22 replies to this topic

[Beastformers]

-BA- Beastformers Archeology Topic

 
 
The first subject to be discussed amongst the Beastformers Archeology project was Promotion & Advertisement related to the Battle Beasts line based on the period prior or during the release of these figures in the late eighties. While the information and scans we found related to the Original Takara / Hasbro Catalogs was shared in THIS topic already we still have the Advertisements left to share.
 
While some of these advertisements are already known we also have been able to find some other more interesting advertisements although there are still a few questions we have related to their source (in which magazine were they published and when?) its important to share these in the hope some of you might be able to add some crucial information in order to gain more insight in the specific adds.
 
Our apologies for the fact that from some of the advertisements shown below only pictures are available at the moment but we hope to add scanned material later on.
 
To keep a certain order we decided to post them under the country in which they were published also because of the fact we don't have the exact dates available for some (yet).
 
 
 
Japanese Advertisement (JAPAN)
 
1. Transformers Insert Pamphlet  (1987)
 Japanese Advertisement 2.jpg   165.16K   39 downloads  Japanese Advertisement 1.jpg   95.2K   84 downloads  Japanese Advertisement.jpg   97.17K   92 downloads
 
Published in: Transformers boxes/packaging as insert pamphlet
Released in: 1987
Further info: N/A
 
 
2. Transformers Insert Pamphlet  (1987)
 Japanese Advertisement 3.jpg   207.33K   66 downloads  Japanese Advertisement 5.jpg   89.02K   55 downloads  Japanese Advertisement 4.jpg   83.71K   85 downloads
 
Published in: Transformers boxes/packaging as insert pamphlet
Released in: 1987
Further info: Based on the fact that this Fort Max Pamphlet is labelled 1987-B it is assumed this was one of the later inserts during 1987 and the 1st Transformers Insert Pamphlet with the Autobot logo was released first.
 
3. Advertisement Picture (?)
 Advertisement 3.jpg   213.61K   103 downloads
 
Published in: Unknown
Released in: Unknown
Further info: This is a picture that shows up on the internet quite often and based on the looks and setting of it, which is similar to the landscape setup of the first Battle Beasts pictures shown in the Habro US Catalog of 1987 making it plausible it was taken during that same shoot. BUT the pics in that catalog do show the ''prototype'' figures (Black Tapir, Purple armored Skunk, etc.) while the figures in this picture do show the actuall coloring of the figures as we known them (except the Black Panther and Aardent Aardvark) so its obviously not taken during the same shoot making it even harder to date or trace the origin of this picture.


Although the Beastformers originated from Japan the advertisement material that was shared or found in and from Japan so far is pretty dissapointing but again this might have something to due with the language barrier. Despite all our effort we haven't been able to trace down a Japanese add similar to the magazine ones shown below from countries like the US, UK and France. 
 
 
 
US Advertisement (United States)
 
1. Vendors promotion Add (1986(?))
 Advertisement1.jpg   120.06K   77 downloads
 
Published in: Unkown, most probably this was just a (handout) flyer.
Released in: 1986 (?)
Further info: The 1986 date was mentioned during our discussion but due to the condition of the scan we're unable to verify if this is actually correct. If it is this would be the most early dated BB Advertisement out there and it would probably have been released or spread amongst vendors prior to the Pre-Toyfair 1987 release during the end of 1986. Again a lot of doubts around this particular advertisement....
 
2. (Magazine?) Advertisement (1987)
 Advertisement 2.jpg   292.87K   72 downloads
 
Published in: Unkown
Released in: 1987
Further info: Probably one of the earlier advertisements placed prior or during the release of the Serie 1 BB in the US in mid or end 1987.

3. Sears Christmas Catalog Advertisement (1987)
 Catalog advertisement.jpg   104.2K   77 downloads
 
Published in: Sears Christmas Catalog
Released in: 1987
Further info: This advertisment shows us the actuall prices of the items for Christmas 1987 (so the prices our parents spend back in the days );
- Battle Beasts Vehicles - Each $5.99
- Battle Beasts Playsets - Each $15.99
-  Its not completely sure if the $9.99 mentioned here is for a 2 pack only (which seems a little expensive looking at the other prices) or if its a Christmas deal offered for a multitude of 2 packs.
 
