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Transformers fans have been taken for a loop lately since information and misinformation is coming from every direction for the Earthspark line.
Rumours Regarding the Show Itself
When it comes to the show, there were rumours that another show was under development. While that is yet to be proven true or false, it brought upon a ton of theories regarding the current show, Earthspark. As of now, all we know is that Paramount ordered two seasons and we are getting two seasons. We do not know if a third season will be coming or how many seasons were planned. A new show is probably in development but that does not mean that it is in response to Earthspark's performance. It may be that the new show is made ot be more in line with the next phase of the TF franchise, now that Transformers One moves it into a new era.
The Mistranslation that Created Misinformation
Now adding to this was a mistranslation of a Japanese site summarizing what they read in a magazine (so already there we have 2 levels of being stray from the actual source). While some fans interpreted the quote to say that the Earthspark line in Japan was cancelled, the actual quote from the magazine said that the deluxe Prowl figure was cancelled. The line itself is not over in Japan, and instead we are getting something that fans have asked for a very long time: Takara exclusive toys.
Which of the New Toys Revealed Today are Exclusives?
Remember the Transformers Go line, where Takara retooled Hasbro toys exclusive to their market? Well those days are back. DX Elita-1 is not really a deluxe Elita 1 figure. It is instead the warrior class toy we got in the first wave from Hasbro but retooled so that the weapon gimmick is removed and so that her head can swivel. She also gets a great deco treatment. So Takara basically turned a warrior class into a deluxe figure. They are doing the same with Hashtag, which as you can see below has been retooled to remove the combining gimmick of the warrior class figure we are about to get from Hasbro.
Those two toys will not be released in the US or other Hasbro markets, they are exclusive to Japan. And since collector sites are not importing this line, anyone who wants these exclusives have to buy them from a Japanese outlet like Amazon Japan (links below). The two other toys shown today, Aftermath and Jawbreaker, are actual deluxe class toys we will be getting from Hasbro. We have their listings, they are coming out later this year. However, their deco will not be as detailed as the Takara versions. So if you want this exact deco, then once again you must order from Amazon japan or another Japanese online retailer.
Hopefully this helped a bit, if ever there are questions not addressed, feel free to join us in the message boards.
TL DR
- There is still an entire season of Earthspark to watch for anyone interested, we do not know if there will be a third season, or if one was even planned.
- The only thing cancelled, either by Hasbro or Takara is the deluxe Prowl toy, which was a redeco of the previously released Cyberverse deluxe Prowl. The Earthspark line is not cancelled anywhere.
- DX Elita 1 and DX Hashtag are Takara exclusive retools and redecos of warrior figures we either already got or will be getting from Hasbro
- DX Aftermath and DX Jawbreaker are molds that Hasbro will also be releasing but their decos will be slightly different
We are here to explain what is happening. Fans have been very confused at the sight of 2 completely different Rise of the Beasts deluxe class Airazor toys which look as complex (for a standard deluxe). So here is a breakdown with info coming from insiders and people with access to distributor info.
This whole confusion is a result of the movie being delayed. The big difference isn't the complexity, it's the sculpt and detail. The initial Airazor we saw is part of the Rise of the Beasts mainline that was supposed to be out months ago. That line mirrors the Earthspark and Cyberverse lines where the entire line is aimed at kids but there are deluxes which may interest fans as well due to their more standard complexity. Since these were worked on early, all toys in that line are based on early movie designs so that they could be sold in stores in summer of 2022 for kids and parents to buy, along with the 2022 holiday season. Also, it would be a unified class so all bots would be relatively the same size, and there would just be deluxes, no voyagers or leaders. That is the line the initial Airazor is from. Below is an image along with the listing for that Airazor and the other characters in the deluxe class of that ROTB movie line (Core Boy means the toys are aimed at 8 year old boys).
Tra Mv7 Core Boy Deluxe Class Ast with the EAN: 5010993983308
Deluxe Bumblebee (Codename: George)
Deluxe Mirage (Codename: Pluto)
Deluxe Wheeljack (Codename: Barcelona) Deluxe Airazor (Codename: Titan)
Deluxe Nightbird (Codename: Outlaw)
The Studio Series one first shown just a few hours ago is from the 2023 Studio Series line that was always going to come out in 2023, so one year after the film. And with that extra time, the idea is that Hasbro would have had more updated designs to work with, hence the differences in design.
But since the film was delayed, the toys that should have already been out will now come out at the same time as the toys that were always meant to come later. Hence why we get 2 deluxe Airazors at once, both seemingly as complex, transformation wise, but different in design.
Below are some of the Studio Series Rise of the Beasts figures we know are coming in 2023 along with Airazor.
