*P.S. I know who Roller is. Don’t comment about Roller.* - Get 30% off your first box, plus a FREE gift, when you give Tiege Hanley a try at tiege.com/jettoptimus
Every toy can be an adult collectible and every adult collectible can be a toy. My shelves are full of "collectibles" that were my childhood toys. And sometimes I still play with them.
No joke, while I was watching this video my computer crashed around 12:18 so the audio ended sounding something like "I'M BACK IN THE FUCKING BUILDING AGAAAAAAAAAAA" before the computer blue screened, as if Prime's despair was so powerful he destroyed his own reality.
It’s as a role model of mine always says: “you don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing. Be geek, be proud.” It’s easily one of my favorite quotes of all time.
That last message hit me hard ngl. You see, I used to be looked down upon by my seniors back in kindergarten, especially when it comes to my pop culture hobbies. That made me both upset and disheartened by their conceited notion of adulthood and it almost got me quitting my hobbies. But thankfully, I still have friends at school who appreciate me and my hobbies, as well as a family that kept supporting me during the hardest of times. That kept me going until this very day and eventually, I realized that growing up doesn't mean throwing your childhood memories away. As I grow up, I believe that I've developed what I think is an "artistic sense of curiosity". You see, I've been a fan of mecha and tokusatsu hero franchises and I also like drawing them as a hobby. I'm fascinated by how their gimmicks and mechanisms work, how diverse they've become in each of the franchise's succession and I'm curious to see how far they can go with their concepts and utilize them to the fullest. When it comes to Transformers, we know that their basic concept is "Robots in Disguise" And that they usually transform into vehicles or weapons. I kept asking, "Do they have multiple mode changes? Do they combine? How else can they go from there?" That's why I developed a mindset that one day, I will be the one who makes those kinds of franchise. One day, I will create my own, original hero series that combines everything that I love from childhood complete with its many varieties every single year and eventually, profit from it. 😁 So the bottom line is, I believe that growing up means that instead of throwing your childhood away, you should utilize everything that you've learned from it, especially from your hobbies, keep it close to your heart, and make people's lives better with it so you could pass down that knowledge to future generations who will look up to you. Then again, surely we must've learned a lesson from watching many of those Transformers series. For me, Transformers Cybertron's final battle left a huge impression to me, where Optimus said to Galvatron that he believed in everyone who had helped him in his journey and that he was never alone, at all. That's worthy of a life lesson, if I say so myself. That being said, I think I like Unicron Trilogy's super mode gimmicks on Optimus the most. Japan's Takara sure have a knack for making impressionable toys and I believe that concept should be utilized more in the future. Just imagine, what if there is a Transformers toy that could combine all if the existing gimmicks to increase its play value? Like, we have Headmasters, Targetmasters, Combiners, Super Modes, Minicons, and now there are weaponizers and armorizers. What if all of them could be combined in a single toyline? Lastly, I think "preserving your childlike innocence as you grow up" Would be the appropriate term for the last part of your video.
Man I seriously waste 7 minute reading this lmao. But honestly tho, I'm glad I read this. I've been out of transformer for a while now, and looking back I'm glad it still finds a way back into my life. I feel like a 8yo kid in 38yo body. And that feeling is so refreshing. Also, Decade 21 spotted, Ohma Zi-o deployed.
I really appreciate the effort that went into this. A lot of creators these days just do the “hey! I’m super relatable, and am just talking into a camera from my desk chair” treatment. You’ve clearly put time into the script, filming and editing of this and it really shows. (My favourite shot being the ending, surrounded by all the toys spoken about through the video)
Dude, right now is the best time to get back into Transformers action figures with toys like Earthrise Optimus, Legacy Armada Prime, WFC Galaxy Upgrade Prime (Cybertron 2005) and the many Studio Series Bayverse Optimus toys. All these are modern upgraded takes on some of the Primes you featured here. Hope you'd do more of these videos 🔥
As a transformers collector that also grew up on the unicron trilogy, I highly recommend that you should collect some of the new legacy stuff that came out. They made updated versions of Armada characters, including a new figure of Armada Optimus that, while it doesn't have it's automorph trailer gimmick, it's highly poseable and looks damn good. And the core robot transforms almost exactly the same as the old one. I think it's the perfect combination of collecting as an adult while still be able to enjoy the toy.
I'm 46, and G1 was the series I was first introduced to. I was 7 years old, when the cartoon premiered. My dad was a Vietnam Vet, and a police officer. Unfortunately, he wasn't a very good person, and a terrible father. He beat my mom, and tortured me and my brother for his own amusement. Optimus Prime became the father figure I looked-up to. I felt he had all the values a father and a leader should have. He was also my beacon during my military career. He was the template I modeled my career on. Optimus Prime's voice was in my head during combat missions in Iraq. Also, the 2007 movie was released while I was there. I got to see DVD bootlegs while it was in theaters in the States. Optimus Prime motivated me during some very frightening times. He was everything my actual father wasn't. In 2013, I started collecting CHUG Transformers figures, and I haven't looked back! The Earthrise Prime is probably the closest CHUG representation of G1 OP, and is an integral part of my collection. But let's face it, OP is badass no matter what universe he represents!
And this is why I buy everyone toys for Christmas and their bdays lmao I loved my grandpa's face when I gave him an rc helicopter cuz I heard he wanted one a long time ago
Here’s a little something I say often…”Keep your inner childhood spirit alive, because without it…you’ll forget how to have fun…and be happy” I am an adult, I’m 23 and I’ll be turning 24 soon. I still enjoy doing things that are often viewed as “Childish” I still collect and build legos, I still collect toys, I still enjoy comics, I still watch cartoons and animated movies, I still…love these things, because they make me happy. Being an adult is…scary, it’s hard, it’s stressful, we may not be able to become kids again…but…we can still enjoy the things we loved as kids.
Having primarily been a movie TF kid I really loved the lean towards higher complexity and accuracy. UT Challenger is probably my favourite Optimus figure
@@dangerousdays2052I normally would agree but, Magnificent Mecha Optimus Prime is freaking awesome. Here's a Transformer that doesn't even look like it'll transform but it does. I own a lot of Transformers, Optimus Prime included as I probably have around 15 or so Primes and MM-01 is my favorite. Magic Square probably makes the very best toon accurate Prime but, MM-01 just had a ton of details that's not on those figures. Still haven't bought any Robosen figures as I just don't think they're worth the price, Grimlock looks awesome though but not $1.5K awesome. I collect mostly videogames and figures though as that's where my passion lies.
@@dangerousdays2052 is it really wrong to have an opinion? some of us wouldnt have been introduced to the franchise without it, and despite its flaws it did what it was intended to do.
@JettKuso Absolutely had them when I was little they were my favourite, was gutted cause the leg on my jetstorm broke, the plastic was quite thin where the thigh connected to the body. Tried to fix it, but nothing worked. I'm still a little sad about that to this day 😅😅
@@JettKusoI traded for a Jetstorm at a local collectibles shop a couple months ago. I combed through all the transformers he had, and there was no Jetfire. I leave him in combined mode, a promise to my future self. Somewhere out there, is his other half...
This was an EXTREMELY well done video. My first Transformer was a Diaclobe edition of Trailblazer. It was a blue Bronco/Blazer vehicle and even had a tiny little figure that was the pilot with magnetic feet. I also had Thundercracker, but G1 Prime was my first end all/be all favorite toy in the universe. Had to have it with me at all times, slept in bed, world level crisis if I lost the trailer unit’s middles (mine fired), etc. He was even my stranger danger password. I wasn’t supposed to ever go with or talk to a stranger that “Mom sent”, unless she and Optimus Prime said so. This was a wonderful presentation about something very important to my childhood. Thank you.
This one was lovely. When you said - "I'm still that kid." - I teared up a little bit. Thank you for seeing simple things as beautiful, and reminding us that they are as well.
I've never had an all-time favorite transformer. Most of them were hand-me-downs or found in garage sales and thrift stores. I had some that I didn't even know the names of, but they provided some of the most fun I ever had with a toy. This franchise has always been very near to my heart and I'm only just now getting into the media side of things. I don't play with them like I used to but they make for excellent fidget tools. Listening to you while messing with my new Soundwave made me very emotional, thanks for making this video.
Talking about Soundwave, it would be cool if Robosen would make a Soundwave and a Blaster that actually could record mp3 audio, have Bluetooth music connection and actually play mp3s, cause not only would they transform, they would actually be real music players.
