We have some additional information about the next installment in the Transformers Masterpiece series for you now. 2005 Boards member MACRAPTRON was also present at the Tokyo Toy Show panel yesterday, and can report on what Shogo Hasui said during the presentation:
Hasui: “About the new Masterpiece, I believe many of you want to hear about MP20. We can’t show it yet, but MP20 will finally be that character, that car model which the license was very difficult to obtain”.
MC: “Why? (can’t show now?)”
Hasui: “You’ll have to wait/please wait some more”
This does not quite match what we heard yesterday, but this does fit with what we heard previously about the Takara-Tomy team relentlessly pursuing licenses for the car models of the other Generation 1 characters. From Hasui’s wording, it sounds like MP-20 might be a character with a licensed car mode which has been very hard to obtain for the line – which narrows the field of candidates quite considerably.
We will share more news and information as it reaches us.
[Wing_Saber-X]
Yeah, whatever you say dude..
trebleshot
I was giving him a boiled-down version of the story, but yes that's all true. At least Takara would only be interested in the Stratos Turbo version (like I said, a very specific custom version of the 80's Stratos), so that might have served to make things a little easier. Plus, if the new Ferrari-based version has any design cues that call back to the Turbo, it's free advertising for Fiat/Pinafarina.
Again, it's all speculation at this point as to which of the two licenses were harder to get: Wheeljack's or Bumblebee's. Maybe a future interview (like the one they did for Lambor) will enlighten us on this matter someday.
Which is what I said. I just didn't state the name of the "custom" version outright.
Stepper
TakTomy must be a god in able to obtain this license,great job TakTomy.
miyinan
a bit disappointed that Jazz is not on there (if the list from BBST is true). but wheeljack is good too. will be getting it for sure.
Hollywood Hoist
Okay now we know MP 20 and 21, tell us what MP-22 is going to be… I mean how long do we have to wait
Griff
Stratos Turbo to be exact. The beefed up Group 5 version of the stock Stratos. /useless trivia
Shpankee
Wheeljack's alt mode was the Lancia Stratos. Lancia was one of those manufacturers that ended up going through many different companies hands in the 80's and 90's and in fact the Stratos is being re-imagined now under a Pinafarina badge and being built on a Ferarri body. I would have no clue on how to get licensing on that.
kibble
I bet they can…for the simple reason that the characters would actually look like themselves. Giant's individual figs look nothing like the G1 characters, plus they're all over the place size wise. And Herc, the bots look a little closer, but they're nowhere near MP quality. And considering all the construction vehicles all pretty much retain their shape in combined mode, Devastator is one I think TT could do, and do well. Plus, until I see them do a bad MP (post MP-10 if you want to nitpick) I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Zaibach
Now that Takara has the approval to make these figures what if any other license would be hard for them to get? I hope this opens the way now for them getting approval for all the figures.
Predaking
No way. We already have two 3rd party Devastators that are MP quality, Hercules and Giant. I doubt Takara can do a better job even if they try.
trebleshot
From my understanding, WJ's alt mode was of a very specific version of a particular make and model – technically a concept car of sorts. The license may have changed hands over the years, too.
Bumblebee's was a production-level Beetle, but it had VW's fear of its past associations holding back the license for it.
So maybe the MP numbers are accurate. Then again, it could just as easily be a typo at this point. Or even a placeholder number until BBTS gets more information on them.
I think he meant as an alt mode in the LAMs ("Imagine if…"), not for the upcoming MP toy. Most likely, MP-21 Bumble will be a mid-1970's Beetle.
sh002
Preordered Wheeljack and Bumblebee at BBTS. I would love a MP Devastator. That would help balance the Autobots and Decepticons a little. Everybody chant MP Devastator to make it happen.
Transformed
I wonder if BBTS mixed the numbers up?
I don't see MP Bumblebee looking like a new Beetle–the rest of the line is G1 accurate, why would Takara go new on this one?
CodeXCDM
Still curious as to why Wheeljack wound up being harder to obtain a license for… I mean Has/Tak reached out to Volkswagon FOR YEARS trying to use any version of the Beetle for Bumblebee… way back when Binaltech was new… then in the first movie too. (Srsly, imagine bee going from an old school Bug into the 2000s Beetle update as opposed to the Camaros.)
Stepper
MP20,the Wheeljack,that is way too cool.
spikebuster
or maybe a MP Devastator!
tcyeric
don't know if the link would work but BBTS has just listed a preliminary listing of the future MPs
MP-20 Wheeljack
MP-21 Bumblebee
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?…07929919235829&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf
Stepper
MP Bumblebee will be nice but am still hopeful for a MP Jazz.
Shpankee
Think bigger. Unicron's head was the size of a moon, so a relative scale MP of Unicron would be the size of a mall, or maybe Dinsey World?
megabotatronius
He would have to be as big as a house! A BIG house!