TRA Gen Studio Series DLX TF7 Bumblebee (Codename: George) TRA Gen Studio Series DLX TF7 Airazor (Codename: Titan)
Tra Gen Studio series Dlx TF7 Mirage (Codename: Pluto)
Tra Gen Studio Series DLX TF7 Wheeljack (Codename: Barcelona)
Tra Gen Studio series Dlx TF7 Nightbird (Codename Outlaw)
TRA Gen Studio Series VOY TF7 Cheetor (Codename: Butch)
TRA Gen Studio Series VOY TF7 Battletrap (Codename: Appolo)
Tra Gen Studio series Voy TF7 Rhinox (Codename: Warrior)
So that means what we are seeing with Airazor will also happen with Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Nightbird and Mirage. 2 deluxe toys, both similar in complexity, but with different designs. We don't know if Hasbro will try avoiding to have them on the shelves at the same time or not.
"Vintage", "Retro" and "Nostalgia" has been a big trend in the toy world for the past few years and we simply seem to be getting more. For instance, we currently have on shelves:
- Super 7 recreating the toy aesthetic of the late 70s with new characters that were never made in that style in their ReAction line.
- Mattel recreating the toy aesthetic of 80s MOTU figures for designs of MOTU characters that never appeared in the original line (like the 200X series in that classic style) in their MOTU Origins line.
- Hasbro making late 70s style figures of new Stars Wars characters from the Mandalorian and Obi-Wan series in their Star Wars Retro line.
- McFarlane reviving the 80s Super Powers line by adding DC characters that were never part of the original line as well as modern takes on DC characters with the same scale and articulation.
- Marvel Legends having a subline filled with carded 3.75 inch characters with limited articulation reminiscent of toys sold in the late 70s, early 80s.
These are all well known characters/brands replicating a style or aesthetic from the 80s and yet that list is missing a major player of that era: Transformers. The Transformers brand inspires so much nostalgia and strength among older fans that some will even debate whether or not the Transformers toylines sold in kids' toy aisles, like Legacy, is more for them than it is for kids. If we look at the toy brands mentioned at the top of the article which have a retro toyline, like Star Wars, DC, Marvel and He-man, each of those brands also have more kid friendly lines and at least one toyline dedicated to highly detailed and highly articulated figures at the same price points as deluxe/voyager Transformers toys (which technically makes Transformers a better deal than any other similarly priced action figure since they have double the parts count).
We'll take Marvel for the simplest comparison. The multiple Marvel Legends waves each year are in the same vein as the multiple Studio Series and Legacy waves we get. For kids, Marvel has a bunch of toylines, like the Monsters line, the Mech Line, the Bending line, movie specific lines (recently Thor and Spider-man) and those are in the same vein as the Cyberverse and Earthspark toylines for Transformers. And then there is also the Marvel Legends Retro line, which they are going full hog on, even to the point of introducing different scales like with the new Sentinel figure. There is no counterpart to that in the Transformers line.
Sure the Transformers line has figures labelled as retro, but these are rereleases of pre-existing figures, nothing new like McFarlane's new Super Powers line, or the Marvel Legends Retro line, or the Star Wars Retro line. And I make sure to bring up those last 2 a lot because they are from Hasbro, which means Hasbro sees the value in this retro type of play or collecting and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on brand new molds. The Transformers line becomes one of the only major lines in the toy aisle which does not have a comparable retro line alongside its other lines.
So the question then becomes, is that untapped potential, or a dodged bullet? And how would that even look like. An equivalent could be a redeco of G1 blades in Alpha Bravo colours giving fans the option of having that extra combiner limb on their vintage Superions. Or you could have the G1 characters/toys in their Bayverse decos. Like a silver G1 Jazz or a G1 Optimus with a flame design on his cab. How about an Ironhide and ratchet similar in deco to their E-Hobby releases but with extra parts to plug in a head with references to their Bayverse looks. Or a new mold of a 70s Camaro to give us a Bayverse Bumblebee but with G1 style transformation and articulation.
It could also be G1 toys we never had, like redecos of the G1 seeker mold and have it be Acid Storm. Or a retool of the wings to give us a G1 Windblade. Going the G1 route, they could release that G1 headmaster Arcee, from a redeco/retool of Chromedome. Or simply make a fully new G1 style toy based on the initial design.
Another example could be a grey G2 Megatron sold in G1 packaging to retroactively give G1 Megatron a tank mode so that we can have a cohesive aesthetic of the character of his various tank modes throughout the different eras. These ideas have been around for a while, as evident by the digibash you can find below from site owner Seibertron himself, but with more retro type product out there than ever before in the retail toy aisle, it's the perfect time to bring them back. The question is, would you fans be up for it? I ask because while this may look fun, there have been recent lines that mirrored the G1 toyline in terms of being out of scale and simpler than Generations toys, like the Cyberverse line, and those were mocked by many fans who even questioned their existence. Which makes one wonder, if the G1 line was released today, with all its partsforming, hollowness, non show accuracy, lack of articulation and simplicity, would it be mocked just like fans are mocking other lines suffering from the same issues?
