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General Information:
Release Date: August 2023
Price Point: $34.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Sledgehammer Weapon
Official images and product description in italics below are from Amazon:
- TRANSFORMERS STUDIO SERIES VOYAGER CLASS: These 6.5-inch collectible action figures inspired by iconic movie scenes and designed with specs and details to reflect the Transformers movie universe
- 6.5-INCH SCALE RHINOX: Transformers Studio Series 103 Rhinox action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features movie-inspired deco and details
- 2 ICONIC MODES: This Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and rhinoceros modes in 29 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with a hammer accessory that attaches to the Rhinox figure in both modes
- REMOVABLE BACKDROP: Removable backdrop displays Rhinox figure in the Peruvian Jungle Discovery scene. Fans can use the backdrop and pose their figures in the scene with their own style
Bring the epic action of the Transformers movies from the big screen into your collection with the Transformers Studio Series Voyager Class Rhinox action figure! Rhinox charges onto the scene to protect the Maximal lair from intruders. Transformers Studio Series toys are collectible action figures for 8 year old boys and girls that feature movie-inspired details and accessories. Convert the action figure from robot to rhinoceros mode in 29 steps and pose the Rhinox toy in the included Peruvian Jungle Discovery removable backdrop scene. Transformers action figures for boys and girls make great gifts! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
Rhinox was one of the original Maximals introduced in the Beast Wars Transformers cartoon series who quickly became a fan favorite character. The character also features in Rise of the Beasts and the toy line thus far has seen several interpretations of the character including:
Now in Studio Series fans finally have a chance at owning a figure based on the CG model seen in the film.
Packaging:
Rhinox's box is a standard, rectangular Studio Series box. Unlike boxes from past years there is no large opening with a plastic window. Instead, the window has been shrunken significantly so you basically see the robot from the chest up and that's it. There is no plastic window since Hasbro is trying to eliminate all plastic from its packaging. Like previous Studio Series boxes this one has a black background with the Studio Series logo along the bottom outlined by blue with the number "103". Under that is the Maximal symbol with his name next to it. Above all that is an image of Rhinox in beast mode. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features the same artwork flipped. The right side of the box features Rhinox in robot mode.
The back of the box features the figure in both modes, calling out a 29 step transformation along with the tag line "Peruvian Jungle Discovery", hinting at where the Autobots and Maximals will meet in the film. Towards the bottom is an image featuring the backdrop included with the figure featuring what appears to be an entrance to an ancient temple with a blue light coming out of it.
Accessories:
During the climax of Rise of the Beasts, the Maximals transform into their robot modes to fight Scourge's Terrorcon and Predacon forces. It is during this scene that we get to see Rhinox use his sledgehammer weapon. You can see a screenshot of it below. Unfortunately the scene goes by very fast so it is hard to get a clear look at the weapon.
Rhinox's weapon is a sledgehammer, which seems like an odd choice at first but if you consider Rhinox himself can be seen as a bit of a blunt instrument himself in beast mode this makes sense thematically. The head of the hammer has a unique design with several spikes embedded in the front. To me, these could also be rockets that he fires when this is connected to him in beast mode. Like Rhinox himself, the design looks bio-mechanical with a layer of "skin" on top and mechanical bits under it. Most of the handle is studded except for the 5mm portion that Rhinox can hold on to. If you swing the head of the weapon up it snaps into place and reveals a 5mm peg so you can attach it to Rhinox's back in either mode. I do wish the handle of the weapon was longer so you could pose Rhinox holding it in both hands easily.
The top of the weapon is grey plastic while the handle is gunmetal grey. The spikes on the weapon are all painted silver.
Robot Mode:
Rhinox is only in robot mode briefly during the final battle in Rise of the Beasts so really the best way for us to see his robot mode's model is the concept artwork by artist Furio Tedesci. Using Tedesci's model as reference it is great to see how many of his details carried over to this figure. This includes:
- Head: The head design is largely based on the Beast Wars TV show's CG model. The head has an oval shape with the top of the head looking like it is a shaved head with a short mohawk on top. He also has raised details on his eyebrows and jaw line, similar to the original Rhinox.
- Chest: The area above the chest looks like a giant collar with two thick lines on either side of the head leading down to armor panels on the chest that have skin-like textures. On the back of the upper body are two spikes sticking up out of the back.
- Mid-Body: The "abdominal" area on the figure has distinct shapes that look like abdominal muscles. Seriously, if Rhinox were a human he'd be doing hundreds of crunches a day with Pilates to look like this!
- Arms: Rhinox's shoulders feature armor panels that are curved with skin-like texture. Meanwhile his forearms have a lot of mechanical looking bits and spikes near the elbows.
