General Information
Release Date: May 2025
Price Point: 2,750 Yen (MSRP)
Retailer: Japanese Exclusive
Accessories: Giraffe neck/head, Axe, "Lightning Energy" armor
Official images and text in italics are from Takara Tomy Mall: The characters of the web-distributed anime "Transformers Wild King" are now available as toys! The giraffe-type Transformer energy beast "Light Long" who is active in "Transformers: Wild King" is now available! "Light Long" is a Transformer with lightning energy, the power of lightning!
Transform from robot to beast and beast to robot! It can be combined (wild hunting) with Energy Master, which is sold separately! Let's enjoy your own wild hunting!
*The specifications are the same as the "Light Long" included in the "WKS-01 Optimus Prime & Light Long Wild Hunting Set".
Character Profile from Takara Tomy's Site (translated via Google Translate):
A giraffe transformer who can handle anything . His powers are powered by "lightning energy" and he can use the powers of the sun. He is an energy beast that can stop , and he will help him and his friend . In order to get closer to the death of Megatron , he makes Optimus and his friend start the Wild Kings!
Background:
In the Spring of 2025, Takara Tomy released a Japanese exclusive line of Transformers under the banner of "Wild King". The name involves a bit of word play. "Wild King" is a reference to who will win in a conflict between good and evil on a world with robots with beast modes. However it also references the process of "Wild Docking", which is how the "Energy Beasts" such as Lightlong can combine with the "Energy Masters" Optimus Prime and Megatron. Lightlong is one of the first beasts released in the line and while he is not designated as an Autobot, he is allied with Optimus Prime.
Packaging:
In a huge departure from the typical Transformers packaging from the last decade or so, the Wild King beasts are packaged in closed boxes measuring about 6.25 inches (about 15.8cm) by 6.25 inches (and 2 inches/5cm deep). The front features the Wild King logo to the left and the Takara Tomy logo to the right. The main illustration is Lightlong's CG model in robot mode. His beast mode is represented by a photo of the toy. In the lower left hand corner is a box showing off Optimus Prime combined with all four beasts from the first wave of Wild King toys. To the right is Lightlong's designation "WKB-01" and his name. The back of the box shows Lightlong in both modes and features the write up translated above. The rest of the back features legal text.
The figure and accessories are tied to a plain cardboard try with rubber bands. Unlike lines like Legacy, there are no parts wrapped in tissue paper. This packaging is nice as it is reusable, allowing you to store the figure inside when you do not have it on display.
Accessories:
The basic design of the Wild King beasts involves a basic robot frame whose parts move in very similar ways. There are 5mm pegs all over the figure allowing you to attach weapons and more importantly, beast mode "parts" to form the alt-modes. Here's a rundown of what Lightlong comes with:
Giraffe Head/Neck:
This piece features a long neck that is wide at the base and narrows towards the head. The head is shaped like an Earth-based giraffe (even though this story is not set on Earth). The head has a triangular shape and the head has two Ossicones (or "horns") on top of the head. While the shape of this piece is mostly curved like an organic creature, the detailing suggests that Longlight is not techno-organic. The various armor plates running up the neck look like metal plates so this feels more like a traditional G1 mechanical beast mode. This piece is a light yellow color. The 5mm pegs at the base and the piece on the back of the neck are made of silver plastic. Paint colors include blue and brown.
This piece features a piece that has two 5mm pegs on one part and if you swing it down it features a single 5mm peg. This allows you to attach him to different parts of the Energy Masters depending on whether they have double ports or single ports. The head can move up and down and there is a blade (or antenna?) that can swing out the back of the neck. I was surprised there was no jaw articulation but as you'll see in this review, these are very simplified figures compared to their Generations cousins.
Axe Weapon/Tail:
Lightlong as a melee weapon that resembles a pickaxe. There are two curved blades that come to a point on either side. The middle is the handle. This weapon is made of two pieces, the blades and the top half of the handle and then the actual handle at the bottom. Oddly, the handle at the bottom has a small notch sticking out on one side. This limits its cross compatibility with other figures (which is an odd choice). The top half of this weapon is made of brown plastic while the lower half is silver.
"Lightning" Energy Armor:
The various beasts in Wild King embody a specific kind of natural energy. In Lightlong's case he represents the power of lightning (hence his name). This power is represented by a chest armor piece that is shaped like a leaf (another nod to Lightlong's "nature" based alt-mode). This is a unique piece featuring layers of armor detail that resemble lightning. There is even a small lightning bolt icon towards one side. This piece is brown plastic with gold paint on the front and edges. It attaches to other figures using a 5mm peg at the back.
Robot Mode:
As mentioned above, the various beast-based characters in Wild King share the same basic engineering in terms of how the parts move and transform. Lightlong shares several parts with fellow Energy Beast Captain Volca including his distinct shoulders and the chest section. Both came out at the same time so I would not call either a retool/redeco of the other.
For those curious, this figure does not really fit into any existing scale. The closest I could say is that this is similar to the old "Legends Class" figures such as Warpath. The figure is about 4.25 inches (about 10.8cm) tall and a little over 2 inches (about 5cm) wide from shoulder to shoulder (not including any attached accessories).
