Missing Link Arcee in Full Color

[Zobovor]

At the T-Spark Zone 2025 convention in Japan, Takara recently unveiled a
full-color production version of Missing Link Arcee in all her hideous
glory:

https://www.allspark.com/home/threads/missing-link-arcee-prototype-shown-in-color-at-t-spark-zone-2025.3275/

Now, this toy is being produced in her early color scheme in the design
conceived by Floro Dery, before various Toei revisions and redesigns.
This is very historically accurate, because it's this version of Arcee
that would have been sent off to have a toy made out of her, before they
modified her into the final version we actually saw in The Transformers:
the Movie. It's likely this is the early color scheme we would have
gotten, too. We got a grey-colored Galvatron during the G1 toy line and
a teal-colored Kup, so we certainly would have gotten a pink-and-orange
Arcee.

With that said, I do expect that they will likely do a version in more
traditional animation colors eventually. There's probably some
alternate quantum reality where we got the orange Arcee in 1986, and
people complained for 38 years about how inaccurate she was until we
finally got a retro redeco inspired directly by the Transformers: the
Movie animation. So, I have high confidence that one is coming, too.

I am one hundred percent putting the Missing Link version of Arcee on my
vintage G1 toy shelf, occupying a spot next to Blurr and Hot Rod where
she should have been standing all this time.


Zob (not sure where to put Missing Link Unicron, when and if they do
one... hanging from the ceiling in planet mode, quite probably)

[GoBackaTron]

I don't understand the situation.

The feeling I get when I look at this beautiful anachronism confuses me.
I both love it and think it's really dorky and an ugly deco. Is this
what young people think when they first see a G1 original of a character
they've only ever seen in media? Is this me finally looking at a G1 toys
without the nostalgia glasses on?

I always wanted this done and now that they're doing it I am desperately
hoping they give it a more movie accurate paint deco. This moldy orange
color just can't be how it was originally intended to look.

I am so confused by my feelings. I feel so guilty for not liking it but
I can also give myself a pass because there is reasonable doubt that
this would ever have been the theoretical '86 retail version. I think
I'm going to wait for the pink.

[Zobovor]

Post by GoBackaTron
The feeling I get when I look at this beautiful anachronism confuses me.
I both love it and think it's really dorky and an ugly deco. Is this
what young people think when they first see a G1 original of a character
they've only ever seen in media? Is this me finally looking at a G1 toys
without the nostalgia glasses on?

I think we've known about the orange deco for a while now (it might have
first been revealed to the fandom in the Generations book published in
Japan?) but knowing about it for 20 years is different than it being a
part of our childhood from 40 years ago. One feels a lot more recent,
and wasn't introduced to us during our formative childhood years. So,
it hits different.

I feel like it's historically accurate, and I think it's just another
example of the almost-but-not-quite G1 toys we would have gotten in
1986, right up there with the grey-colored Galvatron or the mint green
Kup or the dark red Hot Rod. There were a lot of Transformers: the
Movie toys that were the wrong color, compared to the animation, and so
Arcee would have just been thrown on the pile.

But, you're not required to like it. It really is an ugly deco. For
me, it's just the right level of ugly. It feels very genuine. But we
have the benefit of being adults and recognizing that they could do
better if they wanted to. But "better" wouldn't really fit the clear
1980's aesthetic that they're aiming for.

I'm sure they'll produce a cartoon-inspired all-pink version. There's
absolutely no way that they won't. (They might even do a Lifeline
version in green, too. Or a Nightbird version, since there are a couple
of precedents for that.) There's no way Takara is going to invest in
creating these molds and then not use it as many times as they can.


Zob (I would love to see a Headmaster version, too, if the toy can be
modified to accommodate it)

[CodigoPostal]

Post by Zobovor

Post by GoBackaTron
The feeling I get when I look at this beautiful anachronism confuses me.
I both love it and think it's really dorky and an ugly deco. Is this
what young people think when they first see a G1 original of a character
they've only ever seen in media? Is this me finally looking at a G1 toys
without the nostalgia glasses on?

