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[F Prime]

Could someone familiar with the Japanese version of th G1 cartoon explain this to me...if "Frenzy" is the blue casetticon in the Japanese version, does his Japanese name actually remain the same, or differ to something that means "quake" or "rumbling" since clearly the blue casetticon is the one with the pille drivers causing the ground to "rumble" or shake...which the name "frenzy" would have no relation to.

The "rumbling arms" gimmick, in the cartoon, was used by both Rumble and Frenzy. I always hated that...I wanted the sonic scream deal for Frenzy only and the pile drivers for Rumble only.

[Blurrz]

What are some of these Bandai Japanese Transforming toys that compete with Takara ??? i dont mean Gundam or Power Rangers. But robots that actually Transform. Is there a reason why Takara doesnt offer cheap Hasbro style versions meant for kids, not collectors. At 35 bucks a pop, Takara isnt doing themselves any favors trying to sell kids toys. I really dont get this whole "Asian market" thing. Either theyre kids toys or collectibles. They cant pose as both at the same price. And even with the colors of plastic chosen, it really makes no sense. take Takara bone white vs. Hasbro off white for instance. it's not a G1 vs neo, or a toy accurate vs. cartoon accurate arguement. It's just a case of Hasbro making poor decisions. Decisions that should be standard to the product worldwide. These decisions shouldnt play such a huge factor of placing the Takara product on a pedastool and making the Hasbro version purposely look inferior.

1) Transformers are in their own zone, but they just are not at the same popularity as Gundam, Anime, and other franchises.

2) The prices in Japan are relative to the prices we pay in North America - the prices we pay for Takara produxts are because of s & h.

3) The toy industry is different in Japan. There's collectors in a sense and what not, but the majority of children aren't going to have the same personal space to collect toys because of smaller and more compact housing. Games take a priority instead.

4) Hasbro is not making 'stupid' choices. They're looking at opportunity costs and marginal costs. Why should they spend an additional $1 or $2 on a paint application for each figure when they don't need it to sell the product they've made? Hasbro off white Drift and FoC Jazz - we're still going to buy because it's a domestic release rather than something we have to import. Look at that FoC Bruticus toy - it's far from what I'd call a good figure, but it's still being bought up in hideous colours, more hideous colors, and even more hideous colours. A paint application here or there (or what Takara did) might spruce their toy up, but why bother. They're still going to sell X amount of units at X amount of price, there's no reason to go outside their budget.

[DinobotSix]

just noticed the reply above mentioning the Red Casseticon also using Pile Driver arms. hmm...I seem to vaguely recall it, but haven't watched the G1 anime in a while. Thanks!

So I suppose it all sounds fine in the end then.

I also recall the US anime having so many issues with cel coloring, that often you'd see Starscream in Thundercracker colors, or vice versa.

[DinobotSix]

Noticing that their names were switched for the English version of the cartoon, Takara did not want to have the same confusion between the show and toys that Hasbro had with their versions. so, to remedy their situation, They switched Rumble's and Frenzy's names back around for the Japanese dub of the cartoon, making, in the Japanese language version of the cartoon, Frenzy be the more often seen purple/blue one and Rumble be the less often seen black/red one.

First off, thanks for the interesting history of this issue.

As to the naming then, it's as I figured.

In Japan then they then refer to the blue casseticon as "Frenzy" which would seem odd, since he's the one causing earthquakes, not the red one they would know as "Rumble". but I suppose the fact that the nomenclature is from foreign language to begin with, it's not a big deal. =)

Thanks again!

[F Prime]

just noticed the reply above mentioning the Red Casseticon also using Pile Driver arms. hmm...I seem to vaguely recall it, but haven't watched the G1 anime in a while. Thanks!

Yup, it occurs at 1:33 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCB-jVLGAeo

[Sinnertwin]

Very impressive, iirrespective of the whole FIRRIB RIBFIR IFRIRB BFIIRR scenario. Glad I've got mine on preorder.

[DinobotSix]

Yup, it occurs at 1:33 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCB-jVLGAeo

Ah yes!
Thanks for the link...that scene always brings a smile to my face and warms my heart!

G1 Starscream is such a perfect bastard! =D

[Stormrider]

Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Tampograph

You can see the process explained, at 3:50 you can also see the mass production version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq24QaLArso

Very interesting. But if it's this easy, then that just opens the door for arguments on why Hasbro versions have SOME of the paint apps, but not ALL of the paint apps Takara versions have. I hate that American market vs. Japanese Market argument Hasbro always throws up in convention pannels. Theyre basically saying American kids are savages who destroy their toys and dont deserve the extra 50 cents worth of Tampo ink. Or are they saying Japanese kids dont buy toy robots, only Japanese adult collectors ? Either way, something seems lazy and cheap on Hasbro's part.

It's indeed Japanese vs. American market. Unlike Hasbro, TakaraTomy has to compete rather aggressively with big companies like Bandai. And I mean BIG: Bandai has I think the lion's share in the robot toy figure department and then some, in both the kids' and adult collector's market.

What are some of these Bandai Japanese Transforming toys that compete with Takara ??? i dont mean Gundam or Power Rangers. But robots that actually Transform. Is there a reason why Takara doesnt offer cheap Hasbro style versions meant for kids, not collectors. At 35 bucks a pop, Takara isnt doing themselves any favors trying to sell kids toys. I really dont get this whole "Asian market" thing. Either theyre kids toys or collectibles. They cant pose as both at the same price. And even with the colors of plastic chosen, it really makes no sense. take Takara bone white vs. Hasbro off white for instance. it's not a G1 vs neo, or a toy accurate vs. cartoon accurate arguement. It's just a case of Hasbro making poor decisions. Decisions that should be standard to the product worldwide. These decisions shouldnt play such a huge factor of placing the Takara product on a pedastool and making the Hasbro version purposely look inferior.

Can you explain more when you say $35 a pop for a Takara toy? Which toys are referring to? And are you referring to the price you see on the online retailers outside Japan or the price in Japan, because they are vastly different. For instance, when I lived in Japan, the Henkei series Deluxe sold for about Y1500 (which was about $14 USD at the time), which isn't too far off of par compared to Hasbro Deluxe's in the U.S. when you take in account the increased salaries in Japan due to the higher cost of living. That Y1500 eventually becomes $35 after the exchange rate, costs due to shipping, and online retailers' piece of the cut. All those factors make collecting Japanese toys expensive when living outside of Japan.

[CBratetron]

I wish Frenzy (Rumble!) came with Ravage instead, I'd much rather have those two over Rumble (Frenzy!) and Buzzsaw.

Pretty sure it was a deliberate revenue maximising company decision.