Is this a thing that we want? Is this a thing that we need? Let us know what you think, both in terms of how a line like this would look like and if it is something that would interest you.
Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here. Some images for this article come from Toybox Soapbox.
Top 5 Best Transformers Cyberverse Toys
With the Cyberverse show over and the toyline now being the place where the Rise of the Beasts 2022 toys will be released, I felt it was time to look back at the toys made for the Cyberverse show. While the show did end up winning over a lot of fans in the later seasons (if you didn't watch the first half of season 3, you are missing out), the toyline was never made to win over older fans. It was a toyline for kids through and through. There were some pretty fun toys in there and I am looking at the ones I think are the best of the lot.
5. Deluxe Soundwave
Soundwave is one of the best characters from the Cyberverse show. While some characters get hat is the equivalent of a cameo, Soundwave got a full arc from Cybertronian citizen just having a good time, to ruthless Decepticon soldier, to Cybertronian resistance warrior to Cybertron's ultimate hero. And he had a great design too, which is why the toy looked disappointing from the start for not fully invoking the design and having some issues with kibble. But the toy won me over. It's very solid, has a fun transformation and comes with a cute transforming Laserbeak. In the end, it gives us another good Soundwave toy and e finally have a good toy for this wonderful version of the classic character.
4. Warrior Hammerbyte
This is a really fun toy of a new original character. While he is indeed a warrior as opposed to a deluxe figure, he feels more like a toy from the Cybertron line with nice hard plastic and a simple yet also meaty transformation. And it has a great design in both modes plus a fun non intrusive gimmick. And all for the low price of yesteryear's deluxes. So yeah, very reminiscent of the Cybertron line, which is something you will hear a lot of in the next entry.
3. Ultimate Grimlock
No other Cyberverse toy aimed only at kids even comes close to being as awesome as him. He is very imposing and really commands the space he takes. While he is light, the plastic feels strong and durable. The transformation is not too difficult but interesting and there are even surprises in it for people who know the typical Grimlock conversion inside and out. He has decent poseability and fine gimmicks that don't get in the way. Plus, he is the size of a leader class toy, almost 9 inches tall and only cost $30 USD. Design, transformation and articulation wise, this is almost like a Grimlock we would have gotten in the fabled 2004-2006 Cybertron toyline.
2. Deluxe Slug
While I love animated Slag, I think this guy takes the cake as the best deluxe Slag/Slug we've ever gotten. Now that I think of it, is he the best deluxe toy to represent one of the Dinobots? Could be. He has great articulation, including his horns which actually have their own transformation step, even the SS86 leader Slag doesn't have that. Lots of accessories, a nice colour palette with many differently coloured plastics working well together and a simple yet very well done hand to "paw" transformation. The face is very expressive too.
1. Deluxe Bumblebee
This is one of the greatest deluxe Bumblebee toys we have ever gotten and that is saying a lot since there have been some really good deluxes lately. This one works really well though since it finally gives us a version of that Evergreen design which combines multitude of now classic Bumblebee elements. While probably unintentional, I really like how the black and yellow plastic around the feet are perfectly aligned with the stripes on the car roof making it look like the car's design runs deep within the robot's innards. Nice car mode, great robot mode, good articulation, smart transformation, nice weapon storage for the gun in car mode, relevant accessories with unique blast effects make this an all around winner.
Honourable Mentions:
Deluxe Arcee: the car mode is super cute and a fun new take on Arcee. there is very minimal alt mode integration with the robot mode but at least the backpack you get is show accurate.
Deluxe Megatron: too loose for my liking in important areas but that transformation is really amazing. I love toys that feel like origami where you are shaping a vehicle into a robot and that's what this was, especially for the upper torso/back.
Warrior Cybertronian Starscream: now this is how you make a simpler toy! Articulation is not jeopardized, neither are proportions or the look of either mode. It simply requires few steps to get from one mode to the next. Of course, that is not always achievable, but when it works it can be a thing of beauty and the perfect toy for a kid wanting to mimic the speed of conversion seen on the show.
So here we are, another year is over and done with and while looking back on 2021 might not be of high importance on everyone's list of things to do, we did get some pretty cool figures. So the staff team at Seibertron got together to share what they liked best of the year in different categories and we invite you to join in on the fun and give us your pick for each category. Now, here we go!
Figure of the year
william-james88: Kingdom Rodimus Prime. As part of the standard Kingdom line, spending $80 on a voyager sized figure is rough. BUT if the same toy was released as a special "Gen MP" release, which was a line of toys with MP level engineering made to fit in with the current classics scale line, and he came with a trailer, turret platform, accessories (matrix, sword of Primus, effect parts) fans would be all "take my money" and the fact that it's below $100 would sound almost incredulous. Well that's what this Rodimus Prime toy is, truly. More complex than MP-10 with similar number of accessories. And since he's chug scale, he's 80$ instead of 150$ (hell, this released these days in MP scale and MP quality, we'd be looking at $250). I for one thank our Hasbro overlords for trusting me to understand what I am getting in this 80$ package. Obviously, if you find it on sale, then that's even more awesome but that's the same for any great toy.
