The Energon Pub

If there's one problem with Transformers it's that there just aren't enough figures of Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee. Well, Takara are looking out for you. Way back at the start of June Seibertron.com posted a story about Takara exclusive Animated figures. Now we have a hands-on look at the figures.













This line is known as "Transformers Animated Transformer Pose Figure" and consists of these three characters. They are non-transformable but do have some articulation in their necks, shoulders, waists and knees. Also Megatron and Optimus have detachable weapons. They cost 280 yen on shelves and come with a piece of chewing gum.

For the latest in Transformers news, stick with Seibertron.com!

Man, these figures are pretty cheap in terms of sculpting and plas-rubber quality (although they're also cheap in terms of price, so there's that) but on the plus side you can totally mix-and-match their limbs.



It's Guiltarbee!

Great finds Diem!

Wow, those are incorrectly labeled.

There's nothing to pose, they're just rubber statues with a few moving parts.

Now, if they had been Revoltech or something, that would've been impressive.

fenrir72 wrote::APPLAUSE: Great finds Diem!

Thanks mate.

I have to say that cheap though these guys are their paint apps are superlative. No smudging, no funky edges. Shame that Megatron's face looks a little too cadaverous, Optimus is barely holding his axe (and has a sore case of Tiny Head Syndrome) and Bumblebee...actually, 'Bee's fine.

Because the world really needed more Transformers that don't transform ...

I don't see the point of Transformers that don't transform and have almost no articulation.

@Autobot32

Chalk it to Japanese "Engrish". What the line meaning "Pose" figures means, well the figures doing their animation poses. Not necessarily meaning "poseable" like Figma or Revoltech.

So technically speaking, Diem's title is accurate.

fenrir72 wrote:@Autobot32

Chalk it to Japanese "Engrish". What the line meaning "Pose" figures means, well the figures doing their animation poses. Not necessarily meaning "poseable" like Figma or Revoltech.

So technically speaking, Diem's title is accurate.

Fair enough.

Still sucks though.

You'll be surprised how a lot of the spin using engrish adversiements comes out weird or funny.

Autobot032 wrote:Wow, those are incorrectly labeled.

There's nothing to pose, they're just rubber statues with a few moving parts.

Now, if they had been Revoltech or something, that would've been impressive.

To put it in context:

In Japan, it's pretty common to get figures from popular anime or games that come in sets like this. For example, when I bought these three there were figures for Onepiece and Dragonball. The big difference between those sets and the Animated sets is that those sets are made of nicer plastic, are a little more expensive and are completely unposable. They're basically statuettes.

Hence Takara calling these guys "Pose Figures". They wanted to make it extra clear, I guess. There's blurb on the front and side of the box going on about the mighty six-part articulation they have, so...

Mykltron wrote:I don't see the point of Transformers that don't transform and have almost no articulation.

Robot Heroes are awesome.

These Pose Figures are almost certainly aimed at little kids who love the cartoon but can't yet handle a real Transformer without breaking all the pegs and eating the accessories. It's pretty common over here to be able to buy indestructible plas-rubber figures of toddler role models such as Ultraman for two-year-olds to drag around, chew on and hit one-another over the head with.

Um.....where's the faction symbols?

Diem wrote:Robot Heroes are awesome.

I couldn't agree more. These however, do nothing for me.

Oh look, Animated Action Masters. FAIL

Ugh, shrimps. The only small-fries I'll ever get is the mini-Megatron that's coming out later. Technically, I have the Megatron pistol that came with MP Prime, but I'm getting the Legends figure anyway, just to say I got him.

Diem wrote:

Mykltron wrote:I don't see the point of Transformers that don't transform and have almost no articulation.

Robot Heroes are awesome.

These Pose Figures are almost certainly aimed at little kids who love the cartoon but can't yet handle a real Transformer without breaking all the pegs and eating the accessories. It's pretty common over here to be able to buy indestructible plas-rubber figures of toddler role models such as Ultraman for two-year-olds to drag around, chew on and hit one-another over the head with.

Oh yes, that's a good point. I was forgetting that toys are normally designed for children!

Totally aware of the translation, and the DBZ figures are very nice. I have a few with the figures from waaay back when I was watching DBZ before the toonami poularity phase. Those DBZ figures sat at my desk when I worked at the Citadel back in '98 - 2000. I had the ones from GT with the interchangeable heads if we're talking about the same ones.

Now to non transformable TF's, I don't like them. Attactix, 3" titanium, and Robot Heroes are really backwards to me. What TF fans see in them I don't know but I teach my yougins the art of transforming. It's just my two year old likes his toys in vehicle mode, including his Alternators which surprisingly are intact because of it.

bvzxa wrote:Now to non transformable TF's, I don't like them. Attactix, 3" titanium, and Robot Heroes are really backwards to me. What TF fans see in them I don't know but I teach my yougins the art of transforming. It's just my two year old likes his toys in vehicle mode, including his Alternators which surprisingly are intact because of it.

Reread the post right above yours. These are not meant to atract TF fans or collectors. They are actually toys for kids. I understand that you teach your children the art of transforming, but maybe not all kids are so advanced.