True to its name, Hasbro’s Transformers franchise has seen many revisions and reimaginings of what the robots in disguise are able to turn into. From the usual vehicles to savage beasts, the latest trend sees popular characters turning into anime girls.
Far removed from their usual gimmick of turning from robot to vehicle and back, iconic Autobot and Decepticons have been reimagined through Japanese figure manufacturer Kotobukiya’s Bishoujou product line.
The Bishoujou figurine series from Kotobukiya was first launched in 2009, with illustrator Shunya Yamashita conceptualising the look of each figurine. To date, the line has featured 100 different Bishoujou statues based on various facets of popular culture.
As mentioned in an official interview with Shunya Yamashita on Kotobukiya’s website, the idea for the Bishoujou Transformers line came from Hasbro’s initial partnership with the company to create anime girl versions of the My Little Pony cast.
Following the success of the equestrian crossover, Hasbro gave Kotobukiya the green light to begin work on the Transformers. This year saw the release of the Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee Bishoujou figures.
Joining the pack is the Decepticon Air Commander and second-in-command, Starscream. The Autobots Optimus Prime and Bumblebee were given more mechanic-inspired streetwear as their attire, while Starscream follows Megatron’s more militaristic clothing.
Iconic parts of Starscream’s original Generation I look are recreated through this figure, like his nosecone chest being reimagined as a tie and vest combo, while his jet wings and Null Ray cannons have been turned into a stylish handbag.
The Optimus Prime Bishoujou figure was also recoloured as his evil counterpart, Nemesis Prime as a limited edition release. With the sheer number of recolours a typical Starscream figure receives in the mainline Transformers line, fans are sure to expect this Bishoujou figure to be repainted as other Decepticons like Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Ramjet.
No release date has been made for the Starscream Bishoujou figure just yet, but fans can grab the other three Transformers Bishoujou figures through Kotobukiya’s official website.
