And I thought Jetfire was all the connection there was… Macross 7/ Transformers collaboration

[Dangard Ace]

https://www.hasbropulse.com/product/takara-tomy-synergenex-transformers-macross7-basara-prime/G36275L00

 

now up at HasbroPulse.  

[David Hingtgen]

$199.99?  Oof.  

[BinboOtaku]

It’s $114 at CDJapan. After shipping and a discount I had it came to $149.

[M'Kyuun]

On 5/14/2025 at 2:35 AM, MKT said:

Hmmm I prefer if Transformers were Macross-fied, rather than Macross being Transformer-ed.
Make the jets more sleek all around, rather than hanging more kibble & random bits underneath. 

Seconded. Takara could learn a few things by studying Kawamori's design approach. Alas, since they've been taking the same terrible lazy approach to jets for over forty years, I think both the designers and the vast majority of the fandom have become indoctrinated to the idea that robots that transform should be blocky and that those blocky robots that turn into jets should also have an element of blockiness to the alt mode, or should have arms hanging off the sides, barely if at all integrated or disguised as such, with kibbley, uneven, and virtually never smooth, sleek, or aerodynamic lower fuselages in the least. I've mentioned before how Maverick, certainly one of the best looking jetformers in jet mode that Takara has ever made received a great deal of criticism for its robot mode. Given that it takes a number of cues from the VF-1, it just struck me how the same fandom could love Jetfire but heap invective on this figure when the similarities in design are so apparent. Too, fans complained about how skinny or lanky it is b/c they're just so used to seeing a chunky bot with a heavily compromised jet mode that anything that doesn't fit that mold, so to speak, just doesn't compute as a Transformer. Unless there's a sea change at Takara in its approach to jetformers (much like the one that Alex Kubalsky introduced in the early 2000s with his general design approach, still used today), I think we'll just keep seeing more of the same from them and Hasbro by extension.

I'm glad I discovered Macross in the 90s; it's been my refuge for excellent transforming plane designs all these years. Touch Toys is impressive for some of their recent releases as well. I have their J-16  (fully licensed) and man is that thing gorgeous with some very impressive engineering, form, and functionality. It hides its transformable nature more effectively than any other transforming jets I own, including my Macross valkyries, if only by a minimal margin in some cases. One caveat, however, is that the valks all have pilots in their fully detailed cockpits whereas the J-16 has neither. In all other respects, however, it's a remarkably realistic and nigh seamless design.

[Knight26]

It is so wierd, not sure I would ever want it.  And since it is a transformer we are garunteed a ton of underside kibble.