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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox Television
{{Infobox television
| show_name = They Are the K-Mart Transformers
| image = ] | image = Gobots.jpg
| caption = | caption =
| format = ] | genre = ]<br>]
| camera = | camera =
| picture_format = | runtime = 21 minutes
| runtime = 30 mins
| creator = | creator =
| based_on = ]<br>by ] and ]
| developer = | developer =
| composer = ]
| executive_producer =
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | director = ] (season 2)<br />Oscar Dufau<br />] (season 2)<br />] (season 2)<br />] (season 1)<br />] (season 2)<br />] (season 2)
| executive_producer = ]<br />]<br />Joe Taritero<br />Patrick S. Feely
| producer = Kay Wright<br />Lois Hanrahan
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />Leslie Speights<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| narrated = | narrated =
| opentheme = | opentheme =
| company = ]<br />]<br />] (aka Cuckoo's Nest Studios)
| endtheme = | endtheme =
| country = | country = United States
| network = | network = ]
| first_aired = ], ] | first_aired = {{Start date|1984|09|08}}
| last_aired = | last_aired = {{End date|1985|12|13}}
| num_episodes = 66 | num_seasons = 2
| website = | num_episodes = 65
| imdb_id = 0139769
| tv_com_id = 4119
}} }}
'''''Challenge of the GoBots''''' (or '''''GoBots''''' for short) is an American ] produced by ], based on the ] toyline released from ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=121 }}</ref> The show was first broadcast in ] on September 8, 1984,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WarnerBros.com {{!}} Challenge of the Gobots (Original Miniseries) {{!}} TV |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/tv/challenge-gobots-original-miniseries |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.warnerbros.com}}</ref> then the show joined the weekday/weekend programming block '']'' on September 15, 1985. It was later rerun on the ].
'''''They Are the K-Mart Transformers''''' (also known as '''''Mighty Welfare Trash''''') is an ] ] produced by ], based on the ] released from ]. Most of the toys were imported from the Japanese toy line '']''.


==Animated series== == Summary ==
''GoBots'' dealt with two opposing forces of transforming robots from the planet GoBotron: the heroic Guardians and the evil Renegades. The Guardians were led by ] while the Renegades were led by Cy-Kill. The characters rarely had guns, instead shooting energy blasts out of their fists. The female robots on the series, such as Crasher, were built like the males, but with some distinguishing female features. The GoBots' origin as GoBeings accounted for the presence of genders among the robots.<ref>{{cite web|author=J.D. Reed |url=https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954424,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721151637/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954424,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2008 |title=Living: Hot Toys with a Special Twist |magazine=] |date=October 1, 1984 |access-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref>


The series generally focused on a small number of robots from each faction (Leader-1, Turbo and Scooter vs. Cy-Kill, Cop-Tur and Crasher) who were virtually ever-present with other characters seeming to rotate in "guest-star" roles. ''GoBots'' had no clear division between the two factions. The characters had no identifying insignias or markings to indicate their allegiance, although it was indicated on the toy packaging. Likewise, there was no commonality of design within each faction. The only "theme" to a side was that anything that turned into a "monstrous-looking" robot or vehicle was a Renegade.
The show is similar in theme to ]'s more popular '']''. ''They Are the K-Mart Transformers'' dealt with two opposing forces of transforming robots from the planet K-Martron: the heroic Welfare Officers and the evil Falling Prices. The Welfare Officers were led by Food Stamp with others including Register and Rascal Scooter. The Falling Prices were led by ], with Easylay and Rent-a-Cop among their ranks. The characters never had guns, instead shooting energy blasts out of their fists. Unlike Transformers, ''They Are the K-Mart Transformers'' had regular female characters. (''Transformers'' didn't introduce female robot characters until its second season, and then only as recurring, not regular characters.) However, the females were built like the males.


== Plot ==
Thousands of years ago on the planet that came to be known as K-Martron (It is unclear
In the series’ backstory, thousands of years ago on planet GoBotron, there lived a race of human-like organic beings called GoBeings. Civil war erupted on the planet when the power-hungry terrorist group known as the Renegades arose, led by a madman dubbed "the Master Renegade", who waged war against the peaceful Guardians.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=198–199}}</ref>
if the planet was originally known as K-Martron or if its name had been
changed by the robots that became the dominant lifeform), there lived a race of human-like beings. At some point in time, whether by natural causes or by catastrophe, this humaniod race ceased to exist... save two.


