Retro Japanese Transformers Toy Ads Before They Were Transformers
Here's an awesome collection of old-school retro Japanese commercials featuring transforming robot action figures before they were actually called Transformers. The toys came from the Japanese toy company Takara, and thye were called Diaclones and Microman. The only name I ever knew them by was Transformers, and to be honest I wasn't really aware that these existed as a toy line before the Transformers name came around.
Hasbro ended up partnering up with Takara, bought the rights to many of these action figures, and Transformers was born. You'll see a lot of familiar vehicles and characters in these ads, including Jazz, Optimus Prime, and the Dinobots!
Via: Kotaku