I think we've known about the orange deco for a while now (it might have
first been revealed to the fandom in the Generations book published in
Japan?) but knowing about it for 20 years is different than it being a
part of our childhood from 40 years ago. One feels a lot more recent,
and wasn't introduced to us during our formative childhood years. So,
it hits different.

...

It's very much a curiosity piece, but it's incredibly cool that they're
making this. Just think back to the Armada era when G1 seemed dead and
buried forever, other than random nameslaps. Who'da thunk that one day
we'd be getting all these Easter eggs, and in official form to boot?

Post by Zobovor
Zob (I would love to see a Headmaster version, too, if the toy can be
modified to accommodate it)

Shocked they haven't done this outside of the convention special Titans
Return Blurr redeco.

We also really need them to finally release that prototype G1 Unicron
toy complete with the sound and mic play features...

[JosephBardsley]

Wait, what? Wow. That Unicron prototype still exists? Very cool.

Out of curiosity, was this the one that was on display at BotCon 1996?
Or is this a newer version?

JB

--

[Travoltron]

I'll be buying the "animation color" version and skipping the "eyesore
version". I suspect most people will be doing the same. If Tomy is
smart, they'll shortpack the eyesore version.

[GustavoWombat]

She’s so beautiful.

Weirdly, I have a Cyberverse Arcee(?) that is the same colors since she
yellowed so amazingly badly, so there is a precedent for Arcee toys in
these colors.

With regards to the inevitable cartoon accurate color scheme version… I
mean, obviously that needs to happen, but the bubblegum and orange is
the one for me.

I kind of wish they would alter TF:TM to give everyone toy accurate
colors.

I don’t think that either the cartoon or the toys were correct — they
are each simplifications of some “real” version of the characters that
never existed — but the toy decos appeal to me a lot more in general.

Also, now that we have definitive G1 Dinobots, for all new series and
fictions, Dinobots should always be in G2 colors as their default color
scheme. (Slag and Snarl need to figure out who gets red and green, and
Swoop and Sludge need to just pick colors — I’m thinking turquoise for
Sludge, and maybe yellow for Swoop). Just because it makes it easier to
have two on the shelf at the same time. Aerialbots too.

And, for similar reasons, Constructicons should be in a rainbow of
flavors, even though that’s not authentic to anything. Gay Pride
Constructicons. They’re fabulous.

[Zobovor]

Post by GustavoWombat
I don’t think that either the cartoon or the toys were correct — they
are each simplifications of some “real” version of the characters that
never existed — but the toy decos appeal to me a lot more in general.

I think the toy color schemes tend to pop more. They have more
contrast. I think the animation cels were painted a certain color, and
then they shone those very bright lights on them to photograph them, so
a lot of the color ended up getting washed out, and that's what we saw
on TV. So everybody like Thundercracker and Cyclonus and friends ended
up being a much, much paler color than what may have been intended.

The white and black of the Wheeljack toy just looks objectively better
than the white and grey of the cartoon version. The dark purple of the
Shockwave toy is more menacing and evil-looking than the pastel lavender
of the 'toon version. So, yes, I am in agreement.

Post by GustavoWombat
Also, now that we have definitive G1 Dinobots, for all new series and
fictions, Dinobots should always be in G2 colors as their default color
scheme. (Slag and Snarl need to figure out who gets red and green, and
Swoop and Sludge need to just pick colors — I’m thinking turquoise for
Sludge, and maybe yellow for Swoop). Just because it makes it easier to
have two on the shelf at the same time. Aerialbots too.

But then you'd still mix up G2 Air Raid and G2 Skydive because they
would both be "the blue one." And every time poor Slingshot got a new
toy, it would break!

