In 1986, the first animated film for "Transformers", "The Transformers: The Movie", hit the big screen to immense fan anticipation. The life-or-death battle between the leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons, the passing of the Prime legacy, and the cataclysmic arrival of the universe's greatest threat—Unicron—made the film a hot topic. Moreover, the death of Optimus Prime delivered an unparalleled shock to audiences of the time, solidifying its status as the most iconic classic of Transformers G1.
Time flies, and now in 2026, it has been a full forty years since the movie's release. At this moment, our good friends at Hasbro are specially commemorating and celebrating this unique 40th anniversary. That's right! This review will bring you famous characters from the G1 animation and The Movie, taking everyone on a trip down memory lane. The retro, nostalgic style is sure to make the hearts of many long-time fans pound. Without further ado, let's dive into today's main event!
▼The stars of today's review, including two Deluxe Class figures on retro cardbacks, two boxed Voyager Class figures, and one boxed Leader Class figure.
▼Autobot Wheelie, a cosmic wanderer adrift in space, is skilled with a slingshot and speaks in rhyme. He encountered Hot Rod, Kup, Grimlock, and others on the planet Quintessa, later becoming an indispensable asset to the new generation of Autobots. This version is an all-new mold, recreating his classic look in the Deluxe Class scale.
▼The sculpt and color scheme are based on the original G1 toy, and he comes with his signature slingshot.
▼The head sculpt retains features from his animated appearance, such as the brim of his cap.
▼He possesses above-average articulation, allowing for a wide variety of poses with ease.
▼"One shot from my slingshot will make your head go POP!"
▼Vehicle mode, recreating his alien sports car form.
▼The slingshot can be stored underneath the front of the car.
▼Do you like this all-new design?
▼Autobot Outback, the gunner of the Autobot Mini-Vehicles, often disregards the rules, a personality trait that makes him a rebellious and hard-to-control warrior. This toy pays homage to the original, using the previously released Studio Series 86 Brawn mold with a new color scheme, a different head sculpt, and retooled parts for the chest and other areas.
▼This stocky, powerhouse physique perfectly represents the character described above.
▼The head sculpt also faithfully restores his original design.
▼Don't underestimate the Deluxe Class scale; his articulation is just as amazing to play with!
▼Vehicle mode. The mortar cannon can be mounted on the roof.
▼Details on the front grille, bumper, and engine hood are meticulously crafted and definitely worth a closer look.
▼Bring him home and add another warrior to your Autobot Mini-Vehicle army!
▼Scourge, one of the warriors created by the planet-eater Unicron for Galvatron. He was reborn from the corpse of Thundercracker and leads Galvatron's personal legion, the "Sweeps," in a relentless pursuit of the Autobots. This is a reissue of the previously released 86-05 figure. If you missed it before, you absolutely must get it this time!
▼The sculpt highly recreates his unique and aggressively sharp wings from the movie.
▼The head sculpt. Yes, it still has that wonderfully dated mustache!
▼Includes a translucent effect part that can be attached directly to the weapon's barrel.
▼The asymmetrical design of his hands allows him to easily strike this weapon-holding pose.
▼Vehicle mode, restoring his alien spacecraft appearance from the animation.
▼The effect part can also be used here. Are you ready to build a squad of Sweeps?
▼Hot Rod: Confident, daring, and a rule-breaker, Hot Rod is a young warrior always eager for new experiences and adventures. During his time on Earth, he often spent time with his human friend, Daniel Witwicky. After Optimus Prime's death, Hot Rod and his companions embarked on an adventure to reclaim the Matrix of Leadership, transforming into the new Autobot leader—Rodimus Prime. This toy is a redeco of the 86-04 figure released five years ago, with adjusted accessories.
▼Unlike the original release, which had a color scheme closer to the G1 toy, this version's colors pay homage to the animation style. The most noticeable difference is the use of magenta for the red sections.
▼His handsome face, before being burdened (?) by the Matrix of Leadership.
▼The flip-down visor gimmick in his head is still present!
▼A look at the magnificent accessory set. It retains the original dual photon lasers and buzzsaw. The Matrix of Leadership is now an unpainted translucent version. Additionally, it newly includes a fishing rod, as well as the energy sword and shield used for training in the animation.
▼We need an articulated Daniel figure to go with this leisurely fishing scene!
▼With these, you can recreate his training gear from his session with the Auto-combatant!
▼A mini-welder is built into his right hand, and the buzzsaw can be attached to his left hand after flipping it around. You know, as an Autobot repairman, it's perfectly reasonable to have these gadgets on hand, right?
▼"Light our darkest hour!"
▼Vehicle mode. That massive spoiler is so cool and over-the-top. By the way, all the accessories and weapons mentioned above can be mounted on the car at once, although... whether it looks good is a matter of personal taste.
▼The flame deco on the hood is as awesome as ever.
▼For those who missed out before, this is definitely the time to add one to your collection!
▼Optimus Prime, the most iconic Prime of the Autobots, an embodiment of wisdom, courage, and strength. He led the Autobots through numerous challenges on Earth. In The Movie, he engaged in a final one-on-one duel with Megatron. After both were critically wounded, he passed the Matrix of Leadership to his most trusted old friend, Ultra Magnus, before passing away. This figure uses the highly acclaimed 86 Optimus Prime as its base, adding battle-damaged parts and paint applications from the duel.
▼The moment you see that classic red and blue, you know our invincible hero has arrived.
▼The new head sculpt, with its shattered faceplate and damaged antennae, is the most eye-catching part of this battle-damaged retool.
▼The cracks on his chest and right shoulder are represented with printed details, while his left abdomen has been replaced with a new part to recreate the battle damage.
▼It includes what could be called the soul of this figure—the orange scrap metal rod that Megatron picked up from the ground, which can be inserted directly into the slot on his injured abdomen. When it pierced Optimus Prime's body, I'm sure the hearts of everyone watching for the first time shattered along with it.
▼The chest still retains the storage mechanism for the Matrix of Leadership.
▼What happened to "one shall stand, one shall fall"...
▼Optimus Prime's signature Ion Blaster is still here!
▼Back then, probably no one expected this young lad would become the next Prime...
▼Vehicle mode, the classic tractor-trailer cab makes its appearance! By the way, its excellent transformation design is identical to the 86 version. I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't experienced it yet try it for themselves!
▼The details on the front of the truck are still not to be underestimated. You must experience and appreciate them in person!
▼And that concludes our review of the Transformers Generations The Movie 40th Anniversary MTMTE & G1 Retro Cardback figures. For long-time fans, both the character selection and the playability of the toys themselves are nearly irresistible. These are absolute must-have masterpieces. Let's all celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Movie with these toys in hand! See you at the next review, bye-bye!
