The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5749 · Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:12 pm

Kotobukiya will be delving into the Transformers franchise will a line of super deformed model kits. No images outside of the announcement that features Optimus Prime, which comes to us from Ami Ami.

News Credits: 122 · Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:19 pm

Can anyone comment on why super-deformed has become so popular? One or two lines or licensees, sure, but this seems to be a major focus of Transformers product, lately.

Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:23 pm

Some of the most complete yet fragile models I've ever put together. Pass

News Credits: 5749 · Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:20 pm

megatronus wrote:Can anyone comment on why super-deformed has become so popular? One or two lines or licensees, sure, but this seems to be a major focus of Transformers product, lately.

I was thinking the same thing as I posted this. There does seem to have been a sharp increase in the amount of SD stuff lately. (shrugs)

News Credits: 767 · Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:43 pm

Why SD? Why can't we have a super kick ass model that's normal looking? You know like the two DMKs?

News Credits: 1452 · Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:06 pm

Super Deformed has always been a popular line in Japan. The SD subline for Gundam models is tallied up in the 300+ figure range, of course being cheaper ($5 compared to like $15 for regulars) catering to a younger age group. They also require a very very small amount of plastic, maybe 2-3 runners and some stickers at max, which in comparison to regular scale, which is maybe 8-10 at the least.

Also wouldn't doubt that this is to jump on the popularity of SD globally. The popularity in the East has always been high, but the West is just exploding exponentially, with the rise and popularity of POP! Funko figures and other blind bagged products.

I wouldn't mind this, if it weren't for the fact that this is the 50th TF subline that will likely start with Optimus Prime and end with Bumblebee.

Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:06 pm

Don't know if the kit is gonna be anything like this but check it out, pretty cool stuff. I've seen a shattered glass version as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321237613142?ss ... 1423.l2648

News Credits: 1235 · Sat Jul 26, 2014 10:51 pm

More first look images are coming out of Wonder Festival. This time the Ami Ami gives us a look at the Kotobukiya D-Style SD Optimus Prime. Prime looks to come with his iconic blaster and energon axe as well as at least one extra hand and miniature version of his truck alt mode.

News Credits: 5749 · Sun Jul 27, 2014 11:46 am

More news from Wonderfest from the folks over at Autobase Aichi. Fewture have revealed they will be releasing Arcee and Elita-1 in their line of non-transforming EX figures, both come with alternate heads. Also on display: Ultimetal Optimus Prime, EX Optimus Prime, EX Grimlock, EX Alpha Trion, ES Rodimus, ES Optimus Prime, and Unicron head.

Also on display:
Kotobukiya licensed products
Kubrick Bearbrick Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, and Starscream
Legacy of Revoltech Optimus Prime

Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:06 pm

Arcee please. Grimlock looks cool too.

Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:28 pm

I like the pose that Arcee is in.

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

I kinda want the giant Unicron head for my office.

News Credits: 2 · Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:59 pm

Arcee and Elita-1 will be mine for sure

!

News Credits: 60 · Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:33 pm

Finally! An official, not hard to find, straight out of the box playable Elita-1! Instant buy!

Mon Jul 28, 2014 2:34 am

that bearded Alpha Trion is the best action master ever.. we're getting quite a lot of them this year!!! wow! :BANG_HEAD:

News Credits: 461 · Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:06 pm

Thanks to Japanese retailer Amiami we get new images of the D-Style Convoy by Kotobukiya. This release is a licensed, non-transforming, super-deformed version of Optimus Prime/Convoy. Check out the images we've mirrored below and remember keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates, plus the best galleries around!

Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:09 pm

Oh, god is this guy cute!
I wonder if they'll make more.
Megatron could hold himself.
Soundwave could JaAm out to himself.
Wait, would Soundwave come with a minion? Probably not.

-

News Credits: 3 · Fri Oct 24, 2014 11:46 pm

I hereby dub thee: Cutiemus Prime! :lol:

All joking aside,he is so cute!!!

Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:56 am

Is it just me, or do Hasbro and Takara depict G1 Optimus differently? Takara tends to chibi-fy him slightly, while Hasbro often gives him the proportions of Movie Optimus. For instance, the head. Takara's version has rectangular eyes, a flat faceplate. and a rounder face, making him look slightly adorable. Hasbro's depiction normally has triangular eyes, an angled faceplate, and a thinner face, making him look quite aggressive. Is this the American Kirby is Hardcore effect at work?

Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:51 pm

Actually, no.
Well, depends on your point of view.
I don't think it is Angry Kirby, seeing as Transformers started in America.
This would mean that TakaraTomy is changing Optimus from sharp to more chibi.
Instead of America making Optimus more sharp and angry, it's the other way around.
So, kind of Angry Kirby, but not exactly.

News Credits: 767 · Mon Oct 27, 2014 5:47 pm

Metro Prime wrote:Is it just me, or do Hasbro and Takara depict G1 Optimus differently? Takara tends to chibi-fy him slightly, while Hasbro often gives him the proportions of Movie Optimus. For instance, the head. Takara's version has rectangular eyes, a flat faceplate. and a rounder face, making him look slightly adorable. Hasbro's depiction normally has triangular eyes, an angled faceplate, and a thinner face, making him look quite aggressive. Is this the American Kirby is Hardcore effect at work?

It's not just you, it's actually what happens. But it's not to chibify him (except for stuff like this), it's to make him look more "Japanese". Takara's Optimus heads always seem to emulate the Gundam head look, which makes sense considering how popular Gundam is in Japan.

As for this thing here, gotta be honest, getting really sick of SD figures. These things are everywhere now. I mean seriously, it looks like every company on Earth is making an SD figure based on Transformers these day. And worst of all, this one looks really bland and boring compared to many of the others that came before it.

Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:44 pm

All I need now is a price. I want the Kids Logic SD Prime, but that price is too much. Would love to have this if the price is right.

News Credits: 461 · Wed Oct 29, 2014 9:34 am

a Cobra Viper wrote:All I need now is a price. I want the Kids Logic SD Prime, but that price is too much. Would love to have this if the price is right.

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=TOY-RBT-3836&page=top%2Fsearch%2Flist%3Fs_keywords%3Dtransformers%24pagemax%3D40%24getcnt%3D0%24pagecnt%3D1

2,160 Yen at Amiami so like 20 bucks plus shipping?

News Credits: 372 · Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:22 pm

And now, a D-Style Megatron!

More pix: Kotobukiya.

HLJ has preorders up: Optimus Prime & Megatron, $20-22 each.

News Credits: 372 · Sat Jan 24, 2015 6:07 am

Saw some pix on Twitter, and it looks like this figure requires some work other than assembly...

It appears the Ion blaster & Matrix of Leadership come unpainted.

The Matrix storage is plain compared to the promotional image.

Eyes aren't painted babyblue. The insignia is not tampographed on his shoulder. And the elbow joints aren't red.

And he doesn't have the black lines around the sculpt/paint details (but this might be a good thing.)

I knew it was labeled a "model kit" but kind of thought it meant the assembly. I think I can pull it off though. :-?