I'm 38 and a Paramedic/Firefighter. My wife does not understand how I'm still so enamored with my 80's toys, especially the Transformers. I try and express to her that I learned my morality and ethics from my toys and they're part of my foundation as a member of society. I love that these ideals are what you highlight in your videos and especially all the positivity!!! Great video!
Very few women do. A few guys are lucky enough to find the right one. I do see quite a few women at the local toy shows though so it's nice to see them supporting their guys' toy hobbies and I'm sure some are there because they are looking for dolls. 😁
I'm one of those lucky dudes! I'm 44, collect Masterpiece Transformers, and have all the G1 transformers, and my wife is cool with it. Ofcourse, it helps to be okay with her fashion and shoe cravings..lol..nice to know that you are NOT alone though buddy! Thanks for your service!
I know people don't get that.i learned my morals and ethics from a lot of places and different people but comic books and cartoons and TV shows like chips that always gave a message for kids helped build that foundation. Some people just will never get it
I grew up without a father figure optimus filled that role. So it's probably not a coincidence that I've been a commercial truck driver the last 21 years. Autobots transform and roll out!
I look back at my childhood and remember our family not having much money. My father was a teacher in an inner city school we didn't go on holidays much and he had to use public transport a lot. But!! But!! I know remember the optimus prime figure. The portable laboratory looks very familiar. Did I have it or did my neighbour have it? Either way I feel much guilt, as it was the most expensive autobot figurine.
My dad was in the military so I grew up in Japan in the early 80s. So my first toys were Diaclone. Then moving back to the states in 84' I was so surprised to see Transformers on TV. I've been a collector since. My wife is 10yrs younger than I am and doesn't understand my obsession. When she ask me what I want for xmas/bdays, I always answer. "If it doesn't Transformer, I dont want it!"
I met Peter Cullen (voice of optimus) got a photo with him & his autograph, and I got the Tramsformers: The Movie soundtrack signed by Stan Bush childhood dreams = fulfilled.
Sorry for my poor english, i'm from italy you make me feel better with your existence and your museum...i ever cry when i see my adored toys, thank you really
I’m 19, and even though I wasn’t born in the 80s and grew into the 2000s instead, I remember watching the g1 cartoons on vhs tapes I bought from the flea market as a kid, and remembering how strong the transformers cartoon was from their personality to designs. I continue collecting transformers to this day and realized how much of a impact it has on me and why it motivates me into drawing and wanting to design videos games! And dude seriously! Thank you so much for making this video with such gorgeous and stunning quality! It really lifted my spirits up today, and those G1 toys still look awesome to this day!! 👍 🚗🚓✈️
Scorcher Cubone Dude same here I’m 19 as well but instead of VHS tapes my dad bought me and my brother the seasons on dvd cuz that’s what he used to watch as a kid that’s what I grew up on
19 boy here too, I watched More than meets the eye and divide and conquered in dvd before the 2007 movie. Fell in love with Prime and his crew, Megatron and his instruments of destruction.
Soundwave will always be one of the greatest designed toys of all time. The ingenuity and attention to detail. To have the mechanism to eject cassettes. How majestic he looks transformed and the compact sleek look of the cassette player. Proud to have owned him and played with him in my childhood.
So glad I was a kid in 1984 when G1 Transformers were all the rage. For x-mas of that year, I got Huffer, Cliffjumper and Brawn, and it started a lifetime obsession with the toy line. I would also race home from school to watch the cartoon, and I even had a few issues of the comic book. Transformers were definitely a very iconic part of my youth, and one that I very much cherish.
I remember my first Transformer, Gobots were huge and that's what I wanted. I was hoping for Cy-kill, but ended up with Sunstreaker instead. I hadn't heard of Transformers at that time. I was still very grateful for my gift and quickly began to love it! My new Sunstreaker towered over the other kids puny Gobots, even though they ridiculed me for not having a then popular gobot. And then began my love for this franchise!
Sunstreaker was my first TF, one of the all-time best in my opinion and probably my favorite! I've heard he was the first Robot that could change to a car in the Diaclone line, but I don't have a real source on that.
You have a very beautiful collection of Transformers. I used to have many, but i sold them to a friend back in 1994. He go them on credit (because I trusted him), and he never payed me for them... I regret that decision even to this day. Now I'm 46. Still can't let it go, as the thought pops in my mind from time to time... That's what brought me to looking at these type videos. Regret, but also missing the good ol days of real imagination and solid made quality toys. I do have a few Legacy Transformers i bought last year from a collector shop. I may try to build a collection of Transformers yet again. Why not? I was always fascinated by them.
Transformers is one of those toylines that I don't think have ever gone off the shelf. I don't remember a time when there were no Transformers toys since I first saw them in the 80's. They just keep reinventing the toys to stay current and fresh.
I think the music they picked for each scene really added a lot to the tension of each scene, cause I've never forgotten any of them. I loved them all, especially first season.
My.mom bought me.megatron in Xmas of. 1984. I remember it was so hard to find but she got it for me. In 1984 I wanted more star wars and secret wars toys than transformers. My collection really took off the following year thouhj
Transformers is a franchise that works well with a Multiverse style approach to it. while other series like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Halo have to rely on a set storyline, the advantage Transformers has is that Hasbro can experiment with many variations n the line to give us cool new spins on the characters we love or adding in new lore to the story to make it good.
