Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime

Thursday, June 1st, 2023 2:04PM CDT

Categories: Toy News, Collectables
Posted by: Emerje Views: 58,474

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Takara Tomy is teaming up with Japan's JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, along with Toyota to create a crowdfund to produce Lunar Cruiser Prime. The figure is based on JAXA's Lunar Cruiser which will deploy from their Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) in August. And if you think this is Takara Tomy cashing in on a timely crossover opportunity you'd be wrong. JAXA claims they were inspired by Takara Tomy's ability to make small, complex robots and tapped them to design the SORA-Q changing robots that will also be dispatched onto the moon. How great is that? The Lunar Cruiser Prime figure itself stands around 7" tall and comes with a solar panel and antennas that can be positioned in different spots.

Obviously such a unique collaboration means some unique ways to obtain one. First there's standard purchasing when he's available at retail in late March 2024 for 11,000 JPY. But there's also a Japanese crowdfunding option through Campfire that comes with some unique perks. For 11,000 JPY through Campfire the figure will be available a month earlier in February 2024. For 14,300 you can add a stand (the same stand first seen with MP Beast Wars Megatron) with Lunar Cruiser Prime written on the side. And for 50,000 JPY you can get a special message from original Convoy/Optimus Prime and Lunar Cruiser Prime actor Tessho Genda himself. The campaign begins June 8, though it's not yet known when the retail pre-orders will open.

This is a pretty different collaboration that we really haven't seen the likes of before. No word on if Hasbro will take part in any form of sales, but we'll keep you posted as we find out more!

Credit(s): Campfire, Anime News Network

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Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162614)
Posted by TulioDude on June 1st, 2023 @ 2:31pm CDT

This looks pretty cool!

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162618)
Posted by ScottyP on June 1st, 2023 @ 2:38pm CDT

Everything about this is just awesome

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162622)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on June 1st, 2023 @ 2:57pm CDT

That's pretty neat. Ill probably get it if it's not hard to pick up. I will say that it would be nice if they try to use a different mold for some of these besides Optimus.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162630)
Posted by Cheetron on June 1st, 2023 @ 5:24pm CDT

This is freaking awesome! I want so bad but I know ill never be able to afford this. And he'd always stay in a box. In a tote.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162631)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on June 1st, 2023 @ 5:56pm CDT

This will be very hard to say no to.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162632)
Posted by SpaceEagle on June 1st, 2023 @ 6:12pm CDT

Looks really cool, might get one tbh.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162639)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on June 1st, 2023 @ 6:38pm CDT

This is AWESOME

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162665)
Posted by Whifflefire on June 1st, 2023 @ 9:22pm CDT

This is a fantastic idea, and it looks absolutely splendid as well! I really hope this becomes available stateside, I'd love to get one to have next to Sky Lynx.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162696)
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on June 2nd, 2023 @ 4:27pm CDT

I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162705)
Posted by Emerje on June 2nd, 2023 @ 5:07pm CDT

Gauntlet101010 wrote:I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

There's really no way around it. Ideally it would be someone like Roller or Countdown, but for a project this big it really had to be Optimus. That's not to say there won't be a repaint later.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162711)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on June 2nd, 2023 @ 5:29pm CDT

Emerje wrote:
Gauntlet101010 wrote:I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

There's really no way around it. Ideally it would be someone like Roller or Countdown, but for a project this big it really had to be Optimus. That's not to say there won't be a repaint later.

Emerje

Nemesis Prime :WHISTLE:

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162732)
Posted by SpaceEagle on June 2nd, 2023 @ 7:11pm CDT

Gotta use the character that sells the best!

I do think a typical "Ultra Magnus" redeco would suit this nicely, though it might be a bit too blinding at the same time. :lol:

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162741)
Posted by Emerje on June 2nd, 2023 @ 8:12pm CDT

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:
Emerje wrote:
Gauntlet101010 wrote:I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

There's really no way around it. Ideally it would be someone like Roller or Countdown, but for a project this big it really had to be Optimus. That's not to say there won't be a repaint later.

Emerje

Nemesis Prime

Well sure, if you want the obvious repaint.

Though I do agree that Ultra Magnus would be neat, he'd be identical to Prime in Lunar Cruiser mode, but be all white in bot mode. I suppose they could do the same trick with Nemesis, replace the red with black.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162752)
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on June 2nd, 2023 @ 11:21pm CDT

I don't have a Crossover Nemesis Prime yet, so hopefully they announce that. I do want this, though even if they only do an OP. It'd look even better in Nemesis colors.

TBH, though, one of the things that kept me away from most crossovers was the overuse of Prime (and Megs) as the main guy. If I wanted a Prime shelf, I'd have a Prime shelf. The Crossover line is exactly what I want - a line of desperate TF crossovers with a variety of characters. So I want to be careful how many Primes I have.

I appreciate how Canon did it. Prime, Nemesis Prime, and Reflector (the most appropriate character for the mode and the one I have sitting in my pile of loot at BBTS.) The guy oozes Prime, but I'd go for Roller or Countdown. I don't have Roller or Countdown on my shelf at all.

