Retool
A retool is a newer version of an existing Transformers toy which has had parts either added, removed, or resculpted. This can be as simple as changing a single part to provide stability or ease of transformation, or as complex as altering a large percentage of the toy's appearance or gimmickry. In rare cases, extensive retooling even changes some aspects of a toy's transformation.
An alternate term that's common among fans is "remold", but "retool" is the term actually used by the people who design and produce the toys.
It should be noted that the general fandom's conception of "retools" differs from the definition used by Hasbro and TakaraTomy's designers. To them, only actual physical alterations of an existing tooling qualify as a "retool". There are, however, other methods used to achieve the same results (i.e. a new toy based on an existing sculpt with physical differences to the original release), which are also commonly referred to as "retools" by fans, lacking knowledge of the specific process employed in each individual case.
Technical process
"Retooled" toys can be achieved in several different ways.
Modified toolings
Genuine retooling is a permanent alteration of an existing tooling, i.e. a modification of the plastic injection mold. Since the change is permanent, this is usually limited to cases where the change objectively improves a toy, usually in the form of running change variants where Hasbro and Takara have little desire to revert the change at some point in the future.
For example, Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee from the 2007 Movie toyline was given sculpted pupils inside his eyes (which was an aesthetic improvement) and additional tabs on his hip panels (which improved the stability of his vehicle mode) in later shipments. Those changes were kept for all subsequent releases and redecos of the sculpt (until the Revenge of the Fallen line gave him an entirely new head sculpt). Likewise, following the initial release of Deluxe Class Autobot Jazz from the same line, the toy's forearm joint hinges were shortened (which improved the forearms' stability in robot mode) for all subsequent releases and variations of the sculpt.
New parts
A more common procedure involves the creation of one or more new plastic injection molds for new parts based on the existing sculpt. This is usually done in the case of changes that merely alter the appearance of a toy in order to make a redeco look more interesting by adding physical modifications. One of the most common examples would be a new head sculpt that replaces the original release's head. Hasbro will look into making as many of the new parts from the same mold as possible, which is why all the new parts are usually cast in the same one or two plastic colors.
For example, Final Battle Jazz from the 2007 Movie toyline was given new parts for his hips, shins/knees and the head, all with sculpted battle damage, as well as an entirely new weapon accessory. None of the existing toolings were permanently altered (save for the aforementioned improved shorter forearm joint hinge), since Hasbro was later able to release several variants of the Jazz sculpt (such as the Premium Series redeco) without sculpted battle damage. However, all the new parts were presumably made from the same two molds (gray and clear turquoise plastic), since all of the non-damaged releases of Jazz included the original version's weapon. By manufacturing the Final Battle version's Crescent Cannon, Hasbro would have also ended up with excess stock of the battle damaged body parts.
However, in very very rare instances has a new release of a sculpt mix-matched parts from the original release with parts of a retool: BotCon 2006 Darksyde Dinobot combined the retooled Cyber Key-activated arm gimmick of Cybertron Longrack with the original head sculpt of Armada Hoist, and Binaltech Argent Meister sported the head sculpt and left hand of the original Binaltech Meister release but had the retooled "Mazdaspeed Version II" RX-8 car shell of the Binaltech Laserwave version of the sculpt.
Sometimes the creation of new parts may require painting over one or more of the new parts, such as the modified roof panel on Premium Series Leader Class Optimus Prime from the Movie line, which was cast in red plastic on the original Leader Class Optimus Prime toy, but was cast in blue plastic together with the new head sculpt and the sword accessory for the Premium version, and therefore had to be painted over in red.
In some instances, Hasbro and Takara will create new toolings for a lot of new parts. One of the most well-known examples is Cybertron Dark Crumplezone, who sports an extensively modified body as compared to the initial Crumplezone release. Again, Hasbro created new toolings rather than permanently altering the existing molds, since they later re-released the original non-"Dark" Crumplezone version in its original colors under the Universe banner. Another extreme example is Revenge of the Fallen Cannon Bumblebee, who uses the same legs as Movie Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee and his (comparably minor) Revenge of the Fallen retool, "Preview" Bumblebee... but is an entirely new sculpt from the crotch up.
