Tobot

Tobot
Opening title card for the English dub of Tobot
Directed by	Dahl Lee
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of seasons	19
No. of episodes	392
Production
Producers	Young Toys Retrobot
Running time	22 minutes
Original release
Network	JEI TV
Release	March 2010 – March 2015

Tobot (Korean: 또봇) is a South Korean animated television series produced by Young Toys and Retrobot. The series features transforming cars - some of which are designed after Kia Motors vehicles.

The series is available in Korean and English on Young Toys' official YouTube channel. The toy line beat Lego as South Korea's most popular toy line in 2013.

An official English dub was produced in Canada by Ocean Productions and its sister studio Blue Water Studios.

A spinoff series known as Athlon aired in three seasons from 2015-2017, before getting rebooted in 2018 as Tobot V, with animation done by studio button instead of retrobot. Season 2 has been released and a new enemy has the technology to turn the Tobot’s against each other. This enemy also has new Tobot’s that rival the power of Master V

Plot

While investigating a string of mysterious car accidents, Dr. Franklin Char is abducted by the perpetrators. This incident activates his creations called "Tobots", cars that transform into robots with a special key called a "Tokey". Dr. Char's first two Tobots, Tobot X and Tobot Y, are entrusted to his twin sons Ryan and Kory, respectively, to fight crime and protect their neighborhood.

In another city, a boy named Ryan dreams of becoming a champion of the robot racing circuit. His Mom, with the help of Dr. Char, create three new Tobot’s designed for racing. The Athlons Alpha, Beta and Theata. However the current champion, Maverick, has hired Two brothers called the biker bros, to stay at the top. Later Ryan and the Athlon’s make friends with Teran, with his new Athlons, Valcun, Tornado, and Rocky, to win the Robot dodgeball tournament, and find out who is sabotaging the other teams to win it all. Finally we meet a new kid named Nathan, meets Happy Joe, a former Athlon pilot. Nathan bonds with Jango, Ambulon and Metron planning to win the off road Robot Racing Circuit, but the current Champion, the Baron, plans to make sure he stays at the Top.

Tobot V Characters- These Tobots are toys that came to life. While some have Tokeys, others have Tobeast, animals that unlock their transformations, or form their heads.

Speed- Based on a Italian race car, he stared out as a RC car. His Tokey is based an eagle. Like his name, Speed is very Fast. His finisher is moving his legs so fast, that his opponent doesn’t have time to counterattack.

Monster- Based on a Monster Truck, he started out as a toy Monster Truck. His Tokey is based on a gorilla. Monster is known for his super strength. His finisher is creating two energy fists, and then punches his opponent with a bunch of power.

Rocket- Based on a Rocket Ship, he started out as a model rocket. His Tokey is based on a owl, and he gets seen the most out of Speed and monster. Like his name, Rocket can travel through space, and to other planets. His finisher is creating a portal into space, then throws his opponent into earth’s gravity and letting them crash.

Rescue Team- These are red and white recolors of Adventure Y, R and Zero. They came from a box, so it’s likely that they were transformed from old toys. R’s Tokey is based on a fireman’s axe, Zero’s is based on a wrench and Y’s is based on a Helicopter Key. They have a team finisher, Zero will rap up the opponent with his Tow Cable, Y will lift up his landing Greaves and R will be launched into the air and spray his opponent with a huge blast of water from his cannon. They were on the moon helping Master V in the final battle.

Captian Police- Based on a Police Cruiser. Where he came from is unknown but they other Tobots already knew about him. His is the first to have a Tobeast, which is based on a German Shepard. He’s always ready to obey the law, even if the law is against him. He doesn’t have a finisher but he does have a police shotgun. He was on the moon helping Master V in the final Battle.

Great Admiral- Based on a Navy battleship. Where he came from is unknown but Captain Police already knew about him. His Tobeast is based on a Chinese Dragon. He can travel underwater, and uses a Sword and Shield in battle. His Finisher is charging his sword and slashing his opponent with Dragon shaped energy. He was on the moon helping Master V in the final battle

Tank Guy- Based on a Tank. Where he came from is unknown but Great Admiral already new about him. His Tobeast is based on a rhino and is the first to form his head. He to can travel underwater and has incredible strength. His finisher is using his tank nozzle to fire an energy blast in the shape of his Tobeast. He was on the moon helping Master V in the final battle.

Big Trail- based on a Semi Truck. Where he came from is unknown but the other Tobots already knew about him. His Tobeast is the second to form his head, and is based on a Black Bull. Big trial used Sumo Techniques to fight, but never had his own finisher. He was on the moon helping Master V in the final battle.