This one, though, I'll break for if they don't release Nemesis or Magnus colors (although I do have a "crossover" Magnus for my crossover shelf and not enough bad guys). Although, yeah, Nemesis couldn't be a black moon rover he could still have a black and white robot mode, which would look cool

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162757)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on June 3rd, 2023 @ 12:29am CDT

That's a very good concept for a robot, but WHY PRIME? AGAIN?
Yeah, I know, Prime sell.

I'm gonna pass, but if they make a "white Prime" Ultra-Magnus repaint where the out-of-place red and blue are replaced with the white of the vehicle, I'd be all over it.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162772)
Posted by triKlops on June 3rd, 2023 @ 12:41pm CDT

Really interesting alt mode and concept behind this, regardless if its another Prime.
I did think, very quickly after seeing this, how great it would look next to the DOTM Walmart Prime with Comettor set; all things being equal and relative.

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_(Movie)/toys#OptimusComettor

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Comettor_(DOTM)

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2162859)
Posted by Big Grim on June 5th, 2023 @ 6:51am CDT

That is properly awesome! I'd really like to get that if at all possible!

~ Grim

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178357)
Posted by Emerje on March 29th, 2024 @ 9:17am CDT

Heads up, this guy is shipping from Amazon. My final price was about $71 which is OK, but not that great of a savings over the Hasbro price, saved like $6 or so after tax. It'll be here next week.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178358)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on March 29th, 2024 @ 9:48am CDT

I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay". [-(

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178361)
Posted by Emerje on March 29th, 2024 @ 10:40am CDT

-Kanrabat- wrote:I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay".

I'm sure it sold a lot more this way. Though like the Canon crossover I suppose they could do someone unexpected later like Cosmos, but Takara Tomy isn't great about doing original characters for these things.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178363)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on March 29th, 2024 @ 11:07am CDT

Emerje wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay".

I'm sure it sold a lot more this way. Though like the Canon crossover I suppose they could do someone unexpected later like Cosmos, but Takara Tomy isn't great about doing original characters for these things.

Emerje

I do know that Optimus is obvious business sense.

But "artistically" speaking, OCs are much better. Like :HASBRO:

does for all of their X-Over bots.

Just imagine if the Jurassic Park sets, it would have been Optimus VS... Optimus.
And Optimus Dolorian. Optimus Ecto-1. Optimus Top Gun jet. Optimus Turtle. X-Men Optimus. Stranger Things Optimus.
:HEADHURTS:

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178365)
Posted by Emerje on March 29th, 2024 @ 11:13am CDT

-Kanrabat- wrote:
Emerje wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay".

I'm sure it sold a lot more this way. Though like the Canon crossover I suppose they could do someone unexpected later like Cosmos, but Takara Tomy isn't great about doing original characters for these things.

Emerje

I do know that Optimus is obvious business sense.

But "artistically" speaking, OCs are much better. Like does for all of their X-Over bots.

Just imagine if the Jurassic Park sets, it would have been Optimus VS... Optimus.
And Optimus Dolorian. Optimus Ecto-1. Optimus Top Gun jet. Optimus Turtle. X-Men Optimus. Stranger Things Optimus.

More like Optimus Prime vs Beast Megatron, Sideswipe Delorian, Ratchet Ecto-1, Jetfire Maverick, Ironhide Party Wagon, and Stranger Things Skids.
.
.
.
I'd buy all of those. :twisted:

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178378)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on March 29th, 2024 @ 12:57pm CDT

Emerje wrote:More like Optimus Prime vs Beast Megatron, Sideswipe Delorian, Ratchet Ecto-1, Jetfire Maverick, Ironhide Party Wagon, and Stranger Things Skids.
.
.
.
I'd buy all of those.

Emerje

Well, THAT would be logical and acceptable.

But you know the :TAKARATOMY:

way:

Optimus. Optimus everywhere.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178443)
Posted by triKlops on March 30th, 2024 @ 6:10pm CDT

Just got my notice for this, the next MP and the BW set with ClearScream from AJP.
DHL gonna have their hands full, lol.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178468)
Posted by Emerje on March 30th, 2024 @ 11:49pm CDT

triKlops wrote:Just got my notice for this, the next MP and the BW set with ClearScream from AJP.
DHL gonna have their hands full, lol.

Same, though I completely forgot I ordered MP-56+, ouch.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178545)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on April 2nd, 2024 @ 12:56pm CDT

Hopefully this means BBTS will get him soon, looking forward to him.

Re: Takara Tomy and JAXA Team up for Lunar Cruiser Prime (2178639)
Posted by Emerje on April 3rd, 2024 @ 11:19am CDT

Man, this figure is DENSE. He has some really surprising heft to him and the LC mode is extremely compact. He's pretty easy to transform once you know which panels you can pull on. He's like a Generations Leader class figure that's been upgraded to a Commander. Arm articulation isn't anything special, but the guy has some incredible leg articulation that allows him to kneel and crouch ease. When crouching his knees go up pat his hips and requires no support thanks to some nice long heel spurs, he can really get low! His backpack is pretty compact as well. One little complaint is there are panels on the back of his legs that stick inward past his calves requiring him to keep his legs apart or one slightly in front or behind the other. It's manageable. He's a wonderful figure, super happy with the way he turned out.

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Emerje