Gang-molded alternate parts
In some instances, Hasbro and Takara plan a retool of a toy even before they start production of the initial release. If the changes to the overall toy are minor (such as a new head sculpt and nothing else), they may cast the original part and the new part from the same tooling via gang-molding. As a consequence, both parts will be produced on the same sprue, but only one will end up being used, while the other one is discarded as an excess part.
One of the most well-known examples of this procedure is Cybertron Scrapmetal, whose head was produced on the same sprue as the Cobybot head, even though the latter was originally only used by Takara. Fans learned of the gang-molded nature of the two head sculpts when they attended the BotCon 2006 Custom Class, where the toys used for customization, Rumble and Inferno, which were based on the Scrapmetal/Cobybot sculpts, had both heads on the same sprue (Rumble was supposed to sport the Cobybot head, while Inferno was supposed to sport the regular Scrapmetal head). Odds are, the unused Cobybot heads for the thousands of Scrapmetals released got recycled with all the other plastic that goes unused when parts sprues are cast.
Despite the simplicity of this method, it was only fairly recently that it started to see widespread use. While some Revenge of the Fallen toys made use of the tactic, it is particularly prevalent in the Generations and 2010 Transformers series, with most of those lines's new molds having an alternate head plotted out from the beginning.
Depending on the number of parts to be replaced, it's also possible to plan the mold layout so that all the parts that will have alternate versions are made from the same one or two toolings, and the alternate versions are made from separate toolings, thus avoiding the necessity of having to recycle excess parts altogether.
Not actually a retool
Over the course of the various Transformers toylines, quite a few toys that are similar in appearance have been mistakenly assumed to be "retools" by fans, even though the toys in question often only have superficial similarities, or are merely based around the same basic concept.
Those include, but are not limited to:
- Generation 1 Bumblebee, Cliffjumper and Bumper (Hubcap, on the other hand, is a retool of Cliffjumper)
- The Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck
- The Jumpstarters Topspin and Twin Twist (who, technically, share very, very few minor parts such as the wheels and engines)
- Generation 2 Smokescreen and Energon Starscream
- Alternators Smokescreen and Meister (even though the two share the same hand sculpts)
- Energon Sledge/Bonecrusher and Cybertron Hardtop
- 2007 Movie Robot Replicas Bumblebee and the legless Bumblebee figure included with the Screen Battles "Final Stand" set
- The legs of Movie Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee (recycled for Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Cannon Bumblebee, who is otherwise an all-new sculpt from the waist up) and those of 2010 Transformers Deluxe Class Battle Blades Bumblebee
Well-known retools
Generation 1 (Hasbro)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prowl | Smokescreen, Bluestreak | Prowl and Bluestreak were actually released around the same time. |
| Brawn | Outback | |
| Gears | Swerve | |
| Grapple | Inferno | These were actually released around the same time. |
| Huffer | Pipes | |
| Ironhide | Ratchet | These were actually released around the same time. |
| Trailbreaker | Hoist | |
| Sideswipe | Red Alert | |
| Starscream | Ramjet, Thrust, Dirge | Each of the three retooled Seekers had new wings. Ramjet and Dirge also had new weapons. |
| Cliffjumper | Hubcap | |
| Windcharger | Tailgate |
Masterforce (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scorponok/Megazarak (Hasbro Generation 1/Takara Headmasters) | Black Zarak (Masterforce) |
Victory (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sixshot (Hasbro Generation 1/Takara Headmasters) | Greatshot (Victory) | |
| Thunderwing (Hasbro Generation 1) | Black Shadow (Victory) | These were actually released around the same time. |
| Crossblades (Hasbro Generation 1) | Blue Bacchus (Victory) | These were actually released around the same time. |
Beast Wars (Hasbro)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Megatron (Basic alligator) | Iguanus | These were actually released around the same time. |
| Wolfang | K-9 |
Beast Wars II (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| K-9 (Hasbro Beast Wars) | Max-B (Beast Wars II) | |
| Cybershark (Beast Wars) | Hellscream (Beast Wars II) | A minor redeco of Hellscream (omitting a few paint operations) was later released by Hasbro as Overbite under the Universe banner. |
| Waspinator (Beast Wars) | Dirgegun (Beast Wars II) | |
| Dinobot (Beast Wars) | Thrustor (Beast Wars II) | |
| Trypticon (Generation 1) | Gigastorm (Beast Wars II) |
Beast Wars Metals (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transmetal Cheetor (Hasbro Beast Wars) | Jaguar (Beast Wars Metals) | Metals Jaguar was later also redecoed into BotCon 2001 Tigatron for the Western market. |
Armada
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starscream | Skywarp | New headsculpt, cannons replace the wings alongside the cockpit, newly sculpted horizontal stabilizers, and a completely new Mini-Con. |
| Sparkplug | Corona Sparkplug | |
| Transmetal Rhinox (Beast Wars) | Rhinox (Armada) | Added Powerlinx plugs. |
| Transmetal Terrorsaur (Beast Wars) | Terrorsaur (Armada) | Added Powerlinx plugs. |
| Transmetal Airazor (Beast Wars) | Airazor (Armada) | Added Powerlinx plugs and faction sigil. |
| Transmetal Cheetor (Beast Wars) | Cheetor (Armada) | Added Powerlinx plugs. |
| Transmetal Megatron (Beast Wars) | Predacon (Armada) | Added Powerlinx plugs. |
Universe (2003)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Side Burn (Robots in Disguise) | Roulette/Shadow Striker (Universe) | New head. |
| Overload or Rollout (Armada) | Sentinel Maximus or Ape-Linq (Universe) | The retool is actually limited to the Mini-Con companion (Rollout for Overload, Ape-Linq in Sentinel Maximus' case), who forms the head of the large robot. |
Energon
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jetstorm (Armada) | Scattor (Energon) | |
| Runway (Armada) | Wreckage (Energon) | |
| Sonar (Armada) | Skyboom (Energon) | |
| Inferno | Roadblock |
Alternators/Binaltech
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smokescreen | Silverstreak, Smokescreen GT (Binaltech only) | |
| Side Swipe | Dead End | |
| Autobot Hound | Swindle | |
| Meister | Shockblast, Argent Meister (Binaltech only) | |
| Autobot Tracks | Battle Ravage, Swerve | |
| Grimlock | Wheeljack | |
| Windcharger | Decepticharge | |
| Prowl | Autobot Camshaft | |
| Mirage | Rodimus | The Rodimus retool was actually originally released as Kiss Players Hot Rodimus. |
Cybertron/Galaxy Force
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Side Swipe (Armada) | Runamuck (Cybertron) | |
| Blurr (Armada) | Blurr (Cybertron) | |
| Hoist (Armada) | Longrack (Cybertron) | |
| Cyclonus (Armada) | Buzzsaw (Cybertron) | |
| Spiral (Armada) | Spiral (Cybertron) | |
| Oval (Armada) | Oval (Cybertron) | |
| Backtrack (Armada) | Backtrack (Cybertron) | |
