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Transformers Prime (Japan)

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Generations (Japan) | Continuity: Aligned (Japan) | Adventure →
US Equiuvalent: Prime

Japan's release of Transformers: Prime was a localization of Hasbro's CGI animated series and corresponding toyline. Since Hasbro's media led the way in terms of design aesthetics and storyline, the Japanese toy releases lagged behind the Western ones, allowing them to develop and implement a very different play pattern from the US Prime line. Japan also eschewed the entire Beast Hunters portion of the Prime toyline as well as the corresponding third season of the show, choosing instead to adapt the Beast Hunters themed toys into Triple Combination: Transformers Go! and Adventure → alongside new designs (in Go!) and ports of Robots In Disguise toys (in Adventure).

Without Beast Hunters, Japanese TF: Prime was broken into three main subtitles. Like the Hasbro release, the line started out as First Edition, with packaging closely matching the style of the US releases , including the cardboard display bases included in the packaging beneath the figures' feet, and lacking the ID numbers typical of Japanese-market Transformers. The toys themselves differed only in plastic colors, with most being a much darker, richer metallic base plastic than the corresponding US release. The Deluxe-Class Megatron figure from the US Rivalry Reborn versus pack was also available as a carded regular figure, unchanged from that previous release.

As the US line transitioned to the mass-release "Robots In Disguise" subline, the TakaraTomy designers unveiled their wildly different take: Arms Micron. Capitalizing simultaneously on the popularity of Microns (known in the West as Mini-Cons, from Armada onward) and model-building and customizing, the Arms Micron subline featured Deluxe and Voyager Class toys boxed with sticker sheets in place of factory paint and tampograph details, and Micron model kits on a runner or sprue for the user to build and transform. The sticker sheets were applicable to both the main figure and the Micron, and many included optional stickers to further customize the toy, as well as the stickers necessary to replicate the on-screen appearance of the character. The boxes and product catalogs further featured various "Combo Weapons" constructed out of Microns from different sets, as well as "Arms Up Modes" depicting the main figure adorned with various Combo Weapons and other Microns. Given that all of the figures and Microns had added 5mm posts and holes, there is massive interchangeability to promote a creative, almost LEGO-like play style. TakaraTomy also released single and multi-packed Arms Microns, both in unique designs and in redecos of those packaged with main figures. The Autobot Microns are almost entirely themed as bipedal robots with cute proportions and faces with two eyes and mouthplates, while the Decepticon Microns almost all feature a beast mode with a sinister red (once the label is applied) mono-eye.

The Arms Micron portion of the toyline is often notable to Western fans for its inclusion of several TV-show characters not released outside Japan, such as Breakdown (as War Breakdown), Unicron (as Gaia Unicron), Nemesis Prime, and Smokescreen (who would eventually see a much more screen-accurate release in the West in Beast Hutners). This led to fans importing large numbers of these unique toys (and in some cases, high aftermarket values), despite relatively low interest and importation of the characters available on US shelves.

The third portion of Japan' Prime line was an extension of EZ Collection, which had been introduced as a cross-line brand to include Legends Class and Cyberverse toys. The Prime portion of EZ Collection was almost identical to the US lineup. The only unique sets were the "Autobot Set" and "Decepticon Set", two five-piece gift sets featuring redecoes of Cyberverse Legion and Commander figures in richer, sparkly colors, and a Cliffjumper toy in translucent purple to represent his Terrorcon form.

Despite being so specifically tailored to Japanese consumer tastes, Prime Arms Micron has had some measurable impact on Western Transformers aside from high-priced War Breakdowns on the collector market. Many of the Microns have appeared in Transformers Club Figure Subscription Service and BotCon exclusive sets. Fans who enjoy collecting Mini-Cons often seek out the numerous Microns, though this sometimes leaves incomplete main figures languishing in the aftermarket.

 

Arms Micron Weapons

Advanced Star Saber Ultimate Set (AMW-13)

Arc S (AMW-12)

B.H. B (AMW-11)

Balo G (AMW-05)

Baru (AMW-02)

C.L. GR (AMW-04)

Dai (AMW-03)

Gabu (AMW-01)

Gravity Planet Bowgun Ultimate Set (AMW-14)

Jayz (AMW-09)

Jida R (AMW-06)

Pral (AMW-07)

Sais (AMW-08)

Zori M (AMW-10)

Arms Microns

Aimless
Big Adventures

Autobot Firebolt
Shared Exclusive

Autobot Firebolt Clear Yelllow Ver.
Convention Exclusive

Autobot Peaceman
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Autobot Pinpointer
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Blowpipe
Store Exclusive

Hellflame Gul
AEON Exclusive

Hellflame Jida
Store Exclusive

Hellflame Noji
Store Exclusive

Hellflame Zamu
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Optimus Prime Blaster (red)
Magazine Exclusive

