The Energon Pub

[El Duque]

Courtesy of twitter user trafes20120505 we some scans from a Japanese trade publication that reveals Takara Tomy's official name for Transformers Prime Beast Hunters, Transformers Go! The scans, which we've mirrored below, include Transformers Go!, Generations, Super GT, and Be Cool. The only new figure information comes from the Be Cool line. 2012's Transformers Bot Shots Launchers will be released in new colors.

[Bumblevivisector]

Seems like that title would've been more appropriate for the Japanese dub of TF Animated.

Maybe there's a tie-in to the game?

Oh wait game, of course, they're telegraphing that Beast Hunters will indeed be the last season via Monopoly reference:
Transformers Prime will NOT pass GO->...

[Mindmaster]

So the silhouetted Generations Scourge next to Grimlock, that's supposed to be Senator Ratbat, right?

[hinomars19]

So the silhouetted Generations Scourge next to Grimlock, that's supposed to be Senator Ratbat, right?

Yup

[Ultra Markus]

TEEN TITAN TRANSFORMERS GO!

[Sabrblade]

When there's trouble you know who to call... Transformers!
From their HQ they can see it all... Transformers!
When there's Deceps on the attack,
You can rest knowing they got your back,
Cuz when the world needs heroes on patrol...
Transformers GO!

With their transformations they unite... Transformers!
Never met a villain that they liked... Transformers!
They got the bad Cons on the run.
They never stop till the job gets done.
Cuz when the world is losing all control...
Transformers GO!

One, two, three, four, GO!
Transformers



EDIT: Ninja'd by previous post.

[Sargent]

GO-Bots?

[Sabrblade]

GO-Bots?

[Rated X]

Dumbest name of the year award goes to "Transformers Go".

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Interesting that the Autobots and Decepticons have "Hunter" in front of their names. I wonder what the gimmick will be. It does acknowledge the characters coming from Prime and the "NEW Style"

In case it was missed, the toy line will launch in April.

[Sabrblade]

Interesting that the Autobots and Decepticons have "Hunter" in front of their names. I wonder what the gimmick will be.

Spikiness?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Interesting that the Autobots and Decepticons have "Hunter" in front of their names. I wonder what the gimmick will be.

Spikiness?

Aside from that

[Evil Eye]

Japanese Transformers names have always been...odd.

I'm interested to see whether they will continue with the "model kit" approach though.

[STngAR]

Creative.

[Ultra Markus]

When there's trouble you know who to call... Transformers!
From their HQ they can see it all... Transformers!
When there's Deceps on the attack,
You can rest knowing they got your back,
Cuz when the world needs heroes on patrol...
Transformers GO!

With their transformations they unite... Transformers!
Never met a villain that they liked... Transformers!
They got the bad Cons on the run.
They never stop till the job gets done.
Cuz when the world is losing all control...
Transformers GO!

One, two, three, four, GO!
Transformers



EDIT: Ninja'd by previous post.

i can already hear the music to that...
awesome

[KNM2012]

Hearing this makes me wonder what we should expect from them, and what kind of season Beast Hunters will become. Because to be honest, the last time they made a change to a series name... It was Beast Machines. And atop of becoming "Beast Wars Return," it became a Satellite Station exclusive. Then again, it was put out years later and the toys were Toys"R"Us exclusives. So there is a 50/50 chance that will not happen, even though the season/series is short.

As for this news... It excites me! I mean it may mean that they will go from what happens in PRIME and actually give us, the fans of their Arms Micron line, a sequel... Kind of like Beast Wars II. They have the potential and also have Lio Convoy (as Leo Prime) there. So all I can say is that I am excite for a chance to hear about that. That, and maybe a Beast Saga-like version of ALL SPARK. But that is me being a fanboy of their stuff right now.

[PrymeStriker]

Transformers Go?

Okay. There's an outhouse over yonder.

[Sabrblade]

Because to be honest, the last time they made a change to a series name... It was Beast Machines.

What about their renaming of Transformers: Prime into being "Chou Robot Seimeitai Transformers: Prime" (Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Prime)? Yeah, they kept the "Prime" part, but the "Chou Robot Seimeitai" part was new to the title, since it wasn't in the English name. And, not every Japanese series name has used the "Chou Robot Seimeitai" part.

[KNM2012]

Because to be honest, the last time they made a change to a series name... It was Beast Machines.

What about their renaming of Transformers: Prime into being "Chou Robot Seimeitai Transformers: Prime" (Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Prime)? Yeah, they kept the "Prime" part, but the "Chou Robot Seimeitai" part was new to the title, since it wasn't in the English name. And, not every Japanese series name has used the "Chou Robot Seimeitai" part.

How about this then? The point you are trying to make is based on the fact that Takara announced that CarRobots was not going to be a new G1 series. Hence the lack of the moniker. And that the same was said when they collaborated with Hasbro when it came to the Micron/Unicron Trilogy. Yet, forgot to mention that the addition of the moniker dates back to Beast Wars, and the fact that they used it as a way of saying that this is their version of the franchise... And their version is more appropriate for their own target audience. Which was a practice completed in 2004, when Beast Machines (as "Beast Wars Returns") made its first and only real TV appearance on satellite only channel network MobaHO! - TAKARAND (note: corrected that error) before re-airing on Cartoon Network Japan. But even then, it was still edited for the target Japanese audience.