Post by GustavoWombat
And, for similar reasons, Constructicons should be in a rainbow of
flavors, even though that’s not authentic to anything. Gay Pride
Constructicons. They’re fabulous.

If we ever got Constructicons in Diaclone colors, then Scavenger and
Bonecrusher and Scrapper would be yellow, Long Haul would be orange, and
Hook and Mixmaster would be blue. Which is pretty close, and maybe more
visually interesting than everybody being green/purple.


Zob (DIE-AH-KLOOOOOONE!)

--

[GustavoWombat]

Post by Zobovor
I think the toy color schemes tend to pop more. They have more
contrast. I think the animation cels were painted a certain color, and
then they shone those very bright lights on them to photograph them, so
a lot of the color ended up getting washed out, and that's what we saw
on TV. So everybody like Thundercracker and Cyclonus and friends ended
up being a much, much paler color than what may have been intended.

I guess they could do animation cell colors…

Post by Zobovor
The white and black of the Wheeljack toy just looks objectively better
than the white and grey of the cartoon version. The dark purple of the
Shockwave toy is more menacing and evil-looking than the pastel lavender
of the 'toon version. So, yes, I am in agreement.

I’d go beyond the colors, and get to the details of the toys — Optimus
looks better with wheels on his legs and Megatron looks better with a
trigger schlong. Ok, maybe not Megatron. And I guess Ironhide and
Ratchet should have heads. But, the animation models leave a lot of
detail out and simplify things for ease of animation at least as often
as they desperately try not to show that the toy is terrible.

Post by Zobovor

Post by GustavoWombat
Also, now that we have definitive G1 Dinobots, for all new series and
fictions, Dinobots should always be in G2 colors as their default color
scheme. (Slag and Snarl need to figure out who gets red and green, and
Swoop and Sludge need to just pick colors — I’m thinking turquoise for
Sludge, and maybe yellow for Swoop). Just because it makes it easier to
have two on the shelf at the same time. Aerialbots too.

But then you'd still mix up G2 Air Raid and G2 Skydive because they
would both be "the blue one." And every time poor Slingshot got a new
toy, it would break!

...

I’ll get the Aerialbots confused because there were two personalities
for five robots, six if you count Superion, and seven if you include
Alpha Bravo.

Aerialbots needs a bit of a redesign to be distinctive, and they need to
be in a series. Then we will learn that Silverbolt is afraid of heights,
Air Raid is black and quotes Malcolm X, Slingshot is obsessed with
fashion, Fireflight is an alcoholic, and Skydive likes turtles. And they
all keep ditching Alpha Bravo.

Post by Zobovor

Post by GustavoWombat
And, for similar reasons, Constructicons should be in a rainbow of
flavors, even though that’s not authentic to anything. Gay Pride
Constructicons. They’re fabulous.

If we ever got Constructicons in Diaclone colors, then Scavenger and
Bonecrusher and Scrapper would be yellow, Long Haul would be orange, and
Hook and Mixmaster would be blue. Which is pretty close, and maybe more
visually interesting than everybody being green/purple.
Zob (DIE-AH-KLOOOOOONE!)

It’s like the Village People, but they’re all the construction worker.
Also, I can barely tell start my Constructicons. Hook has a Hook, and
Mixmaster is the cement mixer. Long Haul is a dump truck? Do they have
distinct personalities? Hard to know if I can’t tell them apart.

Since I’m a bit face blind, I have a similar problem with non-animated
tv shows. I tried rewatching Twin Peaks and gave up when I discovered
there were two identical to me characters — women with black hair and
shoulder pads (oh, the 80s). I thought it was one character. Then she
had breakfast with herself. Then I still wasn’t sure because it was
David Lynch’s and she might have been having breakfast with herself.

Hot Take: the Twin Peaks soundtrack was better than the show.

[Travoltron]

She's up for pre-order now. $100. Damn. I was going to buy two, but with
that price I only bought one anime-colored toy. The prototype version
has a different head and different gun.