Pure Energon B.2
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Pure Energon O.P.
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Shadow Balo
Store Exclusive

Shadow C.L.
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Shadow Gora
Store Exclusive

Shadow R.A.
AEON Exclusive

Shining B.2
Convention Exclusive

Shining Gra B
AEON Exclusive

Shining O.P.
Convention Exclusive

Shining R.A. GR
AEON Exclusive

Shining R.A. P
Store Exclusive

Shining R.A. R
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Shining R.A. Y
Store Exclusive

Vector Oracle
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive

Deluxe Class

Airachnid (AM-18)
Arms Micron

Arcee (AM-11)
Arms Micron

Arcee
First Edition

Bumblebee (AM-02)
Arms Micron

Bumblebee
First Edition

Cliffjumper (AM-03)
Arms Micron

Cliffjumper
First Edition

Decepticon Vehicon (AM-14)
Arms Micron

Frenzy (AM-31)
Arms Micron

Ironhide (AM-20)
Arms Micron

Jet Vehicon (AM-16)
Arms Micron

Jet Vehicon General (AM-34)
Arms Micron

Medic Knock Out (AM-13)
Arms Micron

Megatron (AM-05)
Arms Micron

Megatron
First Edition

Orion Pax (AM-EX)
Arms Micron
Big Adventures

Ratchet (AM-04)
Arms Micron

Rumble (AM-30)
Arms Micron

Shockwave (AM-29)
Arms Micron

Skywarp (AM-06)
Arms Micron

Smokescreen (AM-26)
Arms Micron

Soundwave (AM-09)
Arms Micron

Starscream
First Edition

Stunt Wildrider (AM-32)
Arms Micron

Terrorcon Bumblebee
Arms Micron
AEON Exclusive

Terrorcon Cliffjumper (AM-08)
Arms Micron

Thundercracker (AM-EX)
Store Exclusive
Arms Micron

Vehicon
First Edition

Wheeljack (AM-23)
Arms Micron

EZ Collection

Arcee (EZ-09)

Autobot Evac (EZ-13)

Autobot Set (EZ-SP1)

Bulkhead (EZ-08)

Bumblebee (EZ-04)

Cliffjumper (EZ-05)

Decepticon Set (EZ-SP2)

Decepticon Vehicon (EZ-07)

Dreadwing (EZ-12)

Energon Driller and Medic Knock Out (EZ-15)

Ironhide (EZ-11)

Megatron (EZ-02)

Optimus Grand Base (EZ-17)

Optimus Prime (EZ-01)

Ratchet (EZ-06)

Skyquake (EZ-18)

Spaceship Star Hammer and Wheeljack (EZ-10)

Starscream (EZ-03)

Ultra Magnus (EZ-16)

War Breakdown (EZ-14)

Gacha Arms Microns

Arcee Blade

Arcee Blade MX (4)

Bulkhead Knuckle

Bulkhead Knuckle MX (3)

Bumblebee Sword

Bumblebee Sword MX (2)

Dado 1

Dado 2

Dado TC (12)

Dobo 1

Dobo 2

Dobo TC (9)

Gob 1

Gob 2

Gob TC (11)

Megatron Cannon

Megatron Cannon TC (7)

Optimus Prime Blaster

Optimus Prime Blaster MX (1)

Ratchet Spanner

Ratchet Spanner MX (5)

Starscream Boomerang

Starscream Boomerang TC (8)

Wheeljack Kunai

Wheeljack Kunai MX (6)

Zad 1

Zad 2

Zad TC (10)

Gift Sets

Optimus Prime + Gaia Unicron
Arms Micron

Voyager Class

Autobot Swerve (AM-17)
Arms Micron

Battle Shield Optimus
Toys 'R' Us Exclusive
Arms Micron

Bulkhead (AM-10)
Arms Micron

Bulkhead
First Edition

Dark Guard Optimus Prime
First Edition
Store Exclusive

Dreadwing (AM-22)
Arms Micron

Final Battle Megatron (AM-33)
Arms Micron

Gaia Unicron (AM-19)
Arms Micron

Leo Prime (AM-28)
Arms Micron

Megatron Darkness (AM-15)
Arms Micron

Nemesis Prime (AM-25)
Arms Micron

Nightmare Unicron
Arms Micron

Optimus Prime (AM-01)
Arms Micron

Optimus Prime
First Edition

Shining Optimus Prime
Convention Exclusive
First Edition

Silas Breakdown (AM-24)
Arms Micron

Starscream (AM-07)
Arms Micron

Ultra Magnus (AM-27)
Arms Micron

War Breakdown (AM-12)
Arms Micron

Weaponizers

Arms Master Optimus (AM-21)
Arms Micron

Gatling Bumblebee
Arms Micron