Year of the monkey -Optimus Primal revealed!

[Handsprime]

While on Facebook I noticed news about what the platinum toys are gonna be released, and one of them will be a redeco of RID Optimus Primal in Red and blue. Expect it to be $300 at your local myer ;)
Source here (http://tformers.com/coming-soon-year-of-the-monkey-optimus-primal/27543/news.html)

[VERT]

Well thats an easy pass. Not touching that one.

[Handsprime]

Well thats an easy pass. Not touching that one.

Aw don't be too negative, looks better than the Optimus prime from this year

[M-bot]

Aw don't be too negative, looks better than the Optimus prime from this year

That wasn't a particularly high bar to vault...;)

[Bidoofdude]

It looks nice, but it's not something worth chasing after.

[drifand]

A pass for me even at $100.
Good for those who want it.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Is it just me, or are these getting worse every year?

Guess I should be grateful there are some expensive TF's out there that I don't actually want. I haven't gotten any of the "Year of the..." toys since the YOTS Omega Supreme and Ultra Magnus.

[tinyJazz]

Haha, radical. Nice to see a Chinese zodiac TF that actually reflects their animal. I would have preferred the original ultra class Primal mould though.
Also the monkey's fixed element is Metal. I don't really know what that means but it's cool because Optimus is also a metal robot. :B

[griffin]

That is a terrible toy.
At least recent Zodiac Transformers were decent toys with some questionable colours... this one won't have much going for it, at a huge
price. (this was "Supreme" size - the largest size class since Fortress Maximus, and had electronics for extra expense)

It also has the amusing feature of having its monkey butt right behind its head and very obvious at that... (back left)
http://toycollectors.com.au/collections/griffinofoz/c06s2.jpg

[UltimateGalvatron]

Trukk not munky!
Just kidding while not a huge fan of Beast Wars I don't hate it, and I'm not a gee wunner either, so...

[Firestorm]

I was just thinking earlier today "I wonder why they never released an Optimus primal in prime colours (or if they did why can't I think of it) and now, here it is.
I never got this toy as a kid. And as weird as it looks with that colour scheme and the goofy monkey-autonomy symbol l. I kind of fee like I must have this

[griffin]

I was just thinking earlier today "I wonder why they never released an Optimus primal in prime colours (or if they did why can't I think of it) and now, here it is.
I never got this toy as a kid. And as weird as it looks with that colour scheme and the goofy monkey-autonomy symbol l. I kind of fee like I must have this

Well... that big Beast Wars Transmetal Optimal Optimus toy (yellow & blue with four modes) was later released in Beast Machines in red & blue as Primal Prime (middle of my photo above)... which might have been done as "Optimus Prime" colours (but we'll never know).

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

That is a terrible toy.
At least recent Zodiac Transformers were decent toys with some questionable colours... this one won't have much going for it, at a huge
price
Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you say that about a toy before Griff:D

Is it the toy in general, or the colour scheme? I hunted down this guy after messing about with a friends' as I though it was kinda cheesy with the jet sound effects. I won't be touching this one though, those colours. Man what are they thinking????

Also curious to know if they'll keep the electronics AND if so who's voice will be in there.
Now THAT I am interested in. Do toys have a licensing dealio on sound chips? Surely this one would have run out by now?

I think I am MOST annoyed that for the year of the Monkey, they used a Gorilla toy.... Where's the love for Optimus Minor? He's still an Optimus....:p

[ampoldj]

At least the toy is not transparent :D

[Krayt]

Just sitting here waiting for Verno to see.....

[GoktimusPrime]

As TinyJazz said, at least it's an animal that closely approximates the Lunar Zodiac animal! Gotta give Hasbro points for finally attempting this after totally not even trying for all the previous ones!


