Triple Takeover Toycast

The Triple Takeover team are often blamed for indulgent toy purchases across social media, but the world’s worst-kept secret is that we’re usually self-enabling more than anything else. A big part of that enablement comes from re-purchasing toys we previously moved on — sometimes years later, and often for very different reasons than when we first sold them. In this episode, we dig into why that h...

Wherever there’s an Optimus Prime, a Nemesis is never far behind. With the inevitable Legacy Black Convoy having recently surfaced online, the team take the opportunity to look back at the long history of black Optimus repaints across the Transformers brand. In this episode, we explore how the idea of a dark mirror to Optimus Prime has evolved over the years, why these figures remain so popular wi...

The team take a deep dive into TakaraTomy’s modern Diaclone line, exploring what makes these high-end toys so distinctive and alluring for collectors. From intricate engineering and premium materials to ambitious concepts and sheer shelf presence, we discuss why Diaclone feels both familiar and refreshingly different — and why it has captured the attention of so many toy fans. Don't call it a rebo...

The Triple Takeover team may be getting older, but at least we’re amassing more robots. With a round of birthdays freshly behind us, this episode sees us chatting through some of the Transformers-related gifts we’ve received — a discussion that, inevitably, spirals into all manner of other topics along the way. From thoughtful surprises to unexpected choices, it’s a relaxed and personal conversati...

Transformers: Energon arrived in 2004 to coincide with the brand’s 20th anniversary, and with that milestone came a wealth of homages to the early days of the robots in disguise. In this episode, the team explore some of those callbacks and design choices, discussing how Energon positioned itself within Transformers history and how those anniversary influences were reflected in the toys. What bega...

The team tackle one of the most dreaded issues in toy collecting: discoloured plastic. Often thought of as a problem confined to older toys, recent examples have shown that discolouration can affect modern releases as well. In this episode, we explore what causes plastic to discolour, why it remains such a persistent and frustrating issue for collectors, and what factors make some figures more vul...

The Triple Takeover team go a little highbrow and turn their attention to one of the most important elements of any Transformers toy: the head sculpt. In this episode, we dig into what makes a great head design, why it can make or break a figure, and how small sculpting choices can have a huge impact on personality and shelf presence. Along the way, we highlight personal favourite examples and sha...

To mark our one-year anniversary, the Triple Takeover team finally dive into a topic we’d been teasing since the very beginning: Car Robots and Robots in Disguise from the 2000–2001 era. In this bumper-length episode, we explore the toys, designs, and ideas that made this period such a standout moment for the brand, discussing its place in Transformers history and why it continues to resonate with...

The Triple Takeover team serves up another dose of controversy as they tackle more Transformers-related topics that have long divided the fandom. In this episode, we dig into hot-button subjects such as partsforming, product leaks, and even pronunciation, exploring why these issues provoke such strong reactions and how opinions around them have shifted over time. While things do get a little heate...

M.A.S.K. holds a place in many ’80s collectors’ hearts that’s every bit as strong as Transformers, combining memorable vehicles, clever gimmicks, and a distinctive visual identity. In this episode, the team are workin' overtime to explore what made M.A.S.K. so special, discussing the toys, the play patterns, and the emotions they continue to evoke decades later. From childhood memories to how the...

Reissues have been a staple of the Transformers toy line since the days of the gold box Classics releases in 1990, and over time they’ve grown into a varied and sometimes complex part of modern collecting. In this episode, the team take a clear-eyed look at Transformers reissues, discussing how their role has evolved, why some are viewed as desirable alternatives to original releases, and where op...

1986 was another iconic year for the Transformers toy line, thanks in no small part to the release of The Transformers: The Movie and the characters it introduced. In this episode, the team focus specifically on the Generation 1 toys that first appeared in the film, including Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, Galvatron, and more. We discuss how these characters translated from screen to toy shelves, what set...

Among those in the know, the Turbomasters are often regarded as the jewel in the crown of the late Generation 1 Transformers toy line. In this episode, the team don their most rose-tinted glasses — quite literally — as they take a closer look at Thunderclash, Rotorstorm and company, discussing what set these figures apart, why they made such a strong impression at the time, and how they’ve come to...