Honestly, I had that dilemma when I started growing up too. I was also that kind of transformers fan that spends his savings on anything I found cool and on display in the toy shop. My parents really forced the notion of "You're getting older now, give up toys." which was honestly kind of hypocritical since my dad was literally one of the reasons why I'm like this and he has the same kind of want for toys. At some point in time, I came to the same conclusion. What's more childish than wanting to be "grown up"? Isn't it more mature to accept what you like no matter at what age range they target these things to? My latest transformer was the Earthrise Prime (with trailer). I got it as a Christmas gift just after I turned 20 and the way I felt holding that toy in my hand was unreal. I am an avid fan of gunpla and gunpla adjacent products (LBX), but nothing beats the heft and solid feel of that toy. I can feel myself getting excited for toys again. I used to watch several toy reviews from Baltmatrix and Collection DX in my younger years and would dream of owning one of those holy grail transformers. I've watched several reviewers praising Earthrise Prime so when I actually got it, I was ecstatic. It essentially revived my loved for toys and made me start watching toy reviewers again like you, Jobby, and Paper Melon. Thank you for this vid and hope to catch more vids with a lot of other toys soon too! PS: I really recommend getting into the FOC and WOC toyline as well as the remakes of the primes in the Legacy line that they're doing now. They remade Armada Prime into a beast of a boye with lots of articulation.
I can relate, I'm not a big collector or anything but some of the ones I want are just a punch to the wallet sometimes. I love bumblebee but also enjoy some others. I found these like figured that are anime girls dressed to look like the transformers and they look so good and not like weird like other anime figures 💀.
I don’t know if it’s odd or not, I’ve never really thought about it until recently; when I was younger I never did the whole ‘smashing things together’ type of play. I’d just spread all my transformers across the floor,put on a movie (maybe 80-90% of the time Transformers), and line them up in vehicle mode-then robot mode-then back to vehicle-and so on, occasionally posing them. This was how I played when I was younger; I don’t spread them across the floor transforming several at once now, although I may sometimes still put something on (my selection has much more variety now)while messing with one or two. Some of the walls in my room seem almost lined with shelves holding 90% Transformers; each and every one I will at some point take down just to play with-no matter how simple,complex,or expensive, it may be.
The biggest hurdle I always encounter when collecting as an adult is build quality. You buy something you really wanted as a kid now that you're an adult with some leftover disposable income. You get your hands on it, reminiscing back at how cool that specific character was in the show, but then maybe like a ball joint ends up being too loose, or some accessories turn out to be too flimsy or warped, or worse of all, the overall design of the toy has major flaws to where it's entirety could be viewed as subpar. (Doesn't help if you ended up following one of those STEM career paths, and basically made your life's work discovering flaws and making up solutions to this kind of stuff) As a kid you wouldn't care about any of these things. Arm fell off? Well I guess that just a thing arms do on toys, just pop it back on...or don't who cares. Transformation doesn't snap-in as smoothly as you thought? Oh well, throw it in the box, try again later after some PS2. Paint chip??? You're brain isn't even developed enough to recognize those kinds of things. As an adult tho, you can't help but feel some sort of buyer's remorse. Especially if it ends up being one of those that get's overhyped by fans to where it's several times (dozens/hundreds of times) its original MSRP (A certain single-headed translucent Drake comes to mind, or any of those from Mechtanium Surge). You're essentially trying to find the value in something that other's obviously do (fandom love, rarity, significance), but at the same time trying your best to ignore the blatantly obvious realization that the toy company themselves all those years back added very little, if any, to start with.
I agree with you. I love Godzilla, and last year in May, I bought the Sh Monsterarts King Ghidorah 2019 Special Color Version. I am a Sh Monsterarts completionist because it is my favorite figure line. I was very excited when I bought it, but after a day of owning it, I realized that this was not worth the 230 usd I spent on it. With most figures I buy, I can see the value in them, but with Ghidorah, I just could not. I will admit I do like its shelf presence, and it is the centerpiece of my Monsterarts collection, but I just can not help but feel remorseful every time I look at it.
6:19 The whole reason why Optimus is a fire truck in RID01 is because in the original Japanese version knows as Car Robots (which is part of the Japanese G1 continuity and canonically takes place after Beast Machines) the character is named Fire Convoy and is a separate character from Convoy (who instead of being upgraded into PM Optimus he's upgraded into even larger Star Convoy)
Optimus Prime was always my favorite/hero when I was a kid. Seeing you make this video made me really happy, and I got to relive some good times. Thank you so much! G1 OP was the best!
The best Optimus Prime in my opinion is the new version of the Armada design. The trailer turns into legs that actually function as posable legs. The only downside is the lack of Minicons or a modern, first-party Overload to attach to him.
I disagree. The big problem with every single Commander Class figure since Kingdom (and arguably Earthrise set the stage for this), is that every single trailer has failed in execution. Either you end up with Kingdom Rodimus, where it's not properly engineered so the Trailer properly closes, or you end up with a trailer that is utterly crappy. Earthrise Optimus should have been made a Commander clearly so that the trailer was properly done (we even had to get an exclusive to get Roller for him, that wasn't even available to those of us outside of the USA), and every single commander since has had crappy trailer base modes. Legacy Motormaster's base mode was a weird thing just slapped together so that the trailer turned into something, which then led to elements of the trailer and Menasor body being a slight let down compared to what Magic Square did. As for Armada Prime, the trailer is a complete dumpster fire. The thing with Armada is that in many ways it was an homage to Zone and Battlestars, where the larger figures all served as playsets to Minicons, in the same way that larger figures from Zone and Battlestars served as playsets to Micromasters. When I compare the original Armada Prime trailer to the Legacy one, as a battle station and Minicon/Micromaster playset, the original wins hands down. It's the same story with Armada Megatron - In fact, someone could very easily produce a mod kit for the original Armada Megatron and you'd have something vastly superior to the original. They certainly could have looked at fixing that with more engineering and a higher part count for the trailer, however I think the problem you'd hit is that the design teams simply aren't being given the budgets they need to do these figures justice. If Armada Megatron had've been properly done, he'd have probably been bumped up to Commander Class and if Optimus was done properly, I honestly wonder if they'd have had to bump him up to a Titan Class Pricepoint - either that or create an in-between one. With the upcomig Tidal Wave, they're even talking about him having just some parts coming off him to combine with Legacy Evolution Leader Megs, rather than the whole of the figure combining with him. One thing I'm finding with some stuff in Legacy, is that Hasbro seems to be asking "can we do this figure with this design budget?", instead of "can we fully do this figure justice with this design budget?" It was passable with Siege for example - where the traseoff for a dumpster fire of a Siege Chromia figure, was getting Ironhide as a massive Deluxe, instead of a small Voyager. However we've now reached a place where the end result is that we're getting figures which either miss the mark or require fans to come in and finish off figures that should have been done to the nth from the outset - with Velocitron Road Rocket being Exhibit A for that.
I’m a minute into the video and I just wanna say Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime has gotta be my favorite OP figure by far. It came out at a time where trying to make film/cartoon accurate toys and make them as playable as humanly possible was the standard it was just *chef’s kiss* and the fact they kept reusing the mold and retooling the figure reflects how absolutely sublime that toy was. Hasbro Hall of Fame: ROTF Optimus Prime
Growing up doesn't mean you have to throw what you loved away, it simply means you need to enjoy the deeper aspects of it. the oddities in the animation, the delivery of the lines, things you didn't notice are now what you have grown up to understand.
Your closing comments hit home. I've said exactly that my whole life and always felt looked down on for it. It's good to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. Great video.
This TH-cam video was a work of art…This is something I want to show my kids some day if they feel bad because they started playing with toys or doing “child stuff” again when they’re older This is an amazing channel. And it warms my heart as a fellow collector to watch this video…Thanks for making my day
wow the videography of this video and the ending is honestly phenomenal as a person scared of being seen as childish for loving trading card games this really speaks to me thanks
Yeah, I love the transformers ever since I was a kid, I later on lost interest (or never had the time to collect), but now I collect a bunch of Optimus Primes, especially since I got back into it due to Bishoujo Optimus. Plus I regularly use bishoujo prime to commission a lot of artists in order to help them out, as well I got a print of Bishoujo Prime from a artist signed by Peter himself.
Incredible video. The cinematography is perfect, and captured that existential feel of growing up. The ending was phenomenal, and I could not say it better myself.