I think I am MOST annoyed that for the year of the Monkey, they used a Gorilla toy.... Where's the love for Optimus Minor? He's still an Optimus....:p
Or they could use the B'Boom/Apache mould. Mandrills are monkeys, and it's a pretty awesome figure IMHO. :)

Also, bear in mind that in many East Asian languages, the word for 'monkey' is often synonymous with ape. In Japanese, 猿 (さる) means "monkey," but it can also translate as "ape" depending on context. In 西遊記 (Journey to the West), 孫悟空 (Son Gokuu) is often referred to as saru, and of course, in the famous BBC English dub, his name is simply Monkey (https://alexoloughlinintensestudy.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/magic-monkey-1.jpg?w=287&h=319&crop=1), even though he's meant to be an ape. Asian language zoological taxonomy doesn't necessarily follow the same lines as English/European taxonomy. If you wanted to specifically refer to apes in Japanese, you could use the word 類人猿 (るいじんえん), but that refers to simians in general and thus would also include Old World Monkeys, which the English word "ape" doesn't. If you wanted to explicitly refer to "apes" in the Western sense, then the term is 人上科 (ひとじょうか), but this term isn't commonly used in regular Japanese (about as often as the word "hominoidea" would be used in regular English :p). 大型類人猿 (おおがたるいじんえん; "large apes") may be more commonly used, but 猿 (さる; monkey) is an accepted synonym for 'ape' in Japanese without the same technical inaccuracy that occurs in languages like English.

And ultimately, the difference doesn't matter when it comes to the Lunar Calendar, because the Kanji for monkey (猿) isn't even used to describe that year, rather they use the Kanji 申 (which evolved from an image of a lightning bolt); monkey/ape. Confused? Let's just call it Year of the Simian then. :p This isn't the only one that's confusing. This year is the Year of the Sheep, but some people call it the Year of the Goat. Going by Japanese phonology (ひつじどし; Hitsujidoshi), it would be Sheep (because Year of the Goat would be (やぎゅうどし; Yagyuudoshi), but of course, it becomes a moot point when you consider that the Kanji is written as 未 (an image of a tree tip), which neither refers to the sheep or goat animal. So Year of the Caprid it is. :p Then there's the year of the cow... ox... bovine! ;)

[griffin]

Just sitting here waiting for Verno to see.....

Don't worry, he's already had his vent on TFW (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1050885-year-monkey-optimus-primal-post12912777.html). :p

[VGMStudios]

I wouldn't say it's a terrible toy as there are worse out there. But those colors don't quite fit.
As mentioned, it's an easy pass.

[DELTAprime]

That is a terrible toy.

Are there any good post BW season 3 Optimus Primal toys? I don't have any BM stuff and all I keep hearing from people is how terrible everything from that line is so I feel like I should never buy anything from that line.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Is it the toy in general, or the colour scheme? I hunted down this guy after messing about with a friends' as I though it was kinda cheesy with the jet sound effects. I won't be touching this one though, those colours. Man what are they thinking????

I must be the odd one out this time, as those colours look cooler than the original to me.


That is a terrible toy.
At least recent Zodiac Transformers were decent toys with some questionable colours... this one won't have much going for it, at a huge
price. (this was "Supreme" size - the largest size class since Fortress Maximus, and had electronics for extra expense)

It also has the amusing feature of having its monkey butt right behind its head and very obvious at that... (back left)

I've never owned this toy, is there anything particular bad about it? Didn't notice the monkey butt before, and is becoming a HUGE deterrent now.

[Paul Agnew]

Awesome. Great figure and rockin' deco (probably awfully priced though). Doubles as something of an Air Attack Primal Prime, so who am I to complain?

[Bladestorm]

Can't say I like this guy at all. The colours and design just make him look angry more than anything - something I don't really relate to any Optimus.

Admittedly I'm a truck not monkey kinda girl but I don't mind Beast Wars/Beast Machines. However I don't think I'd want this guy near my truck collection even if he was discounted as cheap as YOTG Optimus is...

[griffin]

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you say that about a toy before Griff:D

Is it the toy in general, or the colour scheme? I hunted down this guy after messing about with a friends' as I though it was kinda cheesy with the jet sound effects. I won't be touching this one though, those colours. Man what are they thinking????


