Optimus Prime (Animated)/toys

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Don't talk to me or my son or my son's son or my son's son's son or my son's son's son's son ever again.

Optimus Prime is a turbo-revvin' young leader—with a lot of toys!

Toys

Animated

Legends Class

• Stealth Lockdown (Multi-pack, 2008)

A simple, roughly-three-inch tall toy of Animated Optimus Prime was sold as part of a Target exclusive battle pack.

The set also came with a "stealth" redeco of Lockdown, as well as a Legends Bumblebee.

This toy was later released with minimal changes in the 2008 Universe toyline; the Animated release has brighter, more primary blue plastic and paint. (Sadly, as this toy lacks a faction symbol on either release, that easy tell is not available.)

• More information on Legends Animated Optimus Prime at TFU.info

This justice of mine is burning red! Its loud roar tells me I need to be extinguished!

• Optimus Prime Clear Red Ver. (EZ Collection, 2010)

• Release date: April ??, 2010

A redeco of Legends-class Optimus Prime in translucent red plastic (with some opaque red parts due to being molded with unpaintable plastic).

This toy was a promotional freebie for customers who bought 3,000 yen worth of Transformers Animated products at Japanese Toys"R"Us stores (most likely starting on April 24, the day the second wave of Animated product hit stores, but this has not been confirmed).

• EZ Collection Limited Clear Version (EZ Collection, 2010)

The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set included a redeco of Legends Optimus Prime, cast mainly out of translucent blue plastic (the black unpaintable plastic staying black), with his usual paint applications to give him his red and silver.

This set was given away at Family Mart stores in Japan as part of a raffle token promotion. The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set was prize D, and included four different translucent EZ Collection figures, the other three being Bumblebee, Prowl, and Starscream.

• Optimus Prime (EZ Collection, 2010)

• Release date: July 24, 2010

In Japan, the Legends-class Optimus Prime toy was released as part of the third volume of EZ Collection, in blind-packed packaging.

Instead of being the deco from the Target multi-pack above, this release used the darker-plastic deco from the single-pack Universe release.

• Optimus Prime Elite Guard Version (EZ Collection, 2010)

• Release date: July 24, 2010

A redeco of Legends-class Optimus Prime in dark red, black and gold, with a gold Elite Guard symbol on its chest.

It was only available blind-packed in TakaraTomy's EZ Collection Volume 4.

The deco - seemingly based on Cybertron Galaxy Force Optimus Prime - would later be repeated for Million Publishing's Voyager-scaled Optimus Prime Elite Guard Version figure.

• Optimus Prime Gold Version (EZ Collection, 2010)

• Release date: July 24, 2010

A redeco of Legends-class Optimus Prime colored entirely gold, save for the tires and parts of his joints being black due to being molded with (again,) unpaintable plastic.

It was only available blind-packed in TakaraTomy's EZ Collection Volume 4. Yes, two Optimuses in one assortment.

Deluxe Class

"I'm a fireman, and I'm okay. I sleep all night and I work all day."

• CYBERTRON Mode Optimus Prime (Deluxe, 2008)

• Accessories: "Ion-axe", roof-shield
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Released in the first wave of Hasbro's Animated Deluxe toys, this version of Optimus is on his pre-Earth Cybertronian look, transforming into a half-track Cybertronic truck that resembles the Mitsubishi Fuso Hybrid concept truck with some heavy sci-fi influences. As a half-track, instead of rear wheels, he has molded, caterpillar-linked tracks with smaller wheels inside for rolling along smooth surfaces.

While the light-piped eyes gimmick is functional in robot mode, it's pretty weak due to the usage of the translucent dark blue plastic.

Prime's axe weapon is stored by partially folding the axe at the grey hinge near the handle peg, then placing the handle peg in a hole on the back of the cab (actually his two fists' holes, thus helping them hold it in position) with the blade facing down and a grey peg facing up, acting as a "fifth wheel" trailer hitch, should one find a suitable trailer to attach to it. The peg also resembles the rocket thruster on the back of Prime's axe in robot mode. The figure's superb range of articulation and long axe-handle actually allow Optimus to wield his weapon two-handed. This is sheer awesomeness. The truck roof can be mounted on his left arm as a shield, or spread apart and attached to the axe to become giant energon blades.

