Toys of the Week: Transformers Animated The Battle Begins Set

When I first heard and saw the new animated Transformers cartoon, I pretty quickly dismissed it as a kiddie version of the beloved robot saga, and I pretty much forgot about the toys. So when I went to cover Botcon 2008 for ToyFare this year, I was shocked to see the older, sweaty, socially awkward Transformers otaku be just as excited as the figures of the Transformers cartoon as the more classic Classics.

Then I saw the toys, and understood?they’re fantastic. Even if you dislike the cartoon (which isn’t impossible), the Transformers’ designs are neat, if a bit cartoony. However, the toys from Hasbro exactly match the Transformers’ cartoon design, and thus are the first totally accurate Transformers, believe it or not. And the cartoony design doesn’t interfere with either great vehicle modes, or a shocking amount of poseability.

All the Transformers animated toys are prett darned great, but you could do a lot worse than “The Battle Begins” two-pack of Optimus Prime and Megatron. Just look at all the G1-influences of Megatron, or Optimus’ bad-ass axe?and try to ignore the DVD that comes with it (I suggest giving it to a child you dislike). You can order the two-pack here for $26, because you’re going to be hard pressed to find many Transformers animated figures on toy shelves.