The Transformers: Masterpiece

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The Transformers: Masterpiece (トランスフォーマー マスターピース, Toransufōmā Masutāpīsu, also The Transformers: Master Piece) <ref>MP-01 Convoy's box featured an early English logo that put a space in between "master" and "piece". From MP-2 Ultra Magnus-onwards, the logo was changed to "Masterpiece".</ref> is a line of toys aimed at collectors. Releases in this line tend to be far more expensive than mainline releases, and usually feature much more complex conversion schemes. Where contemporary mainline toys transform into vague approximations of licensed vehicles, the vehicle modes of Masterpiece figures are frequently licensed, detailed versions of their real-world counterparts. The figures are primarily based on characters from the original The Transformers cartoon, with those of the Beast Era later joining the line-up and figures from the live-action movie continuity appearing under the Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series label.

Though the Masterpiece line is largely developed by Takara/TakaraTomy with the Japanese market in mind, the line has also been distributed by Hasbro in Asian markets outside Japan, and in Australia as Target and Toys"R"Us exclusives. Hasbro has also redecoed/retooled molds from this line for release in their own markets under various lines – almost always as store exclusives. Hasbro versions originally saw release as Walmart exclusives until 2009, when they were succeeded by Toys"R"Us. From 2013 onwards, Hasbro released its versions as a single cohesive line (instead of as part of other, contemporary lines), with a numbering system similar to the one used by TakaraTomy. However, by 2015, the figures were again co-branded as part of the Generations line, while still continuing their numbering system. Beginning with TakaraTomy's MP-43 (as well as the MP-17+, MP-18+ and MP-20+ versions released around the same time), Hasbro officially distributed all-new figures as imports available from various online retailers and specialty stores. The Hasbro versions differ ever-so-slightly from the Japanese-distributed TakaraTomy versions by the addition of a tampographed Hasbro product code number on the figure itself, and the use of an additional black outer sleeve for the packaging that prominently features the Japanese ID number, but not any actual name for the figure.

The line officially ended in 2024, and was succeeded by The Transformers: MPG — a line that began as a parallel spin-off of Masterpiece but eventually became Takara's new official label for collector-focused toys (with MP-60 Ginrai, the final toy in the Masterpiece line, simultaneously releasing alongside his trailer as Super Ginrai in the MPG line).

Overview

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Timeline

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And the fandom rejoiced... And the fandom's wallets cried.

The Masterpiece line started in 2003 with the debut of MP-1 Convoy / Optimus Prime, a figure with a level of detail and engineering that was until then completely unprecedented for a Transformers figure (and that many collectors still consider quite the technical achievement even today!). The toyline would continue at a slow pace throughout the 2000s, with new molds launching every two years or so, and with redecos/retools being released in-between. These figures were often exclusive of the larger main characters, and scale wasn't very consistent due to the heftier size and price constraints involved in manufacturing this batch of toys - keep in mind that, again; toys this complex were virtually unseen within the Transformers franchise at this time, much less with an entire toyline built around them. A small and, at first; fairly short-lived spin-off was released in 2010 under the Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series, with its only two figures at the time — MPM-1 Starscream and MPM-2 Bumblebee — just being redecoed versions of their larger-sized Hasbro figures from the standard Transformers (2010) toyline rather than proper dedicated molds.

With the release of a new tooling of Convoy in 2011, the line experienced a reboot of sorts, now featuring (at least relative to MP-1) a slightly smaller but more consistent scale using MP-09 Rodimus Convoy as the standard. This reboot was also followed by a significant increase in releases per year, with Masterpieces of the smaller characters — like the Autobot Cars, which were often previously replaced by Transformers: Alternators / Binaltech figures in fan collections — finally being introduced. Notably, like with Alternators / Binaltech, all of these featured licensed alt modes, but unlike with Alternators / Binaltech, these alt modes would be their original classic vehicle modes (which had previously never been licensed in earlier Transformers toylines) instead of modern equivalents!

The Masterpiece toyline began branching out into more eras of the franchise during the mid-2010s. In 2016, Beast Wars characters were first added to the line with the introduction of MP-32 Convoy / Optimus Primal. The Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series was also revived in 2017, now featuring proper unique molds. It was also during this time that the series began a shift towards a much more extreme degree of cartoon-accuracy compared to the previous attempts of hybridizing cartoon and toy designs, with 2016's MP-27 Ironhide being the first example of this trend (one might argue that MP-24 Star Saber was the first full-on cartoon accurate toy, but in all fairness; his original toy also didn't stray too far from the cartoon in terms of details and greebling). The one exception to this design trend was 2021's MP-53 Skids and its many subsequent Diaclone-inspired repaints, with their heavy focus on licensed vehicle mode accuracy (marketing was almost entirely done on the back of their popular Honda City vehicle modes).

