Masterpiece Skyfire / Jetfire Prototype and Render of Masterpiece Trainbot Shouki Revealed
Friday, May 14th, 2021 4:00AM CDT
Categories: Toy News, Rumors, Collectables, Book NewsPosted by: Bounti76 Views: 126,521
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...possibly, until Masterpiece Raiden is released! First teased back in late 2019, this is the first image of the 'bot that turns into the upper torso of Raiden, a G1 Japanese-only combiner. Raiden has a similar origin as Devastator, being a redecoed and slightly retooled version of a Diaclone group of toys (though these turned into trains rather than construction vehicles). This image of Shouki is only a render so far, rather than a physical prototype model of the Trainbot leader. This does prove, however, that the first Masterpiece combiner is coming along, though how soon until we see a physical model of Shouki (or any other Trainbot) is anyone's guess.
Additionally, given the stark size difference in the very cartoon-accurate Skyfire to MP-10, could we see the first Masterpiece figure that crosses the $500 price barrier? Until we know anything about a release date for him, it's hard to tell.
What do you think of this new image? Are you excited for either release? Going to stick with Commander Class Siege Jetfire in your collection? Let us know what you think below!
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Posted by TulioDude on May 14th, 2021 @ 10:32am CDT
The Trainbot Shouki make me think that a Masterpiece Rail Racer would be dope.
Day 500 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on May 14th, 2021 @ 8:36pm CDT
TulioDude wrote:Cool,seeing Jetfire being this big gives me hope that future Masterpieces will have the size they need to adhere to scale.
The Trainbot Shouki make me think that a Masterpiece Rail Racer would be dope.
Day 500 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.
500 days? Damn, no respect. You know I'm with you bro.
Did the Trainbots appear in one of the Japanese-only shows? I honestly don't remember.
Posted by Sabrblade on May 14th, 2021 @ 8:47pm CDT
The Headmasters.chuckdawg1999 wrote:Did the Trainbots appear in one of the Japanese-only shows? I honestly don't remember.
Posted by TulioDude on May 16th, 2021 @ 7:55pm CDT
chuckdawg1999 wrote:TulioDude wrote:Cool,seeing Jetfire being this big gives me hope that future Masterpieces will have the size they need to adhere to scale.
The Trainbot Shouki make me think that a Masterpiece Rail Racer would be dope.
Day 500 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.
500 days? Damn, no respect. You know I'm with you bro.
After Bumbleebee Optimus Prime,does anyone else wonder if Hastak will do the Decepticons from that movie,before or after finishing the 2007 cast?
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on May 17th, 2021 @ 7:47pm CDT
Posted by Ultra Mad on May 17th, 2021 @ 11:45pm CDT
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on May 18th, 2021 @ 4:03pm CDT
D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I am excited to see more of raiden.
We all are. Wouldn't mind an Encore re-release if possible.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on May 18th, 2021 @ 5:37pm CDT
chuckdawg1999 wrote:D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I am excited to see more of raiden.
We all are. Wouldn't mind an Encore re-release if possible.
They re-released Devastator a zillion times. Why not Raiden?
Maybe it's a lost molds thing à la Dinobots.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on May 18th, 2021 @ 5:53pm CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:chuckdawg1999 wrote:D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I am excited to see more of raiden.
We all are. Wouldn't mind an Encore re-release if possible.
They re-released Devastator a zillion times. Why not Raiden?
Maybe it's a lost molds thing à la Dinobots.
I wouldn't think so, we've been burnt by "lost mold" theories before. The more likely reason is that there's no significant demand for him on either side of the world: trains don't sell in the US, and Japan has too many of them. Don't forget Tomy's Shinkalion line of transforming trains to fill that particular niche.
Maybe MP Raiden will reignite interest in him, leading to a reissue one day, complete with the tracks from the original Diaclone release.
Posted by Sabrblade on May 18th, 2021 @ 6:17pm CDT
I think you're confusing Devastator with the Bruticus mold.-Kanrabat- wrote:They re-released Devastator a zillion times.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on May 18th, 2021 @ 10:08pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:I think you're confusing Devastator with the Bruticus mold.-Kanrabat- wrote:They re-released Devastator a zillion times.
Not really. If we're counting EU reissues and color variants (but not the non-combining ones), and the original Diaclone release, Bruticus has still Devastator beat. Devastator does have the most "reissues" as Devastator himself, while Bruticus has Ruination redecos and Battle Gaia to add to his count.
