GI Joe Resolute

[GoktimusPrime]

While I respect McFeely as a very knowledgeable fan, I think his appraisal is somewhat of a hyperbole. G.I. Joe, as a toy franchise, is still being marketed at kids. The toys are still being sold in toy stores and department stores, not collector stores unlike other toys marketed directly at adult collectors like DC Direct, Transformers Sport & Music Label etc. I think there is possibly some truth in that G.I. Joe may have a larger adult fan base, but so would Star Wars. I don't know enough about G.I. Joe or have ever seen any statistics to tell what the child:adult fandom ratio would be - but I would be surprised if the G.I. Joe fandom was completely comprised of adults.

Having said that, Feely does have a point in saying that Transformers does still have a massive child fanbase. And historically Transformers didn't do so well when it became too adult (re: Beast Machines). Hence why I said that the ideal solution would be some kind of balance like we had with Beast Wars - and that we've seen in a lot of other franchises like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Batman: The Brave and the Bold etc. It is possible to have Transformers simultaneously appeal to both children and adults if they try.

[FFN]

While I respect McFeely as a very knowledgeable fan, I think his appraisal is somewhat of a hyperbole. G.I. Joe, as a toy franchise, is still being marketed at kids. The toys are still being sold in toy stores and department stores, not collector stores unlike other toys marketed directly at adult collectors like DC Direct, Transformers Sport & Music Label etc. I think there is possibly some truth in that G.I. Joe may have a larger adult fan base, but so would Star Wars. I don't know enough about G.I. Joe or have ever seen any statistics to tell what the child:adult fandom ratio would be - but I would be surprised if the G.I. Joe fandom was completely comprised of adults.

Having said that, Feely does have a point in saying that Transformers does still have a massive child fanbase. And historically Transformers didn't do so well when it became too adult (re: Beast Machines). Hence why I said that the ideal solution would be some kind of balance like we had with Beast Wars - and that we've seen in a lot of other franchises like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Batman: The Brave and the Bold etc. It is possible to have Transformers simultaneously appeal to both children and adults if they try.

Hasbro isn't a small collector toy company, so they barely sell directly to collectors or through collector chains regardless of the item, because they prefer to deal in large volumes to major retailers. They sell to retailers, then they let the retailers worry about how to flog them. The only time they bother doing "direct to collector" nonsense is when it's a convention or HTS exclusive or they can't find a brick & mortar retailer willing to carry the product (for example, the entire GI Joe DTC line). Last I saw, they don't market the 25th Anniversary line to kids. In fact, the movie line will be the first kid-marketing GI Joe line since Sigma 6.

GI Joe is much more dependent on their adult collectors than Transformers, largely why much of GI Joe fiction is comic books rather than kids cartoons.

And last I checked Animated was pretty damn well received among kids and adults.

[kup]

Hasbro isn't a small collector toy company, so they barely sell directly to collectors or through collector chains regardless of the item, because they prefer to deal in large volumes to major retailers. They sell to retailers, then they let the retailers worry about how to flog them. The only time they bother doing "direct to collector" nonsense is when it's a convention or HTS exclusive or they can't find a brick & mortar retailer willing to carry the product (for example, the entire GI Joe DTC line). Last I saw, they don't market the 25th Anniversary line to kids. In fact, the movie line will be the first kid-marketing GI Joe line since Sigma 6.

GI Joe is much more dependent on their adult collectors than Transformers, largely why much of GI Joe fiction is comic books rather than kids cartoons.

And last I checked Animated was pretty damn well received among kids and adults.

[Lint]

^lawl, cracks me up everytime

[Lord_Zed]

Hasbro isn't a small collector toy company, so they barely sell directly to collectors or through collector chains regardless of the item, because they prefer to deal in large volumes to major retailers. They sell to retailers, then they let the retailers worry about how to flog them. The only time they bother doing "direct to collector" nonsense is when it's a convention or HTS exclusive or they can't find a brick & mortar retailer willing to carry the product (for example, the entire GI Joe DTC line). Last I saw, they don't market the 25th Anniversary line to kids. In fact, the movie line will be the first kid-marketing GI Joe line since Sigma 6.

GI Joe is much more dependent on their adult collectors than Transformers, largely why much of GI Joe fiction is comic books rather than kids cartoons.

And last I checked Animated was pretty damn well received among kids and adults.

This WOULD explain why they did such a damn god job on the Joe 25th lines packaging and generaly on the ball choice of characters and repaints.

The comming Joe Movie line seems to be more like modern TF lines trying to stradle the older and younger market.

[loophole]

lol those cobra flunkies shoot like Stormtroopers they cant even hit 2 people standing still LMAO

[Vector Sigma 13]

It is possible to have Transformers simultaneously appeal to both children and adults if they try.

They already are arent they? Thats why we are here?

Hasbro are running a business that has to be profitable:

Adult markets must be a hit and miss affair in some respects. They have to produce a superior quality product and at a higher cost and hope to hell they can sell it.

By the way i was never into GIJoe but this looks like its worth having a look at!

[GoktimusPrime]

They already are arent they? Thats why we are here?

I meant in terms of fiction. We already have it in the comics, but we haven't had it in a TV series since Beast Wars & Beast Machines. All TF cartoons since then have been primarily written for children.

I'd love to see an animated mini-series written by perhaps Simon Furman, Larry DiTillio and/or Bob Forward. An animated mini-series based on or inspired by Infiltration/Devastation would be pretty cool IMO.

[kup]

I meant in terms of fiction. We already have it in the comics, but we haven't had it in a TV series since Beast Wars & Beast Machines. All TF cartoons since then have been primarily written for children.

I'd love to see an animated mini-series written by perhaps Simon Furman, Larry DiTillio and/or Bob Forward. An animated mini-series based on or inspired by Infiltration/Devastation would be pretty cool IMO.

I don't agree. Animated has already set itself up as a very kiddy cartoon with an equally kiddy universe down to its core including character/toy designs (Mario Huffer). Having something as serious as Infiltration/Devastation would not suit the design style at all.

If a new series which is more appealing to kids and adults alike should arise, Animated needs to end, at least as a cartoon.

[Vector Sigma 13]

I cant see how they could do anything to make Animated more suitable for adults. Its designed for kids!

Maybe there is a reason there hasnt been anything similar to Beast Wars and Beast Machines- It doesnt make enough money/ doesnt have the following that the kids stuff does/did?

I enjoy the comic adult orientated universe very much but it just hard to imagine that there will be any Transformers prodominantly for the older age bracket.

Maybe they might do it in Japan? Seems to be more of a market for more mature content over there.