Absolutely amazing video Michael! So many great memories brought back from when I was a kid when the Transformers first came out. I was in awe then, and as an adult I still am. I sure do love those robots in disguise! I remember getting Optimus Prime for Christmas in 1984, and thinking he was the coolest thing ever. 34 years later and I'm still a huge fan of Optimus, and everything he stands for. Thanks for the trip down memory lane brother. You sure know how to bring out the kid in me! Oh...one more thing...that skit had me rolling!!! 😂 Keep up the amazing work. Every day you remind me of why you, and your channel are so important to myself and people like me. People who adore everything 80's, people who have such fond memories of their childhood heroes, and people who still nurture the child inside through collecting Transformers. What you do for the community as a whole is absolutely priceless, and so very appreciated. You bring joy to me, and I know you bring joy to others. For that Michael I am eternally grateful. Thank you again brother. For everything. Nerdmasté my friend.
Thank you good brother! Yeah that skid was a blast. "WHAT THE HEY?!" Glad to hear my channel brings so much joy, that's what it's all about! Have a great week! :D
A new age of toys has begun! Check self "converting optimus prime" it was made by the people that became obsessed by the transformers! Hasbro found thier project and hasbro clobaborated with men to make a real self transforming optimus prime they even hired peter cullen the ogirinal optimus prime voice actor to voice the robot!!! too bad its on a limited edition and it got sold-out very quicky in just days after its announcent!
My first TF was Brawn, always have had a soft spot for the tough talking bruiser. However my favorite G1, wave 1 toy was Prowl. He just worked aesthetically for me, a cool sleek cop car, armed with incendiary rockets and acid pellet gun in robot mode. I've also always had an affinity for "smart" characters, and while Jetfire, Perceptor, and Brainstorm aren't slouches, loved Prowl's cool logic and tactical mind.
Good point, Prowl didn't get featured enough in the G1 cartoon. I think his biggest role was in the episode where Chip remote controls him? And that was just a part of the episode. Like Jazz, I wish they had given him a whole episode to himself like The Girl Who Loved Powerglide or Changing Gears.
Excellent point about the price tiers, which is very intelligent in sales. One additional thing to note despite the tiers is how incredibly hard these ALL could be to find in stores, they would fly off the shelves. Never saw the mid-tiers in stores, less Ironhide, but got lucky with Optimus after the folks called daily for him in Christmas ‘84 (‘85?). Nabbed the last one. And not to mention this was also before modern store-brawling, in which case they never would’ve gone.
i LOVE THIS. That first year, it all felt like a revolution! I collected those first four issues, bi-monthly, in complete suspense. I also was blessed with some knock-offs to go with the six minis I owned- it was the later G1s, where I got some jets, some bigger cars. I loved every kind of robot then. I enjoyed the stealth and strategy, as well as reading every single bio card down at my Paw Paw's hardware/ variety store in Shannon, GA. He-Man was also big still that year, too. I even made my own cardboard Trailbreaker in fall '85.
One of the best era a child could ever grow up in... 80's are awesome, I was born in 86 so I mostly experience my life in the 90's but I always love the 80's era...
Excellent video and eloquently narrated! I also appreciate how you “play” with the figures. You should be producing and directing toy commercials. Keep up the great work!
You really put a lot of quality work into these videos! They are entertaining and enjoyable, but also seem to be jam packed with a tremendous amount of behind the scenes effort. And you even make the toys look fun to play with, while simultaneously looking like beautiful works of art.
Amen!! Michael Mercy is totally awesome at what he does. Love his videos and you are right...he does make toys fun to play with. As a matter of fact while watching this video just a few minutes ago...I grabbed a few of my Transformers toys and transformed a few just for fun while watching this video. My toys have been sitting on my glory shelf for months but just had to play with them. It's like eating Fruit Loops or Apple Jacks on a Saturday morning and watching Duck Tales and feeling nostalgic like a kid again. I'm a grown man but I still enjoy the great memories of back in the day. It's a great feeling. Whoops...long comment ahem.... Anyway Yes...Great video! A+++
Despite having watched your videos for years I never subscribe but after this video I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't. Extremely well done. I'd say the quality of this video is on par with the netflix show "the toys that made us" in spite of the limited resources at your disposal. Loved the humour, it was just the right amount for me.
I'm 39 and I grew up on g1 transformers,it wasn't just another cartoon it was the only cartoon as far as I'm concerned.Seen the movie in the theater the summer I turned 7,and have the double disc 20th anniversary edition movie and every episode on collection dvds.Just wish I held on to the action figures,The first one I remember getting was the original shockwave it was mostly made of metal and made electronic shooting sounds with a flashing purple light built in,complete it goes for about $3000.
Another really excellent video! Ah G1 Transformers.. it wil always remain my favorite toyline and tv series. Hearing the music alone makes me nostalgic :) So many amazing memories linked to such an amazing time of my life: Receiving Snarl for my birthday, sending my drawing of the Constructicons to SkyChannel in the hope they would show it on TV, the moment a friend showed his Trypticon toy, to watching the epic battle in the final episode of Rebirth.
Great video Mike! I love the parts where you talk to the bots like they’re actors, especially 13:03 where you told Huffer to stuff it, and 14:50 where Trailbreaker fired up the force field again.
The creativity in those toys was so good. Like, Powerglide's arms could be folded and form the plane's engines, Megatron's gun-mode having the crosshair become his arm-cannon....real complex.
