
Anime Expo happened this past weekend, and Kotobukiya hosted a panel on July 3rd, announcing products and showing new content. Among the panel topics was the new Transformers Bishoujo series. A previously posted video was shown, and it was mentioned that the narrator was none other than Toshiyuki Morikawa, voice actor for Convoy. Pre-order information was displayed, and the audience was informed that the number of pre-orders will determine the future of the Transformers Bishoujo line. Then, the panel reviewed the existing Transformers Bishoujo lineup of Optimus Prime, Megatron, and the recently announced Bumblebee.
The big surprise happened next: an in-panel fan vote for the next Transformers Bishoujo! Panel attendees were asked to cheer for the choice they wanted the most, the choices being Autobot Jazz, Decepticon Starscream, and Decepticon Soundwave. Starscream received the loudest cheers. After that fans were able to voice their requests for characters to show up in the Transformers Bishoujo line.
Do you have thoughts on the Kotobukiya panel and the fan vote? See footage from the panel after the jump, and join the discussion thread in the forums!
Spikeytigertron
I could see that, like Ganguru (?) Tanned one-arming a crazy barbell or something. Could have a red bob cut reminiscent of the helmet
TrashBotJones
If they don’t do musclegirl Ironhide then what is the point of this line
Spikeytigertron
Fair. Now I’m really curious how they’d do Shockwave… would it be a “step on me” vibe with an eyepatch?
Agreed with all the above here… also…. The after-market prices on the MLP ones are…. Bonkers….. I’m surprised they haven’t announced a 2nd (3rd?) run yet. What surprised me the most about the MLP run (I got to live vicariously through my roommate) is just how much energy some of them have.
I will say the Street Fighter and Darkstalkers ones get a bit…. Uncomfortable to want to have on a shelf. I keep debating about Morrigan, but that’s also kind of “her thing” missed opportunity for her and Lilith’s base to connect.
The Dinobots would be interesting. What would be hilarious, would be a t-rex onesie lol.
SunSwipe5
Well, Jazz is more the go big or go home type
T-Hybrid
There's enough people doing cheesecake versions of those characters that someone inevitably had to corner the market on the male ones.
Beemer
This thread makes me feel old. I don't understand MOST of what's being said here.
ZapRowsdower
Starscream, NOT Soundwave? I demand a recount.
I have no interest in this line, so far. For me, an anime fan, it's a matter of… Why?
TFs are not pretty or sexy in that bishoujo way! Yes, u can layer that on like syrup on ur hot dog… but it doesn't really compliment, imo.
Purple Heart
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Your points are perfect and factual, but in my experience, people will believe what they want to believe. And for most people who don’t know anything about anime, and want to remain ignorant of it, they will continue to believe whatever they want.
What always blows my mind, is how people can make such a fuss over these when they are….. literally the tamest things in the world. I look at lewd and ecchi content everyday, so I know whays tame and whats extreme. But again, it’s ignorance. You can’t help nor change ignorance.
Something I do wonder about though how many of the people who complain about these actually do like them, but are insecure about their feelings so they try to portray the idea that they hate them.
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TM2 Dinobot
I mean look, guys. I think it is not a controversial statement to say that per capita, no franchise has been lewded more than My Little Pony. Some have been around longer, some might have more fans. But the sheer volume and power of the MLP fandom to want to "F*** you and the horse you rode in on" is staggering.
Yet Kotobukiya, who is incredibly capable of doing lewd, ecchi, castoffable figures, gave us these.
That Celestia is freakin gorgeous!!! Not a single one of those ladies, human or equine, is lewd in any way. Neither Optimus Prime nor Megatron are lewd. Marvel is not lewd. DC is not lewd. Video Games are not really lewd. You really have to get down to the Horror series before you start going "Okay, do I really want this on my shelf?"
Bishoujo does not mean "I want to stick my you know what you know where." Bishoujo is Japanese for "Pretty Lady". It isn't Ecchi, it isn't Hentai. It's beautiful women. Some of them push the line a bit, but there IS a line. And Kotobukiya is very very good about staying on this side of it. They've been doing this for literal decades. I trust them. They handle properties and licenses with respect. Especially Western ones. See Marvel and DC. See Star Wars. See the aforementioned MLP. Heck, look at Optimus and Megatron. If you need a bonk bat after looking at them, the issue lies with you and not the designs.
I am a person who has been known to buy the lewd figure from time to time. I own one or two castoffables. I like boobies. I have Nicee and the FT Rouge addon on display. Most of my Windblade figures have ended up in suggestive poses once or twice. This isn't that. Y'all don't have to worry about that happening here. I swear, this fandom has no chill.
That said, yeah, we need the full workup on Starscream. Shortstack, twintails, choco, fang, pouty face, lolita dress. The whole 9 yards.
Anyways, that's just me ¢.02 worth.
CactusReporter
I almost thought that said clussy…
TrapKami
I prefer Kancolle
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TrapKami
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Fafnir72
TT and TC are a given but how would the coneheads look like? I hope not like Dan Ackroyd's "Consume Mass Quantities?"
Protostar
Aye, based Shikikan
Spikeytigertron
TBH… I'm surprised they didn't go with the easier Windblade and Slipstream…
While my vote would have been for Soundwave first… I'd also be afraid (s)he'd come out rather… bookish… kind of like the Twilight Sparkle from MLP… which… nah…
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Starscream might get me to bite on this… Prime was close… but not quite there. I think 'less is more' (not clothing!) with the accent pieces would have worked better. maybe no forehead crest on the glasses for example. I kind of home they channel some Prime Starscream sass though. Although they likely wouldn't do remolds (just recolors) they could have some real fun with the Seeker Trio…. with Skywarp looking super smug or mid-warp… and Thundercracker being a troll like he always is.
Fafnir72
Skyfire is so sweet and classy!
IoriYagami288
The narrator in the video sounded more like Tessho Genda than Morikawa. Also, the latter only voiced OP in the Japanese dub of Prime and Transformers: Go.
Gee Won 1984
I never saw this mash up coming a few years back. But hey, the more Transformer things out there the better. This is a neat idea, and I like the cleavage!
fishpop
Bishoujo Optimus wll have the facemask?
Good.
RodimusZero
I mean, every single f*ing time Hasbro licenses Transformers out to another company, it's always Optimus->Megatron->Bumblebee->Starscream, so there's pretty much zero surprise here… I hope we get a sexy Starscream, the little girl Bumblebee is a huge pass for me–zero interest in girls that don't look at least college age…