The Energon Pub

Kurona wrote:Also, I think that silhouette is taken straight from the show. I mean, the beast mode is clearly taken from packaging art, so it'd be weird to have a silhouette of the toy in one mode and a silhouette of art of the toy in another.

Thank you for recognizing this. The more people understand that these silhouettes aren't of the toy, the less misinformation is spread.

I've been looking around trying to find the original non-blackened version of the robot mode image and the closest I can find is the pose Cheetor makes at the end of his stock footage beast-to-robot transformation sequence, only mirrored and at different angles than the one seen in this silhouette.

If I recall correctly (and based on the simple fact that Japan had FAR more BW toys/merchandise, and even shows than the US/other countries), Beast Wars was really popular in Japan during its heyday. Hopefully that means that Takara's decided to push forward with a full line of MPs dedicated to the Beast Wars. Based on that post about them waiting to see how Primal does would seem to indicate otherwise though unfortunately.

Oh well, here's hoping that all those Japanese Beast Wars fans are still as excited and dedicated to collecting the Beast Wars as I am and Takara just can't produce enough Primals, Cheetors and any other BW characters they decide to give the MP treatment to so that they lock in plans to go ahead with the full line (all of season 1, all of season 2/3 (Transmetals, TMIIs etc.) and give us hardcore Beast Wars fans/collectors what we've been dreaming of for so long (especially after the decent, though not perfect teases we got with Generations Rhinox and Waspinator, not to mention Tankor and Legends Blackarachnia): full on perfect show/CG accurate versions of the full Beast Wars cast from all seasons. At least for the US series, though I'd totally be down with buying me some Japanese Beast Wars MPs as well (Lio Convoy, Big Convoy, Longrack, heck, pretty much all of the unique/exclusive BW Neo characters would be good).

xyl360 wrote:If I recall correctly (and based on the simple fact that Japan had FAR more BW toys/merchandise, and even shows than the US/other countries), Beast Wars was really popular in Japan during its heyday. Hopefully that means that Takara's decided to push forward with a full line of MPs dedicated to the Beast Wars. Based on that post about them waiting to see how Primal does would seem to indicate otherwise though unfortunately.

Oh well, here's hoping that all those Japanese Beast Wars fans are still as excited and dedicated to collecting the Beast Wars as I am and Takara just can't produce enough Primals, Cheetors and any other BW characters they decide to give the MP treatment to so that they lock in plans to go ahead with the full line (all of season 1, all of season 2/3 (Transmetals, TMIIs etc.) and give us hardcore Beast Wars fans/collectors what we've been dreaming of for so long (especially after the decent, though not perfect teases we got with Generations Rhinox and Waspinator, not to mention Tankor and Legends Blackarachnia): full on perfect show/CG accurate versions of the full Beast Wars cast from all seasons. At least for the US series, though I'd totally be down with buying me some Japanese Beast Wars MPs as well (Lio Convoy, Big Convoy, Longrack, heck, pretty much all of the unique/exclusive BW Neo characters would be good).

*imagines a fully poseable masterpiece magmatron*

One way they could possible handle Cheetor's skinny beast hind legs and his thicker robot legs is by having the tail split in have and attaching to each hind leg to give them more mass in robot mode.

ZeroWolf wrote:

xyl360 wrote:A bunch of stuff I said

*imagines a fully poseable masterpiece magmatron*

Yes, YES, OOOOOOH HELL YESSSS!!!

I loves me some Magmatron, and having an MP version would be amazing. I still plan to create a custom pre-Earth mode Magmatron (from the comics) at some point. I've been looking at FansProject's upcoming Dia-Battles figure as well as the official MP version Takara's coming out with, though I haven't quite decided which one works best for Magmatron yet as they both have their high points and faults with regards to how much they look like his pre-Earth form from the comics (either way, some modding in addition to paint work will be involved).

Sabrblade wrote:One way they could possible handle Cheetor's skinny beast hind legs and his thicker robot legs is by having the tail split in have and attaching to each hind leg to give them more mass in robot mode.