I remember army building my Star Wars, Joe’s ,Transformers and recreating Saturday morning episodes. Kinda wish someone keyed me into directing and producing movies as a kid. The 80’s was the absolute pinnacle of kids and their toys. If only I still had all of them.At least my memories are as if it happened yesterday and you just can’t put a price on that. Your channel/collection covers an exact recollection of my childhood, thank you for all your hard work and love you put into this.
okay I'm just gonna list my history with optimus since that 1984 Optimus Prime video is a little out of date) back when i was nine i saw the first bayformers film as a introduction to transformers but in 2008 my father gave me a box full of g1 transformers but one of them really stuck out (g1 Optimus prime) so that year i bought a g1 dvd box set and as that toy struck a beam of light into my home but just hearing that voice on tv made my day skipping to 2012 my father passed away taking a financial problem into play but skipping two months later i went digging through my old toy box getting rid of some of my stuff and then again i came across a familiar paint scheme i went back to watching g1 and i started to notice what kind of a impact optimus left on my childhood compares to the teenage mutant ninja turtles or he-man ever since then I've been collecting any figure i can of that gentle giant..so thank you for main this video of bringing back nostalgia and good times for the g1 fans
Like you, River-Run!, Optimus Prime became an important figure in my life. As the leader of the autobots he taught us valuable lessons that helped mold the adults we grew to be. I know several like-minded individuals that will proclaim him to be there favorite, some aren't even fans of the toys but of the cartoons. I have what I call the 'Hall of Primes' (inspired by a scene from the series) that contains a dozen variations of Optimus as well as other characters such as Lio Convoy, Star-Saber, and even Rodimus. They rest atop my book shelf and watch over everything.
Fun fact: Michael Bay never made (directed or produced) any Transformers movies. However some of his movies about humans do actually feature Transformers as supportive characters and in brief cameos.
Awesome video! As an 80s kid and a big TF fan, this one had me gushing. For the longest time, I thought Hoist was part of the original wave too. Thanks for doing this. Can't wait for the next one!
I remember my Christmas that year. I was able to pick out a few of my gifts, so my mom took me to Toys R Us (R.I.P.) and I scanned the aisles up and down for the coolest thing around. There were entire shelves full of Go-bots and Transformers. I was so distraught, I couldn't decide which to go with!! Ultimately the better figures one out due to their colorful packaging and artwork and their compelling forms. My first 5 Transformers toys were Optimus Prime, Sunstreaker, Ironhide, Skywarp, and Soundwave (chosen because he's basically a two-fer with buzzsaw. I passed on Megatron only because I wasn't so sure about having a gun-like toy. I was given the option of opening a gift 3 days early....so of course I chose the biggest, Optimus Prime!! I am 45 years old and now have well over 100 figures from various series and still collect them to this day, though not nearly as voraciously as my youth. I envy you, Mr. Mercy, as I have no place to display my massive collection so the large majority of them are in boxes in a storage unit. Thank you for this video (I'm only just discovering it), and for bringing me back to a simpler and happier period of time.
I took my megatron to school with me when I was in first grade. Teacher freaked out when I pulled it out of my bag. Parents got called to come pick it up.
My parents were so good to me. I just realized I had every single transformer that came out. Including masters of the universe and Legos and every other Kool. 80s toys ate the best
Let me say thanks for putting this video together. The Transformers and G.I. Joe were a big part of my childhood so this video is a major win for me and my need for nostalgia.
A great storytelling of G1 Transformers. That is why I have ALWAYS loved collecting the G1 reissue Transformers. Back in the day, I only had a few of them. When the reissues began coming out in the year 2002, that was the time I begin buying them. And I still buy them till this day, Michael. Thank you as always for bringing this to us by taking out the time to make videos like this one!!! G1 Transformers forever!!!
Really well done video! Great analysis about the themes, characters and motivations. The thought put into these old toy lines and shows is staggering. There was some amazing talent and thought behind the Marvel/Sunbow shows and it becomes more obvious when examined closer. Great job with the magnifying glass :).
Thanks! I'm finding so much more substance to these classic properties too. So many people will just watch for 2 minutes and go "Wow, that doesn't hold up anymore" but you start to notice the depth of it after 22 minutes. :D
That's an awesome collection you have there I hope you have them insured, five years ago I had a fire in my room due to a faulty bulb in one of my cabinets and I lost forty out of my two hundred figures, it was an absolute heartbreaking nightmare of a time and I've still not got over it, needless to say, they are all now covered on my insurance. Gave you a sub and gonna binge watch some vids, cheers.
5:15 I remember those boxes. There was a red plastic strip that you placed over that red area and a blue line appeared over a clear background showing a graph line indicating the Transformers strengths. Memory lane 🍻
Brings back so much childhood memories!!! I remember desperately searching for my fav' Autobot Transformer, "Hound" around all shops with my late mum. I never did find it so had to make do with my second fav' Transformer "Skywarp" instead as my very 1st Transformer toy!
Christmas 1984 my Dad got me all the awesome ark bots, with others ,he got me optimus ,hound ,prowl,Soundwave, starscream ,jetfire and a big Volkswagen from gobots ,I can't remember his name but he was awesome ,no one at school believed me,and they wanted proof,I brought prowls,rifle and laserbeak to class ,and this other kid tried to steal it from me ,today I'm 43 and I have my awesome masterpiece figures,I just need 5 ark bots to complete my collection
I have a very large collection of G1 Transformers. I remember when I was a kid I once owned the Tyco electronic train set. I lost pretty much all of that but I still have a lot of the Transformer figurines. That was one of my biggest regrets from my childhood having lost that train set. If I want to get it back I’m looking at paying a pretty penny for it.
My 5 year old found a lot of my old transformers in my old room at my parents. I lost a lot of the pieces which I regret now, but I like to sit down with him and watch these videos so he can see how the toys looked and we will literally talk for hours about the toys I had and how I played with them
There was something SPECIAL about the smell of these toys when you opened the package on "a special day" (Christmas/ birthday). I can almost remember it as I'm typing.