In 2022 the more hybridized design tendency kicked into high gear as TakaraTomy launched The Transformers: MPG line with the Trainbots, in a big swing for Japan's massive model train market. The figures are made to the model train "HO scale,"<ref name="FigureKing285">Figure King 285: Interview With MPG-01 Raiden Development Team – English Translation at Soundwaves Oblivion</ref> which—whether or not intentional—also makes their individual robot modes fit the same cartoon-based scale as the current mainline Masterpiece Transformers, having the individual components stand slightly taller than the standard Autobot Cars, but makes Raiden and the individual train modes undersized by comparison. Back on the cartoon-based side of things, 2022 also saw the announcement of MP-57 Skyfire, who, in a truly awe-inspiring display of mass-shifting reproduction, features a series of Autobot miniatures for vehicle mode to accommodate his use as a transport in the cartoon. To this day, he's the tallest robot released under the standard Masterpiece line.

The main Masterpiece line would come to a sundown of sorts in 2024, with the aforementioned MPG toyline becoming its direct sucessor. By the end of this run, 60 numbered releases were produced for the original Masterpiece toyline, although, once you consider the many repaints and exclusive versions that most molds received, the total amount adds up to well over a hundred: not bad for a toyline that tended to only get a release or two per year during its first decade!

I despise you and your feeble attempts at a so-called "consistent" scale, mortals.

Scale

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As mentioned, the first years of Masterpiece releases during the 2000s featured a remarkably inconsistent scale, with the result being that figures of certain huge characters (such as Grimlock) ended up being too short compared to other characters they were meant to tower over (such as Convoy). It is often interpreted that the toyline was shrunken down to a smaller scale during the 2010s, and this is true... To an extent. Thanks to the aforementioned inconsistent scale, three out of the five Masterpiece molds released before the 2011 soft reboot — MP-3 Starscream, MP-8 Grimlock, and MP-9 Rodimus Convoy — are actually generally closer to the newer scale (the 2012 MP-11 Starscream would even just outright be a 2.0 of his first toy which retained the same size), thus making the original MP-1 Convoy / Optimus Prime and MP-5 Megatron the only real odd ones out: so in a sense, when the Masterpiece line is considered as a whole — even within the boundaries of the 2000s — it might be more accurate to say that these two specific figures were actually oversized rather than the rest of the toyline being undersized!

From the 2011 "reboot" era of the Masterpiece line to present, the focus of making everything to "scale" with each other mostly refers to robot mode scale, as there are a few size discrepancies between the vehicle modes of the individual figures. To counter this, some figures include their own miniatures to represent an accurate vehicle mode scale, such as the aforementioned Skyfire figure, which features miniatures of Convoy, Meister and Wheeljack, to create the illusion that he has mass-shifted between his two forms. Another example is the Autobot Car, Hound. Hound transforms into a Willys Jeep, which is a much smaller vehicle compared to the other Autobot Cars, yet his robot mode is the same height as them. The line-wide, universally-scaled Spike Witwicky figurines included with MP-10 Convoy and MP-44 Convoy are an accurate size for Hound in robot mode, but too small for his vehicle mode specifically, even if they scale fairly well with the other Autobot Cars' altmodes, so a larger Spike figure was released with Hound, made to specifically sit in his seats in jeep mode, to reenact scenes from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1", Part 2" and "Part 3". The other line-wide, universally-scaled figurines can also be sat inside MPG Shouki, as a reference to the original Diaclone toy and the Diaclone pilots, even though the figurines are grossly out of scale with the train mode itself.

The Beast Wars figures, on the other hand, are made to their own unique scale when compared to the G1 character releases, as is obvious, when comparing G1 Convoy with Beast Wars Convoy, since the Maximals and Predacons are meant to be wayyyy smaller than the other characters in the line. Uniquely, all of the Beast Wars characters to date are also scaled accurately in beast mode, as well as robot mode (at least based in a cartoon context).

MP-24 Star Saber is an outlier when it comes to scale, as an accurate cartoon scale for the character would make him roughly the size of a mainline Titan Class figure, just due to the Japanese sequel cartoons making every character after the original cartoon more and more giant (seriously, Convoy is only listed in cartoon production scale as 6 meters tall, while Star Saber is listed at 22 meters tall!). TakaraTomy knew this when making Star Saber, and elected to make more of a generic scale that fits better with the Generations toys of the time. Ironically, Masterpiece Star Saber is better scaled with your War for Cybertron Trilogy-era of "CHUG" toys (albeit somehow still too small!) than the HasLab Legacy Star Saber is.

Fiction

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The Transformers: Masterpiece toyline has received some light fictional support throughout its extensive run, thus far largely within the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity.

Comics

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Masterpiece received e-HOBBY comics between 2010-2011 to provide fictional justification for their various exclusive redecoes, as well as a smattering of higher concept comics told sporadically through the Transformers Generations book series beginning in 2014 and continuing to this day.

e-HOBBY

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Generations book series

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rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) {{#switch:ragedinobots war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) ragedinobots}}=Prime {{#switch:rid2015 war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) rid2015}}=Robots in Disguise (2015) {{#switch:{{{series}}} war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=War for Cybertron fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Fall of Cybertron transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)|primeadaptation|prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Prime primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Prime – Rage of the Dinobots transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Prime – Beast Hunters fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Prime – Beast Hunters Special rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Robots in Disguise (2015) Aligned}}}} issues{{#if: yes [[{{#switch:{{{series}}} transformers spotlight|transformers: spotlight|the transformers spotlight|the transformers: spotlight=The Transformers: Spotlight transformers infiltration|transformers: infiltration|the transformers infiltration|the transformers: infiltration=The Transformers: Infiltration transformers stormbringer|transformers: stormbringer|the transformers stormbringer|the transformers: stormbringer=The Transformers: Stormbringer transformers escalation|transformers: escalation|the transformers escalation|the transformers: escalation=The Transformers: Escalation megorigin|megatron origin|transformers megatron origin|transformers: megatron origin|the transformers megatron origin|the transformers: megatron origin=The Transformers: Megatron Origin transformers devastation|transformers: devastation|the transformers devastation|the transformers: devastation=The Transformers: Devastation maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1 transformers bumblebee|transformers: bumblebee|the transformers bumblebee|the transformers: bumblebee=The Transformers: Bumblebee wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers transformers ironhide|transformers: ironhide|the transformers ironhide|the transformers: ironhide=The Transformers: Ironhide transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|the transformers: drift=The Transformers: Drift the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation infestation 2=Infestation 2 heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers vol. 2 drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=The Transformers: Windblade|The Transformers: Windblade vol. 2 transformers autocracy|transformers: autocracy|the transformers autocracy|autocracy=The Transformers: Autocracy transformers monstrosity|transformers: monstrosity|the transformers monstrosity|monstrosity=The Transformers: Monstrosity transformers primacy|transformers: primacy|the transformers primacy|primacy=The Transformers: Primacy sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers transformers punishment|transformers: punishment|the transformers punishment|the transformers: punishment|punishment=The Transformers: Punishment transformers redemption|transformers: redemption|the transformers redemption|the transformers: redemption|redemption=The Transformers: Redemption transformers salvation|transformers: salvation|the transformers salvation|the transformers: salvation|salvation=The Transformers: Salvation transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe combiner hunters|combiner hunters (comic)=An Uneventful Night|Combiner Hunters titans return|titans return (comic)=Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=The Transformers: Till All Are One lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=The Transformers: Lost Light optimus prime|optimus prime (comic)=Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime annual2017|transformers annual 2017=Ghost Stories|Transformers Annual 2017 revolution=Revolution revolutionaries=Revolutionaries action man=Action Man (comic)|Action Man gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5 hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza first strike=First Strike ROM rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers transformers unicron|transformers: unicron=Transformers: Unicron  #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}{{#ifeq: | Category [[Category:{{#switch:{{{series}}} premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection|idwcollection|the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=IDW Collection transformers spotlight|transformers: spotlight|the transformers spotlight|spotlight=Spotlight transformers infiltration|transformers: infiltration|the transformers infiltration|infiltration=Infiltration transformers stormbringer|transformers: stormbringer|the transformers stormbringer|the transformers: stormbringer=Stormbringer transformers escalation|transformers: escalation|the transformers escalation|escalation=Escalation megorigin|megatron origin|transformers megatron origin|transformers: megatron origin|the transformers megatron origin|the transformers: megatron origin=Megatron Origin transformers devastation|transformers: devastation|the transformers devastation|devastation=Devastation maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|maximum dinobots=Maximum Dinobots all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|all hail megatron=All Hail Megatron the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)|the transformers (idw)=IDW The Transformers transformers bumblebee|transformers: bumblebee|the transformers bumblebee|bumblebee=Bumblebee wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|last stand of the wreckers=Last Stand of the Wreckers transformers ironhide|transformers: ironhide|the transformers ironhide|ironhide=Ironhide Infestation (IDW)=Infestation Infestation2|Infestation 2=Infestation transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|drifteos|drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: origins and empires|transformers drift: origins & empires|origins and empires|origins & empires=Drift heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|heart of darkness=Heart of Darkness tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=The Death of Optimus Prime more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye=IDW More than Meets the Eye robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise|ongoing2|exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=IDW Robots in Disguise (2012) dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron the transformers: windblade|windblade2|windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=Windblade transformers autocracy|transformers: autocracy|the transformers autocracy|autocracy=Autocracy transformers monstrosity|transformers: monstrosity|the transformers monstrosity|monstrosity=Monstrosity transformers primacy|transformers: primacy|the transformers primacy|primacy=Primacy transformers punishment|transformers: punishment|the transformers punishment|the transformers: punishment|punishment=Punishment transformers redemption|transformers: redemption|the transformers redemption|the transformers: redemption|redemption=Redemption transformers salvation|transformers: salvation|the transformers salvation|the transformers: salvation|salvation=Salvation marsattackstransformers|mars attacks: the transformers=Mars Attacks: The Transformers transformers deviations|transformers: deviations=IDW crossover synergy: a hasbro creators showcase=IDW crossover transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers combiner hunters|combiner hunters (comic)=Combiner Hunters titans return|titans return (comic)=Titans Return optimus prime|optimus prime (comic)=Optimus Prime annual2017|2017 Annual|Annual 2017=Transformers Annual 2017 lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One revolution=Revolution revolutionaries=Revolutionaries action man=Action Man gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5 g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection first strike=First Strike hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook micronauts=Micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza rom=ROM rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs. transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Requiem of the Wreckers transformers unicron=Unicron IDW (2005)}} issues{{#if: yes *}}]]}}}}}} "Wars" series (Masterpiece)}} {{#if:The Transformers: MPG#Comics|»|}}