 
UK Advertisement (Great Britain)
 
1. Release Advertisement (1987)
 Action Force #19 July 1987 (Marvel Comics UK).jpg   704.08K   67 downloads
 
Published in: Action Force #19 (Marvel Comics UK)
Released in: July 1987  
Further info:
- This advertisement was found inside several of the comics but in some cases if was also printed on the backside of the Action Force comics.
- Also was this advertisement found in several issues of the UK Transformers Comic during 1987 up to release #150 as it ran for several months on and off.
- This advertisement can also be found on the last page of the UK Special No. 1 Battle Beasts comic dated 1987.

2. Action Force BB Competition/Contest Advertisement (1987)
 UK Advertisement.jpg   791.48K   53 downloads
 
Published in: Action Force (Marvel Comics UK)
Released in: 1987 (Competition ran untill July 31st 1987)
Further info: 2 Pack price in the UK was 2.49 GBP.
 
 
 
FR Advertisement (France)
 
1. LOTO Dragonaute Promotion (1987)
 dragonautes5.jpg   64.74K   55 downloads  dragonautes3.jpg   72.72K   62 downloads
 dragonautes4.jpg   71.04K   61 downloads  dragonautes1.jpg   61.12K   68 downloads
 
Published in: Unknown
Released in: 1987
Further info: Its likely that a part of this promotion campaign was ment for vendors looking at the store display. For the rest the coherence between the different files is not completely clear either since we haven't come to the actuall translation of these files (yet). The advertisement below of which a little more is known seems to be related to this Promotion campaign as well.  
 
2. LOTO Dragonaute Contest (?) Advertisement (1987)
 dragonautes2.jpg   83.33K   69 downloads  dragonautes6.jpg   237.5K   89 downloads
 
Published in: French Childrens Magazine, Name unknown
Released in: May 26st, 1987
Further info: This add was placed on the back of the magazine and it looks like its some kind of contest as well as a game kind of advertisement.
 
 
Dutch Advertisement (NL)
1. Toy Vendors Magazine Advertisement (1987)
 Speelgoed en Hobby Maart 1987.jpg   228.16K   110 downloads
 
Published in: Speelgoed en Hobby (Toys and Hobby)
Released in: March 1987
Further info: Professional Journal of Dutch Toy Vendors in which new lines were announced so most likely this is pre-release information trying to trigger the vendors to sell this line in their stores later in 1987.

Translation of the Dutch Text:

Battle Beasts
A collectorsconcept with great possibilities is undoubtly Battle Beasts. There are 28 different beasts with articulated arms en each has its own weapon. Battle Beasts come with 2 on a blistered card and they will have an expected cost of around Æ’ 7,95 for a set. But there is more.... Each Battle Beas is equiped with a unique liquid crystal, which when warmed shows one of the following symbols: Wood - Water or Fire. A Battle Beast with a Wood-symbol beats an opponent with a Watersymbol. But water on its turn beats fire and fire beats wood. So creating a round circle. This means these are no 28 different figures but 84. Which symbol a Battle Beast has can only be seen after the purchase. In the case of doubles the child can trade with his friend, which forms an extra stimulation effect for their collectability. The Battle Beasts are delivered in a beautiful storedisplay which can hold 96 blistedcards. This new line will be supported from March with 52 spots on Sky Channel. 

 
And thanks to this Dutch add also the first connection is made towards the Battle Beasts commercial we've probably all seen because most probably this was the similar commercial used for the US and in Europe it was thus (based on the information above) broadcasted by Sky Channel (a channel from the UK which also broadcasted in many other EU countries and later became known as SKY1). So from March 1987 till ....... the following commercial was shared (52 times in the Netherlands) in many European countries and in their own language to promote the Beasts in Europe;

 

US/UK Battle Beasts Commercial

 
France Les Dragonaute Commercial

 

JB SD Battle Beasts Commercial (Meiji)

 
 
Despite the amount of Advertisements found, from several countries in which the Battle Beasts were released, the most be still a lot more out there so if you ever come across advertisements from the period prior or during the release of these figures in the late 80's please let us know or share it in this topic by replying. And in case you have information to share related to or in addition to the advertisements shared above please share your knowledge because if were able to get some of these dated we will also gain a lot more insight in the actuall release dates of the Battle Beasts on the different continents. With all this information we are slowly gathering the facts and documents we need to verify and clarify the history of the Battle Beasts!  
 
 
 

 Beastformers Archeology Member.png   64.61K   64 downloads
CLICK HERE
to go to the Table of Content page

Edited by Beastformers, 27 December 2014 - 04:39 PM.

[Glock]

Wow. Nice work. I am really digging this work.

[Skullcruncher]

That french store display is awesome. Man imagine how many of us would jump at the chance to own one of them!

[koppenschevelle]

I didn't see this ad posted, and I wasn't sure if you had it yet, and just hadn't posted it yet. My wife gave this to me as a Christmas gift a few years ago. It's an ad for Tepato Maxoi (Greek Battle Beasts). It's from some type of children's magazine, and has small girl's dolls on the opposite page.

 

 Tepato Maxoi Ad.jpg   271.45K   37 downloads

[Beastformers]

I didn't see this ad posted, and I wasn't sure if you had it yet, and just hadn't posted it yet. My wife gave this to me as a Christmas gift a few years ago. It's an ad for Tepato Maxoi (Greek Battle Beasts). It's from some type of children's magazine, and has small girl's dolls on the opposite page.

 

Tepato Maxoi Ad.jpg

 

Hi Eric, thanks for sharing, we actually did find that one as well as the front of it is from a Donald Duck comic in which this was one of the Advertisements. BUT its from the Greek Beasts for which we're planning to creat another topic and I planned on using that add there For now we're mainly focussing on the original Takara Hasbro line and based on the gathered info so far it more and more looks like the GBB have never been part of this original lince since they (El Greco) probably never had a license to produce these like MB did for Hasbro in Europe so they seem to be a well done bootleg line........... more info will follow much later when we'll look into the real GBB story and background.  

[Beastformers]

It was quite frustrating knowing we had found so much adds in all kind of languages while I was unable to add one in Dutch but we did come accross a scan that held a tiny bit of a Dutch add in some magazine because the other page was scanned. Today I finally received a scan of the other page on which the BB where shown after having contacted the publisher of this Dutch Professional Toy Journal and luckily they still had this number in their archives. So a Dutch Battle Beasts Advertisement is added!

[JonnyPac]

So cool! I love seeing all this. Great work!

[Beastformers]

Just bumped into a ´new´ Battle Beasts commercial which I haven´t seen before; 

 

 

Seems to be specially made for the vehicles and playsets and the bandolier back in the days. 
The overview with the rocky landscape and the huge amounts of beasts out there is pretty sick! 

 

Noticed that the Crow doesn´t have a Yellow beack here....... 

 

Its good to see some of these old commercials being uploaded on Youtube!

[fourth_heir]

 

2. Action Force BB Competition/Contest Advertisement (1987)
UK Advertisement.jpg
 
Published in: Action Force (Marvel Comics UK)
Released in: 1987 (Competition ran untill July 31st 1987)
Further info: 2 Pack price in the UK was 2.49 GBP.

 

A near identical contest to this was run in the TransFormers comic (the page was much the same, utilising only a different main photograph and questions themed around TransFormers characters) - I'll still have the issue in my collection if you'd like me to provide an image of it?

[Beastformers]

A near identical contest to this was run in the TransFormers comic (the page was much the same, utilising only a different main photograph and questions themed around TransFormers characters) - I'll still have the issue in my collection if you'd like me to provide an image of it?

 

Please, if you´d be able to find it and provide the picture it would make a welcome addition.

Thanks in advance!

[fourth_heir]

The competition appeared in Marvel UK's "The TransFormers" No. 104 (14th March 1987)...

 

 

Sorry for the less than pristine condition of the page, but it is over a quarter century old now If you'd like a larger copy of this pic I can e-mail you one.

Edited by fourth_heir, 08 May 2014 - 02:32 PM.

[Ericnilla]

I love the color scheme of those painted lions!