Scotty P: MP-52 Starscream and/or MP-52+ Thundercracker. I suppose Skywarp makes the cut here too, though end of December releases get tricky, especially with the slower pace of international shipping these days. Anyhow, this third version of a Masterpiece seeker mold delivers the pinnacle, thus far, of the "Sunbow" style design aesthetic for the MP line. Delivering a complex transformation that is, for once, pretty easy to learn while still achieving a superb sculpt with all the articulation you need made this a slam dunk. I didn't need any more Masterpiece seekers but given what the final product is in this case, I can say in retrospect this is something I really wanted.
Bounti76: Unicron. The sheer scale of the figure and the PRESENCE he has is worth the cost.
ZeroWolf: I was conflicted here. Part of me wanted to give this to Unicron but then I couldn't think of a good reason why compared to others. So instead I'm going to say...Transformers Kingdom Core Class Rattrap. Sure, his shoulders are awkward but any toy I can return to and fiddle with constantly are a win for me.
Kanrabat: Definitely Masterpiece Reboost. Not only it's an original character for once (at least in the TF universe) but it's an AFFORDABLE MP with a simple transformation that is FUN to do. I was blown away by this truly Masterpiece of a Masterpiece.
Favourite Kingdom toy
william-james88: Even though this was the best year ever for my favourite series, Beast Wars, none of the beasts impressed me as much as Cyclonus. That transformation was amazing, truly going from one completely different form to another.
Scotty P: Rodimus Prime. Kingdom was an excellent line overall and this nearly went to Dinobot with even Huffer getting some consideration in my mind. Rodimus Prime is something like a dream which is why it gets the nod here for me. Some fans are understandably apprehensive about the switch from size classes to price classes even now, years after it happened, and Rodimus Prime certainly can be looked at as the poster child of this when comparing the robot mode to previous releases such as Jetfire. This is a case where size just doesn't matter when the toy uses that additional budget to be so darn good. Rodimus borrows cues from several previous iterations of the character and even MP-44 for the under-trailer accessory storage, has every feature he needs and even possesses the best headsculpt we've seen for this character ever. It's not perfect, as the trailer tab tolerances are a little frustratingly off and the packaging itself caused paint woes, but this is one of those topics asking for a "favorite" and not "best", so Commander Class Rodimus Prime was an easy pick.
Bounti76: Tie between Slammer and Cyclonus. Slammer is great fun to transform and feels solid, and Cyclonus not only looks the part, but is an engineering slam dunk.
ZeroWolf: this was going to be Airazor but Tigatron nipped her to the post.
Kanrabat: Very hard to decide. I guess Leader Beast Megatron is my favorite of the bunch. A fantastic mold with amazing poseability and great show accuracy. Why pay 400$+ for the MP when you can have this one?
Favourite Studio Series toy
william-james88: Slug, it was really great to finally get another big dinobot that wasn't Grimlock for a change. I love how beefy he is and I feel these leaders (both he and Grimlock) give us what we all want in a leader class release.
Scotty P: Studio Series 86 Grimlock. If Studio Series' branding being co-opted by The Transformers: The Movie wasn't enough, the toys released for this section of the line have been far superior, delivering pleasant and high-quality figures with 90% less of that frustrating 'panel massage action' when compared to their movie universe peers. Ignoring Wheelie, who should have been replaced with a sword, this is very nearly the definitive Classics-style Grimlock I've always wanted. An excellent companion piece in Slag makes me very excited for the inevitable releases of Sludge, Snarl and Swoop.
Bounti76: Tie between Dino and Jolt. We FINALLY got screen accurate versions of these two... only 10 years after the movie they were in came out. Technically, Dino's car mode isn't a Ferrari, but licensing issues aside, still looks great.
ZeroWolf: Grimlock, has to be...Who can resist a robot dinosaur?
Kanrabat: SS86 Grimlock. Simple, yet so perfect. Another mini MP.
Favourite Cyberverse toy
william-james88: I really didn't like deluxe Soundwave when he was first shown. The character has a great model on the show but it seemed ruined with some offputting kibble. But in hand, most of the issues went away. Not physically, everything I disliked was still there, but I just loved transforming and posing him that they didn't matter as much.
Scotty P: Deluxe Slug. Sometimes you have so many toys of a given character (or character archetype) that you feel like there are no surprises left to be had. Cyberverse Slug takes away some of the jaded feelings this old-timer gets on occasion by delivering two expressive modes that have a process to transform between the two that lives up to the brand's "More Than Meets the Eye" tagline.