• More information on CYBERTRON Mode Optimus Prime at TFU.info

And he "axed" him for help...

• Optimus Prime vs. Megatron: The Battle Begins ("Entertainment Pack", 2008)

• Accessories: "Ion-Axe"
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

The Deluxe-class Earth mode Optimus Prime, now transforming into a fire truck cab, has a very similar engineering design to the Deluxe-class Cybertron Mode Optimus Prime figure above. He has a distinctively more "Generation 1" look than other Animated Primes, given the addition of smokestacks (a detail absent from the animation model, though they can be popped off for a more show-accurate look) and a lack of black beneath the silver stripes. While he does actually have a tire on each side of his boots, they lack the kind of clearance needed for him to skate on them like in the show. He features a punching/axe slashing gimmick, where twisting his spring-loaded waist will make it snap back for a "robot punch." His axe (which is the most show-accurate out of all of his toys) stores in his aft section; as with Cybertron Mode Optimus, he has enough articulation to hold his long-handled axe two-handed and raise it over his head for a massive chop. Brilliant.

The toy was also given a series of black-paint "battle damage" cracks on various parts. Unfortunately, most of these cracks also cover other painted parts, most notably his translucent-plastic chest, meaning any attempt to remove said paint will result in his design-origin paint details being removed as well. Speaking of damaging paint, the smokestacks, which end up on his forearms, can be rotated around to form some kind of a wrist-mounted water hose, but as the forearms are painted, that can risk scraping.

This toy was only available in a two-pack with a similarly-gimmicked-and-deco'd Deluxe-class Cybertron Mode Megatron. The set also included a a DVD featuring the first episode of the Transformers Animated cartoon, "Transform and Roll Out". The rear packaging incorrectly depicts his vehicle mode photo as mirrored.

If you want to be pedantic about it, the battle implied by the battle-pack pairing is technically a timeline impossibility, insofar as it depicts Earth Mode Optimus versus Cybertron Mode Megatron. It is also scaled incorrectly, as Megatron was shown as being notably larger than Optimus in "Transform and Roll Out".

This toy was later re-released without changes in a 2-pack with Blackarachnia, and was also redecoed in translucent plastics as part of a TakaraTomy Sons of Cybertron 2-pack with Rodimus.

• More information on "The Battle Begins" Optimus Prime at TFU.info

• The Revenge of Blackarachnia (Multi-pack, 2008)

This two-pack featured an unchanged Deluxe Optimus Prime from the Battle Begins two-pack above, and an unchanged Deluxe Blackarachnia.

This bundle was a Walmart exclusive Black Friday release for 2008.

• The Beginning Showdown: Optimus Prime / Megatron (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: March 27, 2010
• Accessories: "Ion-axe", roof-shield

Released in the first wave of TakaraTomy's Animated toyline, Cybertron Mode Optimus Prime was given a shinier metallic red paint job and white-bordered Autobot symbols, like the majority of the TakaraTomy Animated toys.

The figure was only available in a "The Beginning Showdown" (始まりの対決, hajimari no taiketsu, also called "Fight of Start" on English on the box-back) 2-pack, with a redecoed version of the Deluxe-scale Cybertronian Megatron from the "Optimus Prime vs. Megatron: The Battle Begins" set.

I may be called Optimus Prime, but I'm sure being marketed as a Convoy!

• Optimus Prime Gold Version (Deluxe, 2010)

• Accessories: "Ion-Axe"

A "TakaraTomy original gold version" of the Deluxe-class Battle Begins Optimus Prime slathered with gold chrome was made available to residents of Japan via lottery, limited to 1,000 pieces.

There were several ways to enter the drawing for him: one could clip out and send in a barcode from a single standard Animated toy, or four EZ Collection barcodes, or send in five Sega "Transformers Cards" trading cards, or cut out and send in the appropriate portion of the character cards included with Paramount of Japan's Animated DVDs. The entry period of the drawing started on August 1st, running up to September 30th, 2010.

It pays to be clean, kids.