Troll- Based on a Military Truck. Where he came from is unknown but the other Tobots already knew about him. His Tobeast is based on a Mammoth. His overall fighting style was never shown. Instead of using actual words, he repeated his name. He, like Big Trail never had a finisher. He was on the moon helping Master V during the final battle.

Super Driller- Based on a Four Drill Machine, where he came from is unknown but he was probably created the same time as Master V. No finisher.

Power Train- Based on a bullet train. Where he came from is unknown but he was probably created the same time as Master V. No finisher.

Sonic Stealth- Based on a Stealth Bomber. Where he came from is unknown unknown but he was probably created around the same time as Master V. No Finisher.

Alpha Plus- An orange Recolor of Athlon Alpha. Unlike the other Tobots he wasn’t brought to life as a toy. In his introduction he’s revealed to be fast, but not as fast a Speed. He is however a very good fighter, specially, in boxing. When he fought Speed, the only thing Speed could do was dodge. While he’s an enemy, he is willing to help out the other Tobots whenever the Situation calls for it. He currently has no solo finisher.

Storm Joe- Based on a Police car, which is actually just his head. The rest of his body is a giant police tank. Unlike the other Tobots he’s not a toy brought to life. His head is his Tokey/Tobeast to unlock his transformation. He seems to be the opposite of Captain Police, believing that it’s okay to brake laws, a as long as justice is done. He proved this by leading the other Tobots on a wild goose chase after him, while Alpha Plus framed Captain Police for a crime he caused. His finisher is surrounding himself with energy and then flys at his opponent. He continued to frame all of the other Tobots, dwindling them until even Master V wasn’t an option. Until his head was Captured, clearing the other Tobots names.

Integrated Tobots

Great Iron Admiral- The combination of Great Admiral and Tank Guy. Great Admiral form the head, upper body, waist and legs. Tank forms the arms, hands and feet. Great Iron Admiral can wield Great Admiral’s Sword and Shield. His finisher is creating a lot of ships made out of energy, and have all of them ram into his opponent. He was the least used combination, but is getting more use in season 2.

Big Troll- The combination of Big Trail and Troll. Big Trail forms the arms, hands and head. Troll forms the feet, legs, waist and the main body. His finisher is that he summons a giant hammer that he smashes opponent. Big Troll was the most used combination until Master V came, but has started to be used more in season 2.

Master V- The combination of Speed, Monster and Rocket. Monster forms the feet, legs and waist. Speed form arms and hands. And Rocket forms the main body and head. While powerful, Master V does have a weakness. If Speed, Monster and Rocket can’t get along, Master V will break a part. When combining with Super Driller, Speed is removed while Super Driller forms the arms and hands, while put Speed on top. This gives Master V a boost in strength. Power Train combines to the bottom of the feet, this give Master V a boost in stability. Sonic Stealth combines to the back, this gives Master V a boost of speed in the sky and better aerial control. Master is currently the only Tobot that is still able to combine, even after it first combination. Master V has a lot of different finisher, it most powerful one is coating himself in fire and charges at his opponent in the shape of a phoenix. At the end of Season 1, the other Tobots lent their power to Master V, hitting his opponent in the shape of a giant energy bullet.

Grand Champion- The combination of Alpha Plus, a red drone recolor of Athlon Theta, and a dark blue drone recolor of Athlon Beta. Alpha Plus forms the head, main body and waist. The Theta drone form the shoulders, arms and hands. Beta Drone form the feet and legs. While he currently has no finisher, Grand Champion can cover his hands in energy similar to boxing gloves, and can hit his opponent with very fast Jabs and other boxing moves. He’s also as strong as Master V.

Production

Young Toys came up with the idea of developing an animated series and related toys during the early 2000s. While Transformers and Power Rangers are popular among older elementary school children, Young Toys decided to Tobot to younger primary school children and kindergarteners. Rather than obtain licenses from animation studios after production, Young Toys did the opposite by developing the animated series and characters from scratch before producing the toys.

Marketing

Between August and October 2014, Young Toys sold the licenses for the Tobot toys and characters to Southeast Asian nations. The series was made available in some Middle Eastern countries in January 2015.

In December 2014, Young Toys erected an eight-meter, three ton statue of Deltatron at the Sky Park outside Seoul's Lotte Mall Gimpo International Airport shopping complex to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Tobot. The statue will be on display until 2019.

See also

• Cubix - A 2001 TV series by the same animation studio

External links

• Tobot's official website in Young Toys