Lucky Draw figure
Lucky Draw figures are extremely limited-run versions of mass-release toys, given to winners of contests usually run by Japanese children's publications such as TV Magazine, TV Kun, and Comics Bonbon, but sometimes held at stores or held directly through Takaratomy. These figures are typically either (1) straightforward gold, silver, or colorful chrome-covered versions of figures, or (2) non-chrome redecos with entirely new color schemes.
Although Lucky Draw toys are primarily a Japanese concept, the name "Lucky Draw" did not originate in Japan, nor is it used there currently to describe these toys. In Japan, these toys are refered to as campaign prize toys. The term "Lucky Draw" probably originated from Hong Kong and Singapore Ebay sellers who typically label the toys "Lucky Draw" items.
The quantity of a Lucky Draw figure produced for a contest usually range from 10 to 50, but sometimes can be as few as 1 (Custom Color Galaxy Convoy) or as many as 300 (Black Tracks). However, sellers from Singapore and Hong Kong tend to obtain Lucky Draw figures in suspicously high quantities, leading many collectors to believe that the total number produced is actually quite a bit higher than the number given away in the contest. The extreme rarity of these toys makes them desirable to some high-end Transformers collectors.
Most well known Transformers Lucky Draw toys were released during or after Beast Wars aired in Japan. During the entirety of Generation 1 in Japan, only three Lucky Draw exclusives are known to have been released: the gold Convoy trophy, the silver Chromedome Trophy, and the Transform Junior leaders set. (However, rare chromed versions of many Generation 1 Transformers Kabaya kits exist, which may have been given as Lucky Draw toys as well.) Several other Lucky Draw figures were released during Diaclone, including chrome versions of Jazz, Bluestreak, and Browning.
The Lucky Draw concept is almost exclusively Japanese. The only known Lucky Draw-type toys from a contest held outside of Japan were an Optimus Prime with a custom head based on the winner, offered as a door prize at Botcon 2006, and a highly-detail non-transforming chromed Movie Optimus Prime in truck mode and robot-mode given away by Hasbro in a fan video contest on TechTV.
See also
External links
- luckydrawtransformers.com - Extremely comprehensive info & stats on Lucky Draw TFs.
- Transformers@TheMoon Lucky Draw gallery - Similarly comprehensive pictures of all Lucky Draw TFs.