• Deluxe Class Optimus Prime (Deluxe, 2010)

• Accessories: "Ion-Axe"

A recolor of the Battle Begins Optimus Prime figure, "Deluxe Class" Optimus Prime keeps the same base plastic colors as the US release (including the missing black deco under the silver on the truck cab), but removes all of the painted battle damage.

This toy was only available in Japan, as a prize in a lottery held in association with Family Mart. The details of the lottery are currently unknown.

DAMMIT!

Voyager Class

Hey, whatever happened to that mouthplate? & your allegiance symbol? (Hasbro version pictured)

(TakaraTomy version pictured)

• Optimus Prime (Voyager, 2008 / 2010)

• TakaraTomy ID number: TA-01
• TakaraTomy release date: March 27, 2010
• Accessories: "Ion Axe"/backpack, water cannon
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Part of the second wave of Hasbro's Animated Voyager class toys, this Optimus transforms into a futuristic Earth-mode fire truck (well, the front half of one, at least). He features a partial auto-transformation feature: pressing a button on his back end releases a catch that allows his entire back end to flip down and rotate 180 degrees into the proper position for robot mode. In robot mode, he features a mouthplate which can slide up to cover his face, or retract down below his neck, all without limiting his neck articulation.

A portion of his vehicle mode cab detaches to form a (severely off-model) battle axe. Thankfully, this portion largely forms a chunk of the trailer he doesn't have, so his cab mode looks fine without it. Like his deluxe-class toys, Prime can also hold his axe two-handed, albeit not as easily achieved compared to the deluxe versions. He also includes a large extinguisher cannon that really squirts water; this cannon can mount on the back of his truck mode on the axe-trailer portion, and can be used as a hand-held weapon, though the handle is a little too short for him to hold it without untabbing the black panel that forms the back of his hand. Both of these accessories can combine and store on his back, giving the appearance of wings and a jet pack.

The original release of this toy was notable amongst Animated figures for its lack of a faction symbol in either mode; later waves of the figure, however, included a silver-on-white Autobot sigil on the robot mode's left shoulder to more closely reflect the animation model's detailing.

Some units feature Optimus Prime's vehicle mode facing on the top in-package.

The TakaraTomy release of this figure, produced years later than the Hasbro one in the first wave of their Animated toyline, features an extensive metallic paint job on just about every paintable part, and comes with a tampographed red-and-white Autobot symbol.

This Optimus was part of a pair of different store-exclusive promotional giveaways in April. Buying him from JUSCO stores netted customers the EZ Collection Starscream Clear Purple Ver. toy. Meanwhile, buying him from Apita stores got you the Prowl Clear Smoke Ver. EZ Collection toy.

This mold redecoed to make the BotCon 2011 Toxitron, and was retooled for the same convention's The Motor Master toy.

• More information on Voyager Optimus Prime at TFU.info

Long gone by the time it got retconned into a "new" character.

• Optimus Prime Black Ver. (Voyager, 2010)

• ID number: TA-01
• Release date: August 3, 2010
• Accessories: "Ion Axe"/backpack, water cannon

A black redeco of the standard Voyager Optimus Prime, in the standard Scourge/Nemesis Prime deco (but retaining his Autobot sigil), "Optimus Prime Black Ver." was available exclusively at the Japanese "Transformers Museum" event held at the Seibu department store in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture from August 3rd to August 8th, 2010.

The figure was limited to a paltry 300 pieces (good luck getting one!), cost 4200 yen, and came in a grayscale version of the original toy's box with a golden sticker on the window declaring its name.

This toy was repurposed into Animated Nemesis Prime.

Twist ties and metallic paint do not mix. (Takara version pictured)

• Wingblade Optimus Prime (Voyager, 2010)

• ID number: TA-38
• Release date: September 18, 2010
• Accessories: "Ion Axe"/backpack, water cannon, "Wingblade" jet pack, left & right gauntlets, "Magnus Hammer", 2 missiles

Released only in the eighth wave of TakaraTomy's Animated line, Wingblade Optimus Prime is a translucent-plastic redeco of the Voyager Optimus Prime toy. This time, however, he comes with a set of attachable battle armor, representing Optimus as he appeared in "Endgame, Part I" and "Part II". It includes both his jetpack, armed with a pair of shoulder-mounted spring-loaded missile launchers, and a slightly scaled-down version of the Magnus Hammer, in addition to the original toy's axe and water cannon. The new gauntlet hand attachment pieces have two notches: one notch is for the included Magnus Hammer, and the other for the larger Magnus Hammer from the Leader-class Ultra Magnus toy if you'd rather he wield that one.