I must be the odd one out this time, as those colours look cooler than the original to me.

I've never owned this toy, is there anything particular bad about it?

There isn't anything *worse* about this toy than other Beast Machines toys or BM Optimus Primal toys, but considering its size and cost, it wasn't significantly better than the smaller ones... making it more disappointing for its price (and the expected cost of this Zodiac version).

Between the three BM Optimus Primal toys (Deluxe, Voyager, Supreme), this Supreme sized one probably was the best engineered of the three, but for a biped gorilla to turn into a biped robot, there isn't much originality you can get from each later one (it's the sixth gorilla-to-bot if you also count the three from Beast Wars).


Are there any good post BW season 3 Optimus Primal toys? I don't have any BM stuff and all I keep hearing from people is how terrible everything from that line is so I feel like I should never buy anything from that line.

A good BM Optimus Primal.... not to me. The Deluxe was terrible, the Voyager was bad, and the Supreme was okay-ish.

The entire Beast Machines toyline was love or hate, with its surrealistic designs (http://toycollectors.com.au/collections/griffinofoz/c06.html). Usually at least one mode would look good or realistic to sell the toy, but this series had odd looking animal modes and odd looking robot modes... but fortunately there were some good vehicle modes from the Vehicons.
I particularly liked the two Jetstorms (Ultra and Deluxe), and Spy Streak... and most of the others in the vehicle modes. The two Megatrons were disappointing though.

[Verno]

Just sitting here waiting for Verno to see.....


Don't worry, he's already had his vent on TFW (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/1050885-year-monkey-optimus-primal-post12912777.html). :p
Yeah, I didn't have anything nice to say (here) so I didn't say anything :p

I've been very disheartened and negative of late. This news didn't improve my mood.

[Zommael]

I owned the original version of this toy back in the day - which was released in RID, not Beast Machines, although it was designed for BM - and I always felt it was a good toy for a number of reasons. It's more play-gimmick laden than most collector-focused toys, but those gimmicks are at least interesting, and it does have some features that are normally popular with collectors such as individually articulated fingers.

For those reasons, this probably will be one I look out for, though I'll be sale-waiting if its a bajillion dollars from Myer. He will be Primal Prime in my collection.

[griffin]

I owned the original version of this toy back in the day - which was released in RID, not Beast Machines, although it was designed for BM

Yeah, when Beast Machines was axed early, there were several toys that didn't get released until a year or two later - That Optimus Primal, Megahead Megatron, Bruticus, Battle Unicorn, and Cryoteck I think.

[Zommael]

Yeah, when Beast Machines was axed early, there were several toys that didn't get released until a year or two later - That Optimus Primal, Megahead Megatron, Bruticus, Battle Unicorn, and Cryoteck I think.

I'm pretty sure Battle Unicorn was actually released in BM, but the two different versions of Megabolt were released in RID, as was Cryotek. Bruticus was released in RID, but I'm not sure if it was actually finished at the time BM ended (the toy has no spark crystal, for one thing, and is below even the low standard set by BM in terms of construction) but rather was so far along Hasbro couldn't afford not to release it.

[griffin]

TFwiki claims that Battle Unicorn was released to stores before the line ended, but I don't recall that. I remember that BBTS organised a special run of the toys from Hasbro a year or two later, hoping to cash in on being the exclusive source, but then getting stuck with them for several years even after heavy discounted.

This was a list of unreleased toys (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_Machines:_Transformers_%28toyline%29#Unrelea sed) that weren't part of the Transtech line that would have been the second year of Beast Machines.

