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I know there are now about six Takara Encore TFs with the most recent two being Ratchet and Ironhide.
I also know about the 20+ reissues or so that come in the book-type boxes.
I'm pretty sure there are repeats between the two.
What is the difference?
Different versions of the same concept really.
The earliest reissues from Takara were straight up rereleases, in essentially the same packaging as before. While they weren't all identical to the originals, they weren't marketed under any united tag. Some of these toys included (I'm going to use English names):
Optimus Prime
Megatron
Ultra Magnus
Hot Rod
Rodimus Prime
Starscream
Sixshot
God Ginrai (there's no actual English name, since it's a Japanese-only character - but this would later be "borrowed" by Hasbro as Powermaster Prime, despite being different to the original PMOP).
The later reissues of Predaking and Star Convoy also fitted into this group, mainly because they didn't quite fit into the style of TCS.
The TCS series came next, which focused on improving the figure and really was sold as a collector's series, with the toys on nice display trays, book-style packaging and a lot of information.
The Encore series is essentially a new name because first four have all been done in TCS already - so they've had to refresh. The next three (Ironhide, Ratchet & Sky Lynx) are new to the reissue set, but are forming part of this refreshed line.
Ironhide and ratchet were ehobby reissues and weren't reissued in the collection series bookstyles.
Same with Skywarp, Dirge, Thundercracker.
Encore Meister will have the original head as opposed to TCS bookstyle which had the G2 head.
oh and ehobby reissues ratchet and ironhide didn't have cardboard heads.
Is TCS history? Is Encore the only still active Takara line of reissues?
The collection series is history.
Encore is the only active line of reissues now.
Pity because TCS was the best. Had all the cool pics and tid bits on the inside.
They're reissued prime about 4 times now. First Reissue prime, New years Prime, TCS prime, Encore Prime.
If you haven't got prime by now... christ.
Thanks guys. That's crystal now.