Changeables are go!

GO TO MCDONALD'S!

McBeast Modes

The McDonald's Beast Wars Happy Meal toys are some of my favorite Transformers. I'm sure I've mentioned it here before... who am I kidding? I've said it a million times here before. The first series was just the right thing at the right time. If time travel ever becomes a reality, a trip to McDonald's during that time would be on my to do list.

If you're in the world of Transformers, then you've likely seen the scans from the Happy Meal presentation binder. They've been all over lately and you can guess I'm a big fan of them. For somebody who has a shoe box full of the toys, seeing this part of the process is awesome.

I've always been curious about the original 'G3' setting for the toys. Images have been around of some of the beast toys with classic character names, but this binder really shows that intent at the time. It also shows some of the other ideas for Happy Meal toys being considered. As much as I love what was released, I do kind of wonder how the other proposed toys would have turned out. I think the biggest revelation from the binder is that Cheetor was to have been Prowl. Considering his name, it would have been perfect. Not to mention, his head design make a LOT more sense now. 

One of my favorites of the original set, Panther, is a simplified version of that Prowl/Cheetor design as that's who it was meant to be originally. In the Beast Wars cartoon, Ravage in a new body makes an appearance. In the Japanese version, the character is Ravage's son instead. When I first learned that the Panther toy design was used for the original Ravage in the Beast Wars manga, I was blown away. I kind of wonder how that story would have went now knowing that toy was meant to be Prowl? Obviously the whole thing would have been very different. It's just, what could have been?

Kaitō Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger Happy Meal

You kids need to settle down. 

Settle down.

Makudonarudo: Chōjin Masutāfōsu

Everybody always say's McBoo Pails when the words Halloween and McDonald's are combined. That and gift certificates for soft serve cones that they never redeemed. Though really, McDonald's has offered a plethora of Halloween fun way past simple trick or treat buckets. I'd also like to take a second to express my extreme jealousy of customers of McDonald's in Japan and their gold mine of Halloween themed special edition foods. Just Google it and see what you're missing out on.

Fortunately I was able to find both commercials edited together as it was a two part special event. Ronald didn't know what to be for Halloween, which played into the second part. Not only was 1995 two years until the milkshake machine worked last, but also the year of the 'costume' figures. Ronald, Grimace, Birdie, and Hamburgler (on parole) with removable Halloween costumes. Each pvc figurine had a removable costume that snapped over the figure. Also available apparently was some tapes. I guess the had some ZZ Top songs or something on them.

Ronald and the gang could in a second... wait no... you know where I'm going with this. Because you saw the picture and you already thought about it. You said McDonald's Pretenders. Because that's exactly what they were. McDonald's Pretenders.

Aside from the genius of McDonald's Pretenders, I've got to give the marketing department kudos for the mystery of Ronald's costume. The two part costume tied into the in store poster with Ronald not wearing his Pretender Shell... costume, but also asking what he was going to be. The surprise unveiled as you opened the Happy Meal box. What do you know? Ronald went trick or treating as Frankenstein! Though, we all know what Ronald was really up to on Halloween.

Armada of cheeseburgers

Sometimes you can't place exactly why you like something, you just do and that's that. I know why I like Transformers Armada. It was a really fun Transformers toy line with big chunky robots that were full of character and fun gimmicks that introduced Mini-Cons. Mini-Cons are tiny Transformers that at the time seemed like a return to Micromasters with a plethora of creative alt modes. The Mini-Cons usually triggered the larger robots gimmicks, but also would interact with the toys in other ways as well. Add to the fact that they'd occasionally homage past gimmicks like Targetmasters. With the variety of ways to buy and collect them, and Mini-Cons were a hit on their own outside of the hit line they were birthed from.

Critics of the line often complain that Armada was Hasbro copying Pokemon, and that's a fair comparison. In the cartoon, the Transformers were hunting Mini-Cons and an overall 'catch them all' vibe was all over. Hasbro has followed trends with their products multiple times before (I mean Micromasters... ) and that's pretty much how the business of selling things to children goes.

I love a good tie in promotion, this is well known to readers of this site. I don't make it a secret and wallow in it's excesses. So when a Transformers Happy Meal tied into Armada came around, you know I was had before hello. Before I go any further, let me talk about the above commercial for said Happy Meal. I'm so freaking happy over the original animation that's amazingly toy accurate. Yes, the toys were not the best looking things ever, but McDonald's was not one bit ashamed of that and took time to animate them in action.

This is the best picture I could find, thank you dml44833, whomever you are

Big red shoes

Summer is a spooky season.

Big Bad Beetleborgs Metallix Happy Meal

If you don't Botbot, kiss a Buttbutt

It's been a minute since I've talked about Botbots here and that's a shame since I love them so. I've got a pack unopened in my toy room and plans to grab another pack or two this weekend. I've been sick all week, so having some fun with Botbots this weekend sounds like just the pick me up. I'd call this Botbottalk, but I recognize other sites.

These came along as I was pining for a return of Food Changeables and offered a spiritual follow up that built upon that idea. The thing is, these don't have to be a Transformers branded thing for me to enjoy them. A hamburger or a laptop that transforms into a robot as a small inexpensive toy is just the kind of thing I'd be all for. In fact, I kinda hope to see cheapo rip offs of Botbots eventually. I'd totally be down for hitting up multiple Family Dollars tracking down weird copycats. Everyone has made the Shopkins comparison, and since we're comparing I hope they do holiday themed sets like Shopkins does. My wife buys Shopkins and frankly I'm jealous of those holiday sets. They're really neat.

