The Energon Pub

This is probably a totally stupid question, but why are the color different between Hasbro and Henkei? It is no secret that Henkei normally puts out the better looking of the two, but what is the reason for that? Does Hasbro literally not have the rights to using better colors. I just started to get a little annoyed while looking at my Universe version of Hound, because he is so obviously off-color that it seems a little silly. However, the Henkei version looks absolutely great (IMO). Is there an actual reason for the difference? I mean, I expect a little difference, but why are the Henkei versions, seriously, better looking 9 times out of 10? Sorry in advance if this is a stupid question, but I really don't see why this is the case. Thanks.

Simplest answer is....you get what you pay for, literally. You pay double at least for Henkei and this is the main reason, apps and chrome. Hasbro hires cheap labor so you get cheaper made toys.

I wondered myself till I really sat and thought about it. They've done this since the beginning, don't see it changing anytime soon.

Hasbro's big thing these days is using more "realistic" colours...Obviously there are some cases where that standpoint seems rediculous when you look at the colours they used, but if you ask them, that's what they'll say...

Takara generally goes for more G1 accurate colours, no matter how unlikely they might be...That's why Henkei Astrotrain is gray and purple like the cartoon, and Hasbro is primarily white like a real shuttle...I'm not sure who exactly told Hasbro that we wanted inaccurate colours for our transformers, but it sure as hell wasn't me...


I don't think Henkei's are necessarily more expensive until you factor in importing costs...I would imagine what you pay for them over there is the equivilant of what we pay for ours here...

The question of who does the better paint job to their toys is a bit debatable, but for me personally I'd have to say different standards is one of the most notable reasons for the paint scheme differences. Even so, you can't deny that most the more recent Henkei releases are not a great deal different from the American ones. Galvatron, Octane, Prowl, Susnstreaker, Sideswipe, Silverstreak, Cheetor, Hound. As far as I can tell none of those have a major enough difference in the way they're painted to warrant one being that much better than the other. If you like the flashy pointless chrome more that's your decision, but in my opinion there's really nothing pulling me in to the Japanese line except for the fleeting possibility that some of their toy molds have slight improvements over American ones.

Bottom line: 'Better paint jobs' mean nothing to me... unless the paint starts coming off, in which case I feel obliged to improve it.

Shadowstream wrote:
Bottom line: 'Better paint jobs' mean nothing to me... unless the paint starts coming off, in which case I feel obliged to improve it.

There are some exceptions...Henkei Megatron was almost a necessity...Astrotrain (though I didn't buy him) looked a lot cooler than the Hasbro one...And Hot Rod (though I have NO problem with the Hasbro one) looked really good to and that's why I got one for the FP Rodimus upgrade...

But for the most part I agree with you...The difference is RARELY enough to justify spending the extra money to get an imported figure...

I question Hasbro's paint app. decision for Smokescreen...
They did more with the yellow areas than what was needed.
So a little less cost effective, and still, less G1 accurate.
I'd argue against the idea that having the top of the spoiler yellow is more "realistic",
and if they really think that kids would find that to be more appealing, well, I question that too.
Is it because it's common to have a "good guy" decked-out in the primary color scheme?? Maybe... But even that seems like a stretch to me.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I question Hasbro's paint app. decision for Smokescreen...
They did more with the yellow areas than what was needed.
So a little less cost effective, and still, less G1 accurate.
I'd argue against the idea that having the top of the spoiler yellow is more "realistic",
and if they really think that kids would find that to be more appealing, well, I question that too.
Is it because it's common to have a "good guy" decked-out in the primary color scheme?? Maybe... But even that seems like a stretch to me.

Exactly. Smokescreen as well as Hound are the two figures that that started making me wonder about this in the first place. I mean, the Henkei version of both of these is just so much more "right" looking. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Hasbro versions of them, but it just seems like on those (and others) Hasbro almost seemed to have gove out of their way to make them look "not right".

Hasbro decides what colors look best I guess. Some of them work out such as Cyclonus having the detail of its original G1 toy. I know Hound is probably the worst paint app compared to its Henkei (in which I went ahead and bought the Henkei and kept the Universe one MISC and that is why I decide to go by which looks more cooler for my buck.

dabattousai wrote:Hasbro decides what colors look best I guess. Some of them work out such as Cyclonus having the detail of its original G1 toy. I know Hound is probably the worst paint app compared to its Henkei (in which I went ahead and bought the Henkei and kept the Universe one MISC and that is why I decide to go by which looks more cooler for my buck.