In vehicle mode, the Wingblade armor parts and Magnus Hammer reassemble to become... well, more or less just a jetpack for a truck, resting on his legs/trailer-hitch section. Thankfully, the rockets on the ends of the wings are on mushroom-peg swivels so they won't be pointed backwards in vehicle mode. However, attaching this assembly to Prime requires removing the water cannon and axe from their normal vehicle-mode storage spots and just kind of setting them aside.

Hi, this didn't happen. (canceled Hasbro version pictured)

While Optimus is mostly clear plastic, the Wingblade armor is opaque and coated in metallic paint, which means it blends in perfectly with Takara's original release of the Voyager Optimus mold.

Hasbro was originally set to release the toy, packaging the Wingblade armor and accessories with an "undirtied" retooling [1][2] of the Deluxe The Battle Begins two-pack Optimus mold, rather than the Voyager mold as Takara released it. However, this toy was ultimately canceled (along with Hasbro's version of Wingblade Optimus's TakaraTomy wave-mate Jetpack Bumblebee and quite a few redecoes that ultimately never saw the light of day in either market), with the Wingblade-pack tooling never seeing release by Hasbro in any capacity.

Our worlds are in danger!

• Optimus Prime Elite Guard Ver. (Voyager, 2011)

• Accessories: "Ion Axe"/backpack, water cannon

A dark red, black and gold redeco of the standard Voyager Optimus Prime, "Optimus Prime Elite Guard Ver." shares its color scheme with the EZ Collection Volume 4 Optimus Prime Elite Guard Version figure, and they both bear more than a passing resemblance to Hasbro's Cybertron "Galaxy Force Optimus Prime" toy.

This toy was a mail-order exclusive from Japan's Million Publishing, requiring a coupon from their Transformers Animated Encyclopedia guidebook to purchase.

The original promotional silhouette for this figure depicted it with the armor from the Wingblade Optimus Prime toy, which it did not end up having.

Supreme Class

Be sociable, have a Pepsi! (Hasbro version pictured)

(TakaraTomy version pictured)

• Roll Out Command Optimus Prime (Supreme, 2008 / 2010)

• TakaraTomy name: Optimus Prime
• TakaraTomy release date: October 2, 2010
• TakaraTomy ID number: TA-41
• Accessories: "Ultra-Axe"
• Known designers: Jared Wade (Hasbro)

This supreme-sized Prime figure is sculpted around one major gimmick: pressing the switch while rolling the toy forward in vehicle mode causes the cab to spin around, slowly unfolding into the robot mode torso. The legs are subsequently transformed manually, completing the robot mode. Pressing the Autobot insignia between Prime's windows and the lights on his roof both activate assorted electronic effects, including red LEDs in his lightbar, yellow LEDs in his headlights and eyes, and sound effects including engine revving noises, a siren, and four speech clips featuring the voice of David Kaye. In robot mode, Prime's (non-retractable) mouthplate jiggles up and down in time with his speech.

Prime is armed with a particularly cartoon-accurate axe, which can be held in either hand, but which specifically interacts with his right one. Placing the axe in his fist and pressing the button on the back of his hand triggers the axe's pop-out translucent blades and rocket jet. Pushing down on the tab built into the back of his right shoulder extends the arm out fully, and releasing it lets Prime swing his axe down, accompanied by an electronic slashing noise. The left arm has a similar effect, except pushing the tab thrusts his arm forward in a punch, with accompanying sound effect.

While Prime's legs have a high range of articulation like most Animated toys, his torso is heavily beholden to its gimmicks and features no effective articulation whatsoever; the only manipulable part of his body above his waist that isn't part of a gimmick is his right elbow.

Many (all?) copies of this figure have the moving mouthplate default to the "down" position when not moving, rather than "up" or "at rest" as the box photography would indicate. This leads to the unfortunate impression that Optimus is either always mid-sentence... or a slack-jawed yokel.

