The Energon Pub

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:04 pm

Takara Tomy is teaming up with Japan's JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, along with Toyota to create a crowdfund to produce Lunar Cruiser Prime. The figure is based on JAXA's Lunar Cruiser which will deploy from their Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) in August. And if you think this is Takara Tomy cashing in on a timely crossover opportunity you'd be wrong. JAXA claims they were inspired by Takara Tomy's ability to make small, complex robots and tapped them to design the SORA-Q changing robots that will also be dispatched onto the moon. How great is that? The Lunar Cruiser Prime figure itself stands around 7" tall and comes with a solar panel and antennas that can be positioned in different spots.

Obviously such a unique collaboration means some unique ways to obtain one. First there's standard purchasing when he's available at retail in late March 2024 for 11,000 JPY. But there's also a Japanese crowdfunding option through Campfire that comes with some unique perks. For 11,000 JPY through Campfire the figure will be available a month earlier in February 2024. For 14,300 you can add a stand (the same stand first seen with MP Beast Wars Megatron) with Lunar Cruiser Prime written on the side. And for 50,000 JPY you can get a special message from original Convoy/Optimus Prime and Lunar Cruiser Prime actor Tessho Genda himself. The campaign begins June 8, though it's not yet known when the retail pre-orders will open.

This is a pretty different collaboration that we really haven't seen the likes of before. No word on if Hasbro will take part in any form of sales, but we'll keep you posted as we find out more!

News Credits: 7 · by **TulioDude** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:31 pm

This looks pretty cool!

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:38 pm

Everything about this is just awesome

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:57 pm

That's pretty neat. Ill probably get it if it's not hard to pick up. I will say that it would be nice if they try to use a different mold for some of these besides Optimus.

News Credits: 1 · by **Cheetron** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 5:24 pm

This is freaking awesome! I want so bad but I know ill never be able to afford this. And he'd always stay in a box. In a tote.

News Credits: 42 · by **TF-fan kev777** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 5:56 pm

This will be very hard to say no to.

by **SpaceEagle** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 6:12 pm

Looks really cool, might get one tbh.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 6:38 pm

This is AWESOME

by **Whifflefire** » Thu Jun 01, 2023 9:22 pm

This is a fantastic idea, and it looks absolutely splendid as well! I really hope this becomes available stateside, I'd love to get one to have next to Sky Lynx.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Jun 02, 2023 4:27 pm

I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Fri Jun 02, 2023 5:07 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

There's really no way around it. Ideally it would be someone like Roller or Countdown, but for a project this big it really had to be Optimus. That's not to say there won't be a repaint later.

Emerje

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Fri Jun 02, 2023 5:29 pm

Emerje wrote:
Gauntlet101010 wrote:I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

There's really no way around it. Ideally it would be someone like Roller or Countdown, but for a project this big it really had to be Optimus. That's not to say there won't be a repaint later.

Emerje

Nemesis Prime :WHISTLE:

by **SpaceEagle** » Fri Jun 02, 2023 7:11 pm

Gotta use the character that sells the best!

I do think a typical "Ultra Magnus" redeco would suit this nicely, though it might be a bit too blinding at the same time. :lol:

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:12 pm

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:
Emerje wrote:
Gauntlet101010 wrote:I love it! I just wish it wasn't Prime. Talk about overused!

There's really no way around it. Ideally it would be someone like Roller or Countdown, but for a project this big it really had to be Optimus. That's not to say there won't be a repaint later.

Emerje

Nemesis Prime

Well sure, if you want the obvious repaint.

Though I do agree that Ultra Magnus would be neat, he'd be identical to Prime in Lunar Cruiser mode, but be all white in bot mode. I suppose they could do the same trick with Nemesis, replace the red with black.

Emerje

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Jun 02, 2023 11:21 pm

I don't have a Crossover Nemesis Prime yet, so hopefully they announce that. I do want this, though even if they only do an OP. It'd look even better in Nemesis colors.