| Crumplezone | Dark Crumplezone | |
| Scrapmetal | Coby's exclusive Rumble (Galaxy Force only) | |
| Firebot (Armada) | Graviton (Galaxy Force only) | |
| Makeshift (Armada) | Bulge (Galaxy Force only) | |
| Terradive (Armada) | Caliber Mugen (Galaxy Force only) | |
| Thunderwing (Armada) | Caliber Ichibi (Galaxy Force only) | |
| Gunbarrel (Armada) | Caliber Hyakurai (Galaxy Force only) |
Timelines
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tow-Line (Energon) | Ironhide, Autobot Ratchet (Timelines) | |
| Arcee (Energon) | Chromia, Flareup, Flamewar (Timelines) | |
| Megatron (Robots in Disguise) | Deathsaurus (Timelines) | |
| Clocker (Cybertron) | Axalon Cheetor, Unit 2/Tigatron (Timelines) | |
| Crumplezone (Cybertron) | Axalon Optimus Primal (Timelines) | |
| Cybertron Defense Red Alert (Cybertron) | Darksyde Megatron (Timelines) | |
| Jetfire (Armada) | Astrotrain (Timelines) | |
| Slugslinger (Energon) | Airazor (Timelines) | |
| Jetfire (Classics) | Dreadwind (Timelines) | |
| Vector Prime (Cybertron) | Alpha Trion (Timelines) | |
| Ramjet (Classics) | Thrust (Timelines) | |
| Hot Shot (Energon) | Nightbeat (Timelines) | |
| Hot Shot (Cybertron) | Goldbug (Timelines) | |
| Crosswise (Cybertron) | Autobot Jazz, Ricochet (Timelines) | |
| Megatron (Energon) | Megatron (Timelines) | |
| Blurr (Armada) | Blurr (Timelines) | |
| Barricade (Energon) | Heatwave (Timelines) | New gestalt mode head sculpt. |
| Red Alert (Cybertron) | Kup (Timelines) | |
| Cybertron Defense Scattorshot (Cybertron) | Flak (Timelines) | |
| Sideways (Cybertron) | Scourge, Sweeps (Timelines) | |
| Voyager Class Leobreaker (Cybertron) | Razorclaw (Timelines) | |
| Deluxe Class Sideswipe (Universe) | Breakdown (Timelines), Punch/Counterpunch (Timelines) | Punch/Counterpunch is a retool seperate of Breakdown with an entirely different head sculpt and production run, they just happen to both use the same base sculpt. |
| Ultra Class Onslaught (Universe) | Clench (Timelines) | |
| Deluxe Class Sharkticon (Energon) | Sky-Byte (Timelines) | |
| Deluxe Class Silverstreak (Universe) | Rapido (Timelines) |
Binaltech Asterisk (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Silverstreak/Streak (Alternators/Binaltech) | Alert (Binaltech Asterisk) |
Kiss Players (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meister (Alternators/Binaltech) | Autorooper (Kiss Players) |
Beast Wars 10th Anniversary
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Optimus Primal (Beast Wars) | Optimus Primal (Beast Wars 10th Anniversary) | Toys"R"Us exclusive two-pack with Megatron |
| Ultra Megatron (Beast Wars) | Megatron (Beast Wars 10th Anniversary) | Toys"R"Us exclusive two-pack with Optimus Primal |
Classics (2006)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starscream | Ramjet |
Movie (2007)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leader Class Optimus Prime | Premium Series Optimus Prime | |
| Deluxe Class Autobot Jazz | Deluxe Class Final Battle Jazz | |
| Deluxe Class Bumblebee | Stealth Bumblebee/Premium Series Bumblebee | |
| Voyager Class Blackout | Voyager Class Evac | |
| Voyager Class Starscream | Target exclusive "G1" Starscream/Voyager Class Thundercracker |
Universe (2008)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Class Sunstreaker | Deluxe Class Sideswipe | |
| Deluxe Class Prowl | Deluxe Class Silverstreak, Deluxe Class Smokescreen | |
| Deluxe Class Ironhide | Deluxe Class Autobot Ratchet | |
| Voyager Class Leobreaker (Cybertron) | Voyager Class Leo Prime (Universe) |
Henkei! Henkei!/Gentei! Gentei! (Takara-only)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Class Rodimus (Classics) | Stuntron Wildrider (Gentei! Gentei!) | |
