New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun

Monday, February 20th, 2012 11:15PM CST

Categories: Toy News, Collectibles
Posted by: GetRightRobot Views: 58,798

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Seibertron's inexhaustible camera shifts it's focus to the little known "My First Transformers". A short lived toy line that originated in 1986. This series was focused on children ages 2 and up long before the Go-Bot or 1-2-3 Transformers lines.

An interesting note is that these toys had their own faction symbol, which resembles a very cute, rounded Autobot symbol but is neither Autobot nor Decepticon. Neither the characters nor the symbol have ever appeared in any fiction.

These three adorable Cybertronians were actually manufactured under the Playskool flag and were named Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun in Japan. Click any image below to view the full gallery!

Dump-Kun (Playskool Transformers)
First Transformers

Racer-Kun (Playskool Transformers)
First Transformers

Jet-Kun (Playskool Transformers)
First Transformers

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Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349791)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 20th, 2012 @ 11:22pm CST

Their insignia looks much cooler when it's flipped upside-down.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349804)
Posted by agentk9 on February 21st, 2012 @ 12:36am CST

Sabrblade wrote:Their insignia looks much cooler when it's flipped upside-down.

hhmm... indeed it does.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349809)
Posted by RhA on February 21st, 2012 @ 12:57am CST

Racer-Kun has some epic piping going on there.

These are very cool, IMO. I've seen Jet-Kun boxed online once... Sort of a shame I passed it up. Ah, maybe one day.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349813)
Posted by Mkall on February 21st, 2012 @ 1:12am CST

HEY! I had Jet-kun! I never knew his name, or that he was an actual Transformer before today! Thanks Seibs for reviving some old memories.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349824)
Posted by New Omen on February 21st, 2012 @ 3:25am CST

Racer-kun has some sagging ball bearings. I bet he's jealous of rotf Devastator. :lol:

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349826)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on February 21st, 2012 @ 3:43am CST

i always wondered where that symbol came from

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349837)
Posted by NebulanFree on February 21st, 2012 @ 5:18am CST

I have the US versions of these... somewhere...

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1349841)
Posted by TheForgottenTaxi on February 21st, 2012 @ 6:56am CST

These were literally my first Transformers, purchased for me by my parents when I was a tiny toddler. These three simple toys were what sparked my lifelong obsession with this whole darn franchise. Kind of staggering now that I look at them in the cold light of Seibertron gallery.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1350148)
Posted by TulioDude on February 21st, 2012 @ 8:35pm CST

Those are epic!

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1350150)
Posted by Noideaforaname on February 21st, 2012 @ 8:45pm CST

New Omen wrote:Racer-kun has some sagging ball bearings. I bet he's jealous of rotf Devastator.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1350170)
Posted by Rated X on February 21st, 2012 @ 10:23pm CST

I like these because they were history in the making.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376887)
Posted by Primus_Maximus on May 4th, 2012 @ 12:29pm CDT

My little bro had these back in 1986 when they came out 1 year after he was born. The regular Transformers came out a year before these in 1985. I met Peter Cullen at Botcon 2011 and he was a really great guy and was really impressed that I was a fan of Transformers since the beginning in 1985. I would not bother comparing these to ROTF Transformers because they were created for little kids in the 1980s and have nothing to do with more modern toys geared towards older kids and adults.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376902)
Posted by Vicalliose on May 4th, 2012 @ 1:05pm CDT

I now wish to see a custom Dump-Kun made from Animated Wreck-Gar. Do this now.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376906)
Posted by GuyIncognito on May 4th, 2012 @ 1:12pm CDT

Anyone know the meaning of the "-Kun" suffix in Japanese?

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376907)
Posted by Sabrblade on May 4th, 2012 @ 1:15pm CDT

GuyIncognito wrote:Anyone know the meaning of the "-Kun" suffix in Japanese?

