Shuriken
From MediaWiki
When a Transformer desires the long-range capabilities of projectile weapons, but just can't do without the visceral cutting capabilities of a blade, shurikens are always an option! These weapons, often wielded by those trained in the ninja arts, are also sometimes referred to as throwing "stars."
Fiction
Generation 1
Generation 1 cartoon
- Nightbird possesses a seemingly endless supply of hip-stored energized shuriken. Enter the Nightbird
Transformers (2007) film
- Frenzy used shuriken as his main weapon, which he shot at high speeds at the humans Seymour Simmons, John Keller, Maggie Madsen and Glen Whitmann. Unfortunately for Frenzy, one of them ricocheted right back at him, slicing off most of the littile Decepticon's head. Transformers (film)
Transformers Animated'
- Prowl deployed his shurikens, as any self-respecting cyber-ninja should, with impressive precision.
Toys
Beast Machines
- Optimus Primal (Deluxe, 2000)
- Accessories: Energy shuriken
- The first Beast Machines Optimus Primal is a dark bronze and translucent blue technorganic gorilla that transforms into a technorganic robot. His main weapon is something that his in-show appearances never portrayed him having: a sort of energy-shuriken. His right robot-mode arm is spring-loaded to throw the shuriken, and it can be stored in his left leg (the ape mode's left shoulder).
- Official Hasbro stock photography of this toy shows a differently-molded shuriken, lacking the "energy flame" effect.
Transformers (2007)
Fast Action Battlers
- Disc Blast Decepticon Frenzy (Fast Action Battler, 2007)
- This version of Frenzy transforms into a two-speaker stereo CD/cassette/radio. Like other FAB toys, it features an action feature of some sort: A disk (sculpted to look like one of his bladed shuriken-things) ejects from his chest as a pressure-launched projectile when a button on his back is pressed.
Fast food kids meal toys
- Frenzy (Red Rooster, 2007)
- Accessories: 2 discs
- Frenzy transforms from a stereo to a stereo with legs! He comes with two discs, which he can launch. He can launch them mightilly! No, seriously. That little bugger sure can shoot. Which is good, because it's basically all he does.
Universe (2008)
- Cheetor (Deluxe, 2008)
- Accessories: Tail-whip, throwing blades
- First available in the fourth wave of Universe Deluxes, this version of Cheetor is based on the original Beast Wars Cheetor. Amongst other departure from the original version of the toy depicting this character, he has been given a club (formed from his tail) and a pair of triple-bladed throwing stars that store in compartments on his legs.
Transformers Animated
- Prowl (Deluxe, 2008)
- Japanese ID number: TA-05
- Accessories: 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 traffic light "chain" weapon
- Prowl transforms into a black and gold police "superbike" of made-up model. Two of his hubcaps are removable, and they both can reconfigure into three-bladed "mecha stars" which he can hold in robot mode. The mecha stars have a pseudo-automorph feature; pulling out on one blade simultaneously opens the other two.
- Samurai Prowl (Deluxe, 2009)
- Japanese ID number: TA-34
- Accessories: Sidecar/battle armor, wheel/"sword", 2 bladed mecha stars
- This heavy retool of Prowl includes an all-new sidecar which transforms into the "samurai" armor that appeared in "A Fistful of Energon." Prowl's bladed ninja stars don't really seem to be intended to be removed from his legs, but with a bit of force, you can still pry them out of there. They have, however, been remolded so they're now fused together and no longer able to open, but they are exchangeable with the stars from the original Deluxe Prowl.
- Prowl Elite Guard Ver. (Deluxe, 2010)
- Accessories: 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 street lamp "chain" weapon
- Available exclusively at Tokyo Toy Show 2010, Prowl Elite Guard Ver. is a redeco of the original Deluxe-class Prowl toy in a color scheme based on G1 Prowl. And yup, he still comes with those nifty throwing-stars!
Prime
- Available only with his larger partner Skywarp as part of the first wave of Japanese Prime toys, Balo comes as an unassembled, unpainted "kit", his deco supplied by customer-applied foil stickers on a sheet shared with Skywarp. He transforms from a buffalo-like robot into a shuriken/shield. His multitude of redecos also feature the same mode. Awesome.
