Hasbro Studios Splits Creative Units

[Mandouga]

Article

The basic idea is that they're dividing their "boys/action" and "girls/preschool" units (as the article calls them) into two separate groups. It may seem like nothing now, but I'm hoping this doesn't affect the quality of their shows (which has good for the most part, but I feel that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been shaky at best; Pound Puppies even more so).

[Tobias]

It sounds like they're doing this to increase the output on the shows they're trying to produce, so I'm going to assume that aside from the toy based shows they have now, that they're going to add something from:

- Jem
- Glo Friends
- Mr. Potato Head
- maybe some animated shows based on their board games.

What action based properties do they own besides Transformers and G.I. Joe?

[Undrave]

They got M.A.S.K. and... I guess Dungeons & Dragon.

[Takao]

They got M.A.S.K. and... I guess Dungeons & Dragon.

They also have access to most of Takara Tomy's library of things, which includes Beyblade, Duel Masters, B-Daman, etc.

[Mandouga]

Emphasis on "most". Hasbro doesn't have Licca-chan or Jenny; I think Tomy America has an option on Licca-chan. They released a couple of Nintendo DS games under the "Lovely Lisa" name.

Besides Jem, Hasbro also once had an official answer to Barbie, called "Maxie". She even got her own show in 1989 (Maxie's World, a DIC production). OTOH, I don't Hasbro is going to revisit that one anytime soon.

We can forget about Beyblade, unfortunately. First off, (the English dub of) Beyblade: Metal Fusion comes to us from Nelvana. Second, it airs on a rival network, which will also (likely) air the upcoming Beyblade: Metal Masters (which may or may not be an English dub of Metal Fight Beyblade Baku).

As for Glo Friends, maybe they might do something just based on the original Glo Worm which came long before Glo Friends. I also wouldn't be surprised if there was a preschool show based on Alphie. I saw one atr Wal-Mart and they gave him a kind of backstory (but not exactly, it mentions that he's from another planet), so that might be cool.

[Spaceman]

I'd just like to think that Friendship is Magic isn't a fluke and that there will be other transcendently good shows based on Hasbro properties. Hopefully this will help creativity instead of hindering it.

And speaking of Friendship is Magic....

but I feel that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been shaky at best

What is shaky about it? The fact that it's comedic and witty and that it doesn't present it's morals with 100% hamfisted reverence? That's all you complain about in every single talkback thread; how it ruins each and every moral because it's "comedic" and "sarcastic". I've made a point of specifically avoiding your posts on talkback thread because you're always saying the same stuff, but now you're making random bashes at it elsewhere, and it's getting on my nerves.

Seriously, Mandouga, it's very clear that you're never going to accept FiM for what it is. What you hate so much about it (the fact it's comedic and lightly sarcastic) isn't because of any outside meddling or interference; that's how Lauren Faust wants the show to be and that's how the show's immense fanbase likes it, me included. If you dislike it so much (and don't tell me you don't, because you clearly do), then maybe you should stop watching because it's not going to change any time soon.

[Undrave]

They also have access to most of Takara Tomy's library of things, which includes Beyblade, Duel Masters, B-Daman, etc.

Oooh! They could grab the Rescue Force and Rescue Fire toy then base an animated series on 'em! I think there's some nice potential there. Mattel had Fisher Price's Rescue Heroes for a while that seemed to work. Plus firemen are always popular with the kids.

[Takao]

Oooh! They could grab the Rescue Force and Rescue Fire toy then base an animated series on 'em! I think there's some nice potential there. Mattel had Fisher Price's Rescue Heroes for a while that seemed to work. Plus firemen are always popular with the kids.

There was speculation that The Hub may have been Power Rangers Samurai's destination before Nick bit, so who's to say a live action splice like Power Rangers couldn't happen?

[Ioz]

It sounds like they're doing this to increase the output on the shows they're trying to produce, so I'm going to assume that aside from the toy based shows they have now, that they're going to add something from:

- Jem
- Glo Friends
- Mr. Potato Head
- maybe some animated shows based on their board games.

What action based properties do they own besides Transformers and G.I. Joe?

M.A.S.K., Sectaurs, C.O.P.S., Inhumanoids, and Visionaries. They own a lot of stuff that they either originally made themselves or got from buying out the competition.

[Mandouga]

@Spaceman:

All I can say without going off topic is that I don't hate it as much as you think I do. Yes, it's comedic and witty; I'm not disputing that, but at the same time, it has also been unfunny and sarcastic (with some of the morals only being there so they can be played for laughs; to the point of almost being "Spoof Aesops" as TV Tropes calls them). That said, I have felt that some episodes have been better than others. I can accept it for what it is, but I'm just not sure the show can accept itself for what it is. Again, that's all I can say without going off topic.

Back to this one, Rescue Force and Rescue Fire are both based on a line called "Tomica". Again, though Hasbro doesn't have that one (as far as I know; you might have to correct me). On the other hand, I suppose Hasbro Studios could license either the show or the concept and create a Power Rangers analog as Undrave mentioned (remember though, we're talking about animation). I would mention Choro Q (known as Penny Racers in some places), but I'm not sure if Hasbro has that one.

There is one Takara line that could Hasbro relicense and bring back: Microman. A long time ago, a company called Mego released it here as "Micronauts". My understanding is that Micro Change (which formed half of the original Transformers) was originally a subdivision of Microman. So maybe Hasbro could look into that (unless some other company has it).

