Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)

Transformers: Rescue Bots

Type	Action figure
Company	Hasbro/Takara-Tomy
Country	United States/Japan
Availability	2011–present
Official website

This is a page listing the various transforming action figures, playsets, and the original storybooks in the Transformers: Rescue Bots franchise.

History

The "Transformers Rescue Bots Playskool Heroes" toy line consisting of human allies, playsets, and the Rescue Bots ^[1] were released in August 2011.

The original 2011 Rescue Bots toy line consisted of six transforming rescue vehicle toys and six racially diverse human allies (most of whom never appeared in the later animated television show, but originally were supposed to^[2]) with smaller rescue ride-on vehicles that changed into rescue tools for the Rescue Bots, in addition to four play sets which were supported by 4 storybooks telling the origin of the team. The second 2012 (Extended) line added 2 more Rescue Bot characters and more Rescue Heroes with rescue tools, neither of which were supported by the original story books or the later cartoon series, but were given human partners on their packaging and collector cards. The third 2013 (Energize) line was made more show accurate to the cartoon by changing the paint and plastic colors as well as the symbols. The line included alternate Energon-empowered versions of the line's original six Transformers characters as well as Energon tools. The fourth 2014 (Roar and Rescue) line transformed the Rescue Bots in to tiny (except for Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, which were a new Rescan sized) Dinobots with much thinner plastic. The fifth early 2015 (Rescan) line had new 2/3 smaller robot and vehicle modes for each Rescue Bot and continued with thinner plastic like the Roar and Rescue lines. The sixth late 2015 line were Rescan sized but the Rescue Bots returned to their original alternate forms in new smaller molds. Large electronic non-transforming versions of some Rescue Bots were also made of most of these various lines.

Story books

Transformers: Rescue Bots

Author	Greg Sepelak, Trent Troop
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Children’s Literature
Publisher	Bull-Pen Studio
Published	2011
Media type	print (paperback)

Transformers: Rescue Bots storybooks were included as a bonus with the larger of Rescue Bots toys and playsets released in 2011. The 4 volumes are numbered #0-#3. They were produced earlier and independent from the later released cartoon. The books are more child-friendly ^[3] and do not follow the same continuity. In this continuity Heatwave is dutiful, Blades is accident-prone but a show-off, Boulder is a simple but effective robot of few words, and Chase is very self-centered and constantly underestimates Boulder.^[4] The toy-accurate art ^[5] for the storybooks was provided by Bull-Pen Studio.^[6]

Rescue Bots Roll Out

In this story, labeled Volume 0, given out free at BotCon 2011 and sold separately at Toys 'R' Us, Heatwave the Fire-Bot, Chase the Police-Bot, Blades the Copter-Bot and Boulder the Construction-Bot work together as a highly trained rescue team on Cybertron who are called to Earth by Optimus Prime the Leader-Bot. Once they arrive, Prime explains that humans aren't used to seeing giant alien robots, the Rescue Bots will have to take on disguises based on their vehicles to avoid scaring anybody. The Rescue Bots head out to Griffin Rock to meet Chief Charlie Burns and Sparkplug, They have daring rescues on the way in their alternate modes. Optimus Prime tells them he is busy with his team on Earth but will be checking in on them from time to time.

Rescue Bots Prime Alert

This book, labeled Volume 1, which comes with the Electronic Prime Fire Station Playset, introduces Heatwave the Fire-bot, Chief Charlie Burns, his son the Fireman, Cody Burns, and the Fire Station dog, Sparkplug. Chief Charlie Burns assigns training to Heatwave and assigns cleaning tasks to Cody Burns. Cody and Heatwave save the day and Cody learns that his new firetruck is actually a Cybertronian Transformer robot and joins the Rescue Bot team when he meets and offered a spot from Optimus Prime the Leader-Bot.

Rescue Bots Respond

In this story, labeled Volume 2, which comes with the Giant Electronic Heatwave the Fire-Bot non-transforming figure, Heatwave and Cody wait for a new Rescue Bot, Blades the Copter-Bot, to arrive at Prime Fire Station. Once he arrives Chief Charlie Burns sends them to fight a fire where Blades' partner Sawyer Storm is already on the scene rescuing people. Heatwave thinks that Blades is arrogant and a show-off, but Blades shows that he is a true hero. Optimus Prime congratulates Blades and Sawyer Storm for a job well done in helping rescue people while Cody and Heatwave put out the fire.

