Interview With Takara Tomy Designer Hirinori Kobayashi--Hints At Next Masterpiece Figure?

I think we may see a possible Sunstorm or Acidstorm repaint of the MP seeker mold; maybe a slight remastering for Ramjet/Thrust/Dirge. Also, G2 colors for Grimlock?

For new molds, I'm hoping for a MP Swoop.

I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

Or can it reverse engineer some form existing toys and still turn up a profit without them being ridiculously overpriced?

I wouldn't want to have to pay more than $200 bucks for all 5. $40 a pop seems about right. Maybe $50 for Grimlock since he's most popular.

Would people like to see them in a box-set or individually?

As far as Masterpiece molds. I think we'll see a Grimlock recolor first, before anything else. Though Soundblaster may be a good candidate for Masterpiece-ness.

Also a repaint of Megatron is more than overdue in this line.

MP Tailgate. Do it, Takara.

Aren't there enough of these threads?

I think the next release will be a repaint. I really want a new Decepticon mold.

Overcracker wrote:As far as Masterpiece molds. I think we'll see a Grimlock recolor first, before anything else.

You're right...

Overcracker wrote:

Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

You're forgetting that Hasbro and Takara share resources and thus molds. If Hasbro says the molds are lost, chances are Takara can do squat. And the Encore Devastator rumor keeps persisting? It's false people, that box shot was fake.

I agree with the next Masterpiece being a repaint, if there is gonna be any. Picking a famous character is getting harder and harder with each new release. If they're gonna make a new mold, I'm hoping it's Star Saber from Victory.

I could see them doing Soundwave as a new mold. That would give them plenty of options for MP tapes to sell. I know I would buy every one of those. Heck, they could do a black repaint as Soundblaster and a red one as Blaster. Make that money!

If they could retool the MP Seeker mold into a conehead we would obviously get Dirge, Thrust, and Ramjet. That seems the most logical. As far as a brand new MP mold I'm sure they would want something they could get at least one repaint out of. Iron and Rachet come to mind and they didn't appear in teh BT/Alt line. Bumblebee and Cliffjumper come to mind as well, but considering they are making an appearance in the Alternity line that probably diminishes their chances. A MP combiner would be truly epic in my book, but that also seems unlikely.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

You're forgetting that Hasbro and Takara share resources and thus molds. If Hasbro says the molds are lost, chances are Takara can do squat. And the Encore Devastator rumor keeps persisting? It's false people, that box shot was fake.

I agree with the next Masterpiece being a repaint, if there is gonna be any. Picking a famous character is getting harder and harder with each new release. If they're gonna make a new mold, I'm hoping it's Star Saber from Victory.

True, but Hasbro also said Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx were utterly unattainable, yet Takara got the molds and produced the encore versions. Which can still be purchased at very reasonable prices by the way.

So I'll still hold some hope that we may see the Dinobots at some point. Devy would also be cool.

However at this point I'd rather see Blitzwing and the Stunticons first.
Blitzwing at least is a good possibility since there is a mold in existence.

Has/Tak has already stated that reverse engineering a mold is a piece of cake, so loss of the original mold shouldn't be that big of an issue. They have also stated they don't really consider doing reissues of figures that have been KO'd since the KO's are essentially filling the demand for that particular figure. That seems like the more reasonable explaination to me.

SJ21 wrote:I could see them doing Soundwave as a new mold. That would give them plenty of options for MP tapes to sell. I know I would buy every one of those. Heck, they could do a black repaint as Soundblaster and a red one as Blaster. Make that money!

My only concern with a(n) MP Soundwave is they may not have much room to jazz it up and it'll just turn into an oversized version of the G1 figure with gimmicks and a little added articulation, even more so than Grimlock. I guess for some people that would be considered perfection, but for $100-150 I want a little more action than folding out the arms and legs and flipping up the head. Maybe they could do more with the cassettes, but even those seem to be limiting in options. But if it happens, maybe I'll be surprised...

Overcracker wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Overcracker wrote:

Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

You're forgetting that Hasbro and Takara share resources and thus molds. If Hasbro says the molds are lost, chances are Takara can do squat. And the Encore Devastator rumor keeps persisting? It's false people, that box shot was fake.