TBH, though, one of the things that kept me away from most crossovers was the overuse of Prime (and Megs) as the main guy. If I wanted a Prime shelf, I'd have a Prime shelf. The Crossover line is exactly what I want - a line of desperate TF crossovers with a variety of characters. So I want to be careful how many Primes I have.

I appreciate how Canon did it. Prime, Nemesis Prime, and Reflector (the most appropriate character for the mode and the one I have sitting in my pile of loot at BBTS.) The guy oozes Prime, but I'd go for Roller or Countdown. I don't have Roller or Countdown on my shelf at all.

This one, though, I'll break for if they don't release Nemesis or Magnus colors (although I do have a "crossover" Magnus for my crossover shelf and not enough bad guys). Although, yeah, Nemesis couldn't be a black moon rover he could still have a black and white robot mode, which would look cool

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Sat Jun 03, 2023 12:29 am

That's a very good concept for a robot, but WHY PRIME? AGAIN?
Yeah, I know, Prime sell.

I'm gonna pass, but if they make a "white Prime" Ultra-Magnus repaint where the out-of-place red and blue are replaced with the white of the vehicle, I'd be all over it.

News Credits: 9 · by **triKlops** » Sat Jun 03, 2023 12:41 pm

Really interesting alt mode and concept behind this, regardless if its another Prime.
I did think, very quickly after seeing this, how great it would look next to the DOTM Walmart Prime with Comettor set; all things being equal and relative.

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_(Movie)/toys#OptimusComettor

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Comettor_(DOTM)

News Credits: 149 · by **Big Grim** » Mon Jun 05, 2023 6:51 am

That is properly awesome! I'd really like to get that if at all possible!

~ Grim

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 9:17 am

Heads up, this guy is shipping from Amazon. My final price was about $71 which is OK, but not that great of a savings over the Hasbro price, saved like $6 or so after tax. It'll be here next week.

Emerje

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 9:48 am

I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay". [-(

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:40 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay".

I'm sure it sold a lot more this way. Though like the Canon crossover I suppose they could do someone unexpected later like Cosmos, but Takara Tomy isn't great about doing original characters for these things.

Emerje

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 11:07 am

Emerje wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay".

I'm sure it sold a lot more this way. Though like the Canon crossover I suppose they could do someone unexpected later like Cosmos, but Takara Tomy isn't great about doing original characters for these things.

Emerje

I do know that Optimus is obvious business sense.

But "artistically" speaking, OCs are much better. Like :HASBRO:

does for all of their X-Over bots.

Just imagine if the Jurassic Park sets, it would have been Optimus VS... Optimus.
And Optimus Dolorian. Optimus Ecto-1. Optimus Top Gun jet. Optimus Turtle. X-Men Optimus. Stranger Things Optimus.
:HEADHURTS:

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 11:13 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
Emerje wrote:
-Kanrabat- wrote:I would have much prefer an original bot rather than Optimus "in cosplay".

I'm sure it sold a lot more this way. Though like the Canon crossover I suppose they could do someone unexpected later like Cosmos, but Takara Tomy isn't great about doing original characters for these things.

Emerje

I do know that Optimus is obvious business sense.

But "artistically" speaking, OCs are much better. Like does for all of their X-Over bots.

Just imagine if the Jurassic Park sets, it would have been Optimus VS... Optimus.
And Optimus Dolorian. Optimus Ecto-1. Optimus Top Gun jet. Optimus Turtle. X-Men Optimus. Stranger Things Optimus.

More like Optimus Prime vs Beast Megatron, Sideswipe Delorian, Ratchet Ecto-1, Jetfire Maverick, Ironhide Party Wagon, and Stranger Things Skids.
.
.
.
I'd buy all of those. :twisted:

Emerje

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 12:57 pm

Emerje wrote:More like Optimus Prime vs Beast Megatron, Sideswipe Delorian, Ratchet Ecto-1, Jetfire Maverick, Ironhide Party Wagon, and Stranger Things Skids.
.
.
.
I'd buy all of those.

Emerje

Well, THAT would be logical and acceptable.

But you know the :TAKARATOMY: