Transformers - TRAINBOT YAMABUKI!

Transformers Masterpiece - MPG-08 Trainbot Yamabuki - TakaraTomy 2024

The Trainbots are an Autobot faction that transform into... trains. I don't know anything about them other than the fan excitement when these Masterpiece Series Trainbot figures started coming out. When I discovered there was a female train, I splurged and ordered her. I'm always a sucker for fembots that have heads that look reminiscent of the original Autobot and Decepticon insignias. I love the Optimus-like helmet and overall silhouette. I think her robot mode is really fun and her color palette is totally unique amongst my Transformers collection (I believe her name is a type of Japanese yellow rose). The transformation, however, was one of the most difficult I've ever attempted. The train mode is (apparently) super accurate and her lower legs are essentially just the exterior train panels wrapped round-and-round her calves. I had to watch four different YouTube videos to figure it out. I can't say she was totally worth the high pricetag, but I'm glad to own her. Let's check out Trainbot Yamabuki below!

Transformers Movie - ARCEE (G1 COLORS)!

Transformers (Movie) - Deluxe Class - Arcee (Wonder Festival G1) - Hasbro 2008

When I first started collecting female action figures as an adult (circa 2002), I was really resistant to anything pink. I felt it was a reductive and 'simple' design choice. At least that's what I told myself. In retrospect, I realize I felt shame at the prospect of having a Billy bookshelf loaded with pink toys in the corner of my bedroom. Thank goodness I was able to shake off those deep-rooted societal hangups eventually. But the unfortunate fallout from my arrested development, is that the very pink figures I sneered at back then have become nearly unobtainable holy grails to my older (and wiser) self. This Wonder Festival Japan Arcee is a prime example. She was available on eBay and other sites back in 2008, but I scoffed at the "forced femininity" of her pastel deco and ignored her. It took many many years to finally get her into my collection, but I can only blame myself for that delay. I think this is a landmark figure and deserves more recognition. Let's check out the Wonder Festival Arcee below!

Transformers Movie - ARCEE (BLACK)!

Transformers (Movie) - Deluxe Class - Black Arcee (Japan) - TakaraTomy 2008

I normally don't go crazy for black "stealth" variants of action figures. I'm not completely opposed, but in general I am drawn to bright outlandish colors. And when there is a character that is defined by a signature color (like Arcee's pink), it's just seems odd to make a redeco that is practically devoid of color. However, when there is a great sculpt that is released in a variety of different colors, black is an expected variation that I wholeheartedly embrace. This variation of the 2007 Transformers movie Arcee was exclusively available in Japan and is apparently meant to represent the black motorcycle that Josh Duhamel's character rode at the end of the movie. So does that mean we are to believe that not only was this motorcycle a Transformer, but that it was Arcee? I think that's the implication, but I somehow doubt it's canon. (Ironically, the official Hasbro toy of this cinematic motorcycle transformed into a gun (cannon?) for Jazz). I'll pretend that was her first cameo though. Let's check out Black Arcee below!

Transformers EarthSpark - NIGHTSHADE!

Transformers: EarthSpark - ESD-05 DX - Nightshade (Deluxe) - Takara Tomy 2024

When buying my TakaraTomy EarthSpark redecos, I couldn't help but add Nightshade to my cart. As far as the Japan/US paint variations go, theirs is very minor. But I prefer the Japanese face deco that more closely resembles the unique Terran visage. Plus the torso deco, feet, and thighs create a sleeker, more hourglass, appearance. Which I think blurs the gender lines better than the Hasbro version (ironic considering how conservatively they were presented in Japan). I love a good scandal. Especially when the same folks upset about a gender-obscured character were the same ones screaming for years that female Transformers couldn't exist because they are a genderless species. So ta-daa, here's your first non binary robot like you wanted. I couldn't care less about Nightshade's gender. I just know I'm drawn to their design, name, and beast mode. Enough so that I jumped at the chance to buy a subtle variant just to get another Nightshade on my shelf. Let's check them out below!