Bounti76: Deluxe Class Arcee. Screen accurate robot (minus the back kibble) that actually feels decently made, and not be a "kiddie" toy, designed more to be cheap.
ZeroWolf: Deluxe Class Dinobot Slug...see previous answer.
Kanrabat: I didn't bought much Cyberverses so I'll cheat a bit because he was re-released in 2021. Ultra Skullcrunsher. This one blow both the OG G1 and the TR update away. Sure, he's no headmaster but the whole package just works. He's fun to transform, have a logical gimmick and he do MORE than the previous versions. Truly impressive.
Favourite Masterpiece toy
Scotty P: MP-53 Reboost. As is tradition, I've managed to pick two MP toys in this list once again. It's true though, while I don't think this is on the same objective level of nicety as the new Starscream, Reboost is an amalgamation of so many cool ingredients at once that he quickly became my unexpected favorite Transformer for the last little while. Start with the equally great MP-52 Skids, give him a cool red repaint, extra accessories, the soul of Diaclone and a headsculpt with the energy of Alternity and you get an amazing piece that feels like a celebration of everything that went into making it a reality. The fact that Reboost is a "literally nobody" type of character could be a knock against it, but in this era of Total Brand Awareness where everyone in the brand's A and B tiers gets done ad nauseum, these are the types of Transformers that spark the imagination and keep me invested.
Bounti76: Skids. Out of nowhere, and he and Reboost bring me back to the things I loved about Masterpiece in the early 2010s- fun transformation and durability of the figures without being overly complex.
ZeroWolf: Skids, thanks to not having to rely on cartoon accuracy, they instead made a fantastic toy that shines in both modes.
Kanrabat: I'll say MP Reboost again.
Favourite Exclusive
william-james88: We had great exclusives this year. I FINALLY got my coneheads but I can't use that for the best exclusives of this year since they were supposed to arrive in 2020. With beasts being absent from this Beast Wars fan's year end list, it's about time I changed that as I claim Covert Agent Ravage as my favourite exclusive. This was not cheap but it is the best toy of the character we ever got and none of those were ever cheap. I appreciate how he transforms different from Cheetor at parts and looks very different in robot mode. It's also a really cool package with a fun spin on how incredulous his transformation was on the show.
Scotty P: Buzzworthy Bumblebee's "Worlds Collide" set. This feels like a throwback to the exclusives of 20 years ago and I love it. One set manages to provide a killer black and teal repaint of a "good guy faction" leader that hasn't been done 19,000 times already, Blackarachnia in her weekend clubbin' outfit, a re-use of the awesome Earthrise Cliffjumper tooling as Bumblebee to fill in your kinda-sorta-Mini-Bot-homage ranks and a toy that should've been released years ago in Fangry. In a time where store exclusives are becoming as large a part of the overall Transformers toy line as the main series releases, this stood out as a uniquely fun and creative set that provided great value.
Bounti76: Tie between Tyrannocon Rex and Puffer and Road Ranger. The first female Leader Class figure. An official toy of a European version of a character that used another character's mold, and an official toy of an eHobby exclusive that brought GoBots into the Transformers family. I'm all about firsts and obscurity.
ZeroWolf: Origin Bee. Despite not being a G1 purist, I know a fun toy when I see one.
Kanrabat: Agent Ravage. A great package for a relatively reasonable price, with a superb figure. The engineering on the Agen Ravage is quite something.
Favourite piece of Transformers fiction from 2021
william-james88: My kids and I had a blast with the two Cyberverse films. I really wish we had a Volcanicus that transforms as he does on the show.
Scotty P: Cyberverse special 2 "The Perfect Decepticon". Honestly, it was such a bad year for Transformers fiction that nothing even came close except for the other Cyberverse special, but I picked this second one because the first one focused on one of the worst concepts in Transformers: combining Dinobots :shudders: Additionally, this special accomplished something that was very questionably possible by managing to make Tarn a character that worked in an all-ages piece of media while still keeping true to the character and his truly menacing personality. Add in fantastic roles for characters such as Soundwave and Hot Rod while providing moments to almost every character that mattered previously in the series at some point and you get "The Perfect Decepticon", which was the perfect finale for the best Transformers cartoon series since Armada.
Bounti76: Light/Star, the Transformers Annual for 2021. It strongly featured the first ever female Titan to have appeared in fiction, but also saw the "birth" of Computron (my favorite childhood combiner) in IDW.
ZeroWolf: The Transformers Cyberverse conclusion (thanks to Pop! On Sky TV for airing the specials in the UK!)
What are you looking forward to most next year
william-james88: Seeing what will happen toy wise with the change in release schedule for Transformers Rise of the Beasts. This delay was way too late in the toy development cycle so I am curious if Hasbro will release what was done already and rerelease it later. And I am also curious as to how different the toys will be from the final models now that there is even more time spent in post production between toy designs and final movie designs.
