The Transformers: Masterpiece: Difference between revisions

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'''''The Transformers: Masterpiece''''' (トランスフォーマー マスターピース) is a toyline of collector-focused toys that are mostly based upon classic  ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' toys, but manufactured with today's advanced engineering techniques. ''Masterpiece'' Transformers tend to be very expensive, with an average price of 10,000 yen (approx. $118.30), and with [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Grimlock]]'s cost purportedly rising to 13,000 (approx. $153.79). Currently (2013), the Masterpieces appear more frequently with a handful being released yearly.
'''''The Transformers: Masterpiece''''' (トランスフォーマー マスターピース) is a toyline of collector-focused toys that are mostly based upon characters from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Generation 1'' cartoon]], but manufactured with today's advanced engineering techniques. As a line aimed towards collectors, ''Masterpiece'' Transformers tend to be very expensive.


Though the ''Masterpiece'' line is largely developed by [[TakaraTomy|Takara/TakaraTomy]] with the [[Japan|Japanese]] market in mind, several releases have been made available in [[Australia]] as Target and Toys R Us-[[exclusive]]s, distributed by [[Hasbro|Hasbro Australia]]. A few have also been released in the U.S. at Walmart and ToysRUs.
Though the ''Masterpiece'' line is largely developed by [[TakaraTomy|Takara/TakaraTomy]] with the [[Japan]]ese market in mind, the line is also distributed by Hasbro in Asian markets outside Japan, and in [[Australia]] as [[Target]] and [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]]s. Hasbro has also [[redeco]]ed/[[retool]]ed molds from this line for release in their own markets under various toylines, and almost always as store exclusives. These Hasbro versions originally saw release as [[Walmart]] exclusives until 2009, when they were succeeded by Toys"R"Us.


==Scale and rate of releases==
==Scale and rate of releases==
The ''Masterpiece'' line started at a slow pace in 2003, with new molds being released every two years or so, and with [[redeco]]s/[[retool]]s being released in-between. The figures that were released back then were exclusively of the larger main characters, and [[scale]] wasn't very consistent due to price constraints and their large size, with the results being that figures of certain huge characters (such as Grimlock) were too short compared to other characters they were meant to tower over (such as Convoy).
The ''Masterpiece'' line started at a slow pace in 2003, with new molds being released every two years or so, and with redecos/retools being released in-between. The figures that were released back then were exclusively of the larger main characters, and [[scale]] wasn't very consistent due to price constraints and their large size, with the results being that figures of certain huge characters (such as Grimlock) were too short compared to other characters they were meant to tower over (such as Convoy).


With the release of a new tooling of Convoy in 2011, the line was rebooted, featuring a smaller, more consistent scale based on MP-09 Rodimus Convoy, and a ''significant'' increase in releases per year. Rather notably, ''Masterpieces'' of the smaller characters were introduced.
With the release of a new tooling of Convoy in 2011, the line was rebooted, featuring a smaller, more consistent scale based on MP-09 Rodimus Convoy, and a ''significant'' increase in releases per year. Rather notably, ''Masterpieces'' of the smaller characters were introduced.


==Sublines==
==Sublines==
Two sub-lines have emerged, one designated as MP-B## based upon the ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave]]'' franchise (not covered in this wiki), and another with the designation MPM-# to represent [[live-action film series]] Transformers (see [[#Live-action movie series|below]]).
Two sub-lines emerged, one designated as MP-B## and being based upon the ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave]]'' franchise (not covered in this wiki), and another with the MPM-# designation to represent [[live-action film series]] Transformers (see [[#Live-action movie series|below]]).


==Products==
==Products==
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==Design==
==Design==
[[Hironori Kobayashi]] was the designer on the first nine Masterpieces that Takara/TakaraTomy released, from MP-01 Masterpiece Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime to MP-09 Rodimus Convoy. [[Shogo Hasui]] took over the reigns from MP-10 Convoy version 2 through at least the end of 2013 (MP-19 Smokescreen).  His involvement in the forthcoming Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus is unknown at this time. Japanese Hobby magazine reported that Kobayashi would retake the design role back in 2014.
[[Hironori Kobayashi]] was the designer on the first nine ''Masterpieces'' that Takara/TakaraTomy released, from MP-01 Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime to MP-09 Rodimus Convoy. [[Shogo Hasui]] took over the reigns from MP-10 Convoy up to 2014, when it was reported<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-masterpiece-47/new-designer-for-2014-masterpiece-series-transformers-178998/ New Designer for 2014 Masterpiece Series Transformers], from TFW2005.</ref> that Kobayashi would retake the design role that year.


Masterpiece Star Saber, is being designed by [[Hisashi Yuki]] in order for the other Masterpieces to be released on schedule.
''Masterpiece'' Star Saber was designed by [[Hisashi Yuki]] in order for the other Masterpieces to be released on schedule.
 
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Masterpiece}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masterpiece}}

Revision as of 20:05, 3 January 2014

The Transformers: Masterpiece (トランスフォーマー マスターピース) is a toyline of collector-focused toys that are mostly based upon characters from the Generation 1 cartoon, but manufactured with today's advanced engineering techniques. As a line aimed towards collectors, Masterpiece Transformers tend to be very expensive.

Though the Masterpiece line is largely developed by Takara/TakaraTomy with the Japanese market in mind, the line is also 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 toylines, and almost always as store exclusives. These Hasbro versions originally saw release as Walmart exclusives until 2009, when they were succeeded by Toys"R"Us.

Scale and rate of releases

The Masterpiece line started at a slow pace in 2003, with new molds being released every two years or so, and with redecos/retools being released in-between. The figures that were released back then were exclusively of the larger main characters, and scale wasn't very consistent due to price constraints and their large size, with the results being that figures of certain huge characters (such as Grimlock) were too short compared to other characters they were meant to tower over (such as Convoy).

With the release of a new tooling of Convoy in 2011, the line was rebooted, featuring a smaller, more consistent scale based on MP-09 Rodimus Convoy, and a significant increase in releases per year. Rather notably, Masterpieces of the smaller characters were introduced.

Sublines

Two sub-lines emerged, one designated as MP-B## and being based upon the Brave franchise (not covered in this wiki), and another with the MPM-# designation to represent live-action film series Transformers (see below).

Products

Generation 1

Standard products

Special editions

Live-action movie series

Hasbro versions

Design

Hironori Kobayashi was the designer on the first nine Masterpieces that Takara/TakaraTomy released, from MP-01 Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime to MP-09 Rodimus Convoy. Shogo Hasui took over the reigns from MP-10 Convoy up to 2014, when it was reported[1] that Kobayashi would retake the design role that year.

Masterpiece Star Saber was designed by Hisashi Yuki in order for the other Masterpieces to be released on schedule.

References

  1. ↑ New Designer for 2014 Masterpiece Series Transformers, from TFW2005.
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