This toy came in two different styles of packaging: a default-style square box, or in a cylindrical package.

This toy was released in the ninth wave of TakaraTomy's Animated toyline. Like virtually all of the "normal" Takara Animated toys, he features metallic red paint, but only the red plastic was given this treatment (coating nearly the whole dang thing like his prior Takara toys would likely cost quite a few extra yen). Naturally, the David Kaye voice would be meaningless to Japanese buyers, so his quotes were replaced by Japanese Optimus voice actor Hiroki Takahashi.

This mold was used to make the first prize of the Hasbro UK exclusive limited Edition Handmade Samples.

• More information on Roll Out Command Optimus Prime at TFU.info

Activators

Domo-arigato, mister roboto!

• Optimus Prime (Activators, 2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

Part of the second wave of Activators, this toy is a smaller-scale (roughly Scout-sized) Optimus Prime with a push-button, spring-loaded autotransformation from vehicle to robot mode, although you have to turn him back into vehicle mode by hand. Unfortunately, Activators Optimus Prime has no axe accessory. Aww...But his hands were not designed to hold something, so why even bother?

When it comes to transformation, you can push the button or tug the lightbar to transform him into robot mode. In vehicle mode, the light can be further pushed forward (with the sculpted thin panels underneath the light-bar heading front to his truck roof's panel, holding them in place) to make the truck mode's side doors/robot shoulders shrink securely in vehicle mode. Although not seen in the prototype/stock photos in the instructions, Optimus' light bar can be folded to the back for a show-accurate robot mode. The prototype stock photos show the cab piece being pushed down further, but this cannot be done on the final. Depending on the individual copy, the panel that secures the connection can occasionally pop back to its proper position.

Due to the length of the flat plastic peg on the right foot, it's nearly difficult to pull the legs apart while transforming.

Coincidentally, this Optimus is roughly properly scaled with the Legends Class Bumblebee and Prowl toys.

• More information on Activators Optimus Prime at TFU.info

As close to the fourth season as we're ever going to get.

• Armor Up Optimus Prime (Activators, 2009 / 2010)

Part of the seventh and final wave of Activators, this redeco'd Optimus features a deco that vaguely homages Star Convoy. Most of his silver paint is replaced with blue-ish gunmetal, his silver unpaintable parts are now blue, and he features a different deco pattern on his head (which coats his entire head), stomach/front truck grill, and lightbar. Additionally, Armor Up Optimus Prime has a small retool on the plastic peg of his right leg, which is now shorter for a smooth connection.

• More information on Activators Armor Up Optimus Prime at TFU.info

• Animated Super Collection Vol. 1 (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: October 2, 2010

Released in the ninth wave of TakaraTomy's Animated toyline, the "Animated Super Collection Vol. 1" giftset release of Activators Optimus is generally unchanged from the original Hasbro release, but uses the retooled right leg peg from the Armor Up Optimus Prime toy.

This set also included an unchanged Megaton, and verrrry slight redecos of Activators Lockdown and Ratchet.

• Clear Version Optimus Prime (Activators, 2011)

• Release date: April 26, 2011

This translucent-plastic version of Activators Optimus was only available packed in with the manga The Cool - Special Edition, published by Kadokawa. This release also uses the retooled right leg peg from the Armor Up Optimus Prime toy.

Bumper Battlers

• Optimus Prime (Bumper Battlers, 2008)

• Known designers: Vickie Stratford (Hasbro)

Part of the first wave of Hasbro's Animated Bumper Battlers, Optimus Prime is a simple one-step Transformer aimed at younger kids. He transforms by pushing the front bumper of his truck mode, which flips up a robot torso and upper thighs. Yup, that's right—if you smash him into a wall or other toys he will transform. Good luck finding a loose, mint version of this toy when you're on your nostalgia trip!

In robot mode he actually has some limited articulation in his wrists, and his neck. Plus he's holding an adorable little axe in one hand.

The toy has a sound chip that can be activated in either mode. It has two massive strings of phrases, battle sounds and voice effects from David Kaye, activated by either pressing his Autobot insignia or pressing his bumper (which also transforms him). Some phrases are recombined for more variation.

• More information on Bumper Battler Optimus Prime at TFU.info

Able to enter the Gloom at will.