Scotty P: The chaos that ensues from RotB's delay. Necessity is the father of innovation. Mother of invention. Cousin of filler toy lines? Something like that. Bring me all the weird repaints and previously canceled molds. They're probably better than all the movie toys were going to be anyhow.
Bounti76: Finally/hopefully getting a G1 Elita One, and saving money- Legacy looks to be an easy pass for me so far, based on what I've seen.
ZeroWolf: A toss up from looking at what the line after Legacy looks like, and more MP Raiden reveals
Kanrabat: The toys being better distributed with fewer QC issues. But I think I'm asking for the moon.
2021 was a big year for Hasbro's mecha toylines. The ever growing Transformers toylines gave us a lot of product (Kingdom, Studio Series, Cyberverse, MP, MPM, Shaterred Glass, Netflix, Buzzworthy Bumblebee, Rescue Bots, Generations Selects, Crossover) and Hasbro finally released the first Power Rangers zords developed under John Warden, the man who got the Transformers brand where it is now. For those curious as to how Hasbro's other transforming/combining robot themed toyline went, we have an update.
For a quick recap of the Power Ranges toyline, when it first got to North American shores, the toys were based on the same toys previously sold in Japan and as time went on, there were more and more differences between the Japanese version of toys (done by Bandai) and the American version (done by Bandai of America). It wasn't like with Transformers where the Takara version would have a slightly different deco, it was far more extensive. For the past 10 years at least, the toys in Japan for the same mecha were bigger and had electronics. To sell at a lower price point, Bandai of America would literally make a new mold, usually smaller and with less parts. There was even one time in Power Rangers Samurai, where the Japanese version of the 5 animal combiner had 3 modes (limb mode, animal mode, and geometric shape mode) and the American version scrapped the shape mode for 4/5 animals, which made it look ridiculous (Japanese on the left, American on the right).
Now when Hasbro bought the brand, they would do the same, remake new molds for their Power Ranger toyline and hired John Warden as the head of the design team to make these new molds. The first toyline fully developed under John Warden was Dino Fury and fans finally got to experience the zords in the later half of 2021.
And it turns out that for the first time in the history of the brand, the American versions are on par with the Japanese version, or even preferred by fans. While still a toyline for kids, Hasbro went for a more collector oriented mindset in what they favoured. It did not have electronics, and the zords are slightly smaller, but they have more articulation than their Japanese counterparts and the main zord has better proportions, a more detailed sculpt and greater show accuracy. Yes, the American version of the toy is more show accurate. It is also more dynamic and works well as a mecha action figure rather than being a brick (which all Power Ranger/Super Sentai mecha were in the past). So congrats to John Warden and his team on that, it is no small feat (Hasbro on the left, Bandai on the right).
Of course, it does help that Hasbro's mecha came out well after the original series aired in Japan, so they could replicate any show detail the original Japanese toys didn't have. Also, Hasbro's combining system for the zords is not as kid friendly as the Japanese version since it requires more force to connect and disconnect. The original Japanese toys had ports similar to lego bricks with similar ease of building but that also means connections on the Hasbro versions are tighter and less likely to undo while posing the figure (something the Japanese toys never had to worry about). So far, 5 zords have been released with more on the way in 2022, and all can combine together in various ways. Below is an example of combining 4 of them together along with using an extra head that comes with the villain action figure.
What does have to do with both is Hasbro upcoming collector oriented Megazord line. This is the stuff of dreams. It's basically Hasbro creating a Masterpiece Megazord line (something similar to Soul of Chogokin) in the west. The price is along those MP level prices of course, being $165 USD for the original Dino Megazord.
This has a lot of fans excited, not just for this release but for what they will do next. Although the fan enthusiasm for the black repaint was not great, since that purchase was behind an NFT wall.
Every month or so, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.
Top 5 Best Thrust Transformers Toys
While he might seem like just another seeker type bot in the Decepticon ranks, Thrust has become a legacy character with prominent roles outside of G1. He got quite the spotlight in Armada and thus eventually in the Legends Universe where that incarnation became part of the Grand Galvatron combiner. He was even in the Bayverse toyline and in Cyberverse (though only in the English dub since he is Red Wing in Japan). Now after over 30 years of Thrusting, let's check out the best toys out there.
I am way more lenient with the G1 seeker mode when it comes to the coneheads due to the added variety of the molding, with the idiosyncratic wings and weapons. Sure, they have double the partsforming of regular seekers but the way I see it, if you're gonna partsform either go big or go home. Thrust was a G1 mainstay, getting constantly reissued in the 80s and I can see why he was popular. He is afterall my favourite G1 seeker. I just love the addition of the VTOL fans on the wings, along with the burgundy colour scheme.