[Skullcruncher]

Not sure if this is the correct section  - the -BA- will advise - do the transformers headmasters episodes that had battle beasts in count as advertising?  The original transformer series was essentially a huge advert for the toys!

[Beastformers]

Not sure if this is the correct section  - the -BA- will advise - do the transformers headmasters episodes that had battle beasts in count as advertising?  The original transformer series was essentially a huge advert for the toys!

 
Well the Rebellion on Planet Beast episode from the TF Headmaster serie was indeed a good promotion for the Battle Beasts but its not really the kind/type of advertisement we´re trying to share within this topic. But it´ll certaintly get some more attention along the way. Just noticed that one of the better versions of this episode (with EN subs) has been removed from Youtube as I planned to add the link here. 
 
But here´s another one:

Edited by Beastformers, 21 October 2015 - 04:42 PM.

[Beastformers]

BB Newspaper Ad,
The Milwaukee Sentinental, May 7, 1987
Page 31/56

 

 battlebeasts1.png   337.22K   7 downloads  battlebeastspage.png   730.29K   7 downloads

 

 

 

BB Newspaper Ad,
Reading Eagle, July 15, 1988
Page 64/132

 

 battlebeasts.png   564.86K   5 downloads

 

 

Source: http://www.battlegri...arance-in-1988/

 

 

More info and discussion about these two ads that both contain interesting information can be found in this topic: HERE

Edited by Beastformers, 11 November 2015 - 04:21 PM.

[Beastformers]

A friend of mine bumped into another Dutch Battle Beasts advertisement so we can add another one to the archive.

 

Toy Shop Magazine Advertisement (1987)

 FB_IMG_1457165429503.jpg   157.45K   17 downloads

Published in: De Speelboom Club Catalogue
Released in: 1987
Further info: De Speelboom as a Dutch Toy Shop in the 20th century, it doesn´t exist anymore now, and it worked with a kind of subscription system as you could join the Speelboom Club and that´d result in receiving (several) catalogs during the year and most likely you´d get some kind of discount as a Speelboom Club member. Since this advertisement really showed up out of the blank and all lines and connections with info about the company lead to nowhere this is it for now. The price mentioned in the advertisement 7,95 (Gulden, the Dutch currency before the Euro)was for two figures with weapons (MOC).

 

[Glock]

Did you notice the guy said collect all 84? Great commercials of the 80s they always had the best set ups. There was always water and mountains.

[TheWaringWeasels]

The number 84 could be series one - fire, wood, water. 28*3=84.

[susha]

there we go these should be significantly better images. I just hope they are the right way up.

 

edit: the files (some 5mb each take ages to load and i just cant seem to. Ill try and upload the higher res images (in 2 separate posts) later, here are the compressed versions.

Attached Files

•  tf-bbcatautobotscmprsd.jpg   90.76K   11 downloads
•  tf-bbcatdecepcmprsd.jpg   94.92K   9 downloads

[susha]

managed on photobucket

[susha]

and

[ChrisCool]

Hello ! For the french LOTO ads, I can provide a translation if you want . I'm on my phone, but to summarize it was a contest, you had to choose 3 battle beasts imprisoned (the ''chiefs'') among those listed, their 3 rubs logos, and when the contest ended the 3 chiefs were freed to see which boy/girl chose the right combination. The great winner won a battle beasts bicycle (???), next you could win a complete collection.
The contest tell that the rub logo could be the same on some of the chosen BB, so just calculate the probability to find the good answer...

[Shadow Bat]

Hello ! For the french LOTO ads, I can provide a translation if you want . I'm on my phone, but to summarize it was a contest, you had to choose 3 battle beasts imprisoned (the ''chiefs'') among those listed, their 3 rubs logos, and when the contest ended the 3 chiefs were freed to see which boy/girl chose the right combination. The great winner won a battle beasts bicycle (???), next you could win a complete collection.
The contest tell that the rub logo could be the same on some of the chosen BB, so just calculate the probability to find the good answer...

 

A Battle Beast Bicycle? Wish we had a picture of that.

 

Thanks for the info

 

There were 18 beasts to choose from in the contest correct?

 

Probability would be 1 in 29376 I believe