looks like this could be good news for collectors, but it could possibly spell the doom for the next generation as what makes a collector is having the toys when we are children to begin with.

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:36 pm

I am very interested in that!
Just hope I have a job once all them cool things come out!

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:39 pm

and DON'T make me come over there again Tomy-Takara!

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:43 pm

Counterpunch wrote:and DON'T make me come over there again Tomy-Takara!

It's you who did all this?
Thank you, now I have a new Religion!
Counterpunchologie! :grin:

by **Zombie Starscream** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:00 pm

I don't think it will spell a doom for them, as the demographic they are targeting is the one that has kids and does remember the older shows. They are more likely to get future customers from the kids of collectors, then they would from the regular population, I think. I like the idea that they are finally targeting us, the adults.

Besides, something that is more "adult" has that added cool factor that kids seem to glom onto, rather then something that they consider made for little kids, as is usual with Tf toys. Trust me, when kids see these new made-for-adults Tfs, they WILL want them. Even the children of non-collectors. Stuff made for adults tends to be made cooler looking, more realistic, and the charecters' stories more dark. What kills Tfs is when they are made too "kiddie," and that makes older kids and teens stay away from them for fear of being seen playing with toys deemed too "babyish."

News Credits: 11 · by **kirbenvost** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:13 pm

Dead Metal wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:and DON'T make me come over there again Tomy-Takara!

It's you who did all this?
Thank you, now I have a new Religion!
Counterpunchologie!

Good work, Counterpunch.

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:16 pm

It'll be interesting to hear what comes of this.

by **Starscream227** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:26 pm

Worried: Not really.

I think this could really go in two directions; the awesome
"Finally for Adutls!!" linework, and, if children are such a
hard thing to find in Japan, than Takara-Tomy outsourcing it's
designers and whatnot to Hasbro for the international
"child-saturated" market.

News Credits: 4 · by **Fireblast** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:28 pm

Well if Hasbro does something like this over here I'll be happy. I hope whoever's idea it was to make Kiss Players for little girls is fired because no offense, but marketing Transformers to little girls is like trying to marketing Barbie to little boys. Hopefully Takara Tomy makes more Masterpiece Transformers because Optimus Prime is rated as one of the best toys ever.

News Credits: 70 · by **Sideshow Sideswipe** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:31 pm

yeah lets see MP autobots! and a MP ARcee!

News Credits: 2 · by **Tusko** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:31 pm

Hope this breeds creativity and innovation.

by **Gutter Bunny** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:38 pm

i guess im just going to have to go over there and start makin babies...

on a more serious note, hopefully this doesnt spell doom for the line. Companies can only hold on so long to the heals of collecters...or i could be wrong.

by **metalformer** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:40 pm

Interesting development indeed. I am not holding my breath on anything until I see something solid but at the same time I am very glad to hear that! :grin:

I have became very hard to satisfy with Transformers so this could mean something at the level I was hoping for. I just hope they don't pull another Kiss Player again because, while I DO like hentai, I don't like it mixed with Transformers (unless its fan art

).

This is a tread i will definitivelly keep my optics fixed on! :lol:

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:49 pm

This is good news. We'll get reissues (and new reissues) and we might even see new molds aimed at an adult audience. (I.E. More Masterpiece, more complexities. Not sicko stuff.)

by **Zombie Starscream** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:55 pm

Autobot032 wrote:This is good news. We'll get reissues (and new reissues) and we might even see new molds aimed at an adult audience. (I.E. More Masterpiece, more complexities. Not sicko stuff.)

I agree. I don't like the sicko stuff either.

News Credits: 2 · by **Sid Burn** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:04 pm

Hopefully this will spawn more use of the TF comics as source material for molds.

I want a Nova Prime Dammit

by **Wes Crayon** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:06 pm

And here I was expecting to read about transforming fembots that interface with Convoy MP-RJE (Ron Jeremy Edition). I am disappointed now.

News Credits: 1 · by **spiritofcat** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:12 pm

Reissue of Skylynx would be awesome!
I always wanted him back in the day.

by **opjet** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:29 pm

it's plain and its simple here and ya guys can
back me up here release
skylyx,
omega suspreme,
star saber and victory leo,
a gestalt or like devastator seacons,
scourponok in all plain and simple
takara tomy if ya want to make a **** load of
yen release the big guns and i mean big guns
release that we as thought would never be
release in a million years any 1 with me

by **justynnbailey** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:43 pm

opjet wrote:it's plain and its simple here and ya guys can
back me up here release
skylyx,
omega suspreme,
star saber and victory leo,
a gestalt or like devastator seacons,

Seacons are a Club Exclusive. I think I'll just get them when they are available through the Club.

Victory Leo sounds cool though....

by **Zombie Starscream** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:53 pm

Maybe them now paying attention to the older fans will help spawn a cartoon that is to appeal to the "new" demographic. It makes sense, especially if their change of demos proves profitable.

by **Klozminded-G1** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:00 pm

Fender Bender wrote:Have you ever wished that Transformers were targeted, more towards you? Well, that dream may come to fruition.

According to this article, Tomy/Takara is severely struggling, and is looking for new options.

The entire toy market in Japan is on the decline for two reasons. The first of which, is the Lead Paint scandal at Mattel. This has caused Japanese Toy Companies stock prices to fall dramatically.

The other reason is that the youth population of Japan is severely shrinking. So with fewer children for these companies to market their products to, they are looking at targeting new markets--Adults.

This could very well be the reason that the Encore series has been released from Tomy. It could also explain why Tomy is looking to reissue several rare and obscure characters like Skylynx.

So it looks like this could be good news for collectors, but it could possibly spell the doom for the next generation as what makes a collector is having the toys when we are children to begin with.

It all sounds good to me, Just hope we don't have to part with the Masterpiece line!!!!!!!!!

News Credits: 3 · by **Damolisher** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:38 pm

Adult focus, huh? I'm calling G1 Scattorshot reissue.

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:02 pm

What's next?

Kiss Players Extreme?

No thanks.

News Credits: 3 · by **Damolisher** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:08 pm

Heh, Now with KENDO STICK Junko, Sunstreakerman! With Barbed Wire Baseball bat carrying Carly, Ironhide Funk! With Steel Chair carrying Marissa, JAZZ! VAN! DAM!