COUNTDOWN: 6 Thoughts on Missing Link Grimlock

TakaraTomy’s Missing Link line has already proven itself to be one of the most thoughtful and quietly ambitious Transformers projects in years. By revisiting classic Generation 1 designs and reimagining them with modern articulation — while deliberately preserving their original silhouettes, quirks, and compromises — it has carved out a space that feels as much archival as it does forward-facing.

The new teaser for Missing Link Grimlock may not show us much, but in truth, it doesn’t need to. We know the toy it’s based on. We know the era it comes from. And perhaps most importantly, we know exactly why Grimlock feels like such a natural — and fascinating — next step for the line.

With that in mind, here are six thoughts on what Missing Link Grimlock might represent, and why this reveal feels far more significant than a single new toy.

#6: Missing Link’s commitment to early G1 continues

So far, Missing Link has focused squarely on the formative years of Transformers — specifically 1984 through 1986 — and Grimlock’s reveal suggests that this approach isn’t changing any time soon.

There has been no shortage of speculation that the line might eventually pivot to other eras, whether that’s the late G1 years or even something unexpected like mid-2000s designs. Each new release, however, tells us more about TakaraTomy’s actual intentions. This is a line rooted firmly in the original toys, not simply as nostalgia pieces, but as objects worth preserving and celebrating in their own right.

That makes sense when you consider that many of the designs being revisited are tied to moulds that are now effectively lost to time. Sunstreaker is a prime example, and Grimlock fits that pattern perfectly. The original toy design hasn’t been reused since the early 1990s during Generation 2, and surviving vintage examples are increasingly worn, incomplete, or fragile.

For many collectors, the chance to own a new version of the 1985 Grimlock — one that looks and feels like the original but can actually be handled without fear — is incredibly appealing. In that sense, Missing Link Grimlock isn’t just a new release; it’s a restoration project.

#5: Grimlock is well-suited to the Missing Link philosophy

One of the most intriguing aspects of Missing Link is how unevenly its potential applies across the G1 roster. Some characters feel immediately compatible with the idea; others are far harder to imagine. Grimlock sits firmly in the former camp.

The original toy already featured meaningful articulation for its time, including forward shoulder movement and a functional knee bend. Even some of the more static joints give the impression that they were always almost ready to move. The hips, in particular, feel like they were simply waiting for modern engineering to catch up.

Compare that to a character like Starscream, where the transformation scheme and body layout make the idea of added articulation far more complex, and it becomes clear why Grimlock feels like such an obvious choice. You can already picture how it might work.

That said, there are still fascinating challenges to consider. The original toy’s arm construction, for example, includes a slider mechanism that shortens the limbs during transformation, which inherently limits movement. How TakaraTomy addresses that — without compromising the look — will be one of the most interesting things to see.

There’s also the matter of the dinosaur mode. This marks the first Missing Link figure that isn’t a vehicle, making Grimlock something of a watershed release. How much articulation will the T. rex mode receive? Will the arms move? Will the neck? Or will TakaraTomy deliberately keep things restrained, setting expectations for future beast-mode entries?

As with previous Missing Link releases, the real magic will likely come from the tension between visual nostalgia and tactile surprise — toys that look exactly as you remember them, but handle in ways you never experienced before.

#4: It’s an unapologetic embrace of 1980s dinosaur science

Grimlock’s dinosaur mode is famously rooted in the early 1980s understanding of Tyrannosaurus rex — upright posture, dragging tail, and a silhouette that now feels charmingly outdated. And that’s precisely why it works.

This isn’t a design that needs updating or “correcting.” It’s synonymous with the character. More than that, it’s emblematic of a specific moment in pop culture history, when dinosaurs were imagined very differently than they are today. In that sense, Missing Link Grimlock becomes a time capsule not just for Transformers, but for the era that produced it. It’s a love letter to 1980s design thinking in all its earnest, imperfect glory.

There’s even a poetic parallel here. A G1 Grimlock was once displayed at London’s Natural History Museum as an example of how dinosaurs had been historically represented in popular media across the decades. A Missing Link update feels thematically aligned with that idea — preserving a snapshot of how we once imagined these creatures, rather than rewriting them through a modern lens.

#3: What does this mean for the rest of the Dinobots?

As with any major reveal, excitement quickly gives way to speculation. If Grimlock is happening, what about the others?

The idea of seeing Slag, Sludge, Snarl, and Swoop receive the Missing Link treatment is undeniably thrilling. It would represent a huge statement of intent from TakaraTomy and would likely dominate the line’s output for years.

That said, it’s also entirely possible that Grimlock remains a one-off for now. TakaraTomy has never been especially concerned with completing rosters for the sake of it, and committing to the full Dinobot team would be a massive undertaking for a line that releases only a handful of figures per year.

Still, the possibilities are tantalising. Slag and Snarl, like Grimlock, last appeared during Generation 2. Sludge and Swoop haven’t been released since 1985, with their planned G2 updates never materialising. The idea of those designs returning — faithfully, unapologetically — is enough to make many collectors weak at the knees. Swoop, in particular, feels like a long-standing dream release. One can only hope.

#2: Diaclone roots and the mystery of the cockpit

Anyone who played with the Dinobots as a child will remember wondering why they all had strange little seats and cockpit details built into them. The answer, of course, lies in Diaclone.

These toys were originally designed as non-sentient mecha piloted by tiny humanoid figures, and Missing Link has already demonstrated a deep reverence for that lineage. From Diaclone repaints to the inclusion of pilots with Sunstreaker, Cordon, and Ultra Magnus — not to mention the return of the Powered Buggy — TakaraTomy has consistently acknowledged where these designs came from. That naturally raises the question: will Grimlock include a pilot?

The cockpit section on his back is already there, and it’s hard not to imagine a small Diaclone-style companion accompanying him. More intriguingly, could we even see a full pre-TF release? Blue ‘pants’ instead of red, reframing Grimlock not as a character, but as a machine. It’s a long shot, perhaps — but one that feels increasingly plausible in the context of this line.

#1: Repaints, Generation 2, and the Tiger Stripe dream

G2 Tiger Stripe Grimlock custom, photo credit: @pripyatbeast

Finally, we come to the inevitable repaint speculation. Grimlock is a goldmine in this regard. Previous Missing Link releases have all appeared in pairs, so it’s reasonable to wonder what might accompany a standard G1 version.

An anime colour scheme would be an obvious choice, though there’s no guarantee — especially given that Sunstreaker and Ultra Magnus have yet to receive one. Generation 2 is another possibility. While G2 wasn’t a major success for Takara, and rarely receives direct homage, the blue repaint of Studio Series Grimlock proves it’s not entirely off the table.

But the most tantalising prospect of all is the unproduced G2 Tiger Stripe Grimlock. This yellow colour scheme has existed only in artwork for decades, later inspiring a modern Legacy repaint — but it has never been realised on the classic G1 design itself. Seeing it finally brought to life through Missing Link would be extraordinary, the appeal lying precisely in how long such an idea has remained just out of reach. For many collectors, it would be an all-time wishlist item: the very definition of a Missing Link. 

Missing Link Grimlock is still little more than a silhouette, but it’s already sparked a wealth of thought, nostalgia, and speculation. It’s a reminder of how powerful these designs remain — not because they’re perfect, but because they’re honest reflections of the era that created them. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we want preserved.

TTFN