The Energon Pub

[Va'al]

To accompany the recently posted news with the shots of the Takara Tomy Legends Beast Wars figures here, we also have some TransFes2016 images of the main dish for the 20th Anniversary of Beast Wars - Masterpiece Beast Convoy/Optimus Primal! Though we have already seen this in colour, you can take a look at some more grey prototype images below, showing off the fur feature in gorilla mode, and a nice pose for the robot, plus accessories!

[shajaki]

What on earth is that non-transforming gorilla doing there?

[Va'al]

What on earth is that non-transforming gorilla doing there?

Reference model?

[william-james88]

What on earth is that non-transforming gorilla doing there?

Reference model?

It seems to be an unpainted version of what was shown one year ago:

[shajaki]

What on earth is that non-transforming gorilla doing there?

Reference model?

It seems to be an unpainted version of what was shown one year ago:

Immediately what my mind jumped to, but I thought (nay, hoped even) that it was a new accessory. But an entire figure as an additional accessory is quite an addition

[Optimum Supreme]

What on earth is that non-transforming gorilla doing there?

Reminds me of this big plastic King Kong piggybank I had as a kid. And looks almost as articulated.

[President-prime]

Aren't these figures supposed to be called "masterpiece"? Why are we're getting faces of robots and gorilla apart from the toy itself. Couldn't they just incorporporate those faces into the actual toy. I hate "losing faces!" They could just do something like the Generation and animated Blitzwing, or Masters of the universe man e faces. And don't tell me it's cost. It's not like the toys are $30. It's a masterpiece! It's supposed to be the definitive version of that character.

[shajaki]

Aren't these figures supposed to be called "masterpiece"? Why are we're getting faces of robots and gorilla apart from the toy itself. Couldn't they just incorporporate those faces into the actual toy. I hate "losing faces!" They could just do something like the Generation and animated Blitzwing, or Masters of the universe man e faces. And don't tell me it's cost. It's not like the toys are $30. It's a masterpiece! It's supposed to be the definitive version of that character.

So... because he can't store the extra faces, he's not the definitive version?

[galvatron00]

Currently, I'm still ok with my decision to cancel my pre-order.. it WOULD be cool if you could store the extra faces, like MP Magnus! At least one extra face storage would be neat.

[Insurgent]

That's what the box is for. For MP, the look and style of the character is much more important than having a bulge to store five faces.

[President-prime]

@shajaki. Is that a rhetorical question? To me, he's not!

[william-james88]

Aren't these figures supposed to be called "masterpiece"? Why are we're getting faces of robots and gorilla apart from the toy itself. Couldn't they just incorporporate those faces into the actual toy. I hate "losing faces!" They could just do something like the Generation and animated Blitzwing, or Masters of the universe man e faces. And don't tell me it's cost. It's not like the toys are $30. It's a masterpiece! It's supposed to be the definitive version of that character.

I think that because they are marketting these to adults, they probably think that these will be treated with care and trust us not to lose them like what we used to do with small parts when we were kids.

[Sowndwave76]

For what it is, it actually looks pretty cool.
And yet, I still have zero desire to have it in my collection.

[President-prime]

Thank you for response and non offensive comment. Like people not liking backpacks or bits and pieces of car parts visible on the robot, I prefer my figures fully in tact. Personally, I feel that figures where we need to switch parts or extra this and that other than weapons and additional accessories are not definitive. figures are creeping up to the hundreds now. How hard is it to create a face where it could be flipped out. But that's just me. You guys can disagree.

[william-james88]

Thank you for response and non offensive comment. Like people not liking backpacks or bits and pieces of car parts visible on the robot, I prefer my figures fully in tact. Personally, I feel that figures where we need to switch parts or extra this and that other than weapons and additional accessories are not definitive. figures are creeping up to the hundreds now. How hard is it to create a face where it could be flipped out. But that's just me. You guys can disagree.

