History Main / ProductPromotionParade

* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' has the scene where the Decepticons scattered across the world discover Megatron's location and converge on said location, which has the purpose of listing off the toys available in the movie's toyline. Even earlier when the other Autobots arrive on Earth and Optimus Prime lists off their names and attributes. At least in the Decepticons' case, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Tropes Are]] [[AvengersAssemble Not Bad]].

** The season premiere, "More Than Meets The Eye", has a scene where the Autobots prepare to confront the Decepticons at Sherman Dam. Jazz calls out each character by name, who transforms on cue, just because.
** The second-season episode "Dinobot Island Part 2" has a scene in the Ark where various (new) Autobot characters introduce themselves by successively offering to help TeenGenius Chip Chase solve the episode's NegativeSpaceWedgie.

** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'': In issue #1, after the Autobots and Decepticons have been reactivated on present-day Earth, each faction gets an oversized WallOfText panel so [[TalkingIsAFreeAction everyone can introduce himself and his powers.]] Note that [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Decepticons-product-placement-parade-large.jpg this first happens]] while the Decepticons ''were in the Autobots' base,'' and both factions had just reawakened and everyone was ''very'' vulnerable.

* Spoofed in the Chocobots strip in ''ComicBook/TheSimpsons'' comic, as seen above.

** As did the end of ''To Where and Back Again'' when the Changelings transform into bright colorful [[BuffySpeak fairy-beetle-moose]] things. It came right out of nowhere, created heaping amounts of FridgeLogic and even a PlotHole or two, [[BrokenAesop broke]] a number of [[AnAesop aesops]] in previous and later episodes, and seemed to serve no real purpose aside from putting some new designs on screen that kids would want to buy. Again, like the Breezies no toys ended up being made by them, potentially because the new designs of them were controversial at best -- even Ocellus, a new-style changeling who is a ''major character'' in the final two seasons, [[ToylessToylineCharacter never got a toy unlike the rest of the "Young Six"]] and was replaced by [[ArcVillain Cozy Glow]] in the Stack'Ems set of toys.

** The title of the third ''Strawberry Shortcake'' special (1980s version) was ''Strawberry Shortcake: Pets on Parade'', and that's what they and their owners literally do in one musical number.

* The 1990s ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' [[ActionHoggingOpening introduction]] shows each character of the main cast, their name, and their signature power. It finally ends with a MirroredConfrontationShot with the Brotherhood of Evil (so you know which toys to buy for the X-Men to fight of course!)

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' "Saturday Morning Fun Pit" episode features a segment called ''Purpleberry Pond'', which parodies this. The plot is a ''very thinly'' disguised commercial for Purpleberry cereal (interspersed with "actual" commercials ... "actual" in the sense that while they're still part of the Futurama episode, in-universe they're supposed to be commercials), and the catchphrase of the villain is "I must get my hands on those healthy purpleberries!" Note that it's only the in-universe purpleberries that are healthy. The cereal itself is implied to be pretty much pure sugar.

* The 1990s ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' [[ActionHoggingOpening introduction]] shows each character of the main cast, their name, and their signature power. It finally ends with a MirroredConfrontationShot with the Brotherhood of Evil (so you know which toys to buy for the X-Men to fight of course!)

** Spoofed as part of a larger spoof of MerchandiseDriven kids' shows, ''The Creator/{{Mattel}} and Mars Bar Quick Energy Choco-Bot Hour'' (described by a TV executive as being "barley legal"). The group's leader tells them to "put down those fun Mattel toys, we've got work to do!" This is followed by AnInsert showing the characters' hands as they place the toys very carefully on a blank background to show kids what they should ask their parents for this Christmas. This also qualifies as BitingTheHandHumor, since Mattel was the first company to make ''Simpsons'' toys.

* Spoofed in the Chocobots strip in ''ComicBook/TheSimpsons'' comic.

* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' has the scene where the Decepticons scattered across the world discover Megatron's location and converge on said location; which has the purpose of listing off the toys available in the movie's toyline. Even earlier when the other Autobots arrive on Earth and Optimus Prime lists off their names and attributes. At least in the Decepticons' case, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Tropes Are]] [[AvengersAssemble Not Bad]].

*** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' justified doing this, though, as the enemy robot continually adapted to the formation they were using so the Rangers kept switching combinations faster than it could keep up in an attempt to overload it.

** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' did this to in the pilot episode. The small cast size made this bearable.

** Spoofed as part of a larger spoof of MerchandiseDriven kids' shows, ''The Creator/{{Mattel}} and Mars Bar Quick Energy Choco-Bot Hour''. The group's leader tells them to "put down those fun Mattel toys, we've got work to do!" This is followed by AnInsert showing the characters' hands as they place the toys very carefully on a blank background to show kids what they should ask their parents for this Christmas. This also qualifies as BitingTheHandHumor, since Mattel was the first company to make ''Simpsons'' toys.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' "Saturday Morning Fun Pit" episode features a segment called Purpleberry Pond, which parodies this. The plot is a ''very thinly'' disguised commercial for Purpleberry cereal (interspersed with "actual" commercials ... "actual" in the sense that while they're still part of the Futurama episode, in-universe they're supposed to be commercials), and the catchphrase of the villain is "I must get my hands on those healthy purpleberries!" Note that it's only the in-universe purpleberries that are healthy. The cereal itself is implied to be pretty much pure sugar.

** In the episode "The Front" where Bart & Lisa write WesternAnimation/ItchyAndScratchy cartoons using Grandpa as their Beard, Grandpa is up for a writing Emmy. His competition includes the ''Action Figure Man'' episode "How to Buy Action Figure Man," which explains to children how to get their parents to buy them an Action Figure Man toy.

* Happens several times in Marvel's various ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers]]'' comic book series:
** In issue #1 of the original ''The Transformers'' limited series, after the Autobots and Decepticons have been reactivated on present-day Earth, each faction gets an oversized WallOfText panel so [[TalkingIsAFreeAction everyone can introduce himself and his powers.]] Note that [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Decepticons-product-placement-parade-large.jpg this first happens]] while the Decepticons ''were in the Autobots' base,'' and both factions had just reawakened and everyone was ''very'' vulnerable.

** Parodied by IDW in their ''Transformers'' comic [[http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/5/5d/PrimusAllGoodThings-introdump.jpg here.]]

!!!'''In General:'''
* Given how MerchandiseDriven they are, ''Franchise/SuperSentai''/''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and its sister shows ''Franchise/KamenRider'' and ''Anime/PrettyCure'' do this. Premiere episodes can usually be counted on to have a first transformation and fight scene that shows off the TransformationTrinket, the heroes' Ranger/Rider/Cure forms and their abilities (including the traditional FinishingMove), their weapons, and their mecha (in ''Sentai''/''Rangers'') or motorcycle (''Kamen Rider''). The debut of [[SixthRanger an additional Ranger, Rider or Cure]] or a SuperMode later on prompts a similar blitz of showing off merchandising. And that's not counting other powerups accumulated along the way; if there are enough of them (and all three shows these days frequently involve series of collectible little powerup trinkets) then there could easily be a variant of this trope where something new is shown off ''every week'' near the beginning of the season.
** Sometimes ''Super Sentai'' and ''Power Rangers'' have an episode involving their CombiningMecha switching between every possible combination. ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' justified doing this, though, as the enemy robot continually adapted to the formation they were using so the Rangers kept switching combinations faster than it could keep up in an attempt to overload it.
** Another justified example came from an episode of ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce''. The MonsterOfTheWeek, Lion Tamer Org, was able to control the Red Lion and thus, caused the Wild Force Megazord to attack the Rangers. When the Rangers countered with the Kongazord Striker Mode, Lion Tamer Org was able to summon some of the other Wildzords and control them, leading to both him and the Rangers forming all sorts of unusual mix-and-match Zord combos to try and gain the upper hand (this was the first season where the toys were capable of such interchangability).
** ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' had a fully American-made movie prequel that had a several minute long sequence introducing every new vehicle to the Rangers and allowing them to drive their vehicles. Given how much of a toy giant ''Power Rangers'' can be, the purpose of the footage isn't even subtle.