[Undrave]

Back to this one, Rescue Force and Rescue Fire are both based on a line called "Tomica". Again, though Hasbro doesn't have that one (as far as I know; you might have to correct me). On the other hand, I suppose Hasbro Studios could license either the show or the concept and create a Power Rangers analog as Undrave mentioned (remember though, we're talking about animation). I would mention Choro Q (known as Penny Racers in some places), but I'm not sure if Hasbro has that one.

Tomica is simply a line of toy cars like Hot Wheels or Matchbox, nothing really fancy. The Rescue Force vehicles serves as launchers for the tomicas.

[Lighthammer]

They also have access to most of Takara Tomy's library of things, which includes Beyblade, Duel Masters, B-Daman, etc.

There's quiet a few things on the air The Hub could "seize" if it felt inclined, but we have to consider:

A.) Do they have contractual power to do so. Many of these series may have a contract on them that didn't have loop holes that could be exploited like Disney used when it acquired Marvel.

B.) For the moment I don't think Hasbro / The Hub wants to go piss off their competition by forcibly pulling things. They are currently filling in their channel with shows from other networks. In particular, Any of the listed shows are ultimately CN's loss. The Hub is currently filling in their network with some shows from the Turner Library. It's a possibility that they didn't yank these shows from CN and are using Turner shows in order to build their consumer base with a specific model in mind.

They got M.A.S.K. and... I guess Dungeons & Dragon.

Keep in mind that Hasbro just outright owns Wizards of the Coast. There's A LOT they could make shows out of there. *A LOT*. That being said, it sounds like Hasbro has already firmed up plans for a show featuring Magic: The Gathering, although we have no idea what format it will take.

M.A.S.K. in recent years has had elements of the show added directly into G.I. Joe (along with story adaptations made) and some Transformers references too. I tend to think Hasbro is going to use one of those shows as a launching bad for M.A.S.K. Hasbro had made A.T.O.M., which is heavily considered to be the spiritual successor to M.A.S.K., but it just seems like there is such a roar for M.A.S.K. that Hasbro has got to do something and has got to be hearing this. If they some how missed the memo before Toycon, they got it loud it clear aft Toycon.

Another show series that Hasbro looks like they have their hands into is Action Man. I would be extremely surprised if Hasbro isn't developing that into a series as we speak.

[Takao]

There is one Takara line that could Hasbro relicense and bring back: Microman. A long time ago, a company called Mego released it here as "Micronauts". My understanding is that Micro Change (which formed half of the original Transformers) was originally a subdivision of Microman. So maybe Hasbro could look into that (unless some other company has it).

IIRC they still have Microman.

[Mandouga]

I'm sorry. I meant if some other company hasn't already licensed it for North American distrbution. Sorry about the confusion.

[Takao]

I'm sorry. I meant if some other company hasn't already licensed it for North American distrbution. Sorry about the confusion.

Oh no, I meant Hasbro still has Microman, sorry about that.

[Mandouga]

That's news to me. Since when did Hasbro ever have it? It was a Takara creation originally, but like I said before, Hasbro doesn't have every single thing Takara (before and after the Tomy merger) ever created. I don't follow the toy industry so I wouldn't really know. All I do know is that Mego (who went out of business a long time ago) released it in the U.S. as Micronauts.

Still, if Hasbro does have Microman, it would be interesting to see a new series based on it.

I also did hear about another thing Hasbro created. Moon Dreamers (or "Moondreamers"; not sure which is correct) was a segment on My Little Pony 'n Friends. However, that doesn't look like one they'll bring back any time soon, but I suppose anything's possible.

[Undrave]

Does Takara even makes Microman product anymore?! I can't seem to find any myself.

[Tobias]

I also did hear about another thing Hasbro created. Moon Dreamers (or "Moondreamers"; not sure which is correct) was a segment on My Little Pony 'n Friends. However, that doesn't look like one they'll bring back any time soon, but I suppose anything's possible.

If we ever see a 'Moon Dreamers' toyline relaunch, I think it'll be a sure bet that Hasbro's got something planned. The same goes for Potato Head Kids. I haven't heard anything from either of those properties since the late 80's.

[Undrave]

Was it Hasbro or Mattel who had the Popples??

I think Rescue Force and Rescue Fire could be made with CGI and reuse the models from the japanese show and canibalize the Final Rescue sequences as they all appear in a CGI world with no detail. You wouldn't even need to keep the 'henshin hero' aspect of it.

[Takao]

I still think they should do a full on Toku show when Power Rangers Samurai does well for Bandai.

That's news to me. Since when did Hasbro ever have it? It was a Takara creation originally, but like I said before, Hasbro doesn't have every single thing Takara (before and after the Tomy merger) ever created. I don't follow the toy industry so I wouldn't really know. All I do know is that Mego (who went out of business a long time ago) released it in the U.S. as Micronauts.

Still, if Hasbro does have Microman, it would be interesting to see a new series based on it.

I also did hear about another thing Hasbro created. Moon Dreamers (or "Moondreamers"; not sure which is correct) was a segment on My Little Pony 'n Friends. However, that doesn't look like one they'll bring back any time soon, but I suppose anything's possible.

Wall Street Journal says this:

J.J. Abrams, who created the TV show "Lost" and directed this summer's "Star Trek" film, is in discussions to produce a movie about Japanese toy line Micronauts, which Hasbro just acquired.

Interestingly, it also said this:

Messrs. Smith and Lassiter are also developing a TV show based on the Big Wheel toy for a yet-unnamed TV channel, a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications set to launch next fall. "It was my favorite toy growing up," says Mr. Lassiter.

The yet-unnamed channel is obviously The Hub, so I wonder if we'll see this project.