Takaratomy's TFs United site up

[griffin]

The JP version of Generations/Reveal the Shield/Classics is called United, and their webpage can be found here.

It includes bios for these 10 figures:
Optimus (WFC, Classics)
Megatron (WFC, Classics)
Bumblebee (WFC, Classics)
Cliffjumper (WFC)
Soundwave (WFC)
Drift
Straxus

[gekisou]

Huh... interesting that Takara is following the Hasbro naming for the characters... even Cybertron is 'Cybertron' and not 'Seibertron' and its Autobots and Decepticons... not 'Cybertron' and 'Destrons'...

Wonder why the change.

[kup]

Huh... interesting that Takara is following the Hasbro naming for the characters... even Cybertron is 'Cybertron' and not 'Seibertron' and its Autobots and Decepticons... not 'Cybertron' and 'Destrons'...

Wonder why the change.

They did that for the movie and it has apparently stuck.

[kaiden]

Huh... interesting that Takara is following the Hasbro naming for the characters... even Cybertron is 'Cybertron' and not 'Seibertron' and its Autobots and Decepticons... not 'Cybertron' and 'Destrons'...

Wonder why the change.

probably because the movies made the Transformers brand more universal, and the japanese have always loved using english words.

i have always thought autobots and decepticons sounded better than cybertronsseibertrons and destrons.

[Vector Prime]

I don't know if it's just the lighting or whether it's photoshopped, but WFC Megatron looks awesome in the gunmetal grey colour displayed on the site.

[gekisou]

probably because the movies made the Transformers brand more universal, and the japanese have always loved using english words.

i have always thought autobots and decepticons sounded better than cybertrons and destrons. besides, aren't all/or most transformers supposed to be from cybertron? which would make them all cybertronian and the autobot/decepticon terms their factions.

But in Japan, the planet was called 'Seibertron' not Cybertron so calling the Autobots, Cybertrons was totally ok.

[kaiden]

But in Japan, the planet was called 'Seibertron' not Cybertron so calling the Autobots, Cybertrons was totally ok.

corrected previous post - but then my preference for the english faction names still stands.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Theyvae matched up the colours for Classics Megs and WFC megs raher well. I like the way your push the "aasu modo" (earth mode) button and it takes you to gun megs. Links them together really well.

[GoktimusPrime]

Huh... interesting that Takara is following the Hasbro naming for the characters... even Cybertron is 'Cybertron' and not 'Seibertron' and its Autobots and Decepticons... not 'Cybertron' and 'Destrons'...

Wonder why the change.

But in Japan, the planet was called 'Seibertron' not Cybertron so calling the Autobots, Cybertrons was totally ok.

1995's G2 Gobot Optimus Prime was actually called 'Optimus Prime' (オプティマスプライム) in Japan. But as others have said, TOMY have started using the Anglophone names across the board since 2007, starting with the movie then Animated.

Why? My theories:
1: when dubbing the live action film, it may have been easier to use Anglophone names. e.g. someone yelling "OPTIMUS!" would produce three mouth flaps so dubbing it would "CONVOY!" would only fill up two flaps.

2: when watching the film in English with Japanese subtitles, if they used the Japanese names, it would become obvious to the audience that some of the names aren't matching, e.g. if every time the audience heard someone say "Autobot(s)" and the subtitles keep translating it as サイバトロン, then it might confuse the audience. It wouldn't confuse fans - and in fact, I think most fans would prefer reading the subtitles with the Japanese names (much like how the English subtitles for Headmasters, Masterforce and Victory use Anglophone names where possible)... but remember that the movies are marketed at the general public more so than fans.

I personally don't how TOMY's using Anglophone names now... I'm just too used to the Japanese names. And especially when I'm speaking in Japanese about Transformers, it feels downright weird saying オプティマスプライム* all the time instead of コンボイ**. And honestly... most of the time when I am talking in Japanese about Transformers, I still use the Japanese names, even when referring to the movie and Animated franchises. Just force of habit, and using the Anglophone names when speaking in Japanese just feels counter-intuitive to me.

It's the same when I'm speaking in English about Japanese Transformers... I refer to characters like Big Convoy, Break and Heinlad as _Maximals_, not Cybertrons. To do otherwise when I'm talking in English just doesn't feel natural to me.

I like the way your push the "aasu modo" (earth mode) button and it takes you to gun megs.

Don'tcha just love the way Japanese people pronounce "Earth"? "Kiss my Earth."

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*oputimasu puraimu
**konboi