COUNTDOWN: 8 TakaraTomy Drops That Are About to Make a Serious Dent in Your Wallet

New toy reveals are always something to talk about, and with so much on the horizon from TakaraTomy right now, it feels like the right moment to take stock and consider some of the momentous stuff that’s about to land.

It’s a remarkable time to be a Transformers collector, as this lot will more than attest to — here are eight upcoming toys that are sure to cause a serious dent in your wallet.

#8: MPG-19 Soundwave and Condor

Rumours of a new Masterpiece Soundwave had swirled for years, but I don’t think anyone had a repaint of the celebrated 2013 release on their bingo card for the fledgling MPG roster.

Still, it’s no bad thing — arguably the mould has weathered the test of time better than other examples of that era, and it still fits the highly cartoon-accurate stylings of the modern, albeit rebranded line-up remarkably well, especially with a fresh coat of anime-styled colour to boot. For newer collectors, or those who somehow didn’t pick this one up thirteen years ago (whaaat?), this is the perfect opportunity to discover what is objectively a really slick rendition of the iconic Decepticon. For fans already well-versed with it, it’s another chance to be reminded of why the original was so good to begin with.

Honestly, I was struck by how strange it felt to see such a repaint at first — but having reflected on it, the decision makes a lot of sense. And besides, did we really need an entirely new figure when the existing one is so good already? The updated paint job does plenty of heavy lifting here, with bolder blues and vibrant yellow highlights proving suitably eye-catching in promo shots so far.

The only real curiosity is the timing. Classic G1-styled Soundwave toys seem to be absolutely everywhere at the moment — we’ve only just seen the new Studio Series figure drop, to say nothing of the licensed LEGO and Robosen incarnations, and it’s been less than two years since the Retro reissue of the 1984 toy and no fewer than two separate War For Cybertron versions besides. We are, quite literally, swimming in Soundwave right now — although given he’s one of the franchise’s most beloved all-stars, perhaps that’s entirely understandable.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#7: MPG-20 Style Gen. Hot Rod

Like Soundwave, there had been plenty of speculation about a Masterpiece Hot Rod redo for the longest time — especially since 2016’s MP-28 didn’t quite win everyone over (even if some of us rather liked it, actually). Well, ten years have somehow passed, and here we are — although did anyone anticipate it arriving quite like this?

The reveal of MPG-20 caused all kinds of confusion online, as it is — let’s be fair — highly akin to an oversized Studio Series 86 Hot Rod, right down to the detailing and transformation scheme. The likeness is so uncanny that many fans were genuinely wondering whether the new figure was simply a repainted or lightly retooled take on the Generations release, perhaps with a few bells and whistles thrown in. Well, here’s the tea: it’s entirely new, built from the ground up with no shared parts whatsoever — although, clearly, very clearly, both are singing from the same heavy-metal-inspired hymn sheet aesthetically.

We’ve seen styling similarities between Masterpiece and mainline releases before, most notably in the head sculpts of toys like Kingdom Dinobot versus MP-41, where the same CAD files were evidently used during initial production phases, even if the final figures were separately tooled. Yet this feels like the first time the phenomenon has played out across an entire figure to such a striking degree, which makes MPG-20 quite the fascinating experiment. The Studio Series version was widely praised for how it captured the turbo-revving young punk, and whilst I wasn’t personally quite as won over as most, I absolutely see the merit in a high-end overhaul that enhances those core ideas further. As a certified Hot Rod enjoyer, I can only conclude this is an intriguing prospect — even if, yes, I will be daring to keep my dreams alive for a pink version.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#6: Overgear Series OG-01 Ironhide OG-02 Blackout

Considering just how many reveals have landed in the Transformers world of late, it’s telling that these two generated quite as much buzz as they did when they were unveiled back in October. We rarely get a moment to pause and luxuriate in new announcements before the next equally thrilling thing arrives, but there was a sort of collective acknowledgement that the dual Overgear figures felt like something… a bit special.

And although we’ve covered the various details in a previous article, both toys have since been showcased in full colour — or arguably a lack thereof, given their disappointingly muted real-world military finish. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for a bit more pizzazz in the palette, truth be told — even a few additional painted highlights would go a long way to making these already superb sculpts truly pop. Even so, they look fantastic overall, and the whole endeavour from TakaraTomy remains one to watch. Taking heavy inspiration from the live-action films in its character choices whilst blending in elements from other corners of the franchise and folding in a dose of ‘realistic mecha design’, the whole enterprise feels like a spiritual successor to series like Mobile Suit Gundam, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, or even Special Armoured Battalion Dorvack — living robots rather than non-sentient mechs, but cut from very much the same cloth. It will be fascinating to see where the line heads from here, but Overgear has well and truly captured our attention.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#5: Synergenex Transformers x Zoids x Diaclone Shield-D-Prime 

Zoids was an absolute childhood classic for anyone growing up in the 1980s — the mecha model kits proved enormously alluring to kids at a time when giant robots were very much the flavour of the day, and the fact that these were mechanical animals rather than humanoid forms or jets gave them a specific, irresistible intrigue. It’s perhaps no surprise the brand has remained a Japanese staple ever since. And given it’s another TakaraTomy property, the notion of a Zoids and Transformers crossover has long been the stuff of fan daydreams — so in an era where seemingly every wishlist item is finally coming true, it makes sense this one would eventually follow suit.