I agree with the next Masterpiece being a repaint, if there is gonna be any. Picking a famous character is getting harder and harder with each new release. If they're gonna make a new mold, I'm hoping it's Star Saber from Victory.

True, but Hasbro also said Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx were utterly unattainable, yet Takara got the molds and produced the encore versions. Which can still be purchased at very reasonable prices by the way.

Wasn't that before the Takara-Tomy merger? Sky Lynx and Omega Supreme were Tomy's property after all.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Wasn't that before the Takara-Tomy merger? Sky Lynx and Omega Supreme were Tomy's property after all.

That was it exactly.

Masterpiece Transformers news has been on our minds recently. With the new images of the Black Convoy repaint of Masterpiece Prime, and the upcoming release of the Grimlock special edition (comic colors), fans are trying to guess the future of the Masterpiece line.

An interview with the designer of the upcoming Revenge of the Fallen 'Buster Prime', Hirinori Kobayashi, shares some insight into the design process, designers not always being happy with what the company ends up producing, and a possible hint at what the next Masterpiece figure is.

He (referring to Hirinori) was in charge of all Masterpiece products, except for MP-3. He again hints of the new MP next year 2010, which has a significance to Transformers. ("2010" is s Japanese title for G1 season 3.)

You can read the rest of the translated interview at Tformers.com, and come on back over to discuss what you think this clue leads to in the 'hunt for the next masterpiece figure'.

My guess...





Make your own predictions below!


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Hope you're wrong. There are so many other figures I would like to see get the MP treatment before Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime.

El Duque wrote:Hope you're wrong. There are so many other figures I would like to see get the MP treatment before Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime.

I could be wrong. 2010...leader, takes over as Prime. Possible to make as Hot Rod and transforms into Rodimus...I think it might be kind of sweet.

Lots of other possibilities too.

Kibble wrote:SJ21 wrote:
I could see them doing Soundwave as a new mold. That would give them plenty of options for MP tapes to sell. I know I would buy every one of those. Heck, they could do a black repaint as Soundblaster and a red one as Blaster. Make that money!
My only concern with a(n) MP Soundwave is they may not have much room to jazz it up and it'll just turn into an oversized version of the G1 figure with gimmicks and a little added articulation, even more so than Grimlock. I guess for some people that would be considered perfection, but for $100-150 I want a little more action than folding out the arms and legs and flipping up the head. Maybe they could do more with the cassettes, but even those seem to be limiting in options. But if it happens, maybe I'll be surprised...

I am sure they could come up with a way to make Soundwave more more intricate to transform. I know the G1 mold doesn't involved much, but neither did Grimlock's. They managed to make Grimlock a great figure. I would like to see a new Decepticon mold before another Autobot comes out.

If they are planning on using Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime, my guess is that they choose Hot Rod. You really can't do R.P. without his Winnebago-trailer-thing. Making that would probably cost them a lot more money. I mean, they didn't origionally include a trailer with MP Prime.

I like Hot Rod's car mode better anyway.

El Duque wrote:Has/Tak has already stated that reverse engineering a mold is a piece of cake, so loss of the original mold shouldn't be that big of an issue.

They have more-or-less stated that. Please note that it is extremely expensive to do this which I imagine is more the reason why they haven't started pumping out reissues of old school Transformers left and right yet.

El Duque wrote:They have also stated they don't really consider doing reissues of figures that have been KO'd since the KO's are essentially filling the demand for that particular figure. That seems like the more reasonable explaination to me.

They definitely DID NOT state that. If anything, the KOs would show the exact opposite point ... which is that they should make these figures because there's a demand for them.

FYI - KO figures that were recently reissued: Takara Tomy's Encore Rumble and Frenzy.

I'm holding out hope for MP Galvatron as far as new MP molds go.

I expect and demand a US release of Thundercracker. My US MP Starscream and Skywarp look lonely. Plus I want to re-create some AHM scenes with Cracker and Warp.

heh...funny hint but I`m gonna guess on that hint that it WON`T be Rodimus Prime but MP-09 Ultra Magnus Perfect Edition WITH his trailer armor. why? well gee, it`ll take the least effort and they can milk the MP-01 mold some more. plus, Prime got HIS trailer in MP-04 so Magnus is overdue for his.

