COUNTDOWN: 9 G1 Optimus Prime toys to celebrate the 40th anniversary!

Transformers is 40, don’t you know?

Unsurprisingly, the powers that be have gone to town on marking the occasion, with all kinds of events and merch commissioned to celebrate such a milestone throughout 2024. However, one of the most defining aspects of it all is the sheer plethora of new Optimus Prime releases, many of which circle the same familiar pattern of harkening back to the classic 1984 design, albeit in slightly differing ways!

So today, let’s examine some of the available options and see what they’re all about. After all, there’s an Optimus Prime for everyone here!

#9: Hot Wheels

This much-hyped but insta-scalped first entry caused a lot of comment when revealed for its rather eye-watering RRP, but no doubt there’s intrigue for being a fairly faithful recreation of the classic Optimus Prime toy except in minute diecast form. Many Transformers collectors may be unaware of just how hot Hot Wheels can be on first release, frequently selling out in mere minutes, but this being a collab effort has almost certainly further upped the eyeballs on the whole endeavour. It means if you want to add the thing to your collection, you can likely expect to eat a not-inconsiderable markup by this stage, which is a real shame, considering how fun the inherent idea is.

#8: Yolopark

The licensed outfit Yolopark has been producing some incredible stuff in the world of Transformers recently, with a range of offerings from the simple snap-together-in-minutes Rise of the Beasts figures all the way to hugely more extensive collector-level model kits which will take a few evenings of whiling away to build. Their ‘AMK Pro’ Optimus Prime sits somewhere in between: still towards the more accessible end of the spectrum in terms of build complexity, but now with a majorly fetching premium finish and a surprising amount of articulation. It may not transform, but this could be a hit for fans looking for a faithfully cartoon-styled take on the Autobot leader in robot mode.

#7: Blokees

Alternatively, if you fancy something more stylised in the model kit world, this charming offering from alternative official licensee Blokees could be just the ticket. If you’re like me, you’re still getting used to pronouncing that name correctly (think ‘block’, not ‘bloke’), but whatever the case, there’s little denying the products themselves are pretty adorable. They arrive on a sprue for you to build yourself, so there’s plenty of fun to be had, and the result is a picture-perfect, cute-as-a-button take on Optimus’ cartoon appearance.

#6: Masterpiece MP-44S

Finally released earlier this year after a notable period of both hope and hype from Masterpiece collectors looking for the ultimate collectable to stand (or fall) versus their MP-36+ Megatron, MP-44S is a toy-styled makeover for this otherwise heavily cartoon-inspired third rendition of the character in the line. True, it may not have scratched every itch, with zero retooling leaving us without an alternative head option and the accompanying G1-flavoured decals feeling like a runners-up prize versus Megatron’s elaborate factory-applied tampos. However, there’s still plenty to admire about this effort, as those yellow eyes are dazzling up close, and no doubt the darker, more muted colour scheme does the mould plenty of favours besides. An underrated gem.

#5: Studio Series

The new hotness on the block is undoubtedly the recently unveiled (and majorly celebrated) Studio Series effort, which, as many predicted, is essentially a ‘mini MP-44’ in terms of looks. It brings our hero to life in Generations style more screen-slavishly than ever before and is bound to win over the vast majority of collectors when it eventually debuts slightly later this year before going on to birth a whole legion of repaints!

#4: Missing Link

As one of – if not *the* – most significant Transformers toys in the last two decades, Missing Link has earned its deserved hype since being unveiled at the tail end of 2023. It’s the figure many of us always imagined in our mind’s eye: a near-perfect recreation of the classic 1984 design but now imbued with additional articulation and a premium painted finish. It’s simple in concept, yes, but it’s *everything* in terms of delivery and will be, for some, the definitive Optimus Prime option on this list. Maybe ever.

#3: Legacy G1 Universe

However, for those fans who feel TakaraTomy’s Missing Link option is a little too pricey or prefer something slightly smaller for their shelf, there’s this rather intriguing alternative, with the vintage toy design now reimagined from the ground up for the Generations market. It’s a strange but alluring “what if” that shows how the classic figure may have appeared where it released today, despite eschewing the bells and whistles such as chrome, diecast or even a pack-in trailer to keep the cost down. It feels mean to call it “budget Missing Link”… except that’s pretty much exactly what this is, and it looks great!

#2: Missing Link Anime

On the flip side, we have this alternatively-coloured TakaraTomy release, now decked out in a simpler, bolder fashion for a more screen-styled flavour. At this point, we’ve had cartoon-designed Optimus Prime releases done in toy style, so why not a toy-designed one trussed up to resemble the cartoon? Full confession, I fully expected this to be the afterthought option versus the main Missing Link’s headline act, but dare I say… I almost prefer it? Shocking stuff, I know.

#1: Retro

YESSSSSSSSSS pic.twitter.com/CRwdS5AdGF

— Sixo (@SixoTF) July 25, 2024

And finally, we come to the inspiration for this list, which is today’s shock (but not really) reveal that, yes, there’s a new Hasbro Retro release of the vintage Optimus Prime design on the horizon, to much fanfare! So, how does this differ from the Anime Missing Link? Well, it’s the original mould still, just now done in cartoon colours, so whilst I agree there’s perhaps only a narrow beam of sunlight between such options in the eyes of some collectors, it’s an important enough distinction for those of us who still get ridiculously hyped for this sort of thing. In keeping with previous Retro makeovers, the chrome and decals of the 1984 version are gone, replaced by lavish paint and a cleaner style, but, crucially, this release packs in the trailer and a whole dose of nostalgic charm to boot. Can’t wait!

So that’s our list! Which of the Optimus options are for you?

TTFN