Transformers • Masterpiece

The Transformers: Masterpiece (トランスフォーマー マスターピース) is a toyline of collector-focused toys that are mostly based upon characters from the original The Transformers cartoon, but manufactured with today’s advanced engineering techniques. As a line aimed towards collectors, Masterpiece Transformers tend to be very expensive. Though the Masterpiece line is largely developed by Takara/TakaraTomy with the Japanese market in mind, the line is also distributed by Hasbro in Asian markets outside Japan, and in Australia as Target and Toys”R”Us exclusives. Hasbro has also redecoed/retooled molds from this line for release in their own markets under various toy lines, and almost always as store exclusives. These Hasbro versions originally saw release as Walmart exclusives until 2009, when they were succeeded by Toys”R”Us. From 2013 onwards, Hasbro released its versions as a single cohesive line (instead of as part of other, contemporary lines), with a numbering system similar to the one used by TakaraTomy. However, by 2015, the figures were again co-branded as part of the Generations line, while still continuing their numbering system.