General Information
Release Date: October 2024
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Rifles x 2, Energon Axe, Matrix of Leadership
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- G1 UNIVERSE OPTIMUS PRIME ACTION FIGURE: This 5.5-inch (14 cm) Optimus Prime action figure toy features deco and detail inspiration from the Transformers G1 animated series
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to truck toy in 16 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This G1 Universe Optimus Prime Transformers figure comes with a blaster accessory that attaches 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 G1 Universe Optimus Prime 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 Deluxe Class G1 Universe Optimus Prime action figure! This 5.5-inch G1 Universe Optimus Prime action figure converts between robot and truck modes in 16 steps. Gear up for battle with the included blaster accessory that attaches in robot and truck modes. The G1 Universe Optimus Prime figure is inspired by the character from the Transformers: Transformers G1 animated series 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:
Long before the era where Hasbro would bring us size classes like the Titan and Commander Classes, G1 had a boxed set featuring Optimus Prime with a trailer and accessories. This figure was on the wish lists of many fans back in the day even though the toy did not look "show accurate". In the 80's we did not care. Most toys looked "close enough" to their on-screen counterparts. In recent years most Generations figure designs have been based on how the characters appeared in animation. For this release of Optimus Prime, the designers decided to do something different. Instead of being cartoon accurate this figure goes back to the roots of the character and creates a brand new figure that uses the aesthetics of the original Optimus Prime toy from 1984!
Packaging:
Optimus Prime is packaged in the standard Legacy box design. The box is roughly rectangular with an angle on the top and side. The front features an open window and there is a cardboard hook on top. The graphics are very similar to previous years of Legacy boxes with blue and purple tones. The tray Optimus sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "G1 Universe" with Optimus' name under it. This is an interesting choice as it seems to directly reference Optimus' G1-toy based design since most Legacy figures seem to default to G1 inspiration unless otherwise noted. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Optimus' vehicle form (complete with his weapons peeking out in the back). The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features Optimus' robot mode art showing him with his weapons in hand.
The back of the box shows Optimus in both modes calling out an 16 step transformation. Under all that is the new 40th Anniversary Transformers logo. One thing of note with this box: the cardboard is of significantly better quality than the previous two years of Legacy figures. This cardboard feels solid and firm which hopefully means damaged boxes on store shelves and right out of the case will be less likely. For collectors this has been quite a relief after years of boxes that tore if you looked at them funny.
Accessories:
Optimus Prime includes four accessories:
- Energon Axe: Featured in the G1 cartoon (and in the most recent Transformers One movie), Optimus' iconic axe weapon is included with this set looking much like its G1 cartoon counterpart. It features a large blade in front and a smaller one in back with a pointed rod in the middle. The end is ball shaped on one side to look like a burst of energy but the other side features a 5mm peg so you can fit it into Optimus' hands. This piece is made of translucent orange plastic with no paint applications.
- Matrix of Leadership: The era when Optimus Prime figures with a Matrix being a rarity seems to be over as even this smaller, Deluxe Class version of the Autobot leader has one! This Matrix looks as you would expect: a ball in the middle with an opening for the crystal at the center. This is all surrounded by handle pieces that wrap around the ball section. On either side of the ball are small knobs that go back to the G1 design of the Matrix seen in the 1986 film. This piece features a 5mm port on the back that allows it to attach to a peg inside Optimus' chest. This piece is made of translucent light blue plastic with no paint applications.
- Rifle (Large Barrel): Optimus includes two rifles. Both have some similar design elements such as the distinct five sided section in the back, but their barrels are very different. One rifle has a thicker, larger barrel that is a callback to the weapon included with the original release of G1Rifle (Narrow Barrel): The other rifle features a much more narrow barrel which comes to a point that can fit Blast Effects. This represents a running change that happened in G1 where a rifle with a more narrow barrel took the place of the original larger barrel rifle. This piece is also painted in shiny black plastic and has a 5mm peg on the bottom.
- Smokestacks: The smokestacks on Optimus Prime's arms can both detach to form handheld weapons. These pieces both feature 5mm pegs (and the ends can fit some Blast Effects but it may stretch them out). Both pieces are made of silver plastic with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
Before we dig into this figure, let's get one question out of the way: Is this just a redeco of the Missing Link Convoy? The answer is no. While the two share the G1 Optimus Prime aesthetic and borrow the same design cues, this figure is an entirely new set of tools and it is (almost shockingly) smaller than both the G1 and Missing Link Optimus Prime figures standing only a little above 5 inches (about 12.7 cm) tall.
