Japanese retailer Hobby Search have updated with some better in-package images of the Transformers Prime First Edition toys for Japan. Broadly speaking, the packaging is the same as the US releases – there’s just a couple of stickers to add the Japanese text to the packaging. The main difference is that all the toys are packaged in robot mode, as opposed to their vehicle modes.
The toys themselves are also a bit different, you can check out our previous coverage of the US VS Japanese differences here.
Runamuck
Speaking of Takara Prime toys, they're in stock and shipping out from BBTS now. Only one it seems we're waiting for is Megatron now.
Stepper
Yah,i realized too that Vehicon is not issue under 1st wave for Hasbro version but there is Takaratomy version of packaging for Vehicon
kaijuguy19
Yeah I know that! Priss has sych a cute and awsome design so I'm glad they used aspect of her for Arcee!:d I'm suprised some of the customizers didn't try to use ine of the Priss figures to make a non transforming custom figure of TFP Arcee. It can really well made if done correctly!
Starfire22
Not seeing any prime toys in the links.
Irv Gotti
I would say that now would be a perfect time for reviving Bubblegum Crisis, it's central theme involving an evil corporate empire would ring very well with today's audience.
As far as a title change, that would be easy. Just name the show after the heroines' team name, the Knight Sabers.
wildfly
Is anybody able to take a picture of Takara Cliffjumper and Hasbro Cliffjumper together, both out of package?
Going by one gallery i saw, Takara Cliffjumper has painted rear light clusters, whilst Hasbro doesn't.
Beyond that, i'm having difficulty seeing anything but a marginal difference, and even that may be down to lighting (?)
Stepper
No offence but i just played with my friend's Cliffjumper for both Hasbro & Takaratomy version,seriously,to me,no difference at all in terms of paintjob or is my eyes seeing things when i am playing with my friend's 2 figures???
Transformed
Wow, Bumbblegum Crisis! I haven't seen this in ages—good times.
I don't know if I'd say Arcee was modeled after her, but their color scheme does look pretty similar. Man, would it have been cool to have had a live-action Bubblegum Crisis movie…though I guess a name change would be in order.
Irv Gotti
Well fellas, I'll be giving away my age here, but here's who Arcee is modeled directly from in both her character and design:
None other than Priss from Bubblegum Crisis (who coincidentally rode a Motorcycle that could transform into additional power armor over her own exo-suit)
Transformed
I can't speak for others, but I've spent enough on myself with Hercules, and after giving my children an un-Japanese Christmas (one present from parents and one from grandparents—does that suck or what?), I do need to save a bit. At some point, soon, I will have a few of these, but my collecting mainly lives on in my children I get to play with their toys too.
Stygian360
Personally, I'm stymied as to how you can see any of these gorgeous Prime figures and not want to throw them all in your cart for yourself before leaving the store!! I get buying a few for your kid- and that's commendable- but I'd certainly want a few for my collection if I were you. Sounds like either you have low interest or perhaps low funds. Regardless, thanks for showing us your in-store pics!
Transformed
Yes. Cliffjumper is a different shade of red and shinier.
DPrime
I don't know. The elongated face thing is a pretty common design element for the TFP Transformers.
If anything, they remind me more of the new Cylons from BSG.
Runamuck
I tend to agree with Transformed. It usually seems like the quality of paint or the way the figure is painted is different. Not necessarily the color or any additional paint apps.
Stepper
No offence but is there a difference for Cliffjumper between Takara & Hasbro version?
Transformed
The difference for most may be subtle, but I think the difference is quite significant. Hasbro's paint job looks rather cheap and flat. Takara's looks rather shiny and in some case more vibrant (Cliffjumper for example). I think Bumblebee looks only slightly different, but I'll have to look at him again to make sure—I wasn't too impressed upon first glance, not like everyone else anyway.
you’re right. Its face does look like a mask a Silverhawk would wear. Was it Steel Will that looked like that? I guess I should Google it
Stepper
The face of Vehicons sure look like a character of the cartoon, Silverhawk with their mask on.
Shark Jumper
On the fence about jp releases, they look only subtle different for the most part besides Bulkhead.
http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-1369.html can hardly tell even with these photos.
Transformed
Maybe for the Vehicon, but everywhere else, and I mean everywhere else, got first crack at all other First Editions before Japan even saw them.
I caved and purchased Bumblebee and Cliffjumper for my son, so that he could have these for Christmas and not after. If he were a tad bit older, he probably could have waited for these nicer ones, but as a soon-to-be-four-year-old, he doesn't care about such paint schemes—Cliffjumper is Cliffjumper and Bumblebee is Bumblebee. He's just happy to have them
Today's the day ArmsMicron campaign starts for the Transformer: Prime line, the products actual street date. And I was thinking about going back to Midori Denka to pick up that sexy Optimus Prime for myself, but what's hard about that is son will think it’s for him *sigh*
Stygian360
These look so g-damn sumptious and delicious!! I sincerely wish that Vehicon was hitting US shores on 12/28 as it appears to already have been streeted in Japan. You overseas buggers always get the good stuff early!