JP Legends Headmasters from Titans Return

[GoktimusPrime]

I think that there were some benefits to not retooling the Voyager head for TakaraTOMY, including:

• Cheaper

• The Hasbro head is still G1 toy-accurate; the Brainstorm toy was identical in Japan. This is different from say the head of Cerebros/Fortress; the Hasbro figure is based on the way that Marvel/Sunbow drew him which looks nothing like the G1 toy, and the Japanese cartoon was more toy accurate. Hence it would have too little appeal for the Japanese market which was probably why TakaraTOMY went with a more toy/anime-accurate head for their Fortress/Cerebros.

• There are Japanese fans who follow the IDW comics.

• The retooled head on the Deluxe now gives Japanese fans who own the Voyager an additional excuse to buy the Deluxe. I'm not in a position to criticise this considering that I recently bought PM Optimus Prime and I'm still considering getting Ginrai.

[prjkt]

I was more talking about the colour scheme, but there's that too.

It's interesting how Takara with their TG/LG series they've often got more western media accurate deco's than Hasbro - such as the entire FOC lineup, Ultra Magnus' red legs (from IDW) and Skid's IDW-esque deco...

[GoktimusPrime]

It's interesting how Takara with their TG/LG series they've often got more western media accurate deco's than Hasbro - such as the entire FOC lineup, Ultra Magnus' red legs (from IDW) and Skid's IDW-esque deco...

I was editing my last post when you posted your reply, but yeah, there are Japanese fans who follow the IDW comics so the more IDW decoes would hold greater appeal for those fans. Although TakaraTOMY did abandon keeping Minimus Ambus in favour of repainting and repurposing that mould as Alpha Trion which makes no sense for IDW fans. But I'm guessing that Japanese fans who follow IDW would be a minority and Alpha Trion would hold greater market appeal. I think that TakaraTOMY are happy to make their toys IDW accurate as long as that accuracy doesn't make a reference that would be too obscure for those who have no knowledge of IDW. The red legs on Ultra Magnus and darker blue and additional red stripes on Skids are also more G1 toy accurate. The pink lines on Skids aren't G1 accurate but they also don't obscure Skids to the point that he would be unrecognisable to Japanese non-IDW savvy G1 fans, whereas I reckon a lot of those fans would've looked at Minimus Ambus and went, "Who the Fukushima is that?!" Heck, even at the EB Games Expo last year I had quite a few Aussie fans wondering who the hell Minimus Ambus was! So you can imagine how much lesser known this would be in Japan.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Some comparison shots from TF Yuki:

[griffin]

Hmmm... still no sword being shown in Fort Max photos. It's almost like the Japanese version isn't going to get one.

[GoktimusPrime]

Time for him to change from Master Sword to Master Punch! But that's okay, because we all know that fist beats sword.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Hrm, yes. No mention of the sworf on the items in the amazon listing either. Al the later HMs have their accessories listed. Max is claimed as having "Body and Instructions"

Ah, but the TT mall page has a better item breakdown where it states 3 weapons. No pictures of a sword though.

[GoktimusPrime]

I guess the "3 weapons" must be Cerebros' gun and the two leg cannons (which can detach and become hand guns for Fort Max).

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Package shots from TF Yuki:

[prjkt]

can't wait for Blurr to hit. Much prefer that design to the Hasbro one, much more vibrant.

As for Shockwave... meh, too light imo, but I guess it's cartoon accurate.