Animorphs: Transformers

This article is written from a Real World point of view.

Front row (left to right): Jake/Tiger, Marco/Beetle, Jake/Grizzly Bear, Ax/Panther, Tobias/Hawk, Cassie/Wolf
Back row (left to right): Tri-Rex, Visser Three/Inferno Creature

Translucent red plastic Yeerk figure included with each Deluxe action figure

In 1999, Hasbro released a small toyline based on the popular Animorphs book series by K. A. Applegate and it's television adaptation. Fifteen figures were released in total.

The line was released under the Transformers brand name, though the two franchises have no relation to each other, story-wise. Animorphs toys were stocked on shelves alongside Beast Wars Transmetal 2 toys, and their presence may explain why the Transmetal 2 series was so small (with only seventeen action figures in total).

Action Figures

Translucent orange and purple plastic Yeerk figure included with each Deluxe action figure

Hasbro categorizes action figures by their size and production resources allotment called a size class. Figures in the same size class tend to have the same number of plastic parts, paint applications, gimmicks, and overall quality. These size classes are then further divided into waves of when they were released.

Deluxe Class

Original Retail Price in U.S.: $9.99
Each Deluxe figure included a small Yeerk figure in either red, purple, or orange translucent plastic.

Wave 1

Deluxe Class Figures - Wave 1

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Deluxe Assortment	--	--	Transformers description and stock images from the 1999 Pre-Toy Fair catalog Transformers description and stock images from the 1999 Toy Fair catalog	64305
Cassie/Wolf with Raker Claws!	Human to Wolf			64363
Jake/Tiger with Saber Claws!	Human to Tiger			64317
Marco/Gorilla with Battle Chain!	Human to Gorilla			64319
Rachel/Lion with Combat Claws!	Human to Lion			64321
Tobias/Hawk with Mega Expansion Wings & Retractable Talons!	Human to Hawk			64318

Wave 2

Deluxe Class Figures - Wave 2

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Ax/Panther with Scythe Claws!	Human to Panther		Front Back	64401
Marco/Beetle with Battle Pincers!	Human to Beetle		Front Back	64366
Jake/Grizzly Bear with Attack Claws!	Human to Grizzly Bear			64364

Wave 3

These figures were only released in the European market.

Deluxe Class Figures - Wave 3 - Europe Only

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Jake Stingray/Manta with Stinger Tail Whip!	Human to Stingray		English version European/International version	64402
Taxxon/Alien	Taxxon to unknown alien			64403

Mega Class

Original Retail Price in U.S.: $14.99

Wave 1

Mega Class Figures - Wave 1

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Mega Assortment	--	--	Transformers description and stock images from the 1999 Pre-Toy Fair catalog Transformers description and stock images from the 1999 Toy Fair catalog	64315
Ax/Scorpion with Firing Stringer Tail!	Andalite to Scorpion		Front Back	64358
Visser Three/Inferno Creature with Launching Fire Fangs!	Andalite to "Inferno Creature"		Front Back	64359

Wave 2

Mega Class Figure - Wave 2

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Tobias with Blast-Open Wings!	Mid-morph Human to Raptor Hawk		Front Back	64367

Ultra Class

Original Retail Price in U.S.: $19.99

Ultra Class Figure - Wave 1

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Visser Three 3 Modes with Firing Claws!	Hork-Bajir to Andalite to "Inferno Creature"	Andalite to "Inferno Creature" "Inferno Creature"	Front Back	64335

Super Class

Original Retail Price in U.S.: $29.99

Super Class Figure - Wave 1

Figure Name	Modes	Figure Image(s)	Packaging Image(s)	SKU #
Electronic Tri-Rex with Whipping Tail & Dino Sounds!	Mid-morph Humans (Jake + Cassie + Marco) to Tyrannosaurus Rex	Mid-morph humans (left to right): Jake forming the head/neck/arms, Marco forming the legs/spine, and Cassie forming the tail/belly		64335

Advertising

The Animorphs transformers were released in both 1999 and 2000, and were advertised:

• in the back pages of the books themselves
• in promotional postcards
• in TV commercials
• booths the 1999 and 2000 International toy fairs in New York
• in toy stores with the "Make the Change" contest
• in Tomart's Action Figure Digest Magazine

Print Advertisement

Ad for the Cassie/Wolf and Jake/Bear Transformers from The Experiment

Ad the Tobias/Hawk, Marco/Beetle, and Visser Three/Hork-Bajir Transformers from The Mutation

Transformers advertised on the back of a promotional postcard given out around the released of The Attack and The Exposed

Animorphs: Transformers featured in Toyfare Magazine, May 1999

Animorphs: Transformers and Beast Wars: Transformers at the 1999 toy fair featured in Tomart's Action Figure Digest #63

Online Promotion

Advertising the three Mega Transformers: Ax/Scorpion, Tobias/Hawk, and Visser 3/Inferno Creature

Advertising the Super Transformers: Tri-Rex on Scholastic.com

TV Commercials

Animorphs Toy Commercial 1999

Animorphs Transformers 15s Commercial (New copy)

Animorphs Transformers Visser Three and Tri-Rex Commercial 30s (NEW)

Trivia

• The Animorphs: Transformers toyline was intended for ages 5 and up.
• The Ax/Panther figure was a retooling of Jake/Tiger figure.
• Although it is never explicitly named, the Animorphs can be seen playing a videogame using Beast Wars characters in My Name is Jake (Part 1), Tobias, and Changes (Part 3).

References

External Links

• Dave's Animorphs Page
• Transformers Wiki
• TFU.info
• Animorphs Transformers on Toymania