Rodimus Minor Autobot Leader Transformers Animated Deluxe Figure Item No.: Asst. 24414 No. 90892 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Firing bow, two projectiles Action Feature: Turns into a "futuristic" car Retail: $14.99 Availability: Fall 2010 Other: Toys "R" Us Exclusive
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Before 2010 Hasbro rarely let molds go by the wayside-- if they tooled a figure, you were going to get it. Since then we've seen a few get pushed into limbo or moved to exclusive status, like Rodimus Minor here. Generally widely available since his debut last year, the figure is based on a brief cameo at the start of the third season of the wonderful (and sadly absent on DVD) Transformers Animated. They even got Judd Nelson to do the voice! For the cartoon, I mean. The toy doesn't talk.

Sized just like any other average deluxe toy, Rodimus Minor (not Prime, or Major, or Hot Rodimus) easily transforms from a car from the future to a pretty dang good robot. Like the bulk of the Animated line's designs, there's minimal kibble and both molds are generally pretty solid. The vehicle is a fun car, and the figure is a surprisingly well-articulated chunk of plastic. If you end up having to pay a premium for him, you may as well do it, it's far better than any other "Rodimus" toy in terms of movement and detail. (Yes, even the Classics mold. Sadly, that's a chunky toy.)

As a vehicle, it's a great little car. He has a clear blue windshield, and the pipes that were traditionally on the doors are now more or less on the sides and back of the car. The bright yellow spoiler is now more of a golden color, and the famous engine is still present. But what about his Autobot symbol? It's still there, if you flip over the engine-- so at least you can see it in robot mode. The double-bow-and-arrow projectile launcher stores on the roof of the car, if you're so inclined. You can also not put it up there. Aren't you lucky to have options?

In robot mode, there's not a whole lot to highlight simply because it's one of those rare figures that just looks great. I can't fault it because it looks cool, can be posed in a variety of awesome ways, and is a fairly accurate representation of what I saw on the TV show. Each hand has two joints at the wrist, and I guess if I had to whine about something it's that the hood of the car doesn't seem to hold into place too well-- mine doesn't quite snap in and hold into place. Now, this could be user error on my part, but there's no denying it still looks good even if you can't get it quite perfectly aligned. My favorite thing about the figure is that it has an actual red Autobot logo on his chest, while most other Animated toys had a far uglier silver or gold color. We need red or purple. We are not animals.

If you can find this one, get one. It looks good, it's fun to play with, and if you love the original movie's characters as much as I do you might want to snag Arcee and Ultra Magnus too before they become too expensive.

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