• Nightwatch Optimus Prime (Bumper Battlers, 2008)

• Known designers: Vickie Stratford (Hasbro)

Released in the third wave of Bumper Battlers, this redeco of the original Bumper Battlers Optimus toy is in dark purple and black, with lime green windows and accents.

The sound effects are new, and seemingly utilize an actor who is not David Kaye.

• More information on Bumper Battler Nightwatch Optimus Prime at TFU.info

Universe (2008)

• Optimus Prime (Legends, 2008)

• Series: Animated Series
• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro)

Released in the third wave of the 2008 Universe series single-carded Legends-class toys, this version of Optimus is a minor redeco of the Legends-class Optimus Prime from the Animated Stealth Lockdown multi-pack; this release is cast in duller, darker blue plastic than the original's brighter, more vibrant blue.

Sadly, neither iteration of this mold has an Autobot insignia, which would make it a lot easier to tell at a glance which version it is, since Animated used solid-silver or gold insignia rather than the traditional white-bordered color sigils Universe used.

• Classic Legends (Multi-pack, 2008)

Universe Optimus was also available as part of a three-pack with the Universe releases of Legends Prowl and Bumblebee. This set had the three regular-release toys, still on their normal cards, bound together in a larger cardboard sleeve.

It is currently unknown if this set was a normal-retail release or a store exclusive.

Mini EZ Collection

• Optimus Prime (Mini EZ Collection, 2010)

Intended to be released as part of TakaraTomy's new Mini EZ Collection line, this Optimus Prime is an all new, 2-inch mold that converts from robot into a somewhat unconvincing truck.

The figures were set for a November 2010 release, but ended up being quietly canceled for unknown reasons.

Your bargaining posture is highly dubious. Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

McDonald's Kids Meal Toys

A trait of all good leaders is impeccable body posture.

• Optimus Prime (McDonald's Happy Meal toy, 2008)

• McNumber: 1

Part of the first Transformers Animated McDonald's Happy Meal promotion in the US and Europe, this is a chunky, somewhat-softer-plastic version of Optimus with a more simplified transformation sequence. Rather unusual amongst the Animated McDonald's toys, which typically have one show-accurate mode and one non-show-accurate mode, Optimus manages to pull off both modes with reasonable accuracy.

Some European releases of the toy feature additional/more elaborate paint applications on the torso/truck front, thighs and feet.

• More information on McDonald's Optimus Prime at TFU.info

• Optimus Prime (McDonald's Happy Meal toys, 2008)

This version of Optimus is a very simplistic version, transforming from a non-articulated robot mode into a "folded" robot with three wheels. Show-accuracy is right out. The toy has a Jumpstarter-style gimmick, featuring a pull-back motor in vehicle mode that propels him forward on smooth surfaces; after a short run the latch that keeps his spring-loaded legs releases, causing him to flip forward and into upright robot mode.

Like the rest of his assortment, this Optimus Prime was only available at McDonald's restaurants in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela.

Welcome to Transformers 2010

• Sons of Cybertron: Optimus Prime and Rodimus (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: July 24, 2010
• Accessories: "Ion-Axe"

"Sons of Cybertron" Animated Optimus Prime is a mostly-translucent-plastic redeco of the Deluxe Class Earth-mode toy. While the paint operations are mostly identical to the "The Battle Begins" figure sans the battle damage, the paint apps on the axe and feet are omitted, while additional light blue paint is added on the eyes, for the first time in the history of the mold. A bordered Autobot insignia is also tampographed on the left forearm as well.

It was only available in a two-pack with a similarly-deco'd Rodimus. In addition to being part of TakaraTomy's Welcome to Transformers 2010 campaign, the set was also sold as an exclusive at Shanghai Con.

• More information on Sons of Cybertron Optimus Prime at TFU.info

Diablock

President of the "Unconvincing Truck Mode Club"

• Optimus Prime (Diablock set, 2011)

Part of Takara's Diablock Lego-like building block line, Optimus Prime is a buildable figure. As with the other Transformers-themed Diablock sets, disassembly isn't necessary to transform him from robot to vehicle mode. However, it's pretty obvious which mode got the design priority.