Transformers EarthSpark - ELITA-1!

Transformers: EarthSpark - 1-Step Changers ESS-08 - Elita-1 - Takara Tomy 2024

When I started collecting action figures as an adult, fembots were basically nonexistant. But now there are a ton. Since January 2023, there have been 30 official female Transformers released (and that's not even counting the awesome 3rd Party figures). But along with the collector-friendly deluxe figures, these characters are also now released as gimmicky lower-level figures, too (a luxury that was limited to only the male characters for decades). These figures can look pretty cheap and cheesy (ex: Tacticons and 1-Step Changers). But I'm a completist for most fembots so they still end up in my collection. I recently splurged and bought all the TakaraTomy Japanese releases of the EarthSpark ladies and I was impressed at how a few added paint details can improve their visual appeal. This 1-Step Changer Elita-1 from TakaraTomy has paint on her forearms, shoulders, chest, and forehead (all of which were lazily unpainted in the Hasbro version) and it's a big improvment. Let's check out the updated Elita-1 below!

Transformers EarthSpark - ELITA-1!

Transformers: EarthSpark - ESD-14 DX - Elita-1 (Deluxe) - Takara Tomy 2024

I've learned a lot about Transformers over the years, but I can admit the intricacies of the Hasbro/TakaraTomy relationship is a little vague to me. From my experience, when the two companies release the same product, the difference has been solely paint applications. So when I discovered that this EarthSpark Elita-1 actually had noticeably improved tooling, I was surprised. I really liked the 2023 Hasbro Warrior Class Elita-1. She has a great sculpt and scale. But when I discovered this Japanese version with an articulated head, sculpted hands with removable weapons, and added paint details, I was obsessed. As one of my favorite Transformers, I will be endlessly excited about new Elita-1 toys. With her prominent role in the upcoming Transformers One movie, I'm excited that she will be getting five new movie figures (and likely even more). But I'm excited this EarthSpark design got one final hurrah. It's pretty great, even though it will be overshadowed shortly. Let's check out Elita-1 below!

Transformers EarthSpark - HASHTAG!

Transformers: EarthSpark - ESD-13 DX - Terran Hashtag - Takara Tomy 2024

As one door opens, another closes. While not officially confirmed, there are abundant rumors that Transformers: EarthSpark will end after Season 2 - just as we're gearing up for Transformers One and all its merchandise. The cancellation rumors led me to splurge on the import TakaraTomy version of Hashtag. Modern Transformers figures are typically released by both Hasbro and TakaraTomy using the same general molds, but often sporting paint variations. I wasn't planning on getting this TakaraTomy Hashtag because she is a distinct dark blue instead of her on-screen purple deco. But I fear the purple Hasbro version may never be released. The most recent EarthSpark releases have been very scarce at retail, and I wasn't about to let this character pass me by. Hashtag is a bit of a modern character stereotype. She is the tech-savvy cool hacker character, which is a dime a dozen character description these days. But I am really drawn to her design and this figure is a very fun representation of her.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - AIRAZOR!

Transformers Deluxe Class - Rise of the Beasts - Airazor - Takara Tomy 2023

I finally gave up and ordered this figure from a 3rd Party seller. When images of the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts movie products began being leaked online early last year, the very first item I saw was this Deluxe Class Airazor. The early images of this toy made me very excited for the movie and action figures. But ironically, this excitement was ill-founded because Airazor had no robot mode in the movie and this specific toy proved very hard to find. There was a US Hasbro release in a Target-exclusive "Jungle Mission" 3-pack (with Bumblebee and Mirage), but that set was scarce and the pre-listings for the (supposedly) upcoming single-packed Hasbro release were on every major site. Then one-by-one those listings disappeared. I panicked and got the Japanese Takara Tomy version on eBay. I'm really glad I did though because this is easily my favorite Airazor figure. The coloring is bright, her head sculpt is fantastic, and her beast mode is very well designed. Let's check out Airazor below!