The best time ever for toys coming out. I am so happy i was around then & will always have the memories of going into toy shops to buy these classic toys. Amazing times
Just want to mention how cool it was that Shockwave could light up and had different firing modes as a gun, and how Bumblebee could be wound up and would go on his own. Loved these toys! haha
wow. seeing some of these is nostalgia overload. i can remember being AMAZED by the colors and tangibility of the toys. i can almost remember the smell of that time in my 5 year old life.
This was my favourite edition ever! I had convoy and a few autobots. I wanted some decepticons too so I could play and recreate the cartoon episodes with my friends and cousins whenever they visited us....
Your one of my favorite channels on TH-cam!!!!!! 👍👍👍 transformers 🚗🚙🚚 was and still is my favorite toy lines!!!!!!! I been waiting on this video!!! Your the best Michael!!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Michael, what you are doing is just fantastic. I am guessing I am close to your age (I am mid-40's) and I was all about Transformers...or what they now call G1 Transformers...back in those days. I have started collecting new 2000's reissues of the same toys just to have these classics again, only new. So many great memories and these videos really bring them to life again. Thank you!
Amazing collection!!! I'm 47 years now, grew up watching Transformers G1 in 1985 here in México City, I do video editing since 1999 and I Think your editing for this video is just great!!!
Even at the time, I thought the Ironhide and Ratchet toys looked stupid. In the cartoon, those two had humanoid heads, but the toys didn't have heads. They didn't even really look like robots. They looked like windshields on stilts.
This has to be one of my favorite toy channels on TH-cam as well! I love this history lesson of one of my all time favorite 80's franchises Transformers! They have always been much more than just a toy line.
best video ever. I got my red alert I was 9. I will never forget that Christmas. This Christmas Santa (who exists, but brings toys only to the ones who believe in him) will bring me a red alert mp. If I'll be a good boy. I will.
Oh, wow! This amazing video brought back a lot of great memories for me. TG&Y was a local shop here in town in the early 80s. I remember getting my first ever Transformers from that store: Thundercracker (#1) and Soundwave (#2). Thanks for putting together this great video and I thought the 're-enactment' segment was hilarious!
Great job, Michael! I don't remember much of the Transformers other than the toys, but I know my brother is going to love this video :D His favorite toys from his childhood are Optimus and Bumblebee, he has has his :) I enjoyed the video a lot, though! Very informative history lesson, and loved the sketch and the effects :D
I'm 38 and a Paramedic/Firefighter. My wife does not understand how I'm still so enamored with my 80's toys, especially the Transformers. I try and express to her that I learned my morality and ethics from my toys and they're part of my foundation as a member of society. I love that these ideals are what you highlight in your videos and especially all the positivity!!! Great video!
Thanks Mike! Salute to you for your service. Glad you enjoyed the video. Roll out and keep safe! :D
Very few women do. A few guys are lucky enough to find the right one. I do see quite a few women at the local toy shows though so it's nice to see them supporting their guys' toy hobbies and I'm sure some are there because they are looking for dolls. 😁
me too. I'm 37. The 1984 line of Transformers and 85 are near and dear to my heart.
I'm one of those lucky dudes! I'm 44, collect Masterpiece Transformers, and have all the G1 transformers, and my wife is cool with it. Ofcourse, it helps to be okay with her fashion and shoe cravings..lol..nice to know that you are NOT alone though buddy! Thanks for your service!
I know people don't get that.i learned my morals and ethics from a lot of places and different people but comic books and cartoons and TV shows like chips that always gave a message for kids helped build that foundation. Some people just will never get it
I grew up without a father figure optimus filled that role.
So it's probably not a coincidence that I've been a commercial truck driver the last 21 years. Autobots transform and roll out!
Thanks awesome. Safe travels and roll out! :D
Awesome!
I look back at my childhood and remember our family not having much money. My father was a teacher in an inner city school we didn't go on holidays much and he had to use public transport a lot. But!! But!! I know remember the optimus prime figure. The portable laboratory looks very familiar. Did I have it or did my neighbour have it? Either way I feel much guilt, as it was the most expensive autobot figurine.
My dad was in the military so I grew up in Japan in the early 80s. So my first toys were Diaclone. Then moving back to the states in 84' I was so surprised to see Transformers on TV. I've been a collector since. My wife is 10yrs younger than I am and doesn't understand my obsession. When she ask me what I want for xmas/bdays, I always answer. "If it doesn't Transformer, I dont want it!"
Haha right!!
Haha right!!
Haha right!!
Haha right!!
Haha right!!
I met Peter Cullen (voice of optimus) got a photo with him & his autograph, and I got the Tramsformers: The Movie soundtrack signed by Stan Bush childhood dreams = fulfilled.
Awesome wish I could do that just had my 13th birthday
"Soundwave and his tape army." I'm dying laughing at this now, but, god the 80's were the best time to be a kid!
I had every single one of soundwave and blaster tapes
heavy_peace ....so true
heavy_peace Dont forget about Blaster! 😉
Yes we're very lucky and blessed
@Awesome power same age and same
Sorry for my poor english, i'm from italy you make me feel better with your existence and your museum...i ever cry when i see my adored toys, thank you really
Grazie, Stefano! :D
Your English is just fine, we read you clearly and it's cool you appreciate these toys, i love them too!
I have an Italian Sunstreaker by the way, I think the only Italian Transformer I have...
Stefano Spotti 🇺🇸😎. hi from Texas
Soundwave was my favorite, my sisters favorite as well. We both loved his voice.