Posted by Rodimus Prime on May 19th, 2021 @ 7:57pm CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on May 19th, 2021 @ 8:00pm CDT
Rodimus Prime wrote:A bit off the new MP track, but I finally decided to get MP-43 Megatron, (and have enough cash) so I went searching online, and holy crap. $300+ wherever I look. Is this figure just that good, or was it a limited run? I've seen reviews and looked at photos, and I think he looks great! But $300? Is he worth it?
Classic a year or 2 too late to the jump price. He was retailing for $300+ on non-import sites to begin with, so if anything you are seeing a sort of accurate market price.
Plus he's pretty big, so he had that going for his price too
Posted by -Kanrabat- on May 19th, 2021 @ 10:05pm CDT
Rodimus Prime wrote:A bit off the new MP track, but I finally decided to get MP-43 Megatron, (and have enough cash) so I went searching online, and holy crap. $300+ wherever I look. Is this figure just that good, or was it a limited run? I've seen reviews and looked at photos, and I think he looks great! But $300? Is he worth it?
He was the most expensive MP before MP-44 Optimus Prime came along.
That Megatron may be the one who broke the camel's back for MP prices.
There's also the common problem with his brittle crotch. We guys are sensitive in that area, but this Megatron take it on another level. No idea if the issue have been fixed on later runs.
Posted by william-james88 on May 19th, 2021 @ 11:49pm CDT
Rodimus Prime wrote:A bit off the new MP track, but I finally decided to get MP-43 Megatron, (and have enough cash) so I went searching online, and holy crap. $300+ wherever I look. Is this figure just that good, or was it a limited run? I've seen reviews and looked at photos, and I think he looks great! But $300? Is he worth it?
I think he is. And 300 is around the price he was at when released initially so your not paying much of a premium on the secondary market.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on May 20th, 2021 @ 5:03am CDT
william-james88 wrote:Rodimus Prime wrote:A bit off the new MP track, but I finally decided to get MP-43 Megatron, (and have enough cash) so I went searching online, and holy crap. $300+ wherever I look. Is this figure just that good, or was it a limited run? I've seen reviews and looked at photos, and I think he looks great! But $300? Is he worth it?
I think he is. And 300 is around the price he was at when released initially so your not paying much of a premium on the secondary market.
Age 3 and Up: almost 360$US
TF Source: 360$US
BBTS: 320$US. We got a winner here!
Those were the only places that came to mind where you are guaranteed to have a genuine MP-43 with reliable customer services. And who have the thing in stock.
So yeah, BBTS is the way to go for Americans. No markups, only the basic price. And yes, MP-43 is an expensive boy who have set the trend for MPs with INFINITE BUDGET! MP-44 came after and it was a zillion rupees.
Posted by Spartron on May 21st, 2021 @ 9:10am CDT
Also not a new Masterpiece question, but I saw a Masterpiece Rachet on Ebay, and on the box it is labeled as Ironhide. Now I am 99% sure it is a KO, but I did a search on google and on another transformers forum, someone asked that, and it seems there may have been an error in a early run and its legit? Either way, curious if anyone has heard of that.
Posted by MadProject on June 9th, 2021 @ 11:18am CDT
Posted by Overcracker on June 9th, 2021 @ 12:03pm CDT
MadProject wrote:New review of MPM Optimus Prime (Bumblebee movie)!
For a Masterpiece, that truck mode is just sad.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on June 9th, 2021 @ 12:26pm CDT
Overcracker wrote:
For a Masterpiece, that truck mode is just sad.
Neko Truck go meow meow!
If no other news staffers makes the news post, I'll do it tonight in the right thread.
Posted by Sowndwave76 on June 9th, 2021 @ 12:45pm CDT
Wow...
This is clearly a case where the vast majority of effort was put into the bot mode.
There is a ton of sculpted detail that looks really nice, but yeah, it is probably a stretch to call that a Masterpiece figure.
Posted by Nemesis Destron on June 20th, 2021 @ 4:02pm CDT
So I'm searching to get one of few MP that I actually care for. My first target is MP-36 and with the KO's that are out there what's the best way to ask on what to look for weeding out the KO's for a genuine piece?
I may sound but a MP for me needs to be untouched by anyone but ME! If it were a pre-owned figure and I'm fine with that or if I was looking for a 2nd figure then cool. But I want that new MP to be new and pristine.
So anyone...anyone...please I appreciate all feedback and thanks in advance.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on June 20th, 2021 @ 4:10pm CDT
There's Mandarake, but shipping will cost a zillion dollars because Japan Post are still in COVID mode.
Finally, there's the official stores like BBTS and the likes. But expect severe mark up because it's now an old figure.
Good luck!
