Images of Presentation for Masterpiece MP-45 Bumblebee 2.0 Showing Features

He looks amazing.

Seibertron wrote:I still stand by my original opinion that they've gone too far in the direction of the cartoon that they are just slavishly giving us cartoon accurate robot modes instead of just good Transformers toys.

When it comes to MP-45, I completely agree here. When it comes to Transformers, there are too many budget shortcuts in the cartoon's animation and mechanical design to go this far. It's not a knock on the cartoon, it is what it is and we all love it. It's also simply not an ideal representation of those characters. Look at the TV episodes compared to the '86 movie - the movie looks exponentially better while doing more or less the same things, it just had the budget to do it!

I think MP-45 is going to be the first MP toy in a very long time that I'm not buying upon its release. That's not easy to do being very close to entirely complete on the MP line so far, but it's the only little thing I can do to tell Takara (and Hasbro since this reeks of Brand Awareness) that this toy isn't worthy of the money they want for it.

While I’m not a fan of the lines aesthetic divergence, from a hybrid of cartoonish and realistic, to trying to be slavishly screen accurate to the Sunbow cartoon, I do think Takara deserves a lot of praise for how gorgeous, and accurate these new MPs are. Please note I wouldn’t have any problem with the MP line if had just stuck to the hybrid style, or if it had been purely cartoon styled from the very beginning. It’s the shift in style so far into the toy line that bothers me.

Still, ‘Bee does look great. I think the backpack kibble was kept to a minimum, and folds up nicely by the looks of things. The feet aren’t perfect, but I think you can only do so much. They certainly appear passable from the front, and the sides. When viewed from the back they don’t look so hot, but seeing as how most people, my self included, don’t display their toys facing backwards, I think it’s a reasonable compromise.

I read a good point somewhere that I will paraphrase since it’s a great example of toon accuracy gone bonkers. The lines on this new Bee’s face are supposed to replicate the lines we see in the cartoon. However, in the cartoon, those lines exist to show us that his face protrudes and is not flat. The line is the edge between two surfaces at different angles connecting, that’s how those lines are created. But on this toy, those lines are long indentations/grooves along his face. That’s not what he actually had in the cartoon. It’s just a small example to show that by trying to make him look like a frame from the cartoon, they are doing things that the cartoon character doesn’t actually have.

william-james88 wrote:Courtesy of the Snakas Blog, we have images of the presetation video Takara showed at the Wonder Festival where the new Transformers Masterpiece MP-45 Bumblebee was revealed. The video is all about this new figure and We see the extra faces he will come with along with the inovation fo having his doors open (though we do not know if Spike can sit or not).
The toy has an MSRP of 13000 Yen (which is $120 USD). The images give a good idea of where the bulk of the alt mode end up since very little of it is used in the main figure's design, unlike the previous Masterpiece toy. We see a lot of the alt mode inside his feet and in his backpack. Takara has confirmed at the show to fans that the toy is not mistransformed.

Bolded that last bit for emphasis.

This thing is an unmitigated piece of junk and a serious step backwards in just about every way. SHAME on you, Takara!

Why do the headsculpts look way better here than on the actual thing? I really hoped that crazy mess of a backpack was mistransformed, but nope. Dropped the ball on that HasTak! I probably wouldn't mind this as much if it weren't for the freakin' 120$ pricetag!

Masterpiece my butt

ScottyP wrote:

Seibertron wrote:I still stand by my original opinion that they've gone too far in the direction of the cartoon that they are just slavishly giving us cartoon accurate robot modes instead of just good Transformers toys.

When it comes to MP-45, I completely agree here. When it comes to Transformers, there are too many budget shortcuts in the cartoon's animation and mechanical design to go this far. It's not a knock on the cartoon, it is what it is and we all love it. It's also simply not an ideal representation of those characters. Look at the TV episodes compared to the '86 movie - the movie looks exponentially better while doing more or less the same things, it just had the budget to do it!

I think MP-45 is going to be the first MP toy in a very long time that I'm not buying upon its release. That's not easy to do being very close to entirely complete on the MP line so far, but it's the only little thing I can do to tell Takara (and Hasbro since this reeks of Brand Awareness) that this toy isn't worthy of the money they want for it.

Got to agree completely. To me, what made masterpieces great were the perfect fusion of g1 toon and original toy, with clever yet fun transformation. They were high end sure, but they were still toys. I particularly dont like the fake chests. Makes for over engineered messes. That being said, I still love the beastwars ones, and the fake chests make a bit more sense there. In most cases. Megatron 2.0 ended up being the exception for me, hes still solid and fun, but its gotten to where i dont want these anymore. Not just because of the price point either.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Courtesy of the Snakas Blog, we have images of the presetation video Takara showed at the Wonder Festival where the new Transformers Masterpiece MP-45 Bumblebee was revealed. The video is all about this new figure and We see the extra faces he will come with along with the inovation fo having his doors open (though we do not know if Spike can sit or not).
The toy has an MSRP of 13000 Yen (which is $120 USD). The images give a good idea of where the bulk of the alt mode end up since very little of it is used in the main figure's design, unlike the previous Masterpiece toy. We see a lot of the alt mode inside his feet and in his backpack. Takara has confirmed at the show to fans that the toy is not mistransformed.