Great video.
I’m 19, and even though I wasn’t born in the 80s and grew into the 2000s instead, I remember watching the g1 cartoons on vhs tapes I bought from the flea market as a kid, and remembering how strong the transformers cartoon was from their personality to designs. I continue collecting transformers to this day and realized how much of a impact it has on me and why it motivates me into drawing and wanting to design videos games! And dude seriously! Thank you so much for making this video with such gorgeous and stunning quality! It really lifted my spirits up today, and those G1 toys still look awesome to this day!! 👍 🚗🚓✈️
Scorcher Cubone Dude same here I’m 19 as well but instead of VHS tapes my dad bought me and my brother the seasons on dvd cuz that’s what he used to watch as a kid that’s what I grew up on
Glad someone your age can appreciate the good stuff from days gone by.
19 boy here too, I watched More than meets the eye and divide and conquered in dvd before the 2007 movie. Fell in love with Prime and his crew, Megatron and his instruments of destruction.
@@DavidSilva-mn4dz 13! god it was a memorable series even to me
I grew up in the 2000s and I saw those 80s and 90s cartoons. They're better than the 2000s.
My mother got me Skywarp for Christmas in 84 played for hours, absolutely loved it.
Soundwave will always be one of the greatest designed toys of all time. The ingenuity and attention to detail. To have the mechanism to eject cassettes. How majestic he looks transformed and the compact sleek look of the cassette player. Proud to have owned him and played with him in my childhood.
So glad I was a kid in 1984 when G1 Transformers were all the rage. For x-mas of that year, I got Huffer, Cliffjumper and Brawn, and it started a lifetime obsession with the toy line. I would also race home from school to watch the cartoon, and I even had a few issues of the comic book. Transformers were definitely a very iconic part of my youth, and one that I very much cherish.
I remember my first Transformer, Gobots were huge and that's what I wanted. I was hoping for Cy-kill, but ended up with Sunstreaker instead. I hadn't heard of Transformers at that time. I was still very grateful for my gift and quickly began to love it! My new Sunstreaker towered over the other kids puny Gobots, even though they ridiculed me for not having a then popular gobot. And then began my love for this franchise!
Sunstreaker was my first TF, one of the all-time best in my opinion and probably my favorite! I've heard he was the first Robot that could change to a car in the Diaclone line, but I don't have a real source on that.
Oh boy how your friends were so wrong
Crasher was my only fav Gobot
You have a very beautiful collection of Transformers. I used to have many, but i sold them to a friend back in 1994. He go them on credit (because I trusted him), and he never payed me for them... I regret that decision even to this day. Now I'm 46. Still can't let it go, as the thought pops in my mind from time to time...
That's what brought me to looking at these type videos. Regret, but also missing the good ol days of real imagination and solid made quality toys.
I do have a few Legacy Transformers i bought last year from a collector shop. I may try to build a collection of Transformers yet again. Why not? I was always fascinated by them.
Haha, the ONLY Michael I want working on MY Transformers!!
6 months later, this is due for another view. Thanks once again Michael Mercy for such a wicked video (804,456)
Transformers is one of those toylines that I don't think have ever gone off the shelf. I don't remember a time when there were no Transformers toys since I first saw them in the 80's. They just keep reinventing the toys to stay current and fresh.
What an amazing time to be a child, :) Still good in 2019. I had many battles in my garden in 1989
I think the music they picked for each scene really added a lot to the tension of each scene, cause I've never forgotten any of them. I loved them all, especially first season.
The narrator set the stage pretty well too!
My favorite toy line ever! I still remember going to the store and getting my first one - Sideswipe. Thanks for the video, looking forward to '85!
My first one was Starscream.
My.mom bought me.megatron in Xmas of. 1984. I remember it was so hard to find but she got it for me. In 1984 I wanted more star wars and secret wars toys than transformers. My collection really took off the following year thouhj
Thundercracker: What’s that? | Starscream: I’d call it a target!
Q: who’s the target A: the reader is the target
The nostalgia watching this video is so strong, brings back so many memories that I've shed a few tears. I miss those times.
Transformers is a franchise that works well with a Multiverse style approach to it. while other series like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Halo have to rely on a set storyline, the advantage Transformers has is that Hasbro can experiment with many variations n the line to give us cool new spins on the characters we love or adding in new lore to the story to make it good.
Same with marvel, DC, G.I. Joe, indiana jones and videogames like mario, sonic, megaman, kirby, etc
@@MrenderboyoPrime Good base writing begs for more stories.
Absolutely amazing video Michael! So many great memories brought back from when I was a kid when the Transformers first came out. I was in awe then, and as an adult I still am. I sure do love those robots in disguise! I remember getting Optimus Prime for Christmas in 1984, and thinking he was the coolest thing ever. 34 years later and I'm still a huge fan of Optimus, and everything he stands for. Thanks for the trip down memory lane brother. You sure know how to bring out the kid in me! Oh...one more thing...that skit had me rolling!!! 😂 Keep up the amazing work. Every day you remind me of why you, and your channel are so important to myself and people like me. People who adore everything 80's, people who have such fond memories of their childhood heroes, and people who still nurture the child inside through collecting Transformers. What you do for the community as a whole is absolutely priceless, and so very appreciated. You bring joy to me, and I know you bring joy to others. For that Michael I am eternally grateful. Thank you again brother. For everything. Nerdmasté my friend.
Thank you good brother! Yeah that skid was a blast. "WHAT THE HEY?!" Glad to hear my channel brings so much joy, that's what it's all about! Have a great week! :D
The golden age of toys came and gone, but I'm glad i got to be part of it! We'll never see a time like it again.
