Hasbro and Takara's Transformers franchise has had its fair share of crossovers over the past decade. Now, a new line of toys and collectibles takes the idea even further with licensed remixes that are more real than meets the eye.
Through TFW2005, Takara Tomy’s new “Synegenex” series combines the official Transformers brand with other brands, most of which also involve giant robots or similar creatures. Including a certain giant monster that has stormed the big screen and other formats. There will also be more collaborations that are only now being teased, with the disguised robots taking on a variety of brand new forms.
Transformers' Latest Collaboration Starring Diaclone, Godzilla, Macross, and More
Introduced in a new promotional video for Takara Tomy's brand, the Synergenex line will merge several different brands under the company's umbrella—most importantly, Transformers. The main manifestation of this will be a three-way mashup of Transformers, Takara's Diaclone (the toy line that actually created the Transformers), and the unrelated Zoids brand. The aforementioned toy is of Autobot leader Optimus Prime, who transforms into a Liger Zoid that Diaclone figures can pilot. Another similar idea would be to rework/repaint previous Optimus Prime and Grimlock figures into Godzilla-themed Optimus and Megatron toys. Megatron would represent Godzilla himself, while Optimus Prime would be styled after Kiryu, aka the villain Mechagodzilla.
Other planned collaborations will combine Transformers with Capcom's mecha series Macross and the Monster Hunter video game series. The toys for these have yet to be revealed, though the latter will be showcased at the upcoming Tokyo Toy Show. In addition to the disguised robots, the aforementioned Zoids series will have its own collaboration with Monster Hunter, as will previous Marvel Comics crossover character Spider-Man. There will even be another crossover with another mecha series called Patlabor, uniting some of the biggest names in mecha anime. All of these planned toys are being revealed as these franchises celebrate major milestones, including Transformers.
Transformers, Godzilla and other franchises celebrate big birthdays in 2024
2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the release of the original 1954 Godzilla film. Likewise, the Transformers franchise turns 40, with the Monster Hunter series turning 20, and Zoids celebrating a number of anniversaries. That franchise, for example, turned 40 in 2023, with the Zoids: Chaotic Century anime specifically turning 25 in 2024. The entire music-oriented Macross franchise doesn't necessarily celebrate any such milestones, but 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Macross 7 series.
Transformers has deep ties to both Diaclone and Macross, as Diaclone toys were used for Generation 1 Autobots and Decepticons sold by Takara and Hasbro. Likewise, the Takatoku Toys figure for Valkyrie VF-1 was used to create a toy for G1 Autobot Jetfire, with many of his later figures referencing this design. In addition to these unofficial “crossovers,” Transformers is no stranger to outright crossovers. These include toys based on Neon Genesis Evangelion and the Street Fighter video game series, as well as numerous other figures based on Universal movie monsters and even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
Transformer
Transformers is a media franchise produced by the American toy company Hasbro and the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily revolves around the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two warring factions of alien robots that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals.
First movie Transformer
Cast Peter Cullen, Wil Wheaton, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Luna Lauren Velez, Dominique Fishback
Source: TFW2005
