| The last day of the Toy Kingdom Toy Expo was quite a busy spectacle for those who have been in the event for the last four days. Of course, there have been surprising reveals and other major activities happening around the event. But here’s a round-up of product tie-ins and some new ones to look forward to on local retail
For Hasbro, the mainline Legacy United and Studio Series and sub-series continue to expand what the “Generation” flagship range of assortments is all about. In the past months, the roll-out availability has been slowed down due to the local distributor’s financial struggles emerging from the pandemic has been quite a challenge. |
But hindsight is 20/20 is slowly behind Playkit Philippines, who has been the sole distributor of the Hasbro brand going back to the early 2000s, and most collectors still think the brand is directly being imported by these local retail stores (TK/TRU), but to get it clear, the stores only carry them as consignment and not directly being imported from Hasbro as the most common perspective of those who have given up on the brand and the hobby for missing out the previously released waves that the distributors have skipped to be released on stores.
Last year’s “Rise of the Beast” toy line may have been slowly going to clearance due to the films’ making a “break-even” earning at the box office. But there is always hope that this mainline “Generation” assortment will continue to be available on retail thanks in part to this year’s Toy Kingdom Toy Expo. But to make it back, Hasbro is now banking on the upcoming “Transformers One” animated feature film.
Legacy United & Studio Series
It is a long shot to have high expectations as not all Bayverse live-action films (save for the first one in 2007) have been successful in the past years. This is not just for the longtime Transformers Fans, Hasbro is eyeing new viewers and “new to the fandom” to invite interest their mission is to sell toys. For this TK Toy Expo, the majority of the toy line that is on showcase is from Transformers One with some new wave assortment from the Legacy United and Studio Series toy line.
But it is too early to tell if Playkit will ever follow through with bringing back the assortment to all retail stores as of this writing, only the main stores with foot traffic get the Generation toy line, while the other smaller shops will get a small fraction of that assortment as the rest are populated with the “Rise of the Beast” toys and the upcoming Transformers One-related products.
Yolopark than Meets the Eye
Introduced in 2023 to local retail, Yolopark is a model kit product that has acquired some popular licenses from the recent Despicable Me featuring model kits that you put together with the powered-up Minions. This includes last year’s Transformers: Rise of the Beast characters with some of them having light-up features.
The majority of their display heavily leans on the Transformers brand ranging from the live-action and classic Generation One characters on their display. The new set of kits that have been launched for this event is based on the Transformers One characters as they appear in the latest trailer in their “origin” appearance. There was no product being sold there based on the four main characters of Orion Pax/Optimus Prime, D-16/Megatron, Elita-1, or B-127/Bumblebee. The assigned staff advised that it will be sold in retail nationwide, which depends on the quantity and availability as there has been no clarification on this until after this event. Locally, this is distributed by Ban Kee Toys, from the dame distributor for Bandai, LEGO, Pokemon, and Jada Diecast Collectibles to name a few on their portfolio.
JADA’s Enormous Prime
Lastly, a mention of the JADA brand is a quick look at their only “transforming” product that’s more affordable than the highly expensive Robosen versions of your favourite Autobot Commander. This, of course, has been available at the local market in the past months and not everyone has noticed its availability until this event.
Aside from this Optimus Prime, JADA is known for producing high-quality die-cast vehicles that feature some of the Autobots in their vehicle modes. But as any Transformers Fan, you’re looking for the one that transforms, right?
Look to hunt down those Transformers One characters from Yolopark, they’re as close to accurate without their “transforming” abilities that can besides their evolved forms as noticed that there’s potential for Yolopark kits, while for the longtime fan to keep an eye on the select stores that carry the mainline “Generation” product by Playkit as they need to come back on retail.
For now, enjoy the last images of the Toy Kingdom Toy Expo, and support the next Transformers feature with Transformers One!
The “Transformers Brand” is a toy line manufactured by Hasbro together with Takara Tomy, and it is distributed by Playkit Philippines, you may follow them on their social media for updates via Facebook!
The Toy Kingdom Toy Expo is a biennial event happening from 22 to 25 August 2024 at the SMX Convention Centre in the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. For more upcoming toy activities, events, and promo you may follow the Toy Kingdom on their social media via Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter)!
For more news and local updates LIKE Transformers Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and follow on X (formerly Twitter): @TransformersPH
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