Rescue Bots Rapid Rescue

This book, labeled Volume 3, which comes with the Giant Electronic Chase the Police-Bot non-transforming figure, tells of when Boulder and Chase were heading towards Prime Fire Station and saved a construction worker, Walker Cleveland, and a police officer, "Hunter" Jack Tracker. Chase the Police-Bot thinks he is the smarter Rescue Bot, but is surprised when the slow and very simple-minded Boulder the Construction-Bot drive finds quick and direct simple solutions to problems since he alternate mode allows him to always travel in a straight line. In this story their future human-partners, especially Hunter, help direct the rescue. The two Rescue Bots arrive at Prime Fire Station, where they report to Chief Charlie and Optimus Prime, and the two humans agree to join the team.

Original Rescue Bots lines

These Rescue Bots came with a standard red, silver, or white Autobot insignia rather than the stylized Rescue Bot Autobot symbol that starts to appear in the Extended Rescue Bot Lines.

Rescue Bots transforming figures

These figures came with a detachable collector card that showed the Rescue Bot with their designated human partner.

• Optimus Prime the Leader-Bot (transforms into a red and blue semi-trailer truck)
• Bumblebee the Autobot (transforms into a yellow and black sports car)
• Heatwave the Fire-Bot (transforms into a red and grey firetruck)
• Chase the Police-Bot (transforms into a black and white police car)
• Boulder the Construction-Bot (transforms into a green and silver bulldozer)
• Blades the Copter-Bot (transforms into an orange and grey helicopter)

Rescue Bots human partners with transforming rescue tools figures

The human partners' one-person rescue vehicles transform in to functioning rescue tools that both the Giant Electronic as well as the standard size Rescue Bots figures can wield in their hands.

• Axel Frazier with Microcopter (Bumblebee's African-American partner)
• Adult Cody Burns with Rescue Hose (Heatwave's European-American partner)
• Chief Charlie Burns with Rescue Cutter (Optimus Prime's & Hoist's European-American partner)
• Sawyer Storm with Rescue Winch (Blades' & Medix' African-American partner)
• Billy Blastoff with Rescue Jet Pack (Chase's Asian-American partner)
• Walker Cleveland with Rescue Saw (Boulder's Latino-American partner)

Giant Electronic Rescue Bots figures

The giant electronic figures are much larger scale than the regular lines, but are made to scale and interact with the Rescue Bots' human partners via 5mm pegs on the Rescue Bots.

• Electronic Chase the Police-Bot with "Hunter" Jack Tracker (non-transforming robot comes with Rescue Bots Respond storybook)
• Electronic Heatwave the Fire-Bot with Cody Burns (non-transforming robot comes with Rescue Bots Rapid Rescue storybook)

Rescue Bots playsets

The play sets are created for the regular sized Rescue Bot lines and their human partners. Rescue Bots who come with these play sets are able to be flipped up to transform in to robots. In their alternate vehicle mode they can fit 1 or 2 human partners.

• Fire Station Prime / Prime Fire Station with Heatwave the Fire-Bot and Cody Burns (transforming play set comes with Rescue Bots Prime Alert story book)
• Bumblebee Rescue Garage with Bumblebee the Autobot and Axel Frazier (transforming play set)

Extended Rescue Bots lines

The Extended Rescue Bot Line came with a new stylized red Rescue Bot Autobot insignia rather than the standard Autobot symbol.^[7]

Rescue Bots transforming figures

These figures came with a detachable collector card that showed the Rescue Bot with their designated human partner.

• Medix the Doc-Bot (transforms into a white and orange ambulance)
• Hoist the Tow-Bot (transforms into a light blue and neon green tow truck)
• Heatwave the Fire-Bot (redeco of Medix with a new head and a yellow, red, and grey body, transforms into a fire rescue rig ambulance) ^[8]
• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot (redeco of Hoist with a new head and a red, dark blue, silver, and yellow body, transforms into a tow-truck) ^[9]

Rescue Bots human partners with transforming rescue tools figures

The human partners' one-person rescue vehicles transform in to functioning rescue tools that both the Giant Electronic as well as the standard size Rescue Bots figures can wield in their hands.

