Hasbro's path to genderless toys is growing: Female Transformers

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

Hasbro has put out many female Transformers in the past: Elita-1, Chromie, Flareup, Firestar, Arcee, Blackarachnia, Airrazor, Airachnid, Slipstream and Strongarm to name a few.  But now it seems 2015 will be the year we get a flood of Female Transformers(Most likely in Autobot and Decepticon variety)

 

 

In today's Transformers universe, diversity is just as important as the robot disguises.

Female characters have always been a part of the toy/TV/movie/comic-book franchise since the 1980s, but as young girls and women make up more of the fandom, personalities such as Windblade and Strongarm are getting similarly popular in certain circles as icons Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

 

"People are more accepting now of women playing stronger roles in everything across the board, whether it's animation or television or film," says actress Constance Zimmer (Entourage, House of Cards), who voices young Autobot cadet Strongarm in the new Saturday morning Cartoon Network series Transformers: Robots in Disguise (6:30 ET/PT).

And for the '80s generation now having their own children, especially dads with daughters, "it's very important for them to have strong female characters so that they can relate and bridge that love with their kids," adds Mairghread Scott, a writer for the animated series as well as IDW's Transformers: Windblade comics.

 

Windblade means a lot to fans because, well, they helped build her last year through polls to determine her personality traits and abilities. And Victorion, a new "Combiner" Transformer comprised of six different female Autobots and a result of another recent fan-built poll, is rolling out in the July comic Transformers: Combiner Hunters and debuting in toy form in the near future.

 

Yet Transformers, one of the primary boy-centric '80s franchises along with G.I. Joe and He-Man, has always had females in its history, reminds Samantha Lomow, senior vice president of Hasbro Brands. Arcee and Chromia were a part of the early "Generation 1" years, and in the ancient mythology, Solus Prime was one of the original 13 robots created on the planet Cybertron by the quasi-deity Primus.

 

Now, though, "our female fans have demanded to be part of the story," says Sarah Carroll, senior brand manager for Hasbro's Transformers toys. "To have them be represented as well is something that's only natural."

 

In crafting Windblade on the comics page and debuting her in upcoming Transformers TV episodes, Scott focused on making the Autobot as real as possible even though she's a mechanized being. "Our female characters really do have faults," she says, "they have things that they aren't necessarily always good at and they have things they're trying to overcome, and that makes them real people with a real drive."

 

The character, whose alternate vehicle mode is an airplane, looks very sleek and classy and sports a design inspired by Asian culture, says Kristy Wu, who voices Windblade in the cartoon. "You get that in her personality there's a stoicism and honor that is important to her. That comes through in her design, as well."

 

While the animated version has her stuff together, the comic-book Windblade is different in that she's a newcomer to Cybertron trying to find her footing as well as some allies. She's "a little bit more of a lone wolf," says Scott, adding that she's more of an ambassador than a fighter but still has enough smarts to mentally duel with Decepticon baddie Starscream.

 

Strongarm also isn't perfect, and it's why Zimmer loves the character: She wears her failings on her sleeve, the actress says. "You see where her weaknesses are and they become a wonderful part of her persona."

 

Hasbro wants to get little girls hooked early, too, with shows such as the younger-skewing Transformers: Rescue Bots toys and cartoon, now in its third season on Discovery Family Channel and also available for streaming on Netflix.

 

That show features a couple of notable women — including a hotshot helicopter pilot and a scientist — and there are plans in the fourth season to add a female 'bot to the mix, says Rescue Bots co-creator Nicole Dubuc. "That comes from little girls coming up to me saying, 'I'm a Rescue Bot, I'd like to be on the team!' "

 

Carroll sees more and more girls engaging with Transformers at fan-friendly events such as Comic-Con and BotCon, though Zimmer sees it firsthand in her back yard. Her 7-year-old daughter Colette has been known to break out her toy robots when playing with cousins. (She usually wants to be Strongarm, of course.)

 

"Boys and girls should all be able to like Transformers whether there are female characters or not," Zimmer says. "Maybe we're coming to a time when it won't be such a big deal. It'll just be commonplace that there will be everybody."

 

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/04/23/transformers-female-characters/26236633/

 

Bout time Hasbro added in some girl power to the Robots in Disguise(Despite the fact that I am male).  We're one step closer to the My Little Pony/Transformers Crossover I've been dreaming about(Imagines the Mane 6 as Transformers toys.)

[Castle Bleck 19,361]

Didn't Transformers already have Arcee, Blackarachnia, etc.?

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

Whooooop! Fem-bots <3
Lovin' it.
 

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

Didn't Transformers already have Arcee, Blackarachnia, etc.?

I pointed that out awhile ago.  Hell, Blackarachnia is overdue for a new toy ether based on her classic form, Transmetal II form or Technorganic form.

[CandyStrike 603]

Good to hear there will be more lady transformers.  I admit, I was confused that Transformer have any gender at all, but then I remembered they are aliens or something? Obviously, I'm not a Transformers fan.

 

Hasbro, while you're adding more balance to the gender ratios maybe you should consider adding some more male brushables to the pony lineup.  Please, try to give him decent hair and not that furry junk Shining Armor had.  Ok? Thanks.

[Justin_Case001 4,891]

Golly gosh jeepers, that's a lot of words.  I don't want to read all that right now, but this sounds like a very good thing.  The more we can throw out unfair sexual double standards, the better.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,520]

I am all for any advancements like this. I am tired of the gender stigma's in this society when it comes to media and toys.

[Sommar 1,289]

I didn't know Transformers had girl robots. It goes to show you I'm not a Transformers fan lol. Anyway, I'm glad Hasbro took the opportunity to break gender stereotypes. Hopefully Hasbro would release more male pony brushables (there's only a Shining Armor one out now) or maybe even male villian figures (*cough* *cough* Discord).

[Castle Bleck 19,361]

or maybe even male villian figures (*cough* *cough* Discord).

 

Or Sombra.

 

Talking Sombra Doll: "Brush my mane, my Human slave."

[Canary Yellow 85]

Talking Sombra Doll: "Brush my mane, my Human slave."

Oh my God. XD I can so imagine Sombra saying that.

[Tom Snyder 4,112]

Or Sombra.

 

Talking Sombra Doll: "Brush my mane, my Human slave."

That would be just weird o_O