Takara Tomy Announces MP-44S Optimus Prime and MP-56+ Riggorus
Friday, July 7th, 2023 10:17PM CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Toy News, CollectablesPosted by: Emerje Views: 89,503
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Completely out of nowhere Takara Tomy has revealed two new figures for the Transformers Masterpiece line. MP-44S Optimus Prime is, in fact, being sold as Optimus Prime rather than Convoy for the first time in Japan. According to Takara Tomy the name change comes in honor of the live action movie series, basically catching up with the name changes that have taken place elsewhere in the franchise for over a decade now. The new release is based on the "Ver. 3" figure minus the electronics, trailer and a lot of the accessories. The figure has how been given a '84 toy deco and even a sticker sheet to finish the look. The accessories that did get carried over from the original release are his Ion Blaster, Energon Axe, blast effect, Matrix of Leadership and the "round" head. Priced at 33,000 JPY in Japan and showing up as a pre-order for February at most Japanese online stores for a February 2024 release.
Then we've got MP-56+ Riggorus, a new Decepticon character based on a Diaclone design we haven't seen used in Transformers before. Thanks to Seibertronian Sabrblade for pointing out that this figure combines the body of Hoist with the truck cap of Trailbreaker and a new head in a mustard yellow deco. For accessories he includes two shoulder mounted guns, double barreled hand replacement guns (these guns may be interchangeable though not shown in pictures), force shield effect part and a sticker that isn't described but is likely an Decepticon symbol since one isn't seen in the pictures. He has a Japanese retail price of 24,200 JPY and expected to be out in March 2024.
As always prices will vary greatly depending on where you order, though Amazon Japan (and Deep Discount when Hasbro pre-orders open) will likely be your best bet.
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Posted by Sabrblade on July 7th, 2023 @ 10:22pm CDT
"Riggorus". And is a Decepticon.Emerje wrote:Then we've got MP-56+ Rigorous,
Posted by Emerje on July 7th, 2023 @ 11:23pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:"Riggorus". And is a Decepticon.Emerje wrote:Then we've got MP-56+ Rigorous,
Weird. In my defence Takara Tomy Mall doesn't use that image or mention a faction on the site. AmiAmi is going with Rigorous while HLJ was calling it Rigoras but that seemed to be a direct translation from Japanese (they've since changed it to Riggorus on the product page, not the front page). Hobby Search calls it both Rigoras and Rigolas. Needless to say I went with the most obvious one. Guess I'll fix it.
Emerje
Posted by Sabrblade on July 7th, 2023 @ 11:27pm CDT
I did too, at first. But then TakaraTomy posted that pic on their website, so I rolled with it.Emerje wrote:Sabrblade wrote:"Riggorus". And is a Decepticon.Emerje wrote:Then we've got MP-56+ Rigorous,
Weird. In my defence Takara Tomy Mall doesn't use that image or mention a faction on the site. AmiAmi is going with Rigorous while HLJ was calling it Rigoras but that seemed to be a direct translation from Japanese (they've since changed it to Riggorus on the product page, not the front page). Hobby Search calls it both Rigoras and Rigolas. Needless to say I went with the most obvious one. Guess I'll fix it.
Emerje
Posted by Emerje on July 7th, 2023 @ 11:34pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:I did too, at first. But then TakaraTomy posted that pic on their website, so I rolled with it.Emerje wrote:Sabrblade wrote:"Riggorus". And is a Decepticon.Emerje wrote:Then we've got MP-56+ Rigorous,
Weird. In my defence Takara Tomy Mall doesn't use that image or mention a faction on the site. AmiAmi is going with Rigorous while HLJ was calling it Rigoras but that seemed to be a direct translation from Japanese (they've since changed it to Riggorus on the product page, not the front page). Hobby Search calls it both Rigoras and Rigolas. Needless to say I went with the most obvious one. Guess I'll fix it.
Emerje
I saw that post (even referenced it in the news), yet somehow managed to gloss over the text above the image and clearly wasn't paying close attention to the image itself.