{{#if:*"Rodimus Wars"||-

style="text-align:{{{align}}};"|}}|

Perhaps most notably, Masterpiece inherited Yuki Ohshima's series of comics colloquially known as the "Wars" series from TakaraTomy's short-lived 2012 Generations toyline (not to be confused with the modern super-brand) beginning in 2015 with "Rodimus Wars," a Transformers: The Movie prequel advertising the then-upcoming MP-28 Hot Rodimus and MP-29 Laserwave. As of this writing, the series has moved on to an ongoing distant prequel to the primary arc of the series' Generations incarnation, "Train Wars," to advertise the MPG Trainbots.

IDW Publishing

[edit]

Masterpiece briefly rode the coattails of Hasbro's Collaborative crossover brand into mass market comic books in 2019 with MP-10G Optimus Prime Ecto-35 Edition's prominent appearance in the Transformers/Ghostbusters comic, albeit very much playing second fiddle to Collaborative's original character for the Ghostbusters x Transformers subline, Ectotron.

End of G1 Universe

[edit]
Main article{{#if:|s}}: The Transformers: End of G1 Universe{{#if: 
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2022 saw the surprise announcement from TakaraTomy of a devoted webcomic for Masterpiece, named "End of G1 Universe" and published directly on the Masterpiece website, beginning with MP-48+ Dark Amber Leo Prime. The next installment in brand veteran Hayato Sakamoto's series of pack-in comic epics following the finale of the comic for TakaraTomy's arm of the Generations Selects franchise the previous year, the series sets the ostentatious goal of concluding the behemoth Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity. After a lengthy hiatus this comic popped back up in 2026 attached to the boutique Generations-derivative line New Legends following the conclusion of Masterpiece.