Interestingly, the back of the box suggests a mechanical gorilla that transforms into a car as an alternative build.

Legacy

Have you guys seen Joe? I would like to axe him a question.

• Animated Universe Optimus Prime (Voyager Class, 2024)

• Accessories: Axe, lightbar
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Koki Yamada (TakaraTomy)

Released in the first wave of Legacy: United Voyager Class toys, Optimus Prime is a Generations-styled version of the character, transforming from a robot into the same ol' fire truck front half. An additional set of wheels are hidden inside the front bumper to help with the stability of the vehicle mode, as the cab is sculpted far ahead from the actual wheel axles. In a surprising case of attention to detail, the inside of Optimus' cab has full-featured sculpted interior details, with a static steering wheel and stereo in the chest, seats on the backs of the shoulders, and even sun shades in the roof! Naturally, he omits the auto-transformation gimmick for sweet, sweet robot-mode articulation. He also omits the "battle mask" gimmick, going for a permanent maskless look.

The transformation scheme for his torso is nearly identical to that of the earth-mode deluxe toy from the Battle Begins two pack.

Optimus comes with his signature axe (with extendable handle!), which can be mounted onto the truck hitch for storage. The "thruster" on the back of the axe-head is Fire Blast effect-compatible, allowing one to re-create the rocket effect from the cartoon. The very bottom tip of the axe-handle is also Fire-Blast-effect-compatible.

In some cases, the peg behind the abs has been haphazardly snipped from the sprue, which can make it nearly impossible to use the swivel joint required for transformation. Fortunately, this can be rectified by disconnecting the peg (which will likely happen on its own if you try to rotate it) and sanding it down.

This mold was redecoed with a new head to make "Animated Universe Decepticon Motormaster" and Age of the Primes Nemesis Prime.

Designer commentary on Legacy Optimus Prime from Mark Maher on Instagram

Merchandise

Disguise Limited

• Optimus Prime Costume (2008)

Released by Disguise for the 2008 Halloween holiday, this kids costume consisted of a plastic mask and bodysuit.

• Optimus Prim Deluxe Costume (2008)

The deluxe version of the Optimus Prime costume had sculpted foam pieces for the shoulders, arms, chest, and legs. It included the same mask as the normal version of the costume.

This is the only toy available for Prime's trailer.

• Optimus Prime Battle Blaster (2008)

This toy is a simple fire truck which transforms into a thing with a nominal resemblance to a hand holding a gun and can be fitted around one's hand. It has recorded sounds activated by pressing the Autobot logo on the truck, or by pulling the trigger in gun mode. It features sounds voiced by David Kaye, varying engine sounds and the transformation sound effect.

• Shift Tech Optimus Prime handheld game (2008)

A simple handheld game system featuring Optimus as a playable character. It featured 15 different games, though most are just different riffs on the same beat-em up or racing gameplay. Some games allow Optimus to battle in either robot or vehicle mode, with a player changing modes in games by pulling out the Conversion Handles. This also changed the console as well, making it wider and popping up a pair of prongs on the top that bare a slight resemblance to Optimus' head antennas. Different games could be selected from a map of Detroit, featuring locations such as the Autobots' base and Sumdac Tower allowing players to take them on in any order. The games included were:

• Capture Angry Archer - A side scrolling driving game where Optimus transforms into robot mode to capture Angry Archer and other criminals.
• Rogue Robot Showdown - Optimus battles an out of control assembly line to save Ratchet and earn a new weapon to face Meltdown.
• Boss Battle vs. Meltdown - In this 1-on-1 battle, Optimus takes on the acidic Meltdown using his firefighting abilities.
• Bumblebee Space Blast - Bumblebee challenges Optimus to a videogame contest (how meta) in this Asteroids style game.
• Five Alarm Emergency - Rescue people from a burning building ot earn an upgrade to Optimus' Ion Axe.
• Boss Battle vs. Lockdown - Chase down Lockdown in vehicle mode to recover Optimus' Ion Axe.
• Robot Assembly Line - Help Professor Sumdac - Assemble robots by matching the correct heads and bodies.
• Target Practice With Prowl - Hurl your Ion Axe at the target set up by Prowl.
• Boss Battle vs. Blackarachnia - Avoid webs and rogue robots while Scaling the side of a building to capture Blackarachnia.
• Grimlock Grapple - Switch between robot and vehicle mode to corral the rampaging Grimlock.
• Cave Breakout - Prowl, Bumblebee, and Sari are trapped in a cave in. Smash the rocks to free them in this Breakout style game.
• Boss Battle vs. Starscream - Optimus fights to ground Starscream in a 1-on-1 battle
• Final Boss Battle vs. Megatron 1 - While hooked onto Megatron with his grapple, help Optimus avoid obstacles as they fly through the city.
• Final Boss Battle vs. Megatron 2 - Optimus battles through a Megatron controlled Sumdac factory, fighting waves waves of evil robots.
• Final Boss Battle vs. Megatron 3 - In the final 1-on-1 battle, Optimus faces Megatron trying to stop him for good.