Lightlong features a mixture of purely robotic looking parts and some beast-based parts. The head is one of my favorite parts because it appears to be (perhaps unintentionally) a homage to Beast Wars Neo Longrack, who also transformed into a giraffe. Like Longrack the head has a tall, thin crest in the middle flanked by two more bits sticking up. He has a regular face with two eyes, a nose and mouth. The chest, upper arms and thighs all look robotic, with some nice details sculpted in such as a set of curved lines on the arms that look almost like organic muscle fibers. The forearms feature robotic fists but his beast mode front legs are molded right into them and stick out in front. This is a clear cost savings move and I would have preferred the beast mode legs swing back. Meanwhile, the lower legs are made up of the beast mode's rear legs complete with hooves on his feet.
This figure is made up of brown, silver and yellow plastic. Paint colors include silver, brown and blue. Silver is the most heavily used paint color, filling in details on the arms, legs, chest and head.
There are thirteen points of articulation in this mode. This includes four in each arm and three in each leg. The hip joints are ball joints so you get a good range of motion there. However, there is no head articulation, which really surprised me as most modern day Transformers figures have this as a default. His weapon can fit in either hand while the Lightning armor attaches to his chest. The giraffe head and neck can attach to either shoulder. Attaching it to the right shoulder evokes Beast Wars Neo Longrack once again which is a great thing in my book.
There are twenty one 5mm ports on this figure. This includes five on each arm and four on each leg. This is very unusual but fits into the play pattern of Wild King which is heavily based on using pegs/ports to combine the Energy Beasts to Energy Masters as well as attaching accessories to the beasts themselves. If you have some Weaponizers or Fossilizers around, you can definitely create some interesting combinations!
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the robot head (and the back panel) back. Tuck the head in, then swing it back into place.
- Swing the arms back.
- Swing the arms up and push them together.
- Rotate the front giraffe legs so they point forward.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the rear legs forward.
- Make sure the pegs at the base of the giraffe neck has the dual pegs showing.
- Attach the giraffe head/neck to the two ports above the front legs.
- Attach the weapon to the back of the beast mode by attaching the tab to the slot on the back.
- Attach the Lightning Armor to the front of the chest.
Beast Mode:
Lightlong is a robotic giraffe in beast mode. Most of the details you see here were already visible in robot mode. I really like the way the various designs come together in this mode, especially the muscle like designs in front. While I'm a big fan of techno-organic Transformers, it is cool that in the Transformers line we now have both a techno-organic and fully robotic giraffe!
This mode shows off all the same colors as the robot mode but the brown is mostly condensed on the main body while the yellow is focused on the legs, neck and head. There are no new paint applications revealed in this form.
There are nine points of articulation in this mode. This includes the ability of the neck to swing downward. I am also counting the ability of the tail to move up and down but it is likely the weapon will detach from the back when you move it but it reattaches easily. Four of Lightlong's 5mm ports face out to the sides on the legs, allowing you to attach additional accessories.
Transformation to Limb Mode (Starting in Beast Mode):
- Detach the giraffe head/neck and weapon and set them aside for now.
- Swing the robot legs down at the hips.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the lower robot legs up.
- On the neck/head piece, swing out the silver blade/antenna piece.
Limb Mode:
Lightlong's limb mode doubles as both an arm or a leg. As an arm, you use the two 5mm ports on top (the ones near the front beast mode legs) to attach to either Optimus Prime or Megatron's shoulders. To become a leg, you can attach the ports on the bottom to Optimus or Megatron's foot pieces and then use the top 5mm ports to attach to their knees. When forming the leg, you can attach the giraffe neck/head piece to the chest (officially the head points up, but I prefer it down).
If you look at the way the robot legs are sculpted, they are designed to look like a fist in this mode, complete with 5mm ports right where the fist hole would normally be on other Transformers figures. That said, I do wish there was a more concrete Combiner style like fist that you could attach. In that sense, this figure works better for me as a leg than an arm, but either offers plenty of play value.
Final Thoughts:
Lightlong is a fun little toy. I am always excited for new beasts in the Transformers toy line, especially critters who have rarely been used in the line such as a giraffe. I am a bit disappointed at some smaller points such as the lack of head articulation and the beast mode legs sculpted into the robot fists. Keep in mind, these figures are only available in Japan. For a variety of reasons, the normal online retailers like BigBadToyStore have chosen not to carry these figures (as of May 2025 anyhow) so if you want these you are paying fairly high import prices. So fans who expect a Generations style figure will be disappointed.
That said, once I began to play with this figure I found it very fun. The (relatively) simple transformation makes for a fun figure to fiddle with and the combination with the Energon Masters is a fun and somewhat unique gimmick. What I will say is that the whole concept of Wild King really has to appeal to you before you consider purchasing these figures. If it does, then go right ahead. Recommended with the caveats stated above.
Pros:
- Unique design with a fun beast mode.
- Good deco.
- Good play value.
Cons:
- The sculpting is good, but bits like making the fists and front beast mode legs the same piece is less than ideal.
- The lack of head articulation is an odd choice.
- I do wish the arm mode had some type of fist attachment.
- It was an odd choice to add a "tab" to the weapon's handle.
