By Larisa May
The upcoming installment of the Transformers franchise, Rise of the Beasts, is set to take place in the 1990s, expounding on the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The movie features Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz and includes a star-studded list of actors such as Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime, Pete Davidson as Mirage and Liza Koshy as Arcee.
The movie will likely highlight trends from the ‘90s, so here’s a breakdown of the top five fashion and pop culture trends from the era that we hope to see brought up in the film.
Number five is the preppy style that was often seen in hit 90s films like Clueless. Plaid mini skirts, neatly styled hair, and high-waisted jeans and slacks were a tenet of the era. This style bleed over into the early 2000s, leading to many of the Y2K trends that are being repopularized today, such as mini skirts and bright pastels and neon colors.
Ranking in at number four is Tomagatchi Pets. Many ‘90s kids will remember the struggle of trying to keep them alive during school. The digital creatures lived in colorful egg-shaped devices, and their owners would fulfill different responsibilities to keep their pets happy and healthy. While the original Tomagatchi Pets can still be purchased, the company rebranded to Tomagatchi On in 2019, with more digitized toys that can now connect to Bluetooth devices.
At number three, we have the grunge aesthetic. The ‘90s were defined by the rise in grunge styles, with baggy and distressed clothes in darker color palettes. Doc Martens were another staple of the style that often crossed over into the punk aesthetic that was also popular in the decade. Bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana influenced the culture, leading to the rise of popularity in the aesthetic.
Number two is the collectible Beanie Babies that captivated American kids in the ‘90s. The colorful stuffed animals were on many people’s wishlists, and are still collected today. People were convinced that they’d be investments for the future, but only a handful of the bean bag toys became valuable. Despite their lowered value, they’re still cute collectibles that could turn into great conversation pieces.
The number one item from the 90s we hope to see in the film is Furbies. These colorful animatronics were a staple of the era, with their different personalities and characteristics. While it’s unclear whether or not the toy was based on the creatures from the hit ‘80s movie Gremlins, they certainly bore a similarity that many found compelling. The toys saw a resurgence in the early to mid-2010s, instilling an interest in them to a new generation of kids.
Be sure to check out Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in theatres June 9 and keep an eye out for any easter eggs for your favorite ‘90s trends while watching!