• "Hunter" Jack Tracker with Rescue Jet Pack (Chase's Australian-American partner)
• Cody Burns with Rescue Axe (Heatwave's now African-American partner)
• Walker Cleveland with Rescue Jackhammer (Boulder's Latino-American partner)

Rescue Bots playsets

Rescue Bots who come with these play sets are able to be flipped up to transform in to robots. In their alternate vehicle mode they can fit 1 or 2 human partners.

• Bots and Robbers Police Headquarters with a Chase, a robber and a police officer (non-transforming play set)
• Mobile Headquarters Playset with Optimus Prime and Cody Burns (transforming play set)

Energize Rescue Bots lines

Starting with these lines, the toys started to look more like how the characters looked in the television series instead of the original storybooks. Their stylized Rescue Bot symbol and many paint applications changed to an Energon blue color and their rescue tools were now all translucent light Energon blue.

Giant Electronic Rescue Bots figures

The giant electronic figures are much larger scale than the regular lines, but are made to scale and interact with the Rescue Bots' human partners via 5mm pegs on the Rescue Bots.

• Bumblebee the Autobot with Spinning Drill (non-transforming robot)
• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot with Spinning Saw (non-transforming robot)

Rescue Bots transforming figures

• Heatwave the Fire-Bot (redeco of Heatwave with transparent blue arms and ladder hold, comes with a translucent light blue Energon water gun)
• Chase the Police-Bot (blue redeco of Chase with transparent blue hands and legs, comes with a translucent light blue Energon shield)
• Blades the Copter-Bot (redeco of Blades with transparent blue arms, windshield, rotors, and hook winch, comes with a translucent light blue Energon hook winch)
• Boulder the Construction-Bot (redeco of Boulder with transparent blue arms, comes with a translucent light blue Energon drill)
• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot (redeco of Optimus Prime with transparent blue hands and legs, comes with a translucent light blue Energon saw)
• Bumblebee the Autobot (redeco of Bumblebee with transparent blue arms and car front section, comes with a translucent light blue Energon hook drill)

Giant Flip Changers Rescue Bots transforming figures

These Jumpstarter toys transform by pulling them back in vehicle mode and then letting them race forward. They automatically pop up and transform in to robot modes.

• Heatwave the Fire-Bot (transforms into a red and yellow firetruck)
• Chase the Police-Bot (transforms into a blue and white police car)

Rescue Bots playsets

• Optimus Prime Rescue Trailer (trailer can carry 4 original sized Rescue Bots in vehicle mode and transforms into Optimus Prime's jetpack)
• Bumblebee Rescue Repair Station (This limited edition small play set can only be used with the Rescue Bots' human partner figures)

Roar and Rescue Rescue Bots lines

Starting with this line, Hasbro started using thinner plastic and a new smaller size approximately 2/3 of the original Rescue Bots figures size. The Rescue Bot Dinobots along with Optimus Prime share their dinosaur modes with the original Dinobots from the 1984 Transformers animated series. The toys continued with the light Energon blue Rescue Bot symbol and paint apps in this line.

Giant Electronic Rescue Bots figures

The giant electronic figures are much larger scale than the regular lines, but are made to scale and interact with the Rescue Bots' human partners via 5mm pegs on the Rescue Bots.

• Optimus Primal with Rescue Drill (transforms into a red, blue, and grey Tyrannosaurus)
• Heatwave the Rescue Dino-Bot (non-transforming red, blue, and yellow Brontosaurus)

Rescue Bots transforming figures

• Bumblebee the Autobot (transforms into a yellow, black, and blue Velociraptor)
• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot (transforms into a red and blue Tyrannosaurus Rex)

Miniature Rescue Bots transforming figures

The following Rescue Dinobots were much smaller than any Rescue Bot made before. They are smaller than the Legion Class of the Transformers: Generations toys.

