Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series
Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series (トランスフォーマー マスターピースムービーシリーズ Toransufōmā Masutāpīsu Mūbī Shirīzu) is a spin-off line of The Transformers: Masterpiece focusing on the live-action film series, with toys designated MPM-##. This line originally consisted of just two detailed redecoes of Leader-sized toys from the 2010 Transformers toyline for TakaraTomy's market. It was later revived in 2017 for the 10th Anniversary of the first movie, this time featuring all-new molds. The revived line was released in conjunction with Hasbro, with the toys co-branded "Hasbro" and "TakaraTomy" on their packaging.
Following the (near) completion of the first film's cast in 2024 with the release of Brawl, there was consideration of ending the line. TakaraTomy would take over the toyline without Hasbro, relaunching it at the end of 2025 as Masterpiece Movie Series Next, designated with MPMN-##.[1]
Toys
[edit]Masterpiece Movie Series
[edit]The initial two MPM releases were meant for the Japanese market. As the revived line was done in collaboration with Hasbro, the other MPM releases were made available as retailer exclusives as was done with Hasbro's Masterpiece releases. In the United States, Masterpiece Movie Series was initially exclusive to Toys"R"Us, moving to Amazon in 2018 following the former's bankruptcy, before becoming exclusive to Target in 2020 until the line's end.
The redeco figures of Starscream, Ratchet, and Nemesis Prime were TakaraTomy exclusives, lacking a Hasbro logo on the box. These were sold via Hasbro Pulse and other online retailers as with other TakaraTomy exclusives.
2010
|
2017
|
2018 |   | |||
2019
|
2020
|
2021
| ||||
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
Masterpiece Movie Series Next
[edit]
The Masterpiece Movie Series Next line would be announced in 2025 as a replacement for the standard Masterpiece Movie Series, in a similar fashion to how the The Transformers: MPG toyline would replace the standard Masterpiece toyline in 2024. However, whereas MPG featured some changes in the design direction of Masterpiece by going from the cartoon-accurate look of later figures to the more hybridized designs of earlier releases, the Masterpiece Movie Series Next toyline appears to be more or less just a straightforward continuation of the older MPM series under a new name, so... That's that.
2026
|
 |
Design
[edit]TakaraTomy Planning and Marketing Manager Takahiko Shirai was involved in the creation of Masterpiece Movie Series.[1] Below are known toy designers who have worked on the line. Mike Booth also worked on the line in an unspecified capacity.[2]
| Mold | Designer | Notes |
| MPM-1 | Shogo Hasui | As stated in The Transformers: Masterpiece Official Guide[3] |
| MPM-2 | Shogo Hasui | As stated in The Transformers: Masterpiece Official Guide[3] |
| MPM-3 | Yūya Ōnishi | As stated in an interview for Chevrolet Japan News Letter[4] |
| MPM-5 | Takashi Kunihiro | As stated in an interview for Kakaku.com Magazine[5] |
| MPM-7 | Ryan Glantz (instructions) | As stated on Glantz's portfolio page[6] |
| MPM-8 | Takashi Kunihiro | Implied via autographed posters[7] |
| MPM-9 | Hisao Nishimoto | Implied via autographed posters[7] |
| MPM-12 | Takashi Kunihiro | As stated in the Transformers Generations 2021 book[8] |
| MPM-13 | Sam Smith (Hasbro), Tomoki Tatsumi (TakaraTomy) | As stated on Sam Smith's Instagram[9] |
| MPM-14 | Sam Smith (Hasbro), Tomoki Tatsumi (TakaraTomy) | As stated on Sam Smith's Instagram[10] |
| MPM-15 | Sam Smith (Hasbro), Shuhei Umezu (TakaraTomy) | As stated on Sam Smith's Instagram[11] |
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 MPMN-01 Sideswipe interview with Planning and Marketing Manager Takahiko Shirai, Hobby Watch, 2026/02/02. Translation provided on TFW2005
- ↑ "I’ve been working on the brand for 4 years on a bunch of different segments such as Studio Series, Cyberverse, and Movie Masterpiece."—Mike Booth, Hasbro Pulse Unboxed, "Behind-the-Design: Transformers Devastator", 2020/10/15
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Interview with designer Shogo Hasui, The Transformers: Masterpiece Official Guide. Translated interview on TFW2005.com
- ↑ Interview with designer Yūya Ōnishi, Chevrolet Japan News Letter, 2017/06/22 (archive link)
- ↑ Part 3 of an interview with designer Takashi Kunihiro, Kakaku.com Magazine, 2018/08/17. English summary on TFW2005.com
- ↑ Ryan Glantz Portfolio - Instruction Sets
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "来場者にはサイン入りのポスターが配布された模様。描かれたサインを素直に受け取るのであれば、「MPM-8 メガトロン」担当は國弘高史氏、「MPM- 9 オートボットジャズ」担当は西本氏となるようです。"—Chohenken.com, "日報：マスターピースムービーシリーズ「MPM-8 メガトロン」＆「MPM-9 オートボットジャズ」発表 ほか", 2019/01/27
- ↑ TakaraTomy designer interview in Transformers Generations 2021, Translated interview on TFW2005.com
- ↑ Design notes on Masterpiece Movie Series Blackout and Scorponok from Hasbro designer Sam Smith on Instagram
- ↑ Design notes on Masterpiece Movie Series Bonecrusher from Hasbro designer Sam Smith on Instagram
- ↑ Design notes on Masterpiece Movie Series Brawl from Hasbro designer Sam Smith on Instagram