Also included was the Teletraan-1 Database. Acting as a 16th game, players could match enemies and allies to their vehicle modes and signature weapons while under a time limit. Once matched the unlocked data would be browsable later.

• Transformers Animated Game Collection (2008)

Released as part of the board game set, this Optimus Prime is a (very) show-accurate mini-figure figure based on his animation model.

Optimus Prime is also sold with Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Prowl minifigures, and of course: 3 board games (Transformers Animated Game, Checkers, and Tic Tac Toe), and a 100-piece puzzle.

Transformers Cards

• Optimus Prime (2010?)
  • Card number: A-001

Part of the Transformers Cards series used in the Transformers Animated: The Chase and Transformers Animated: The Shooting arcade card-reading games by Sega.

• Promotion number: P-001, P-022, P-023

Also part of the Transformers Cards series in the Sega arcade games, except the art is mostly character art in motion. P-001 has the most variations of Optimus from various venues, P-001c drawn by manga artist Naoto Tsushima as part of promoting The Cool manga.

Transformers Character Card

• Optimus Prime & Megatron Set (March 19, 2024)
  • ID number: 77 & 78

Released as part of the eleventh wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Optimus Prime in his Wingblade form and Megatron along with character profiles and tech specs.

• Translation of Animated Optimus Prime's Transformers Character Card

Flame Toys

• Optimus Prime (Animated) (Furai Model, April 2026)

• Number: TBD
• Accessories: Ion-Axe, Faceplate-less face, 6 pairs of hands

Released as part of the Furai Model line by Flame Toys, this Optimus Prime is an articulated, non-transforming, Voyager Class-sized Gunpla-style model kit, using parts made of hard ABS plastic and some POM joints.

For straight-assembly builders, Optimus Prime features a sheet of foil stickers for detail (notably the shoulder insignias), though the kit can be panel-lined and touched-up with several panel-lining and paint markers (water/acrylic-based markers are recommended, as alcohol-based markers like Gundam Markers can potentially damage the ABS plastic). If one desires, the kit's pieces, aside from the translucent parts, can be fully coated with spray paints to recreate the finished sample seen in the stock photos.

• Wingblade Optimus Prime (Animated) (Furai Model, April 2026)

• Number: TBD
• Accessories: Ion-Axe, Faceplate-less face, Wingblade jet pack, left & right gauntlets, Magnus Hammer, 6 pairs of hands (Prime), 8 pairs of hands (Gauntlet)

The deluxe edition of the Furai Model kit above, this Optimus Prime comes with Wingblade-based equipment accessories, complete with the Magnus Hammer.

Notes

Losing this was a crime! A Prime crime! (A Prime crime?)

• Optimus Prime's bio on his Happy Meal toy at McDonald's says he is a FIRE TRUCK CAB.
• To date, none of Optimus's toys come with his trademark "grappler launcher" weapons.
• Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II features a double-page spread about what would have come to pass if the Animated toyline had continued. Optimus Prime was going to get an upgrade to "Powermaster Optimus Prime," wherein he combined with his trailer to be of equal power and stature to Megatron. Completing the homage to the original Powermaster Optimus Prime, he'd also come with a Mini-Con which would plug into him. But this didn't happen because God hates us.
• Initial proposals for BotCon 2011 included redecoes of Wingblade Optimus Prime into Toxitron and Cybertron Mode Optimus Prime into Kup.