Man the closing of this video really resonated with me. I feel the exact same way about collecting Lego as an adult. Great video. Would love to see more content like this.
To be honest that last more reflective part really made me think, specially the last part where you talk about what freedom is. There are some quotes on this video that are most definetely gonna live in my head rent free for at least quite some time.
My son has been madly obssessed with the 1980s Transformers (as well as Transformers Cybertron) for almost 2 years (he's 6.) Watching you was like having a vision of who he will be in another 20 years. It was fascinating hearing you talk about how you grew out of watching the shows-- it will be interesting to see if he does the same. He is growing up playing with the War for Cybertron toys and the Legacy line and they don't have lights or sounds but they have a lot of interchangable pieces and that has a lot of appeal to him.
I wasn't expecting this video to get so existential at the end but I'm glad that it did, I really needed that message at the end there. Thanks for that.
Fire truck Optimus Prime should totally be used more. Also the Cybertron and RID 2001 Primes are my favorite toys of the character. They're big, chunky, feel great in hand, and have so much playability just by themselves.
My love for Transformers comes from the fact that they have always been 3 toys in 1. They can be an action figure, a vehicle or animal and a puzzle. You have three experiences in one. I saw the Robosen one and was amused, but the charm goes away when you see it live. Note of advice, they released a new Armada Optimus Prime, that just transforms, if you're interested. There are lots of places were you can 3d print the pieces you're missing too.
This video is just. SO good. The ending brought tears to my eyes because it resonates a lot with my current obsession with Transformers. As a kid I watched the entirety of Transformers Prime and I loved it, but it didn't go anywhere beyond the show (mainly because "transformers is not a girl show" etc). This year, RotB reignited my interest in Transformers and I've been consumed by tf media ever since! Shows, comics, toys-- I can finally buy toys! And nobody's going to stop me! Just like you said in this video! So.. Thank you! For making this! Made me emotional :']
33:02 Man that ending got me in the feels, especially the "I don't need recapture anything" part, to be honest the reason why i start collecting Transformers again as adult is a revenge, an act of revenge to my past self Because now as a adult, i have the money to basically buy any Transformers toys from my childhood, and by that logic i can "recapture" the feeling of buying toys that i always want Obviously that is not always the case, and Rotf voyager Long Haul is giving me that lesson, as a child Roft Voyager Long Haul is a toys i always want, of course now as a adult i can buy it But doesn't feel the same and no matter how long i play it or a display it just doesn't feel the same, i can't "recapture" the feeling if I have this toys as a child.
That ending speech was beautiful. It reminds me of how when I was going into my teens, with the limited amount of stuff I could get each year (relegated to mainly birthdays and Christmas), I fell out of a bunch of stuff I was into when I was younger. Bakugan, Tranformers, lego, even some video games. But as I got deeper into highschool, I realized I wanted to get more into the loop than I had been before. I may have not cared much about the shows, but I wanted the toys. I wanted to get back into what I have left behind. Since I don't have a job I've only been able to do it in limited amounts, buying some stuff from comic con and in stores. But once I get a job, I'm getting some of the things I always wanted when I was younger, and some things I've only wanted recently. Because who says I can't take a bunch of toys, and shove them into a crazy story I've been developing for a while now.
At first I thought this was gonna be a silly video about fun facts or the history of Transformer toys (which it is), but it ended up being so much more I grew up in the Bayverse era and had a few Transformers from the movies as a kid, especially from DOTM since around that year my obsession started. Later on as I entered puberty I stopped being interested in toys and actually gave away almost all of them. Now as an 18 year-old I honestly regret that decision and I curse my younger me for that lol. However at the same time I've found that right now is a great time to be a Transformers fan, with so many different toylines and figures that look good. Sure, they're not perfect, but they're still great and fun to play with. I've started collecting figures again and whenever I'm bored I just grab one and transform it back and forth. Of course they're also cool to just display and look at them. Sometimes I do feel like it's a childish hobby, and that it makes me look stupid or immature, but you know what? Who cares, right? It's my life, it's my money, it's my fandom, and even with its ups and downs I love being a part of it!!
I'm definitely gonna keep rewatching this video, especially the ending, because I'm glad it's helping me learn an important lesson about toy collecting: Even if I don't make the time to play with them or even display them, doesn't make it any less of a good hobby. Usually the people who look down on it are the ones who spend their money on consumables.
One of my favorite parts about the armada Optimus Prime that no one talks about is the button on top of his head. It moves his mouth plate so you can make him talk.
14:50 one of my friends from daycare had 2 Bumblebee toys because transforming him was so difficult that it was easier for us to play if he just HAD the two modes already set up. Cause nobody else had the super complex toys, ours were McDonald’s Bumblebee easy compared to his Bumblebee.
If you grew up with the armada Optimus Prime, you should definitely get the recent armada prime from the legacy evolution toyline, it’s a good update and he finally had leg articulation in the super mode
hits different watching this and turning back to look at my massive Titan Class Metroplex, laughing in my sixteen Megatrons and fourteen Optimus Primes - some of which are mainline toys, some of which are expensive 3rd party collector;s figures - still packed away, and having no qualms about calling myself a toy collector. I don't buy them to sell them later, as I am often asked. I'm not ashamed of the amount of money that I spent on my collection - in fact I'm quite proud of it. I buy them to have them, because I enjoy playing with them and transforming them, making battle scenes and taking photos of them, or just putting them in silly poses on my desk while I watch a show, or movie, or a youtube video by Jett Kuso. I messed around a bit with my Studio Series Gamer Edition Megatron - who's knees I still need to fix - while I watched this, I transformed bombshell, and I have a bunch more toys piled up on my desk next to my computed to be played with next Take pride in that even as you grow up, you are able to keep the child you were alive, and enjoy the things so many force themselves to stop enjoying. I for one am quite happy at the implication you'll try to re-experience the franchise you cut off yourself from - you should. Transformers Prime isn't in my top five favorite TF series, but it was still an amazing piece of fiction and you should finish it, play the Cybertron Games and pick up Devastation too while you're at it, I reccomend skipping RID 2015, but Cyberverse was a genuinely great show that *is* on my top five, and Earthspark has followed it up with not a smidge less of quality and care. Saying there's a whole community out there of us TF fans is an understatement, there are countless communities all waiting for you man, because we love sharing the joy of these plastic wonders. Welcome back, Jett Kuso
I love transformers… But I loved what you had to say about growing up at the end even more! Creating videos like this takes HEART! And that passion is why I’m subscribing:)
Loved the memory lane idea but it’s such a shame you missed out so many Primes, there was G2 Prime, Laser Prime, Combat Hero Prime, Action Master Prime, God Ginrai, Star Convoy, Victory Leo, The thunder clash redeco of Prime from the G1/2 eras and of course the movie, Prime, Go, Video Game Primes, Prime Wars, RID 2015, Cyberverse, Earthspark and the Masterpiece lines you never even touched on, would love to see you do a complete round up of all of them
Alot of passion went into this and it shows. The cinematography gets better and better which really elevates the rest of the video. And if that wasn't enough you showed Cybertron Optimus some love too. 10/10 and I'll gladly tell youtube I want to see more.
Absolutely love the message of this video. I'll be thirty in a month and im still just as obsessed with Transformers, Gundams, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Kamen Rider as I was when I was a kid and I dont see myself stopping anytime soon. I spend way more money on "toys" as an adult then I ever did or could of dreamed of doing as a kid and thats because I financially can now. I'm not ashamed of who I am, and this video spoke to deep into me. Love your stuff man and I love how much passion and effort you put into each project you do. Keep being you!
Just started back collecting transformers (haven't doesn't this also since I was a kid. about 40 ish years ago). getting only certain ones (the ones that are the unique ones from my childhood, and the ones I find visually pleasant. ROCK ON TRANSFORMERS COLLECTORS!!!!
This was a really fun video! I will say though that Armada Optimus Prime just got a new figure that basically gives you most of what the old one can do but with articulation (and no electronics… which might be for the best as the motor in the original has been noted to catch fire occasionally.)
I was gonna agree that Cybertron Prime remains uncontested but then you nailed that cinematic ending and I feel it would be in opposition to the main point lol
I had the G1 Optimus. He may still be in my parents' attic somewhere. He really was a cool toy: durable, well-made, and the transformation felt great. Same with the Seeker I had, Skywarp; Jazz's transformation I found to be a bit complicated and fiddly. It always made me think, even when I was a kid, of what geniuses those Japanese toy designers must have been to come up with a way to change a car into a robot. The Robosen Optimus is the toy we _wish_ existed way back in the 80s. Back then, all the rich kids had the die-cast Matchbox Voltron, and the rest of us scrubs had to settle for the much cheaper plastic Voltron (whose lions didn't even reconfigure themselves the way they did on the show). Robosen Optimus and Megatron are Gen Alpha's die-cast Voltron. Everybody will envy the kid with rich parents who has one.