[GoktimusPrime]

Are there any good post BW season 3 Optimus Primal toys? I don't have any BM stuff and all I keep hearing from people is how terrible everything from that line is so I feel like I should never buy anything from that line.
As griffin said, Air Attack Optimus Primal isn't much better/worse than most other BM toys. IMHO Beast Machines toys are really nice action figures/toys, but poor Transformers. From a craftsmanship POV some of there's a lot to admire, and some of the figures are actually quite gorgeous. If you look at even just the Deluxe Class Optimus Primal figure, it features an incredible amount of detail in the sculpting, such as rippling muscle fibres throughout the body, and even a brain that floats inside the head! The airbrushed paint ops on the armour plating is also exquisitely done. There's a painstaking amount of detail and attention put into a lot of BM toys, but having said that, they are just downright weird looking^highly stylised. A lot of the BM Maximals suffered from having beast modes that were too stylistic; to the point that it became difficult to immediately identify what they were meant to be. Hasbro even felt the need to tell us what the beast modes were! Look at Buzzsaw's card (http://www.primetoystore.com/toys%20for%20sale/transformersbeastwars/cardedbuzzsaw.jpg) -- it actually says "Wasp" underneath his name. They needed to tell us this, because otherwise it just looks like some kind of generic looking bug-monster pooping out a slinky onto an orange lump. Oh wait, that's exactly what it looks like! :p Little wonder that Buzzsaw and many other BM Maximals were horrific shelfwarmers. Despite what anyone may think of the live action movies, at least most of the toys have immediately identifiable alt modes. It's not as if Age of Extinction Bumblebee's card has to say, "Muscle Car" on the front. Sure, the GM name and logo appear on the back of the card as part of their licensing thing, but we don't have to be told that it's a muscle car. It's immediately obvious.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Transfan%20Meets/melbmeet.jpg
Beast Machines toys peg and shelfwarming at a Melbourne fan meet in 2001

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Transfan%20Meets/transfanmeet02.jpg
Beast Machines toys still massively peg/shelfwarming at a Sydney fan meet in 2002

Having said that, Air Attack Optimus Primal was one of the better ones. His beast mode is obviously a gorilla. But he does suffer from another one of BM's great afflictions; a wanton disregard for toy scale. Bringing in a sense of toy scale was one of the greatest legacies of Beast Wars, with the introduction of standardised size classes. Beast Machines used this too, but they didn't seem to care which size class that they put certain toys into. AA OP is a Supreme Class figure, which is not to scale with any other BM toy except for Supreme Cheetor, who's easily one of the worst Transformers toys ever made in the entire history of the franchise. So he's a nice enough figure for stand alone play, but his grossly disproportionate toy scale means that you can really play him alongside most other BM toys. There certainly isn't any Megatron toy that even approaches his size for him to fight, none of the Vehicons do. Okay, G1's Fortress Maximus has this too, but that toy is also a freakin' playset, not just an action figure! AAOP isn't a play set; he's just huge for the sake of being huge. These Supreme Class toys in BM were the precursor to some of the big oversized toys that we've seen in recent lines, like Leader Class Bumblebee etc. Still... at least these toys can transform and had decently complex enough transformations, unlike some of the non-convertible or simple-former figures that we currently have in RiD2015. :rolleyes:

But yeah, the BM toys were much like the cartoon, and the entire BM series in general... pretty decent in their own right, but just really bad as part of Transformers. BM might've been a more palatable series if it'd never been associated with Transformers. :o

[Zommael]

TFwiki claims that Battle Unicorn was released to stores before the line ended, but I don't recall that. I remember that BBTS organised a special run of the toys from Hasbro a year or two later, hoping to cash in on being the exclusive source, but then getting stuck with them for several years even after heavy discounted.

This was a list of unreleased toys (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_Machines:_Transformers_%28toyline%29#Unrelea sed) that weren't part of the Transtech line that would have been the second year of Beast Machines.

I had always heard that Battle Unicorn did end up being released as part of BM, but regardless, I believe that the BBTS release was at least released with BM branding. I actually owned a Battle Unicorn at one point, but I can't remember if it came in BM packaging or if I got it loose or what. A big part of it warehouse-warming at BBTS was probably to do with Hasbro re-releasing the toy as Magna Stampede as part of Universe within the same timeframe.

