The Return of the Go-Bots?

It looks like Hasbro is looking to finally make use of the Gobots. The company has filed for a new Go-Bots trademark for "distribution of motion pictures, ongoing television programs" and "Toys, games and playthings, namely, toy vehicles and accessories for use therewith".

The franchise was created by Tonka in 1984 which had rushed developed the franchise to compete with the sudden success of Transformers by licensing the toy designs from Bandai (so basically the toys not good enough for Hasbro to license when developing Transformers). The franchise was acquired by Hasbro in 1991 when Tonka took on too much debt when it purchased the now defunct toy company Kenner in 1987. Since the 80s toy designs were owned by Bandai, only names from the franchise have appeared here and there in various other toy lines and Transformers toys over the years.

Even if Hasbro owned the toy designs, I don't see them bothering to re-create the 80s version of the Go-Bots in any form. I suspect this new trademark application is to create a new line of toys with a TV cartoon/commercial series. The movie aspect is just tacked on because why not, the line could be enough of a success to warrant it. I could see it as a sub-line of Transformers, maybe directed at kids but really with such a generic name more likely is it will be a completely different idea with a gimmick that has nothing to do with transforming. Thanks to Silver Knight for the link.