General Information
Release Date: March 2024
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Swords x 2
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- CHEETOR ACTION FIGURE: This 3.5-inch (8.9 cm) Cheetor toy features deco and detail inspiration from the animated series, Beast Machines: Transformers
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to cheetah toy in 12 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Cheetor Transformers figure comes with 2 scimitar accessories. Accessories combine into a double-bladed sword accessory. Accessories attach in both modes
- ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy United honors 40 years of Transformers animated history! Collect other Legacy: United figures to unite your collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- GIFT TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: This Cheetor action figure toy makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan
Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers Legacy United Core Class Cheetor action figure! This 3.5-inch Cheetor action figure converts between robot and cheetah modes in 12 steps. Gear up for battle with the included combinable scimitar accessories that attach in both modes. The Cheetor figure is inspired by the character from the animated series, Beast Machines: Transformers, and features articulated head, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of -- More Than Meets the Eye -- bringing together every Transformers generation like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro.
Background:
In 1999 Mainframe Entertainment debuted the sequel series to Beast Wars known as Beast Machines. Set on Cybertron after Megatron successfully conquered the planet, the show featured Maximals struggling to survive against an army of Transformers known as Vehicons controlled by Megatron. Shortly after their arrival on Cybertron, several Maximals received new forms including Cheetor. This Core Class figure is based on Cheetor's appearance in Beast Machines, making it one of the very few figures in Generations to revisit that era.
Packaging:
Core Class figures in Legacy United use the same packaging design as the Studio Series Core Class figures. These small boxes are square shaped with a flap on top (making them more akin to G1 boxes than most modern day packaging). The figure sits inside the box with an open window showing most of the figure (without the protection of a plastic window). On the right is the vertical Transformers logo and under the figure is the Legacy United logo. The top flap shows off artwork featuring Cheetor in his beast mode. The same artwork is found on the side of the box. The block of text that identifies the figure lists Cheetor's name but conspicuously does not mention Beast Machines, which is an interesting choice since most of the time not mentioning a universe means the "default" is G1 (most of the time anyway). That said, it does show the Beast Machines Maximal symbol which is some level of recognition of that era at least.
The back of the box shows Cheetor in both modes calling out a 12 step transformation. Below that is a ton of legal information in various languages.
Accessories:
As part of a thematic separation of the Maximals and Vehicons, the Beast Machines Maximals generally had melee attacks and weapons. Cheetor had a pair of distinctive scimitars. These accessories represent these two weapons featuring large, curved blades with notches towards the bottom. Each has a 3mm peg handle with a small tab on the side to attach to the shoulders in beast mode. Each sword is yellow with copper colored paint on one side.
Robot Mode:
Beast Machines was notable for having very unusual robot forms which sometimes eschewed the traditional humanoid robot forms and proportions. Cheetor retained a cheetah-like beast mode, but his robot mode looked much more animalistic than before (with the possible exception of his Transmetal 2 form). His head looked like a feline head, but with some human features. Many design elements were made to emphasize the character's speed including having blade like panels on the shoulders and having long, thin robot legs that angled back in "chicken walker" style. Cheetor has many of the smaller details from his animation model including raised circles on his shoulders, four ovals on his "abdominal" area and a "collar" around the neck section. While there have been many Beast Machines Cheetor toys in the past, this is one of the few to really nail the appearance of the character from the show.
Cheetor is entirely made up of yellow plastic, which works as a foundation since that's how the character looked in the TV show. Paint colors include dark grey, green, copper and gold details. Many of the copper and dark grey details are "cheetah spots" on parts like the chest, thighs and shoulders. There is a really nice and detailed set of paint applications on the robot head. The deco is really nice and detailed and I think for a Core Class figure it looks great.
There are thirteen points of articulation on this figure including two on each arm and four on each leg. The weapons can fit in each hand or be stored by pushing the tabs on the swords into slots on the inside of each shoulder.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the swords and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the front paws up and connect them to the fists.
- Swing the beast mode head over the robot head.
- Swing the robot arms/front beast mode legs up and push the tabs on the upper arms into the corresponding slots on the robot chest.
- Swing the lower half of the body back.
- Swing the beast mode tail out.
- Compress the various joints on the robot legs to form the rear beast mode legs.
- Connect the tabs on the swords to the corresponding slots on the shoulder area on each arm.
Beast Mode:
Cheetor's robot mode does a great job of representing the character as he appeared in the cartoon, but this form is where some sacrifices were made in the design process. Perhaps the biggest difference between this figure and the animation model is just how "compressed" he looks. Cheetor's animation model had a very long and lithe body in beast mode. This figure however only had so much plastic to work with so it does not look long at all, and instead looks like a regularly sized cheetah body with four very large legs, creating an oddly bulky appearance. All that said, this beast mode is not bad. There are some great details including the claws in front and the beast mode head.
This mode shows off all the same colors as the robot mode (of course). The beast mode neck and head have most of the newly revealed details including cheetah spots and black paint on the nose and eyes.
There are twelve points of articulation in this mode, with most of these points in the rear legs.
Final Thoughts:
Legacy United Cheetor is a fun and unexpected addition to the Generations line. Beast Machines does not get a lot of nods in the Transformers toy lines so it is nice to see one. Also, being Core Class he winds up (sort of, kind of) being in scale with some previous Vehicon toys! The beast mode is not perfect, but it is okay while the robot mode is great. Recommended!
Pros:
- Nice sculpt in both modes.
- I appreciate the two swords being included instead of cost cutting and maybe only have one.
- Good articulation.
- Good deco.
Cons:
- The beast mode looks somewhat "compressed" compared to the animation model.
