The Energon Pub

Rodimus Prime wrote:Looks like I'll be coughing up the big bucks for the 25th anniversary edition, then, unless I find a 2010 edition cheaper. I plan on displaying it in planet mode, as that's how I have my Primus as well. It makes less of a difference in color scheme in planet mode, right? And I realize I could just look at pictures, but I'd rather have opinions of other fans who have seen them with their own eyes or held them in their own hands.

WAAAAAAAAAAIT!

If you follow the TF Haul Thread, you may have noticed that I often get TFs at some ridiculous prices from a local guy.

HE HAVE A USED 2010 UNICRON FOR SALE. AT CAN80$.
Even with 30-something dollars of shipping, it would be an amazing deal for you. However, his sale thread is on a French site.

PM me if you want me to middleman it to you.

megatronus wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Looks like I'll be coughing up the big bucks for the 25th anniversary edition, then, unless I find a 2010 edition cheaper. I plan on displaying it in planet mode, as that's how I have my Primus as well. It makes less of a difference in color scheme in planet mode, right? And I realize I could just look at pictures, but I'd rather have opinions of other fans who have seen them with their own eyes or held them in their own hands.

I feel this may be directed at me - if so, I apologize if you felt I was snubbing you by pointing to the galleries. I just find them useful in parsing out my own personal preferences. Of course, you should solicit the opinions of fellow fans, but ultimately it comes down to what you like.

Oh no, I didn't mean that with any kind of negative connotation. I appreciate the feedback and the photos, it's not a bad thing. I meant that it's different to look at pictures than to actually hold the figures in your hands and be able to make a judgment. It wasn't towards you or any single person. It's just a general opinion I have. Sorry if it was misunderstood.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Here's another pic with food for thought:


25th Anniversary Unicron vs. United Ark Unicron

Wow, United Ark Unicron (Takara-Tomy) actually matches up in terms of color palette and deco to 25th Anniversary Unicron (Hasbro). In fact, the color matches are almost spot on, AND Ark Unicron even includes similar red highlights to those rivet details like the 25th Anniversary version. Makes you wonder now what Takara thinks of their own "Welcome to Transformers 2010" version of Unicron.

Wolfman Jake wrote:[Wow, United Ark Unicron (Takara-Tomy) actually matches up in terms of color palette and deco to 25th Anniversary Unicron (Hasbro). In fact, the color matches are almost spot on, AND Ark Unicron even includes similar red highlights to those rivet details like the 25th Anniversary version. Makes you wonder now what Takara thinks of their own "Welcome to Transformers 2010" version of Unicron.

The color matching was intentional, and it wasn't because Takara disliked 2010 Unicron's deco. Amazon Unicron & United Ark Unicron were released at similar times (mid-late 2011 & early 2012, respectively), so the cross-promotion made sense.

Besides, the Transformers Cybertron version of Ark Unicron (Hasbro) is already quite close in deco to 2010 Unicron. Since the 2010 Unicron already got a matching Ark Unicron, it stands to reason that a new release of that mold would be matched to Amazon Unicron.

Man... that's a lot of Unicron.


p.s. I had both versions of Ark Unicron, and hated 'em. They're just not worth the price of admission, IMHO.

Possibly, but it seems odd that Takara would feel compelled to match their product to a Hasbro one released for a completely different market. If I were to guess, I'd say someone who works for the joint development team made a deco choice for both Unicrons being made at that time. So, while probably not coincidental, the similarity probably isn't as intentional as you suggest either. Rather, it's a case of one guy with dominion over both products having a specific idea of what Unicron's deco should be (period).

Wolfman Jake wrote:Possibly, but it seems odd that Takara would feel compelled to match their product to a Hasbro one released for a completely different market. If I were to guess, I'd say someone who works for the joint development team made a deco choice for both Unicrons being made at that time. So, while probably not coincidental, the similarity probably isn't as intentional as you suggest either. Rather, it's a case of one guy with dominion over both products having a specific idea of what Unicron's deco should be (period).