I'd say Megatron,hands down for absolute need of the Henkei version fo the figure. The Hasbro version looked like a KO to me. All in all even over in Japan they are a bit higher than the Hasbro versions. I dont like all the Henkei releases but for the most part they are the superior versions, regardless of the G1 aspect. For example, Cyclonus's legs, the Henkei had the same color plastic where the Universe is mismatched a shade on it's version. It's not always about the paint apps or chrome, there a few little tweaks that I would get a figure no matter what version it was. Thats just me though. I do like some of the Hasbro versions just as much,not trying to take anything away from them at all. I do have more Hasbro than Henkei and thats more choice than anything. Some Henkei, you just have to get for the sake of the better figure as a whole.

Archatron wrote:I'd say Megatron,hands down for absolute need of the Henkei version fo the figure. The Hasbro version looked like a KO to me.

Actually I kinda have to dissagree once more. The color scheme of the Hasbro version of Megs has rather or less grown on me. I realize the reason for the paint job is more or less for safety standards, but over time I've grown to like the mix of the purple and green... sort of. The flare orange bits on the other hand can suck it, it's the one thing I can only just BARELY put up with on him. Again, I realize it's safety standards but to be honest I wouldn't be seen dead with a weapon that stupid looking in public in the first place, so I don't think I have much to worry about with safety laws if I decide to change things up a bit.

Shadowstream wrote:Actually I kinda have to dissagree once more. The color scheme of the Hasbro version of Megs has rather or less grown on me. I realize the reason for the paint job is more or less for safety standards, but over time I've grown to like the mix of the purple and green... sort of. The flare orange bits on the other hand can suck it, it's the one thing I can only just BARELY put up with on him. Again, I realize it's safety standards but to be honest I wouldn't be seen dead with a weapon that stupid looking in public in the first place, so I don't think I have much to worry about with safety laws if I decide to change things up a bit.

Truth be told I very much LIKE the Hasbro version of Megatron (I have both)...Before I saw the henkei one, I had no trouble accepting it as Megatron, understanding the reason for it looking the way it did...I think it's a great looking figure...But once I saw the Henkei one I just couldn't resist...His colour scheme is SO perfect (With the one exception being the pink decepticon logo on his gun) I just had to have him...So now I have both and I use the Henkei one as my display piece and the Hasbro one for transforming...Which I do frequently because I LOVE transforming that guy...

Honestly though I really do like both and if I'd never seen the Henkei one I'd have been perfectly happy with the Hasbro one...

That was a rare case though, I almost never think the Hekei is SO much better that I can't stand the Hasbro one...I'd rather put the bigger bucks into better figures (like Masterpiece and alternators, etc) than shell out $30 bucks for every deluxe henkei just because it looks a little more like the cartoon...

Shadowstream wrote:Even so, you can't deny that most the more recent Henkei releases are not a great deal different from the American ones. Galvatron, Octane, Prowl, Susnstreaker, Sideswipe, Silverstreak, Cheetor, Hound. As far as I can tell none of those have a major enough difference in the way they're painted to warrant one being that much better than the other.

I can and will deny (in part).

Galvatron is a very different purple, more lilac than royal purple.

Sunstreaker is a marked improvement. His yellow is deeper and the plastic color is less transparent. Also, his chrome is very very appropriate.

Hound is worlds better than the US release. The deeper green really, really makes an improvement. I can't say this enough, but the US one looks silly when they're side by side.

Octane, Prowl, and Sideswipe you are correct on. And no one should buy any version of Cheetor...

Henkai, more work on a smaller production run. Thus easier to QC and less likely to have app issues. Add this to costs being a bit higher (even taking import costs into concideration) usually will result in a better product. Plus Henkai seems to be more concerned with designs we remember from the show thus enhancing the figure with details we wish the originals had.

Classic/Universe. Larger production runs, where to lower QC issues and reduce paint issues, plastic colors with lesser issues (which results in lower lusture, and viberance) are used, with less paint apps to limit errors, results in a product better catoring to the mass market requirements.

I doubt Hasbro or TT, will give us the numbers being produced for any given figure but the C/U one will need to be produced to cover North America, Australia, Europe, parts of Asia, and where-ever else these figures are being sold, while Henkai is being produced solely for the Japanese market (with a slightly higher production rate than other TT products due to the secondary market TT has zero control over) that for every Henkai released that there will be possibly 5-10 C/U put out by Hasbro.