Prose

[edit]

Transformers × Evangelion

[edit]
Main article{{#if:|s}}: Transformers × Evangelion{{#if: 
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This tiny crossover franchise with the wildly popular [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Neon Genesis Evangelion|{{#if:||Neon Genesis Evangelion}}]] brand received a short blog feature on the TakaraTomy website.

Pack-in plotlines

[edit]

Beginning around 2015 with the blue variant of Masterpiece Bluestreak, TakaraTomy began to build out the bios printed in the instructions of its original decoes into full-on recurring prose plotlines penned by all-around brand renaissance man and Collector's Edition veteran Hirofumi Ichikawa<ref>{{#if: Not all, but yes. I wrote most of Diaclone/Microchange repaints bios, except MP Tigertrack/Clamp Down/Bluestreak/Enemy & other cassettes (though I did original e-Hobby and Encore). |"Not all, but yes. I wrote most of Diaclone/Microchange repaints bios, except MP Tigertrack/Clamp Down/Bluestreak/Enemy & other cassettes (though I did original e-Hobby and Encore)."—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/Hirovmi/status/1604695336206815233 |Hirofumi Ichikawa|Hirofumi Ichikawa}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2022 |, 2022{{#if: 12 |/{{#switch:{{#len:12}}|1=012|12}}{{#if: 18|/{{#switch:{{#len:18}}|1=018|18}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/Hirovmi/status/1604695336206815233 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/Hirovmi/status/1604695336206815233%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/Hirovmi/status/1604695336206815233%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/Hirovmi/status/1604695336206815233%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/Hirovmi/status/1604695336206815233%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref> that continue to this day. Known participating releases include:

{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

|

3

|

}}

Separate vignettes are occasionally included to supplement the bios:

Upon the conclusion to the Masterpiece toyline in 2025, this storyline hopped right over to its successor MPG without breaking stride.

Toys

[edit]

Standard Masterpiece line

[edit]

Takara/TakaraTomy

[edit]
2003 2005 2006 2007
MP-1 Convoy, the OG Masterpiece figure
MP-22 Ultra Magnus
MP-43 Megatron (Beast Wars)
MP-45 Bumble Ver.2.0
MP-52 Starscream Ver.2.0
MP-53+B Dia Burnout
2008 2009 2011 2012
2013 2014 2015 2016
2017 2018 2019 2020
2021 2022 2023 2024
Amazon Japan exclusive accessories
[edit]

Between MP-12 and MP-21, several figures, when ordered from Amazon Japan, came with a separately-bagged exclusive accessory for the figure.

MP-12 Lambor with Amazon Japan exclusive piledrivers
Figure Accessory
MP-12 Lambor Two pile drivers
MP-13 Soundwave Two additional Energon cubes
MP-17 Prowl Missile launcher
MP-18 Streak Missile launcher
MP-20 Wheeljack Hypno-chip disruptor
MP-21 Bumble "Battle face"

Special editions
[edit]
2004 2009 2010 2011
MP-14C Clampdown
MP-25L Loudpedal
MP-10ASL Convoy (atmos safari LEBRON Ver.)
2012 2013 2014 2015
2016 2017 2018 2019
2020

Hasbro

[edit]

Due to the brand unification, nearly all Hasbro Masterpiece releases after Generations MP-10 Optimus Prime are imports of TakaraTomy toys above with new slip-covers. Masterpiece Movie Series releases after MPM-4 Optimus Prime, meanwhile, are the same toys in both Hasbro and TakaraTomy markets, with the former often releasing toys as store-exclusives.

2003 2006 2007 2009
MP-05 Sunstorm
Year Of The Goat Soundwave
2010 2011 2012 2013
2014 2015 2016 2017
2019

Sublines

[edit]

Masterpiece Movie Series

[edit]
MPM-4 Optimus Prime
Main article{{#if:|s}}: Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series{{#if: 
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The Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series (トランスフォーマー マスターピースムービーシリーズ Toransufōmā Masutāpīsu Mūbī Shirīzu) line is a spin-off based on the live-action film series, with toys designated MPM-##. This line originally consisted of only two detailed redecoes of Leader-sized toys from the 2010 Transformers toyline for TakaraTomy's market. It was revived in 2017 for the 10th Anniversary of the first movie, this time featuring all-new molds. The revived line was released in conjunction with Hasbro, with the toys co-branded "Hasbro" and "TakaraTomy" on their packaging.

