The Energon Pub

What toy line did Hasbro really start pushing the automorph features?

I just purchased my $3.00 Razorbeast, and to transform him, I pretty much just need to pull his tail up and some *automorph* happens and his beast body splits open and his chests automatically goes into place and there he is, 95% transformed!

Did they randomly do automorph faetures in beast wars toys, or was a regular thing? (i dont have many)

That was only used as a feature with the first year basics. Back then, it was called "quick attack transforming action". That particular gimmick was also used with the Machine Wars basics.

Machine Wars had a fair bit with Mirage, Prowl, Megatron, etc.

Automorph really became a full on gimmick in the movie line. Scout Skyblast also had an Automorph feature. Twist his chest and his head turns to the front.

Of course, with guys like Leader Prime, Brawl, and Megs, their feature's are partially animated, so not just turning and some other part transforms, they automatically move upon one trigger as well as having electronic lights and sounds.

Automorph was actually first named in Generation 2 Laser-rod Optimus Prime's instructions. It referred to the way the trailer transformed automatically like Armada Prime's.

A few figures have had "automorphs" since the very early days of Transformers, G1 Runamuck and Runabout were among the first.

However only in this movie line has Hasbro deliberately gone out and heavily marketed the "automorph" gimmick throughout an entire line.

I think they're running out of gimmick ideas.

I dread gimmicks. See how the torso claw gimmick messed up the movie Payload figure?

i_amtrunks wrote:A few figures have had "automorphs" since the very early days of Transformers, G1 Runamuck and Runabout were among the first.

However only in this movie line has Hasbro deliberately gone out and heavily marketed the "automorph" gimmick throughout an entire line.

Even before them there was Top Spin and Twin Twist.

I wish they would make a new Rattrap and Terrorsaur figure... I really thought that feature kind of held back what the figures could have been.

Air Commander Starscream wrote:I wish they would make a new Rattrap and Terrorsaur figure... I really thought that feature kind of held back what the figures could have been.

I was just about to mention Terrorsaur. I remember my little brother bought it, and we were stoked to transform the thing.

...and then we realized transformation took one craptacular half-step, and bam, done.

Cybertron Override/ Nitro Convoy has 'automorph', and yeah, so does Rattrap, I think. Not sure about him.

Also G1's Flyweeels and Battletrap