Transformers Cybertron - PARADRON MEDIC!

Transformers: Cybertron - Super Link EX-02 - Ariel Paradron Type - Takara 2004

In the October 1986 Transformers episode titled Fight or Flee, the Decepticons landed on the peaceful planet of Paradron in order to plunder the planet for its Energon resources. The planet was populated by simple male and female robots that were essentially background characters. But it was obvious to anyone viewing that the female population of Paradron were identical to Arcee, but green. Flash forward to the early 2000s when there was a green variant of the Heroes of Cybertron Arcee PVC figurine named Paradron Medic. Since then almost every mold of Arcee has been eventually re-released in a green redeco in homage to this classic episode. This Ariel Paradron Type repaint is one of the first and was released as an exclusive in Japan as part of the Toy's Dream Project which orchestrated exclusive gift cards and action figures for various companies and retailers. I honestly think this is my favorite of all the Energon Arcee releases. The two-tone cool colors really pop and stand out from the pack. 

Transformers Cybertron - ARIEL!

Transformers: Cybertron - Super Link SC-16 - Ariel - Takara 2004

2004's CGI-animated Transformers: Energon series was known as Transformers: Super Link in Japan and had its own release of toys made by Takara. The dual-release of figures in Japan by Takara and the USA by Hasbro continues to this day, often with slight paint or name variations, and this figure is a prime example. In the both the Japanese cartoon and toyline, this Arcee is named Ariel. I believe these toys are intended to look the same, but the Takara version has a brighter pink head and paint details (as opposed to the darker coral-pink of the Hasbro release) plus a matte gray face, as opposed to the metallic silver face on Arcee. It's a relatively minor difference, yet somehow distinct enough to be a notable variation for my Energon Arcee collection. The name Ariel has history in the Transformers universe as well. The 1985 episode, War Dawn, featured a flashback introducing the young Orion Pax and Ariel (who we know as Optimus Prime and Elita-One). This was a full year before we ever met Arcee.

Transfomers - ELITA-1!

Transformers Legacy - Deluxe Class - Elita-1 - TakaraTomy/Hasbro 2022

Female Transformers are going through a bit of a second renaissance right now. From 2015-2021 there were a ton of well-made female Transformers toys for the first time ever (I personally purchased over 60 new Transformers in this time span, not including the novelty toys and 3rd Party figures). But with the release of the Legacy Arcee this last Spring, there seems to be a shift in design aesthetic and construction. The new figures are more blocky and robotic than the organic feminine figures we had been seeing. The plastic also seems to be of a different material - thinner and more shiny. At first I was hesitant of the changes, but I'm quickly warming up. So far I have four figures: Arcee, Road Rocket, Override, and Elita One. And there are a lot more coming: Crasher, Nightbird, Shadow Striker, plus Twitch and Elita-1 (Earthspark). The only aspect of these new figures that I still struggle with is the mass of their lower legs because my brain associates the silhouette with bellbottoms or boot-cut jeans. But it's a small gripe.

Transformers the Movie - ARCEE!

Transformers Studio Series #86 - Transformers the Movie Arcee - Hasbro 2022

When I first saw this figure solicited earlier this year, I thought it was a simple redeco of the 2014 Generations Arcee (that we had seen redeco'd/retooled seven times already). But in actuality, it's only the same head, upper arms, and car kibble, with an almost entirely retooled/resculpted body. The color scheme is also much closer to the animation design than we had seen released in the US before now (the 2015 Japanese TakaraTomy Legends release of the Generations mold was similarly colored, but not available at traditional retail in the US). Looking at the new figure from a front view, the waist swivel is an obvious addition. Plus her thighs and torso are noticeably more narrow. With all the changes made, I wish they would have gone one step further and given her a new head. It's so close to being a totally unique figure, but the recognizable headsculpt and familiar kibble silhouette make it hard to view her as more than a retool, despite the majority of her parts being new. Let's check out Arcee below!