I'm really not sure what you're trying to get at... it's odd that they match... but it was probably intentional... but it wasn't?

Transformers is a partnership between Takara and Hasbro, so I highly doubt there was just "one guy with dominion over both products" calling the shots. Releases are often scheduled years in advance, and require co-planning. Sure, there's a chance the guys at Takara said: "Hmmm... let's match the Ark Unicron deco to the latest Unicron release. What was that again? Hasbro's 25th Anniversary Unicron? Great!" But I doubt it. Things like this tend to be more coordinated than that.

This is all to say, in response to your original point, that Takara didn't match United Ark Unicron to 25th Anniversary Unicron because they thought poorly of 2010 Unicron's deco, as you implied.

Yep, I know Hasbro and Takara co-develop Transformers through a partnership. But they are also their own entities and can develop their own products as well. I'm just saying, in this case, with two different products of the same character, released in two different markets with different brandings, it's likely that an employee who straddles the partnership aspect of Takara and Hasbro designed Takara-Tomy United Ark Unicron and Hasbro 25th Anniversary Unicron with the same deco, not to make them match each other (which doesn't make a lot of sense, since they are for completely different markets), but because he or she had a concept of "Unicron's coloring" which he or she then applied to both products because he or she was working on both at the same time. Hence, it's not a coincidence, but also not intentional in the way you suggested.

Wolfman Jake wrote:Yep, I know Hasbro and Takara co-develop Transformers through a partnership. But they are also their own entities and can develop their own products as well. I'm just saying, in this case, with two different products of the same character, released in two different markets with different brandings, it's likely that an employee who straddles the partnership aspect of Takara and Hasbro designed Takara-Tomy United Ark Unicron and Hasbro 25th Anniversary Unicron with the same deco, not to make them match each other (which doesn't make a lot of sense, since they are for completely different markets), but because he or she had a concept of "Unicron's coloring" which he or she then applied to both products because he or she was working on both at the same time. Hence, it's not a coincidence, but also not intentional in the way you suggested.

The possibilities are (1) someone on the Hasbro side came up with the deco and it was adopted by someone at Takara, (2) someone on the Takara side came up with the deco and it was adopted by someone at Hasbro, or (3) the two companies collaborated on the deco.

But whether you say (1), (2), or (3), there is no single person doing decos or making final deco decisions for both companies, for the very reason that Takara and Hasbro serve different markets. That's what's really throwing me off about your argument. Your first assertion is seriously undercut by the second.

Besides, 25th Anniversary Unicron was an Amazon/BBTS exclusive in the States (I think BBTS had it, anyway), which signals that it was targeted to collectors. The thing was also available in Southeast Asia, and may have also been on Amazon Japan. If that's the case, coordinating concurrent releases of Unicron with identical decos to incentivize customers to buy both makes a lot of business sense. To me at least.

There's no single person making deco decisions, of course. But there are persons in the development of Transformers toys who do create the deco layouts, and they get particular toys as assignments. For an infamous story of such, look up the story of how Universe 2008 Smokescreen got his "stripes", as it were. There are a lot of different deco artists. Because this is my understanding, based on what I have read and been told in he past of how Takara and Hasbro operate, I'm suggesting one artist might have gotten to do both toys, if indeed there is that much cross pollination of product between the two companies.

Wolfman Jake wrote:There's no single person making deco decisions, of course. But there are persons in the development of Transformers toys who do create the deco layouts, and they get particular toys as assignments. For an infamous story of such, look up the story of how Universe 2008 Smokescreen got his "stripes", as it were. There are a lot of different deco artists. Because this is my understanding, based on what I have read and been told in he past of how Takara and Hasbro operate, I'm suggesting one artist might have gotten to do both toys, if indeed there is that much cross pollination of product between the two companies.

And here I thought we disagreed.