Bolded that last bit for emphasis.

This thing is an unmitigated piece of junk and a serious step backwards in just about every way. SHAME on you, Takara!

You know something has gone horribly wrong when the toy company has to explicitly state that a figure isn’t mistransformed when showing it off, that’s about as big a warning light as they come

Magic Square or Transform Element should be along soon to make a better version of this.

Sabrblade wrote:

Nicely done. However, the drawing still looks way too compact and well-fitting than the actual item.

Glarryg

I've been looking for a reason to use this again, seems very apt looking at this "thing":

hausjam wrote:Magic Square or Transform Element should be along soon to make a better version of this.

I'll just play with my original and far superior MP Bumblebee.

Glarryg wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Nicely done. However, the drawing still looks way too compact and well-fitting than the actual item.

Glarryg

Hey, it's not like it's my art.

Hellscream9999 wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Courtesy of the Snakas Blog, we have images of the presetation video Takara showed at the Wonder Festival where the new Transformers Masterpiece MP-45 Bumblebee was revealed. The video is all about this new figure and We see the extra faces he will come with along with the inovation fo having his doors open (though we do not know if Spike can sit or not).
The toy has an MSRP of 13000 Yen (which is $120 USD). The images give a good idea of where the bulk of the alt mode end up since very little of it is used in the main figure's design, unlike the previous Masterpiece toy. We see a lot of the alt mode inside his feet and in his backpack. Takara has confirmed at the show to fans that the toy is not mistransformed.

Bolded that last bit for emphasis.

This thing is an unmitigated piece of junk and a serious step backwards in just about every way. SHAME on you, Takara!

You know something has gone horribly wrong when the toy company has to explicitly state that a figure isn’t mistransformed when showing it off, that’s about as big a warning light as they come

Indeed. Takara, take the hint! If a large enough number of people are asking you if the figure is mistransformed, that means it looks BAD

first time I've been quite underwhelmed by an MP release. I try to keep an open mind, cos they've delivered the goods on many occasions. Mp44 is pretty frightening price wise but I can see why he exists. The head does look like the proportions are off, I'm pretty happy to stick with the older versions of both prime and bee.

Now hound... that's high on my list of must haves.

As an aside, I did think the pins on Hound's head looked like he was a Headmaster.



Then I realised I was confusing him with Hardhead and the pins were probably to do with the face change gimmick.

Back on-topic...

The masterpiece line has been moving towards a more cartoony look lately yes, but at least there’s some hybridization. I mean look at Hound, he’s pretty damn cartoon accurate but sacrifices next to nothing to achieve that. I think it would be a great shame if the line completely moved away from actual scale car models, I feel like that’s what it’s for, to capture a pretty damn good G1 look while being the actual car they were transforming into. This... this is just weird, like some yellow goblin. My OG MP Bee laughs from his place on my shelf.

Zobovor wrote:

ilikerobits wrote:...the company is saying "%^$# you" to all of the people who bought their previous products.

Not understanding this. Did your previous Bumblebee toy just vanish in a poof of smoke? Did Takara come to your house and steal it? If you still own the first version, then how does the existence of the second one somehow invalidate it?

...when Takara releases another figure of the same character that we all purchased just a few years ago, it's like telling us all that we have to spend more money on the same character.

What happened to just buying the products you enjoy and have a desire to own? Who is forcing you to spend money on things you don't want? Nobody's going to kick you out of the clubhouse if you choose not to buy a toy.


Zob

Kind of beat me to it.

I do like the increased posability on 2.0. Can't deny it. I like the Chibi VW, but I don't display my figures as cars. I could maybe make a case for keeping it in that mode, but it goes against a lot and it would be hella expensive to purchase just for that.

So, in a nutshell, I will probably wait it out, but I don't hate it. See how I feel after release. I'm not against "kibble" since people are engineering these things the best way available and obtaining amazing, if not "cartoon-ideal" results.

Why is this new MP Bumblebee priced at $120!? That's nearly what we paid for Sunstreaker just over a year ago! MP-45 Bumblebee is going to be about half the size and is nowhere near the level of engineering and aesthetic beauty that MP Sunstreaker has achieved.

I have a hunch this MP was rushed through production to capitalize on the Bumblebee movie and the nostalgia for the VW Beetle form of Bumblebee. The sad thing is, I can put up with the backpack, since those rarely ever bother me on Transformers toys, but the "heels" of the feet just kill it for me.

Also, Masterpiece Hound when, Takara? You announced him over half a year ago and have shown off nearly finished, fully painted samples, but Bumblebee 2.0, announced just in the past week, is coming out FIRST!?