Hence when they announced this toyline with a new moniker, which could easily be "Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Prime: GO!" in the end, we all know that they have access to the planned events for season 3. But seriously, 13 episodes? It sounds like a series too short to promote a toyline on TV, hence the exclusive approach that they can revive. Meanwhile, starting a new series starring Leo Prime and his own team of Autobots, versus Decepticons that want to both revive and serve Unicron. (Speculations, but mostly based on his Arms Micron profile.) Plus, it would help cap things off by having the movie be part of a double-feature, with the other part being an event that has both Leo and Optimus teaming up for a brief event.

So tell me... Would you prefer hoping that this decision may mean you get to see Lio Convoy/Leo Prime return to the small screen? Or the point you tried making here?

[Antron]

So, will Go! still feature microns? I was at TF source and the pics they are using for Japanese Beast Hunters looks to have the US toy weapons. It could just be a place holder but I'm curious how long they are going to ride the Micron gimmick out. I personally like the Microns.

They were a cheap into to Japanese Transformers and I'm definitely going to start buying some Takara versions from here on out. With US prices going up so much the hit doesn't seem as hard now.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

So, will Go! still feature microns? I was at TF source and the pics they are using for Japanese Beast Hunters looks to have the US toy weapons. It could just be a place holder but I'm curious how long they are going to ride the Micron gimmick out. I personally like the Microns.

They were a cheap into to Japanese Transformers and I'm definitely going to start buying some Takara versions from here on out. With US prices going up so much the hit doesn't seem as hard now.

It doesn't look like TF:Go! while features Arms Microns, but don't be surprised if they do return again as store give-aways.

[KNM2012]

So, will Go! still feature microns? I was at TF source and the pics they are using for Japanese Beast Hunters looks to have the US toy weapons. It could just be a place holder but I'm curious how long they are going to ride the Micron gimmick out. I personally like the Microns.

They were a cheap into to Japanese Transformers and I'm definitely going to start buying some Takara versions from here on out. With US prices going up so much the hit doesn't seem as hard now.

Like Jelze said, they might do a store campaign for the Arms Microns themselves. However, seeing how they are the result of Earth-based energon mutating the Cybertronian technology in TOMY's fiction... I have to assume that they will not have these be based on Earth. Or, at the very least, within the same continuity. Not sure yet what to think. But between us, I am 100% hoping that they will do a series starring Leo Prime.

[Antron]

So, it looks like I have no real reason to start paying more for Takara toys after all. The Arms Micron series is sweet and I'd pony up for those just because they came with something you don't get in the US. But, if it's gonna be like all of the other series again, what's really the point?

Are Takara toys HONESTLY worth twice the price if they are just gonna be copies of the US toys? Sure, I hear they are "made better" but how? Better plastic? Aren't they all manufactured at the same place?

I was sort of excited to be in the market for Japanese figures and the dramatic differences between the PRID and the Arms Micron lines really made it feasible. Now I'm back to "'eh".

So, now that they've removed my incentive, I'd like for some of you folks to tell me why I should spend twice the money, to a foreign economy on top of it, for a product that, for now, seems to not be even close to twice the toy now that they lack that exclusive Micron appeal.

I haven't seen any of the Go! toys that I'm aware of so I am making some assumptions. Please feel free to correct me. (That is ultimately what I want.) And before you start putting planks together to make crosses to nail me to, I am well aware that I am supporting a foreign economy on about 80%-90% of my purchases, but why should I deny Hasbro US of their cut? If the products are substantially better then I don't have any issues of where my money goes.

Please post your opinions. I know there are a lot of collectors on one side of the fence or the other but I'd really like to hear from both sides. Preferably people who have experience with both US and Japanese toys. Thanks for all of your input so far. Even though it really wasn't the news I wanted to hear.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Generally speaking, TakaraTomy versions have more paint apps compared to Hasbro versions and sometimes differences in plastic colors. More often than not this results in better accuracy, but whether or not it's worth the extra dough is up to one's individual tastes.
If the differences are minor I go with Hasbro, especially if it's cheaper and plentiful. However, if TakaraTomy releases a unique version or is easier to come by, I'm all over it.

[KNM2012]

Antron, it is simply this: Takara Tomy pieces cost more because they are imports. So you are paying the same price as it would cost to buy it here, plus additional import related fees.

And on a different note... I am skipping on GO! for the time being, as it appears that GO! is nothing more like they are either going to have this line fill in any gaps tied to their PRIME continuity or just add it to their own Generation One multiverse. Or that PRIME is just another branch of the post-merger Generation One tree. All possible because from what I am seeing, unless things change, "EG" and "G" are the same line... With "EG" possibly meaning "Early Generation." And for those who have not seen the current line-up, here it is (compliments of TFsource):

EG-01: Optimus Prime
EG-02: Bumblebee
EG-03: Prowl
EG-04: Smokescreen
EG-05: Hound
EG-06: Tank Megatron
EG-07: Starscream
EG-08: Airachnid
EG-09 and EG-10: TBA
G-11: Optimus Prime
G-12: Dragotron (Predaking)
G-13: Shockwave
G-14: Bumblebee
G-15: Bulkhead
G-16: Wheeljack
G-17: Starscream
G-18: Soundwave
G-19: Smokescreen

And to be honest, here is what I am thinking: "....."

Granted, it is their call. They already introduced Lio Convoy (as Leo Prime) into this continuity, which means that they have full rights to say that their version of PRIME is part of the Generation One multiverse. It is their call. They can also say that the events in their own timeline go: EG -> AM -> G. That also would make sense.

But for me... Yeah. I am now wondering what this means for the "Beast Hunters" line, and if those are actually red herrings in the most part. And if that is the case, I also wonder what it will mean for TOMY's handle of season 3.