Hasbro’s mystery Project Tails turns out to be a Naruto crossover, pairing a Kurama partial of Kingdom Cheetor with an all-new toad. Transformers One is headed to on-demand streaming just weeks after release, and the crew debates why the film struggled at the box office. Evan Brooks shows off the first engineering pilot of HasLab Omega Prime, and Super7 announces a Deluxe VHS Megatron. In What We Got This Week, Chris delivers a glowing review of Commander Class Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime, and Brian picks up the G.I. Joe crossover Kup with Triple T.
News
Transformers Collaborative Project Tails Is a Naruto Shippuden Crossover
Project Tails is a Naruto crossover, and the crew was startled to realize Naruto is more than 20 years old. The main figure appears to be a partial of Kingdom Cheetor that turns into Kurama, the nine-tailed fox. Its robot mode looks like Naruto and comes with a Rasengan effect, a kunai and pieces for walking on water. One host finds the toad partner most interesting, since it’s a new Core Class beast mold with a Spittor-like shape. That host might buy the toad from anyone who doesn’t want it. The whole set is blindingly orange. [Source: TFW2005 Boards]
HasLab Omega Prime EP1 Sample Preview
Evan Brooks showed the first engineering pilot of HasLab Omega Prime in an hour-long YouTube video. Don backed three, and Diecast bought one despite being mad it exists. The colors aren’t final, but it’s close to the 2000 original and similar in price after inflation. One host thinks the core Optimus Prime stands far taller than Earthrise Optimus Prime, and others agreed after seeing the photos. Evan has said the next Transformers HasLab moved to after the holidays. The crew’s guesses for it include Car Robots Gigatron and Liokaiser. [Source: TFW2005]
Super7 Deluxe VHS Megatron Official Images
Super7 is releasing a Deluxe VHS Megatron, a pared-down take on its Ultimates figure in VHS-style packaging. One host pointed out the Super7 Jumbo Cyborg Megatron is on Amazon for $45, which is bigger and does more. Another suggested spending a bit more on the Yolopark AMK Pro Megatron. Still, some of the crew just want the boxes. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers One Gets a Digital Streaming Premiere Date
Forbes reports Transformers One hits on-demand streaming October 22, about a month after release. Brian will buy it, but he reads the quick turnaround as a sign the film bombed. Diecast argued that movies just reach streaming faster now. One host noted the film made almost $100 million on a $75 million production budget, but marketing costs likely double that. The crew pointed to the PG rating, jokey early trailers and the lack of human characters for general audiences. Others blamed the release window, with summer competition and a back-to-school date. Everyone agreed it deserved a lot better. [Source: Forbes]
Hot Wheels Track Fleet Ultra Magnus
Photos of Hot Wheels Track Fleet Ultra Magnus surfaced from an industry show, and several hosts want one. The trailer is too small to carry another Hot Wheels car, and the missiles are unpainted. One host still hasn’t found Track Fleet Optimus Prime in stores, and another picked up the Hot Wheels Bumblebee to complete the set. [Source: TFW2005 Boards]
Culturefly Transformers One Matrix of Leadership
Culturefly’s Transformers One Matrix of Leadership is turning up in Walmart collector sections for $30. Chris owns the Disguise costume version and says this shelf piece is a bit shorter, wider and more accurate, though it doesn’t light up. It’s handholdable and should be much easier to find. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Brian
Brian got the G.I. Joe crossover Kup, a comically large Leader-sized toy that turns into the Triple T. He calls it the nicest collaboration figure yet, with ratcheting joints and a solid robot mode. It comes with carded Sgt. Slaughter and Leatherneck figures. He also hopes to find the Little People Transformers, and has the Bludgeon and Ruckus two-pack waiting unopened.
Don
Don received the Hallmark 2024 Christmas Optimus Prime, which stands better than the ReAction version. He picked up the Nonnef Productions Metalhead upgrade kit and its Toyhax stickers. He also got the Bludgeon and Ruckus set, Kup, and the new Soundwave set with cassettes. His biggest pickup was Commander Class Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime. Lining up the panels takes care, but he loves how clean the back of the truck looks. He hopes it’s the last G1 Optimus Prime he buys, despite the Deluxe on order.
Chris
Chris finally opened Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime and calls it the pinnacle of 1984 Optimus Prime. The backpack is far less intrusive in hand than in photos, and the torso is full length. Pin-hinged skirt panels and butterfly shoulders add posability, and the tight joints hold any pose. He calls the head sculpt the most perfect cartoon Optimus Prime head yet. The transformation is mostly intuitive, though one head panel catches at the very end and the cab needs massaging. The truck is clean except where the robot’s torso flanks show at the back of the cab, one of the crimes of transformation engineering that the trailer covers. Chris thinks the swiveling smokestacks are a safety compromise. The trailer suggests Hasbro learned from fan upgrades for Earthrise, and the roller even seats Titan Masters. The hands curl into a natural fist, and the Energon axe plugs into the back of the hand. He would love trailer-free redecos, starting with Dark Awakening Optimus Prime. Sky Lynx is still his favorite Commander Class toy, but this comes close. Don added that Bobby Skullface called it one of the best Hasbro figures he has reviewed.
Diecast
Diecast got Reactivate Bumblebee, a large Deluxe that feels like an older design in a good way. Everything pegs in perfectly, and it surprised him how much he liked it.
Matt
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.
Rob
Rob found two Amazon deals. Studio Series Transformers One Optimus Prime looks good in both modes, though aligning the tabs, removing the guns and a loose skirt plate bother him. Legacy Cybertron Hot Shot is a fine substitute for the original, with a tiny Cyber Planet Key and a new latch that holds the backpack in place.