Yea, I'm aware of the Smokescreen story. The Universe version of that guy is a mess. Didn't the deco designer apologize for it at some point, saying it was his first time doing something like this? At least that's what I heard.

megatronus wrote:And here I thought we disagreed.

Yea, I'm aware of the Smokescreen story. The Universe version of that guy is a mess. Didn't the deco designer apologize for it at some point, saying it was his first time doing something like this? At least that's what I heard.

Yay! Communication success!

And yes, that's the same story I've heard too. Henkei Smokescreen is on my wishlist, but the aftermarket prices are off-putting. I'm hoping we might see a rerelease of him soon in another "Autobot Specialist" set like the ones Takara is currently putting out in the Asian markets.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Here's another pic with food for thought:
*amacron & united unicron*

dammit! now i have to buy united unicron?
i may have just realized... im apparently a unicron completest.

shajaki wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Here's another pic with food for thought:
*amacron & united unicron*

dammit! now i have to buy united unicron?
i may have just realized... im apparently a unicron completest.

Sorry Cybertron Unicron is a good figure, don't get me wrong, but he won't be everyone's cup of tea. To me, he's Unicron reborn with his body rebuilt from his planet-sized head (that Unicron head that initially came with Primus. Still hunting for one))

Meh, forget matching TF:TM. The best Unicron is hands down this tall, dark, and handsome devil:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

shajaki wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Here's another pic with food for thought:
*amacron & united unicron*

dammit! now i have to buy united unicron?
i may have just realized... im apparently a unicron completest.

Sorry Cybertron Unicron is a good figure, don't get me wrong, but he won't be everyone's cup of tea. To me, he's Unicron reborn with his body rebuilt from his planet-sized head (that Unicron head that initially came with Primus. Still hunting for one))

cool! i didnt know the lore behind it. i have the cybertron deluxe unicron, so i passed on the united version since it was so similar. but now that i know the differences are subtle and serves a purpose, ill get him. its the only unicron i dont have (besides the lucky draw green).

and i was fortunate enough to find a primus w/head when he originally hit shelves. the head it self cant be too expensive on ebay can it?

Actually, that's JelZe's personal lore about the toy. Not that there is anything wrong with personal fanon, but I just want to make sure you're clear on that before you spend money. I think the official Takara bio on the card is something about the Autobot Ark being taken over by Unicron. The Axalon from Beast Wars then became sentient to combat Ark Unicron, or something along those lines. It was just a wacky way for Takara to squeeze a little more money out of the United line by utilizing some molds they had originally passed on years earlier.

Cybertron Unicron = Unicron reborn from the Dead Matrix having been tossed into the black hole by Soundwave.




United Ark Unicron = Unicron's reborn from the astral plane after having taken possession of the Ark and converting it into a new tank body for himself.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

shajaki wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Here's another pic with food for thought:
*amacron & united unicron*

dammit! now i have to buy united unicron?
i may have just realized... im apparently a unicron completest.

Sorry Cybertron Unicron is a good figure, don't get me wrong, but he won't be everyone's cup of tea. To me, he's Unicron reborn with his body rebuilt from his planet-sized head (that Unicron head that initially came with Primus. Still hunting for one))

First of all... "Unicron Completist" - nice!

Second, that mold isn't really my cup of tea. He's so much smaller than one might expect, and the way the chest just juts out (which wouldn't be awful if it didn't have that hinge joint thing punctuating the front of it)... yuck. But that's just me. I'll take the good ole all-powerful planet devourer any day.

Wolfman Jake wrote:Actually, that's JelZe's personal lore about the toy. Not that there is anything wrong with personal fanon, but I just want to make sure you're clear on that before you spend money.

For some reason, I also thought Cybertron Unicron was the head reformatted as a tank. Huh.

Thanks for the clarification!

Sabrblade wrote:Meh, forget matching TF:TM. The best Unicron is hands down this tall, dark, and handsome devil:

Have to admit... not really into that version of Unicron (or the Unicron Trilogy, generally). If this thread is any indication, I'm more a Welcome to 2010/25th Anniversary guy Unicron-wise.