| Deluxe Class Ramjet (Classics) | Dirge (Gentei! Gentei!) | Different wings than BotCon Dirge. |
| Deluxe Class Ramjet (Classics) | Thrust (Gentei! Gentei!) | Different wings than BotCon Thrust. |
Revenge of the Fallen
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Voyager Class Ironhide (2007 Movie) | Voyager Class Ironhide (Revenge of the Fallen), Voyager Class Recon Ironhide (Revenge of the Fallen) | The original release of Revenge Ironhide replaces the 2007 Movie version's head sculpt and arm cannons with more movie-accurate versions. Recon Ironhide replaces the head sculpt again, this time with the "battle mask" seen in both movies, replaces the cannons with an arsenal of new weapons, and extensively modifies the car shell into a heavily armored version. |
| Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee (2007 Movie) | Deluxe Class Bumblebee preview figure (Revenge of the Fallen), Cannon Bumblebee (Revenge of the Fallen), Battlefield Bumblebee (NEST two-pack with Infiltration Soundwave) | The Bumblebee "preview figure" replaces the 2007 Movie toy's right hand with a newly sculpted cannon accessory, features a new head sculpt and sports several minor modifications to the Camaro's front end. "Cannon Bumblebee" reuses the legs of the old toy, but is an entirely new sculpt from the crotch up. Battlefield Bumblebee is the Cannon Bumblebee version of the sculpt with a new "battle mask" head sculpt similar to Premium Bumblebee from the 2007 Movie line. |
| Fast Action Battlers Plasma Punch Bumblebee (2007 Movie) | Fast Action Battlers Pulse Blast Bumblebee (Revenge of the Fallen) | |
| Ultimate Bumblebee (2007 Movie) | Ultimate Bumblebee Battle Charged (Revenge of the Fallen) | Obligatory minor modifications to the car shell, new head sculpt that can be converted into Bumblebee's "battle mask". |
| Deluxe Class Barricade (2007 Movie) | Deluxe Class Interrogator Barricade (Revenge of the Fallen) | Replaces the original release's gang-molded Frenzy figure with a set of tool arms as seen in the first movie. |
| Deluxe Class Sideways | Deluxe Class Dead End | |
| Deluxe Class Sideswipe | Deluxe Class Swerve | |
| Deluxe Class Breakaway | Deluxe Class Thrust | |
| Leader Class Optimus Prime | Buster Optimus Prime (Japan-only) | |
| Voyager Class Mixmaster | Mixmaster (Toys"R"Us exclusive "Back Road Brawl" two-pack with Hoist | Replaces the original Mixmaster toy's head sculpt with the original head design initially planned for the movie. |
Transformers (2010)
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader Class Optimus Prime (Revenge of the Fallen) | Leader Class Optimus Prime (Transformers) | Replaces the arm blades with semi-articulated hooks and sports the same head sculpt as Buster Optimus Prime. | |
| Deluxe Class Lockdown (Revenge of the Fallen) | Deluxe Class Axor (Transformers) | Replaces the hook for an axe and sports a new headsc.ulpt | |
| Deluxe Class Hailstorm | Deluxe Class Mindset | ||
| Deluxe Class Turbo Tracks | Deluxe Class Wheeljack | ||
| Voyager Class The Fallen (Revenge of the Fallen) | Voyager Class The Fallen (Transformers) | New head sculpt with removable face and new staff accessory. | |
| Voyager Class Inferno (Universe 2008) | Voyager Class Solar Storm Grappel (Transformers) |
Generations
| Original sculpt | Retool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Class Autobot Drift | Deluxe Class Blurr | |
| Deluxe Class Cybertronian Bumblebee | Deluxe Class Cybertronian Cliffjumper | |
| Deluxe Class Darkmount | Deluxe Class Skullgrin | |
| Deluxe Class Perceptor | Deluxe Class Reflector |