The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next

[M'Kyuun]

I fence sat on Alchemist too long before he was sold out on Pulse and I've yet to see any of the Primes in a store. Anyway, I wouldn't mind a repaint of this guy, but IMHO Animated Ratchet isn't a good fit as neither mode, nor the transformation, is right for the character as he appeared in the show or as the OG toy appeared. I have the OG toy, and honestly, I think an extensive retool/repaint of WfC Earthrise Trailbreaker would be a far better choice. I contend however, though the transformation is GREATLY simplified from the OG toys, that Alchemist would make for an excellent Prime Bulkhead. I know they already released a Legacy Prime Bulkhead, but that toy in nearly every regard shared far more similarities with Animated Bulkhead than the Prime version. All things being equal, they could just release this guy with a retooled chest and a new head and market him as Animated Bulkhead, at which point I'd consider him my modern Prime Bulkhead fig.

Honestly, I wish they'd abandon the necessity of homogenizing every non-G1 look with G1 attributes. The distinctive looks are what set them apart from every other series and I wish Hasbro would honor that. Moreover, I find the very different looks of both Prime and Animated appealing and I'd rather the toys adhere faithfully to those looks without trying to pigeonhole everything into one big G1 melting pot when the original intent for Animated and Prime was to distinguish them from G1 and other series. That same mindset should inform the toys as well.

[mikeszekely]

42 minutes ago, M'Kyuun said:

Honestly, I wish they'd abandon the necessity of homogenizing every non-G1 look with G1 attributes.

I'm like 75% with you.  If we have a G1 version already, like Arcee, Prowl, Optimus, Bumblebee, etc, I really don't want a G1-ified version of a Prime or Animated character, and I don't think fans of Prime or Animated who have been waiting 15+ years for modern updates want that either.

That said, there are cases where characters from other continuities don't really have G1 analogs, like Bulkhead or Knockout from Prime or Blackout and Barricade from the Bayverse, where I kind of wish that there was a G1 version and I don't mind the G1-ification.

48 minutes ago, M'Kyuun said:

Anyway, I wouldn't mind a repaint of this guy, but IMHO Animated Ratchet isn't a good fit as neither mode, nor the transformation, is right for the character as he appeared in the show or as the OG toy appeared.

Honestly, I agree, and it's possible that 2026 Ratchet will be an entirely new mold.  I'm just spitballing.  I think the alt mode makes for a good Bulkhead, but the bot mode less so (to be fair, though, that's arguably a step up from Legacy Bulkhead).  I do wonder, though, if the leak for an Animated Ratchet is actually supposed to be a Prime Ratchet.  Swap the Lenses with knives, put on a new head and chest, maybe new shoulders, and you're definitely in the ballpark.

[M'Kyuun]

In a perfect world, all these non-G1 figs would get their own molds that correspond aesthetically with their particular series, theme, or line. Alas, in a world of ever-shrinking budgets and ever-increasing overhead, we are worlds apart. From the instant I saw Alchemist, I thought "Prime Bulkhead" immediately. My mind hasn't changed, and I think it'd be a wasted opportunity not to do a slight retool and crank out another somewhat G1ified Prime character. I can also see what you're seeing insofar as retooling and repainting him into Prime Ratchet. They could easily get a twofer out of this mold. A trinity if they make an Earth mode Prime Ironhide.

 

[lechuck]

Weird, my previous posting seems to have disappeared? In case anyone missed it, AMT Predaking pre-order will open in August.
https://www.taghobby.com/archives/792414