Toys
Avarians
The Avarians faction in the Convertors toy line consists of elite aerial warriors allied with the heroic Defenders, specializing in bird-themed transforming robots designed for scouting and combat from the skies.[21] These figures convert from robotic birds of various types, such as owls, peacocks, parrots, and bats, emphasizing agility and precision strikes in aerial engagements.[22] Introduced in 1984 as part of the initial expansion of the Select Convertors series, the Avarians featured five main figures, each with original designs that highlighted their predatory and nocturnal capabilities.[2]
Key figures include Hoot, a transforming owl robot known for its smooth conversion between bird and humanoid modes, enabling effective night operations with enhanced vision features.[23] Rex serves as a premier hunter among the Avarians, transforming into a bird form with exceptional eyesight simulated through detailed sticker applications, allowing it to detect distant threats.[21] Feathers embodies a peacock-inspired design, converting to a robot with vibrant, multicolored plastic elements that conceal its aggressive combat functions, such as rapid strikes.[24] Calypso, modeled after a parrot, features a beak mechanism for breaching defenses in its bird mode, while Robat, an adopted bat-like figure, transforms via a multi-step process involving wing unfolding and chest reconfiguration, complete with a chromed sword accessory for melee attacks.[25]
Unique mechanics in the Avarians toys focus on simulating flight and predation, with articulated wings that provide limited posing in bird modes—such as Hoot's head and wing joints for up to 90 degrees of movement—and robot modes offering 360-degree arm rotation alongside knee and leg bends for dynamic play.[25] These transformations prioritize quick conversions, often involving folding limbs and rotating sections to mimic natural bird anatomy, distinguishing them as aerial specialists within the broader Defender alliances.[21] Accessories like Robat's interchangeable chromed sword enhance faction-specific weaponry, fitting into hand ports for simulated aerial bombings or talon grasps, though compatibility is limited to Avarian figures.[25]
The 1984 wave release positioned the Avarians as a core subgroup, with figures produced in Japan using die-cast metal and plastic for durability, typically scaling around 4 inches in bird mode to evoke realistic wingspans for play scenarios.[5] Their designs avoided combiner functions, instead emphasizing individual aerial prowess through detailed stickers and chrome accents on beaks, talons, and wings.[26]
Defenders
The Defenders faction consists of heroic robots created by Earth's Central Computer to serve as the primary defense against interstellar invaders, transforming into various vehicles to blend into everyday environments until danger activates their combat modes.[27] These protagonists primarily convert into ground and aerial vehicles such as jeeps, tanks, helicopters, trains, and aquatic craft, enabling versatile patrols across land, sea, air, and rail networks to protect the planet.[27]
Key figures in the Defenders include Wheels, a rugged and swift jeep that transforms into a robot capable of navigating rough terrain to detect hidden threats undetected by central systems; Tanker, a tough tank with durable treads and integrated cannons, originally designed for military training but reprogrammed for autonomous defense; and Chopper, a stealthy helicopter that flies low to evade radar while scouting for invaders.[27] Other notable members are First Track, a high-speed train safeguarding rail supply lines essential to Earth's defense infrastructure, and Neptune, a robust aquatic vehicle patrolling oceans for long-distance threats.[27]
The Defenders feature practical transformation mechanics, including sturdy die-cast components for vehicle stability during play and modular parts that allow for secure robot assembly, emphasizing defensive durability over complex reconfiguration.[27] Their core lineup, released in 1984 as part of the initial waves, comprised around six to eight figures, with variants like army-colored editions enhancing thematic play options; larger "Super Defenders" variants, such as D.A. Tona (a high-speed race car) and Monty Carlo, expanded the roster in subsequent releases, often including trading cards for added collectibility.[9] Accessories typically involve removable weapons like rifles and launchers that attach to vehicle modes for simulated defensive scenarios, promoting strategic assembly on weapon racks during battles.[27]
The Defenders occasionally form alliances with sub-factions like the Avarians for coordinated aerial support in broader defensive operations.[27]
Insectors
The Insectors represent a subfaction of insect-themed transforming robots within the evil Maladroid alliance in the Select Convertors toy line, designed as ground assault units that convert into various arthropods such as beetles, scorpions, and other crawling insects to serve as foot soldiers in battles against the heroic Defenders and their Avarian allies.[28] These figures emphasize horde-style play, with durable plastic construction allowing for rough terrain simulations and swarm tactics in play scenarios.
Key Insectors include Crawler, which transforms from a tank-like robot mode to a rhinoceros beetle with multi-leg articulation for enhanced mobility, and Tenticus, a multi-segmented figure that shifts into a centipede-inspired insect form capable of coiling attacks.[29][30] Other notable examples are Scorpio, converting to a scorpion with a stinging tail weapon, and Morphus, a morphing mantis-like bot focused on close-quarters combat. These designs feature poseable limbs and insectoid details to differentiate them from vehicle-based converters in other factions.[28]
A distinctive mechanic of the Insectors is their detachable segments, such as interchangeable legs and body parts, enabling "swarm" disassembly where individual figures can break apart and reassemble into larger combined forms or scatter for tactical repositioning during play.[31] This feature promotes creative horde-building, allowing children to simulate insect swarms overwhelming enemies.