Is it weird to anyone else that Optimus has Action Master orange eyes while the alternative head has the proper yellow ones?
Emerje
Posted by Sabrblade on July 7th, 2023 @ 11:51pm CDT
Posted by Emerje on July 8th, 2023 @ 4:27am CDT
Sabrblade wrote:On a different note, one could think of this MP Optimus as a Masterpiece toy of the Marvel version of the character.
Aside from the eye color I think the original is much closer to the comic than this one.
MP-44 with red sides on the bot and yellow eyes would be ideal.
Emerje
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 8th, 2023 @ 4:32am CDT
Posted by Bounti76 on July 8th, 2023 @ 4:59am CDT
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 8th, 2023 @ 5:14am CDT
Bounti76 wrote:Besides Loudpedal and now Riggorus ( ), have there been any other Diaclone based Decepticons? It seems they've almost exclusively been Autobots until now.
There's Exhaust as well, I believe!
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 8th, 2023 @ 5:29am CDT
That's what I can call going full circle!
Still expensive as balls though.
I have MP49 so I'm good. But for those who want just the Optimus without paying double the price because of the fluff, and want the OFFICIAL one, MP44S is a great opportunity.
Posted by Syclone on July 8th, 2023 @ 7:35am CDT
Maybe I'm just looking for any excuse to not buy it. I really like MP44, I just don't need (or want to pay for) all those accessories.
The other one (whatever we shall name him) looks pretty great actually, but I tend to only spend MP money on well known characters from my childhood, so I probably will not buy.
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on July 8th, 2023 @ 12:34pm CDT
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 8th, 2023 @ 12:50pm CDT
SpaceEagle wrote:Bounti76 wrote:Besides Loudpedal and now Riggorus ( ), have there been any other Diaclone based Decepticons? It seems they've almost exclusively been Autobots until now.
There's Exhaust as well, I believe!
With Car Robot we only have Loudpedal, Exhaust and now Riggorus (trademark-friendly version of "rigorous" I suppose). Let's see the complete list, the ones with "TF" are decos created for Transformers, and not counting later decos:
1. Countach LP500S
Red: Spin-Out
TF Yellow: Sunstreaker
2. Onebox Cherry Vanette
Black: DK-2 Guard
TF Red: Ironhide
3. Countach LP500S Patrol Car Type
White: Cordon
4. Onebox Ambulance Type
White: Ratchet
5. 4WD Hi-Lux
Black: Trailbreaker
Blue: DK-3 Breaker
Yellow: Riggorus
6. Honda City R
Silver: Crosscut
Red: Reboost
7. Fairlady Z
Silver: Bluestreak
Blue: Silverstreak (since Buzzworthy Bumblebee)
TF all Silver: Bluestreak
8. 4WD Wrecker Type
Red: Lift-Ticket
Blue: N/A
TF Green: Hoist
9. Honda City Turbo
Blue: Skids
Black: Burn Out
Red: N/A
10. Fire Engine
Red: Inferno
11. Fairlady Z Racing Type
Red: Smokescreen
12. J59 Jeep
Green: Hound
13. Police Car Fairlady Z
White: Prowl
14. Porsche 935 Turbo
White: Jazz
15. New Countach LP500S
Red: Sideswipe
Yellow: Tigertrack
Black: Deep Cover
16. F-1 Ligier JS-11
Blue: Mirage
Red: N/A
17. Battle Convoy
Red: Optimus Prime
18. Lancia Stratos Turbo
Green: Wheeljack
Red: Exhaust
19. New Countach Police Car
White: Clampdown
TF White: Red Alert
20. Truck Crane
Yellow: Grapple
21. Corvette Stringray
Red: Road Rage
TF Blue: Tracks
So we're still missing a blue Hoist, a red Skids that isn't Reboost, and a red Mirage AFAIK. 3 more chances for Decepticons Regarding Loudpedal, that one isn't a Diaclone deco per se, but rather is based on one released only in Finland.
Posted by blackeyedprime on July 8th, 2023 @ 2:29pm CDT
I use a KO MP tigertracks with some saw hand weapons from Igear PP05 Ironhide as Buzzsaw just to have another decepticon car bot.