Thus Hasbro would need to put out a substandard product in order to put product on shelfs with the prices they have.

Shadowstream wrote:

Archatron wrote:I'd say Megatron,hands down for absolute need of the Henkei version fo the figure. The Hasbro version looked like a KO to me.

Actually I kinda have to dissagree once more. The color scheme of the Hasbro version of Megs has rather or less grown on me. I realize the reason for the paint job is more or less for safety standards, but over time I've grown to like the mix of the purple and green... sort of. The flare orange bits on the other hand can suck it, it's the one thing I can only just BARELY put up with on him. Again, I realize it's safety standards but to be honest I wouldn't be seen dead with a weapon that stupid looking in public in the first place, so I don't think I have much to worry about with safety laws if I decide to change things up a bit.

It's cool man, I guess we can agree to disagree on our respective opinions Not everyone likes Henkei or thinks it's the better figure and I am ok with it. I dont get EVERY Henkei out there, there are just some I have gotten over the other version and some I have gotten even having the other version. I loved Henkei Cyclonus and Ratchet so I got them. I also liked Henkei Starscream and plan on getting Megatron and Prime. I love Henkei Smokescreen cause of the font style of the numbers and the paint job, that looks more like the version I remember having as a kid. Far as that goes, I'm getting Henkei Thrust and Dirge because they are the cheaper alternative to the Botcon exclusives and I HATE the stripes and thunderbolts they put on those two, nothing a little paint wont fix though

In a nutshell it's really the fans choice. Maybe that is the easiest answer to the question?

Archatron wrote: I also liked Henkei Starscream and plan on getting Megatron and Prime.

As much as I love henkei Megs, I actually really DISLIKE henkei Prime...I don't like the silver detailing as much as Hasbro's, I don't care for the blue headlights, and I think the chrome REALLY sticks out in truck-mode (in not a good way)...

The chrome is what drew me to it and the silver and red shoulders, the lights I dont like. I understand though, I don't like Hasbro Megs. Seems we're opposites Typh0id, that's a good thing though. If everyone liked the same thing we'd probably not have a Henkei line or any variety really.

Which Ratchet you gonna get? I've got mine, just curious.

Archatron wrote:The chrome is what drew me to it and the silver and red shoulders, the lights I dont like. I understand though, I don't like Hasbro Megs. Seems we're opposites Typh0id, that's a good thing though. If everyone liked the same thing we'd probably not have a Henkei line or any variety really.

Which Ratchet you gonna get? I've got mine, just curious.

Ohhh...I don't even like thinking about Ratchet...I'm going to get the Hasbro one because I want to pay the least possible amount of money for him...I don't even care if the Henkei one looks a billion times better...I HATE that mold...HATE...But it's Ratchet and I've got to get him...Because I'm a sucker...




But yeah, I think it's cool that all the figures have TWO options to choose from, even if one IS more expensive...How many other toys are like that?

typh0id wrote:

Archatron wrote:The chrome is what drew me to it and the silver and red shoulders, the lights I dont like. I understand though, I don't like Hasbro Megs. Seems we're opposites Typh0id, that's a good thing though. If everyone liked the same thing we'd probably not have a Henkei line or any variety really.

Which Ratchet you gonna get? I've got mine, just curious.

Ohhh...I don't even like thinking about Ratchet...I'm going to get the Hasbro one because I want to pay the least possible amount of money for him...I don't even care if the Henkei one looks a billion times better...I HATE that mold...HATE...But it's Ratchet and I've got to get him...Because I'm a sucker...




But yeah, I think it's cool that all the figures have TWO options to choose from, even if one IS more expensive...How many other toys are like that?

So true, about the Ratchet/Ironhide mold. It is kinda jacked up but a must have, regardless of Henkei or Hasbro. Brian's Toys has the Universe one in stock though, BBTS should soon too.

Archatron wrote:
So true, about the Ratchet/Ironhide mold. It is kinda jacked up but a must have, regardless of Henkei or Hasbro. Brian's Toys has the Universe one in stock though, BBTS should soon too.

Yeah...I have every intention of just waiting til I see him at retail...One day I'll be perusing the TF aisle at [insert standard chain name here] and I'll see him hanging on the shelf...Then I'll sigh a deep sigh and go: "Ugh...well I better get him now because I probably won't see him again...I can't believe I'm buying this piece of crap AGAIN..." I'll take him home, transform him into his robot mode, set him on the shelf next to Ironhide, and likely never touch him again...