COUNTDOWN: 8 Masterpiece toys that could get an MPG re-do

In case you haven’t yet heard, Transformers Masterpiece is soon to come to an end.

Well, kinda. But also not really. You see, after the upcoming MP-60, the line will continue, but now be under the new MPG banner. What does this mean exactly? So far it seems like pretty much business as usual, but just with some nice new branding on the box, which, let’s be fair, wouldn’t be the first time such a thing has happened.

Here's the best way I can explain what appears to be the difference between Transformers Masterpiece and MPG pic.twitter.com/m85Jn5P5Va

— Sixo (@SixoTF) May 30, 2024

We’ve already seen the first glimpses of classic Masterpiece moulds soon to receive repaints as part of the ongoing MPG line, so clearly, some bleedover will remain from what we’ve previously known. That said, it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of potential for TakaraTomy to re-do some of the toys we’ve already received, especially in the case of characters completed before the more recent lurch towards slavish animation accuracy the line is now famous for.

Besides, we’ve seen numerous Optimus Primes and Starscreams already, so why shouldn’t we expect some of the names on today’s list to also get another pass? With that in mind, here are 8 Masterpiece toys potentially ripe for an MPG re-do before too long.

#8: Hot Rod

I want to stress out of the gate here that I remain a big fan of the MP-28 Hot Rodimus design. Still, this thing has plenty of detractors online, many of whom would cite everything from the proportions to the curvature of the flame-embossed chest as reasons it was not quite the realisation of the fan-favourite character they were hoping for! Plus, considering how well-known Hot Rod is and what a mainstay of the franchise he remains, there’s little doubt the powers that be could theoretically be tempted by the idea of giving him another pass at some point. After all, the original is (deep breath) eight years old now, so it’s really not off the table!

#7: Sideswipe

The one that, in many ways, started it all! Well, after MP-10 Convoy, of course. And MP-9 Rodimus. But still, there’s no doubt it was MP-12 that really sold many collectors on the idea of a complete (ha!) Masterpiece Ark crew, all present and correct in accurately scaled form. True, that now sounds like a bit of a pipe dream, even some twelve years (I’m not joking) down the line, but for a moment there, it was just about the most exciting thing to ever happen in the sphere of Transformers collecting. In hindsight, Lambor remains a timeless toy and certainly set the template for what was to come, but again, with the line having since gone a more screen-styled route, it feels like there’s enough left on the table for an MPG rehash to still cover new ground and deliver the definitive partner for the more stylised MP-39 Sunstreaker.

#6: The Coneheads

Few would cite the Conehead trio as the Masterpiece line’s most auspicious outing. True, they did get better with each subsequent release, but both 2016’s MP-11NR Ramjet and MP-11NT Thrust were pretty plagued with problems and even the superior MP-11ND Dirge felt like a substantial compromise in many regards. A lot of it stemmed from trying to repurpose the MP-11 mould into something resembling a cartoon-accurate take on the beefier second-season Seeker design, which ended up feeling like an awkward prospect even outside of the eventual production issues. With the classic trio having had a round of MP-52 makeovers, could we finally see another pass at this three under MPG?

#5: The Datsuns

I say this with a bit of trepidation (especially as I really don’t think such an idea is actually *needed*) but should TakTom see fit to give Sideswipe another go, I wouldn’t be too shocked if the likes of Bluestreak, Prowl and Smokescreen soon followed suit. True, they all had “+” anime repaints, which, for my money, more than did the job of bringing the designs in line with the later anime-styled releases, but it’s still not a notion I’d rule out, either. Time will tell.

#4: Grimlock

Come on, it has to happen, surely? MP-8 Grimlock is an incredible figure in its own right. Still, there’s one thing about it which has sadly resigned it to obscurity in the eyes of many modern Masterpiece collectors – it’s entirely out of scale with anything else in the line. Standing shorter than follow-up efforts MP-9 Rodimus and MP-10 Convoy, there were third-party attempts to try and keep it relevant somehow (remember the FansToys platform shoes?!), but needless to say, very few still have this guy on their shelf next to the rest of their MP line-up these days. The new MPG brand feels like the perfect home to finally realise a larger rendition of the Dinobot leader and, of course, his four simple-brained buddies whilst we’re at it!

#3: Red Alert

Yes, I know I mentioned this mould above, but bear with me here! You see, whilst MP-14 Alert was indeed a straight-up repaint of MP-12 Lambor, there’s nothing to say that a new MPG version would have to follow suit, and arguably every reason to think it could deviate a fair bit! You see, in the cartoon, Red Alert looks quite different to Sideswipe in a number of ways, and not least in terms of proportions. MP-14 gave a nod to that with the addition of the faux shoulder wheels, but really, these characters being realised via separate moulds (or, at the very least, a heavy retool for Red), would ideally be the way to go in the future, if indeed you want the slavish screen look.

#2: Soundwave

Undeniably one of the most iconic and unrelentingly popular Transformers characters of all time, it’s actually a little surprising that we’ve yet to see Soundwave given another Masterpiece figure, considering MP-13 was released eleven years ago! After all, with revisions of both Megatron and (a third) Starscream having dropped since, it’s really not all that far-fetched to consider a refined and cartoon-flavoured MPG update might be something TakaraTomy is already working on, is it? This one feels like the most surefire bet of all the entries on today’s list.

#1: Rodimus Prime

We started this list on Hot Rod, and we may as well finish it by presenting his updated dad persona. Contrary to popular belief, MP-9 is a fantastic toy in many regards and perfectly captures the essence of Rodimus Prime in both modes with surprisingly faithful flair. Even its style doesn’t feel that it is at odds alongside more modern releases, rocking curved lines and an anime-accurate finish all fitting in well despite it now being almost fourteen years old. But – and this is a big but – the toy sadly landed with a whole plethora of quality control issues that have plagued its reputation ever since. Thus, as far as many amongst the collector community remain concerned, a re-do is in order at some point down the line. To be fair, even for those who would gladly still pick up MP-9, it’s a hard one to come by, with the 2018 reissue now also commanding sizeable prices on the aftermarket. Considering Rodimus’ high-profile character status and the Japanese love for hero characters, this one somehow seems like an MPG shoo-in.

So that’s our list!

TTFN