Really liking optimus, it might be different enough from MP10 for me to consider getting it
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 8th, 2023 @ 3:29pm CDT
Syclone wrote:I was so excited until I saw the yellow/orange eyes. Now I'm like, I'll wait till they release one with blue eyes.
To be fair it is striving for toy accuracy, hence the lack of blue eyes. Probably wouldn't be too hard to paint them if so desired...
Maybe that helps with accepting the package but I'm also not a Hasbro/Takara salesperson so I don't want you to spend your money willy-nilly, heh.
Posted by Sabrblade on July 8th, 2023 @ 3:34pm CDT
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 8th, 2023 @ 3:37pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on July 8th, 2023 @ 3:52pm CDT
It's also Marvel-accurate.SpaceEagle wrote:I've always preferred the yellow eyed look for OP (Same goes for Soundwave), but again that's probably just my toy-accurate bias speaking.
Posted by Burn on July 8th, 2023 @ 4:47pm CDT
Posted by Syclone on July 8th, 2023 @ 8:11pm CDT
SpaceEagle wrote:Syclone wrote:I was so excited until I saw the yellow/orange eyes. Now I'm like, I'll wait till they release one with blue eyes.
To be fair it is striving for toy accuracy, hence the lack of blue eyes. Probably wouldn't be too hard to paint them if so desired...
Maybe that helps with accepting the package but I'm also not a Hasbro/Takara salesperson so I don't want you to spend your money willy-nilly, heh.
Oh absolutely. And it pulls it off great. It's just not the very specific thing I want haha. (Which is just regular MP44 without the trailer.)
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 8th, 2023 @ 8:19pm CDT
Syclone wrote:SpaceEagle wrote:Syclone wrote:I was so excited until I saw the yellow/orange eyes. Now I'm like, I'll wait till they release one with blue eyes.
To be fair it is striving for toy accuracy, hence the lack of blue eyes. Probably wouldn't be too hard to paint them if so desired...
Maybe that helps with accepting the package but I'm also not a Hasbro/Takara salesperson so I don't want you to spend your money willy-nilly, heh.
Oh absolutely. And it pulls it off great. It's just not the very specific thing I want haha. (Which is just regular MP44 without the trailer.)
Heh, they're probably going to wait a while just so people still have to buy the full package if they want this figure.
Sneaky business...
Posted by TulioDude on July 9th, 2023 @ 12:19pm CDT
Day 1286 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 9th, 2023 @ 5:09pm CDT
Prime REALLY needed a new toy accurate head, but he still looks good. I love the yellow eye look, and outside of Selects Star Convoy I haven't had that change yet. I appreciate the toy style stickers, but I really wish those were tampos. Otherwise, I love him.
Riggorus also looks super cool. Unique mix of parts, and it's a figure that, like Reboost, doesn't have a generations toy yet, so he will be good for me. Plus, I like the mold a lot, so I can enjoy it. Plus, that forcefield piece will be nice to give to Trailbreaker.
Posted by Quantum Surge on July 9th, 2023 @ 5:39pm CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 9th, 2023 @ 5:50pm CDT
Quantum Surge wrote:Toy-color Prime looks better than the regular release, hot take.
Not a hot take if you are objectively correct
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 9th, 2023 @ 6:09pm CDT
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 9th, 2023 @ 6:25pm CDT
But I just think the truck works a lot better with the stripe.
Posted by Sabrblade on July 9th, 2023 @ 6:36pm CDT
You sound as if every MP Optimus toy before this one got rid of the stripe in truck mode.SpaceEagle wrote:I always thought the truck looked more interesting with the stripe. I know toon accuracy dictates it should be gone yadda yadda and toon accuracy fans want it very accurate (at least judging by clamouring for unofficial figures that strive for extreme cartoon accuracy) yadda yadda.
But I just think the truck works a lot better with the stripe.