A new age of toys has begun! Check self "converting optimus prime" it was made by the people that became obsessed by the transformers! Hasbro found thier project and hasbro clobaborated with men to make a real self transforming optimus prime they even hired peter cullen the ogirinal optimus prime voice actor to voice the robot!!! too bad its on a limited edition and it got sold-out very quicky in just days after its announcent!
@@FrancisJohnDYbas I'm sure someone is selling it on ebay for $20,000. Lol😆
This was so well done. So much information and images. Not too long, not too short. Loved it.
My first TF was Brawn, always have had a soft spot for the tough talking bruiser. However my favorite G1, wave 1 toy was Prowl. He just worked aesthetically for me, a cool sleek cop car, armed with incendiary rockets and acid pellet gun in robot mode. I've also always had an affinity for "smart" characters, and while Jetfire, Perceptor, and Brainstorm aren't slouches, loved Prowl's cool logic and tactical mind.
Good point, Prowl didn't get featured enough in the G1 cartoon. I think his biggest role was in the episode where Chip remote controls him? And that was just a part of the episode. Like Jazz, I wish they had given him a whole episode to himself like The Girl Who Loved Powerglide or Changing Gears.
I want an old Fairlady Z thanks to Prowl, although I'd prefer Smokescreen for the Rally Car but that will never happen!!
😍 oh how I miss the '80s. My first 2 transformers: Prime and Megatron with the diecast pieces. Best toys ever .. still.
Excellent point about the price tiers, which is very intelligent in sales. One additional thing to note despite the tiers is how incredibly hard these ALL could be to find in stores, they would fly off the shelves. Never saw the mid-tiers in stores, less Ironhide, but got lucky with Optimus after the folks called daily for him in Christmas ‘84 (‘85?). Nabbed the last one. And not to mention this was also before modern store-brawling, in which case they never would’ve gone.
I am 13 and seen the ENTIRE SERIES and I love all the clips from the show.
i LOVE THIS. That first year, it all felt like a revolution! I collected those first four issues, bi-monthly, in complete suspense. I also was blessed with some knock-offs to go with the six minis I owned- it was the later G1s, where I got some jets, some bigger cars. I loved every kind of robot then. I enjoyed the stealth and strategy, as well as reading every single bio card down at my Paw Paw's hardware/ variety store in Shannon, GA. He-Man was also big still that year, too. I even made my own cardboard Trailbreaker
in fall '85.
One of the best era a child could ever grow up in... 80's are awesome, I was born in 86 so I mostly experience my life in the 90's but I always love the 80's era...
10:40
OMG, I never noticed Soundwave's cannons were batteries!
Excellent video and eloquently narrated! I also appreciate how you “play” with the figures. You should be producing and directing toy commercials. Keep up the great work!
You really put a lot of quality work into these videos! They are entertaining and enjoyable, but also seem to be jam packed with a tremendous amount of behind the scenes effort. And you even make the toys look fun to play with, while simultaneously looking like beautiful works of art.
Thanks Kevin! :D
Amen!! Michael Mercy is totally awesome at what he does. Love his videos and you are right...he does make toys fun to play with. As a matter of fact while watching this video just a few minutes ago...I grabbed a few of my Transformers toys and transformed a few just for fun while watching this video. My toys have been sitting on my glory shelf for months but just had to play with them. It's like eating Fruit Loops or Apple Jacks on a Saturday morning and watching Duck Tales and feeling nostalgic like a kid again. I'm a grown man but I still enjoy the great memories of back in the day. It's a great feeling. Whoops...long comment ahem.... Anyway Yes...Great video! A+++
Despite having watched your videos for years I never subscribe but after this video I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't. Extremely well done. I'd say the quality of this video is on par with the netflix show "the toys that made us" in spite of the limited resources at your disposal. Loved the humour, it was just the right amount for me.
I'm 39 and I grew up on g1 transformers,it wasn't just another cartoon it was the only cartoon as far as I'm concerned.Seen the movie in the theater the summer I turned 7,and have the double disc 20th anniversary edition movie and every episode on collection dvds.Just wish I held on to the action figures,The first one I remember getting was the original shockwave it was mostly made of metal and made electronic shooting sounds with a flashing purple light built in,complete it goes for about $3000.
Well these documentaries are pretty brilliant man, genuine thanks.
Thank you! 🤝
@@MichaelMercy welcome bruv
Man, Just watching these videos you post up, brings me to my childhood! Action figures today aren’t what they use to be.
Another really excellent video!
Ah G1 Transformers.. it wil always remain my favorite toyline and tv series. Hearing the music alone makes me nostalgic :)
So many amazing memories linked to such an amazing time of my life:
Receiving Snarl for my birthday, sending my drawing of the Constructicons to SkyChannel in the hope they would show it on TV, the moment a friend showed his Trypticon toy, to watching the epic battle in the final episode of Rebirth.
I have a Bayformer Bumblebee [non-transforming] that plays the old theme song!
Great video Mike!
I love the parts where you talk to the bots like they’re actors, especially 13:03 where you told Huffer to stuff it, and 14:50 where Trailbreaker fired up the force field again.
The creativity in those toys was so good. Like, Powerglide's arms could be folded and form the plane's engines, Megatron's gun-mode having the crosshair become his arm-cannon....real complex.
Kojin Ono, Shoji Kawamori and Kazutaka Miyatake are all geniuses, hard to believe they came up with such incredible designs so long ago...
I seem to have this video on in the background while at work what seems like daily.
What the 1984 figures lacked in joints was more than compensated with their detail.