4. Transformers Masterpiece MP-11NT Thrust
The masterpiece toy does a good job at conveying the Thrust we all know and love though that mold makes the bot mode look too busy depending the angle. I do like that the MP conehead retool gives that extra transformation step of rotating the nosecone chest so that it is tapered properly. The retooling does lead to the unfortunate fact that the "real" nosecone kibble does end up between the robot's legs, so I guess it's a give and take with this dated mold. I do have an extra gripe with this release concerning Thrust, you can't switch his face out with an open mouth look to recreate the scene where Prime rams him (probably his most iconic scene). I almost felt so petty about it that I wasn't going to include the MP on this list. But there aren't that many Thrust toys out there.
3. Studio Series 76 Bumblebee Movie Thrust
While the Armada toy is not on this list, I do find it very interesting that he was the conehead to break through the pack and become his own character in that continuity. And it's had a lasting impact, as we can see with this toy that borrows the colour scheme from Thrust's Armada version rather than the G1 counterpart. And he is singled out again in the Bumblebee movie by being the only conehead to join the seekers in taking down the tower at the very beginning of the film. The toy itself is very good, much better than the Blitzwing mold, which looked similar at first. Everything connects in a very solid way in both molds and while the bottom of the Cybertronian jet is a bit more chunky than I would like, it does come together well in giving us a new type of Cybertronian alt mode for the seekers. And I love that extra touch of giving him that triangular design behind his head to distinguish him from the other seekers and refer to his conehead roots. Also, of many toys released today, he really has all I would expect from a voyager class mold, with greater complexity and mass (we tend to only get one or the other sometimes).
Does this mean that a combiner wars limb is better than an MP? Hell yeah it does! The deco here is just absolutely sublime. I really like the headsculpt which is a G1ified version of the Armada face and I think it looks better. He's a wonderful homage in one of the coolest combiner sets we have ever gotten. While I am not a fan of the Armada toy, I did like how Thrust distinguished himself as his own character rather than being just another seeker, so I find it a real treat to have a great looking version of that character.
1. Transformers Generations War for Cybertron Earthrise Thrust
The classics mold was good, and I think the Henkei Thrust (Japanese version of the classics toy) looked especially glorious. And while I do really give props to having the head actually be the nose cone, I admit it did mess with the jet mode, both by being too short and seeing a robot face underneath. This new version gives us the ultimate Thrust toy. We get proper proportions in all modes and makes the classics version feel obsolete (I mean, I personally sold mine). It's a shame he was tough to get for some but that turned out to be the case for most of the coneheads.
With the holiday season now in full swing, I wanted to write a quick guide for parents, or grandparents or relatives of kids who like Transformers. If you are at the store and not sure what to get, here are some toys that I'd recommend based on value, quality, age appropriateness and presentation (something that looks good as a present), which is more important this time of year. And if you are a life partner of a Transformers fan, and knows what they have and don't have, well just skip to the end. We will break it down by tight age categories (though there is some overlap) since when it comes to younger kids, the products vary wildly for what is too complex or too babyish. And remember, these are simply recommendations for those who are not sure what to get.
For 2-3 year old, I would recommend either Rescue Bots Dinobot Adventures Optimus Prime or the Rescue Bots Dinobots 3 pack. Both are terrific toy for young kids. Optimus turns into a t-rex in one step and he has an Ankylosaurus friend which swiftly becomes a shield for him in robot mode.
This product may not be in your area so I am also recommending this 3 pack that can currently be purchased on Amazon.com. It has a nice variety including a robot that turns into a 2 headed dragon, a t-rex that turns into a motorcycle and a robot that turns into a Stegosaurus. All three transform in just 1 step and can easily be done by someone as young as 2. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-F29 ... TOY_FIGURE?tag=seibertron07-20&
For 4-6 years old, I would recommend the roll and combine Slugatron toy from Cyberverse. You get 2 characters, it's not too complex, the combiner mode looks good and the gimmick is fun. Also not too pricey. Overall, it's a good package and looks great as a Christmas gift. We have a video review for you to check out below and here is the link to the item on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Bum ... TOY_FIGURE?tag=seibertron07-20&
For 6-9 years old I would recommend Cyberverse deluxe Soundwave (remember, deluxe Soundwave, not warrior Soundwave, which is not a good toy) since he's a main character of the current show, has a good transformation which is challenging enough for this age group and is basically 2 bots in one due to Laserbeak, a bird that transforms into a cassette that stores in his chest. There is a review below. There are no longer any copies available online for the retail price, but he could still be found in stores.
