Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes

Thursday, September 7th, 2023 9:59am CDT

Category: Toy News
Posted by: ScottyP Views: 63,334

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The past five years (give or take some months) have been an easy time as a Transformers collector, with Hasbro and Takara Tomy both releasing identical products with very few exceptions, almost all of them being exclusive releases of some form. Takara Tomy's release of the Earthspark toys looks like it's about to shatter that brand unity to pieces, as preorder listings for the toys on Amazon Japan - first spotted by Autobase Aichi - show changes on nearly every toy as compared to their Hasbro counterparts.

The pictures below will speak for themselves, but you'll be able to spot additional paint applications, different shades of paint and even proper Ghost faction logos that make nearly the entire line more show accurate. Even the packaging is different, which we know thanks to gadepon on Twitter. One other notable change is that the deluxe figures don't appear to include build-a-figure pieces for Mandroid, but it's Mandroid so nothing of value is really lost.

The first 11 toys will release on October 28th and include:

Transformers News: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes

6 more toys will be released on November 11, which includes:

Finally, here is a look at some of the new packaging, where you can see the Spin-Changers sporting a window box and the DX figures on a bubble card.

Credit(s): Amazon Japan, Autobase Aichi, @gadepon on Twitter

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Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168093)
Posted by Nemesis Destron on September 7th, 2023 @ 6:27pm CDT

Yeah it will so epic once this lame @$$ line is finally gone....freeing up some shelf space of course for something much better hopefully!

.......

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168099)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on September 7th, 2023 @ 7:43pm CDT

I knew that brand unity couldn't last forever, the figures were just too underwhelming for the Japanese market. Is it me or does Deluxe Starscream look to have a new face?

I'll be honest, before Titans Return I only bought the Japanese releases when they were THAT much better or different. Toon accurate Astrotrain, Tracks with the proper flames, and stuff like that. With Titans Return, Takara went all in and their releases outshone almost every Hasbro release, new tooling, Targetmasters, and glorious paint. Unfortunately, even from Amazon Japan, the cost of importing has shot up so much that I'll have to be very, very choosy.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168104)
Posted by Sabrblade on September 7th, 2023 @ 8:25pm CDT

This is a dilemma for me. I want the show-accurate decos that Takara's Deluxes have, but I also want the Mandroid build-a-figure that Hasbro's Deluxes have. Couldn't Takara figure out a way to release Mandroid on his own?

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168105)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on September 7th, 2023 @ 8:37pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:This is a dilemma for me. I want the show-accurate decos that Takara's Deluxes have, but I also want the Mandroid build-a-figure that Hasbro's Deluxes have. Couldn't Takara figure out a way to release Mandroid on his own?

I'm sure they will

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168108)
Posted by Sabrblade on September 7th, 2023 @ 8:58pm CDT

chuckdawg1999 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:This is a dilemma for me. I want the show-accurate decos that Takara's Deluxes have, but I also want the Mandroid build-a-figure that Hasbro's Deluxes have. Couldn't Takara figure out a way to release Mandroid on his own?

I'm sure they will

I dunno, there's been a lot of figures Hasbro released that Takara didn't.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168124)
Posted by ScottyP on September 8th, 2023 @ 6:59am CDT

Sabrblade wrote:This is a dilemma for me. I want the show-accurate decos that Takara's Deluxes have, but I also want the Mandroid build-a-figure that Hasbro's Deluxes have. Couldn't Takara figure out a way to release Mandroid on his own?

I bet some of those will hit eBay and such once the figure's actually complete.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168125)
Posted by Emerje on September 8th, 2023 @ 7:07am CDT

Sabrblade wrote:This is a dilemma for me. I want the show-accurate decos that Takara's Deluxes have, but I also want the Mandroid build-a-figure that Hasbro's Deluxes have. Couldn't Takara figure out a way to release Mandroid on his own?

Available with BD pre-orders and a blood sample through 7-11, via lottery, limited to 5.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168126)
Posted by Emerje on September 8th, 2023 @ 7:09am CDT

Nemesis Destron wrote:Yeah it will so epic once this lame @$$ line is finally gone....freeing up some shelf space of course for something much better hopefully! .......

When it ends they're just going to replace it with another line like this one replaced Cyberverse and that replaced RID.

Emerje

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168174)
Posted by Nemesis Destron on September 8th, 2023 @ 6:31pm CDT

Emerje wrote:
Nemesis Destron wrote:Yeah it will so epic once this lame @$$ line is finally gone....freeing up some shelf space of course for something much better hopefully! .......

When it ends they're just going to replace it with another line like this one replaced Cyberverse and that replaced RID.

Emerje

Yes this is true.

....

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168232)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 9th, 2023 @ 5:54pm CDT

Dangit, those Takara ones looks really nice.