[Jetfire in the sky]

I had always heard that Battle Unicorn did end up being released as part of BM, but regardless, I believe that the BBTS release was at least released with BM branding. I actually owned a Battle Unicorn at one point, but I can't remember if it came in BM packaging or if I got it loose or what. A big part of it warehouse-warming at BBTS was probably to do with Hasbro re-releasing the toy as Magna Stampede as part of Universe within the same timeframe.

I still have an MOSC Battle Unicorn and it is in Beast Machines "Battle for the spark" Packaging.

[1AZRAEL1]

This post was the most disappointing things I've clicked on in a long while. That just looks awful. Almost like someone swallowed a clown and regurgitated it and that is the end result

[griffin]

It's out already (in Taiwan) apparently (http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/09/21/year-of-the-monkey-platinum-edition-optimus-primal-sighted-on-retail-shelf-301604).
If not, we get to see the packaging... and the new Beast Wars 20th Anniversary logo, suggesting that there will be some effort to commemorate 2016 for Beast Wars.


That's really early, as the Zodiac toys tend to be released in Asia in December, and then leak their way to western countries from January.

[Zommael]

Makes me wonder what other Beast Wars moulds that haven't been redecoed might end up with Platinum releases. There are obviously a lot of smaller figures but other than with AEO Hasbro doesn't seem to go for multi-figure releases.

Magnaboss and Tripredacus have never been done by Hasbro, so they could redeco them as Platinum to tie in with Combiner Wars as well.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Magnaboss, Tripredacus, and Magmatron - repaint these in any garish colour combination and I'm in. Been searching for Tripledacus for quite some time, I think it's safe to grace it with a Holy Grail title.

[MayzaPrime]

Magnaboss, Tripredacus, and Magmatron - repaint these in any garish colour combination and I'm in. Been searching for Tripledacus for quite some time, I think it's safe to grace it with a Holy Grail title.

Try this one, Transformerland is a great place to buy TFs. I completed my G1 collection mostly because of this website

http://www.transformerland.com/store/item/complete-transformers-beast-wars-combiners-gift-set-only-tripredacus/229853/

[Paulbot]

If not, we get to see the packaging... and the new Beast Wars 20th Anniversary logo, suggesting that there will be some effort to commemorate 2016 for Beast Wars.

A Beast Machines toy (released in the Robots in Disguise toyline) recoloured like a G1 character... Happy anniversary Beast Wars!

[nsm034]

http://www.breakthenorms.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Sad.jpg

what a joke :mad:

[Jetfire in the sky]

......and the new Beast Wars 20th Anniversary logo, suggesting that there will be some effort to commemorate 2016 for Beast Wars.
.

Ummm have we already forgotten the load of balls that was the "thrilling 30?"

[SuspectimusPrime]

Try this one, Transformerland is a great place to buy TFs. I completed my G1 collection mostly because of this website

http://www.transformerland.com/store/item/complete-transformers-beast-wars-combiners-gift-set-only-tripredacus/229853/

Thanks for that, but Tripledacus (https://www.google.com.au/search?q=tripledacus&espv=2&biw=1360&bih=710&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIkODPwpeIyAIVAg-SCh2-jAy5&dpr=0.9#imgrc=IzIq-yzsSTdtEM%3A) is actually the Japanese repaint of the Kenner release.

[MayzaPrime]

Thanks for that, but Tripledacus (https://www.google.com.au/search?q=tripledacus&espv=2&biw=1360&bih=710&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIkODPwpeIyAIVAg-SCh2-jAy5&dpr=0.9#imgrc=IzIq-yzsSTdtEM%3A) is actually the Japanese repaint of the Kenner release.

Sorry my bad... I didnt look hard enough at the spelling... lol :p

[griffin]

Someone in Asia has been quick to buy one and post up some photos of this toy (http://news.tfw2005.com/2015/09/21/year-of-the-monkey-platinum-edition-optimus-primal-in-hand-images-301683), with the original Air Attack Optimus Primal.

It looks very much like (Transmetal) Primal Prime, which might have been coloured based on Gen1 Optimus.