Of course, I understand, but I dont think Takara is thinking the same way you are with this line and what the title means. This looks a lot like they are trying to imitate the Hot Toys or Mesco which are about being the most definitive version of a character. And part of that means that they are customisable to imitate every situation you may want to pose them in on a shelf. So these are more like extras catering to hardcore fans rather than pieces they find integral to the actual toy.
I really think this is just a difference in understanding of the point of the line. You arent the only one, many fans find their strictness to the cartoon to be the line's current flaw.

Here is an idea of what they are imitating in their approach to this line:

[D-Maximal_Primal]

He is still a badass looking figure

[fenrir72]

Thank you for response and non offensive comment. Like people not liking backpacks or bits and pieces of car parts visible on the robot, I prefer my figures fully in tact. Personally, I feel that figures where we need to switch parts or extra this and that other than weapons and additional accessories are not definitive. figures are creeping up to the hundreds now. How hard is it to create a face where it could be flipped out. But that's just me. You guys can disagree.

Parts switching seems to be more economical. Extra mechanisms on such a small figure might break the bank for a certain project to be green lit. Been done for sometime even for higher end figures like SoC, figma etc.

Oh and don't be afraid to break the mold with your posts. We all have our own preferences.

[Ironhidensh]

Thank you for response and non offensive comment. Like people not liking backpacks or bits and pieces of car parts visible on the robot, I prefer my figures fully in tact. Personally, I feel that figures where we need to switch parts or extra this and that other than weapons and additional accessories are not definitive. figures are creeping up to the hundreds now. How hard is it to create a face where it could be flipped out. But that's just me. You guys can disagree.

Parts switching seems to be more economical. Extra mechanisms on such a small figure might break the bank for a certain project to be green lit. Been done for sometime even for higher end figures like SoC, figma etc.

Oh and don't be afraid to break the mold with your posts. We all have our own preferences.

Even high end Macross toys come with some degree (usually just hands) of parts switching. I guess it's just something I've come to expect.

[fenrir72]

Thank you for response and non offensive comment. Like people not liking backpacks or bits and pieces of car parts visible on the robot, I prefer my figures fully in tact. Personally, I feel that figures where we need to switch parts or extra this and that other than weapons and additional accessories are not definitive. figures are creeping up to the hundreds now. How hard is it to create a face where it could be flipped out. But that's just me. You guys can disagree.

Parts switching seems to be more economical. Extra mechanisms on such a small figure might break the bank for a certain project to be green lit. Been done for sometime even for higher end figures like SoC, figma etc.

Oh and don't be afraid to break the mold with your posts. We all have our own preferences.

Even high end Macross toys come with some degree (usually just hands) of parts switching. I guess it's just something I've come to expect.

And to get around mass shifting/proportionality issues. Slight deviation. If you recall the Bandai Godaikins of the 80s. Not proportional. Some heads like Toshio Daimos had big heads and wee bodies for the Tranzer. The SoC version version dealt with the issue by having a proportional head swap.

As Ironhidensh mentioned, Yamato and some Bandai Macross figs switched hands with the puffed marshmallow type to the mechanical gear detail type. So like MP-UM, awesome as it is would have looked nice if he had poseable fingers to hold the Matrix.

But nothing wrong in wanting the whole package without switching parts.

Still, for a non BW TFfan, I bit the bullet and ordered him. Too bad it won't be one with the extra weapon like the one for the Asia market

[Va'al]

Last time we saw the upcoming first Beast Wars Masterpiece figure from Takara Tomy, it was very much unfinished - but it looks like Transformers MP-32 Beast Convoy/Optimus Primal is ready to maximize and roll out at the Tokyo Toy Show, as you can see in the images mirrored below via DaimChoc Reports (if you find the actual source, please let us know!). The accessories are all gathered together, both gorilla and robot mode are shown, so scroll down and take a look!

[Big Grim]

Looks good. That stand looks like it's a bit uncomfortable though!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

He is such an awesome looking masterpiece

[Insurgent]

[Samsonator]

Looks like they ditched the weird, almost metallic blue on the beast mode face and chest. I was going to get one either way, but this makes me feel even better about it.

[DecepticonFinishline]

Dude! YES!

.... But seriously.... Bat-mask...