Takara Missing Link G1 Series

[MrBlud]

Pictures popped up for this Optimus. Supposedly going to be a full reveal on August 9th.

VERY toyetic. I wonder if this might be the start of something akin to Mattel’s He-Man Origins line. He wouldn’t seem to fit in Legacy or Studio Series and isn’t (strictly speaking) a reissue for that Walmart TF:TM subline.

I’m interested to hear more.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Oh, cool! I've been wanting a good G1 toy-styled Optimus Prime for a while now, but just never got around to getting it. While I love the advancements we've had then, the original is just a toy icon, and I've long wanted something representing that.

...my cousin also had one when I was a kid that I'd play with. That doesn't necessarily hurt, but I don't think it's as much a driving factor.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

My snarky side immediately went to seeing the humor in, for the 40th Anniversary, making a literal G1 toy with knees.

I could see this as a nice compromise in a number of areas. Hasbro’s tooling base for reissues is diminishing (and we’re already seeing a LOT of redo on that front), while the biggest reissue demands are for stuff they don’t have the molds for anymore. I don’t see this as having very long legs, but the idea of an Optimus, Starscream, Grimlock, Jazz and a few others in this style peaks my curiousity.

 

[The Phazer]

My snarky side immediately went to seeing the humor in, for the 40th Anniversary, making a literal G1 toy with knees.

I could see this as a nice compromise in a number of areas. Hasbro’s tooling base for reissues is diminishing (and we’re already seeing a LOT of redo on that front), while the biggest reissue demands are for stuff they don’t have the molds for anymore. I don’t see this as having very long legs, but the idea of an Optimus, Starscream, Grimlock, Jazz and a few others in this style peaks my curiousity.

Prime already had knees tbf, it's hip articulation that was lacking.

This is kinda fun, will depend on how expensive it is, but I don't think there's really scope for a whole line of these. Prime works because he needs quite modest tweaking to modernise - by virtue of his transformation he was by far and away the most articulated 84/85 toy anyway (well, maybe save the non-Diaclone/Microman toys like Jetfire or Shockwave that Takara-Tomy probably can't reuse). There's maybe one or two Autobot cars and Soundwave where this would work but that's it.

 

[TheSupernova]

I'm really curious to see how this pans out, assuming it's real.

But, I also remember how much Walmart wanted for that G1 Prime reissue a number of years back and wonder how much more expensive this would be...

 

[Donocropolis]

I could see myself biting on the trailer-less version (already have a decent G1 trailer, so if there are no radical improvements, I don't really need another). I don't know that I'd be all-in for a whole line of these, though.

Oooh, you know what would be really cool? If we got articulated versions of the right characters and a special display board to recreate this on our shelves:

 

[LordGigaIce]

I'm curious to see if this continues past OP. OP himself looks like a fun get. Colour me intrigued.

 

[tec]

YES YES YES This is so bought whoever makes it no matter the cost

 

[Princess Viola]

Honestly I'm into it.

Like they've spent so much time just trying to make the Sunbow character models into toys that them saying 'hug it, here's the literal G1 toys but with more articulation' is seriously a breath of fresh air.

 

[lastmaximal]

It's one of those things that sounds weird but looks amazing. There's something about those toy based shapes and proportions that just speaks directly to me.

I hope it's not too long before they get around to a Hot Rod.

 

[Haywire]

If this is a subline and not a one-off, I want a G1 Arcee...

 

[Dake]

I could definitely go for a G1-with-knees (G1WK?) subline. Optimus is an easy start since he was already one of the most articulated. But Soundwave with knees that bend the right way, Seekers with knees and elbows? Heck yeah!

It does make it sadder that we'll never get gun Megs again though.

 

[LordGigaIce]

It does make it sadder that we'll never get gun Megs again though.

We may if this is a TT exclusive line

 

[Shadewing]

We may if this is a TT exclusive line

And then you run into issues with importing a gun into another country. IIRC even MP Megatron had issue being shipped over here.

 

[The Phazer]

The biggest issue with Megatron for the Japanese market is probably more that putting joints in that mold is *hard*. There's only so much you can do with the hip clearance and it would look very awkward.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

This looks every bit as awkward as I imagined it would and I absolutely want one.

Now find a way to do Ultra Magnus. It'll take a feat of engineering, but it would be both awesome and hilarious.

 

[lastmaximal]

Much tougher to pull off those seductive thighs.

 

[Princess Viola]

Lmao I just realized one of the images is the Japanese G1 box art pose for Prime.

 

[Dake]

And then you run into issues with importing a gun into another country. IIRC even MP Megatron had issue being shipped over here.

Yeah, both MPs of Megs and his G1 Encore version.

 

[Sabrblade]

Looks like the series name is "MISSINGLINK".