[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

I really didn't like Starscream in this line...

To be honest, I loathed the design when I first saw it. The first image I saw was of a sketch that someone made after his friend had given him a description. I was like "there is no way that can be him!". Some time after, the first images of the resin prototype appeared online and I was shocked, I was like "you mean to tell me that chicken legged design was LEGIT?"

Anyways so the first samples end up on ebay, and soon after, are reviewed by fans who paid up to get them early. I still loathed the design. This must have been in the beginning of 2007. Months passed by, I actually started warming up to the trailer, and the more I saw the F-22 mode for Starscream, and the menacing robot mode, the more I very slowly started to appreciate it. There are worse F-22s from previous Transformers lines, and the robot mode became something I liked a great deal...it looks so terrifying!

The final nail in the coffin came shortly before 6/2, the launch date for the toy line. I saw a video review for Movie Starscream, saw how the automorph worked, the articulation in motion, and views from all around in alt mode. I had finally warmed up completely to the design. It is one of my favorite movie toys. I'm not going to deny the shortcomings, and these mainly stem from the vehicle mode.

I had heard all about Takara's difficulties with engineering these toys, and the time constraints that both they and Hasbro had to deal with, so I understood why the toys weren't completely accurate, and for what they are, Hasbro and Takara did a great job. I also heard that the same guy from Takara that designed Classics Starscream designed Movie Starscream. If you can get past the fact that Movie Starscream isn't G1 Starscream, it is a very fun toy, one of the best Starscream toys. The automorph is brilliant, the F-22 needs work, but as inaccurate as it is, manages to be far more authentic than the Energon version, and the robot mode manages to be far better than most of the Decepticon movie voyagers. Actually, it is the best one, Megatron had far too simple of a transformation, & Blackout was a big disappointment(man I was so looking forward to that one too! Looks the best but certainly is not the best figure).

The ideal movie Starscream for TF2 would have:

-A sleeker alt mode with no kibble
-bigger size class(Leader or nothing!)
-retractable landing gear
-full articulation
-more accurate proportions in robot mode than the first toy
-more accurate weaponry to the movie

The first movie Starscream didn't have very many problems in robot mode. Mainly proportions, as the neck was a bit too high compared to everything else. The weaponry was inaccurate due to the the fact that the CGI models were most likely not done before Hasbro and Takara had to put in the final sculpting refinements to the weapons, so it is understandable why they ended up that way. Articulation was great, the hips just needed more range of motion though.

I really, really, hope Starscream receives a bigger, better toy in TF2. Of all the characters in the movie there was a huge demand for better Starscream and Blackout figures.