Some people in the comments are missing the point of this video. It's not Jett's fault that he doesn't own EVERY Optimus Prime toy ever existed in his possession or collection. Not everyone owns the toy people do (MP-10, G2 Laser, so on and so forth). Even Thew Adams called it out in his Cliffjumper and Bumblebee video but that's besides the point. Also, Masterpiece TFs (official and 3rd Party) aren't meant to be played with; they're for display, not rough play for kids (but hey, you do you). And this video only covers the toys made for general mass retail for kids who grew up with them. His thoughts, his opinions and his recollection. This ain't the comprehensive video you're looking for. You might as well watch Chris McFeely's "The Basics", Michael Mercy or any other comprehensive Transformers toy, cartoon or media adjacent content. That aside, great video Jett! I enjoyed every minute of it which made me recall and reflect on my short fond memories growing up and introduced to this franchise with Animated and Bayverse (bite me).
This is such a good video! I love Optimus Prime to bits. I needed to hear the C.S. Lewis quote, and that idea of growing up but still holding on to what you loved as a kid. Freedom is the Right of All Sentient indeed. P.S. I would highly recommend finishing Transformers: Prime. It is an absolute spectacle of storytelling.
I feel obligated to mention that the Optimus Prime from Robots in Disguise 2001 was actually a separate character called Fire Convoy in the original japanese version of the show, Car Robots.
Hoo boy, this video takes me back. I had both the Super Mode [Energon] Optimus Prime figure, and the Leobreaker figure. Sadly my parents made me donate most of my old toys to Goodwill. Though I will say that I did not remember Super Mode Optimus being that chunky.
Thank you for making this. I feel very insecure about my transformers collecting hobby, and im afraid people are just gonna judge me for it and call me childish. But instead of saying "no, im not childish!" or something similar, i should learn to embrace it. I want to play with my transformers right now but unfortunately its like 10 pm and my parents would like, crucify me if i made loud noises so i'll do it tommorow
…..damn…this video is just an essay to say “It doesn’t matter who you are, even if you have toys, your always you.” Got a bit teary at the end, I loved it.
I'm 40. G1 prime was the first Christmas present I remember getting and I loved it to death. I managed to find an original 1985 version last year in perfect condition (not a reissue or KO - it was my cousin's in storage since the 80s!). Makes me happy every time I look at it.
Primes get some of the best TF toys Ngl Missing Link Prime is the best recent toy Prime imo, but Holiday Prime is really underrated too Robosen is kind of interesting but not for me ig, but he does seem really cool Fun vid as always bro, love these high quality vids you've been putting out
Every time I see the Armada Leader Class Optimus, I IMMEDIATELY think about the Baltmatrix review where he said that his old one got stuck while transforming and caught fire
Skipped a couple pre-beast wars versions, but that is understandable considering how expensive they have gotten. Also one if them was Action Master Optimus Prime. I personally miss the crazy Super Robot esque era Transformers with all the crazy super modes. Glad they are reimagining some of the designs from that era.
see, the thing with me and being a transformers fan, was growing up with the unicron trilogy, up to present day, i watched it ALL, shows, movies, comic books, i played it ALL, all the games that came out for all the movies, and other games for it on multiple systems, and being 26 currently, i still watch/read/play games, and i still collect the figures, i may not play with them like a kid, but im still a diehard fan through and through, i HIGHLY recommend you continue your journey, prime is an amazing show, as is everything after
The last part hit hard, though my situation is a bit different. I'm in my early 20s when my parents expect me to be more mature and finally leave my childish things behind. But here I am. I like action figures, I like lego, I like stuffed toys, I like cute things. I feel like I shouldn't, as my parents would judge me. And I have to hide some things from them. It's just really annoying.
Man it sucks for that to come from people who are supposed to be supporting you… This is a pretty common story though. Im pretty sure I feel what you’re going through, so hold strong.
Kudos on your 1986 style G1 Robosen Optimus Prime , , ,, ,some one credited EMGO for a quote created by Benjamin Franklin " we don't stop playing because we are Old , , we are Old because we stop playing , , , remember Peter Cullen is KING 👑
Mediocre topic, executed to epic proportions. Had me hooked the whole vid!! On a sidenote, I’m envious of your video creation, capabilities to try to emulate for my channel!
A lot of adults collect their favorite toys that they played with as a child, mostly cause being an adult you're actually able to go out and work to have the money to buy them, but when you were a kid it's a lot harder to get a job to pay you enough money to buy your favorite toys, and even if you had an allowance, it's not like your parents would pay you 15$ an hour for doing your chores, but unfortunately in any countries or areas where children actually do work, they don't get paid enough and they are often too poor to buy toys anyway, but once an adult, you can get legitimate work to buy the toys to collect them, and you can even turn your toy hobby into a career by demonstrating and showing off your collection or as a broker to find the toys for other people that collect them, and you could even learn robotics and create your own robotic changing toys. Just cause you grow up, doesn't mean you stop playing, besides there might be a time when a little one of your own will ask you to play with them, and what kind of parent would say no to that kind of request when they come with some of their toys in hand.
My Bayverse Prime kept repeating "I am Optimus Prime" and was a nightmare when you put him in a draw with the rest of the robots because he wouldn't shut the hell up.
*P.S. I know who Roller is. Don’t comment about Roller.* - Get 30% off your first box, plus a FREE gift, when you give Tiege Hanley a try at tiege.com/jettoptimus
@JettKuso the Rise of The Beasts design of Optimus Prime is the best.
"That's not a guy that's a monkey!"
I've heard that "um... limited" joke song thing before
@@sirpug Jazz Emu! one of my favorite artists
@@JettKuso me too
As EmGo always says: “You don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing. Be geek, be proud.”
"PALM IN YOUR FAAAAAAACE!!" - emgo, right after
SAD PACMAN
BLOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!
@@bumbleprime7713nah you read my mind lol
Was thinking the exact same thing.
Every toy can be an adult collectible and every adult collectible can be a toy. My shelves are full of "collectibles" that were my childhood toys. And sometimes I still play with them.
Same here🎯🎯🎯
Me two
Pfp
I never tried to capture the past, I simply am enjoying my life in the same way I did in the past.
Based and true.
Yea a good figure from studio series reveals who uses stigmas to judge things. Those things are just cool things. Aliens would like it.
Wise words,.. there is no past. 80's Prime, is still the great same Prime today.
No joke, while I was watching this video my computer crashed around 12:18 so the audio ended sounding something like "I'M BACK IN THE FUCKING BUILDING AGAAAAAAAAAAA" before the computer blue screened, as if Prime's despair was so powerful he destroyed his own reality.
It’s as a role model of mine always says: “you don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing. Be geek, be proud.” It’s easily one of my favorite quotes of all time.
@@IamWone damn, blud got his account hacked by cyberhacking evangelists 💀
PAALLLMMM INNNN YOOOOOUR FAAAAAAAACE
Blooooosh!
@@Cobalt_Dragon0716 BLOOOOOSH!!!!! 💥
That last message hit me hard ngl.
You see, I used to be looked down upon by my seniors back in kindergarten, especially when it comes to my pop culture hobbies. That made me both upset and disheartened by their conceited notion of adulthood and it almost got me quitting my hobbies.
But thankfully, I still have friends at school who appreciate me and my hobbies, as well as a family that kept supporting me during the hardest of times. That kept me going until this very day and eventually, I realized that growing up doesn't mean throwing your childhood memories away.
As I grow up, I believe that I've developed what I think is an "artistic sense of curiosity". You see, I've been a fan of mecha and tokusatsu hero franchises and I also like drawing them as a hobby. I'm fascinated by how their gimmicks and mechanisms work, how diverse they've become in each of the franchise's succession and I'm curious to see how far they can go with their concepts and utilize them to the fullest.
When it comes to Transformers, we know that their basic concept is "Robots in Disguise" And that they usually transform into vehicles or weapons. I kept asking, "Do they have multiple mode changes? Do they combine? How else can they go from there?"