Your pre-order has finally come in — which means it’s time to take a whistle-stop tour through the strange and often unpredictable world of unofficial Transformers toys. In this episode, the team draw on their own experiences within the third-party review scene, discussing what it’s like to live with these figures beyond first impressions. From shared samples and shifting expectations to logistica...

The Triple Takeover team court controversy by diving into some of the most hotly contested topics in Transformers history. These are the kinds of subjects that have sparked endless debate among fans over the years, so in this episode we unpack where those strong opinions come from, why they persist, and how perspectives have shifted over time. While passions do run high, the aim here isn’t to sett...

Enter, if you dare, as the Triple Takeover team embrace the spooky season with a Halloween special. With pumpkin spice in the air, we take a playful tour through the darker and weirder corners of Transformers, drawing on ghosts, monsters, Pretenders, and other eerie oddities from across the franchise. From vampire vibes and zombie aesthetics to some particularly unsettling toy concepts, this episo...

It’s lights out for Transformers GT: Mission GT-R , as the Triple Takeover team race through this underappreciated but spectacular line of robots from TakaraTomy. Released in 2013 and inspired by Japan’s Super GT racing scene, Transformers GT combined high-end aesthetics with luxury car modes and a very distinctive sense of style. In this episode, we explore what made the line so unique, why it fl...

The Transformers Generations line has long been a driving force behind the brand, but in this episode the team chug back to where it all began by revisiting 2006 and the original Classics releases. We wax nostalgic on these now-iconic toys, discussing what made them feel so fresh at the time and why they marked such an important turning point for Transformers collecting. Along the way, we also get...

Transformers War for Cybertron: Kingdom marked a new step for the franchise in bringing together Generation 1 and Beast Wars characters within a single animated series. In this episode, the team discuss their thoughts on Kingdom as both a show and a toy line, exploring its approach to legacy characters, its storytelling choices, and how the accompanying figures stacked up alongside the animation....

The 2007 live-action movie marked a seismic shift for Transformers, reshaping both the toy line and the fandom in ways that are still felt today. In this episode, the team look back at the build-up to Transformers (2007) and the reaction to Michael Bay’s first big-screen outing for the robots in disguise. We discuss the film’s impact across multiple fronts, including the soundtrack, cast, and acco...

1985 marked the second year of the Transformers toy line, and it was a period packed with figures that would go on to become true icons of the franchise. In this episode, the team explore the Generation 1 releases from 1985, discussing standouts such as Shockwave, Jetfire, Devastator, the Dinobots, and more. We also take a closer look at the toys that didn’t originate from Diaclone or Micro Change...

The Transformers Masterpiece line took collectors of robots in disguise to new heights when it launched in 2003, redefining expectations for accuracy, engineering, and presentation. In this episode, the team look back at the early years of Masterpiece , articulating the sense of wonder these releases inspired and discussing why they felt so significant at the time. From ambitious design choices to...

Release the inner beast as the Triple Takeover team turn their attention to the original Transformers: Beast Wars toy line that burst onto the scene in the 1990s. In this episode, we put figures like Optimus Primal and Megatron under the microscope, discussing how the Beast Wars toys challenged expectations and redefined what Transformers could be at the time. From bold aesthetics and integrated g...

Toy packaging can capture the imagination like nothing else, often leaving just as strong an impression as the toys themselves. In part two of this two-part discussion, the team continue their exploration of toy packaging, covering more classic examples from Transformers , M.A.S.K. , Starcom , Masters of the Universe , and beyond. We expand on why packaging has such lasting power, the memories it...

Toy packaging can capture the imagination like nothing else, often leaving just as strong an impression as the toys themselves. In part one of this two-part discussion, the team dive into the world of toy packaging, exploring everything from classic Transformers box art to M.A.S.K. , Starcom , Masters of the Universe , and more. We talk about why packaging mattered so much, how it shaped childhood...