May 23, 2019 4:49 pm
Our Friends the Machines is a brand new series of toys and stories created by Boulder City local Ursula Kerr, inspired by popular toys such as Transformers and Gobots, and often satirize the naive, nationalist, pro-capitalist and violence-romancing stories offered there. Financing has been conducted through support from contributions via American companies like Ford and Chrysler. The development has taken place through a small business "startup" model where Kerr and the engineer Helen Voss have executive roles. Kerr focuses on drawings, concepts, and collaborations with other companies and organizations, while Voss focuses on the production of toy robots and the logistics side of the operation.
In the fictional world of the machines there are two main aspects of an ongoing civil war:
THE CONVOYS: The "good" robots fight for freedom, equality and human rights. The series' anti-capitalist messaging, a response to developments brought about by Reagan's administration, is not particularly subtle and in several stories they have, for example, fought alongside striking workers for union rights. The Convoys transform into civilian vehicles such as Lincoln and Ford cars, LaFrance fire trucks and Caterpillar construction vehicles. There is an extra-large robot that can turn into a factory, which is also The Convoys' home base. Their rightful leader is Ekvius Optimus, who turns into a truck with trailers.
Example Convoys:
• EKVIUS OPTIMUS - LEADER - Large carrier truck.
• FAXIMIL FANTASTIC - BASE - Large factory that can also turn into aircraft carrier.
• RED BEAM - Ford LTL- 9000, red dump truck.
• GOLDFISH - Gold Chrysler passenger car.
• HAL HELIO - Powerline passenger car, White Hult Helio Building Vehicle from 1984.
• ROTUNDA ROD - Harley Davidson FL Duo-Glide 1958 model.
• EXEKUTOR PROMO - Black Chevy Sedan.
• PAX DIRECTUS - Police car, black and white Dodge Coronet.
• SEDIMENTA - Yellow-orange excavator bucket.
• FLAK FLAME - Fire truck.
• PROTECTOR - White bicycle helmet, partly in styrofoam, but mostly in plastic (with reflectors).
• NIXUS CELCIUS - White skate with blue star on one side (high heel, pretty small).
THE DECEIVERS: The "evil" robots fighting for the supremacy of the strong, exploiting both natural resources and the working class. Likewise, the symbolism here is not particularly subtle. The Deceivers transform mainly into expensive luxury cars, fighter aircraft, tanks, oil vessels and bombs. The Deceivers’ home base is an oil platform that can also turn into a bigger robot. They are led by the ruthless Megaton Prime, turning into a great futuristic cannon.
Example Deceivers:
• MEGATON PRIME - LEADER - Futuristic cannon with triple toy lasers.
• ALTER EGO - BASE - Huge oil platform that can be turned into a mechanical spindle.
• AMFITRAX - M2 Bradley (Military).
• EX ATOMA - DARPA - atomic bomb stamped with an orange warning symbol.
• SHARP - F15 Eagle.
• POLARIS SEPTUS - Black snowmobile with toy laser.
• AGITATOR POP - White popcorn machine with orange plastic lid, red on the inside.
• MICRONUS - White microwave with rotating plate and lockable door (a bit too small).
• AUTOMATA NIL - Red nail gun.
• INFINITE AUX - Black CD player with working sledge and display.
• WRECKAMAX - Equipped with a crane and wrecking ball.
• VERTIKAMP KRUX - Military helicopter, model Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
The buzz surrounding the line of toys, which launch tomorrow, is expected - the line's debut was, after all, preceded by a massive campaign with interviews in the newspapers and flooded with advertisements in the toy catalogs everywhere. Since it's a local trial launch, the focus has also been that this is a unique honor for Boulder City and its surroundings - the little town will be the first to see the new toys!
In the fictional world of the machines there are two main aspects of an ongoing civil war:
THE CONVOYS: The "good" robots fight for freedom, equality and human rights. The series' anti-capitalist messaging, a response to developments brought about by Reagan's administration, is not particularly subtle and in several stories they have, for example, fought alongside striking workers for union rights. The Convoys transform into civilian vehicles such as Lincoln and Ford cars, LaFrance fire trucks and Caterpillar construction vehicles. There is an extra-large robot that can turn into a factory, which is also The Convoys' home base. Their rightful leader is Ekvius Optimus, who turns into a truck with trailers.
Example Convoys:
• EKVIUS OPTIMUS - LEADER - Large carrier truck.
• FAXIMIL FANTASTIC - BASE - Large factory that can also turn into aircraft carrier.
• RED BEAM - Ford LTL- 9000, red dump truck.
• GOLDFISH - Gold Chrysler passenger car.
• HAL HELIO - Powerline passenger car, White Hult Helio Building Vehicle from 1984.
• ROTUNDA ROD - Harley Davidson FL Duo-Glide 1958 model.
• EXEKUTOR PROMO - Black Chevy Sedan.
• PAX DIRECTUS - Police car, black and white Dodge Coronet.
• SEDIMENTA - Yellow-orange excavator bucket.
• FLAK FLAME - Fire truck.
• PROTECTOR - White bicycle helmet, partly in styrofoam, but mostly in plastic (with reflectors).
• NIXUS CELCIUS - White skate with blue star on one side (high heel, pretty small).
THE DECEIVERS: The "evil" robots fighting for the supremacy of the strong, exploiting both natural resources and the working class. Likewise, the symbolism here is not particularly subtle. The Deceivers transform mainly into expensive luxury cars, fighter aircraft, tanks, oil vessels and bombs. The Deceivers’ home base is an oil platform that can also turn into a bigger robot. They are led by the ruthless Megaton Prime, turning into a great futuristic cannon.
Example Deceivers:
• MEGATON PRIME - LEADER - Futuristic cannon with triple toy lasers.
• ALTER EGO - BASE - Huge oil platform that can be turned into a mechanical spindle.
• AMFITRAX - M2 Bradley (Military).
• EX ATOMA - DARPA - atomic bomb stamped with an orange warning symbol.
• SHARP - F15 Eagle.
• POLARIS SEPTUS - Black snowmobile with toy laser.
• AGITATOR POP - White popcorn machine with orange plastic lid, red on the inside.
• MICRONUS - White microwave with rotating plate and lockable door (a bit too small).
• AUTOMATA NIL - Red nail gun.
• INFINITE AUX - Black CD player with working sledge and display.
• WRECKAMAX - Equipped with a crane and wrecking ball.
• VERTIKAMP KRUX - Military helicopter, model Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
The buzz surrounding the line of toys, which launch tomorrow, is expected - the line's debut was, after all, preceded by a massive campaign with interviews in the newspapers and flooded with advertisements in the toy catalogs everywhere. Since it's a local trial launch, the focus has also been that this is a unique honor for Boulder City and its surroundings - the little town will be the first to see the new toys!