That's why I developed a mindset that one day, I will be the one who makes those kinds of franchise. One day, I will create my own, original hero series that combines everything that I love from childhood complete with its many varieties every single year and eventually, profit from it. 😁
So the bottom line is, I believe that growing up means that instead of throwing your childhood away, you should utilize everything that you've learned from it, especially from your hobbies, keep it close to your heart, and make people's lives better with it so you could pass down that knowledge to future generations who will look up to you.
Then again, surely we must've learned a lesson from watching many of those Transformers series. For me, Transformers Cybertron's final battle left a huge impression to me, where Optimus said to Galvatron that he believed in everyone who had helped him in his journey and that he was never alone, at all. That's worthy of a life lesson, if I say so myself.
That being said, I think I like Unicron Trilogy's super mode gimmicks on Optimus the most. Japan's Takara sure have a knack for making impressionable toys and I believe that concept should be utilized more in the future.
Just imagine, what if there is a Transformers toy that could combine all if the existing gimmicks to increase its play value? Like, we have Headmasters, Targetmasters, Combiners, Super Modes, Minicons, and now there are weaponizers and armorizers. What if all of them could be combined in a single toyline?
Lastly, I think "preserving your childlike innocence as you grow up" Would be the appropriate term for the last part of your video.
I feel u but I stopped reading after the second paragraph sorry. You wrote a hole essay lol
@@I3a1oni Bruh lmao 🤣
I mean, I genuinely have a lot to say about that particular message myself, so... 😅😂
Bro had the guts to write a school essay not in school
@@hansdashadowfan2001 Bruh well I already graduated long ago, so... 🤣
Man I seriously waste 7 minute reading this lmao.
But honestly tho, I'm glad I read this. I've been out of transformer for a while now, and looking back I'm glad it still finds a way back into my life. I feel like a 8yo kid in 38yo body. And that feeling is so refreshing.
Also, Decade 21 spotted, Ohma Zi-o deployed.
I really appreciate the effort that went into this. A lot of creators these days just do the “hey! I’m super relatable, and am just talking into a camera from my desk chair” treatment.
You’ve clearly put time into the script, filming and editing of this and it really shows.
(My favourite shot being the ending, surrounded by all the toys spoken about through the video)
Completely agree with you, first video I see of his and I’m a 34 year old fan.
Dude, right now is the best time to get back into Transformers action figures with toys like Earthrise Optimus, Legacy Armada Prime, WFC Galaxy Upgrade Prime (Cybertron 2005) and the many Studio Series Bayverse Optimus toys. All these are modern upgraded takes on some of the Primes you featured here. Hope you'd do more of these videos 🔥
As a transformers collector that also grew up on the unicron trilogy, I highly recommend that you should collect some of the new legacy stuff that came out. They made updated versions of Armada characters, including a new figure of Armada Optimus that, while it doesn't have it's automorph trailer gimmick, it's highly poseable and looks damn good. And the core robot transforms almost exactly the same as the old one. I think it's the perfect combination of collecting as an adult while still be able to enjoy the toy.
I'm 46, and G1 was the series I was first introduced to. I was 7 years old, when the cartoon premiered. My dad was a Vietnam Vet, and a police officer. Unfortunately, he wasn't a very good person, and a terrible father. He beat my mom, and tortured me and my brother for his own amusement. Optimus Prime became the father figure I looked-up to. I felt he had all the values a father and a leader should have. He was also my beacon during my military career. He was the template I modeled my career on. Optimus Prime's voice was in my head during combat missions in Iraq. Also, the 2007 movie was released while I was there. I got to see DVD bootlegs while it was in theaters in the States. Optimus Prime motivated me during some very frightening times. He was everything my actual father wasn't. In 2013, I started collecting CHUG Transformers figures, and I haven't looked back! The Earthrise Prime is probably the closest CHUG representation of G1 OP, and is an integral part of my collection. But let's face it, OP is badass no matter what universe he represents!
"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes" - The 4th Doctor
Doctor who reference (YAY)
You stole the words right out of my mouth. That is literally the same quote that was playing in my head towards the end
And this is why I buy everyone toys for Christmas and their bdays lmao I loved my grandpa's face when I gave him an rc helicopter cuz I heard he wanted one a long time ago
The best doctor
Here’s a little something I say often…”Keep your inner childhood spirit alive, because without it…you’ll forget how to have fun…and be happy”
I am an adult, I’m 23 and I’ll be turning 24 soon. I still enjoy doing things that are often viewed as “Childish” I still collect and build legos, I still collect toys, I still enjoy comics, I still watch cartoons and animated movies, I still…love these things, because they make me happy. Being an adult is…scary, it’s hard, it’s stressful, we may not be able to become kids again…but…we can still enjoy the things we loved as kids.
Having primarily been a movie TF kid I really loved the lean towards higher complexity and accuracy. UT Challenger is probably my favourite Optimus figure
Bayformers is garbo. Literally the worst interpretation of Transformers ever made.
I agree! bayverse and all of its gargoyle looking poo poo design is just disrespect to the whole franchise.
@@dangerousdays2052I normally would agree but, Magnificent Mecha Optimus Prime is freaking awesome. Here's a Transformer that doesn't even look like it'll transform but it does. I own a lot of Transformers, Optimus Prime included as I probably have around 15 or so Primes and MM-01 is my favorite. Magic Square probably makes the very best toon accurate Prime but, MM-01 just had a ton of details that's not on those figures. Still haven't bought any Robosen figures as I just don't think they're worth the price, Grimlock looks awesome though but not $1.5K awesome. I collect mostly videogames and figures though as that's where my passion lies.
@@dangerousdays2052 is it really wrong to have an opinion? some of us wouldnt have been introduced to the franchise without it, and despite its flaws it did what it was intended to do.
@@dangerousdays2052 kiss players.
“I’M BACK IN THE F*CKING BUILDING” single handly had me WHEEZING
Classic Snapcube, I was grinning like an idiot when I heard it
I...didn't actually think a toy review would make me cry, this would be on my heart forever
I am proud to be Transformers fan! They were an important part of my childhood, they are important for me now!
Transformers animated were borderline flawless toys. Can count on one hand how many bad toys that line had.
TBH, yeah. The Jetfire/Jetstorm set is still absolute all time PEAK transformers.
@JettKuso Absolutely had them when I was little they were my favourite, was gutted cause the leg on my jetstorm broke, the plastic was quite thin where the thigh connected to the body. Tried to fix it, but nothing worked. I'm still a little sad about that to this day 😅😅
@@JettKuso I had them back in college and I absolutely LOVED them. I passed them onto a new home some time ago, but they're still awesome figures.
@@JettKusoI traded for a Jetstorm at a local collectibles shop a couple months ago. I combed through all the transformers he had, and there was no Jetfire. I leave him in combined mode, a promise to my future self. Somewhere out there, is his other half...
Yeah, interesting description but fuck yeah
This was an EXTREMELY well done video. My first Transformer was a Diaclobe edition of Trailblazer. It was a blue Bronco/Blazer vehicle and even had a tiny little figure that was the pilot with magnetic feet. I also had Thundercracker, but G1 Prime was my first end all/be all favorite toy in the universe. Had to have it with me at all times, slept in bed, world level crisis if I lost the trailer unit’s middles (mine fired), etc. He was even my stranger danger password. I wasn’t supposed to ever go with or talk to a stranger that “Mom sent”, unless she and Optimus Prime said so. This was a wonderful presentation about something very important to my childhood. Thank you.
This one was lovely. When you said - "I'm still that kid." - I teared up a little bit. Thank you for seeing simple things as beautiful, and reminding us that they are as well.
That video had a deep turn. Really made some points there. Great job!
I love playing with my Transformers and my wife loves it when I make the transforming noise. I’m 47 and a half.
I've never had an all-time favorite transformer. Most of them were hand-me-downs or found in garage sales and thrift stores. I had some that I didn't even know the names of, but they provided some of the most fun I ever had with a toy. This franchise has always been very near to my heart and I'm only just now getting into the media side of things. I don't play with them like I used to but they make for excellent fidget tools. Listening to you while messing with my new Soundwave made me very emotional, thanks for making this video.
Talking about Soundwave, it would be cool if Robosen would make a Soundwave and a Blaster that actually could record mp3 audio, have Bluetooth music connection and actually play mp3s, cause not only would they transform, they would actually be real music players.