Another option would be Cyberverse deluxe Slug, who also looks great and has a fun transformation, and is especially fun for a kid who likes dinosaurs since he turns into a robotic Triceratops. He is also readily available on Amazon right now https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-TRA ... TOY_FIGURE?tag=seibertron07-20&
Now, for older fans, there is one hot toy this year that most fans want (especially anyone over 30) but not all are willing to spend their money on. And that is Rodimus Prime from the Kingdom line. The toy is fantastic, and the best official representation we have ever gotten of the leader of the Autobots once Optimus died. The reason why many fans hesitate over this toy though is the price. It is $80 USD, so not cheap, and he isn't big either (he is made to scale with all the other figures). But that's why gift giving is so fun. I know that while I may not want to spend all that money myself, I would never say no to finding it under the Christmas tree. And if ever you aren't sure if they have it or not, just keep the receipt. Here is the link to this toy on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Toy ... B08D6T2R6W?tag=seibertron07-20&
And here is the link for this toy at Walmart.com https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... /410445526?wmlspartner=FYAGeMjDX6c&=&affs=p&wid=5b6b4213e4b0bcb699adeb9f&u1=&oid=223073.10006940&sourceid=37141976172661509211&affillinktype=3&veh=aff
Cyberverse toys don't get big reveals from Hasbro and it's easy to see why, they aren't made with older fans in mind, and those are the people paying attention to reveal videos. So we make sure to give all the info on new Cyberverse toys found at retail or in new listings so that those who care about any Transformers toy can be kept up to date. And it's always odd to see a decry from fans whenever we post about Cyberverse toys. There's already two lines made with fans in mind, so why can't there be a full on acceptance that some toys are made just for kids? It's those who watch the Cyberverse show afterall, and having a toyline for kids based on the current kids show is the backbone of our wonderful hobby. So we are posting this cute video below of a 3 year old showing off some of his Cyberverse toys and having fun with them (why not turn Starscream into a boat?). If anyone needed a reminder, this is who these toys are made for.
Every month now, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.
Top 5 Best Arcee Transformers Toys
2020 was the year of Arcee since we had a toy of this character in every line. We got one in Masterpiece, Studio Series, Cyberverse and Generations. So clearly, we now have enough toys to get a decent Top 5 list going on. Here we go!
5. Cyberverse Deluxe Arcee
Arcee was a super fun character on the show, especially thanks to voice actress, Jaime Lamchick, and the toy conveys her lax and gunslinging personality well. Greatly posable, real dynamic, and hey, she comes with an actually useful Maccadam part (hammer!), and unlike other Arcees out in 2020, this one has a manageable and actually accurate backpack.
-notsoalex
4. MP-51 Masterpicee Arcee
The vehicle is absolutely PERFECT. All the details are there. Despite the arms hanging a bit low, the car roll flawlessly. The interior is perfectly detailed, down to even a painted dashboard! Transformation is long and hard, but surprisingly not frustrating. Also, everything felt SOLID in hand with nothing seeming fragile or about to break. |We end up with a pretty nice fembot with a backpack that is not too bad in person, considering that the car mode have NO sacrifices. Obviously, Arcee is back heavy and it limit some poses. The chest and high collar is an odd design choice but it's not too bad, she's still worth every single cent that I paid. Could this Arcee be better? Maybe yes, but some choices had to be made. Here, it's the vehicle mode that got priority so the robot is a bit compromised with her backpack. Regardless, I highly recommend this official MP.
- Kanrabat
For the Prime line, certain characters were released twice in totally different molds at the begining. There was the First Edition (FE) version that was supposed to come out first in some sort of exclusive capacity followed by a Robots in Disguise (RID) mold that was meant for a more general release. For most bots, there is a clear winner between the two versions, but not Arcee. It turns out both her FE and RID molds are excellent and you can't go wrong with either of them to represent Prime Arcee in your collection. The RID version is a bit more accurate with her wings but the FE version has that nice complex transformation that adds some unique alt mode integration in the robot mode for the chest area. And both just look great!
-william-james88
We often get sleeker versions of earth based cars (like Cybertron Hotshot) that don't capitalize on the potential of designing vehicles from other worlds. This one totally fits the bill though. Unlike so many other alt modes, it bravely crosses the line between being a futuristic design to a full blown cybertronian one. It is a great homage to G1 Arcee which is followed through in robot mode and I like the added massive spoilers in the back. That detail gives it enough variation from the traditional Arcee model. Too bad it has exposed hands in vehicle mode though. Props go for it having that signature Arcee backpack without going the easy route and making this a shellformer.
-william-james88
While we have had several Arcees since this release, two more in the Generations line, this still feels like the best one. As a fan of Transformers toys, vehicle integration goes a long way and of all the Arcees with this G1 vehicle mode, this is the one that tries the hardest. While the backpack is unavoidable, the integration of the hips and chest means there is less to attempt to compact together in the back and you are instead left with what G1 Arcee would look like on the show if her backpack didn't magically shrink. The deco given by Takara just pushes it over the edge for G1 accurate goodness. It's a great toy all around and still the definitive Arcee to this date.
-william-james88
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