The Transformers: Masterpiece

The Transformers: Masterpiece (トランスフォーマー マスターピース) is a toyline of collector-focused toys that are mostly based upon classic Generation 1 toys, but manufactured with today's advanced engineering techniques. Masterpiece Transformers tend to be very expensive, with an average price of 10,000 yen (approx. $118.30), and with Grimlock's cost purportedly rising to 13,000 (approx. $153.79). Currently (2013), the Masterpieces appear more frequently with a handful being released yearly.

Though the Masterpiece line is largely developed by Takara/TakaraTomy with the Japanese market in mind, several releases have been made available in Australia as Target and Toys R Us-exclusives, distributed by Hasbro Australia. A few have also been released in the U.S. at Walmart and ToysRUs.

Scale and rate of releases

The Masterpiece line started at a slow pace in 2003, with new molds being released every two years or so, and with redecos/retools being released in-between. The figures that were released back then were exclusively of the larger main characters, and scale wasn't very consistent due to price constraints and their large size, with the results being that figures of certain huge characters (such as Grimlock) were too short compared to other characters they were meant to tower over (such as Convoy).

With the release of a new tooling of Convoy in 2011, the line was rebooted, featuring a smaller, more consistent scale based on MP-09 Rodimus Convoy, and a significant increase in releases per year. Rather notably, Masterpieces of the smaller characters were introduced.

Sublines

Two sub-lines have emerged, one designated as MP-B## based upon the Brave franchise (not covered in this wiki), and another with the designation MPM-# to represent live-action film series Transformers (see below).

Products

Generation 1

Standard products

• MP-1 Convoy (2003)
  MP-1 Convoy
  (2003)
• 
  MP-2 Ultra Magnus
  (2005)
• 
  MP-3 Starscream
  (2006)
• 
  MP-4 Convoy Perfect Edition
  (2006/10-01-2009)
• 
  MP-5 Megatron
  (2007)
• 
  MP-6 Skywarp
  (2007)
• 
  MP-7 Thundercracker
  (11-20-2008)
• 
  MP-8 Grimlock
  (3-26-2009)
• 
  MP-9 Rodimus Convoy
  (1-29-2011/9-24-2011)
• 
  MP-10 Convoy
  (9-24-2011)
• MP-11 Starscream (3-31-2012)
  MP-11 Starscream
  (3-31-2012)
• 
  MP-12 Lambor
  (10-27-2012)
• 
  MP-14 Alert
  (12-15-2012)
• 
  MP-13 Soundwave (with Condor)
  (1-26-2013/9-28-2013)
• 
  MP-15 Rumble & Jaguar
  (2-23-2013)
• 
  MP-16 Frenzy & Buzzsaw
  (3-23-2013)
• 
  MP-17 Prowl
  (9-28-2013)
• 
  MP-18 Streak
  (10-16-2013)
• 
  MP-19 Smokescreen
  (12-14-2013)
• 
  MP-20 Wheeljack
  (2014)
• 
  MP-21 Bumble
  (2014)
• 
  MP-22 Ultra Magnus
  (2014)
• 
  Star Saber
  (2014)

Special editions

• 
  MP-1 Convoy
  (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)
• 
  MP-1B Convoy Black Ver.
  (11-21-2009/1-2010)
• 
  MP-8X King Grimlock
  (12-2009)
• 
  MP-3G Starscream Ghost Ver.
  (6-2010)
• 
  MP-4S Convoy Sleep Mode
  (6-2010)
• 
  MP-1L Convoy Last Production
  (3-26-2011)
• 
  MP-09B Black Rodimus Convoy
  (11-28-2011)
• 
  MP-11S Sunstorm
  (8-25-2012)
• 
  MP-10B Black Convoy
  (3-30-2013)
• 
  MP-12T Tigertrack
  (7-2013)
• 
  MP-11A Acid Storm
  (2013)
• 
  MP-12G Lambor G2 Version
  (2014)
• 
  MP-13B Soundblaster (with Ratbat)
  (2014)

Live-action movie series

• 
  MPM-1 Starscream
  (10-30-2010)
• 
  MPM-2 Bumblebee
  (12-25-2010)

Hasbro versions

• 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime (2003/2004)
  20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
  (2003/2004)
• 
  20th Anniversary DVD Edition Optimus Prime
  (Classics, 2006)
• 
  Masterpiece Starscream
  (Classics, 2007)
• 
  Masterpiece Skywarp
  (Universe, 2009)
• 
  Masterpiece Grimlock
  (Transformers, 2010)
• 
  Masterpiece Rodimus Prime
  (Transformers, 2011)
• 
  Masterpiece Optimus Prime
  (Transformers, 2012)
• 
  Masterpiece Thundercracker
  (Transformers, 2012)
• 
  MP-01 Acid Storm
  (2013)
• 
  MP-02 Soundwave
  (2013)

Design

Hironori Kobayashi was the designer on the first nine Masterpieces that Takara/TakaraTomy released, from MP-01 Masterpiece Convoy/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime to MP-09 Rodimus Convoy. Shogo Hasui took over the reigns from MP-10 Convoy version 2 through at least the end of 2013 (MP-19 Smokescreen). His involvement in the forthcoming Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus is unknown at this time. Japanese Hobby magazine reported that Kobayashi would retake the design role back in 2014.

Masterpiece Star Saber, is being designed by Hisashi Yuki in order for the other Masterpieces to be released on schedule.