INSECTO-BOTS

INSECTO-BOTS - REVIEW

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Insecto-Bots - Fan Art
There isn't much artwork for this toy line so I thought I'd do tribute art and share my love for the toys!
Medium: Touch Five Markers

Toy Information

Manufacturer: Chigo
Series: Insecto-Bots
Year: 1991
Toy story synopsis:
FROM THE PREHISTORIC PAST, TIME WARPED INTO OUR COSMIC FUTURE COME..... 
INSECTO-BOTS
MUTANT INSECTS THAT TURN INTO ROBOTS

Review

It's time to review the complete set of the 6 Insecto-Bots! There is other different manufacturers who released this toy line but the most common I've seen is toy company Chigo. The toy story sounds fun to imagine when looking at the set. I wouldn't be surprised the name Insecto-Bots was a inspiration and counter-part name to the popular Transformers: Generation One, Decepticons - Insecticons.

Side note: A lot of these photos I took a couple years back and retook some more to add and complete the toy review.

Packaging

Front view

They look great together in their packaging. The Insect-Bots title is dynamic and eye catching. There is fantastic toy artwork of Woolbear in robot mode on the right and Beetle in insect mode on the bottom left. I noticed my packaged versions there is no toy company logos printed on them and through researching the toys they appear the same as other releases. I've seen other toy companies either sold these in single or even 2 packs with different styled packaged designs.

Back view

The back shows the toy/characters in order. The names are basically their insect modes they are based on. They serve also as the toy instructions which aren't clear as it looks but through handling them they are basic to transform.

Bee

Woolbear

Beetle

Mantis

Mosquite

Butterfly

Toys

Insect Modes



When you display them together in insect modes, they have vibrant colour palettes and giving each member a unique distinctive look and feel while also choosing colour black to serve as their cohesive uniform team colour. They have articulation on the insect legs, wings, and heads. My favourite part of these toys is how they designed the insect wings, they have a soft rubber feel to the wings and they are coloured so wonderfully!

Robot Modes

The robot modes all have a organic/robotic look to them and the way they all transform from insect to robot modes is probably the most common part with their arms and legs flip out. They have articulation at the arms, legs, feet, heads, and wings. They also come with and can hold weapon accessories which adds more fun to the toys. Sadly for Beetle and Butterfly they can't move their arms up or down which is unfortunate because I think they have the most interesting accessories from the set!
Mosquite has a interesting design for their body, there is a large robot face covering the whole body. It makes you imagine if or was there plans for this set to combine? The concept and thought is fun!
Note all the Insecto-Bots are pretty good quality besides Mosquite who's quality is very brittle plastic, like "Gold Plastic Sydrome" prone to break easily (sadly mine has too already :( ).

Accessories

Each member comes with 2 accessories and those are either melee weapons, cannons/blasters, and shields. The way they designed them is quite interesting from what you would get from transforming robot toys. From what I can see, they have your common gun designs and the melee weapons for Woolbear has a edged axe, Beetle has a wand, Mantis has a branch/grass/leaves cutter, Butterfly a raozr/saw sword, and for their shields are shaped distinctive for them. I find these accessories compliment the toys and their story, coming from a perhaps robotic futuristic world to a primitive world, they have had to adapt to a whole new world and environment.

Stamps
Now the mysterious part of the toys is knowing who is the actual original designers and makers of the toys? Each member has Made in China printed on them as appose to a toy company's stamped logo/trademark. I have yet to find out however continue reading for more interesting facts!

Retools/Remolds Comparisons

Chigo - Insecto-Bots / Leader Shine - Fighting Animal & Invading Insect

Now this is the most interesting part I noticed straight away. These actual Insecto-Bot molds share very similar and without question used the molds and designs from the V World - Fighting Insect and Invading Insect toy line by Leader Shine. Since Insecto-Bots came out in Early 90s and Leader Shine toys came out in the 80s its clear these Insecto-Bots came after and retooled and remolded the original molds to create their own toy line series.

Bee / Queen Bee (Queen Bee)
Woolbear / Moth (Moth)
Beetle / Sting (Hornet)
Mantis / Rev (Mantis)
Mosquite / Bite (Mosquito)
Butterfly / Flutter (Buttefly)

Closing Words

In my experiences these are oddities to find and own. They have their own certain unique charm about them. Its so interesting to discover the link between them and the original molds as it is probably not known and have yet to find any official source out there about the Insecto-Bots, I've just managed to dig up and notice the designs more than anything.
I really love these toys and they fit perfectly in my collection as a toy lover, fan, and Leader Shine collector!
I hope you enjoyed the view and enjoy the toys!

Kind & Best Regards,
Robo-Synergy / John Valmeo