Posted by Nemesis Destron on June 20th, 2021 @ 4:27pm CDT
Posted by Spartron on July 9th, 2021 @ 10:55am CDT
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 9th, 2021 @ 11:13am CDT
Spartron wrote:I just had a thought. With the leaked photos on the new live action movie of Mirage as a Porsche (not sure how that works), I wonder if that will open up the rights to make a Masterpiece Jazz?
Extremely low.
Movie =/= toys.
Dino couldn't even secure the Ferrari license for the toy. The same thing may happen for the SS figures of that newer Mirage.
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 9th, 2021 @ 11:15am CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:Spartron wrote:I just had a thought. With the leaked photos on the new live action movie of Mirage as a Porsche (not sure how that works), I wonder if that will open up the rights to make a Masterpiece Jazz?
Extremely low.
Movie =/= toys.
Dino couldn't even secure the Ferrari license for the toy. The same thing may happen for the SS figures of that newer Mirage.
This may sadly be the case again. Car manufacturers and rights are a tricky subject
Posted by Spartron on July 9th, 2021 @ 11:30am CDT
Posted by Overcracker on July 9th, 2021 @ 11:43am CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:Spartron wrote:I just had a thought. With the leaked photos on the new live action movie of Mirage as a Porsche (not sure how that works), I wonder if that will open up the rights to make a Masterpiece Jazz?
Extremely low.
Movie =/= toys.
Dino couldn't even secure the Ferrari license for the toy. The same thing may happen for the SS figures of that newer Mirage.
Yup.
Same reason we have yet to get a Licensed Sideways Audi R8 toy.
The VW sub brands are a fickle lot. Probably why Movie 1 Jazz was a Pontiac Solstice instead of a Porsche and got quickly murdered by Megatron so as to not have to worry about him and his alt mode later
If Takara ever manages to secure the rights for an MP Jazz Porsche it will be a cold day in hell.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 13th, 2021 @ 7:54pm CDT
Posted by Bounti76 on July 24th, 2021 @ 12:04pm CDT
Crosscut was originally released as a redeco and retool of G1 Skids in 2002, in a set with G1 Road Rage. This reveal shows him to be a faithful update to that figure, with the Diaclone style head that Reboost has.
We also have a clearer image of the upcoming MP-55 Nightbird. She's wielding a sword which has its origin with Generations Arcee from 2014. Takara did their own version of Nightbird from that mold, and while including its own sai weapons, it also included yellow versions of Generations Arcee's swords, which this Masterpiece version recreates here.
While there's no word on when they're going to be released, it's nice to see more images of these figures, especially Crosscut, who most people figured would be the natural first retool of MP Skids.
So what do you think of these two, Seibertronians? Excited to add another couple of Masterpiece figures to your collection? Let us know what you think of these two below, and stay tuned for all the latest news and reviews!
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on July 24th, 2021 @ 12:12pm CDT
Posted by Hellscream9999 on July 24th, 2021 @ 12:17pm CDT
Posted by First-Aid on July 24th, 2021 @ 12:22pm CDT
In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 24th, 2021 @ 12:34pm CDT
First-Aid wrote:In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.
Calling those redecos "completely different" is a bit blunt though, they're only one step up from variants which some people are into (most did have roots in Diaclone variant releases). Besides, if you like the character and/or the colors, what's the harm?
That aside, Crosscut came much sooner than I expected.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 24th, 2021 @ 12:35pm CDT
First-Aid wrote:
In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.
You forget that developing a mold is VERY expensive. So repaints are a necessary "evil" to make money. And if the toy maker is making money, this means there's more money to create brand new molds.
Beside, repaints SELL. Since the very dawn of G1. Also, should I mention all those pricey Botcon, Collector Clubs, Selects, Netflix, and so on repaints that collectors buy with glee? How come those people are "suckers" when they WILLINGLY ask and pay hard cash for these repaints, even on the aftermarket?
For the number of posts you have, you're not new in this fandom so you should be aware of these facts by now.
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:01pm CDT
Jelze Bunnycat wrote:That aside, Crosscut came much sooner than I expected.
My thinking, is that when they saw positive feedback to the pricing of Skids. They decided to go all in immediately.
Personally, I love variants and redecos. Basically the Transformers equivalent of army building (in lieu of rebuying the exact same figure ala Insecticons, Sweeps, Vehicons). A friend of mine adores Starscream and the rest of the Seekers. As a result, WFC has given him quite the impressive looking collection in the last few years. If the repaints fund the completion of the MP Beast Wars line, for example, I don't see the problem.
