EZ Collection
EZ Collection (EZコレクション Ījī Korekushon) is the TakaraTomy counterpart to the Legends Class and Cyberverse sublines, a series of smaller transforming toys. These releases are sometimes identical to Hasbro versions, and sometimes slightly-tweaked or altogether new decos. So far, there have been no molds unique to EZ Collection.
EZ Collection began as a subline of several larger franchises before developing into effectively its own toyline in 2013.
Transformers: Galaxy Force
For the first phase of EZ Collection, the toys were packaged on the same blister cards as their Hasbro counterparts, with the addition of Japanese legal text and a Japanese insert in the plastic bubble.
| Wave 1 |
Other releases
Multipacks
|
Lucky Draw
|
Magazine exclusives
Transformers (2007)For the movie toyline, the EZ Collection toys were distributed via TakaraTomy's subsidiary Subarudo. They were blind-packed (but didn't include shortpacked or chase figures) and were identical to their Hasbro counterparts (Ratchet was only available as the less movie-accurate "off-color" variant). Ratchet and Jazz are also notable for not sporting the "Autobot" prefixes the Hasbro versions (and the TakaraTomy versions of the larger Movie toys) sported in front of their names. ExclusivesThis figure was identical to the single EZ Collection figure, but came in Hasbro packaging.
Transformers: Revenge of the FallenFor Revenge, Takara continued to blind-pack most of their EZ Collection toys. However, the toys engineered to combine into Devastator were released on regular blister cards, with a later release of a Devastator redeco in a multi-pack. EZ Collection Vol. 1 (June 27, 2009) EZ Collection Vol. 2 (December 26, 2009) EZ Collection Devastator (July 23, 2009) ExclusivesThis figure was identical to the single EZ Collection figure, but came in Hasbro packaging.
Both are Lawsons exclusives. The Deluxe figures are the same as their single Japanese and American releases. The first pictures showed the EZ Collection figures with new paint details, but later, in-hand samples revealed they were the same as their Hasbro counterparts. Lawson later sold the EZ Collection figures separately.
Transformers AnimatedFor Animated, the blind packs continued, but the line changed branding, despite still containing some toys of Revenge of the Fallen characters. EZ Collection Vol. 3 (April 24, 2010) EZ Collection Vol. 4 (July 24, 2010) Multi-packs and exclusivesAn exclusive set of four redecos given away at Family Mart stores in Japan as part of their raffle token promotion. The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set included figures which had both translucent and opaque parts, but unlike the previous totally clear versions, these retained their paint operations.
Autobot AllianceEZ Collection Vol. 5 (October 23, 2010) Transformers ChronicleThe blind packs were again rebranded, this time under the Transformers Chronicle line. The first volume was a mix of characters from Generation 1 and Revenge of the Fallen while the second was entirely Generation 1 characters. EZ Collection 01 (July 16, 2011) EZ Collection 02 (December 17, 2011) EZ Collection RealSuper Robot Lifeform Transformers: PrimeFor Prime, the toys of EZ Collection were released on blister cards and in boxes.
Wave 6 (October 27, 2012)
Wave 7 (November 24, 2012)
Transformers: EZ Collection GumThis brief line contained blind-packed toys packaged with gum. However, the box does hint at which toy is inside; each box has a number on it, and cross-sells of the toys on the side of the box depict each toy next to its number!
Transformers: EZ CollectionThis phase of EZ Collection, while released during the same time as the Go! toyline, is not branded as part of it. Instead, it was released as its own toyline and features a mix of Prime and Generation 1 characters. Wave 1 (released April 27, 2013)
Wave 2 (released October 26, 2013)
Canceled figures Beachcomber and Turbo Cycle were originally slated to be released alongside Soundwave and Jet Vehicon, with Turbo Cycle sporting the ID number EG09, Beachcomber sporting the ID number EG10, Soundwave sporting the ID number EG11 and Jet Vehicon sporting the ID number EG12, but were ultimately never released.
EZ Collection Gum (2014)Another new release of the EZ Collection Gum line produced under the "TakaraTomy A.R.T.S." name, this one features only three redecoes, and three straight re-releases of the Hasbro versions of the redecos. Wave 1 (November 10, 2014)
|