The Insectors were released in 1985 as a mid-line addition to the Convertors series, comprising five core figures—Crawler, Tenticus, Morphus, Scorpio, and Creeper—often sold in three-packs or individually, alongside the Avarians vs. Insectors infestation playset that included modular terrain pieces for burrow and web-based battles.[29][5]
Accessories for Insectors typically include web launchers for Scorpio to fire sticky projectiles, detachable burrow tools like drill bits for underground assault simulations on figures such as Crawler, and modular leg sets that enhance the swarm reconfiguration.[32] These elements integrate seamlessly into the Maladroid army structure, providing tools for terrain manipulation and group attacks.[28]
Maladroids
The Maladroids served as the primary antagonistic faction in the Convertors toy line, introduced as invading robots bent on conquering Earth and opposed by the heroic Defenders. Released by Select in late 1984, these figures were rebranded versions of molds originally produced by the Japanese company Mark, drawing from Takatoku's designs in the Macross and Orguss anime series. Unlike later factions, the Maladroids emphasized aerial assault themes, transforming from humanoid robots into fighter jets or battroid mecha configurations, with their packaging branding them as the "Enemy of the Earth."[33][15]
Key figures in the Maladroid lineup included Sunyak, the faction leader whose sole directive was the destruction of Earth, available in a distinctive red color scheme and based on a Macross-inspired jet transformer. Other prominent members were Nofka, a black-colored mercenary figure modeled after the SDF-1 fortress design, known for its unreliable combat style in the provided backstory; Zardak, a bulky and powerful unit aimed at eradicating humans, derived from an Orguss orgroid mold; and Zark, its red-hued "brother" figure, depicted as violently unpredictable and willing to annihilate any obstacle. Additional smaller-scale warriors like Meeshak, Mooriah, Turak, and Volcan were portrayed as swift, surface-traveling weapons with deceptively cute appearances masking their ruthless nature, all utilizing super-deformed styling for compact play.[33][34]
The Maladroids featured unique play mechanics centered on motorized transformation and aerial combat simulation. The Mini Motorized sub-line, comprising super-deformed versions of the original three Macross Valkyrie molds (with the Macross emblem removed), incorporated friction motors for rolling jet modes, enabling dynamic push-along action that transitioned to robot forms. Standard-sized figures offered manual transformations into larger jet or mecha modes, with some recolors introduced by Select to differentiate from original Japanese releases; these emphasized durability in plastic construction without die-cast elements. No combiner mechanisms were present, but the faction's seven core figures could be arrayed for group assault scenarios, reflecting their role as a cohesive invading force. The line was limited to the 1984 wave, with approximately four motorized variants produced, before being succeeded by the Insectors in 1985.[33][15]
Accessories for Maladroids were minimal but enhanced villainous play, including small laser guns and missile launchers that attached to jet modes for simulated attacks, as seen with figures like Zark and Nofka. Some sets incorporated drone-like controllers or pod accessories to represent command over subordinate units, such as the later Insectors swarm troops, allowing children to stage hierarchical invasion narratives. These elements underscored the Maladroids' position as elite overlords directing broader forces toward planetary domination.[33][22]
New Spies
The New Spies faction in the Convertors toy line featured transforming robots themed around espionage and infiltration, converting into civilian gadgets and objects to enable covert operations in play. These neutral figures were designed to be versatile, allying with either the Defenders or Maladroids for scenarios involving surveillance, deception, and intelligence gathering, distinguishing them from more overtly combative subgroups.[35]
Prominent figures included Focus, which transformed from a camera into a spy robot complete with hidden compartments for storing messages or tools, and Cassette, converting from a cassette player to a robot equipped for eavesdropping simulations. Additional key toys were Bandit, a slot machine that became a robot with interactive crank mechanics, and Vegas, shifting from a roulette wheel to a robot form, all emphasizing subtle disguise over direct confrontation.[35][36][37]
Unique play mechanics highlighted the faction's stealth focus, such as working interactive elements—including cranks and flippers on casino-themed figures—that allowed children to simulate gadget activation during transformations. Designs incorporated reversible panels for rapid mode switches, enhancing disguise play, alongside built-in surveillance features like Cassette's recording-inspired tape mechanism and Focus's lens-based viewing tools akin to periscopes.[35]
Released in 1984 as a late addition to the initial Convertors waves, the New Spies lineup comprised four core figures—Bandit, Cash, Tilt, and Vegas—often bundled with a stealth base to support hidden outpost scenarios in games. Accessories such as detachable message pods and small cloaking panels were included with select figures to facilitate role-play espionage missions, like passing intel or activating stealth modes.[38][39]