Posted by SpaceEagle on July 9th, 2023 @ 6:44pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:You sound as if every MP Optimus toy before this one got rid of the stripe in truck mode.SpaceEagle wrote:I always thought the truck looked more interesting with the stripe. I know toon accuracy dictates it should be gone yadda yadda and toon accuracy fans want it very accurate (at least judging by clamouring for unofficial figures that strive for extreme cartoon accuracy) yadda yadda.
But I just think the truck works a lot better with the stripe.
I was just speaking my piece about toon accuracy as is, actually!
I'm fully aware the ones before this had the stripe.
Posted by GrangerPerry on July 10th, 2023 @ 12:05am CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on July 10th, 2023 @ 12:41am CDT
Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 10th, 2023 @ 4:36am CDT
Sabrblade wrote:Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
I bet the stickers will feel incredibly cheap though. For some reasons, appart the G1 originals, always drop the ball when it come to included stickers.
However, I bet my left nut, my right nut, and a third nut borrowed from my neighbor that Toyhax will have us covered.
I'll have to admit that I'm more and more tempted by MP-44S. Only the price still makes me hesitant.
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on July 10th, 2023 @ 10:53am CDT
-Kanrabat- wrote:I bet the stickers will feel incredibly cheap though. For some reasons, appart the G1 originals, always drop the ball when it come to included stickers.
Not to mention, for the price point, Masterpiece figures shouldn't have cheap stickers on them at all. In lieu of moulded details with paint apps.
Posted by Sabrblade on July 10th, 2023 @ 11:17am CDT
If y'all are referring to the bad foil stickers that Hasbro used during Titans Return and Power of the Primes, Takara's MPs have never used those.AllNewSuperRobot wrote:-Kanrabat- wrote:I bet the stickers will feel incredibly cheap though. For some reasons, appart the G1 originals, always drop the ball when it come to included stickers.
Not to mention, for the price point, Masterpiece figures shouldn't have cheap stickers on them at all. In lieu of moulded details with paint apps.
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on July 10th, 2023 @ 1:53pm CDT
EG
MP-37 Artfire
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 10th, 2023 @ 2:53pm CDT
AllNewSuperRobot wrote:-Kanrabat- wrote:I bet the stickers will feel incredibly cheap though. For some reasons, appart the G1 originals, always drop the ball when it come to included stickers.
Not to mention, for the price point, Masterpiece figures shouldn't have cheap stickers on them at all. In lieu of moulded details with paint apps.
Amen, brother!
Posted by Emerje on July 10th, 2023 @ 7:08pm CDT
Emerje
Posted by GrangerPerry on July 10th, 2023 @ 10:23pm CDT
AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I mean, including MP-44s, the Masterpiece figures that have used stickers and shouldn't.
EG
MP-37 Artfire
Those are paint decals they’re not stickers
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on July 11th, 2023 @ 10:39am CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 11th, 2023 @ 7:37pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on July 11th, 2023 @ 7:39pm CDT
But then that would have robbed people of having the option to choose whether they want the toy-accurate sticker designs on the figure on not. Truth be told, it looks better and cleaner to me in its sticker-less state than its messier stickered up state.D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Prime really should have had tampos like Artfire did
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 11th, 2023 @ 7:45pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:But then that would have robbed people of having the option to choose whether they want the toy-accurate sticker designs on the figure on not. Truth be told, it looks better and cleaner to me in its sticker-less state than its messier stickered up state.D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Prime really should have had tampos like Artfire did
It does not matter, the toy by default came with stickers originally, and those details, to me, should have been tampo-ed on.
also, the fact that there is no toy accurate head is a crime
Posted by Emerje on July 11th, 2023 @ 10:26pm CDT
D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Sabrblade wrote:But then that would have robbed people of having the option to choose whether they want the toy-accurate sticker designs on the figure on not. Truth be told, it looks better and cleaner to me in its sticker-less state than its messier stickered up state.D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Prime really should have had tampos like Artfire did
It does not matter, the toy by default came with stickers originally, and those details, to me, should have been tampo-ed on.
