The Energon Pub

[Va'al]

Once again via fellow Seibertronian kurthy, we have an update on the Takara Tomy exclusive Golden Lagoon figures - featuring Optimus Prime, Perceptor, Sea Spray and Beachcomber - and specifically their ordering dates for the set, which is also being released for the 35th Anniversary of the brand.

We previously knew that these figures were set to come out over the course of 4 months, with Optimus coming in August at Wonderfest for 15,000 yen, Unite Warriors Starscream in October through TakaraTomy Mall for 3,800 yen, and Perceptor, Beachcomber, and Seaspray in November also through TakaraTomy Mall for 8,000 yen. What the recent Takara Tomy tweet points out is that:

The 35th anniversary of the Golden Lagoon Mall Limited Edition 3-body set is available on the 2nd day of the week until 13:00!
The quantity and the reservation period remain low.
Because it is a set of three main characters that appeared in the spring of the Golden Lagoon, you do not miss buying! Booking ↓â†

It is unclear at this point if they're only referring to a set inclusive of all three, and whether this negates the previous staggered release info we covered. If you find out any more details, please let the news staff know!

[starfish]

I’m no Japanese expert, but I assume their reference to the “3-body set” is just the Seaspray / Perceptor / Beachcomber three-pack? Sounds like they’re just extending the pre-order period for that particular set.

Starscream pre-orders don’t go up until the end of July, and Prime is a con exclusive.

[Sabrblade]

So, how much are we expecting Starscream to be for us Western World consumers? He's the only one I want (to repurpose as Sunstorm).

[Emerje]

So, how much are we expecting Starscream to be for us Western World consumers? He's the only one I want (to repurpose as Sunstorm).

If there's an Asia release then probably $40, if not then maybe more like $50-$60 since they can't get them wholesale. He's the only one I want as well so I'm hoping for the $40 mark.

Emerje

[william-james88]

The ACG Hong Kong 2018 show is underway and while it is outside of Japan, Takara is there in full form (since many Takara products are sold in Hong Kong through Hasbro Asia). The Golden Lagoon figures were on display and we got photos of them from the Transformers Never Die Facebook group.

The toys feature Optimus Prime, Perceptor, Sea Spray and Beachcomber, which are being released for the 35th Anniversary of the brand. Optimus and Starscream are being released individually while the rest are being released in a three pack. Will you be getting some of these? Will you be getting that Starscream to add to your Starscream combiner?

[Blitzwing is bae]

AWWWWWW! THIS IS GONNA HURT MY WALLET BUT THEY ARE GIVING ME A CLLECTOR BONER!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shajaki]

The boxes are pretty dope. When will Convoy be hittin the streets?

[o.supreme]

Will you be getting that Starscream to add to your Starscream combiner?

[shajaki]

[Sabrblade]

Will you be getting that Starscream to add to your Starscream combiner?

I want to, yes, but the golden Screamer will be repurposed by me as Sunstorm.

[legoadam2005]

I dont need it...

I dont need it...

....

I NEED IT!!!!!!!!!!

[shajaki]

[Sabrblade]

Wait a sec, what's Hasbro's logo doing on those signs?

[william-james88]

Wait a sec, what's Hasbro's logo doing on those signs?

COMPLETE BRAND UNIFICATION!!!!!!!!

[Sabrblade]

Wait a sec, what's Hasbro's logo doing on those signs?

COMPLETE BRAND UNIFICATION!!!!!!!!

Yet... "Convoy". In English, even.

[shajaki]

Wait a sec, what's Hasbro's logo doing on those signs?

COMPLETE BRAND UNIFICATION!!!!!!!!

Yet... "Convoy". In English, even.

And here I thought they were ditching the Japanese monikers. I haven't seen "Convoy" in a while, unless it's a reissue.

[Sabrblade]

Wait a sec, what's Hasbro's logo doing on those signs?

COMPLETE BRAND UNIFICATION!!!!!!!!

Yet... "Convoy". In English, even.

And here I thought they were ditching the Japanese monikers. I haven't seen "Convoy" in a while, unless it's a reissue.

It's a little complicated. Ever since 2007, some lines have kept the Japanese names, while others used the Hasbro names.

Here's a rundown of which toylines in Japan (and their respective media of fiction) used which names from 2007 to today:

Binaltech (2007 onward) - Takara names
Masterpiece (2007 onward) - Takara names
2007 Movie 1 - Hasbro names
Beast Wars Telemocha Series - Takara names
Encore - Takara names
Music Label - Takara names (save for the fully-colored Music Label Optimus Prime)
Sports Label - Takara names
Henkei! Henkei! - Takara names
Alternity - Takara names
Revenge of the Fallen - Hasbro names
Device Label - Takara names
Autobot Alliance - Hasbro names
Animated - Hasbro names (save for renaming Bulkhead as "Ironhide" and Ironhide as "Armorhide")
United - Hasbro names
Dark of the Moon - Hasbro names
Chronicle - Hasbro names and Takara names for certain figures (the two box sets used Hasbro names, while the EZ Collection figures used Hasbro names for only the Movieverse Legends class molds and Takara names for the G1/G2-based Legends class molds)
Prime - Hasbro names
Generations - Hasbro names
Go! - Hasbro names for the non-new characters, all new names by Takara for the new characters
Cloud - Hasbro names (save for Hot Rodimus and the all new name of Hellwarp)
Movie Advanced Series - Hasbro names
Lost Age Series - Hasbro names
Legends - BOTH names! Takara names in Katakana, Hasbro names in Latin script (save for the two Black Convoy toys keeping "Black Convoy" in both language scripts)
Q-Transformers - A varying mixture of Hasbro and Takara names
Adventure - Hasbro names for the most part, but Greejeeber, Adams, and Stepper used Takara names in both Katakana and Latin script, while Shrapnel has his Takara name "Sharpnel" in Katakana and his Hasbro name in Latin script
Unite Warriors - Takara names in Katakana and Hasbro names in Latin script
Movie the Best - Hasbro names
Power of the Primes - Hasbro names
The Last Knight - Hasbro names

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Hong Kong (where the event is taking place) is still Hasbro territory. Most likely this isn't Hasbro proper, but Hasbro Asia talking.

[Va'al]

Also via Weibo and its user 蓝色正午, we have some new images of the Takara Tomy Transformers Golden Lagoon redeco of Masterpiece figure MP-10 Optimus Prime / Convoy - the umpteenth version of this specific toy, before the arrival of the third version of the same character in the same line.

Check out the mirrored images below, also including the shiny black box, with golden letters and logos, and images of both robot and alt-mode on the front; let us know what you think of the shiny new paint job on the Autobot commander in the Energon Pub discussion boards - will you be n-th dipping with the toy, or is this overkill by now?

[ScottyP]

This is pretty cool for a (presumably) final version of this Optimus. Diggin' the black and gold packaging!

[-Kanrabat-]

One thing is sure. A certain someone's wallet is screaming right now!

[Emerje]

So I ended up ordering a Starscream off TTM today. After tax and shipping costs within Japan I'm currently sitting at about $41~. I still thinking it'll run between $50 and $55 total when it ships in October. If all goes well I might make a guide on how to order from Japan-only stores using a mailing service (I use Tenso).

Emerje

[shajaki]

[chuckdawg1999]

What exactly are we meant to see in the circle?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

What exactly are we meant to see in the circle?

Pretty sure it's not it, but it looks like gold plastic breakage at the hinge area