Honestly, I had that dilemma when I started growing up too. I was also that kind of transformers fan that spends his savings on anything I found cool and on display in the toy shop. My parents really forced the notion of "You're getting older now, give up toys." which was honestly kind of hypocritical since my dad was literally one of the reasons why I'm like this and he has the same kind of want for toys. At some point in time, I came to the same conclusion. What's more childish than wanting to be "grown up"? Isn't it more mature to accept what you like no matter at what age range they target these things to?
My latest transformer was the Earthrise Prime (with trailer). I got it as a Christmas gift just after I turned 20 and the way I felt holding that toy in my hand was unreal. I am an avid fan of gunpla and gunpla adjacent products (LBX), but nothing beats the heft and solid feel of that toy. I can feel myself getting excited for toys again. I used to watch several toy reviews from Baltmatrix and Collection DX in my younger years and would dream of owning one of those holy grail transformers. I've watched several reviewers praising Earthrise Prime so when I actually got it, I was ecstatic.
It essentially revived my loved for toys and made me start watching toy reviewers again like you, Jobby, and Paper Melon. Thank you for this vid and hope to catch more vids with a lot of other toys soon too!
PS: I really recommend getting into the FOC and WOC toyline as well as the remakes of the primes in the Legacy line that they're doing now. They remade Armada Prime into a beast of a boye with lots of articulation.
It reminds me of this quote from Doctor Who: "There's no point of being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."
@@christophersaficomposer🎯🎯🎯‼️
I can relate, I'm not a big collector or anything but some of the ones I want are just a punch to the wallet sometimes. I love bumblebee but also enjoy some others. I found these like figured that are anime girls dressed to look like the transformers and they look so good and not like weird like other anime figures 💀.
I don’t know if it’s odd or not, I’ve never really thought about it until recently; when I was younger I never did the whole ‘smashing things together’ type of play.
I’d just spread all my transformers across the floor,put on a movie (maybe 80-90% of the time Transformers), and line them up in vehicle mode-then robot mode-then back to vehicle-and so on, occasionally posing them.
This was how I played when I was younger; I don’t spread them across the floor transforming several at once now, although I may sometimes still put something on (my selection has much more variety now)while messing with one or two.
Some of the walls in my room seem almost lined with shelves holding 90% Transformers; each and every one I will at some point take down just to play with-no matter how simple,complex,or expensive, it may be.
The biggest hurdle I always encounter when collecting as an adult is build quality. You buy something you really wanted as a kid now that you're an adult with some leftover disposable income. You get your hands on it, reminiscing back at how cool that specific character was in the show, but then maybe like a ball joint ends up being too loose, or some accessories turn out to be too flimsy or warped, or worse of all, the overall design of the toy has major flaws to where it's entirety could be viewed as subpar. (Doesn't help if you ended up following one of those STEM career paths, and basically made your life's work discovering flaws and making up solutions to this kind of stuff)
As a kid you wouldn't care about any of these things. Arm fell off? Well I guess that just a thing arms do on toys, just pop it back on...or don't who cares. Transformation doesn't snap-in as smoothly as you thought? Oh well, throw it in the box, try again later after some PS2. Paint chip??? You're brain isn't even developed enough to recognize those kinds of things.
As an adult tho, you can't help but feel some sort of buyer's remorse. Especially if it ends up being one of those that get's overhyped by fans to where it's several times (dozens/hundreds of times) its original MSRP (A certain single-headed translucent Drake comes to mind, or any of those from Mechtanium Surge).
You're essentially trying to find the value in something that other's obviously do (fandom love, rarity, significance), but at the same time trying your best to ignore the blatantly obvious realization that the toy company themselves all those years back added very little, if any, to start with.
I literally broke three different toys in four different ways while making this video…
I agree with you. I love Godzilla, and last year in May, I bought the Sh Monsterarts King Ghidorah 2019 Special Color Version. I am a Sh Monsterarts completionist because it is my favorite figure line. I was very excited when I bought it, but after a day of owning it, I realized that this was not worth the 230 usd I spent on it.
With most figures I buy, I can see the value in them, but with Ghidorah, I just could not. I will admit I do like its shelf presence, and it is the centerpiece of my Monsterarts collection, but I just can not help but feel remorseful every time I look at it.
Heavily disagree
6:19
The whole reason why Optimus is a fire truck in RID01 is because in the original Japanese version knows as Car Robots (which is part of the Japanese G1 continuity and canonically takes place after Beast Machines) the character is named Fire Convoy and is a separate character from Convoy (who instead of being upgraded into PM Optimus he's upgraded into even larger Star Convoy)
"Other figures like Jetfire" He says, casually pulling out his Collector Club Astrotrain like it's nothing.
Well y'know, I had it on hand
bro at the end 34:28 really said an optimus prime quote : Freedom is the right of all sentient beings 💀
Man, I was expecting a review or a history about the toys then to now, I would never have thought it would get so real by the end.
Optimus Prime was always my favorite/hero when I was a kid. Seeing you make this video made me really happy, and I got to relive some good times. Thank you so much! G1 OP was the best!
The best Optimus Prime in my opinion is the new version of the Armada design. The trailer turns into legs that actually function as posable legs. The only downside is the lack of Minicons or a modern, first-party Overload to attach to him.
I disagree. The big problem with every single Commander Class figure since Kingdom (and arguably Earthrise set the stage for this), is that every single trailer has failed in execution. Either you end up with Kingdom Rodimus, where it's not properly engineered so the Trailer properly closes, or you end up with a trailer that is utterly crappy. Earthrise Optimus should have been made a Commander clearly so that the trailer was properly done (we even had to get an exclusive to get Roller for him, that wasn't even available to those of us outside of the USA), and every single commander since has had crappy trailer base modes. Legacy Motormaster's base mode was a weird thing just slapped together so that the trailer turned into something, which then led to elements of the trailer and Menasor body being a slight let down compared to what Magic Square did.
As for Armada Prime, the trailer is a complete dumpster fire. The thing with Armada is that in many ways it was an homage to Zone and Battlestars, where the larger figures all served as playsets to Minicons, in the same way that larger figures from Zone and Battlestars served as playsets to Micromasters. When I compare the original Armada Prime trailer to the Legacy one, as a battle station and Minicon/Micromaster playset, the original wins hands down. It's the same story with Armada Megatron - In fact, someone could very easily produce a mod kit for the original Armada Megatron and you'd have something vastly superior to the original.
They certainly could have looked at fixing that with more engineering and a higher part count for the trailer, however I think the problem you'd hit is that the design teams simply aren't being given the budgets they need to do these figures justice. If Armada Megatron had've been properly done, he'd have probably been bumped up to Commander Class and if Optimus was done properly, I honestly wonder if they'd have had to bump him up to a Titan Class Pricepoint - either that or create an in-between one. With the upcomig Tidal Wave, they're even talking about him having just some parts coming off him to combine with Legacy Evolution Leader Megs, rather than the whole of the figure combining with him.
One thing I'm finding with some stuff in Legacy, is that Hasbro seems to be asking "can we do this figure with this design budget?", instead of "can we fully do this figure justice with this design budget?"
It was passable with Siege for example - where the traseoff for a dumpster fire of a Siege Chromia figure, was getting Ironhide as a massive Deluxe, instead of a small Voyager. However we've now reached a place where the end result is that we're getting figures which either miss the mark or require fans to come in and finish off figures that should have been done to the nth from the outset - with Velocitron Road Rocket being Exhibit A for that.
@@andrewrichards312 You write this fucking much for replies? Christ my man get an actual life.
I’m a minute into the video and I just wanna say Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime has gotta be my favorite OP figure by far. It came out at a time where trying to make film/cartoon accurate toys and make them as playable as humanly possible was the standard it was just *chef’s kiss* and the fact they kept reusing the mold and retooling the figure reflects how absolutely sublime that toy was. Hasbro Hall of Fame: ROTF Optimus Prime
It's reaaaally good
genuinely one of the best videos on youtube
Growing up doesn't mean you have to throw what you loved away, it simply means you need to enjoy the deeper aspects of it. the oddities in the animation, the delivery of the lines, things you didn't notice are now what you have grown up to understand.
Your closing comments hit home. I've said exactly that my whole life and always felt looked down on for it. It's good to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. Great video.
This TH-cam video was a work of art…This is something I want to show my kids some day if they feel bad because they started playing with toys or doing “child stuff” again when they’re older
This is an amazing channel. And it warms my heart as a fellow collector to watch this video…Thanks for making my day
wow the videography of this video and the ending is honestly phenomenal as a person scared of being seen as childish for loving trading card games this really speaks to me thanks
This video is genuinely beautiful. Who knew a video about toys made from cars that turn into robots and punch each other could bring me to tears?
Yeah, I love the transformers ever since I was a kid, I later on lost interest (or never had the time to collect), but now I collect a bunch of Optimus Primes, especially since I got back into it due to Bishoujo Optimus. Plus I regularly use bishoujo prime to commission a lot of artists in order to help them out, as well I got a print of Bishoujo Prime from a artist signed by Peter himself.
Incredible video. The cinematography is perfect, and captured that existential feel of growing up. The ending was phenomenal, and I could not say it better myself.
Man the closing of this video really resonated with me. I feel the exact same way about collecting Lego as an adult. Great video. Would love to see more content like this.
To be honest that last more reflective part really made me think, specially the last part where you talk about what freedom is. There are some quotes on this video that are most definetely gonna live in my head rent free for at least quite some time.
My son has been madly obssessed with the 1980s Transformers (as well as Transformers Cybertron) for almost 2 years (he's 6.) Watching you was like having a vision of who he will be in another 20 years. It was fascinating hearing you talk about how you grew out of watching the shows-- it will be interesting to see if he does the same. He is growing up playing with the War for Cybertron toys and the Legacy line and they don't have lights or sounds but they have a lot of interchangable pieces and that has a lot of appeal to him.
Physical features like combining ALWAYS trumped light and sounds for me. Wonderful comment, thank you for sharing!
I wasn't expecting this video to get so existential at the end but I'm glad that it did, I really needed that message at the end there. Thanks for that.
Fire truck Optimus Prime should totally be used more. Also the Cybertron and RID 2001 Primes are my favorite toys of the character. They're big, chunky, feel great in hand, and have so much playability just by themselves.
My love for Transformers comes from the fact that they have always been 3 toys in 1. They can be an action figure, a vehicle or animal and a puzzle. You have three experiences in one. I saw the Robosen one and was amused, but the charm goes away when you see it live.
Note of advice, they released a new Armada Optimus Prime, that just transforms, if you're interested. There are lots of places were you can 3d print the pieces you're missing too.
This video is just. SO good. The ending brought tears to my eyes because it resonates a lot with my current obsession with Transformers. As a kid I watched the entirety of Transformers Prime and I loved it, but it didn't go anywhere beyond the show (mainly because "transformers is not a girl show" etc). This year, RotB reignited my interest in Transformers and I've been consumed by tf media ever since! Shows, comics, toys-- I can finally buy toys! And nobody's going to stop me! Just like you said in this video!
So.. Thank you! For making this! Made me emotional :']
33:02 Man that ending got me in the feels, especially the "I don't need recapture anything" part, to be honest the reason why i start collecting Transformers again as adult is a revenge, an act of revenge to my past self
Because now as a adult, i have the money to basically buy any Transformers toys from my childhood, and by that logic i can "recapture" the feeling of buying toys that i always want
Obviously that is not always the case, and Rotf voyager Long Haul is giving me that lesson, as a child Roft Voyager Long Haul is a toys i always want, of course now as a adult i can buy it
But doesn't feel the same and no matter how long i play it or a display it just doesn't feel the same, i can't "recapture" the feeling if I have this toys as a child.
Galaxy Force / Cybertron Oprimus was pretty much the #1 Prime toy for a LONG time, besides the adult-aimed Masterpiece figures.
That ending speech was beautiful.
It reminds me of how when I was going into my teens, with the limited amount of stuff I could get each year (relegated to mainly birthdays and Christmas), I fell out of a bunch of stuff I was into when I was younger. Bakugan, Tranformers, lego, even some video games. But as I got deeper into highschool, I realized I wanted to get more into the loop than I had been before. I may have not cared much about the shows, but I wanted the toys. I wanted to get back into what I have left behind.
Since I don't have a job I've only been able to do it in limited amounts, buying some stuff from comic con and in stores. But once I get a job, I'm getting some of the things I always wanted when I was younger, and some things I've only wanted recently. Because who says I can't take a bunch of toys, and shove them into a crazy story I've been developing for a while now.
At first I thought this was gonna be a silly video about fun facts or the history of Transformer toys (which it is), but it ended up being so much more
I grew up in the Bayverse era and had a few Transformers from the movies as a kid, especially from DOTM since around that year my obsession started. Later on as I entered puberty I stopped being interested in toys and actually gave away almost all of them. Now as an 18 year-old I honestly regret that decision and I curse my younger me for that lol.
However at the same time I've found that right now is a great time to be a Transformers fan, with so many different toylines and figures that look good. Sure, they're not perfect, but they're still great and fun to play with. I've started collecting figures again and whenever I'm bored I just grab one and transform it back and forth. Of course they're also cool to just display and look at them.
Sometimes I do feel like it's a childish hobby, and that it makes me look stupid or immature, but you know what? Who cares, right? It's my life, it's my money, it's my fandom, and even with its ups and downs I love being a part of it!!
I'm definitely gonna keep rewatching this video, especially the ending, because I'm glad it's helping me learn an important lesson about toy collecting: Even if I don't make the time to play with them or even display them, doesn't make it any less of a good hobby. Usually the people who look down on it are the ones who spend their money on consumables.
Cybertron Optimus is my favorite. He was the one I played with as a kid and seeing him up on my shelf makes me happy.
One of my favorite parts about the armada Optimus Prime that no one talks about is the button on top of his head. It moves his mouth plate so you can make him talk.
14:50 one of my friends from daycare had 2 Bumblebee toys because transforming him was so difficult that it was easier for us to play if he just HAD the two modes already set up. Cause nobody else had the super complex toys, ours were McDonald’s Bumblebee easy compared to his Bumblebee.
If you grew up with the armada Optimus Prime, you should definitely get the recent armada prime from the legacy evolution toyline, it’s a good update and he finally had leg articulation in the super mode
hits different watching this and turning back to look at my massive Titan Class Metroplex, laughing in my sixteen Megatrons and fourteen Optimus Primes - some of which are mainline toys, some of which are expensive 3rd party collector;s figures - still packed away, and having no qualms about calling myself a toy collector.
I don't buy them to sell them later, as I am often asked. I'm not ashamed of the amount of money that I spent on my collection - in fact I'm quite proud of it. I buy them to have them, because I enjoy playing with them and transforming them, making battle scenes and taking photos of them, or just putting them in silly poses on my desk while I watch a show, or movie, or a youtube video by Jett Kuso.
I messed around a bit with my Studio Series Gamer Edition Megatron - who's knees I still need to fix - while I watched this, I transformed bombshell, and I have a bunch more toys piled up on my desk next to my computed to be played with next
Take pride in that even as you grow up, you are able to keep the child you were alive, and enjoy the things so many force themselves to stop enjoying. I for one am quite happy at the implication you'll try to re-experience the franchise you cut off yourself from - you should. Transformers Prime isn't in my top five favorite TF series, but it was still an amazing piece of fiction and you should finish it, play the Cybertron Games and pick up Devastation too while you're at it, I reccomend skipping RID 2015, but Cyberverse was a genuinely great show that *is* on my top five, and Earthspark has followed it up with not a smidge less of quality and care.
Saying there's a whole community out there of us TF fans is an understatement, there are countless communities all waiting for you man, because we love sharing the joy of these plastic wonders.
Welcome back, Jett Kuso
Your scripts are just amazing. Please never change, keep improving and being so awesome.
I love transformers… But I loved what you had to say about growing up at the end even more! Creating videos like this takes HEART! And that passion is why I’m subscribing:)
Loved the memory lane idea but it’s such a shame you missed out so many Primes, there was G2 Prime, Laser Prime, Combat Hero Prime, Action Master Prime, God Ginrai, Star Convoy, Victory Leo, The thunder clash redeco of Prime from the G1/2 eras and of course the movie, Prime, Go, Video Game Primes, Prime Wars, RID 2015, Cyberverse, Earthspark and the Masterpiece lines you never even touched on, would love to see you do a complete round up of all of them
I wasn't really expecting an essential crisis from a toy reviewer. The video is really poetic. Good sh!t my man.👍
That got surprisingly deep in addressing the same dilemma I've been feeling about growing up lately. Great video!
Alot of passion went into this and it shows. The cinematography gets better and better which really elevates the rest of the video. And if that wasn't enough you showed Cybertron Optimus some love too. 10/10 and I'll gladly tell youtube I want to see more.