[UltimateGalvatron]

TBH I kind of like it :o

[Zommael]

Seeing the two toys next to each other really brings home how much BM Optimus Primal's body was based off of Optimal Optimus, what with the armguards, the transformation to beast mode, and the colours.

I like the monkified Autobot symbol better than some of the attempts at integrating Chinese characters we've seen on previous "Year of the" Platinum releases. On the other hand the original has more detailed paint applications, if not necessarily more.

To me this will be Air Attack Primal Prime. I always thought of RID Optimus Primal as being a version of Primal who had come back in time to assist in the RID era. I probably won't treat this version in the same way, but in my collection, he will be Primal Prime, not Optimus Primal.

[speros]

This is going to be a great beast wars addition! The colours on him look great I'm looking forward to this one for next year

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/inhand-images-hasbro-platinum-edition-year-of-the-monkey-optimus-primal/34177/

[Verno]

A Beast Machines toy, released during RID, and coloured like a convention toy. Happy Anniversary...

The only exciting things are the logos on the box.

[dsphatlite]

Looks good. Looking forward to seeing in the flesh.

[1AZRAEL1]

Looks awful. Certainly missing this release. Beast Wars deserves much better than that.

[BruiseLee]

A Beast Machines toy, released during RID, and coloured like a convention toy. Happy Anniversary...

The only exciting things are the logos on the box.

Those look like the best logos to come out of the Chinese Zodiac series. Kinda looks like the Monkey King.

On another note, it appears that they're keeping the sound and light features in this release.

[BigTransformerTrev]

They wanted to do something for YOTM they should have reissued G1 Beastbox along with Sqwalktalk and maybe Apeface too rather than this monstrosity

[Bladestorm]

This was on shelves in HK about a month back and whilst I don't mind Beast Wars this thing was UGLY. It just looks like a big oversized hunk of red and blue plastic. Only saw it in box but didn't seem to have a load of articulation and just seemed over priced for what it is.

It made me glad I am a truck not monkey collector. ;)

[Verno]

It made me glad I am a truck not monkey collector. ;)
Wait for Masterpiece Optimus Primal. You may change your tune.

[Ralph Wiggum]

None of the CNY releases have really impressed me, maybe YOTH Optimus.
Hopefully Year of the Rooster comes up with something good, which is my year :)

[dsphatlite]

Lol am I the only one that doesn't mind the design?

Guess am easy to please. Doesn't mean I will buy it though. Scarce funds and all :)

The logos do look awesome though.

[UltimateGalvatron]

Wasn't there already a thread for this? :confused:

[BigTransformerTrev]

None of the CNY releases have really impressed me, maybe YOTH Optimus.
Hopefully Year of the Rooster comes up with something good, which is my year :)

I thought Omega Supreme and Ultra Magnus a few years ago were pretty good - especially given how cheap UM was at the Target toy sale :)



Wasn't there already a thread for this? :confused:

Yeah but who knows where it went :p:confused:

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Woulda been awesome if they released Optimal Optimus in these colours...

Oh well, at least I can save a buck by not getting this!

[CHILENO20]

Woulda been awesome if they released Optimal Optimus in these colours...

Oh well, at least I can save a buck by not getting this!

They have :)

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Primal_Prime

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

They have :)

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Primal_Prime

Damn! I didn't know about that! Many thanks! :)

[CHILENO20]

Damn! I didn't know about that! Many thanks! :)

No probs dude :D

As for this YOTM, easy pass, one word, urghhhhh.

[Handsprime]

Wasn't there already a thread for this? :confused:

Yes there was. (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=21543)

[griffin]

(merged topics since it was noted)

[Keidatron]

Terrible toy from a terrible line and they put terrible colours on it. Surely they could have done better than that. I mean, even if they stuck with that figure, is that the best they can do for colour layout?

No thanks.:(

[Raider]

No probs dude :D

As for this YOTM, easy pass, one word, urghhhhh.

Agreed..... yuck!