The Energon Pub

[shajaki]

Don't see a thread for this yet, so why not! Here's what we got so far:

-First tease (art)



-Found elsewhere, editing of tease to get a better look at his torso-



And this morning's reveal of real actual plastic!



Discuss!

[ZeroWolf]

So I (somehow) managed to miss out on all previous mp primes (and recolours/reissues) so thus is good news for me in a way, but why do we need a third version? I thought mp 10 was supposed to have set the new scaling system they have been using. Does this mean that they'll do new versions of prowl etc?

[shajaki]

So I (somehow) managed to miss out on all previous mp primes (and recolours/reissues)

How? Even my dog has an MP-10

why do we need a third version? I thought mp 10 was supposed to have set the new scaling system they have been using.

Yes, everything is scaled to him and he set the tone... for scale. But the line took another turn, now towards hardcore cartoon accuracy. And MP-10 is not that. So, redo!

Does this mean that they'll do new versions of prowl etc?

I doubt it, they're close enough. However it is possible that we might see some of the earlier MP's (post 10) like Sideswipe redone. If the demand is there I mean. Prime is easy to justify, others not so much.

[ZeroWolf]

How I missed out? Not having any money I see so the swing towards total cartoon accuracy is what's fueled this

[fenrir72]

In Japan, iconic robots always get the 'plastic surgery treatment".

RX-78-2. The original Popy version sucked like eggs! Hajime Katoki made it a kick butt Mobile suit. Already lost track on how many versions he got. Granted, under numerous lines like the PG,MG,Metal Build etc.

Optimus of course in under a single, MP line.


If Takara wants to perfect him, go right ahead. Also, incorporate Roller's six wheel drive he had in THS-02.

[Cyberpath]

Decent scan from Loopaza Mega Store --

⠀

[Glarryg]

As one of the handful of TF fans who never owned an MP Prime, I'm wondering what's so cartoon-inaccurate about either of them. Are they too detailed? Not drawn sloppily enough? Frankly, it bugs me to read about them doing this stuff when they could be spending their time making other characters, like Huffer or Brawn.

Glarryg

[shajaki]

The only criticism I understand about this new Prime, is the the time and resources being put to this as opposed to new characters.

But MP-10 doesn't fit the "exact" cartoon look they're currently going for. And as Fen pointed out, flagship characters like this are prone to getting a slew of figures and updates made. This new figures existence shouldn't take anything away from MP-10. If you don't like it, don't buy it, and hug your MP-10 tight.

Y'know what this make's me look forward to? Pairing this new guy up with MP-36, and pairing up MP-10 with an MP-36+ if you get my thought process

[ZeroWolf]

I think I get it, pair the two cartoon accurate rivals together and pair up two toy accurate rivals together.

[shajaki]

I think I get it, pair the two cartoon accurate rivals together and pair up two toy accurate rivals together.

I already have an MP-10 with custom yellow eyes, and I'm going to order some Repro's for him as well. I'll make my own MP-10+ to square off with MP-36+

[ZeroWolf]

Its certainly a good idea but what do you do with mp 01

[Evil Eye]

The only criticism I understand about this new Prime, is the the time and resources being put to this as opposed to new characters.

But MP-10 doesn't fit the "exact" cartoon look they're currently going for. And as Fen pointed out, flagship characters like this are prone to getting a slew of figures and updates made. This new figures existence shouldn't take anything away from MP-10. If you don't like it, don't buy it, and hug your MP-10 tight.

I suppose that's fair, but as someone who vastly prefers the older MP style to the newer, more cartoon-literal style, it does get my goat that we probably aren't getting any more "Hasui-style" MPs, and it means I'm unlikely to buy any newly released official MPs. Like, if this new direction was being developed concurrently to the older, more detailed style, I wouldn't mind- choices are good. The fact that it's outright replacing the older design philosophy, meaning people who want a consistent cast style are either going to have to replace large parts of their collection or are SOL, really sucks IMO.

Y'know what this make's me look forward to? Pairing this new guy up with MP-36, and pairing up MP-10 with an MP-36+ if you get my thought process

That I can completely get behind.

[shajaki]

With the 3P market the way it is, I don't think anyone will be SOL. There's enough people out there who don't like the cartoon accurate direction, and I bet the 3P's will be there to fill that gap. And hell, with the rising costs of the official MP's, they'll probably even be the cheaper option!

[Emerje]

As one of the handful of TF fans who never owned an MP Prime, I'm wondering what's so cartoon-inaccurate about either of them. Are they too detailed? Not drawn sloppily enough? Frankly, it bugs me to read about them doing this stuff when they could be spending their time making other characters, like Huffer or Brawn.

Glarryg

Mostly it's the overall shape and positioning of some parts that will make the difference between MP-10 and whatever the number 3.0 gets. The new figure has lower smoke stacks, a bigger ab grill, and probably wont have visible tires/covers on his legs or the bulge on his back for hiding his head in truck mode (though that last part could be hidden by a jet pack). Plus the colors would probably be quite different, using lighter grays and whites in place of the darker grays and silvers.

As for why they choose to redo characters over making new ones: money. Not just quick profit, but also as a means to help fund the development of new MPs.

Emerje

[Cobotron]

Its certainly a good idea but what do you do with mp 01

Same thing I've always done. Put him in charge of my Alternators.

[shajaki]

Its certainly a good idea but what do you do with mp 01

Same thing I've always done. Put him in charge of my Alternators.

MP-1 and 5 are perfect for a BW display

[Cobotron]

Its certainly a good idea but what do you do with mp 01

Same thing I've always done. Put him in charge of my Alternators.

MP-1 and 5 are perfect for a BW display

Oooooh, yeeeeaah. For sleepy ark corpse mode. I like it!

[ZeroWolf]

Its certainly a good idea but what do you do with mp 01

Same thing I've always done. Put him in charge of my Alternators.

MP-1 and 5 are perfect for a BW display

Now that's a clever idea! You just need an Ark back drop

[Optimus_Prime007]

I am hoping for the whole spread of accessories, Trailer, Roller, weapon(s), maybe some bonus goodies. Do you think they will give us Spike and Sparkplug?

[shajaki]

New MP's seem to be all about bonus accessories. So probably!

[Optimus_Prime007]

I wonder if they will go into the battle damage accessories like they did with MP-36? That would be sweet.

[Terrsolpix]

The biggest of big hypes! It’s finally happening

[Cyberpath]

Click to enlarge...



Source: @optibotimus

Finally, a transformable wheel-less Optimus Prime. Truck mode still looks close enough to go with MP-22 Magnus.

[william-james88]

Several people wrote in to let us know about the latest Transformers Masterpiece reveal from Takara: Optimus Prime. This is a completely new mold from MP-10, focused squarely on show accuracy. There are no wheels on his legs, for instance, and the proportions are much closer to the show model. For that, of course, every truck mode part has been replaced by fake vehicle kibble in the robot mode. You can see the inner chest through the truck windows, for instance. This reveal comes from the 2018 Tokyo Toy Show during the Takara panel where they also revealed a coloured prototype of Masterpiece Beast Wars Megatron and Gold Lagoon variants of several characters.

No price was given, nor the MP number for this figure. However, we do know that it will be out in 2019. Below are some images courtesy of 模玩麦片周 on Weibo.

[Mindmaster]

Too early for me to give input, but the truck mode does look nice. Not sure how I feel about the robot mode, but I’m sure it’ll look better in color.

I’m just a little annoyed that we’re getting yet another Optimus instead of someone who has yet to get a Masterpiece figure.