The Transformers: Masterpiece

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 toy lines, 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. 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.

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

• MP-1 Convoy (2003)
  MP-1 Convoy
  (2003)
• 
  MP-2 Ultra Magnus
  (2005)
• 
  MP-3 Starscream
  (2006)
• 
  MP-4 Convoy Perfect Edition
  (2006/10-01-2009)
• 
  MP-5 Megatron
  (2007)
• 
  MP-6 Skywarp
  (9-1-2007)
• 
  MP-7 Thundercracker
  (11-20-2008)
• 
  MP-8 Grimlock
  (3-26-2009)
• 
  MP-9 Rodimus Convoy
  (1-29-2011/9-24-2011)
• 
  MP-10 Convoy
  (9-24-2011)
• MP-11 Starscream (3-31-2012)
  MP-11 Starscream
  (3-31-2012)
• 
  MP-12 Lambor
  (10-27-2012)
• 
  MP-13 Soundwave (with Condor)
  (1-26-2013/9-28-2013)
• 
  MP-14 Alert
  (12-15-2012)
• 
  MP-15 Rumble & Jaguar
  (2-23-2013)
• 
  MP-16 Frenzy & Buzzsaw
  (3-23-2013)
• 
  MP-17 Prowl
  (9-28-2013)
• 
  MP-18 Streak
  (10-16-2013)
• 
  MP-19 Smokescreen
  (12-14-2013)
• MP-20 Wheeljack (9-20-2014)
  MP-20 Wheeljack
  (9-20-2014)
• 
  MP-21 Bumble
  (11-29-2014)
• 
  MP-22 Ultra Magnus
  (12-13-2014)
• 
  Star Saber
  (2014)

Special editions

• 
  MP-1 Convoy
  (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)
• 
  MP-1B Convoy Black Ver.
  (11-21-2009/1-2010)
• 
  MP-8X King Grimlock
  (12-2009)
• 
  MP-3G Starscream Ghost Ver.
  (6-2010)
• 
  MP-4S Convoy Sleep Mode
  (6-2010)
• 
  MP-1L Convoy Last Production
  (3-26-2011)
• 
  MP-09B Black Rodimus Convoy
  (11-28-2011)
• 
  MP-11S Sunstorm
  (8-25-2012)
• 
  MP-10B Black Convoy
  (3-30-2013)
• 
  MP-12T Tigertrack
  (7-2013)
• 
  MP-11A Acid Storm
  (2013)
• 
  MP-12G Lambor G-2 Ver.
  (2014)
• 
  MP-13B Soundblaster (with Ratbat)
  (2014)
• 
  MP-18S Silverstreak
  (6-14-2014)

Live-action movie series

• 
  MPM-1 Starscream
  (10-30-2010)
• 
  MPM-2 Bumblebee
  (12-25-2010)

Hasbro versions

• 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime (2003/2004)
  20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
  (2003/2004)
• 
  20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime
  (Classics, 2006)
• 
  Masterpiece Starscream
  (Classics, 2007)
• 
  Masterpiece Skywarp
  (Universe, 2009)
• 
  Masterpiece Grimlock
  (Transformers, 2010)
• 
  Masterpiece Rodimus Prime
  (Transformers, 2011)
• 
  Masterpiece Optimus Prime
  (Transformers, 2012)
• 
  Masterpiece Thundercracker
  (Transformers, 2012)
• 
  MP-01 Acid Storm
  (2013)
• 
  MP-02 Soundwave
  (2013)
• 
  Year of the Horse Optimus Prime
  (Platinum Edition, 2014)
• 
  MP-03 Grimlock
  (2014)
• 
  MP-04 Prowl
  (2014)
• 
  MP-05 Sunstorm
  (2014)

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<ref>New Designer for 2014 Masterpiece Series Transformers, from TFW2005.</ref> 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

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