Rodimu's trailer is MUCH smaller than Optimus' ... and MPs in general are smaller, so they may very well do him, trailer and all.

Although I'm much more of a Hot Rod fan myself ...

I'm hoping for Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, myself, as he's one of my favorite characters. I can only imagine how awesome an MP version could be. Of course, I'd be just as happy with a Galvatron as well.

kirbenvost wrote:I'm hoping for Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, myself, as he's one of my favorite characters. I can only imagine how awesome an MP version could be. Of course, I'd be just as happy with a Galvatron as well.

Since when have you liked Rodimus??? I never knew! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

My best guess foir MP09? Galvatron or Hotrod.

As a wildcard hows about a MP Wheelie with Sharkticon?

MP Cyclonus and Scourge would rule as would a MP Arcee

Neurie wrote:My best guess foir MP09? Galvatron or Hotrod.

As a wildcard hows about a MP Wheelie with Sharkticon?

MP Cyclonus and Scourge would rule as would a MP Arcee

MP Arcee could be a monumental toy for many reasons, and of course, they could repaint it add nauseum putting whomever female name they would like on it.

Since there was no G1 toy produced and released, this would indeed be a phenomenal piece.

With all the extra bells and wistles that MP's often get, it'd be cool to see a MP Hot Rod that is also MP Rodimus Prime and is able to convert between the two somehow. Doesn't seem like it's be terribly easy to do or necessarily even possible, but the transformation on the movie Prime toy shows me they can at least do a lot more than I would have thought possible.

I'm hoping for Fortress Maximus, as tall as G1 Scorponok.

tigertracks 24 wrote:

kirbenvost wrote:I'm hoping for Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, myself, as he's one of my favorite characters. I can only imagine how awesome an MP version could be. Of course, I'd be just as happy with a Galvatron as well.

Since when have you liked Rodimus??? I never knew! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Since I first saw the G1 toy...neighbor's melted windshield and all. :p Later on, I dunno, I just think he looks cool, and he's not as annoying as everyone makes him out to be, IMO. Is that why you're loling? :p

If there is an mp HotRod(or Rodimus) im going to put money aside for it as soon as its announced and preorder it first chance i can. I missed out on Megatron (still pissed about that) im not gonna miss out on my favorite autobot of all time. Same thing if theres a Soundwave one. But the next MP I want to see is Mirage. There hasnt been a F1 TF in so long its time to make another. Hell ill be happy if they make an F1 mirage of any class even ROTF.

yellow Camaro wrote:I'm hoping for Fortress Maximus, as tall as G1 Scorponok.

I'd hope for a Fortress Maximus, as tall as G1 Fortress Maximus!

Am I the only one hoping it's Galvatron?

If it's either Galvatron or Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, they can claim my money now. I'd go up to $150 for a proper MP of either of them.

Rodimus and Galvatron seem like obvious choices, though I am hoping for Soundwave or Shockwave, or continue with the Dinobots.

Gee, tough question, as they already evened them up... No, wait, there's three Autobots and 2 Decepticons. Who am I talking about, you might ask. Well, there's Optimus Prime, Grimlock, and Ultra Magnus, then on the Decepticon side there's Starscream and Megatron. Oh, yea, then there's the two other Seekers. Man, this reply is complicated... Yea, it's gonna be either Rodimus Prime or Hot Rod.

They need to make a Soundwave. Hell, for all we know it could be him he was in 2010.

MASTERPIECE KUPP!!!

My guess is Galvatron.

How about they just come up with a trailer/armor upgrade for MP-02 repackage the whole set and call it the Perfect Edition Ultra Magnus. They're already half-way there.

This probably won't happen, (due to the 2010 hint, most likely Rodimus), but I am hoping for MP Ironhide. Only the Masterpiece treatment can produce a G1 accurate Ironhide for both robot and vehicle mode, since the cartoon robot mode was essentially a cheat to cover up the fact that the original toy robot did not have a head. Obviously, they can milk the mold for a Ratchet repaint.