It's an honorific used to express a form of affection/respect between good friends/family members/colleagues/pals and such, like how "-chan" is.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376908)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on May 4th, 2012 @ 1:20pm CDT

GuyIncognito wrote:Anyone know the meaning of the "-Kun" suffix in Japanese?

It has no meaning. Rather, it's a suffix used for addressing a certain person, in this case a little boy. Similar suffixes are:

-san: the most famous one. Neutral and sometimes used with family names, it's roughly analogous to the English "Mr." or "Mrs."
-sama: used for when you address someone you look up highly to.
-kun: used to address boys
-chan: used to address girls, or used as a sign of endearment.

*EDIT* Bah, ninja'd by Sabrblade.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376934)
Posted by GuyIncognito on May 4th, 2012 @ 2:48pm CDT

So you could say their names are Dump-boy, Jet-boy, and Racer-boy?

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376935)
Posted by Sabrblade on May 4th, 2012 @ 2:52pm CDT

GuyIncognito wrote:So you could say their names are Dump-boy, Jet-boy, and Racer-boy?

Not exactly. Like Jelze said, "-kun" has no real meaning in English. It's an honorific that shows affection. An appropriate way to say these names in English would be just "Dump", "Jet", and "Racer" spoken with endearment and/or respect.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1376938)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on May 4th, 2012 @ 2:56pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:
GuyIncognito wrote:So you could say their names are Dump-boy, Jet-boy, and Racer-boy?
Not exactly. Like Jelze said, "-kun" has no real meaning in English. It's an honorific that shows affection. An appropriate way to say these names in English would be just "Dump", "Jet", and "Racer" spoken with endearment and/or respect.

Or you could look at it this way. Honorifics can also be used for personification, turning an unliving object into a fictional character. What kind of character depends on the honorific.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1377012)
Posted by Optimum Supreme on May 4th, 2012 @ 6:42pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:
GuyIncognito wrote:So you could say their names are Dump-boy, Jet-boy, and Racer-boy?
Not exactly. Like Jelze said, "-kun" has no real meaning in English. It's an honorific that shows affection. An appropriate way to say these names in English would be just "Dump", "Jet", and "Racer" spoken with endearment and/or respect.

If it's an honorific, then wouldn't the closest thing be something like Mr. Dump?

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1377065)
Posted by Sabrblade on May 4th, 2012 @ 11:26pm CDT

Optimum Supreme wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
GuyIncognito wrote:So you could say their names are Dump-boy, Jet-boy, and Racer-boy?
Not exactly. Like Jelze said, "-kun" has no real meaning in English. It's an honorific that shows affection. An appropriate way to say these names in English would be just "Dump", "Jet", and "Racer" spoken with endearment and/or respect.

If it's an honorific, then wouldn't the closest thing be something like Mr. Dump?

It would, if it were "Dump-san" instead of "Dump-kun". "-san" is used with one's superiors like how "Mr." is, while "-kun" is more of an equal level between friends.

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1377435)
Posted by Galvatron X on May 6th, 2012 @ 4:26pm CDT

Hmmmm, this discussion about the meaning of "kun" is interesting.

I work with a SMC product called a "Monosashi-kun". I was always under the impression that this translated to "Mr. Measure" or "Mr. Ruler", but it seems that's not quite the case! It's a more diminutive term than "Mr.", I see!

You learn something every day...

Re: New Toy Galleries: Playskool "First Transformers" Dump-Kun, Jet-Kun, and Racer-Kun (1377540)
Posted by Sabrblade on May 6th, 2012 @ 10:41pm CDT

Galvatron X wrote:Hmmmm, this discussion about the meaning of "kun" is interesting.

I work with a SMC product called a "Monosashi-kun". I was always under the impression that this translated to "Mr. Measure" or "Mr. Ruler", but it seems that's not quite the case! It's a more diminutive term than "Mr.", I see!

You learn something every day...

Yes. "-san", or even the literal "misutaa", would be "Mr." or "Mister", while "-kun" is term used between good close friends, usually of similar ages. :-B