Everyone and their neighbors mama has wished for a McDonald's Happy Meal of Botbots. Part of me just wants to buy a cheeseburger and fries and drop a blind pack into the bag. That's how ridiculous I am for the idea, I'm planing to DIY a Happy Meal. Though thinking Happy Meals, they'd obviously be lower budget versions of the Botbots (which I'd be ok with) or maybe even odd figurines or odd gimmick toys (which I'd surprising also be ok with, I'd kind of like a pull back corn dog toy). Realistically, I'd be all for whatever fast food place that would do a Botbots meal, but deep inside I want to see that Food Changeables/Botbots cross over happen. It kinda has to.

I'm excited for the Japanese market to get these. I'd love to see Gatchapon versions or what kind of odd exclusives they'd get. Clear Botbots exclusive to some random release that I'd probably never be able to obtain? That would drive me crazy, but I'd love the possibility. You know, maybe they could actually make the Rockbots happen. Man, what kind of world would it be where a never produced toy concept from G1 was released decades later in a sub line with a cupcake vampire?

McDonald's Star Wish Christmas

McDonald's Beast Wars

It put a smile on

Often I'll mention how the McDonald's Beast Wars Happy Meal is one of my favorite things in my Transformers fandom and get a smile and nod in response. It's just one of those things that gets dismissed easily by a lot of folks. I guess it's hard for some people to take something as basic as a Happy Meal as something that would mean something. Regardless, it's always been something that meant a lot to me and I thought it would be a good time to divulge into that.

After all, it's my site.

McBotbotCon

Like many of you, I cannot stop making comparisons to the new Transformers Botbots and McDonald's Food Changeables.  Then it hit me. What if... what if... WHAT IF THERE WAS A MCDONALD'S BOTBOTS HAPPY MEAL WHERE THE BOTBOTS TURNED INTO MCDONALD'S FOOD? WHAT IF THERE WAS A BOTBOTS CHANGEABLES HAPPY MEAL? WHY IS THERE NOT ONE ALREADY?

I've went to thinking these were silly and neat to stark raving mad over these little things. Clearly I am in the most excellent timeline.

Bumblebee McDonald's Happy Meal commercial

These cute little toys have been on a world tour this year, appearing all over in different Transformers Happy Meals. Here in America, they're going to be matched up with the Bumblebee movie. Which is a little odd, but considering how more traditional looking the bots in the Bumblebee movie are and the 80's aesthetic... why not go with classic evergreen designs? Honestly, I'm down for a few Happy Meals. I like McDonald's.

McDonald's 1977 commercials (Japan)

I've made note of how I miss when McDonald's was awesome before. It could be part nostalgia mixed with the notable decline of quality and service over recent years, but I'll lean on the nostalgia factor a little more here. Because I loved and still love the McDonald Land characters. Sitting here at my desk and remembering my wife picked me up some McD's on her way home (going to scarf that down in the morning when I get home) and honestly needing a little distraction from work for the moment I found this freaking AWESOME Japanese commercial that's just so great. Just freaking great.

Rock and Roll McDonald's, rock and roll.

McBeasties

I've said it before and I'll say it again. McDonald's Beast Wars is one of my favorite things in Transformers. I still remember being a doofy high school kid who didn't fit in (if not for trying) working my doofy high school job at McDonald's. I'd often find myself in in the employee only areas that would often have random employee posters on the walls. Things to educate you about the product. Random little official McDonald's songs and dances meant to be fun that I don't think anyone did (except that Arch Deluxe dance contest to win $100 dollars that the manager magically won). There was usually a poster for the next coming Happy Meal toys, so you'd be in the know by the time they arrived in store.

The manager was a real butt (as noted above) and wouldn't let any of us keep store materials (I'd understand if they were being shipped back, but he threw them away and then locked the dumpster). The poster for the upcoming Beast Wars Happy Meal toys was like a siren song. Man, I wanted these, and I doubt it's a surprise that several toys came home with me each night.

Mcdeeewuun

Every so often I wish McDonald's would revive these. They'd be great! They'd be awesome! They'd make so much more sense than anything they've done in a long time (I mean, I can buy 2 for 2.50 6 piece chicken nuggets and add on fries and drink for less than the 10 piece chicken nuggets meal)!

Blaming it on Throwback Thursday

It's kinda a big deal to me.

Real talk: Wanting to talk about McDonald's Beast Wars is a contributing factor for me finally start making Zone Base. Like, I knew what I wanted and all. But the desire to write all sorts of posts on my beloved McDonald's Beast Wars basically made me 100% decide on this site. And then I didn't write anything about it after. I'm not going to lie, there's a reason Under 3/Unit 3 has been all over the site in one way or another.

So, I decided as I inch towards the 1 year anniversary of the first post (can't even remember when I first started sitting on the space) I've decided to spend more time on not just McDonald's Beast Wars, but my admittedly strange association with McDonald's and Transformers. So, since Throwback Thursday is a thing, let's take a minute to appreciate the McDonald's Beast Wars Transmetals commercial. It takes a second to get past Ronald's malarkey, but woo boy it gets better.