I think everyone can agree that Wheelie deserves the MP treatment.

I can see Hot Rod or Rodimus Prime. The only other Autobot I can easily see would be a complete Ultra Magnus or Bumblebee, both of which I want ahead of Rodimus Prime, though.

Bumblebee's sort of small, but is an integral figure if you ask me, and his G1 figure sucked. Bad.

Decepticons? I can see several more, but I'd say I'm hoping Soundwave above all else, and possibly Shockwave as new sculpts. But I don't know how popular Shockwave would be. Retools of the coneheads makes sense, and I'd buy all 3 of them.

But if they're doing "Leaders", then Rodimus and Galvatron have to go hand-in-hand. I was hoping they'd end the line with those two though, as they're not high on my list.

One thing in Rodimus's favor is the fact that the new Black Convoy has Rodimus on his comm-link, and that's been an indicator before of which MP would be coming next previously. The only one appearing on the screen before who we haven't seen an MP of is Bumblebee, which is the one thing that throws that off.

^Interesting, has that communicator bit been confirmed, or just speculation?

Mkall wrote:Am I the only one hoping it's Galvatron?

I mentioned him. I just stated my slight preference for Hot Rod first.

Hot Rod would be cool.

Just as long as he is in scale with MP Prime. If it is Hot Rod he should be the size of an Alternator. If they are going for Rodimus Prime he should be bigger in botmode than an Alternator.

MP Grimlock was a disappointment in my book, figure is way too small.

kirbenvost wrote:^Interesting, has that communicator bit been confirmed, or just speculation?

No idea if it's been proven by any reliable source, but it's been a pattern I've noticed. I've read others' comments too, and they seem to have found the pattern.

MP-01 had Bumblebee and Starscream, if I remember correctly, then the MP-02 had Prime on the comm-link (the other arm just had some techno-babble), MP-04 had Megatron AND Grimlock...

So far, the only comm-link to not "preview" (and precede) a forthcoming figure is the MP-01 Bumblebee comm-link. I found it odd that it was Starscream on the MP-01 display, and not Megatron, then we got Starscream. MP-02 wasn't previewed, but Starscream-forward were.

I'm assuming that the Black Convoy comm-link wasn't an accident, and is a sneak-peak at the next MP.

I could be 100% wrong and it's all speculation, but it's worked so far.

I would kill for a Masterpiece Triple Changer! MP Blitzwing anyone?

Otherwise I'd be happy for a Galvatron or Rodimus. Or maybe the Perfect Edition Ultra Magnus.

I bet they'd be itching to do Bumblebee, if only Volkswagen would let up on the use-of-image thing. Not only would it be a well-known and iconic character, but the repaints and remolds could go on for a while. Masterpiece Glyph and Tap-Out as exclusives, anyone?

Galvatron or Rodimus would be nice. I can't see Soundwave really working - there are too many aspects which can't be usefully reconciled.

However, there is one possibility that everyone seems to have overlooked for the moment (possibly due to the Binaltech version of him). A highly repaintable, well-known G1 character who appeared in many stories and arcs, has continued appearing in comics to the present day, and who forms part of the Autobot command structure.

Who would be interested in... Masterpiece Prowl?

Geminii wrote:
However, there is one possibility that everyone seems to have overlooked for the moment (possibly due to the Binaltech version of him). A highly repaintable, well-known G1 character who appeared in many stories and arcs, has continued appearing in comics to the present day, and who forms part of the Autobot command structure.

Who would be interested in... Masterpiece Prowl?

It's a nice idea, but....

a) The Classics/Henkei Prowl is pretty damn G1 accurate already.
b) There's really not enough detail or interest to Prowl. There's no real room for lights or sound, no extra accessories beyond his rifle and shoulder missiles (and maybe a Chip Chase figure?)
c) He's not that popular a character among many fans, owing to his having been turned into a simperimg wimp by Furman's writing.
d) Maintaining a license (eg. Nissan) could be expensive for a figure of high price and short production length.
e) Unless he was shorter than both Prime and Grimlock, people will bitch about scale again.

On the plus side, he could be repainted into Bluestreak and Smokescreen...