Takara Tomy Toyota FJ Cruise Optimus Prime Update: New Robot Mode Revealed

I take back most of what I said previously: this looks like a figure I may have to track down depending on how it sizes up.

The non-RC version looks much better in bot mode.

it's almost like focusing on the figure aspect of a transformer makes it better comparaired to a figure focused on an overly complicated, intrusive, RC gimmick

Better...much, much better.

Ooooooohhhhhhhhh man here's hoping Hasbro picks this thing up because I would give them AAAAAAALL my money for it.

the story in this thread says "red or white" .. i don't see where you're seeing red..? i see orange and white.

I knew it.

By way of Transformers Korea we now have official images of Takara Tomy's upcoming officially licensed Toyota FJ Cruiser Optimus Prime. The figure will apparently come in multiple decos, stands just under 6 inches tall in robot mode, and will require a certain level of assembly (think the previously Trans Scanning movie figures). See the images mirrored below.

Update: Takara Tomy have also updated their official Transformers website, which includes official images of the radio controlled version.

NOW it's on my must-buy list! I love the FJ Cruiser design, and this looks like a cool (and fun) figure that hopefully will display nicely alongside my four Alternators.

Now the question is: will this be a regular retail release in Japan? Will sites like BBTS be carrying it? Will we (in the U.S.) actually be able to buy it for roughly $45 (+ import cost and shipping)? Or is this one of those odd-ball Japanese exclusives that's only going to be sold at one particular chain of camera stores and will go for like $250 online?

Nope, this is not for me. I love the FJ Cruiser but it doesn't make a good Optimus Prime, and I don't like the design of this figure. The building gimmick make it look like they had to simplify the figure compared to a normal Transformer. Further, it doesn't really fit in anywhere in my collection, except maybe my random OP shelf, but it's not awesome enough for that. Looks like just another oddball release, much like the Trans-Scanning figures.

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY

Make it a different character (no Nemesis Primes or Scourges), and I'm immediately sold.

Mindmaster wrote:Make it a different character (no Nemesis Primes or Scourges), and I'm immediately sold.

Indeed. I'm wondering if I can find a junker alternator with a head that'll fit this character.

Looks good not good enough to buy.

Since when did prime become next bumblebee every new transformer is bumblebee or prime wheres love for other charcters decpticons

Mindmaster wrote:Make it a different character (no Nemesis Primes or Scourges), and I'm immediately sold.

Toxitron!

dragons wrote:Since when did prime become next bumblebee every new transformer is bumblebee or prime wheres love for other charcters decpticons

Bad guys don't sell as well as (iconic) good guys in Japanese markets.

See I knew it. I knew this good looking fj cruiser mould would turn out to be a good toy and a not bad looking robot. Good job so far Takara on this one and I said So Far. I also don't recall seeing a switching parts gimmick like this one before. It just gives me a good thought of what the possibilities Transformers toys can evolve into.

YELLOW OPTIMUS?! Surely they'll rename it Bumblebee.

GuyIncognito wrote:[/img]
NOW it's on my must-buy list! I love the FJ Cruiser design, and this looks like a cool (and fun) figure that hopefully will display nicely alongside my four Alternators.

At 13cm it's going to look too small next to Alternators. This is more Alternity size.

Mykltron wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:[/img]
NOW it's on my must-buy list! I love the FJ Cruiser design, and this looks like a cool (and fun) figure that hopefully will display nicely alongside my four Alternators.

At 13cm it's going to look too small next to Alternators. This is more Alternity size.

As an SUV, it's too small to scale in with even Alternity. Heck, at a mere 130mm in bot mode, it's even shorter than MP Lambor. Using a ruler, I measured MP Lambor, and the FJ Optimus would stand up to about half an inch below Lambor's shoulder.

He's a standalone display figure at best, unless you customize him into Brawn or something.

At 13cm this will be a small Deluxe sized figure and probably at a premium price point too?

It could really be just about any character but popping an Optimus Prime head on it will obviously be the first choice for a new figure.

I guess this could sit well in a Cyberverse/Legends scale type display?

No video with dramatic camera angles can make that thing look good.

Smaller figure, more $$$$. The future is NOW.

Pass for me. The alt mode is meh, and the robo form is no where near the level of that concept art!

I'm gonna say it: Takara, this is awful. A 3rd Party could do better. Plus, they wouldn't shrink it down. And they would make it not-Optimus.

I get that Optimus sells, but this set is kind of out of the blue... Did someone on staff want a Toyota at a big discount? "Okay, okay, okay! How about this? We make a TF figure and promote your car... you give me... free car? " I'm sure the cross-promo is a little more lucrative than that... but I don't see it.

Isn't this SUV too big for Asian markets anyway?

Yeah, the bot mode of the RC version totally looks junky, but I might still buy it simply for the novelty. It seems like it would be quite fun to see a Transformer transform for real right in front of my eyes by itself like that. I believe that as time goes on they're going to improve upon this concept greatly as I suggested previously.

xyl360 wrote:Yeah, the bot mode of the RC version totally looks junky, but I might still buy it simply for the novelty.

RC Prime isn't exactly the type of thing you buy just for the sake of having it. Mind you the bot mode is Fortress Maximus-size at 600mm or just a little over 23 inches. If Takara Tomy can sell him for under a Grand I'll be impressed.

As for the action figure version I'm hoping to get the retail version. It's priced high at 4,200yen, but Japanese exporters will offer a discount and it comes with both white and yellow parts. Since all of the colored parts are model pieces it'll be easily repainted red with simple spray paint.

People keep comparing these to the Trans-Scan kits, but these are in a higher league. The TS kits were basically just a body folded up inside a vehicle shell and the bot mode only looked good if you took all the parts off. These make better use of the FJ parts in the bot mode and the only real kibble is on the back. I wouldn't mind seeing more action models like this.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

xyl360 wrote:Yeah, the bot mode of the RC version totally looks junky, but I might still buy it simply for the novelty.

RC Prime isn't exactly the type of thing you buy just for the sake of having it. Mind you the bot mode is Fortress Maximus-size at 600mm or just a little over 23 inches. If Takara Tomy can sell him for under a Grand I'll be impressed.

Yeah, not just for the sake of having it, but like I said, for the novelty of it. It's new, it's different, and it looks fun. Kids would go crazy over this. I know I would have when I was a kid. Hell, the Jumpstarters were amazing to me, and all they did was roll and flip into bot mode. This thing actually *transforms*. As shitty as the bot mode may look, it's still an incredible feat of engineering and a damn fun looking RC toy.