** there are episodes of ''Anime/PrettyCure'' introducing minor toys from the toyline into the plot. Of all the installments in the franchise, ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure'' tends to use this trope the most:

** Like most MagicalGirl anime, there are episodes of ''Pretty Cure'' introducing minor toys from the toyline into the plot. Of all the installments in the franchise, ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure'' tends to use this trope the most:
*** If any character references Hugtan needing a certain sort of care (diapers, being carried in a baby carrier, some of her outfits), it's a reference to an actual product Bandai made for the Hugtan doll. It got to the point where some of these items were snuck into the script without having no plot relavance whatsoever.
*** The pink Melody Tamborine is used not just as the ending theme item, but as a toy for Hugtan, and the purple one is used during Twin Love's idol lives.
*** Episode 22 was probably a major example of this. Aside from the debut of [[spoiler: the Twin Love Guitar]] and the appearances of [[spoiler: Nagisa and Honoka, who got new dolls to promote the 15th anniversary]], Hugtan has a diaper change scene and the girls make friendship bracelets to remind viewers to buy those items along with the ones the main episode promoted.
*** Episode 26 contains a scene in which the girls imagine Hana in various outfits, done in the style of Sun-Star's dress up stickers that were being sold at the time.
*** Episode 30 had the Cures recall past memories by using the Mirai Pad, since [[spoiler: when you attach the Memorial Cure Clock and the Cheerful Attack Crystal to the Mirai Pad]], a sequence showing memories of mini-games you've played in the past occurs, with a date for each one (or if you didn't play any of the ones shown, it is left blank).
*** Another 2-in-1 product promotion happens in episode 37, where [[spoiler: the aformentioned friendship bracelets turn into the Mirai Brace]].

* Several episodes of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'' consisted of nothing more than the Ponies dressing up in different costumes for no purpose other than to show off new merchandise.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'':

* Given how MerchandiseDriven they are, ''Franchise/SuperSentai''/''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and its sister shows ''Franchise/KamenRider'' and ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' do this. Premiere episodes can usually be counted on to have a first transformation and fight scene that shows off the TransformationTrinket, the heroes' Ranger/Rider/Cure forms and their abilities (including the traditional FinishingMove), their weapons, and their mecha (in ''Sentai''/''Rangers'') or motorcycle (''Kamen Rider''). The debut of [[SixthRanger an additional Ranger, Rider or Cure]] or a SuperMode later on prompts a similar blitz of showing off merchandising. And that's not counting other powerups accumulated along the way; if there are enough of them (and all three shows these days frequently involve series of collectible little powerup trinkets) then there could easily be a variant of this trope where something new is shown off ''every week'' near the beginning of the season.

** As did the end of ''To Where and Back Again'' when the Changelings transform into bright colorful [[BuffySpeak fairy-beetle-moose]] things. It came right out of nowhere, created heaping amounts of FridgeLogic and even a PlotHole or two, [[BrokenAesop broke]] a number of [[AnAesop aesops]] in previous and later episodes, and seemed to serve no real purpose aside from putting some new designs on screen that kids would want to buy. Again, like the Breezies no toys ended up being made by them, potentially because the new designs of them were controversial at best -- even Ocellus, a new-style changeling who is a ''major character'' in the final two seasons, never got a toy unlike the rest of the "Young Six" and was replaced by [[ArcVillain Cozy Glow]] in the Stack'Ems set of toys.

** As did the end of ''To Where and Back Again'' when the Changelings transform into bright colorful [[BuffySpeak fairy-beetle-moose]] things. It came right out of nowhere, created heaping amounts of FridgeLogic and even a PlotHole or two, [[BrokenAesop broke]] a number of [[AnAesop aesops]] in previous and later episodes, and seemed to serve no real purpose aside from putting some new designs on screen that kids would want to buy. Again, like the Breezies no toys ended up being made by them, potentially because the new designs of them were controversial at best.