The Energon Pub

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/japanese-transformers-40/masterpiece-prowl-bluestreak-and-smokescreen-update-177553/

Takara-Tomy are continuing to approach manufacturers who they do not have rights to use the vehicles of - you might get your VW Bumblebee or your Porsche Jazz yet folks!

This is some hopeful news!

We get some new information from the latest Figure King magazine from Transformers Go! to Encore to Masterpiece. Autobase Aichi has posted the original Japanese summary. Here are some translated and paraphrased excerpts. Thanks to Seibertron member Sabrblade for some translation corrections.

• The catchy Samurai motif of the Transformers Go! combiners used to appeal to Takara's own consumers.
• The headsculpts of the three new Go! toys were each based on a specific Japanese Samurai stereotype. Kenzan (the police car) is modeled after a typical Samurai warrior with a top-knot, Jinbu (the yellow jet) is based on an armored Samurai with a Kabuto helmet, and Gan'ō (the fire truck) is designed after a Sohei, or "warrior monk".
• The new headsculpt of Gaidōra (Lazerback remold) is based on an Oni, a breed of monster from Japanese folklore.
• Generations Grimlock and Ratbat will be released in June
• Encore Fortress Maximus has surpassed sales expections so hopefully there will be more Encores to come.
• The delay of MP Prowl and Streak is due to Takara receiving more orders than they expected.
• MP Smokescreen will be revealed soon with design differences.
• Takara-Tomy is working on getting more car manufacturers to license their designs for future Masterpieces.
• There will be a significant announcement at the Tokyo Toy Show June 15-16.
• For sale at the Tokyo Toy show will be the first 3 Transformers Go! combiner bots, as well as Masterpiece Tigertrack with non-chrome version of Amazon Japans MP Lambor pile drivers.
• TG-23 Metroplex will have different paint applications from U.S. version and feature 2 guns compared to the 1 that Hasbro's version has.
• Mcdonalds is set to run another Transformers Happy Meal promotion on June 21st.

I'm excited for a Smokescreen. I'm impressed with both Prowl and Bluestreak releases but the Smokescreen color scheme is one that i really want on my shelf. Plus i like the character a lot more then either Prowl or Bluestreak.
I'll be looking forward to seeing more news about Smokescreen.

I didn't spring for a Fort Max, but I'm glad to hear it's selling so well! Same with the 2 upcoming Masterpieces! Always nice to see collectors making a sales impact. Further proof that Hasbro should consider revising its "kid's toy" marketing...

And dammit! Another McD's toy promo??? Some of those past, Japan-only kid meal toys have been kinda spiffy (the cell phone charms with Prime figs popping out of food)! I wonder what these new ones will be like? Anyway, insult to injury is that they debut on my B-day. DAMMIT!

Got those masterpieces preordered

I'm hoping they get the licence to produce a Masterpiece Mirage (could do a clear one and a red one too with the mold), Wheeljack, Jazz and Hound! I think a Masterpiece Ironhide and Ratchet would work quite well too!

I don't buy the excuse that MP Prowl and BlueStreak are delayed due to soaring preorders. When has that stopped Takara, Hasbro, or any manufacturer in the past? It doesn't. They release what they have and then produce more and ship those at a later time.

Stormrider wrote:I don't buy the excuse that MP Prowl and BlueStreak are delayed due to soaring preorders. When has that stopped Takara, Hasbro, or any manufacturer in the past? It doesn't. They release what they have and then produce more and ship those at a later time.

Yeah, I thought that was strange too unless someone could give a couple of examples from previous release regardless which line.

LOST Cybertronian wrote:The catchy Samurai motif of the Transformers Go! combiners used to emphasize the presence of Takara-Tomy in the global market.

I think something got a little mixed up in the translation.

The Samurai motif isn't to appeal to global markets, but to TakaraTomy's own consumers.

Also, a few more tidbits not listed in the OP:

• The headsculpts of the three new Go! toys were each based on a specific Japanese Samurai stereotype. Kenzan (the police car) is modeled after a typical Samurai warrior with a top-knot, Jinbu (the yellow jet) is based on an armored Samurai with a Kabuto helmet, and Gan'ō (the fire truck) is designed after a Sohei, or "warrior monk".
• The new headsculpt of Gaidōra (Lazerback remold) is based on an Oni, a breed of monster from Japanese folklore.
• Generations Grimlock and Ratbat (the Japanese ones, that is) will be released in June
• Something about Shining Optimus Blaster that I can't quite make out.

Sabrblade wrote:

LOST Cybertronian wrote:The catchy Samurai motif of the Transformers Go! combiners used to emphasize the presence of Takara-Tomy in the global market.

I think something got a little mixed up in the translation.

The Samurai motif isn't to appeal to global markets, but to TakaraTomy's own consumers.

Also, a few more tidbits not listed in the OP:

• The headsculpts of the three new Go! toys were each based on a specific Japanese Samurai stereotype. Kenzan (the police car) is modeled after a typical Samurai warrior with a top-knot, Jinbu (the yellow jet) is based on an armored Samurai with a Kabuto helmet, and Gan'ō (the fire truck) is designed after a Sohei, or "warrior monk".
• The new headsculpt of Gaidōra (Lazerback remold) is based on an Oni, a breed of monster from Japanese folklore.
• Generations Grimlock and Ratbat (the Japanese ones, that is) will be released in June
• Something about Shining Optimus Blaster that I can't quite make out.

Thank you! These kinds of news posts are kind of iffy when relying on computer translations.

I can't wait to see them Smokescreen pictures. I'm sure his colors will be greaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

Just a major correction on the "global" portion: In TOMY's FY2010 report, they reported a steep decrease in sales within their Japanese market. Their explanation is that their target audience within the country has decreased, which followed up with them announcing a test market for girl's clothing. At the same time, without noting what wares sold the best, they noted the increase of sales in their Asian, European, and North American markets. In their FY2011 report, they have stated (using a 2010 graph) that North America covered 26.3% of their overall sales... Versus Japan, which covered only 7.9%.

LINK: http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/ir/financia ... ual_03.pdf

In all cases, the term "global" is validated because they cover direct markets in both portions of Asia and Japan when it comes to Transformers. They also have (indirectly) acknowledged that there are profits when and where the import market is concerned. Namely, any talks of the word "global" being incorrect would have been validated IF Hasbro disallowed their PARTNER from selling their wares to stores like TFsource and BBTS. But since Hasbro does publish and distribute TOMY-based Transformers in Asian regions that they do not have a market in, and both are aware that TOMY-based Transformers are internationally sought after... It DOES appear that TOMY did these combiners for more than just the Japanese market.

Oh, and again... I do research in things that interest me. And buying stock in TOMY was one of them before I decided that having a complete/graded set of "Encore" figures (minus the exclusives) would be more enjoyable than having shares in the company that make these figures. Oh, and if they are capable/smart, they would announce "Encore" versions of Guardian, Raiden, Ultra Mangus, Sixshot, Dinosaurer, MegaZarak, and Rodimus Convoy.

my Masterpiece smookescreen is instock at Anime Export! =D hitting ship. I think all Japanese retailers will get them soon. good luck