I remember army building my Star Wars, Joe’s ,Transformers and recreating Saturday morning episodes. Kinda wish someone keyed me into directing and producing movies as a kid. The 80’s was the absolute pinnacle of kids and their toys. If only I still had all of them.At least my memories are as if it happened yesterday and you just can’t put a price on that. Your channel/collection covers an exact recollection of my childhood, thank you for all your hard work and love you put into this.
okay I'm just gonna list my history with optimus since that 1984 Optimus Prime video is a little out of date) back when i was nine i saw the first bayformers film as a introduction to transformers but in 2008 my father gave me a box full of g1 transformers but one of them really stuck out (g1 Optimus prime) so that year i bought a g1 dvd box set and as that toy struck a beam of light into my home but just hearing that voice on tv made my day skipping to 2012 my father passed away taking a financial problem into play but skipping two months later i went digging through my old toy box getting rid of some of my stuff and then again i came across a familiar paint scheme i went back to watching g1 and i started to notice what kind of a impact optimus left on my childhood compares to the teenage mutant ninja turtles or he-man ever since then I've been collecting any figure i can of that gentle giant..so thank you for main this video of bringing back nostalgia and good times for the g1 fans
Like you, River-Run!, Optimus Prime became an important figure in my life. As the leader of the autobots he taught us valuable lessons that helped mold the adults we grew to be. I know several like-minded individuals that will proclaim him to be there favorite, some aren't even fans of the toys but of the cartoons. I have what I call the 'Hall of Primes' (inspired by a scene from the series) that contains a dozen variations of Optimus as well as other characters such as Lio Convoy, Star-Saber, and even Rodimus. They rest atop my book shelf and watch over everything.
Fun fact: Michael Bay never made (directed or produced) any Transformers movies.
However some of his movies about humans do actually feature Transformers as supportive characters and in brief cameos.
Haha, well put.
My first Transformer from this line was Jazz while my brother got Soundwave.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane! Lovin' my Hasbro and 3rd party MPs.
Man I love your channel!
Don’t ever stop growing up but never stop being kid.😂🤘
I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since this video came out
Awesome video! As an 80s kid and a big TF fan, this one had me gushing. For the longest time, I thought Hoist was part of the original wave too. Thanks for doing this. Can't wait for the next one!
I remember my Christmas that year. I was able to pick out a few of my gifts, so my mom took me to Toys R Us (R.I.P.) and I scanned the aisles up and down for the coolest thing around. There were entire shelves full of Go-bots and Transformers. I was so distraught, I couldn't decide which to go with!! Ultimately the better figures one out due to their colorful packaging and artwork and their compelling forms. My first 5 Transformers toys were Optimus Prime, Sunstreaker, Ironhide, Skywarp, and Soundwave (chosen because he's basically a two-fer with buzzsaw. I passed on Megatron only because I wasn't so sure about having a gun-like toy. I was given the option of opening a gift 3 days early....so of course I chose the biggest, Optimus Prime!! I am 45 years old and now have well over 100 figures from various series and still collect them to this day, though not nearly as voraciously as my youth. I envy you, Mr. Mercy, as I have no place to display my massive collection so the large majority of them are in boxes in a storage unit. Thank you for this video (I'm only just discovering it), and for bringing me back to a simpler and happier period of time.
I took my megatron to school with me when I was in first grade. Teacher freaked out when I pulled it out of my bag. Parents got called to come pick it up.
You always knock it out of the park with your videos thanks for sharing your collection
My parents were so good to me. I just realized I had every single transformer that came out. Including masters of the universe and Legos and every other Kool. 80s toys ate the best
Excellent job.... if only the Bayformers utilized the same effort in their films...
I love transformers!!! Still have hound.
Let me say thanks for putting this video together. The Transformers and G.I. Joe were a big part of my childhood so this video is a major win for me and my need for nostalgia.
Bringing back memories i loves the 80s . Keep up the great work
A great storytelling of G1 Transformers. That is why I have ALWAYS loved collecting the G1 reissue Transformers. Back in the day, I only had a few of them. When the reissues began coming out in the year 2002, that was the time I begin buying them. And I still buy them till this day, Michael. Thank you as always for bringing this to us by taking out the time to make videos like this one!!! G1 Transformers forever!!!
Really well done video! Great analysis about the themes, characters and motivations. The thought put into these old toy lines and shows is staggering. There was some amazing talent and thought behind the Marvel/Sunbow shows and it becomes more obvious when examined closer. Great job with the magnifying glass :).
Thanks! I'm finding so much more substance to these classic properties too. So many people will just watch for 2 minutes and go "Wow, that doesn't hold up anymore" but you start to notice the depth of it after 22 minutes. :D
....Amazing video to see all these G1 Transformers!!!
That's an awesome collection you have there I hope you have them insured, five years ago I had a fire in my room due to a faulty bulb in one of my cabinets and I lost forty out of my two hundred figures, it was an absolute heartbreaking nightmare of a time and I've still not got over it, needless to say, they are all now covered on my insurance. Gave you a sub and gonna binge watch some vids, cheers.
5:15 I remember those boxes. There was a red plastic strip that you placed over that red area and a blue line appeared over a clear background showing a graph line indicating the Transformers strengths. Memory lane 🍻
Brings back so much childhood memories!!! I remember desperately searching for my fav' Autobot Transformer, "Hound" around all shops with my late mum. I never did find it so had to make do with my second fav' Transformer "Skywarp" instead as my very 1st Transformer toy!
Unbelievable toy history. It never gets old to me. I can watch these over and over!
Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.