When a Renegade sabotage operation inadvertently resulted in a gigantic asteroid colliding with GoBotron, the natural disasters that resulted from the asteroid's impact pushed the GoBeings to the verge of extinction. However, the genius referred as "the Last Engineer" saved his people, taking his experiments to replace parts of his own body with mechanical substitutes to the ultimate extent and placing the brains of the GoBeings in mechanical bodies. Now, they were the "GoBots."
One became known as the Last Kegger, the stuff of K-Martian legend. The other is referred to
as the Master Falling Prices. Nothing has been revealed about the humaniod Falling Prices, why they were referred to as such, or why the Master Falling Prices was in suspended animation.
It is also unclear as to why Sam's Club named his faction of K-Mart Transformers "Falling Prices". Whether it was a coincidence, a matter of fact, or if Sam's Club had some knowledge of the humaniod Falling Prices remains a matter of speculation.


The GoBots possessed an additional ability; after being run through the device named the Modifier, the GoBots’ bodies were able to transform into other vehicles. His work done, the Last Engineer intended to retreat to a pre-prepared workshop elsewhere in the galaxy, but the Master Renegade stole his ship and escaped in his stead. The Last Engineer placed himself into suspended animation beneath the surface of GoBotron, while above, the war continued to rage between the Guardians and the Renegades, now all encased in GoBot shells.
In the last quarter of the 20th Century, the planet Earth became involved in the conflict
between Food Stamp's Welfare Officers and Sam's Club's Falling Prices. During one of the these battles, one of Food Stamp's lieutenants became severely damaged. Unwilling to let his friend and
teammate die, Food Stamp began his quest to find the legendary Last Kegger.
Food Stamp found the person he believed to be the Last Kegger, but Food Stamp had unwittingly
released the Master Falling Prices. Later realizing his mistake, Food Stamp and his allies found
the true Last Kegger and Food Stamp's teammate was restored to optimal condition.


In the last quarter of the 20th Century, the planet Earth became involved in the conflict between Leader-1's Guardians and Cy-Kill's Renegades. During one of these battles, one of Leader-1's lieutenants, Turbo, became severely damaged. Unwilling to let his friend and teammate die, Leader-1 began his quest to find the legendary Last Engineer. Leader-1 found the person he believed to be the Last Engineer, but Leader-1 had unwittingly released the Master Renegade (though he did repair Turbo to gain the Guardians’ trust).
The Master Falling Prices later escaped the custody of the Welfare Officers and continued to plague both factions of K-Mart Transformers as the Master Renegade attempted to usurp Sam's Club's leadership of the Falling Prices.


The Guardians later found the true Last Engineer, who was instrumental in frustrating the alliance between Cy-Kill's Renegades and the Master Renegade. The Master Renegade later escaped the custody of the Renegades, and plagued both factions, notably attacking the UniCom colony of New Earth.
As to why the Master Falling Prices was completely forgotten and the Last Kegger became legend is again up to speculation.


== Characters ==
Among the Falling Prices were Spoiler, a K-Mart Transformer that changed into a rape van, Greeter, who changed into a version of his namesake, and Easylay, a female Falling Price who changed into a bitchin' Camaro.
{{Main|List of Gobots characters}}