In 2024, around the same time Masterpiece was replaced by MPG, Hasbro ended their involvement with Masterpiece Movie Series, with the line being carried by TakaraTomy only moving forward. In late 2025, it was relaunched as Masterpiece Movie Series NEXT, designated with MPMN-##.

The Transformers: MPG

[edit]
MPG-01 Trainbot Shouki
Main article{{#if:|s}}: The Transformers: MPG{{#if: 
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Starting in 2022, The Transformers: MPG toyline - abbreviated for "Masterpiece G" - was, at one point, intended to be a spin-off to the regular Masterpiece toyline, with the G suffix being added to the original name as an abbreviation for gattai (合体, "combine"), "giant" (巨大化), and "great" (グレート).<ref>MPG hub on the TakaraTomy website</ref> Its first batch of figures - the Trainbots - featured a fairly distinct aesthetic, harking back to the earlier years of Masterpiece toys with their more intrinsic hybridization of cartoon and toy traits in comparison with the ongoing trend of cartoon accuracy in the then-mainline releases. Releasing over the span of three years, these would be the only MPG products made in parallel with the ongoing Masterpiece line.

Since 2024 with the release of God Ginrai, MPG replaced the regular Masterpiece line entirely, with even a good amount of old Masterpiece molds (oddly, even those built on the cartoon-oriented design tradition) getting re-released within it as redecos. Its releases are, thus; covered in their own separate article.

Other Masterpiece sublines

[edit]
  • The Masterpiece Brave Series (マスターピース 勇者シリーズ Masutāpīsu Yūsha Shirīzu) line, with toys designated as MP-B##, which was cancelled after only two releases; these being MP-B01 King Exkizer [sic], released in 2005; and MP-B02 Dragon Kizer [sic], released in 2006. Bandai acquired Sunrise (the company that originally produced the Brave cartoons) in 1993, but seemingly didn't hold the rights to produce figures for the franchise until roughly the 2010s. As such, most updated, Masterpiece-esque Brave figures and model kits are currently produced by Bandai and their licensees. Whether it was complications between the rival companies owning the rights to the Brave franchise, or something else entirely that led to the Masterpiece lines' cancellation after only two releases, is uncertain.
  • The Zoids Masterpiece (ゾイドマスターピース Zoido Masutāpīsu) line, with toys designated as MPZ-##.

For obvious reasons, neither the Brave Series nor Zoids Masterpiece lines are covered on this wiki.

Design

[edit]
Hironori Kobayashi, the first designer to have worked on the Masterpiece line.
Kōjin Ōno, the last designer to have worked on the Masterpiece line. And also the lead designer of the succeeding MPG toyline. And also the inventor of the 1980s Diaclone Car Robots figures that'd essentially kickstart not just the Transformers franchise but also the very modern conception of the "robot-to-car" transforming toy as a whole. So, y'know, a slightly important guy.

The Masterpiece line has had a number of designers. Since MP-25, each Masterpiece figure has been designed as a team effort, led by Hironori Kobayashi, and any names given are within the scope of the larger team.

Mold Designer Notes
MP‑1, MP‑2 Hironori Kobayashi
MP‑3, MP‑6, MP‑7 Hironori Kobayashi (initial design) & Shōji Kawamori (final version)
MP‑4 trailer Hisashi Yuki Designed in one night!<ref name="mp4trailer">TakaraTomy Staff Interview - Hisashi Yuki on Masterpiece: Even more horrifying was the plan of reissuing MP-1 to go with Megatron - simply reissuing him wasn't considered to be appealing enough and it was decided to give him a trailer...I was told to come up with a proto (of the trailer) by the end of May, and I designed it in one night. [...] I couldn't shirk my task as the release date had already been set by backward calculation. I really did the best I could though there just wasn't enough time.</ref>
MP‑5 Hisashi Yuki Designed in twelve days<ref name="mpmegsdev">TakaraTomy Staff Interview - Hisashi Yuki on Masterpiece: - I hear the first Masterpiece figure you created was MP‑5 Megatron and you hold the fastest development record with it.

