Triple Takeover Toycast

1986 is one of the most memorable years in Transformers history, but it’s not just the headline movie releases that deserve attention. In this episode, the team shine a light on some of the unsung heroes of the year, looking beyond the obvious and discussing figures like Sky Lynx, the Battlechargers, the Triple Changers, and more. We explore what made these toys stand out at the time, how they wer...

Even decades on, Beast Machines remains one of the most polarising chapters in Transformers history, inspiring a level of debate and disagreement that few other eras can match. In this episode, the team dive into the 1999/2000 toy line with varying degrees of familiarity and affection, exploring what made Beast Machines so controversial at the time and why it continues to divide opinion. From radi...

Micromasters are one of the most celebrated parts of the Generation 1 Transformers line, delivering classic robots in disguise fun in miniature form. But what’s better than lots of little Transformers? How about little Transformers that combine to form even bigger ones? That’s exactly what the Micromaster Sixcombiners offer. In this episode, the team explore the various releases in this sub-line,...

As part of TFNation 2022, the team were delighted to attend a panel with Andy Couzens, formerly Head of Boys Toys for Hasbro Europe and a key figure in the development of the European-exclusive era of Transformers from 1991 onwards — often referred to by fans as Generation 1.5. Following the panel, we were able to spend some additional time speaking with Andy, gaining further insight into how this...

The party’s over and it’s time to head home… but at least we’ve got a sack full of new toys to help soften the comedown. With convention season wrapped up, this episode sees the team looking back at dealer room hauls from events past, revisiting some of our proudest purchases alongside a few that perhaps didn’t live up to expectations. We talk about what made certain finds feel special at the time...

Convention season is upon us, making it the perfect time to talk about what, for many collectors, is the highlight of the toy collecting year. In this episode, the team explore what makes conventions such a special part of the hobby, from guests and panels to dealer rooms, displays, cosplay, artwork — and, of course, the inevitable late nights and hangovers. Whether you’re a seasoned convention-go...

Many collectors remember the period between 2011 and 2015 as the peak of the Transformers Masterpiece line, when TakaraTomy seemed to deliver one standout release after another. Much of this era is closely associated with celebrated toy designer Shogo Hasui, whose work during these years helped define what Masterpiece could be and cemented his reputation within the fandom. In this episode, the tea...

Today’s episode is all about stickers — one of the most deceptively stressful aspects of vintage Transformers collecting. The team dive into the giddy highs and frustrating pitfalls of keeping vintage Transformers stickers looking as presentable as possible, from application and preservation to the hard truths of wear, age, and regret. Along the way, we discuss why stickers provoke such strong fee...

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...