They are also reminding me that I really hope Grimlock and Nightshade come in stock soon, I want both, they are both great characters in the show, and I really want to complete Mandroid, even if his toy does not match any of his fictional appearances funny enough.

Next wave of BAF will be Mandroid in the Season finale, calling it now.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2168704)
Posted by DeadCaL on September 15th, 2023 @ 11:41am CDT

It's been a while since I bought Japanese TFs. Where's the best place to get them these days? I'm in the UK though.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2169060)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 17th, 2023 @ 6:51pm CDT

DeadCaL wrote:It's been a while since I bought Japanese TFs. Where's the best place to get them these days? I'm in the UK though.

Amazon Japan has been a good source for them

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2169300)
Posted by william-james88 on September 20th, 2023 @ 9:55am CDT

While the first wave of the Earthspark line was released almost all at once, the remainder of the line has been appearing sporadically on shelves and online. So while some may already have the toys below, they are the latest releases and we wanted to show you some reviews in case those who don't have them yet were curious. Below you will see three reviews from fellow Seibertronian Chuckdawg for Flip Changers Megatron, Twitch and Deluxe Grimlock. For Grimlock, he is currently available on Amazon if you want to get him.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:By this point, we all know what to expect from the Flip Changers. Megatron is one of the better ones since the propellers actually spin, I was expecting them to be molded in. It's touches like that, that I appreciate and I think you will too.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:The truest definition of a desk toy is something fun to fidget around with. We should all know what to expect with Flip Changers from Earthspark by this point. No articulation, all gimmicks. Terran Twitch looks really good and is close to the show model. As I always say do NOT throw these around as they can break, I'm especially concerned about the Vtol wings on Twitch.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Well, this figure almost fooled me. I first thought this was an all-new mold with so many new parts. Grimlock, is a heavy retool of the Cyberverse Deluxe figure, almost every exposed piece is retooled from that mold. While my copy is a bit loose in the hips, I find this to be the better of the two releases.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2169317)
Posted by DeathReviews on September 20th, 2023 @ 11:23am CDT

I know there's a market for these things - but they're just too 'kiddie' for my taste. Like with Cyberverse, I've eschewed the Earthspark toys completely. I haven't seen any that seem shelf-worthy.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2169493)
Posted by SkyFire Prime on September 21st, 2023 @ 11:22pm CDT

Grimlock looks very nice, really like that twist on his transformation.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2169545)
Posted by Sabrblade on September 22nd, 2023 @ 10:13am CDT

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Next wave of BAF will be Mandroid in the Season finale, calling it now.

If there is another wave. Cyberverse only did the one BAF of Maccadam, and all Deluxe waves after those with his parts nixed the BAF incentive entirely.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2169565)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 22nd, 2023 @ 11:29am CDT

Sabrblade wrote:
D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Next wave of BAF will be Mandroid in the Season finale, calling it now.
If there is another wave. Cyberverse only did the one BAF of Maccadam, and all Deluxe waves after those with his parts nixed the BAF incentive entirely.

I was saying it sarcastically but also wishfully, i don't expect another BAF or to see mandroid in that form in toy form

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2170081)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on September 26th, 2023 @ 7:50am CDT

I got my deluxe Grimlock in and opened him up last night. He is OK. I wasn't a huge fan of the cyberverse Grimlock deluxe, but I think that release served this mold better, it was able to be a little goofier, while this one feels a bit hindered. And the tolerance of the leg that goes on the back really messes with the alt mode integrity.

I like it, but I feel this one suffers from being a retool.

But at the same time, it is awesome to have Keith David toys alongside Tony Todd toys on the shelves.

Re: Takara Tomy Earthspark Toyline Revealed with Several Deco Changes (2170509)
Posted by william-james88 on September 29th, 2023 @ 2:17pm CDT

As anyone still looking for some of 2015's RID toys on e-bay, the original figure of a new Transformers character can become very expensive as the demand grows year after year. Hence why many fans have been looking forward to getting their hands on the Earthspark Nightshade figure, along with the need to simply own a toy of a character they like. Hasbro has finally officially revealed the final wave of Earthsaprk deluxes for this year, with preorders for Nightshade available on Pulse and Amazon. We have links below.

In other Earthspark news, Hasbro revealed some new toys at the Toy Fair in New York. These are the Cyber Combiners which are similar to the crash combiners we had in previous lines. This time, it's a combination of an action figure of the human characters in an exo suit, combined with a transforming figure of Twitch or Bumblebee. You can see the photos below.

Preorders for Nightshade:

https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-TRA ... 107&sr=8-1

https://hasbropulse.com/products/transf ... uSbGKerAbM

EARTHSPARK CYBER-COMBINER BUMBLEBEE AND MO MALTO
EARTHSPARK CYBER-COMBINER TERRAN TWITCH AND ROBBY MALTO

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