Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)
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With the Galaxy Force franchise having ended on a whimper rather than a bang in Japan, Takara opted to go with a smaller, more collector-oriented line in 2006, resulting in the controversial Transformers: Kiss Players toyline.
The series spins out of the Binaltech toyline, re-using the intricate, 1:24 scale molds from that series, and - apparently taking their cue from the short-lived Japanese subline, Binaltech Asterisk - pairing them with PVC figurines of cute anime girls.
The manga and radio drama establish that these girls are the eponymous "Kiss Players", who power-up the Transformers and merge with them by kissing them. Each toy comes packaged with an audio CD that collects several chapters of the radio drama that was broadcast concurrently with the line.
In 2007, Kiss Players moved into its second phase, Transformers: Kiss Players Position, which featured only three products, all of them exclusives.
2006
- Convoy X Melissa (Takara's counterpart of Alternators Optimus Prime)
- Hot Rodimus X Syaosyao (retool of Alternators Mirage)
- Autorooper X Atari (retool of the Alternators Meister/Shockblast mold)
- Kiss Players Figure Collection Atari X Autorooper (a reverse of the standard Kiss Players format, featuring a larger PVC figure of Atari, and a Smallest Transforming Transformers-style version of the Autorooper model)
2007
- Sparkbot x3 (Angela, Zangetsu and Star Dust, available only at "Toy Festival" convention in March 2007)
- Cassettron Set (Rosanna, Sundor and Glit, available only through eHobby in March 2007)
- Atariscream, a black and purple redeco of the large 2006 Atari figurine as possessed by the ghost of Starscream, a Dengeki Hobby magazine mail-order exclusive that shipped in April 2007.
Notes
- The Autorooper X Atari set includes decals to customize the 1:24 Autorooper figure as any of the 48 E.D.C. Autorooper units.
- According to series designer Yūki Ōshima, the larger Autorooper toy was not originally planned for release. When it was added to the toy line, it was opted to discontinue the large figurine/"Smallest" Transformer sub-line, which was originally going to continue with Marissa X Convoy (and presumably would have ended with Shao Shao X Hot Rodimus).