Bumblebee Movie - ARCEE!

Transformers Studio Series #85 - Bumblebee Movie Arcee - Hasbro 2022

Very few scenes have thrilled me as much as the brief Cybertron War scene at the beginning of 2018's Transformers: Bumblebee movie. In three short minutes, we saw the potential of what a great live-action Transformers G1 movie could look like. After more than 10 years of Michael Bay's cinematic interpretation of the property, my personal expectations were dismally low. But this scene was perfect. The action was logical, the characters were recognizable, and the overall nostalgia was palpable. Seeing roughly 4-5 seconds of Arcee in the mix was just icing on the cake. I fantasized that perhaps someday we might get a full Cybertron movie which would flesh out the characters and spawn a line of toys. But I knew that was far fetched. What I never expected, however, was a thorough representation of all the characters from that brief 2018 scene in the Studio Series line... especially Arcee. But here we have her, and she's practically perfect. Let's check her out below!

Transformers Legacy - ARCEE!

Transformers Legacy Deluxe Wave 1 - Prime Arcee - TakaraTomy/Hasbro 2022

I may be biased, but I think Arcee had the most interesting redesign in Transformers: Prime. All the other characters were stylized in a standard way (which I love), but Arcee went further by changing colors, face shape, and vehicle mode. She essentially a new character with a classic recognizable name. I've always really appreciated it though. Something about a pink Transformer seemed unrealistic. I personally haven't seen a pink vehicle in years, so blue was a much more natural color. The Transformers Legacy series is intended unite different eras of Transformers media under a common design aesthetic. The tall and lanky Prime designs are made more blocky and squat to blend in with less stylized iterations of the franchise. I love the concept - and I instantly start imagining Rescue Bots characters like Quickshadow or Whirl in this style - I would love that. This Arcee reimagining is great. Her face is a perfect blend of Prime and G1 design. (The quality of the figure is another story). Let's check her out below!

Transformers - SCYLLA!

Transformers Generations Selects TT-GS10 - God Neptune - Takara Tomy 2021

The Seacons were a group of aquatic-themed antagonists in 1988's Super-God Masterforce. They shared a pink and teal color palette and could combine to form Piranacon. The team was impactful but didn't stay around too long. In 1997, their designs were re-introduced in Beast Warriors II as the Space Pirate Seacons in a white and gold palette. They were technically all new characters with new names and personalities, but the designs were identical... except for Scylla who replaced the deceased Tentakil. From all the episodes I've seen, Scylla is largely present for comic relief in the form of unwanted flirtation, and of course to form a leg of God Neptune. The vintage Scylla figure was just a repaint of the male Tentakil, but in this newest TakaraTomy release she gets a massive retooling using a mashup of Moonracer and Tentakil parts (plus a brand new torso and head). The God Neptune set was a Pulse Exclusive for preorder in 2020, but just released a few months ago. Let's check out Scylla below.

Transformers Masterpiece - ARCEE!

Transformers Masterpiece - MP-51 Arcee (Cybertron Warrior) - TakaraTomy 2021

One of my favorite decisions of the past decade was to start collecting all the Arcee figures I could get my hands on. I do this a lot with other characters I love (Batgirl, Catwoman, Spider-Woman, etc), but the effort to get all the Arcees was a daunting and pricey goal. These challenges are of course accelerated by the dynamic 3rd Party Transformers market where high-end fan-made unlicensed figures break new ground each year. I credit all the previous attempts to create unofficial Masterpiece-Scale Arcee figures in the success of this long-awaited official TakaraTomy version. Almost every detail seems inspired and improved upon from the past 3rd Party releases. The single flaw I find with this figure is the low-placed, mis-measured, and undersized chest plate. And ironically, this flaw will likely be remedied with a 3rd Party add-on kit, making it a joint effort toward a perfect Arcee figure. I'm really looking forward to that day. In the meantime, let's check out the TakaraTomy Masterpiece Arcee below!