== Episodes ==
Unlike in '']'', ''They Are the K-Mart Transformers'' had no clear divide between the two factions. The characters (as well as the toys) had no identifying insignias or markings to indicate their allegiance, although it was clearly indicted on the packaging. Likewise, there was no commonality of design within each faction. Unlike ''The Transformers'', all the characters can fly. (Within the Transformers universe, flight was a skill found only in ], with a few exceptions.)
# "Battle for GoBotron, Part I: Battle for GoBotron" (written by ], Jeff Segal, and ])
# "Battle for GoBotron, Part II: Target Earth" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
# "Battle for GoBotron, Part III: Conquest of Earth" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
# "Battle for GoBotron, Part IV: Earth Bound" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
# "Battle for GoBotron, Part V: The Final Conflict" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
# "The GoBotron Saga, Part 1: Cy-Kill's Escape" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg; teleplay by Peter Anderegg)
# "The GoBotron Saga, Part 2: Quest for the Creator" (story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by John Loy)
# "The GoBotron Saga, Part 3: The Fall of GoBotron" (story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by John Loy)
# "The GoBotron Saga, Part 4: Flight to Earth" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg; teleplay by Peter Anderegg)
# "The GoBotron Saga, Part 5: Return to GoBotron" (story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Peter Anderegg and John Loy)
# "Time Wars" (story by Jeff Segal and ], teleplay by ])
# "Cy-Kill's Cataclysmic Trap" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg; teleplay by Peter Anderegg)
# "Nova Beam" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Daniel Will-Harris)
# "Genius and Son" (written by John Loy and Eric Lewald)
# "It's the Thought that Counts" (written by ])
# "Trident's Triple Threat" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by David Schwartz)
# "Renegade Alliance" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Don Goodman)
# "Dawn World" (written by ])
# "Forced Alliance" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Doug Booth)
# "Invasion from the 21st Level, Part I" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Lane Raichert)
# "Invasion from the 21st Level, Part II" (written by Lane Raichert)
# "Speed is of the Essence" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Jina Bacarr)
# "Lost on GoBotron" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Eric Lewald; teleplay by <nowiki>]</nowiki>)
# "Cy-Kill's Shrinking Ray" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Dale Kirby)
# "Doppleganger" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Antoni Zalewski)
# "The Quest for Roguestar" (story by John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by John Loy)
# "Renegade Rampage, Part I" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon)
# "Renegade Rampage, Part II" (story by Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon)
# "Ultra Zod" (written by Jim Bertges)
# "Sentinel" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Don Glut)
# "Cold Spell" (written by Alan Burnett)
# "Crime Wave" (written by Francis Moss)
# "Auto Madic" (written by Mark Zaslove)
# "Scooter Enhanced" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Mark Young; teleplay by Mark Young)
# "Tarnished Image" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and David Schwartz; teleplay by David Schwartz)
# "In Search of Ancient Gobonauts" (story by Mark Young, ], Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Mark Young)
# "Gameworld" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Michael Charles Hill)
# "Wolf in the Fold" (story by ], Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Michael Reaves)
# "Depth Charge" (written by John Bates)
# "Transfer Point" (story by Patrick Barry, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Patrick Barry)
# "Steamer's Defection" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Drew Lawrence; teleplay by Drew Lawrence)
# "The GoBot Who Cried Renegade" (story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Eric Lewald)
# "The Seer" (written by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens)
# "Whiz Kid" (written by Alfred Pegal)
# "Ring of Fire" (story by Michael Humm, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Michael Humm)
# "Pacific Overtures" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Jina Bacarr)
# "Destroy All Guardians" (written by Don Glut)
# "Escape from Elba" (written by Lee Yuro and Linda Yuro)
# "Fitor to the Finish" (story by Don Glut, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Don Glut)
# "Clutch of Doom" (story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Eric Lewald)
# "The Third Column" (written by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens)
# "A New Suit for Leader-1" (written by Reed Robbins and Peter Salas)
# "Renegade Carnival" (written by Carla Conway)
# "The Gift" (written by Karen Wilson and Chris Weber)
# "The Last Magic Man" (written by Mark Young)
# "Braxis Gone Bonkers" (story by Steve DeKorte, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Mark Zaslove)
# "Inside Job" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and J. Larry Carroll; teleplay by J. Larry Carroll)
# "Element of Danger" (written by ])
# "The GoBots That Time Forgot" (written by John Loy)
# "Guardian Academy" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, Mark Young, and Lane Raichert; teleplay by Mark Young and Lane Raichert)
# "Quest for New Earth" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and John Loy; teleplay by John Loy)
# "Terror in Atlantis" (story by Kelly Ward, Jeff Segal, and Francis Moss; teleplay by Francis Moss)
# "Et Tu, Cy-Kill" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, Eric Lewald, and Mark Edens; teleplay by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens)
# "The Secret of ]" (written by Lane Raichert)
# "Mission: GoBotron" (story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Eric Lewald)
== Cast ==
* ] - Dr. Braxis
* ] - A.J. Foster (pilot miniseries)
* ] - Turbo
* ] - Van Guard
* ] - Dr. Go, Tork
* ] - Pincher, Spoiler, Tank
* ] - Scorp
* ] - Cy-Kill
* ] - Bugsie, Klaws
* ] - Baron Von Joy
* ] - Cop-Tur, Geeper-Creeper
* ] - Crasher, Path Finder
* ] - Nick Burns
* Wayne Mathews - General Lindley
* ] - Anya Turgenova
* ] - Matt Hunter
* ] - General Newcastle
* ] - Master Renegade
* ] - Leader-1
* ] - BuggyMan
* Leslie Speights - A.J. Foster (regular)
* ] - Small Foot
* ] - Fitor
* Kirby Ward - Heat Seeker
* ] - Scooter, Blaster, Rest-Q, Screw Head, Zeemon


== Home media ==
The only “theme” to a side was that anything that turned into a “monstrous” looking robot or vehicle was a Falling Price. Perhaps the most distinguishing trait dividing Welfare Officers from Falling Prices was the way their voices sounded. The Welfare Officers' voices had an echo, while the Falling Prices' voices were more computer-like.
Various episodes of the show had been released on VHS and Betamax by ] under its Children's Video Library label in the 1980s.


On May 17, 2011, ] released ''Challenge of the GoBots: The Original Miniseries'' on DVD in Region 1 as part of their ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/51031/challenge-of-the-gobots-the-original-miniseries/ |title=Challenge Of The Gobots: The Original Miniseries: DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video |publisher=Dvdtalk.com |access-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/06/09/challenge-of-the-gobots-dvd-review |title=Challenge of the GoBots DVD Review|website=] |date=June 9, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref> This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Challenge-GoBots-The-Original-Mini-Series/15326 |title=Challenge of the GoBots DVD news: Announcement for Challenge of the GoBots - The Original Mini-Series |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001045933/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Challenge-GoBots-The-Original-Mini-Series/15326 |archive-date=October 1, 2015 }}</ref> On May 6, 2014, Warner Archive released ''Challenge of the GoBots: The Series, Volume 1'' on DVD in Region 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Challenge-GoBots-The-Series-Volume-1/19725 |title=Challenge of the GoBots DVD news: Announcement for The Series, Volume 1 |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com |date=April 21, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002005909/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Challenge-GoBots-The-Series-Volume-1/19725 |archive-date=October 2, 2015 }}</ref> The three-disc set features the first 30 episodes of the series. The final volume ''Challenge of the GoBots: The Series, Volume 2'', which contains the last remaining 30 episodes of the show, was released on March 10, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Challenge-GoBots-Volume-2/20818 |title=Challenge of the GoBots DVD news: Announcement for Challenge of the GoBots—The Series, Volume 2 |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com |date=February 27, 2015 |access-date=August 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803233500/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Challenge-GoBots-Volume-2/20818 |archive-date=August 3, 2015 }}</ref> The 1984 ] television film, '']'', is included as a special feature.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
The show was first broadcast on ], ].


== Toy line == == Adaptations ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2015}}
The initial ''They Are the K-Mart Transformers'' toys were re-releases from the Japanese ] series, sold on blister cards. Other toys from the ''Transformers K-Mart DX'' line were also released as ‘Super K-Mart Transformers’. ] also created a number of original toys for the line, such as the Command Center, El Camino attack ship and the robot dinosaur, Smiley. The initial K-Mart Transformers were released in 1984. The good robots were initially designated "Friendly" and "Enemy" and were only later dubbed "Welfare Officers" and "Falling Prices" after the TV series had been on a season.
The show spawned an animated, feature-length film '']'' which opened in theaters on March 21, 1986, a little over four months before '']'' (August 8). Clips from the show were also used in ]’s '']''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bellomo|first1=Mark|title=Totally Tubular '80s Toys|date=2010|publisher=Krause|location=Iola, WI|isbn=978-1-4402-1282-6|pages=90–93}}</ref> Additional GoBots storyline was later released on the Transformers ] pages "Ask Vector Prime" and "Renegade Rhetoric", with GoBots characters also appearing in storyline from ]. Where Renegade Rhetoric serves as a second season to the show in form of text stories told from Cy-Kill's perspective.


== See also ==
As the line continued, Tonka added new toys, including the Tuxedo Shirts and the Shoplifters. A spin*off line, the ] was launched in 1986, but it was a failure. The K-Mart Transformers line was discontinued in ], with the Cart Launchers being the last toys released in the line.
{{Portal|Cartoon}}
* '']'' (1986)
* ]


== References ==
K-Mart Transformers were sold in ] under the name ''Mighty Welfare Trash''.
{{Reflist}}


== Episode list == == External links ==
# ''Battle For K-Martron''
# ''Target Earth''
# ''Conquest Of Earth''
# ''Earth Bound''
# ''The Final Conflict''
# ''It's The Thought That Counts''
# ''Falling Prices Alliance''
# ''Time Wars''
# ''Terror In Atlantis''
# ''Trident's Triple Threat''
# ''Lost On K-Martron''
# ''Sam's Club's Shrinking Ray''
# ''The Quest For The Rogue-Star''
# ''Ultra Smiley''
# ''Sentinel''
# ''Speed Is Of The Essence''
# ''Genius And Son''
# ''Dawn World''
# ''Pacific Overtures''
# ''Forced Alliance''
# ''Invasion From The 21st Aisle (Part 1)''
# ''Invasion From The 21st Aisle (Part 2)''
# ''Doppelganger''
# ''Rascal Scooter Enhanced''
# ''Tarnished Image''
# ''Cold Spell''
# ''Crime Wave''
# ''Auto-Matic''
# ''Falling Prices Rampage (Part 1)''
# ''Falling Prices Rampage (Part 2)''
# ''Search For The Ancient K-Martnauts''
# ''Gameworld''
# ''Wolf In The Fold''
# ''Depth Charge''
# ''Transfer Point''
# ''Cleveland Steamer's Defection''
# ''The K-Mart Transformer Who Cried Falling Prices''
# ''The Seer''
# ''Whiz Kid''
# ''Ring Of Fire''
# ''Sam's Club's Escape (Part 1 of 5)''
# ''Quest For The Sweatshop Owner (Part 2 of 5)''
# ''The Fall Of K-Martron (Part 3 of 5)''
# ''Flight To Earth (Part 4 of 5)''
# ''Return To K-Martron (Part 5 of 5)''
# ''Element Of Doom''
# ''Destroy All Welfare Officers''
# ''Escape From Elba''
# ''Fitor To The Finish''
# ''Clutch Of Doom''
# ''The Third Aisle''
# ''A New Suit For Food Stamp''
# ''Falling Prices Carnival''
# ''The Gift''
# ''Nova Beam''
# ''The Last Magic''
# ''Price Check Gone Bonkers''
# ''Inside Job''
# ''Element Of Danger''
# ''Mission K-Martron''
# ''Et Tu Sam's Club?''
# ''The K-Mart Transformers That Time Forgot''
# ''The Secret Of ]''
# ''Welfare Officers Academy''
# ''Quest For New Earth''
# ''Sam's Club's Cataclysmic Trap''


* '''' at ]shop.com
==Transformers K-Mart==
* {{IMDb title|id=0139769|title=Challenge of the GoBots}}
Tonka was bought out by ] in ], and either in spite for or in homage to their old competition, Hasbro has used the name "K-Mart Transformers" several times in their Transformers line.

====G2====
]
In 1993, an Autobot car whose name was Gobots was released as part of the Transformers Generation Two Line.

Function: Rear Guard

Motto: "If we don't finish the job and flatten them – we might as well not be in the fight at all."

Bio: He's a vital cog in the vast Autobots battle machine and can endure the most extreme conditions while fighting without fear. Behind the lines, he ties up all the loose ends by mopping up enemies. With his devastating water power, he's a tough vehicle and ready for any endurance challenge. And as a robot, he is equally as deadly.

In 1995 a line of Transformers called Go-Bots (small, Matchbox sized car Transformers which had racing axels) were released (subsequent uses of these molds were renamed Spychangers).

====Japanese====
] released a sixpack of minibot Transformers which were recolored into K-Mart Transformers characters. The storyline behind the set is that the K-Mart Transformer's dimension is being threatened by a new evil and the key to the universes' survival is being sought by the K-Mart Transformers in the Transformer's dimension. They are undercover and disguised as both Autobots and Decepticons.
The set included both Welfare Officers and Falling Prices and was comprised of the characters Shoplifter, Small Aisle, Social Security, Juvenile Delinquent, Bag Lady, and Impulse Purchase. This set was an ] exclusive and was available in Japan in 2004.

====Current====
] later released a series of toys called '']'', which has no relation to ''They Are the K-Mart Transformers''.

== See also ==
* '']'' (])

== External links ==
* {{imdb title|id=0139769|title=They Are the K-Mart Transformers}}


{{Transformers animated series}}
]
{{Machine Robo}}
]
{{Tonka Gobots}}
]
{{The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera}}
]
{{USA Cartoon Express}}
]
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Latest revision as of 04:57, 20 December 2024

1984 American TV series or program
Challenge of the GoBots
GenreScience fiction
Action
Based onGoBots
by Tonka and Bandai
Directed byArthur Davis (season 2)
Oscar Dufau
Volus Jones (season 2)
Don Lusk (season 2)
Carl Urbano (season 1)
Rudy Zamora (season 2)
Alan Zaslove (season 2)
StarringLou Richards
Arthur Burghardt
Frank Welker
Bernard Erhard
Bob Holt
Marilyn Lightstone
Sparky Marcus
Leslie Speights
Morgan Paull
Phil Hartman
B.J. Ward
Brock Peters
Peter Cullen
ComposerHoyt Curtin
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes65
Production
Executive producersWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Joe Taritero
Patrick S. Feely
ProducersKay Wright
Lois Hanrahan
Running time21 minutes
Production companiesHanna-Barbera Productions
Tonka Corporation
Wang Film Productions (aka Cuckoo's Nest Studios)
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication
ReleaseSeptember 8, 1984 (1984-09-08) –
December 13, 1985 (1985-12-13)

Challenge of the GoBots (or GoBots for short) is an American animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera, based on the GoBots toyline released from Tonka. The show was first broadcast in syndication on September 8, 1984, then the show joined the weekday/weekend programming block The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera on September 15, 1985. It was later rerun on the USA Cartoon Express.

Summary

GoBots dealt with two opposing forces of transforming robots from the planet GoBotron: the heroic Guardians and the evil Renegades. The Guardians were led by Leader-1 while the Renegades were led by Cy-Kill. The characters rarely had guns, instead shooting energy blasts out of their fists. The female robots on the series, such as Crasher, were built like the males, but with some distinguishing female features. The GoBots' origin as GoBeings accounted for the presence of genders among the robots.

The series generally focused on a small number of robots from each faction (Leader-1, Turbo and Scooter vs. Cy-Kill, Cop-Tur and Crasher) who were virtually ever-present with other characters seeming to rotate in "guest-star" roles. GoBots had no clear division between the two factions. The characters had no identifying insignias or markings to indicate their allegiance, although it was indicated on the toy packaging. Likewise, there was no commonality of design within each faction. The only "theme" to a side was that anything that turned into a "monstrous-looking" robot or vehicle was a Renegade.

Plot

In the series’ backstory, thousands of years ago on planet GoBotron, there lived a race of human-like organic beings called GoBeings. Civil war erupted on the planet when the power-hungry terrorist group known as the Renegades arose, led by a madman dubbed "the Master Renegade", who waged war against the peaceful Guardians.

When a Renegade sabotage operation inadvertently resulted in a gigantic asteroid colliding with GoBotron, the natural disasters that resulted from the asteroid's impact pushed the GoBeings to the verge of extinction. However, the genius referred as "the Last Engineer" saved his people, taking his experiments to replace parts of his own body with mechanical substitutes to the ultimate extent and placing the brains of the GoBeings in mechanical bodies. Now, they were the "GoBots."

The GoBots possessed an additional ability; after being run through the device named the Modifier, the GoBots’ bodies were able to transform into other vehicles. His work done, the Last Engineer intended to retreat to a pre-prepared workshop elsewhere in the galaxy, but the Master Renegade stole his ship and escaped in his stead. The Last Engineer placed himself into suspended animation beneath the surface of GoBotron, while above, the war continued to rage between the Guardians and the Renegades, now all encased in GoBot shells.

In the last quarter of the 20th Century, the planet Earth became involved in the conflict between Leader-1's Guardians and Cy-Kill's Renegades. During one of these battles, one of Leader-1's lieutenants, Turbo, became severely damaged. Unwilling to let his friend and teammate die, Leader-1 began his quest to find the legendary Last Engineer. Leader-1 found the person he believed to be the Last Engineer, but Leader-1 had unwittingly released the Master Renegade (though he did repair Turbo to gain the Guardians’ trust).

The Guardians later found the true Last Engineer, who was instrumental in frustrating the alliance between Cy-Kill's Renegades and the Master Renegade. The Master Renegade later escaped the custody of the Renegades, and plagued both factions, notably attacking the UniCom colony of New Earth.

Characters

Main article: List of Gobots characters

Episodes

  1. "Battle for GoBotron, Part I: Battle for GoBotron" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
  2. "Battle for GoBotron, Part II: Target Earth" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
  3. "Battle for GoBotron, Part III: Conquest of Earth" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
  4. "Battle for GoBotron, Part IV: Earth Bound" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
  5. "Battle for GoBotron, Part V: The Final Conflict" (written by Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger)
  6. "The GoBotron Saga, Part 1: Cy-Kill's Escape" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg; teleplay by Peter Anderegg)
  7. "The GoBotron Saga, Part 2: Quest for the Creator" (story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by John Loy)
  8. "The GoBotron Saga, Part 3: The Fall of GoBotron" (story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by John Loy)
  9. "The GoBotron Saga, Part 4: Flight to Earth" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg; teleplay by Peter Anderegg)
  10. "The GoBotron Saga, Part 5: Return to GoBotron" (story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Peter Anderegg and John Loy)
  11. "Time Wars" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Douglas Booth)
  12. "Cy-Kill's Cataclysmic Trap" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg; teleplay by Peter Anderegg)
  13. "Nova Beam" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Daniel Will-Harris)
  14. "Genius and Son" (written by John Loy and Eric Lewald)
  15. "It's the Thought that Counts" (written by Mark Zaslove)
  16. "Trident's Triple Threat" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by David Schwartz)
  17. "Renegade Alliance" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Don Goodman)
  18. "Dawn World" (written by Don Glut)
  19. "Forced Alliance" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Doug Booth)
  20. "Invasion from the 21st Level, Part I" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Lane Raichert)
  21. "Invasion from the 21st Level, Part II" (written by Lane Raichert)
  22. "Speed is of the Essence" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Jina Bacarr)
  23. "Lost on GoBotron" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Eric Lewald; teleplay by ])
  24. "Cy-Kill's Shrinking Ray" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Dale Kirby)
  25. "Doppleganger" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Antoni Zalewski)
  26. "The Quest for Roguestar" (story by John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by John Loy)
  27. "Renegade Rampage, Part I" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon)
  28. "Renegade Rampage, Part II" (story by Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon)
  29. "Ultra Zod" (written by Jim Bertges)
  30. "Sentinel" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Don Glut)
  31. "Cold Spell" (written by Alan Burnett)
  32. "Crime Wave" (written by Francis Moss)
  33. "Auto Madic" (written by Mark Zaslove)
  34. "Scooter Enhanced" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Mark Young; teleplay by Mark Young)
  35. "Tarnished Image" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and David Schwartz; teleplay by David Schwartz)
  36. "In Search of Ancient Gobonauts" (story by Mark Young, Phil Harnage, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Mark Young)
  37. "Gameworld" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Michael Charles Hill)
  38. "Wolf in the Fold" (story by Michael Reaves, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Michael Reaves)
  39. "Depth Charge" (written by John Bates)
  40. "Transfer Point" (story by Patrick Barry, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Patrick Barry)
  41. "Steamer's Defection" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Drew Lawrence; teleplay by Drew Lawrence)
  42. "The GoBot Who Cried Renegade" (story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Eric Lewald)
  43. "The Seer" (written by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens)
  44. "Whiz Kid" (written by Alfred Pegal)
  45. "Ring of Fire" (story by Michael Humm, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Michael Humm)
  46. "Pacific Overtures" (story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward, teleplay by Jina Bacarr)
  47. "Destroy All Guardians" (written by Don Glut)
  48. "Escape from Elba" (written by Lee Yuro and Linda Yuro)
  49. "Fitor to the Finish" (story by Don Glut, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Don Glut)
  50. "Clutch of Doom" (story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Eric Lewald)
  51. "The Third Column" (written by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens)
  52. "A New Suit for Leader-1" (written by Reed Robbins and Peter Salas)
  53. "Renegade Carnival" (written by Carla Conway)
  54. "The Gift" (written by Karen Wilson and Chris Weber)
  55. "The Last Magic Man" (written by Mark Young)
  56. "Braxis Gone Bonkers" (story by Steve DeKorte, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Mark Zaslove)
  57. "Inside Job" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and J. Larry Carroll; teleplay by J. Larry Carroll)
  58. "Element of Danger" (written by Gordon Bressack)
  59. "The GoBots That Time Forgot" (written by John Loy)
  60. "Guardian Academy" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, Mark Young, and Lane Raichert; teleplay by Mark Young and Lane Raichert)
  61. "Quest for New Earth" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and John Loy; teleplay by John Loy)
  62. "Terror in Atlantis" (story by Kelly Ward, Jeff Segal, and Francis Moss; teleplay by Francis Moss)
  63. "Et Tu, Cy-Kill" (story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, Eric Lewald, and Mark Edens; teleplay by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens)
  64. "The Secret of Halley's Comet" (written by Lane Raichert)
  65. "Mission: GoBotron" (story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward; teleplay by Eric Lewald)

