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I don't know if anyone has said this before, but I think I have a take on why the 'Authentics' line has that particular name, and it has to do with where the line is primarily sold: dollar stores and other low-price bargain retailers.

Anyone who's been to a dollar store or other kind of bargain store in the U.S. knows that the toys section is filled with low-quality (and usually knockoff) products. As anyone who's watched one of Thew's "Beatdowns" knows, transformers are a frequent victim of knockoffery, and the same old molds repeatedly pop up. Like any company, hasbro is concerned with its brand's image, and doesn't want these toys dragging down their franchise's reputation by association or misunderstanding.

To solve this problem, they have two options:
1) File litigation against each and every company that pirated their molds.

OR

2) Make their own simple and cheap transformers toyline to compete in the dollar store market.

Needless to say, the latter is much more feasible.

But what to call this new line? What assurance of build quality and durability will buyers have? How will they know this isn't a toy that will break in five minutes like the rest? How will they know for sure this is a real hasbro product? The answer presents itself quite simply: make the line's name a guarantee of authenticity!


As for other thoughts on Authentics, let me provide a little bit of anecdotal evidence in defense of their simplicity. Dollar store toys are usually bought for little kids by their grandparents or parents as a treat for being good, or as a toy that can stay at Grandma's House (TM) so that Johnny 6-year-old doesn't have to bring all his own toys for a visit and risk losing them. Authentics is aimed at a young demographic and needs to be durable, and fewer joints means fewer potential areas to snap or break the toy by accident during rough play. Authentics is a fine line for the particular demographic at which it's aimed. Kids love their toys, imperfect transformations, kibble, and all.

Thoughts?

You're correct about why the line exists, but the name doesn't actually appear on the package outside of the "Authentic" logo on the back that's found on all Transformers these days. As far as anyone buying these blindly are concerned they're just Transformers, but the Hasbro logo helps.

Emerje