After the lukewarm run of Energon, Transformers: Cybertron was largely able to revitalize the brand. The presence of a strong, unified gimmick, comparatively sophisticated engineering, and the introduction of the groundbreaking Legends of Cybertron subline all combined to carry Cybertron to financial success and a fonder place in the memories of the fans. The line was so large in scope that it had something to offer every fan. For collectors, Cybertron had the first ever figure of Primus, envisioned as the robot mode of the planet Cybertron itself. For kids, the line reintroduced Mini-cons, and pioneered the aforementioned Legends class, simple, small scale toys of main characters such as Optimus Prime and Megatron.(Derik; Corbet) The more conventional figures were each from various colony planets, each with its unique aesthetic. (Saix). In many ways, Cybertron took the themes of the earlier entries of the Unicron Trilogy and explored them to their full potential.
The core gimmick of the Cybertron line was Cyber Keys and the several colony planets. Fictionally, the concept was that Transformers had long ago expanded from their initial home planet of Cybertron, colonizing other worlds. However, they eventually lost contact with these colonies, and as they reestablished connection to them, discovered diverse groups of radically different Transformers. (Saix) Each planet had its own style of Cyber Key, which could unlock new features on a Transformer. (Dracokanji) In practice, Cyber Keys functioned much like Mini-cons; each toy came with one, and it could be used to activate spring-loaded gimmickry of various levels of complexity, depending on the size of the figure. (Dracokanji) Each Cyber Key had a serial code on the back that could be entered into Hasbro’s website for more in depth character information about the figure. (Dracokanji). Especially in contrast with Energon’s vague combination theme, the Cyber Keys were well defined, and provided a strong unifying element to the line.
This element of unity was useful in part because of the substantively different aesthetics of the colony planets. Velocitron was the speed plane; “The vehicle modes are futuristic and fantastical” (Saix; Dr.Fang). Most of the figure’s alternate modes were streamlined and racing focused. Gigantion, the construction themed planet, featured transformers that were comparatively large.(Saiax;ItsWalky) To emphasize this height difference, each of them came with a Mini-con partner, who could ride or man the vehicle mode of the larger figure in some way. (Saix; Derik) These figures also all featured a work mode, essentially the robot mode with the proportions readjusted to be more squat. (MSipher) Animatron, the jungle planet, featured figures with “deeply-complex, nigh-organic sculpting that brings to mind the Transmetal IIs of Beast Wars”. (Saix) In many ways, this enabled Cybertron to tie together many themes that had been explored by earlier lines. The line now had a fictional conceit that allowed it to have cybertronian styled vehicle modes, more earth based modes, futuristic robotic animals, and other aesthetics, all at the same time.
Like Armada and Energon before it, Cybertron released some truly massive figures. Perhaps most memorably, the line created the first ever new mold figures of one of the most important characters in the Transformers mythology, Primus. (Octopus Prime) Primus, essentially the Transformers god, turned into the titular planet, Cybertron, in some ways mirroring the Unicron of the Armada line. Like the powermasters in the days of yore, Primus could only be transformed by inserting a key (which itself held four Cyber Keys, one for each planet) into various places on the toy, ‘unlocking’ it from itself. (Octopus Prime) In that same size class, HasTak also saw fit to release… An upscaled version of the voyager class Starscream figure.(S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 47) The toy came with his crown, in a reference to Starscream’s famous death scene in the 1986 Transformers film. (Spoilers guys Starscream dies in the movie)
But perhaps the most innovative thing Cybertron did with size was at the other end of the spectrum. First, and unsurprisingly, Cybertron reintroduced Mini-cons, creating some new mold teams and rereleasing many Armada figures. (Derik) Secondly, the Legends class was introduced. Legends class figures were small, 2-3 inch figures of the show’s main cast, with simplified articulation and transformation schemes. (Corbet) These figures “[gave] kids the chance to own an Optimus Prime or Megatron they could keep in their pocket”, in many respects making these characters accessible to children who might not be able to obtain a larger figure. (Saix) Many, many subsequent toylines have capitalized on this idea.(Corbet) Although HasTak have since discontinued the use of the Legends moniker, the core concept continues to be a staple of the brand, almost two decades after Cybertron’s initial release.(Corbet) Indeed, the creation of the Legends class concept is arguably the most influential part of the line.
As with almost every toyline since Beast Wars, Cybertron continued the practice of redecoing earlier toys and releasing them again to pad out the end of the line. Indeed, at this point, the practice was so commonplace that it almost ceases to be worth mentioning; I will likely omit it from essays at this point, since it is a near universal occurrence.
Cybertron also featured a remarkable percentage of more obscure references to other franchises. Of particular note is the Longrack figure. Longrack was a redeco and minor retool of Armada Hoist. (Quickstrike) The figure’s deco and name were references to a Beast Wars Neo character that never saw release in the United States. (Quickstrike) Although this sort of arcane reference would eventually become a common practice, (especially with the advent of the TFwiki, making it so folks like myself can gain knowledge without earning it like the folks who write the wiki had to back in the old days) in 2006 it was fairly novel, especially in a line not aimed at collectors. These references are among the very first of something that would prove to be a staple going forward.
Overall, Transformers: Cybertron is a fondly remembered toyline. Between the robust, Armada style engineering, the reintroduction of spring-loaded gimmicks, and the presence of more accessible, smaller scale figures, Cybertron serves as a fitting capstone to the Unicron Trilogy. It is a line of toys in many ways dedicated to making toys fun for kids to play with, which was arguably the greatest virtue of Armada and Energon. Figures such as Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and Primus are famous and well loved; the Legends of Cybertron line continues to influence the brand to the present day. Cybertron even had something for older collectors, in the form of references to earlier characters and figures. The regard the fans hold for Cybertron is quite tangible; Cybertron is one of very few toylines to receive modern, retail figures that directly homage characters and toys from an older line. (Siax) Cybertron marks the successful end of a comparatively successful series of ideas. But, as the furmanism goes, it never ends. Cybertron proved to be, not an ending, but a pause, a segue to the most dramatic reinvention it had experienced since Beast Wars; The live action Transformers movies.
Works Cited
Autobus Prime et al. “Animatron” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Animatron Accessed 7/18/2020
Corbet et al. “Legends Class (2005)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Legends_Class_(2005) Accessed 7/18/2020
Dark T Zeratul et al. “Scorponok (Energon)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Scorponok_(Energon)#Cybertron Accessed 7/18/2020
Deceptitran et al. “Megatron (Armada)/toys” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_(Armada)/toys#Dinosaur Accessed 7/18/2020
Derik et al. “Mini-con” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mini-con Accessed 6/26/2020
Dracokanji et al. “Cyber Key” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Cyber_Key Accessed 7/18/2020
Dr Fang et al. “Velocitron” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Velocitron Accessed 7/18/2020
ItsWalky et al. “Gigantion” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Gigantion Accessed 7/18/2020
MSipher et al. “Quickmix (Cybertron)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Quickmix_(Cybertron)#Toys Accessed 7/23/2020
Octopus Prime et al. “Primus” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Primus#Toys Accessed 7/25/2020
Saix et al. “Transformers: Cybertron(toyline)”TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Cybertron_(toyline) Accessed 7/18/2020
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 47 et al. “Starscream(Armada)/toys” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Starscream_(Armada)/toys#Cybertron Accessed 7/25/2020
Quickstrike et al. “Longrack (Cybertron)” TFwiki. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Longrack_(Cybertron)#Toys Accessed 7/18/2020
Transformers Aesthetics 