
I love repaints. I may have mentioned this.
There’s something about seeing an already familiar toy design rehashed in a bold new colour scheme that always gets the motor running. After all, what better way is there to fully appreciate a particular mould than to admire it with a different look?
Having already showcased examples from the Unicron Trilogy, CHUG, Beast Machines, RID 2001, Binaltech, Masterpiece, Generation 1 and a fair chunk of Beast Wars, we’re back at it again for yet more Transformers Animated! Simply put, here are five gorgeous repaints for your consideration! And yes, there are some Botcon examples…
#5: Botcon Fisitron (2011)

It’s still surprising to consider the ‘Cybertron mode Ratchet’ design was one of the more prevalent re-uses during the Animated line, at least once you factor in the couple of convention-related figures it birthed. However, whilst most might recall Ironhide and 2011’s other Botcon release, the trio of Autotroopers, ‘Fistitron’ largely falls through the mental cracks for many fans. That could be due to an already stacked roster of show exclusives in one year, and especially because this particular example was only available to attendees who had already purchased the ultra-desirable (and pricey) Stunti-Con-Job box set. Whatever the case, the peculiarly-coloured specimen rarely gets talked about as much as his contemporaries, which is a shame because it’s a weird but undeniably awesome result. Despite being inspired overall by the latterday European G1 toy, Ironfist, the Botcon figure owes a considerable amount to IDW’s Last Stand of the Wreckers, where the character used the anagrammatic pseudonym ‘Fistitron’ within the story. Most notably, the design of the face and the little black lines on the mouth plate are practically spot-on to that depiction. However, the colour scheme here is noticeably more saturated than any previous iteration overall, leading to a unique final product and a super fun but majorly overlooked release of the era.
#4: Wingblade Optimus Prime (2010)

Some may quibble the idea of this being classified as a ‘repaint’, given it’s essentially the same colours as the original release but now in clear plastic and with some additional bits stuffed on top, but I’m counting it nonetheless! Besides, when the output is this glorious, surely there’s no need to be too pedantic, eh? Representing Optimus’s upgraded ‘wingblade’ form from the last two episodes of the corresponding cartoon, this is, of course, also a loose homage to the classic God Ginrai look from 1988’s Masterforce, showcasing the young Autobot commander with wings and armour not too dissimilar from that series’ similar-looking protagonist. However, this version also comes complete with another take on the Magnus hammer, though smaller than the one found alongside the Ultra Magnus toy itself. The additional parts naturally create the most significant share of intrigue about this set, given they were only ever released by TakaraTomy after the planned Hasbro Deluxe equivalent never saw the light of day. Yet the Voyager figure being cast with a translucent finish is also notable and makes this a clearly worthwhile endeavour for Animated fans!
#3: Botcon Wildrider (2011)

We’re back to Botcon for our third entry, and yes, it’s another 2011 exclusive! I’ve talked about the epic Stunti-Con-Job box set before but it bears repeating: this is likely the best lot of figures the convention ever had a hand in. They each take an already amazing toy design and overhaul it to the point of being almost unrecognisable at first glance, giving a result embued with such incredible character detail that it allows each to have a real sense of charm and personality, all whilst boasting a fresh but bizarrely faithful spin on some classic franchise names. That’s no small feat, but it is the reason this set is also one of the most sought-after bits of Botcon memorabilia. Wildrider is the perfect example of everything I’m saying, especially because of how utterly distinct the original Lockdown design was. Yet nothing here feels like a rip-off of the bounty hunter, with the updated palette allowing it to sing all on its own merit, whilst the addition of the chainsaw weapon is a genius additional touch. Top-tier stuff and a wild ride indeed.
#2: Adventure Slug (2015)

Alongside Swoop, the Animated Snarl toy was given a memorable makeover for TakaraTomy’s Adventure toy line, which overall was their take on 2015’s Robots in Disguise. Now packaged under the slightly more expected name of Slug – itself purportedly less controversial versus this same character’s original 1985 designation – the figure eschews its familiar grey and gold in favour of a bold purple and red palette, which to my eye would not be entirely unexpected in a “Generation 2” style roster of some kind. Sadly, Slug lacks the original’s bright orange nugget of doom weapon, meaning he is unarmed save for the protruding horns and spikes over his body. Nonetheless, this remains a fun and creative new spin on an already worthwhile mould, allowing us to appreciate the inventive transformation all over again. Oh, and it’s worth nothing you can still find it for next to nothing, making it far and away the cheapest and most accessible option on today’s list!
#1: Botcon Minerva (2011)

From the cheapest to… well, the other extreme, let’s say that! Our final entry takes us back to Botcon 2011, but I hope you’ll forgive the sense of repetition, considering the rather delectable delights on offer. The original 1988 Minerva toy has the proud status of being amongst the most desirable pieces of Japanese G1 in the eyes of many collectors, so it makes sense that this unique convention offering would follow suit! In this case, the figure was only available as part of Botcon’s ‘customisation class’ offering, which provided attendees with the unassembled parts needed to build and paint everything themselves. It basically means that what was a fun activity for convention goers some thirteen years ago has now led to one of the rarest and most sought-after Animated toys of the lot, not least because getting a good specimen relies heavily on the skills of the person who built it in the first place. The mould is a retool of Arcee and the same year’s exclusive Drag Strip, yet it says everything about this trio that they each maintain their own unique sense of personality despite their shared parts. When we talk about extra special repaints, this is exactly the kind of thing we mean.
So that’s our list! What are some of your favourite Animated repaints?
TTFN