Absolutely love the message of this video. I'll be thirty in a month and im still just as obsessed with Transformers, Gundams, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Kamen Rider as I was when I was a kid and I dont see myself stopping anytime soon. I spend way more money on "toys" as an adult then I ever did or could of dreamed of doing as a kid and thats because I financially can now. I'm not ashamed of who I am, and this video spoke to deep into me. Love your stuff man and I love how much passion and effort you put into each project you do. Keep being you!
Just started back collecting transformers (haven't doesn't this also since I was a kid. about 40 ish years ago). getting only certain ones (the ones that are the unique ones from my childhood, and the ones I find visually pleasant. ROCK ON TRANSFORMERS COLLECTORS!!!!
This was a really fun video! I will say though that Armada Optimus Prime just got a new figure that basically gives you most of what the old one can do but with articulation (and no electronics… which might be for the best as the motor in the original has been noted to catch fire occasionally.)
This video is a genuine masterpiece. Should make it to the big screen.
I was gonna agree that Cybertron Prime remains uncontested but then you nailed that cinematic ending and I feel it would be in opposition to the main point lol
I had the G1 Optimus. He may still be in my parents' attic somewhere. He really was a cool toy: durable, well-made, and the transformation felt great. Same with the Seeker I had, Skywarp; Jazz's transformation I found to be a bit complicated and fiddly. It always made me think, even when I was a kid, of what geniuses those Japanese toy designers must have been to come up with a way to change a car into a robot.
The Robosen Optimus is the toy we _wish_ existed way back in the 80s. Back then, all the rich kids had the die-cast Matchbox Voltron, and the rest of us scrubs had to settle for the much cheaper plastic Voltron (whose lions didn't even reconfigure themselves the way they did on the show). Robosen Optimus and Megatron are Gen Alpha's die-cast Voltron. Everybody will envy the kid with rich parents who has one.
I've been collecting bionicle as long as I can remember, so the ending to this touched me in a way few things really can. Funny how that works.
bonkle gang rise up
Some people in the comments are missing the point of this video. It's not Jett's fault that he doesn't own EVERY Optimus Prime toy ever existed in his possession or collection. Not everyone owns the toy people do (MP-10, G2 Laser, so on and so forth). Even Thew Adams called it out in his Cliffjumper and Bumblebee video but that's besides the point. Also, Masterpiece TFs (official and 3rd Party) aren't meant to be played with; they're for display, not rough play for kids (but hey, you do you). And this video only covers the toys made for general mass retail for kids who grew up with them.
His thoughts, his opinions and his recollection. This ain't the comprehensive video you're looking for. You might as well watch Chris McFeely's "The Basics", Michael Mercy or any other comprehensive Transformers toy, cartoon or media adjacent content. That aside, great video Jett! I enjoyed every minute of it which made me recall and reflect on my short fond memories growing up and introduced to this franchise with Animated and Bayverse (bite me).
You get it… Thank you.
This is such a good video! I love Optimus Prime to bits. I needed to hear the C.S. Lewis quote, and that idea of growing up but still holding on to what you loved as a kid. Freedom is the Right of All Sentient indeed.
P.S. I would highly recommend finishing Transformers: Prime. It is an absolute spectacle of storytelling.
I feel obligated to mention that the Optimus Prime from Robots in Disguise 2001 was actually a separate character called Fire Convoy in the original japanese version of the show, Car Robots.
Hoo boy, this video takes me back. I had both the Super Mode [Energon] Optimus Prime figure, and the Leobreaker figure. Sadly my parents made me donate most of my old toys to Goodwill. Though I will say that I did not remember Super Mode Optimus being that chunky.
Your videos are always video essay-like, and I love it. A brilliant delivery about toys for adult audience.
Thank you for making this. I feel very insecure about my transformers collecting hobby, and im afraid people are just gonna judge me for it and call me childish. But instead of saying "no, im not childish!" or something similar, i should learn to embrace it.
I want to play with my transformers right now but unfortunately its like 10 pm and my parents would like, crucify me if i made loud noises so i'll do it tommorow
keep me posted on this, I wanna know how it goes
…..damn…this video is just an essay to say “It doesn’t matter who you are, even if you have toys, your always you.”
Got a bit teary at the end, I loved it.
Well that was a rollercoaster, that ending was really nice.
I'm 40. G1 prime was the first Christmas present I remember getting and I loved it to death. I managed to find an original 1985 version last year in perfect condition (not a reissue or KO - it was my cousin's in storage since the 80s!). Makes me happy every time I look at it.
Primes get some of the best TF toys
Ngl Missing Link Prime is the best recent toy Prime imo, but Holiday Prime is really underrated too
Robosen is kind of interesting but not for me ig, but he does seem really cool
Fun vid as always bro, love these high quality vids you've been putting out
Every time I see the Armada Leader Class Optimus, I IMMEDIATELY think about the Baltmatrix review where he said that his old one got stuck while transforming and caught fire
This Video Was So Excellently Produced with the Clips , Scores and References , Absolute Golden Content ✨
1:53
"G1 Optimus Because It's Precious! oh so precious"
-Emgo316
Skipped a couple pre-beast wars versions, but that is understandable considering how expensive they have gotten.
Also one if them was Action Master Optimus Prime.
I personally miss the crazy Super Robot esque era Transformers with all the crazy super modes. Glad they are reimagining some of the designs from that era.
TBH the unicron trilogy is some of the last mainstream super robot media to hit the west, aside from MAYBE Symbionic Titan.
see, the thing with me and being a transformers fan, was growing up with the unicron trilogy, up to present day, i watched it ALL, shows, movies, comic books, i played it ALL, all the games that came out for all the movies, and other games for it on multiple systems, and being 26 currently, i still watch/read/play games, and i still collect the figures, i may not play with them like a kid, but im still a diehard fan through and through, i HIGHLY recommend you continue your journey, prime is an amazing show, as is everything after
That was beautiful, thank you.
Wow, that was lovely. Heaps of effort, with an inspiring message Optimus himself would approve of.
The last part hit hard, though my situation is a bit different. I'm in my early 20s when my parents expect me to be more mature and finally leave my childish things behind. But here I am. I like action figures, I like lego, I like stuffed toys, I like cute things. I feel like I shouldn't, as my parents would judge me. And I have to hide some things from them. It's just really annoying.
Man it sucks for that to come from people who are supposed to be supporting you… This is a pretty common story though. Im pretty sure I feel what you’re going through, so hold strong.
@JettKuso thank you for your kind words Mr. Kuso.
Kudos on your 1986 style G1 Robosen Optimus Prime , , ,, ,some one credited EMGO for a quote created by Benjamin Franklin " we don't stop playing because we are Old , , we are Old because we stop playing , , , remember Peter Cullen is KING 👑
dude, yeah. you hit the nail on the head with the message in this video, and the analysis of the toys was also spot on! love your vids man
This is probably one of the most beautiful content I've ever seen about collecting. That last bit hit hard. Great work man
I definitely think Optimus Prime should be a dad like figure in all interpretations.
Optimus Prime: Probably tied with the VF-1 as the most recognisable mechanical design by Shoji Kawamori.
I can’t wait to see my childhood Optimus Prime in this video.
Edit: i don’t think it was in the video :(
What was it
@@Stupidguy4000 idk, i think it was the AOE one
Banger of a video, it really hits you in the feels. Great job as always !
Mediocre topic, executed to epic proportions. Had me hooked the whole vid!!
On a sidenote, I’m envious of your video creation, capabilities to try to emulate for my channel!
A lot of adults collect their favorite toys that they played with as a child, mostly cause being an adult you're actually able to go out and work to have the money to buy them, but when you were a kid it's a lot harder to get a job to pay you enough money to buy your favorite toys, and even if you had an allowance, it's not like your parents would pay you 15$ an hour for doing your chores, but unfortunately in any countries or areas where children actually do work, they don't get paid enough and they are often too poor to buy toys anyway, but once an adult, you can get legitimate work to buy the toys to collect them, and you can even turn your toy hobby into a career by demonstrating and showing off your collection or as a broker to find the toys for other people that collect them, and you could even learn robotics and create your own robotic changing toys. Just cause you grow up, doesn't mean you stop playing, besides there might be a time when a little one of your own will ask you to play with them, and what kind of parent would say no to that kind of request when they come with some of their toys in hand.
My Bayverse Prime kept repeating "I am Optimus Prime" and was a nightmare when you put him in a draw with the rest of the robots because he wouldn't shut the hell up.
Best review I have ever seen...