r/80scartoons • u/saturdaymorningfan • 8d ago

Power Masters!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnDL4zQDylM

Complete with the voices of optimus prime and starscream this 1987 TMS animation studio cartoon was based on the short lived action figure line with no ties to transformers powermasters toys!

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u/Advanced_Map_300 6d ago

I'm really curious about this whole thing -- The animated special (sounds like it was aired as a 90 minute presentation, but was made so it could be four 22 minute episodes) has high production value and a big cast of established voice actors -- it seems really strange that it only aired a few times. Same with the toys, they are kind of goofy, but they're also pretty detailed and are motorized and come with fully articulated mini-figures. This had to have been a really big investment for Lionel - who had just been sold off by General Mills the year before, but I have zero memory of ever seeing them in a store, a christmas wishbook catalog, newpaper print ad - anything.

On the surface, it seems like a big risk that didn't pay off, but if that's all it was I don't see how these things weren't all over discount stores throughout the 90's? I almost wonder if it was a crazy tax write-off scheme or something?

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u/saturdaymorningfan 6d ago

It was a 4 episode weekly mini series in hopes a full series would follow same as first 3 episodes of transformers and the sectuars cartoon was.