Here's a Unicron I'd personally love to get my hands on but know I never will:

Beach ball Unicron!

One thing that baffle me about this thread so far.
WHERE IS THE LOVE FOR THE ORIGINAL?

Unicron was THE main villain in Armada and Energon. The Armada Unicron IS the very first planetformer ever (not counting the unreleased G1 prototype). He's very colorful, very detailed, and all that clear purple plastic give him a ver organic, very "alive" look. Sure, he's not as collectible as the rest. But for it's price and it's beauty/badassness, no true Unicron Fan should be without the Armada original.

I have bot the Armada original and the "Amazon" one. One is in planet form, the other in robot mode. I alternate their forms every few weeks or months. Same thing with Primus. I have the Cybertron original and the 2010 version. Each switch places and forms from times to times.




Also, I'll never say it enough:
Throne of Chaos. 40$ well invested.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Also, I'll never say it enough:
Throne of Chaos. 40$ well invested.

Or make it a project in Shop Class. I learned how to bend plastic in that class, and this looks no different.

I have the original Armada , but would still like the Energon one and the 25th Anniversary. He's just that good.

I don't get the lack of love for the original either. It is the only one I own and I dont mind that in the least. The mold was an incredible feat then and I am still impressed now. And to be honest, they still have not perfected him, especially in the chest area. They will surely retool him or come up with a better version down the line. When that happens any of the later redecos will be worth less.
So what really interests me right now is the mold they came up with which all the versions share. And that being the case, why not go with the original and the easiest one obtainable?

william-james88 wrote:I don't get the lack of love for the original either. It is the only one I own and I dont mind that in the least. The mold was an incredible feat then and I am still impressed now. And to be honest, they still have not perfected him, especially in the chest area. They will surely retool him or come up with a better version down the line. When that happens any of the later redecos will be worth less.

The 2010 & Amazon versions ARE the retools.

I very much doubt that another huge Unicron will be released in the near to intermediate future. Unless Unicron appears in a major part of the animated or movie fiction, we won't get a new toy of him. And if we do, there's no guarantee it will be large (i.e. Prime Unicron). Huge toys are a huge expense and huge risk - that's why the 2010 & Amazon versions are retools, not new molds (besides the fact that the mold itself is suitably Classics-styled).

william-james88 wrote:So what really interests me right now is the mold they came up with which all the versions share. And that being the case, why not go with the original and the easiest one obtainable?

I just have no love for Transformers Armada, Energon, & Cybertron, so why would I want an Armada version? The Amazon version was available at a reasonable price, with a deco and head I consider vastly superior to the Armada version. For folks chasing him on the secondary market, maybe Armada Unicron is reasonable. But to say that the default choice should be Armada Unicron takes for granted the preferences of others.

megatronus wrote: The Amazon version was available at a reasonable price, with a deco and head I consider vastly superior to the Armada version. For folks chasing him on the secondary market, maybe Armada Unicron is reasonable. But to say that the default choice should be Armada Unicron takes for granted the preferences of others.

You are right. If you can get the one you want for the right price then who am I to judge. I just don't see that much of a difference between the molds. And I think there is still a lot to ameliorate with this toy, especially in the chest area.

william-james88 wrote:

megatronus wrote: The Amazon version was available at a reasonable price, with a deco and head I consider vastly superior to the Armada version. For folks chasing him on the secondary market, maybe Armada Unicron is reasonable. But to say that the default choice should be Armada Unicron takes for granted the preferences of others.

You are right. If you can get the one you want for the right price then who am I to judge. I just don't see that much of a difference between the molds. And I think there is still a lot to ameliorate with this toy, especially in the chest area.

To each their own.

I do agree the chest could be improved; the missile gimmick is neat and an interesting use of space, but unnecessary. Some customizers (I have Frog DNA in mind) have made him look amazing:



EDIT: can't link to Flickr. Help? Or you can google "Frog DNA Unicron" - thing looks outstanding.