For me, collecting is as much about art as the property itself. The evolution of a character over time can vary greatly from the most epic to utterly simple. It is this dynamic that I find so engaging. Ironically, as much I love super-detailed figures foisting pounds of metal, extended articulation, lights, sounds and chrome as far as the eye can see. I often find the most juvenile toys tend to have the greatest artistic freedom.
Today's shot looks at a handful of the Playskool Heroes Optimus Prime toys that are so different from their namesakes they appear as surreal expressions of the Autobot Leader character. Since these are made for little hands, what they lack in function is replaced with a wonderfully childish style that feels like a warm hug. The toys shown in today's shot include the following, left to right:
• Epic Optimus Prime 11-inch (2018)
• Mega Mighties Optimus Prime (2019)
• Energize Electronic Optimus Prime (2013)
• Baby Optimus Prime (2017)
• Rescue Bots Optimus Prime Tow Truck (2018)
• Playskool Big Adventures Gorillabot (2003)
• Rescue Bots Optimus Prime Snow Plow (2017)
• Academy Optimus Prime (2020)
With so many third parties making the same remakes, over and over, with barley perceptible differences, at a minimum of 3 digits a pop, I find that Items like these, none of which probably costs more than $20, are the real treasures.
I'll take a unique stylized toy over an over accurate, hyper articulated kibblefest, any day.
__scaled_800.jpg "Daily Prime - Silver Force Optimus Prime Last of the Playskool Heroes")
__scaled_800.jpg "Daily Prime - Off Road Optimus Prime 4X4s Roll Out")
__scaled_800.jpg "Heroes vs Villains Autobot and Decepticons Rescue Bots 4-Pack Coming Soon")