Animorphs

= History =

In 1999, Hasbro released a small toyline based on the popular Animorphs book series by K. A. Applegate. The line was released under the Transformers brand name, though the two franchises have no relation to each other, story-wise. Animorphs toys were stocked on shelves alongside Beast Wars Transmetal 2 toys, and their presence may explain why the Transmetal 2 series was so small (only 17 toys.)

= Fan Reaction =

For the most part, the Animorphs line was, politely speaking, poorly-received by Transformers fans, for a variety of reasons:


 * 1) The franchise was totally unrelated to the Transformers universe, and many felt that Hasbro was trying to milk the brand name by using it on the Animorphs line.
 * 2) Many found the toys themselves unsatisfactory, as the "human" modes often had animal kibble hanging off them, and many of the animal forms required separate pieces that slid over the human arms to turn them into paws or claws.

= Toys =

Animorphs toys featured a small cast of human characters that transformed into various animals. Most figures also had a third "mid-morph" mode that represented a halfway point in the morphing process. There were also 2 alien "Andalite" characters, one hero and one villain. The villain, Visser Three, was the only "bad guy" toy released during the line's run, and had 2 figures.

As the line trickled to a close, 2 of the later figures (Marco/bear and Ax/panther) became fairly rare and difficult to find. Another pair of figures (Jake/stingray and Taxxon/Battlebeast) never saw release at all, though a few fans were able to get their hands on some.

With the cancellation of the line, a series of planned animal-to-animal toys were retooled and released under the Beast Wars banner as the Mutants.

1999
Deluxe (Each Deluxe toy came packed with a small Yeerk figure, in either orange, purple, or red translucent plastic.)
 * Ax (human/panther)
 * Cassie (human/wolf)
 * Jake (human/tiger)
 * Jake (human/bear)
 * Marco (human/gorilla)
 * Marco (human/beetle)


 * Rachel (human/lion)
 * Tobias (human/hawk)

Mega
 * Ax ("Andalite"/scorpion)
 * Visser Three ("Andalite"/"inferno creature")
 * Tobias (human/hawk)

Ultra
 * Visser Three ("Andalite"/"Hork-Bajir"/"inferno creature")

Super
 * Tri-Rex
 * Cassie (human/Tyrannosaurus rex tail)
 * Jake (human/Tyrannosaurus rex head)
 * Marco (human/Tyrannosaurus rex body)

Unreleased

 * Jake (human/stingray)
 * Taxxon ("Taxxon"/"Battlebeast")