Came with, just like MP-44S. To be honest I'm only considering buying this because it doesn't come with stickers applied or tampos, never liked the fake details, especially when the covered real details rather than work with them.
Emerje
Posted by GrangerPerry on July 13th, 2023 @ 5:04pm CDT
AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Semantics aside. Paint decals to imitate stickers are just as cheap looking in a line that is this expensive.
Semantics are what the Masterpiece line is all about, look at the original MP Sideswipe and then to the reissue Sideswipe changing only his eye paint and then to the Anime colored Sideswipe. I'm looking at MP36+ with the toy accurate exclusive head sculpt and fully painted on sticker decals and then looking at this figure claiming to be toy accurate and it isn't measuring up to their previous toy accurate release
Posted by GrangerPerry on July 13th, 2023 @ 5:06pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
Those are stickers, they're not decals
edit: Also why is the yellow on his waist painted? That's a sticker from the original Diaclone release, it's not part of the G1 toy
Posted by Emerje on July 13th, 2023 @ 6:50pm CDT
GrangerPerry wrote:Sabrblade wrote:Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
Those are stickers, they're not decals
You said "sticker decals" those are stickers. Decals are something entirely different and as far as I know no Transformer has ever come with a decal (which are "transfers" that use water or heat adhesives, stickers use glue adhesive).
Emerje
Posted by Sabrblade on July 13th, 2023 @ 6:58pm CDT
In my experience, "stickers", "decals", "labels", etc. are all synonyms, with the only differences being purely contextual: "stickers" being the general term, "decals" being stickers used for things like model kits and such, "labels" being stickers used to identify things (functioning like name tags), and so on.Emerje wrote:GrangerPerry wrote:Sabrblade wrote:Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
Those are stickers, they're not decals
You said "sticker decals" those are stickers. Decals are something entirely different and as far as I know no Transformer has ever come with a decal (which are "transfers" that use water or heat adhesives, stickers use glue adhesive).
Emerje
Posted by Emerje on July 13th, 2023 @ 7:12pm CDT
Sabrblade wrote:In my experience, "stickers", "decals", "labels", etc. are all synonyms, with the only differences being purely contextual: "stickers" being the general term, "decals" being stickers used for things like model kits and such, "labels" being stickers used to identify things (functioning like name tags), and so on.Emerje wrote:GrangerPerry wrote:Sabrblade wrote:Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
Those are stickers, they're not decals
You said "sticker decals" those are stickers. Decals are something entirely different and as far as I know no Transformer has ever come with a decal (which are "transfers" that use water or heat adhesives, stickers use glue adhesive).
Emerje
Yes, people generally use them interchangeably, but if you're going to be specific about it like they were then they all have very different features. What Transformers come with are stickers, not decals.
Emerje
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 13th, 2023 @ 8:29pm CDT
Emerje wrote:Yes, people generally use them interchangeably, but if you're going to be specific about it like they were then they all have very different features. What Transformers come with are stickers, not decals.
Emerje
I prefer "labels".
Classy!
Posted by GrangerPerry on July 13th, 2023 @ 10:04pm CDT
Emerje wrote:GrangerPerry wrote:Sabrblade wrote:Right there:GrangerPerry wrote:And the worst offender is the sticker decals, where are they?
Those are stickers, they're not decals
You said "sticker decals" those are stickers. Decals are something entirely different and as far as I know no Transformer has ever come with a decal (which are "transfers" that use water or heat adhesives, stickers use glue adhesive).
Emerje
Haha okay right so sticker details that are tampo printed onto the figure almost like a factory applied decal? But anyways that excerpt you took from my post was comparing this toy accurate Optimus to the previous toy accurate Megatron. And that MP-36+ Megatron had the all the sticker details from the original toy painted onto the figure with very premium paint that’s applied at the factory and looks amazing. I think we should have another reprinted Megatron to look like the marvel comics like MP King Grimlock and I think we should have an Optimus that looks plain like this one too. But I think people like me that picked up MP-36+ and plan to display this new Optimus next to it will apply these cheap stickers and wish the sticker details material look and feel matched MP-36+ as a companion piece out of the box