• Heatwave the Rescue Dinobot (transforms into a red, blue, and yellow Apatosaurus)
• Blades the Rescue Dinobot (transforms into an orange, white, and blue Pteranodon)
• Boulder the Rescue Dinobot (transforms into a green, yellow, and blue Triceratops)
• Chase the Rescue Dinobot (transforms into a blue, silver, and red Stegosaurus)

Rescue Bots human partners with non-transforming capture tools & dinosaur figure sets

• Chief Charlie Burns (Optimus Prime's and Hoist's European-American partner) with Jurassic World Dino Tracker 4X4 with Capture Cage & Raptor (Bumblebee's dinosaur mode)
• Sawyer Storm (Blades' and Medix' African-American partner) with Jurassic World Dino Tracker Copter with Capture Claw & Triceratops (Boulder's dinosaur mode)
• "Hunter" Jack Tracker (Chase's Australian-American partner) with Jurassic World Dino Tracker Capture Tool & Stegosaurus Figure (Chase's dinosaur mode)
• Walker Cleveland (Boulder's Latino-American partner) with Jurassic World Dino Tracker Capture Tool & Velociraptor Figure (Bumblebee's dinosaur mode)
• Colonel Quint Quarry (Australian-American Dinobot Hunter) with Jurassic Park Dino Tracker Capture Tool & Tyrannosaurus Rex (Optimus Prime's dinosaur mode a.k.a. Optimus Primal)

NOTE: Unlike the original human partner figure lines, these human partner figures have only articulation of one arm. Some characters have been repainted to slightly varying colors.^[10]

Rescan Rescue Bots lines

The Rescan lines included new alternate modes while continuing the new smaller size and thinner plastic of the Roar and Rescue line of Rescue Bots. The toys continued with the light Energon blue Rescue Bot symbol and paint apps in this line.

Rescue Bots transforming figures

• Heatwave the Fire-Bot (transforms into a red and yellow fire boat)
• Bumblebee the Autobot (transforms into a yellow and black racing motorcycle)
• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot (transforms into a red and blue monster truck)
• Blades the Flight-Bot (transforms into a white and orange fighter jet)
• Chase the Police-Bot (transforms into a blue sports utility vehicle)
• Boulder the Construction-Bot (transforms into a green dump truck)

Rescue Bots human partners figures

These human partners are the human partners from the Rescue Bots television show and not the human partners from the original storybooks. These were sold in various combinations including 1-packs, 2-packs, and packed with small rubber versions of the various Rescue Bots, vehicles, or robots and unlike the original human partner figures, these human partner figures have no articulation.

• Chief Charlie Burns the Police Chief (Chase's European-American partner)
• Cody Burns the Headquarters Operator (Optimus Prime's & Salvage's European-American partner)
• Kade Burns the Fireman (Heatwave's European-American partner)
• Dani Burns the Rescue Pilot (Blades' European-American partner)
• Graham Burns the Engineer (Boulder's European-American partner)
• Rescue Boy (European-American alter ego of young Cody Burns and occasionally Frankie Greene)
• Doctor "Doc" Ezra Greene the Good Scientist (African-American friend of the Rescue Bots)
• Francine "Frankie" Greene the Child Genius (African-American friend of the Rescue Bots)
• Doctor Thaddeus Morocco the Evil Scientist (European-American enemy of the Rescue Bots)

New Mold Rescue Bots line

These Autobots, Rescue Bots, and Cadets share their smaller size and thinner plastic with the Rescan Rescue Bots line and are all new molds of previous forms. They also have less paint applications and come in an all new Playskool Heroes packaging scheme. The toys discontinued the light Energon blue Rescue Bot symbol and paint apps in this line and returned them to being colors that matched the toys' other paint apps whenever the symbol was actually painted.

Rescue Bots transforming figures

• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot (transforms into a red and blue semi-trailer truck)
• Salvage the Cadet (transforms into a neon yellow, indigo, and orange garbage truck)
• Blurr the Cadet (transforms into a purple, neon green, and white F1 style racecar)
• Chase the Police-Bot (transforms into a blue and white police car)
• Blades the Flight-Bot (transforms into an white, orange, and blue helicopter)
• Bumblebee the Autobot (transforms into a yellow and black sports car)
• Boulder the Construction-Bot (transforms into a green and silver bulldozer)

NOTE: Salvage was previously announced as Rubble the Haul-Bot.^[11]

Rescue Bots Titan figures

These figures are non-transforming robots that can have 1-2 human partners placed inside their chest cavities.

• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot
• Heatwave the Fire-Bot
• Chase the Police-Bot
• Blades the Flight-Bot
• Boulder the Construction-Bot
• Salvage the Cadet
• Blurr the Cadet
• High Tide the Brainmaster
• Bumblebee the Autobot

Rescue Bots Giant transforming figures

These are transforming new alternate and robot molds in the Giant Electronic figure size.

• Elite Rescue Heatwave (transforms into a red firetruck)
• Deep Water Rescue High Tide (transforming robot does not include nor does it work with the Brainmaster module from the High Tide Playset)
• Optimus Prime (transforming robot is a red, silver, and blue repaint of the robot that came with the Energize Rescue Trailer)

NOTE: Both Optimus Prime and Heatwave are able to pull the Rescue Bots Prime Rescue Trailer playset from the Energon lines.

Rescue Bots human partners figures' tools & vehicles

These tools and vehicles of the human partners were sold packed with the human partners or small 2-3 inch high rubber versions of the various Rescue Bots.

• T-Rex the Robotic Dinosaur
• Morbot the Evil Transformer
• Scrapmaster the Garbage Disposal Machine
• Tunnel Rescue Drill Set
• Shark Sub Capture Set

Rescue Bots playsets

• High Tide Rescue Rig (Robot captain Brainmaster transforms into a blue, orange and grey mini-submarine)

NOTE: This limited edition small play set can only be used with the Rescue Bots' human partner figures.

Minicon Play Model Rescue Bots line

These figures have Minicon ports for connecting Minicons to the figures to create a new play model.

Rescue Bots transforming figures

• Boulder the Construction-Bot (transforms into a green and silver bulldozer)
• Medix the Doc-Bot (transforms into a white, green, red, and orange ambulance)
• High Tide the Brainmaster (Transforms into a blue and yellow submarine)
• Hoist the Tow-Bot (transforms into blue, green, and silver towtruck)
• Quickshadow the Femme-Bot (Transforms into a silver and blue sportscar)
• Morbot the Minion-Bot (Transforms into a silver, purple, and red F1 racecar)
• Sideswipe the Autobot (Transforms into a red and black sportscar)
• Bumblebee the Autobot (Transforms into a yellow and black F1 racecar)
• High Tide the Brainmaster (transforms into a blue and yellow submarine)

Rescue Bots transforming figures with detachable trailers

• Hook and Ladder Heatwave the Fire-Bot with Rescue Trailer (transforms into red firetruck and Rescue Hose & Ladder)
• Capture Claw Chase the Police-Bot with Rescue Trailer (transforms into blue, yellow, and white police pickup truck and Rescue Claw)
• Optimus Prime the Leader-Bot with Mirage the Autobot (Transforms into a blue and white F1 racecar) and Race Trailer (Transforms into a red and blue semi truck and Launcher)

Rescue Bots Minicon transforming figures

• Servo the K9-Bot (Boulder's partner transforms into a yellow Rescue Drill)
• Drake the Dragon-Bot (Heatwave's partner transforms into a red Rescue Hose)
• Valor the Lion-Bot (Chase's partner transforms into a blue Rescue Claw)

Rescue Bots playsets

• Griffin Rock Police Station (Comes with figures of Chief Charlie Burns and Growl the K9-Bot Minicon who transforms into a Rescue Motorcycle)
• Griffin Rock Garage (Comes with figures of Kade Burns and Fireplug the Dalmatian K9-Bot Minicon who transforms into a Rescue Hose)
• Griffin Rock Fire Station (Comes with Kade Burns and are rideable Rescue Hose)

Playskool Mister Potato Head Rescue Bots Mixable Mashers transformable figures

These 2 inch tall Mr. Potato Head Toys came with components to transform the figure into the robot mode or the alternate mode of the character.

• Optimus Prime the Leader Bot (transforms into a red and blue semi-trailer truck)
• Bumblebee the Autobot (transforms into a yellow and black sports car)
• Grimlock the Dinobot (transforms into a grey and gold Tyrannosaurus Rex)
• Starscream the Decepticon (transforms into a white, red, and blue fighter jet)
• Heatwave the Fire-Bot (transforms into a red, blue and grey fire engine)
• Boulder the Construction-Bot (transforms into a green, black and grey bulldozer)
• Chase the Police-Bot (transforms into a blue and white police car)
• High Tide the Brainmaster (transforms into a blue and yellow submarine)

References