Walmart has uploaded a Back To School ad on its YouTube channel which features Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
The advertisement, titled “Own the school year like a hero”, features several brief scenes with famous comic characters, Power Rangers and of course Optimus Prime and Bumblebee ready to get back to school.
While the designs are similar to the movie incarnations, they are not the proper film models but it’s nice to see Transformers in this kind of advertisements as popular icons.
You can check the video below and then share your thoughts at the 2005 Boards.
ZapRowsdower
It's important to note that the theme is HEROES, and TFs are the briefest characters in the whole thing. I wouldn't say "featured TFs" so much as cameo'ed or special guest starred.
When I read the misleading news title, my first thought was, "Wait… so now they're doing a proper TLK push at retail???"
No. No, they're not.
In 2014, I walked into a TRU with a giant Grimlock display roaring and staring me in the face. In 2017, I walked into TRU and had to SEARCH for the TF movie display. Sadly, I did not find it in 95% of the TRUs I walked into. And now, every TRU around me has taken down what little they had, while keeping up the Fast & Furious, Pirates of the Caribbean, Power Rangers, Cars, etc. displays. Some of those, we can agree sell toys. Others (Fast & Furious? Pirates?!?) are there just to embarrass Hasbro.
I guess it follows the lackluster box office results, but Hasbro really should have made a better effort with the toys and retail displays. By the commercial in this news story (and by stores' lack of display or push), it's clear TFs are heading for the back of the shop, and toward the clearance section. Children's attention is like a talent show, and the TLK movie had a HUGE spotlight… but then it fell on its face to laughter. Especially frustrating is that a multi-billion dollar company like Hasbro did not grasp the concept of too much food on your plate. And as much as I like to say that the TLK line is ruining the TR line with delays… ironically enough, it could have been the TR and RID lines that ruined the production schedule of the TLK line. Whoever is in charge of manufacturing or logistics… They really need to reign this beast in.
Nitro Zeus
If I being honest, I think that I prefer this one to the used model. Wheels are present, the armor looks a little sleeker, and the colour scheme actually looks right for the character. The biggest beef with the AOE2/TLK design was that Optimus Prime was/is primarily blue, and that irked/still irks me. It's a nice robot design, but just a little iffy for Prime, in my opinion. If someone wants to say something about the truck parts changing color or not looking like they did in the actual truck mode, I would gladly use Crosshairs, TLK Drift, Mohawk, or AoE 'Stinger' Bumblebee to refute that. I would personally like to see what this more red-centered Prime would look like, properly rendered for one of the movies.
jackgaughan
That's a really cute advert. Also love how the Pink ranger kid isn't wearing a movie t-shirt, they're wearing a Super Megaforce t-shirt, that's not relevant anymore guys!
Omega Charge
I saw this on TV the other day and was very impressed. Not just by the Transformers but the superhero costumes were on point! Movie quality.
Heliblade
As good a crossover as we\'re ever gonna get.
JinaSensei
Good ol' marketing trying to get our money as fast as possible and manipulate social behavior.
Spyne98
Exactly! I work all summer anyway, but I don't want to start thinking about the new school year already.
JinaSensei
Right? Walmart and target already have back to school merch on the shelves (in my area). Everyone JUST got out of school. Geez.
Spyne98
Lol, duh. Fixed it.
Megasquared
I hope you don't teach spelling. It's ads with one "d".
Spyne98
I\'m a teacher. It should be illegal to show back to school ads before August.
Seth Sunthay
I like how in that video you can see how the model still used truck parts, in the 2nd scene where's his leg, you can the tires inside of it.
Sixshot93
Good ol' Whitesnake.
AOEGalvatronRox
There's something about his conceptual model that I don't like. I'm glad they went in a different direction in regards to his design.
steam235
Hascon trailers use this model too.
steam235
This is a model that Hasbro has used a few times and I like it. I think one of the tells is this version has a wheel in Prime's Ankle.
SPLIT LIP
Which begs the question: were these models created just for the commercial? Because they look pretty good to me.
Angry Camaro
If only Walmart actually had Transformers merch like apparel in its stores…. and wave 2…
netkid
Correct! They are not the film/screen accurate final models. Optimus is using his conceptual model: http://pre00.deviantart.net/c9a9/th…age_of_extinction___by_goreface13-d7p67mu.jpg
MetalStorm
So the Rangers get to drive to school but Batman and Wonder Woman gotta walk?