In the summer of 2001, Hasbro
was suffering financially, both because of the very limited success of
Beast
Machines and because of the economical situation. So, holding off their
next "all-new" Transformers series for a year, Hasbro decided to take the
couple-years-old Japanese "Car Robots" Transformers series and bring it
to America. "Transformers: Robots in Disguise" (commonly abbreviated RiD)
is just that. The "Car Robots" series was dubbed in English for North America,
and the Car Robots toys were repackaged (and slightly modified, in most
cases) and resold as Transformers: Robots in Disguise toys. Hasbro also
decided to add a few old molds to the line as well, to expand the line
and to make some non-show characters available. Although RiD definitely
has its share of new molds, it also has repaints of molds from every previous
American Transformers series; Generation One, Generation Two, Machine Wars,
Beast
Wars, and Beast Machines. Because of the plethora of styles available
in RiD, there was, quite literally, something for every Transfan. This,
combined with the popular Anime-style show, made RiD a smashing success.
RiD also introduced a new
size class: the Spychangers. The Spychangers size class is very small-
in vehicle mode, they are roughly the size of a Hot Wheels car, to give
you an example. All of the Spychanger-sized Transformers came for 2 for
$5 in the U.S. Also, the Basic price point was marked down a few bucks-
from $7-8 U.S. to $5- so the "Basic" sized Transformers for this toyline
are mostly smaller then the "Basic" sized Transformers of the Beast Wars
and Beast Machines toylines.
(NOTE: If the toy reviewed
was released under "Car Robots", I'll give its Japanese name. I'll also
give the mold history of every toy listed, since not all are new. Also,
because of the many multi-packs, gestalt components, and whatnot in RiD,
instead of listing the toys alphabetically overall, I'm listing them alphabetically
by faction.)
Autobots
Air
Attack Optimus Primal (Toys 'R Us Exclusive)
Crosswise
(Original and both Transparent versions)
Daytonus
Grimlock
(Landfill Part)
Heavy
Load (Landfill Part)
Hightower
(Landfill Part)
Hot
Shot (Original and both Transparent versions)
Ironhide
(Original and both Transparent versions)
Landfill
Landfill
(Yellow giftset; Wal-Mart Exclusive)
Midnight
Express (Rail Racer Part)
Mirage
(Spychanger; Original and both Transparent versions)
Mirage
GT (Basic)
Nightcruz
Omega
Prime
Optimus
Prime (Basic)
Optimus
Prime (Super, Omega Prime Part)
Prowl
(Deluxe, Original)*
Prowl
(Deluxe, Redeco)*
Prowl
2 (Spychanger)
Rail
Racer
Railspike
(Rail Racer Part)
Rapid
Run (Rail Racer Part)
R.E.V.
(Original and both Transparent versions)
Scavenger
Side
Burn (Deluxe, Original)
Side
Burn (Deluxe, Redeco)
Side
Burn (Spychanger)
Side
Swipe
Sideways
(Wal-Mart Exclusive)
Skid-Z
Storm
Jet
Tow-Line
Ultra
Magnus (Basic)
Ultra
Magnus (Super, Omega Prime Part)
W.A.R.S.
(Original and both Transparent versions)
Wedge
(Landfill Part)*
X-Brawn
(Deluxe, Original)
X-Brawn
(Deluxe, Redeco)
X-Brawn
(Spychanger)
"G1" Themed Spychangers (KB Toys Exclusives)
Autobot
Jazz
Hoist
Optimus
Prime
Prowl
Silverstreak
Wheeljack
Predacons
Bruticus
Cryotek
(Target Exclusive)
Dark
Scream
Galvatron
Gas
Skunk
Megatron
Sky-Byte
Slapper
Decepticons
Armorhide
(Ruination Part)
Axer
(Wal-Mart Exclusive)
Bludgeon
(KB Toys Exclusive)
Dreadwind
& Smokejumper Giftset (Target Exclusive)
Jhiaxus
(KB Toys Exclusive)
Mega-Octane
(Ruination Part)
Megatron
Megabolt (KB Toys Exclusive; Blue Version)
Megabolt
(KB Toys Exclusive; Green Version)
Movor
(Ruination Part)
Obsidian
Rollbar
(Ruination Part)
Ro-Tor
(Ruination Part)
Ruination
Ruination
(Urban Camo Giftset; Wal-Mart Exclusive)
Scourge
(Destructicon) [KB Toys Exclusive]
Scourge
(Spychanger)
Scourge
(Super) [Toys "R" Us Exclusive]
Skyfire
Wind
Sheer