Posted by First-Aid on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:01pm CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:First-Aid wrote:
In the end, all it says is that TF collectors are suckers because we think putting a new coat of paint on something makes it completely different (Scourge and the Sweeps, Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker/Sunstorm/Acid Storm/Ion Storm/Thrust/Ramjet/Dirge/Ghost Starscream, Bumbelbee/Goldbug/Cliffjumper/Bugbite/Hubcap, Ironhide/Ratchet, Hoist/Trailbreaker, Tracks/Roadrage) from an absolutely identical previous toy.
You forget that developing a mold is VERY expensive. So repaints are a necessary "evil" to make money. And if the toy maker is making money, this means there's more money to create brand new molds.
Beside, repaints SELL. Since the very dawn of G1. Also, should I mention all those pricey Botcon, Collector Clubs, Selects, Netflix, and so on repaints that collectors buy with glee? How come those people are "suckers" when they WILLINGLY ask and pay hard cash for these repaints, even on the aftermarket?
For the number of posts you have, you're not new in this fandom so you should be aware of these facts by now.
I know. Please note that I included the term "we" in my post, not "they", meaning I included myself in the list of so-called suckers. That said, there are just so many figures anymore that it's not always economically viable for collectors to get that many repaints. Yes, repaints make money, I know this; it's the same in medicine when you find that a particular newly developed medication (which cost nearly $3 billion to bring to market, according to recent research) can be used for a different indication (perfect example: Viagra was originally a blood pressure medication). I have gradually changed my tune about repaints as the number of product lines has gone up. I have abstained entirely from Cyberverse (something I am regretting a bit now, but not enough to start shelling cash) because it was a rehash of Gen 1 (like about everything else for the last decade with the exception of the Movieverse line which added more diversity than any previous line since Beast Wars; incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).
At some point, Hasbro is going to wear out the repaint market, especially if prices continue to rise and inflation hits the market (current prediction is 20% inflation for 2021; beef alone has risen 7% since 1/1/21). Repaint sales will start to dip as money becomes tighter and fans become pickier. I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:17pm CDT
First-Aid wrote:I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.
From the top of my head Prime from 2011 was the last for the category you think of. However, this line here:
incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).
... that's where the problem is, because they're more intertwined than you think. A good deal of collectors are parents themselves, and as a possible stereotype they favor the old and will prohibit the kids from buying the new if they don't like it. Is it true? I can see it happening in a good minority, and that's all it takes; they scream the loudest, and the general public listens to the ones with the biggest mouths.
[/rant]
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:21pm CDT
As for me, I'd hunt down an expensive repaint (especially when this here Canadian has to import it) only if it REALLY interest me. I don't feel obligated to get every variant but only for extremely rare occasions such as for the Classic Inferno mold.
Posted by griftimus prime on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:32pm CDT
Posted by Emerje on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:43pm CDT
Jelze Bunnycat wrote:First-Aid wrote:I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.
From the top of my head Prime from 2011 was the last for the category you think of. However, this line here:incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).
... that's where the problem is, because they're more intertwined than you think. A good deal of collectors are parents themselves, and as a possible stereotype they favor the old and will prohibit the kids from buying the new if they don't like it. Is it true? I can see it happening in a good minority, and that's all it takes; they scream the loudest, and the general public listens to the ones with the biggest mouths.
[/rant]
It's hard to "reboot" the franchise and expect fans and nostalgia driven parents to be on board when they're also releasing a G1 line right alongside of it. It'd be even harder today with two G1 lines (if you count SS86 as a line) and the popular SS movie line which is itself a massive overhaul of the franchise. The only way they could ever reboot the franchise properly again is if they cut off all of their other lines and made it the only thing on the shelves and that's never going to work with retailers. Really the best time to do something like Transtech is back when they were going to do Transtech, back when G1 was just a memory. Now G1 has created a whole new fanbase and any attempt to replace it with something new would be seen as a sign of the end rather than a rebirth.
Emerje
Posted by First-Aid on July 24th, 2021 @ 1:51pm CDT
Emerje wrote:Jelze Bunnycat wrote:First-Aid wrote:I've said it before, and I will continue to say it in the future: a BIG reboot is needed. I've felt that current toy technology level would allow HasTak to finally create the ultra-futuristic TransTech line we thought was coming after Beast Machines; I remember those released sketches and they were phenomenal. There needs to be new blood....er, Energon infused into the line. While we collectors may continue to suck up these rehashes of G1 over and over (until they price us out), I'm not sure that the line can survive remaining stagnant and redoing the same characters over and over in the future.
From the top of my head Prime from 2011 was the last for the category you think of. However, this line here:incidentally, the kids sucked that up while the collectors whined that it wasn't G1).
