Choro-Q
From Transformers Wiki
Choro-Q is a brand of toy cars with pull-back motors owned by TakaraTomy. Unlike typical toy cars, they are not accurately-proportioned miniatures, but rather super deformed to make them cuter. They were introduced to the Japanese market in 1979, and were once sold in Western markets under the name Penny Racers, named so because many of the Choro-Q cars have slots on the back where a penny can be inserted, the weight of which causes the car to pop a wheelie when pulled back. They were an immediate hit, to the extent that after only a few years, they found their way to Takara's Micro Change line as common household objects for Microman-scale robots to be disguised as. This is the reason why the Generation 1 Autobot Mini Vehicles look completely different from the standard Autobot Cars.
For BotCon Japan 2000, three Choro-Q vehicles were redecoed as Transformers characters for the show's exclusive toys. They were the only exclusive toys for that convention, as it turned out. Ouch.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Choro-Q in 1999, Takara re-introduced their line of Choro-Q proportioned robots, called Choro-Q Robo. It rapidly grew into a multi-property brand, which Transformers joined in 2001. The Choro-Q Robo toys transform (simplistically) from full-fledged Choro-Q vehicles to their robot modes. Megatron's vehicle mode is a chibi Walther P38 that can zoom across smooth surfaces alongside your other Choro-Q toys. Seriously. In 2003 the Choro-Q Robo line was spunoff into the short-lived non-transforming Q-Robo Collection Figure series.
In 2014, as part of the Transformers 30th anniversary, two Transformers characters were released in the Nanoblock Motion Choro-Q subline, a collaboration with Nanoblock featuring buildable radio-controlled vehicles. In addition TakaraTomy launched Q-Transformers, a Transformers line inspired by Choro-Q and incorporating the same super deformed, fully licensed cars.
Contents |
Toys
BotCon Japan 2000 Choro-Q
Choro-Q Robo
- Q/01 Convoy TV Version
- Q/02 Convoy Metallic Version
- Q/03 Megatron TV Version
- Q/04 Megatron Black Version
- Q/05 Rodimus Convoy TV Version
- Q/06 Rodimus Convoy Metallic Version
Nanoblock Motion Choro-Q
Notes
- In 2002, a Transformers-themed Honda S2000 Choro-Q—the S2000 Special Marking Specification (スペシャルマーキング仕様)—was the "grand prize" of the Choro-Q Kuji (チョロＱクジ), a unique blind-packed series of cars.