I figure they'll probably just hide his beast mode legs by having them fold up inside (either the side or rear) of his robot mode legs, which themselves will come out of his main body, as with most of his bot mode parts. I can't see any other way of pulling off a show accurate appearance in both modes because his beast mode limbs would be way too tiny (the very reason Has/Tak couldn't pull it off with the Classics/Henkei figure). I expect his transformation will involve a lot of panels and pulling out his bot mode parts from the main body mass with his beast mode parts being hidden/condensed on his back and several faux beast mode kibble components built into his bot mode limbs/body parts (likely with the exception of his beast mode head, which probably will still collapse into his torso as it does on the show, facing downward resting in a cavity). They likely will still have his legs (though it could be switched to the rear instead of the front, depending on how they engineer the thing) become kibble hanging on his back, but this time in the proper show orientation and with the gold metal 'discs' facing front and the limbs themselves hanging crossed behind his back.

xyl360 wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

xyl360 wrote:A bunch of stuff I said

*imagines a fully poseable masterpiece magmatron*

Yes, YES, OOOOOOH HELL YESSSS!!!

I loves me some Magmatron, and having an MP version would be amazing. I still plan to create a custom pre-Earth mode Magmatron (from the comics) at some point. I've been looking at FansProject's upcoming Dia-Battles figure as well as the official MP version Takara's coming out with, though I haven't quite decided which one works best for Magmatron yet as they both have their high points and faults with regards to how much they look like his pre-Earth form from the comics (either way, some modding in addition to paint work will be involved).

You'll have to post pictures up of the work once you've completed it

How long was it between the MP primal announcement and shots of the prototype?

The 2016 Tokyo Toy Show decided to go out with a bang with the reveal of the second Beast Wars Masterpiece Toy, MP Cheetor. The picture below, showing the prototype, comes from a tweet by Takara Tomy themselves. This toy, like Masterpiece Optimus Primal, is very faithful to the cartoon model. It will be coming with different faces for the robot and beast mode as well as the two weapons the original toy came with. Optimus Primal was revealed at this very show last year and now that we can see him at this same show finalized a year later, it is time for this process to start again with Cheetor.

That looks amazing. More ladder magic! Maybe it's an illusion with it being a gray prototype, but it looks like they pulled off the "flattened" Cheetah head on the chest in robot mode. I've been staring at the pic trying to see how they did it or trying to figure out what's creating the illusion, but I can't see it. It almost looks like the ears are further back on the cheetah chest but I doubt they'd cheat. Is anyone else seeing this or is it just me?

Looks great. Bring on the rest of the main cast!

C'mooooooon Shadow Panther recolor and Tigatron remold. Cataclysm would be cool, too.

Annnnnnnnd...please confirm Waspy and/or Dinobot. Preferably, AND.

I think I figured it out. It looks like the ears might rotate, which if they do, would provide him with some more facial expressions in beast mode, and accommodates the "flattened" look I'm seeing with the robot mode chest.

Oh my gosh
Oh my gosh
...Oh my gosh

I need this in my life!

News post updated with new angles

Tranzilla wrote:C'mooooooon Shadow Panther recolor and Tigatron remold. Cataclysm would be cool, too.

Annnnnnnnd...please confirm Waspy and/or Dinobot. Preferably, AND.

It'd be cool Shadow Panther used the Tigatron remold (who should have a bulkier body), but with an actual panther head.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

MORE MASTERPIECE BEASTIES!!!!!!!

He's not my favorite BW character, but this honestly looks way too good to pass up. I can only hope Megatron, Waspinator and Dinobot are coming soon (and Depth Charge, but from what people have said he seems far less likely). Whatever happens, I'm far more excited for more of these than the G1 characters!

Oof, there be some robot kibble on his cheetah hind legs.

Im not into beast wars, but damn this thing is awesome! i think he will be my first beast wars figure

There be some kibble indeed, but there's always 1 mode that suffers a bit. I don't really see how else they could have done it, with skinny cheeta legs turning into thick robot trunks.
The rest of him, and especially the bot mode, looks amazingly toon-accurate. The head crest seems a smidge large, but that's nitpicking.

Just... Speechless... God damned amazing.

...Tempted to cancel my pre-order for Primal, not to put my money towards this, but because I really don't think I need Beast Wars Masterpieces.

I think my wallets going to have a major meltdown!

That looks incredible, bravo Takara, you're skilled designers have me in awe. Now though, bring on the megatron