- Waist/Hip Area: The area around the thighs and hips has armor on it that looks like kusazuri from ancient Japanese armor. It is a bit more narrow than anything you would see on traditional armor (Japanese or otherwise) but I think it looks great. It gives Rhinox an ancient look that suits the character.
- Lower Legs: The lower legs feature a nice combination of organic and mechanical looking details. It also has some hollow parts that suggest machinery underneath. The sides have spikes on them, mirroring the designs on the forearms.
Overall I absolutely love this design. Tedeschi stated on his Instagram that he used the original Rhinox's 90's CG model as the starting point for this design and it shows. While much of his design differs from the original Rhinox (ex: there is no "beast mode lower jaw" on his torso) the spirit of the character is intact and the head design comes right out of the original. He also looks powerful and that is critical for the character.
When Studio Series Rhinox was revealed the prototype sported a very different deco than the final product. It featured a lot more gold and brown colors which you see reflected in Tedeschi's design. However, the final model in the movie was much more grey and silver with only some hints of gold and brown. This figure reflects that color change which brings it closer to the CG model seen on screen. Rhinox is mostly made up of silver and gold colored plastic with some light silver parts here and there (such as on the feet and fists). Paint colors include silver, gunmetal grey and gold, filling in details mostly on the upper body. Overall I really like this deco, but I have to say it is best appreciated up close. In stock photos and in videos a lot of the painted details kind of get lost in all the silver plastic and that is a shame. I do wish the deco in this mode had a bit more bits of brown on it to give him the "worn" and "dusty" look he had in the film, but it is not a dealbreaker for me.
There are twenty four points of articulation in this mode. This includes five in each arm and six in each leg. Also, it may not look like it but he does have waist articulation.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the sledgehammer and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the robot arms up and out to the sides (this is mostly to get them out of the way for now).
- Swing the panels on the abdominal area to the sides.
- Swing the front panel on the chest down.
- Swing the abdominal panels in, connecting them to the chest section.
- Swing the "collar" part of the chest panel up.
- On each forearm, swing the inner panel outward, then rotate the fist around, then rotate the entire piece the fist and hooves are on to swap places with the front hooves, then push it back into place.
- Rotate each forearm to form the front beast mode legs. The spikes on the elbows should point forward.
- Swing each of the front beast mode legs down at the shoulder hinges and lock them into place.
- Swing the back panel out to reveal the beast mode head.
- Swing the beast mode head up.
- Swing the top of the beast mode head up, swing out the horn, then swing the panel back into place.
- Swing the neck piece out.
- Swing the spikes/tusks on the back panel in.
- Swing the back panel forward and cover the robot head with the neck piece.
- Swing the lower legs forward to form the rear beast mode legs.
- Swing the panel with the tail on it back, and connect it to the back of the robot thighs using the tabs.
- The weapon can be attached to the back of the beast mode.
Beast Mode:
One of the best looks we get of the Rise of the Beasts Rhinox beast mode actually happened before the film was released thanks to Takara Tomy releasing promo images on their site. Concept artist Furio Tedeschi also released his concept art for the beast mode a while back so we get a really good idea of what Rhinox looked like in beast mode. No surprises here, he looks like a bio-mechanical rhino, with some machine-like parts showing here and there along with several layers of organic looking armor plates running along his body. Many of these plates overlap, especially on the back. I absolutely love the look of this beast mode.
This mode shows off much of the same colors as the robot mode. This time out however there are a lot more gunmetal grey bits such as on the head and rear legs. The only thing I am sad about are some of the details on the back of the figure. If you look at the armor plates running along the back, there are some cracks sculpted into the armor. In the film, these gave off light (sometimes green). It would have been great to see some bright green paint worked into these details.
There are eighteen points of articulation in this mode, mostly focused on the legs. The beast mode head can also angle upward and the mouth can open. If you want to bend the front legs, you will need to rotate the forearms around to position the joint properly. If you wish, you can raise the back panel and flip out the spikes/tusks so they stick out in this mode. This calls back to one of Tedeschi's concepts which was a "battle mode" for Rhinox's beast form which would have seen several of these spikes/tusks sticking out of him in beast mode.
Final Thoughts:
Rhinox is a really fun figure and I like it a lot. It would not have taken too much to send it from "Recommended" to "Highly Recommended". A slightly longer handle for the weapon and some more deco and this would have been an absolute must have. That said, if you're looking to get the crew from Rise of the Beasts then I absolutely do recommend this figure.
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Good articulation.
- Good deco in robot mode.
- Represents the character's film CG model well.
Cons:
- Needs more deco in beast mode.
- I do wish the handle on the weapon was longer to allow for different poses.
