曾在1980年代风靡全球各地的《变形金刚》电视卡通片,所标志的是,由美国流行文化和美式品牌重新包装的日本工匠文化和代工文化的年代。《变形金刚》的前身和原型是日本玩具商Takara所生产的Diaclone可变形的玩具系列,其后被美国玩具商孩之宝(Hasbro)购买版权,借用电视卡通片连续剧,行销成为家喻户晓的玩具。在当时,当第三世界国家的家长为家里的小孩安装彩色电视追剧、购买孩之宝(Hasbro)或Takara的变形金刚玩具时,家长们在潜意识里为各自孩子所张罗和编织的,其实在相当层度上是摆脱劳力密集的经济生产模式,转型成为更具经济效益的美国品牌梦和日本代工梦。
###Japanese Toy to American Icon: The Transformers Story
The globally popular The Transformers animated series of the 1980s marked an era when Japanese craftsmanship and outsourced manufacturing were repackaged by American pop culture and brands. The toyline franchise was originated in Japan, where toy manufacturer Takara produced a series of transformable toys called Diaclone. Later, U.S. toy company Hasbro acquired the rights, rebranding the toys with the help of an animated TV series that made The Transformers a household name.
At that time, when parents in developing countries installed colour TVs for their children to watch the animated shows and bought Transformers toys from Hasbro or Takara, they were, in effect, unconsciously weaving a new future for their children. This future represented a shift away from labour-intensive production models towards the more lucrative dreams of American branding and Japanese manufacturing.
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