Transformers Animated Toy Review: Deluxe Class Oil Slick

Time for the blunt truth: The purpose of Transformers Animated is to promote Hasbro's Transformers toys. These toys are robots that convert into various objects from animals to vehicles. Hasbro contracted writers and animators to create a story intended to display each toy as a character and to show the audience and potential toy buyers what a cool toy each would be. If an episode of the Transformers cartoon results in many children to tell their parents, "Buy me this," then the cartoon has done its job. While the cartoon creates characters and promotes them as cool toys, what chance does a Transformers Animated toy have on retail shelves when it never had an appearance in the cartoon?

Enter Oil Slick, a Deluxe Class toy under the Transformers Animated label. He is priced at $9.99 in most retail stores. The odd thing about Oil Slick is that he is a Transformers Animated character who never appeared in the cartoon. I guess he didn't show up on time for the Transformers Animated casting call. In any case, when potential customers see him on store shelves, they are likely to pass on buying him because they never saw him in the cartoon. But I decided to give him a chance because I like reviewing Transformers toys.

Oil Slick: Vehicle Mode

Like most Deluxe Class Transformers toys, Oil Slick comes packaged in his vehicle mode. In his case, his vehicle mode is a four-wheeled motorcycle of an unknown conceptual design in various shades of green. I admit that it is an interesting design, and I mean interesting in a good way. Details on this motorcycle include two exhaust ports, saddle bags holding barrels on each side of the rear tires, gauges and a fuel cap painted on the area where gauges and fuel caps are to be expected on an actual motorcycle, handlebars, and potentially hazardous spikes littering the portion housing the front tires. The most fun feature of the figure is the sculpted goat's head in the front. Although pointless, this little decoration is simply cool to have on this toy. The four tires roll well on a textured surface and not so well on smooth surfaces. Oil Slick's vehicle mode is the true definition of "robots in disguise." You can examine the entire vehicle but it would be extremely difficult to tell that this motorcycle is also a robot. The main concern of this toy are the motorcycle handlebars. They are made out of thin, flimsy rubber and are very easy to bend, or worse, break. Aside from that, it's an amazing motorcycle toy.

Oil Slick: Attack Mode

Oil Slick's biography states how he enjoys vehicular combat and the instructions have included an Attack Mode to reflect this. To do so, flip the goat's head to the side and separate the front tire sections. The front halves will lock in place thanks to the holes an pegs on the sides. Hidden in the front tires are Oil Slick's claws, which you would flip out to complete Attack Mode. Now the motorcycle can charge into enemy vehicles and dig its claws into them. And this Attack Mode is also a convenient way to segue Oil Slick's conversion to Robot Mode.

Oil Slick: Robot Mode

To complete Oil Slick's Robot Mode from Attack Mode, grab the lower portion holding the rear wheels and pull down. Now push it back up slightly so that the parts making up the motorcycle's seat is free. Lift the panel housing the gauges up, flip the head out, and close the panel. Return your attention to the portion holding the rear wheels and pull them out. Flip the exhaust ports down, forming the feet. Now position the feet so Oil Slick can stand. Remove the barrels on the sides of his feet and shut the panels housing them. Now pose the arms and legs in any desired evil position.

Oil Slick has the same green tones dominating his body. He poses very well and looks evil as his Decepticon faction wants him to be. The goat's head on his right shoulder is an excellent touch and adds asymmetry to his body. The fingers/claws on his hands are made of the same material as his flimsy handlebars, but are slightly thicker and more durable. For accessories in Robot Mode, he has his choice between the two barrels. One barrel has a flip open lid and can be filled with liquids or tiny particles like sand. The other barrel splits in half and becomes a chain weapon. But note that the chain is made of plastic and is shorter than the chain depicted on the packaging.

In Robot or Vehicle Mode, Oil Slick is a great toy. Transformers Animated currently marks a high point in Hasbro's Transformers line. The motorcycle vehicle is well detailed and looks nothing like a robot. The robot figure poses well and looks nothing like a motorcycle aside from the handlebars on his shoulders. It's a much bigger improvement from Hasbro's previous attempts at motorcycle Transformers. It's a shame that he currently has not appeared in the cartoon. Although if a third season is greenlit, the chances of him appearing in an episode is very high.