There’s a twist in the tale, mind, as a third franchise has been thrown into the mix: the modern Diaclone line adds its influence to the proceedings, with a Dia-Naut taking pride of place in the Zoids cockpit rather than the tiny chromed vintage specimens many long-time collectors will fondly remember. What you essentially end up with is an Optimus Prime that transforms into a big cat — Zoids’ signature Liger Zero — with a handful of stylistic flourishes and some additional interactive play besides. None of it comes cheap, it should be said — the price is nothing short of eye-watering, which is sure to prove a firm barrier for many of the same collectors who’ve been hoping for something like this for years. Still, there’s little denying it’s a compelling realisation of a long-held fandom ambition, finally delivered at a moment where anything feels possible — even if it comes at a cost.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#4: Synergenex Evangelion Prime Unit-01 

Another entry from TakaraTomy’s Synergenex crossover schedule — and yes, it’s another Optimus Prime! Some will inevitably question why the Autobot leader so often finds himself in the spotlight for these kinds of collaborations, but the commercial logic isn’t hard to follow. He is, by some distance, the most iconic name in Transformers, and these projects are clearly conceived to appeal beyond the core fandom by their very nature. Evangelion fans may not recognise your favourite deep-cut robots in disguise Glup Shitto equivalent, but Optimus Prime? That name carries genuine cross-cultural weight.

And it’s not as though the truck dad hasn’t crossed paths with the celebrated 1990s Japanese anime before — consider the hugely popular MP-10 Convoy Mode “Eva” from 2014 as the prime (yep) example. This new effort is something of a spiritual successor to that, though it goes considerably further — significantly retooling the 2018 Legendary Optimus Prime figure with a striking new colour scheme and a wealth of additional accessories, creating a dedicated homage that captures the lithe, sinewy energy of Evangelion Unit-01 to an even greater degree, whilst remaining unmistakably Prime throughout. Price-wise, this one is also notably more accessible than some of its Synergenex stablemates — so expect it to prove rather popular once it hits shelves.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#3: Synergenex Transformers x Macross Basara Prime 

Zoids and Evangelion crossovers have been fandom pipe dreams for many years, but there is one classic Japanese robot franchise that has always stood above the rest in terms of its potential for a Transformers collaboration — and that is Macross. The series is about as legendary as they come: a pillar of the 1980s ‘real robot’ mecha movement whose influence on Transformers and just about every other franchise in the genre can still be felt to this day. The two properties have famously brushed up against one another before, most notably when Hasbro licensed the iconic VF-1S Super Valkyrie design for use as Jetfire back in 1985, which swiftly became one of the most sought-after releases of the era.

Unfortunately, as fervently as fans of both properties have wished for another collaboration since, a significant roadblock has stood in the way — namely, Harmony Gold. The American production company acquired the rights to Macross from the anime’s Tatsunoko studio in the 1980s, before awkwardly combining it with two other Japanese series — Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA — to create the overhauled US series Robotech. Since then, the company has been notoriously litigious, repeatedly pursuing legal action against Hasbro and anyone else even loosely attempting something that resembles Macross outside of Japan, no matter how tenuous the connection. Much of it has amounted to dubious posturing at best, but their stranglehold on the franchise has long been enough to make the dream of another crossover feel perpetually out of reach.

All of which makes this new TakaraTomy effort such a genuine thrill — even if it draws not from the classic iteration of the franchise that many might have hoped for, but from its music-driven 1990s follow-up, Macross 7. And honestly, the outcome is far more creative and colourful than we could have wished for, delivering a hugely original take on the gorgeous VF-19 Excalibur Custom ‘Fire Valkyrie’ that feels like the very best of both worlds. It may not be what anyone expected — but it looks absolutely stunning, and the fact that it exists at all makes it one of the most compelling releases on this entire list.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#2: Adamas Machina AMT-02 Predaking

Between MPG, Synergenex, Missing Link and whatever else TakaraTomy currently has cooking, it’s remarkable to consider they have the bandwidth for yet another high-end collector line — and yet, anyone with hands-on experience of the recent AMT-01 Rodimus will know there is every reason to pay attention to their Kōtetsu Kinshin Adamas Machina range. Super-articulated, richly detailed and featuring generous diecast construction (proof that it most certainly is not a lost art), these striking figures are evidently being developed by fresh talent in the industry, which goes some way to explaining the distinct breath of fresh air that the whole project carries with it.

Next up is Predaking — a natural choice for the treatment, given the beast-themed combiner has been a fan-favourite ever since his 1986 debut and his barnstorming cartoon appearances alongside it. That this new figure also incorporates a notable Studio OX aesthetic and is shaping up to be one of the most poseable combiner releases… well, ever is very much the icing on the cake. Yes, the price tag is positively whopping — but for those in a position to take the plunge, it’s sure to be a showstopper.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

#1: Missing Link C-13 Grimlock (Anime Colour Version)

Is there anything more quietly thrilling in the world of Transformers right now than Missing Link? If you were to bottle the concentrated essence of fan hopes and dreams and distil it into plastic form, I suspect it would look strikingly similar to what TakaraTomy has been conjuring of late with their lovingly enhanced takes on the vintage classics.

Grimlock’s reveal landed to a chorus of considerable hype and no shortage of speculation about which recolours might follow — and as it turns out, we didn’t have to wait long at all. The Anime version is hot on its heels, swapping out the toy-accurate palette for a considerably more cartoon-faithful vibe. True, the bold yellow chest gave some collectors pause on first glance — but further promotional images have allayed most concerns, and dare I say that I, for one, could not be more pumped for this to land. The original Dinobot designs have been off the table for far, far too long, having been out of circulation since the 1990s, and this long-overdue celebration of the most famous of their number bodes extremely well for where the Missing Link project is headed next. Sign me up.

You can order this release on TFSource here!

So that’s our list! Which of these TakaraTomy projects has you reaching for your wallet — and which is proving just a little too rich for your blood?

TTFN