Triple Takeover Toycast

Clear plastic has long been one of the most notorious pain points for toy collectors, often mentioned in the same breath as gold plastic syndrome (GPS) and discolouration. It’s a material that can inspire dread — and for good reason.

In this episode, the team take a balanced look at clear plastic in Transformers toys, discussing when and why it causes problems, as well as the times it’s been used effectively to enhance a figure’s design. From structural weaknesses to striking visual flourishes, we cover the full spectrum of its successes and failures.

By exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly, this is a thoughtful discussion about a much-maligned material — and a reminder that context and execution matter just as much as the plastic itself.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

As we step into 2024, we’re also celebrating the 40th anniversary of Transformers, with plenty of exciting new toys and developments on the horizon. It’s a year full of promise, with fresh takes on familiar characters and innovative new designs set to captivate collectors old and new.

In this episode, the team look ahead to what the anniversary year has in store, from the upcoming releases that have caught our eye to the trends and themes we’re most excited to see unfold. We discuss what’s making the buzz, what we’re hoping for, and how the legacy of Transformers continues to evolve as it marks its 40th year.

It’s a look forward at a year packed with possibilities, and a celebration of everything that makes Transformers such an enduring and exciting brand.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means it’s time to look back at the Transformers toys that defined 2023 for us. From standout releases to unexpected highlights, this episode is all about celebrating the figures that brought the most joy over the past twelve months.

In this festive chat, the team reflect on what made certain releases shine, whether through clever engineering, strong design choices, or simply capturing the right feeling at the right time. We discuss the toys that delighted us most — naughty or nice — and what they say about the year as a whole.

It’s a relaxed end-of-year conversation, full of favourites, reflections, and a bit of seasonal cheer, as we wrap up another busy year of Transformers collecting.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

We’re heading back to the Beasts — but this time, we’re off to Japan for one of the most colourful and distinctive chapters of late ’90s Transformers: Beast Wars II.

In this episode, Sixo introduces Liam and Jason to Takara’s 1998 Maximal lineup, a toy range bursting with bold designs and unusual character choices. From lions and insects to a truly unforgettable giant octopus, we explore how Beast Wars II carved out its own identity, distinct from its Western counterpart.

It’s a lively tour through a corner of the franchise that doesn’t always get the spotlight, and a reminder of just how experimental — and delightfully strange — Transformers could be during this era.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

It’s still early days for Skybound’s new Energon Universe, but there’s already plenty to unpack as Transformers makes its return to comics in a bold new form.

In this episode, the team kick off an ongoing discussion by examining the first two issues of Daniel Warren Johnson’s acclaimed Transformers series, alongside Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals. We talk first impressions, tone, visual identity, and what these opening chapters suggest about the shared universe Skybound is building.

This episode serves as the starting point for a wider conversation that continues beyond this initial release, as the series develops and expectations begin to take shape. Spoilers abound — and it all begins here.

Further episodes in this Skybound comics discussion continue as part of our Patreon-exclusive miniseries: https://www.patreon.com/collection/331175

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

For this extra-special episode, we dive deep into the Triple Takeover mailbag to answer questions from listeners about Transformers, toy collecting, the podcast itself, and plenty more besides.

Covering everything from collecting habits and favourite eras to broader thoughts on the brand, it’s a wide-ranging and relaxed discussion shaped entirely by the community around the show. Along the way, we reflect on what makes Transformers fandom tick — and why these conversations are worth having.

This episode also marks Jason’s first appearance on the podcast, joining the team for a lively and occasionally perilous Q&A session. Whether everyone makes it out alive is another matter entirely.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

Following on from the highs of Binaltech, TakaraTomy returned to the idea of ‘real car’ Transformers in 2009 with a very different proposition: Alternity. Smaller in scale but far more stylised, the line offered a distinctive reimagining of licensed vehicles through a uniquely Japanese design lens.

In this episode, the team take a closer look at the Alternity toy line, examining its repaint-heavy roster, ambitious concepts, and often divisive reception among fans. We discuss what TakaraTomy was aiming for with the line, how it was received at the time, and why Alternity continues to provoke such mixed reactions today.

It’s a thoughtful look at an unusual chapter in Transformers history — one that sits somewhere between innovation, experimentation, and missed opportunity.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

We’re back for a third round of Transformers ‘hidden gems’, as each member of the team selects two toys from across the brand’s history that they feel never quite received the recognition they deserved.

From overlooked releases and quiet successes to figures that may simply have arrived at the wrong moment, we explore why these toys slipped under the radar — and whether they truly were underappreciated in the first place. As ever, opinions differ, and definitions of a 'hidden gem' prove to be anything but straightforward.

It’s a reflective and occasionally self-questioning discussion that’s less about crowning winners and more about reconsidering how fandom attention shifts over time.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

With TFNation 2023 now behind us, we’re joined by organisers Dave Mapes and Billy Stripes to take a look behind the scenes of Europe’s largest Transformers convention.

In this episode, we talk about what goes into running an event of this scale, from planning and logistics to the challenges and pressures that come with bringing a huge fan community together. We explore how TFNation has evolved over the years, what it takes to keep it growing, and what attendees might never see from the show floor.

It’s an insightful discussion about fandom, organisation, and the passion required to make a convention like TFNation happen year after year.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

TFNation 2023 has come and gone, marking another memorable chapter in the UK’s Transformers social calendar. As always, the event brought together the community for a weekend packed with conversation, creativity, and shared enthusiasm for the brand.

In this episode, the team reflect on the highlights of the weekend, from panels and catch-ups to the overall atmosphere that makes TFNation such a special event year after year. We talk about the moments that stood out, the discussions that lingered, and what it felt like to be part of the convention once again.

Naturally, we also turn our attention to the toys, sharing our TFNation hauls and the pieces we picked up along the way. From long-hunted figures to unexpected finds in the dealer room, it’s a relaxed and celebratory look at how the event fed our collecting habits — and why that’s all part of the fun.

—

Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

Join the conversation with us on Discord

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover