General Information:
Release Date: September 2022
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 2;
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon:
Harness the power of Energon with the Transformers: Legacy Deluxe Elita-1 robot toy! Elita-1 bravely leads the resistance forces, standing fearless in the face of danger. Universes collide! Transformers: Legacy brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse. Figures feature deco inspired by their universe with an updated Generations design. In honor of the almost 40-year legacy of Transformers entertainment, the fandoms come together from across the Transformers multiverse, all in one toy line. Transformers: Legacy action figures are great kids’ toys and exciting collectibles for fans of all ages. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
- TRANSFORMERS G1 -INSPIRED DESIGN: This Transformers: Legacy 5.5-inch Elita-1 robot toy is inspired by the animated series, The Transformers, updated with a Generations-style design
- UNIVERSES COLLIDE: Universes collide with Transformers: Legacy! This epic line of Transformers toys brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse
- 2 EPIC MODES: Action figure converts from robot to Cybertronian car mode in 14 steps
- HARNESS THE POWER OF ENERGON: Gear up with the most powerful substance on Cybertron, Energon! This Transformers Elita-1 figure comes with 2 Energon rifle accessories that attach in both modes
- QR CODE: Scan the QR code on each package to reveal character tech specs from across the multiverse! Collect other Legacy figures to reveal their character tech specs (each sold separately, subject to availability)
Packaging:
The Transformers Legacy packaging represents a radical update to Transformers packaging for (what is presumably) a new "trilogy" of Generations toys. The shape calls back to the War for Cybertron trilogy design featuring a rectangular box with one side set at an angle. This packaging was designed with a new ethos in mind: minimizing the amount of plastic used to be more eco-friendly. That means the "window" that reveals the toy has no plastic over it. Instead there is just an empty space.
The box art itself is pretty spectacular. The more Earth-tone colors of Kingdom have been traded up for a very retro-scifi (circa the 90's) look. The background tones are mostly purple and black and the Legacy logo just jumps out at you visually with its sharp angles and beveled letters that look like something right out of 90's toy packaging (and yes, this is what the BWTF logo circa 2022 is a homage to). On the right is the now traditional vertical Transformers logo with the Generations logo above that. Both have a "worn metal" coloring on them that really looks great. Since Elita-1 is packaged in robot mode, her alt-mode is shown driving forward. To the left of that is the name "Elita-1" without a "Universe" called out, which presumably means the line defaults to G1 as an assumed universe. The left (angled) side of the box features Elita's robot mode art while the other side features Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, Arcee, Blaster and Bulkhead. The back of the box features Elita-1 in both modes, calling out a 14 step transformation. The Legacy boxes also feature a QR code, next to a snippet of a classic looking Tech Specs images. Scan the QR Code and it takes you to Hasbro's web site and the character's tech specs. I have screen captured the spec and placed it in the gallery below. This is a great idea, but I do wish the profile was more robust. Still, this is a great way to get around the limitation of having to print tech specs in multiple languages on the box.
I do have one major reservation about the packaging (beyond the open window portion), and that is how thin the cardboard is. Once upon a time Transformers boxes came in thick cardboard boxes with many layers. This box is super thin and it feels rather flimsy. I worry about how these boxes will stand up to damage on shelves or as they are shipped. Of course, if you ditch your boxes anyway this is not an issue.
Background:
Elita-1 was introduced in the Generation One cartoon as the leader of a small rebel group on Cybertron fighting against Shockwave's forces. Over the years, she has popped up in both fiction and as action figures or collectibles including:
While retailers listed Elita-1 as a December 2022 release in pre-orders, the figure began to appear at retail in September 2022 and retailer Best Buy also received some stock at the same time which is where this copy came from.
Accessories:
Elita-1 includes three accessories:
- Cap: "Cap" is not the official term for this accessory but it fits. This piece resembles the top part of Elita-1's helmet with a crest and horns sticking out to the sides. This piece is intended to attach to the 5mm port on the top of the vehicle mode to simulate the look of the G1 animation model's vehicle form. This piece is made up of pink plastic with no paint details.
- Blaster 1: Again, not the official name but since Elita-1 has two different blasters I'm commenting on each separately. The one I'm calling "Blaster 1" is based on the pistol Elita-1 was shown using in the G1 cartoon. The most distinctive feature is a bar that goes from the back to the front of the weapon, forming a handle. The pistol has been turned into something resembling a rifle or shotgun featuring additional details from front to back. The bottom and sides feature 5mm pegs and the sides have 5mm ports. The front of the barrel allows you to attach a Blast Effect. This piece is translucent blue plastic with no paint applications.
- Blaster 2: The other blaster is a completely different sculpt based on the blaster from G1 Nightbeat. Perhaps the most distinctive design element are the ridges running along the bottom. The blaster has a 5mm peg on the bottom and 5mm ports on the sides. The front can fit Blast Effects. This piece is translucent blue with no paint applications. So why Nightbeat's weapon design? Because this figure is going to be given a new deco and head sculpt as the Masterforce character, Minerva, who herself was a redeco of Nightbeat in G1!
Robot Mode:
This is the first time that Elita-1 is an original sculpt instead of being a retool and redeco of another figure. This means the designers were able to work in a lot of details from the original animation model from G1. These include:
- Head: The head sculpt features a distinct "helmet" section with two antennae sticking out at angles, a rectangular crest on top and small circles to the sides of the eyes. The sculpt is fantastic and really distinctive among other Legacy figures.
- Torso: The torso features design similarities to the animation model including a "collar" around her neck and a curved section near the mid-body that makes the upper torso look almost like some type of armor she is wearing. There are also smaller details from the show such as a trapezoid shape on the mid-body and a "T" shaped detail above the abdominal area.
- Arms: The shoulders feature small points that stuck up from the sides of the arms. These are callbacks to the designs on G1 Elita-1's shoulders, which themselves were Elita's version of Optimus Prime's iconic shoulder smokestacks. This is a really small detail that could have been left out so I'm really happy to see them here.
Overall, there is a lot of G1 love in this design but it is unique at the same time. The "back pack" created by the vehicle mode bits certainly did not appear on G1 Elita-1 and her arms and lower legs are more blocky and angular than the G1 animation model. I actually appreciate the balance struck between curved and sleek design elements along with bulkier ones. I really dig this sculpt!
Elita-1 is made up of deep red, white, translucent blue and two shades of pink plastic. Paint applications include red, pink, silver and blue colors. These colors are inspired by those used on the G1 animation model but the emphasis is a lot more on the maroon color than the pink and white. The colors are all broken up nicely. For instance, the arms have deep red, white and pink parts alternating from the shoulders to the fists. Overall, the deco looks great and true to the character.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. This includes five in each arm and leg. There are thirteen 5mm ports to attach additional accessories including four on the sides, two on the forearms, one on back, the fists and four on the bottom of the feet.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach all the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Rotate the fists so the top of the fists face out to the sides.
- Rotate the arms so the 5mm ports face out to the sides.
- Lift the "back pack" and swing out the red part of the vehicle from under the cabin section.
- Attach the tabs that stick out the sides of the cabin section to the forearms.
- Tab the front wheel well sections in to the middle section of the vehicle mode's front end.
- Push the front part of the car back, connecting the tabs to the grooves in the forearms.
- On the inside of each lower leg, swing out the panel with spoiler parts on them.
- Swing each lower leg up over the thighs, connecting them together (they attach to the middle of the spoiler on the cabin piece).
- Swing each robot foot in.
- The "Cap" attaches to the port on the top of the cabin section. The weapons can attach to the 5mm ports on the sides.
Vehicle Mode:
Elita-1 is never fully shown on screen in vehicle mode during the G1 cartoon. We see bits and pieces of the vehicle but she was always obscured by something. The TFWiki does have a pre-production sketch that does seem to match what could be seen on screen. Now, keep in mind that this vehicle is not just meant to represent Elita-1. It is also being used for Minerva so the result is a vehicle that seems to blend elements of a vehicle from Cybertron and Earth. A few key details appear inspired by the animation model including:
- The "Cap" on top of the cabin section calls back to the top of Elita-1's head sticking out in vehicle mode. This will be replaced with a lightbar accessory for the Minerva release.
- The shape of the cabin section cover is similar to the one in the cartoon (mostly the curves on the sides).
- Over each wheel well is a design that looks almost like a built-in blaster. This calls back to a similar detail on the animation model that overlapped each rear wheel.
- In a thematic nod to the cartoon model, several details on the front end of the vehicle look like "stretched out" details from the robot mode including the aforementioned "T" shape near the windshield.
That said, the other details are all more Earth-like including regular round headlights in the front, a grille and a spoiler in back. The initial photos that leaked online of this vehicle really weren't that flattering (with some unfortunate comparisons made to the car designed by Homer Simpson from The Simpsons cartoon). I will say in hand the vehicle is nowhere near as bad as some folks made it out to be. It is a rather compact looking vehicle and nowhere near as sleek as the Cybertronian form seen in the cartoon, but as a weird Cybertronian/Earth vehicle hybrid it works for me. I also noticed a really nice set of etched details on the clear cabin cover including some details that call back to the design of the Autobot symbol including the "eyes", "nose" and the angled lines on the sides.
All the colors from the robot mode carry over here, but the colors concentrate a lot more with the front half focused on pink and the back half focused on red. The cabin cover is translucent blue and the wheels are black plastic. The same paint colors from the robot mode carry over here and add some much needed paint in the front and surprisingly, the sides of the wheels! I will say some of the red paint applications are not as neatly applied as I would have liked, but I trust this will vary from copy to copy.
Final Thoughts:
Elita-1 is a good example of a figure that may not have made the best impression in leaked images, but in hand turns out to be a super cool figure. I love the look of the robot mode from the sculpt to the colors. The vehicle is not the most sleek and attractive ever, but it looks fine to me. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent robot mode sculpt.
- Really nice deco.
- Good articulation.
- Lots of attachment points for accessories (yay, play value!).
- Finally Elita-1 gets a new sculpt!
- Easy and intuitive transformation.
Cons:
- Some of the paint applications on my copy of this figure could have been cleaner.
- The vehicle mode design could have been made a bit more sleek looking.