As mentioned above, this figure uses the G1 figure as the foundation of its design. Here's a rundown:
- Head: Optimus' head design differs from his cartoon appearance quite a bit. Sure he has the crest on the top of his head and the antennae on the sides, but the eyes and mouthplate are quite different. The eyes are thin and wide and the mouthplate features three vertical lines on either side. Even the parts that are similar differ a bit. For instance, the antennae come to blunt ends versus pointed ones seen in the cartoon.
- Arms: The upper arms feature raised circles that look like bolts around the edges. Meanwhile the forearms have a triangular shape when you look at them from the sides. A really fun detail is found on the top of the forearms. Instead of the stickers used on the G1 figure those details have been sculpted into the top of the forearms including two tubes and a trapezoid shaped section.
- Torso: The G1 animation model "smoothed out" Optimus Prime's torso section and added some bits (like a hip section) but the original figure had a very boxy looking body. That general shape is replicated here along with smaller details like the rows of lights/horns along the top of the chest.
- Legs: Similar to the torso, the G1 animators smoothed and stretched out the details from the toy's legs when creating the G1 animation model. These legs represent how the legs on the G1 toy looked. This includes a slightly more condensed and blocky appearance. Like the arms, there are sticker details from the G1 toy that have been replicated here as sculpted details. This includes a series of mechanical details at the knees and in front of the feet.
In a nod to the animated version of G1 Optimus Prime, the chest panel can open up to reveal a Matrix chamber inside! This is very different from the G1 Optimus Prime toy which had a chest which could open but would reveal two seats for Diaclone passengers. There are some details inside that seem inspired (in part) by the Matrix chamber seen in the 1986 animated movie. I love this design decision. Sure it's not "pure G1 toy" but it suits the character very well.
Optimus' plastic colors are all classic for the character. They include red, dark blue, silver and black PVC "rubber". There is also clear plastic on the chest. The colors are where you would expect, where the red makes up most of the top of the figure while blue is mostly on the legs and head. There is a bit of translucent yellow plastic built into the head for light piping and it works nicely if you shine a light onto it. Paint applications are done in silver and blue. Silver is used on the legs, torso, arms and head - all matching details on the original G1 figure. Often, silver paint takes the place of the vacuum metallized silver on the 80's toy. I only wish the budget would have allowed the molded "sticker" details to be painted.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. This include five in each arm and leg. Sadly, this does not include wrist articulation (which is something G1 Optimus Prime technically had, but his fists were removable so...). In addition to the 5mm ports in his fists, he has two under his feet, two on the back of his legs and one on his back. If you want to stretch it, his shoulders technically have 5mm ports too if you remove the smokestacks. One thing I really love is that the front bumper piece can swing up. This allows his legs to swing forward.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the weapons and set them aside for now. The Matrix can stay in his chest.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the back panel out.
- Swing the robot head back.
- Swing the back panel back up.
- On each forearm, swing the fists down, rotate the fist around, then swing those sections up.
- Swing the feet down.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Swing the legs back.
- Swing the front bumper piece up.
- Swing the front wheels in.
- Bend each arm at the elbows.
- Swing the arms back, then swing the forearms forward.
- Swing the front bumper down and be sure to tab this piece into the slots on the front wheel sections.
- The drums on his legs have tabs on top that fit into slots on the back of his forearms.
- The weapons can all be attached to the back of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Optimus Prime's truck mode is so close in appearance to his G1 counterpart that if you only glanced it from a distance you could easily mistake it for the 80's toy. The cab section is basically a square and he has a lot of the details from the original figure including twin headlights on either side, the grille in the middle and windshield wiper details under the windows. The truck mode looks fantastic.
All the colors from the robot mode carry over here but you see how the silver line in the middle goes from the sides to the front. The headlights are also painted silver. This mode also emphasizes the silver on the sides of the wheels.
For those curious, you can use the trailer from the Earthrise Optimus Prime figures with this cab. This may in part explain why it is so tiny compared to other Generations Deluxe Class figures. If he was scaled up, he would look a tad large with the Earthrise trailer, but this is speculative on my part and honestly very subjective. I'm just happy to see such compatibility.
Final Thoughts:
I appreciate the way this figure bucks the tradition of using the G1 cartoon as reference for Generations figures and instead pays homage to one of the first figures that started it all. This is even more appropriate if you consider 2024 was the 40th Anniversary of the Transformers line. The only thing working against this figure is its size. Seeing it next to its G1 counterpart is rather sobering. That said, I don't expect this figure to shelf warm. It is a very unusual design choice and it's a fun toy to boot. Some even consider it a "bargain" Missing Link Convoy and I think that's awesome. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Cool sculpt that pays homage to G1 Optimus Prime brilliantly.
- Good (not amazing) deco.
- Fantastic articulation.
- Cool accessories.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
Cons:
- I wish there was a bit more paint, especially on the parts replicating stickers.
- The figure is pretty small for a Deluxe (and I hope not a harbinger of things to come any time soon).
