| Optimus Prime has been a semi-truck in various iteration, shape and form. When you mention of his name the first thing that comes to mind is the alternate mode that he turns into since making his first appearance in the classic cartoon that Teletran has scanned his vehicle form that would become part of the character’s identity.
Takara Tomy, the Japanese toy manufacturer has produced countless Optimus Prime merchandise outside the action figure that appeared in 1984. The most significant product would be the non-transforming diecast cars. The company that also owned a diecast brand Tomica expanded to include Opitmus Prime as part of Dream Tomica. |
Dream Tomica is a sub-brand under the Tomica diecast brand, which was introduced in 2012 that also included Bumblebe as at that time of its release Transformers Prime was the then current CG animated series being aired in North America that imported in Japan, which was popular among the local fans in their country.
It is appropriate that Takara Tomy includes Optimus Prime and Bumblebe in the mix of pop culture vehicles during the first wave of collectible cars under the Dream Tomica range that also featured Batman’s iconic batmobiles, Super Mario, and even Hello Kitty to name a few of those first batch of character vehicles.
Rolling Like an Optimus
Like all Tomica branded diecast cars they all come in their signature white boxes that featured either an artwork of that particular vehicle or the photo of the actual product. Optimus Prime is of coure a non-transforming vehicle as evident in the product image of the box highlighting the character’s vehicle mode.
When you unboxed the character vehicle it is packaged in a clear dust free plastic and revealing the product in its glorious look. There is no instruction manual included just a small product catalog describing the other vehicles under the Dream Tomica brand.
Animated in Diecast Form
If you’ve watched Transformers Prime you are already familiar with the basic vehicle form that he uses that was inspired from the live-action films. The long nose cab over truck is not new from the various Optimus Primes that taken this form. But for the the TV series this is the most familiar you’ll ever see from the Autobot Leader.
Though it captures every aesthetics of its vehicle form from the animated series it is not in scale with the Urbana 500 car that Bumblebee has taken as its Earth vehicle mode as the diecast version is larger than Prime’s and as you look at this semi-truck it’s narrow, but well-detailed in terms of quality in color and the use of wheels.
More Than Meets the Prime
It was released in 2012 and it was available in the Philippines early 2013, but it is not the most favorable diecast vehicle in the Dream Tomica range of pop culture vehicles. Bumblebee outsold Prime, where you can still find one in local retail although price point has changed since it was first became available.
It is considered a shelfwarmer along with the Nemesis Prime version and the black version of Bumblebee displayed with the live-action versions of both characters based from The Last Knight. But they’re slowly disappearing from retail due to not all collector is aware of its existence as most focused on the actual toys that transform.
Overall detail and quality are top notch it’s just under scaled for a semi-truck that should been released as a premium character in scale with Bumblebee’s vehicle mode than just part of Dream Tomica. But it is a addition for those who followed the series and collects anything that is Optimus Prime. But if you’re just getting the most best out of the character it will depend on how most would be interested and this one is not that priority though this really was a solid diecast built and affordability.
Dream Tomica featuring Transformers Optimus Prime with the designated number #147 is manufactured by Takara Tomy and locally distributed by Ban Kee Toys originally retailed ₱ 299.75 Pesos ($9.80 AUD | $5.91 USD** ) in 2013.
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