Stop collecting/watching/reading Transformers?

[GoktimusPrime]

See that's the thing... I cannot imagine ever having a lack of interest in Transformers... ever.

Even if the current line didn't interest me I would still cling onto previous lines that fascinated me. For example, by 1994-5 my interest in the current line of Transformers had dropped to its lowest point ever. The G2 cartoon was an epic fail, the comics had been cancelled and the toyline didn't interest me that much (to this day my G2 collection is still miniscule). But although I'd become more of a passive toy-collector I was still very much actively playing with my TF toys, reading my TF comics and watching TF cartoons on VHS. In 1995 Dr. Craig Norris and I ended up establishing Sydney's first university animé club (and the second university animé club in Australia), JAUWS - that year and the following year we screened Transformers The Movie. I also informally screened (i.e.: chucked it on during a screening of another animé) an episode of Masterforce (horrific Engrish dub).

So yeah... even during my "TF Dark Ages" I was still an active and passive fan of Transformers even if the current TF line of the time wasn't all that appealing to me.

[kup]

See that's the thing... I cannot imagine ever having a lack of interest in Transformers... ever.

Even if the current line didn't interest me I would still cling onto previous lines that fascinated me. For example, by 1994-5 my interest in the current line of Transformers had dropped to its lowest point ever. The G2 cartoon was an epic fail, the comics had been cancelled and the toyline didn't interest me that much (to this day my G2 collection is still miniscule). But although I'd become more of a passive toy-collector I was still very much actively playing with my TF toys, reading my TF comics and watching TF cartoons on VHS. In 1995 Dr. Craig Norris and I ended up establishing Sydney's first university animé club (and the second university animé club in Australia), JAUWS - that year and the following year we screened Transformers The Movie. I also informally screened (i.e.: chucked it on during a screening of another animé) an episode of Masterforce (horrific Engrish dub).

So yeah... even during my "TF Dark Ages" I was still an active and passive fan of Transformers even if the current TF line of the time wasn't all that appealing to me.

You screened Star Dub Masterforce at the Cinema!!

You must have turned that whole Cinema audience into raving TF haters

[Firecracker]

Okay, the interesting question is, do you see yourself still collecting Transformers when you're retired in your 80s... at what age would you call it quits because of your age?

Casually collecting, yes. Obsessive collecting, no. I think I would have different priorities by then. Great thing about the Internet though... your age is mostly unkonwn, anonymity. Not so much when your scouring the top shelves at Toys R Us, or trying tp price match at K-mart.

[Pulse]

Okay, the interesting question is, do you see yourself still collecting Transformers when you're retired in your 80s as a wrinkled old prune? If an octogenerian collecting kids toys sounds absurd, and you can't see yourself being one, at what age would you call it quits because of your age?

If I actually get to that age , I'd hate to be one of those bitter old b#stards who despises life. People like that hate everything (My 96 year old Grandfather is one of those people) & essentially "crawl back into their shell". People like that give up on everything - which includes anything to do with their childhood/adulthood (ie. collecting TFs or anything else).

Yes, I might slow down my acquisitions down the track but I'll never stop completely. TFs have got me hooked well & good .

[GoktimusPrime]

You screened Star Dub Masterforce at the Cinema!!

You must have turned that whole Cinema audience into raving TF haters

Cinema?

Okay, first of all, it was just a classroom. This was before the day when uni animé clubs were big enough that we started using lecture theatres (that started becoming common in 1996). Secondly, it was not an actual screening. It was just before the screening of another animé (possibly Ah! My Goddess OVA or Silent Mobius... I can't recall exactly) and only a few of the die-hard members had trickled in early, so I chucked it on. Everyone just laughed their butts off at the horrendous dubbing... these are animé fans - they know better than to judge a show based on its dub (remembering that real animé fans don't watch dubs anyway).

[liegeprime]

Interesting topic. Hmmm I did stop collecting TFs during the Beast wars era. Didnt really liked the toys coming out that time, But I was still trying to get my hands on older stuff like G2 when i do spot one or two somewhere. Financial constraints at that time forced me to not actively collect but remain a fan. I just bought the Marvel comics and all back issues I could find and an occasional minibot. I was really happy when I found the G2 comics in my local comic shop and it reignited my passion to make G2 Papercraft TFs adding them to my G1 papercraft Tfs. I believe Ive shown the ONLY pic I have taken of what these papercraft TFs that I do before. I was more into the comics back then and quite content with having my papercraft TF figures.

I enjoyed beast wars for its story and fiction as they completed the series up to beast machines back in Phils and repeated it twice ( although there's a lot of filler episodes edited out. I didnt collect any BWTF then but rather TF comics of G1/G2 theme. I was just happy that there still is Transformers, even though their beasts now. But I didnt buy any figure.

The only time I collected really actively is when I came here. Finances isnt so much an issue as before and the discovery of ebay led to a big increase in my collection along with the discovery of TF collecting forums - OTCA and TFPH of which Im both a member now

[kup]

Cinema?

Okay, first of all, it was just a classroom. This was before the day when uni animé clubs were big enough that we started using lecture theatres (that started becoming common in 1996). Secondly, it was not an actual screening. It was just before the screening of another animé (possibly Ah! My Goddess OVA or Silent Mobius... I can't recall exactly) and only a few of the die-hard members had trickled in early, so I chucked it on. Everyone just laughed their butts off at the horrendous dubbing... these are animé fans - they know better than to judge a show based on its dub (remembering that real animé fans don't watch dubs anyway).

I was just joking dude.

[optimus1]

Interesting topic so I thought I would also make my own story known:

I always had a spot for Tfs since very young but around the age of 12/13 I sort of thought is getting a bit old so gave away a chunk of my collection and kept only my fav characters. My interests were diminished due to my growing attention to sport and our Sega Mega Drive. This was also during the beast wars era, I was impressed with the computer animation at the time but overall disappointed that there were no more vehicle based tfs and no familiar characters (except namesakes).

From then on my attention to tfs was pretty much low and stayed low as was continually disappointed by each new series that came out (I thought RID/armada-minicon era was too kiddie Pokemon-like for me).

I only got random TFs in the shops that looked good but was like something like 1 or 2 per yr. In between i did get big chunks of my g1 collection from flea markets so was not fully out of it! I sort of managed to get back into TF collecting when Alternators came out and reconfirmed this when the 07 Movie
came out. Now I don't think I will stop anytime soon!

[Bartrim]

I was never NOT a fan of transformers. When I hit high school I handed down my toys to my cousin and I was never interested in Beast Wars when it first came out. Living in a small town where everyone tried to grow up fast I would of been severly isolated by my peers. In my dysfunctional family that additional mental and psychological trauma could of been very bad for me (I already had "anger management" issues as a teenager) But I always had a copy of atleast the animated movie in my video collection.

[heroic_decepticon]

Stop collecting? Quite possible.

Stop being a TF fan? Quite impossible.

I enjoy the entire mythology behind Transformers, but stop collecting I did. All transformers lines from G2 to Animated holds very very little interest for me unless they are somehow G1 related (say Galaxy Force Starscream who looks like G1 Cybertronian mode SS).

It's entirely possible for me to stop collecting once I obtain those last few outstanding G1 USA boxes and cardbacks, but I would continue to be a TF fan nonetheless.