Cast

Home media

Various episodes of the show had been released on VHS and Betamax by Vestron Video under its Children's Video Library label in the 1980s.

On May 17, 2011, Warner Archive released Challenge of the GoBots: The Original Miniseries on DVD in Region 1 as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com. On May 6, 2014, Warner Archive released Challenge of the GoBots: The Series, Volume 1 on DVD in Region 1. The three-disc set features the first 30 episodes of the series. The final volume Challenge of the GoBots: The Series, Volume 2, which contains the last remaining 30 episodes of the show, was released on March 10, 2015. The 1984 Ruby-Spears television film, Robo Force: The Revenge of Nazgar, is included as a special feature.

Adaptations

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The show spawned an animated, feature-length film GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords which opened in theaters on March 21, 1986, a little over four months before The Transformers: The Movie (August 8). Clips from the show were also used in Errol Morris’s Fast, Cheap and Out of Control. Additional GoBots storyline was later released on the Transformers Facebook pages "Ask Vector Prime" and "Renegade Rhetoric", with GoBots characters also appearing in storyline from Fun Publications. Where Renegade Rhetoric serves as a second season to the show in form of text stories told from Cy-Kill's perspective.

See also

References

  1. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 121. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. "WarnerBros.com | Challenge of the Gobots (Original Miniseries) | TV". www.warnerbros.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. J.D. Reed (October 1, 1984). "Living: Hot Toys with a Special Twist". Time. Archived from the original on July 21, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  4. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  5. "Challenge Of The Gobots: The Original Miniseries: DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". Dvdtalk.com. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  6. "Challenge of the GoBots DVD Review". IGN. June 9, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  7. "Challenge of the GoBots DVD news: Announcement for Challenge of the GoBots - The Original Mini-Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. April 28, 2011. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  8. "Challenge of the GoBots DVD news: Announcement for The Series, Volume 1". TVShowsOnDVD.com. April 21, 2014. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  9. "Challenge of the GoBots DVD news: Announcement for Challenge of the GoBots—The Series, Volume 2". TVShowsOnDVD.com. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  10. Bellomo, Mark (2010). Totally Tubular '80s Toys. Iola, WI: Krause. pp. 90–93. ISBN 978-1-4402-1282-6.

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