Christmas 1984 my Dad got me all the awesome ark bots, with others ,he got me optimus ,hound ,prowl,Soundwave, starscream ,jetfire and a big Volkswagen from gobots ,I can't remember his name but he was awesome ,no one at school believed me,and they wanted proof,I brought prowls,rifle and laserbeak to class ,and this other kid tried to steal it from me ,today I'm 43 and I have my awesome masterpiece figures,I just need 5 ark bots to complete my collection
Bug Bite. The Ultra Go Bot Renegade.
….I thank God I was a child of the 80’s… We had best of EVERYTHING…. Toys, cartoons, cereal, movies……… You CAN NOT BEAT the 80’s…..
This was a glorious time to be a kid.
I have a very large collection of G1 Transformers. I remember when I was a kid I once owned the Tyco electronic train set. I lost pretty much all of that but I still have a lot of the Transformer figurines. That was one of my biggest regrets from my childhood having lost that train set. If I want to get it back I’m looking at paying a pretty penny for it.
Tremendous!! Thank you for such a fabulous waltz through a special year!
My 5 year old found a lot of my old transformers in my old room at my parents. I lost a lot of the pieces which I regret now, but I like to sit down with him and watch these videos so he can see how the toys looked and we will literally talk for hours about the toys I had and how I played with them
Very nice, thanks so much for taking the team to create these videos. I just showed my 7 year old what I played with when I was young.
i watched your He-Man video first and was very impressed. I watched this one next and subscribed. Great work!
There was something SPECIAL about the smell of these toys when you opened the package on "a special day" (Christmas/ birthday). I can almost remember it as I'm typing.
I seriously feel like one of the few kids out there who still knows what a cassette recorder and cassette tapes are
Your not alone
Soundwave, Megatron, and Optimus. Incredible toys, never topped for the rest of the line.
The best time ever for toys coming out. I am so happy i was around then & will always have the memories of going into toy shops to buy these classic toys. Amazing times
You have an amazing collection man, I love seeing the whole line of 84’ together being shown together
Just want to mention how cool it was that Shockwave could light up and had different firing modes as a gun, and how Bumblebee could be wound up and would go on his own. Loved these toys! haha
wow. seeing some of these is nostalgia overload. i can remember being AMAZED by the colors and tangibility of the toys. i can almost remember the smell of that time in my 5 year old life.
Thumbs way up, man. Well done. I was born in November of '76 and G1 was my world (for a bit). Thank you for taking me back.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Till all are one! :D
This was my favourite edition ever! I had convoy and a few autobots. I wanted some decepticons too so I could play and recreate the cartoon episodes with my friends and cousins whenever they visited us....
Your one of my favorite channels on TH-cam!!!!!! 👍👍👍 transformers 🚗🚙🚚 was and still is my favorite toy lines!!!!!!! I been waiting on this video!!! Your the best Michael!!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thanks, much appreciated! Nerdmasté! 🙏
Michael, what you are doing is just fantastic. I am guessing I am close to your age (I am mid-40's) and I was all about Transformers...or what they now call G1 Transformers...back in those days. I have started collecting new 2000's reissues of the same toys just to have these classics again, only new. So many great memories and these videos really bring them to life again. Thank you!
Thanks, glad to hear it. Nerdmasté! 🙏
Great content and quality of your videos ... plus your collection is amazing
Memories :) Good memories.
The original cartoons were really good.
Soundwave, the constructicons and insecticons were my fave,
Amazing collection!!! I'm 47 years now, grew up watching Transformers G1 in 1985 here in México City, I do video editing since 1999 and I Think your editing for this video is just great!!!
The dramatization of the kid stealing the gun and radio was F-ing hilarious. This brought me back man, I still got some of mine 👍
I love your reviews you have a certain way of doing your commentary it is very professional and entertaining and I am glad you are on TH-cam
Tinfoil turkey has got to be one of the greatest insults I've ever heard...🤘🏼💯✔️
Even at the time, I thought the Ironhide and Ratchet toys looked stupid.
In the cartoon, those two had humanoid heads, but the toys didn't have heads. They didn't even really look like robots. They looked like windshields on stilts.
This has to be one of my favorite toy channels on TH-cam as well! I love this history lesson of one of my all time favorite 80's franchises Transformers! They have always been much more than just a toy line.
Thanks Torri! Nerdmasté! 🙏
Michael Mercy Anytime, Michael. Nerdmaste!😊
I actually watch this video three times a week.
Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.
best video ever. I got my red alert I was 9. I will never forget that Christmas. This Christmas Santa (who exists, but brings toys only to the ones who believe in him) will bring me a red alert mp. If I'll be a good boy. I will.
I hope you get that MP Alert!
Oh, wow!
This amazing video brought back a lot of great memories for me.
TG&Y was a local shop here in town in the early 80s. I remember getting my first ever Transformers from that store: Thundercracker (#1) and Soundwave (#2).
Thanks for putting together this great video and I thought the 're-enactment' segment was hilarious!
Thanks Joe! Yeah that skit was a lot of fun. "WHAT THE HEY!?" is my new fav expression. :D
Your toy room amazes me and warms my heart.
Transformers were my childhood literally. This makes me break into tears.
Great job, Michael! I don't remember much of the Transformers other than the toys, but I know my brother is going to love this video :D His favorite toys from his childhood are Optimus and Bumblebee, he has has his :) I enjoyed the video a lot, though! Very informative history lesson, and loved the sketch and the effects :D
Thanks! I had quite a bit of fun making it as well. :D
Another awesome video,sir! Keep up the amazing work!
Thanks! :D