... that's where the problem is, because they're more intertwined than you think. A good deal of collectors are parents themselves, and as a possible stereotype they favor the old and will prohibit the kids from buying the new if they don't like it. Is it true? I can see it happening in a good minority, and that's all it takes; they scream the loudest, and the general public listens to the ones with the biggest mouths.
[/rant]
It's hard to "reboot" the franchise and expect fans and nostalgia driven parents to be on board when they're also releasing a G1 line right alongside of it. It'd be even harder today with two G1 lines (if you count SS86 as a line) and the popular SS movie line which is itself a massive overhaul of the franchise. The only way they could ever reboot the franchise properly again is if they cut off all of their other lines and made it the only thing on the shelves and that's never going to work with retailers. Really the best time to do something like Transtech is back when they were going to do Transtech, back when G1 was just a memory. Now G1 has created a whole new fanbase and any attempt to replace it with something new would be seen as a sign of the end rather than a rebirth.
Emerje
Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 24th, 2021 @ 2:11pm CDT
First-Aid wrote:
Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.
Just pointing out that the current Studio Series line, Kingdom line AND the upcoming Legacy line prove your discouragement wrong.
G1 and New CAN coexist.
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 24th, 2021 @ 2:11pm CDT
Posted by First-Aid on July 24th, 2021 @ 2:57pm CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:First-Aid wrote:
Unfortunately true. Which means that- for the foreseeable future- there will be no changes in the line. No new characters. No new expansions of the mythos. Nothing even vaguely resembling creativity or new product. Get used to G1 and let's hope you like it because that's ALL you're going to get. And , as I've said multiple times before, for a toy line that is all about change that's truly sad that it's spinning it's wheels and waiting for time and repetition to wear it down.
Just pointing out that the current Studio Series line, Kingdom line AND the upcoming Legacy line prove your discouragement wrong.
G1 and New CAN coexist.
How so? Yes, we have the Fossilizers. That's about it. And, really, they aren't even characters...they are weapons to be USED BY the main characters. They are, essentially, throwaways. They do not enrich or expand on the mythos or the story. In fact, characters like Cog were hardly even used in the Netflix series (a G1 sequel, essentially). Even in Kingdom, who are the characters? Beast Wars. Why? Because Beast Wars was HUGE. WHy was Beast Wars huge? Virtually the ENTIRE CAST were new, exciting, well-written and fleshed out characters (even Primal and Megatron were "descendants"). G1 may have provided some background story and plots, but Ratrap, Cheetor, Pterosaur, Rampage, Air Razor, Tigatron...all entirely new characters, and it was PHENOMENAL. It expanded the lore. It didn't rely ENTIRELY on recycled characters and molds. THAT was a reboot, and damned if it didn't work like a charm. Where would Transformers be right now without Beast Wars? Probably gathering dust with the Go-Bots. It worked, it can work again, and honestly, it kind of needs to happen.
As for Cyberverse adding "a new character or two", think about what you just said. A new character or two. Out of how many characters? How many are just rehashed? That kind of makes my point for me.
Posted by Hydrargyrus on July 24th, 2021 @ 3:14pm CDT
It’s true that we’re nowhere near the state of constant flux as in the later 90’s and early 00’s, but the future really ain’t so grim.
Posted by Sabrblade on July 24th, 2021 @ 3:31pm CDT
Posted by First-Aid on July 24th, 2021 @ 3:38pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:You can pinpoint the exact year of when this shift from constant reinvention of the brand to constant recognition of the brand occurred to 2015, the year that the Hasbro Transformers brand team switched from Aaron Archer and Friends to John Warden and Friends. TF: Prime was the last TV series whose line Hasbro put the focus on above the Generations lines, and its ending marked the end of the Archer Era. From Robots in Disguise 2015 onward, the TV lines suddenly became secondary to the G1-heavy Generations lines in the Warden Era, with the TV lines themselves also becoming more G1-based beginning with Cyberverse using the G1-based evergreen designs. Prior to 2015, the movies were the focus of the brand, while from 2015 onward, the G1-based Generations line and evergreen designs became the brand's main focus.
Dude, you are seriously amazing. Do you actually have room for any other information in your cerebellum BESIDES TF trivia and notes? I mean, seriously, how does your brain still have enough space to encourage cardiac, pulmonary, and GI/GU functioning when you have so darned much minutia stored up there?
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 24th, 2021 @ 3:44pm CDT
I wasn't expecting WfC to give us anything new as that was always set to focus on the toys who was trying to recreate the 84-86 cast in a new scale.
We are getting away from the topic here though. Masterpiece isn't the place for new characters to debut.
These two aren't doing a lot for me, but to those that want them, go get them. I'm looking forward to the next new molds from the line.