Direct from Takara Tomy’s booth at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong (ACGHK) 2018 we have a nice reveal for you. We have our first look at the Takara Tomy Voyager Optimus Prime from the Bumblebee: The Movie Toyline.
The images surfaced thank to TFND Facebook group. This figure is, in fact, a clever repaint and remold of popular Age Of Extinction Voyager Evasion Mode Optimus Prime. Besides the new paint and chromed parts, the figure now features a new head with a rotating mouth plate, a new rifle and several remolded parts like shoulders and lower arms, articulated hands, part of the upper thighs and wheels (he can accommodate two wheels on his thighs now) and several other details on the main torso.
Update: Thanks to Stanley Cheung from the Hobbymizer Hong Kong Discuss Facebook Group, we have a nice set of extra images. One of the pictures shows this toy next to MP-34s Shadow Panther (repaint of MP Cheetor) and confirms that this mold is not just a remold of Voyager Evasion Optimus Prime, but a bigger and improved mold that used Evasion Mode mold as a base for it.
A very nice improvement over an already great mold. It is still unknown if we would see a US release of this mold, but considering the new unified work between Takara Tomy and Hasbro, we hope he will see this toy in US stores in the near future.
You can check out the mirrored images after the jump and then sound off on the 2005 Boards!
RodimusSupreme
ziltama
Nemesis version had some stealth fixes too, most importantly, his hands can actually hold stuff.
Mister Z
Yes.
eltonlin98
There was an official repaint, but it was a Japan exclusive
TakaraTomy Legendary Nemesis Prime 7-11 Japan Exclusive Figure Revealed – Transformers News – TFW2005
OriginalFire
Was there ever a Nemesis version of this
oku
I'd like to see someone paint this mold properly.
Famusprim
So inaccurate but can\'t blame them they guessed how he looked
Jhund
It hangs of the mid back , no ifs and butts about it . Couldn’t help myself .
As for price … it’s the same as every other leader class figures . Excluding shipping , I don’t see how Takara priced it too high .
Lukelbs
I may be bias since I fell out of love quite quickly with the WJ version. I was so excited about it, I even bought two, one to paint movie accurate and one to keep stock. But after messing around with it, I found the transformation a bit clunky with the added bits and found that I got far more enjoyment from the small Hasbro figure which I have like 10 copies of. (It's one of my favorite figures.) The WJ did come with more accessories, more paint and more weight. It's a great figure, no doubt, but in the end it felt like a KO to me.
Legendary Optimus Prime has a lot more moulded details that are lost due to the lack of paint. The transformation with the new additions is far smoother and more intuitive than WJ, (the only thing that is exactly the same between the two beside the base transformation is the way the tire swings up to his thigh), everything is slightly different while achieving a similar effect. The gun folds up more so it's not hanging from his butt and can stay in place for transformation (no parts forming like WJ fuel tanks).
And he looks great with Studio Series Bumblebee.
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noisetrigger
I get the better face swapping (which is an upgrade over the WJ surely) but better everything else? Transformation looks literally the same with the exception of the shoulders. It still has the same problem of transformation inherent to this mold. Granted I think this has a better looking blaster but I don’t like how it hangs at his butt. WJ did it better with the twin gas tank. This also doesn’t come with any other weapon. And the detail? Maybe it is the paint job but I don’t see how this is more detail than the WJ which has tons of added detail by BA.
I am only considering this because I am a fan of the mold but the price point is the same as the WJ and I fell that Takara really priced this a bit too high for a non masterpiece toy.
Lukelbs
The WJ mold is only superior in weight (due to the die cast) and paint. Everything else is better on the Legendary Optimus Prime. The new tricks in the transformation are better handled on Legendary Prime. Better weapon integration, better details, better face swapping, and a smoother transformation. But WJ does have some nice paint…
noisetrigger
This thread is really dead. Is there no one else buying this figure? I am still on the fence about it as I already have the WJ superior mold of this version and the original A0E Voyager.
ultramagnus1
I hate how every time a figure is picked up its compared to something else. This guy was my 4th version of the "evasion" mold but rather then comparing it to them or any other prime I'm loving the figure for what he is.
And what he is is a gem of a figure. Love him.
nuropa
If 50-60 ish is your target price, it’s available from amazon.jp for that much shipped
TFXProtector
Oh, yeah, chances are that's not going to happen. Looks like you'll be better off with Wei Jiang. I just cannot see this sitting on a shelf, somewhere. Now, if TRU was still open, that would be a different story but not now.
daddytron
Most of the appeal it has for me was the thought of being able to walk into a Target/Walmart and walk out with it for $50-$60 ish. Not so into the Bayverse that I'm willing to go much higher, and if I was to do so and incur the wrath of my wife, I'd just buy the Wei Jiang one.
TFXProtector
This has Takara Tomy branding only, unlike the other lines currently available right now. (Studio Series and Siege: War For Cybertron) This isn't a shared item, as far as we know. If it does come here, it'll be an online store exclusive. I'd imagine Amazon or Entertainment Earth, then later becoming a shared exclusive where other retailers such as BBTS pick up a part of the offering for either the same, or slightly higher, price.
Basically, if you want it, I'd recommend buying it now and living with the sting of the price tag and take comfort in the knowledge of knowing you have something you enjoy and makes you happy. Besides, you won't save a ton of money waiting for domestic release, anyway. Usually, these types of figures might be $20.00 cheaper. If at all.
nycPrime
Possible, maybe even likely. Unlikely to be soon. But no one knows for sure.
daimchoc
Not at the brick and mortar level…
daddytron
Haven't followed this thread, and please omit snarky answers if this has been asked 100x already, but given that Hasbro/Takara are now doing identical releases, is there any chance of a Hasbro release of this figure in U.S. Stores?