War for Cybertron - NIGHTBIRD!

Transformers Generations: War For Cybertron - Nightbird - TakaraTomy 2019

My excitement over the upcoming Earthrise Arcee, War For Cybertron Elita-1, and Kingdom Blackarachnia made me almost forget this Nightbird figure that came out last Fall. Surprisingly this has been the only reuse of the Siege Chromia mold. Considering the Moonracer mold gave us four unique characters, I really thought they'd stretch this one out a little more. But when I see how good the Arcee mold and Elita redeco seem to be, I think this one is likely retired. Nightbird is a very nostalgic for me. In the original G1 show, she was a military robot stolen by the Decepticons and brainwashed/reprogrammed to be evil. I was obsessed with her episode, Enter the Nightbird, and would eagerly watch the repeating shows on syndication hoping to see it again. Something about her just struck a chord with me. She was cool, powerful, and mysterious. (And I used to fill notebooks with my drawings of her). So needles to say I get really excited whenever she gets merchandised. Let's check out Nightbird below!

Transformers THUNDERBLAST (and REDECOS)!

Transformers Thunderblast, Elita-1, and Chromia - Hasbro 2005/TakaraTomy 2009

As I get more and more involved in collecting female Transformers, I find myself going back and coveting figures I had turned my nose up at in the past. When I first saw the Thunderblast toy 15 years ago, I thought she looked bulky and silly. And the whole "shellformer" criticism it was receiving stuck with me and it quickly fell off my radar. But recently I realized that this is actually a really terrific example of an early fembot toy. The robot form has a really good design with a feminine silhouette and great articulation. I also love the head design with its subtle nod to the earliest G1 fembot, Elita-1. And what really sealed the deal was when I saw the three very different color variations of this mold that had been released. I normally avoid repaints, but with Transformers I am inexplicably drawn to them. And then kismet happened when I found the Japanese Chromia version (easily the rarest of the three) for $30 at a local toy show. I'm excited to finally have them in my collection. Let's check them out below!

Transformers - CHROMIA, ARCEE, & ELITA-1!

Transformers Studio Series #52 - ROTF Chromia, Arcee, and Elita-1 - Hasbro 2020

These figures are a bittersweet thing for me. I think they are a great representation of these specific cinematic versions of the characters. But the versions themselves are what I have issues with. Back in 2009 I was so excited for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The first rumors were that Arcee would be a character. Then there was an image leaked of three motorcycles and Chromia and Elita-1 were confirmed. I was beyond thrilled. But the eventual robot forms were such a major disappointment to me. They were barely humanoid. A blur of bouncy unicycles and a major missed opportunity to introduce some great characters. I tried to be positive and I bought all the toys. But after some lackluster display time on my shelf, I sold them all. I never regretted it, but when these new Studio Series figures were announced, I was happy to reintroduced them (in a much smaller scale). These versions only stand 3" tall and are a perfect unobtrusive addition to my Transformers shelf.  Let's check out the Arcee Gang below!

Transformers - LANCER!

Transformers - Generations Select - Deluxe Autobot Lancer - Takara Tomy 2019

You know that feeling when you wait for a Netflix show all year only to binge it in a single weekend and then feel absolutely empty? This Lancer figure is triggering those feelings in me right now. When I realized my unfathomable dream of assembling Elita One's army was going to become a reality I was overcome with excitement and anticipation. The iconic Transformers G1 episode The Search for Alpha Trion was one of the highlights of my childhood. The fact the Hasbro and TakaraTomy have given us every female Autobot in that episode, even unnamed background characters like this one, still boggles my mind. I'm re-doing my transformers display and I've been inspired to backtrack and collect a bunch of old Transformers. But what's next to hunt? I can't help but think we're about to have a major fembot drought. The Nightbird due out next month is the only thing on the horizon and I'm a little bummed (but only because I've been so delightfully spoiled the past few years). Let's check out Lancer below!