Who invented transforming robots?

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Note: for the inventor of a specific transformer, visit the the patent pages!

>Who invented transforming robots(Diaclone cars/trucks inparticular)? >We know that Don Levine invented action figures, namely GI Joe, but >who was the first to invent a robot that could transform into a >vehicle/animal? What was the first Diaclone/Micro Change character >invented that later came into production? Was Convoy the first, or >just the most popular? >Thanks in advance-

(Fred has heart-attack from variant-information overload)

"Of course. Of course. It's all so clear now." -Bones McCoy

Well, you wants, you gets :-) Take it with a grain of salt, as always. Here's a short timeline for the pre-tfs. For specific inventors of tfs, please visit the the patent pages. For a product listing of pre-tfs by year, see the complete pre-tf listing. For a text presentation of the outline below, click here. Otherwise, read on, and...enjoy.

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1960: Dakkachan: The little symbol used by Takara up thru the 80s(insert crude drawing of the little winking bear here)

1974: Microman Cosmo-Countach(lambo to 1/2 robot, must buy, please sell me one)

1979: Diecast Gundam(clover) plus tv show

1981 Gundam(plastic models) (Bandai)

1979-80: Chokokin(Bandai) Daimos, etc

1982:Chokokin(Bandai) Guardian, Godmars, Vehicle Vltron, etc(interesting side note: a tf-liscenced walkietalkie being sold in the dealer room is shaped to look like Godmars)

1980: Diaclone :-) Waruder and std mini-drivers, etc, the Great Robot Base(folloed by Fortress X in 82)

1981: Microman :-) Ravage(cyber-dober descendent, oddly called Jguar, a cat...), Condor, and the frenzy/Rumble robot).

1982: Macross :-) This is where the valk from Takatoko toys comes in, as well as the GPB armor set.

1982: Machine Robo. Yea, the gobots, powersuits, the base, etc.

1983: Diaclone; Car Robot- Ironhide, Sunstreaker, etc

1983: Microman/change- Takara Perceptor, Blaster

1983: Beetlus(Beetras):(Takatoku toys) Deluxe insecticons(by the way, the ladybug apparently never even made it to prototype stage?)

1984: Dinosaur Robo, Trainrobo, Constructor Robo

1985: Zazai Gattai(free combination): Pre-Superion(never released in this format) Also: The Road Vulcan, which we saw two years ago as that large unknown truck/robot!! Oh my god!!

More notes: The Tf storyline:(via press-release explaining the story) confused the japanese, as they followed the storyline of the old toys :-) They found it silly, childish even(faction symbols? Sentient? No drivers?), but the kids liked it.

1985: Henshin Sentai(Changeforce): Takara watches Hasbro, then attempts to create a story using existing japanese microman/diaclone storyline. It was a way to get rid of old pre-tf stock(apparently, this never quite worked out...but dam, the concept art of Blaster shooting Magnus, unreal!)

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Followup notes:

-Ravage is dog-based, off the cyber-Dober from 1975 microforever line.

-Contrary to a certain article, the 82 Valk from Macross was not the first transforming robot(82). That honor goes to 1975 Raideen(robot/Bird, followed by Combattler V (1976) as the first gestault.

Takara wanted a way to unite the storylines, didn't like the american version, but Hasbro was bigger, thus won out.

-The reissue Diaclones are NOT popular with the japanese.

Italy(Gig): Mego was the middleman(helped with microman/naut for american market, if you recall), and had the contact with Takara. When Mego went Bankrupt,Gig went directly to Takara.

Diakron and Kronoform in the US: Mego, again, was the middleman :_) When they went Bankrupt, Hasbro stepped up to the plate. Interesting sidenote: Diakron and Tf in america at the same time, because Takara's left hand didn't know what its right hand was doing.(Takara: "Oops...") :-)

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Folloup Notes 2:

Could Hasbro been planning Tfs as early as 1982? Find out here!

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But what about Godaikin?
Are they ancestors? Cousins? Have a look at the pre-transformers that might have been...

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Back to Freds Complete American Variants Page.