[Yuki]: That is right. (*laughs) I was not assigned to be in charge of it initially, but due to the circumstance within the company I was unexpectedly handed down the project. The schedule came with it and I was stunned when I realised that I was only given 12 days, about 2 weeks...To make it worse, at the time of my receiving the task, even the product size wasn't decided. (*tears)</ref>

MP‑8, MP‑9 Hironori Kobayashi
MP‑10 Shogo Hasui<ref name="mp10dev">TakaraTomy Staff Interview – Shogo Hasui on Masterpiece: - Tell us about the time when you began working on the MP series. [Shogo]: MP-10 Convoy was the first Masterpiece I was involved in developing.

When the project was conceived I was mainly working on the products for the overseas Hasbro market, but was given a chance to develop a Masterpiece for the domestic market irregularly.</ref>

MP‑11 Hironori Kobayashi & Shogo Hasui
MP‑12 to MP‑21, MP‑23 Shogo Hasui
MP‑22 Shogo Hasui (initial design) & Hironori Kobayashi (final version) Kobayashi took over the design to enable the carrier to carry four car MPs<ref name="mpmagnusdev">TakaraTomy Staff Interview – Shogo Hasui on Masterpiece: - [Shogo] Ultra Magnus, who was selected to be MP-22, was a character I was dreaming of making into a product since the time of MP-10 development. I was happy to be finally able to work on him. As there had already been several real car MP figures and Ultra Magnus is a car carrier that can carry them, I considered Magnus as a certain milestone in the new MP series. I wanted the car carrier to have a capacity of at least 4 real car MPs while in robot mode his height needed to be as close as seen in the cartoon. The transformation process was expected to require lots of folding of the parts to achieve it, and solving that problem became a very important task. Upon agreeing on that point, Kobayashi took over to work on the transformation mechanism and (Ultra Magnus is) finished as he is now.</ref>
MP‑24 Hisashi Yuki Hisashi took on MP-24 in order for the other Masterpiece figures to be released on schedule<ref name="mpstarsaberdev">TakaraTomy Staff Interview - Hisashi Yuki on Masterpiece: - So the idea was to ask the fans directly what they want first, then realise it as a product. [Yuki]: Yes. It turned out Star Saber was the winner. Hasui, the main series designer, was going to be in charge of the 30th anniversary MP originally. But he was fully occupied with Bumble and Wheeljack, and since Star Saber was a character I was attached to personally, I stood for the job eagerly.</ref>
MP‑25, MP‑26 Hironori Kobayashi<ref name="mptracksdev">SDCC 2015: The Shogo Hasui Report: - "I did ask about Tracks and he said he did not design him but he did say (I BELIEVE Kobayashi…again hard to understand) and slowly said Lead Designer. He also said that the same designer did Ironhide and he began to say another name (Ratchet) but stopped himself."
A subsequent interview in Transformers Generations 2015 named Kobayashi as the designer of Ironhide, confirming him as the designer in question.</ref>
MP‑27, MP‑30 Hironori Kobayashi As stated in the Transformers Generations 2015 book
MP‑28 Vehicle styling by Yūya Ōnishi, main developer Tomoya Miyake, edits by Hironori Kobayashi As stated in the Transformers Generations 2015 book
MP‑29 Hironori Kobayashi As stated in the Transformers Generations 2015 book
MP‑36 Embellishments and refinements by Yuki Ohshima As stated in the Transformers Generations 2017 book<ref>Generations 2017 MP-36 translated article</ref>
MP-53, MP-54 Yūya Ōnishi, Kōjin Ōno Ōno returning to his own Diaclone work as well as his own car
MP-56 Kōjin Ōno As stated in the Transformers Generations 2022 book
MP-57 Kōjin Ōno, concept art by Yuki Ohshima As stated in the Transformers Generations 2022 book
MP-60 Kōjin Ōno, concept art by Yuki Ohshima The final release in the Masterpiece toyline but the first release in Ōno's "God Ginrai Project" with MPG MPG-09, MPG-14, and MPG-14S.<ref>As stated in the Transformers Generations 2024 book.</ref>

Awards

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Notes

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  • Like with previous lines, the official Hasbro-initiated imports of Masterpiece figures were also assigned code names. For the 2021 releases, the "theme" for those code names was "snacks":

{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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3

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  • Arcee: "Airheads"
  • Black Convoy: "Cavaliers"
  • Spinout: "Snickers"
  • Tigatron: "Twizzlers"

}}

For the 2022 releases, it was "deserts":

{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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3

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  • Skywarp: "Sahara"
  • Autobot Skids: "Kalahari"
  • Reboost : "Sonoran"

}}

References

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<references />
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