Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)
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With the Galaxy Force franchise having ended on a whimper rather than a bang in Japan, Takara opted to go with a smaller, more collector-oriented line in 2006, resulting in the controversial Transformers: Kiss Players toyline.
The series spins out of the Binaltech toyline, re-using the intricate, 1:24 scale molds from that series, and - apparently taking their cue from the short-lived Japanese subline, Binaltech Asterisk - pairing them with PVC figurines of cute anime girls.
The manga and radio drama establish that these girls are the eponymous "Kiss Players", who power-up the Transformers and merge with them by kissing them. Each toy comes packaged with an audio CD that collects several chapters of the radio drama that was broadcast concurrently with the line.
In 2007, Kiss Players moved into its second phase, which featured only three products, all of them exclusives.
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Toyline
2006
The first year of the Kiss Players toyline is notorious for featuring the only counterpart to Alternators Optimus Prime in Japan, released along with a couple of retooled Alternators molds.
It also included the first release in the Kiss Players Figure Collection, a reverse of the standard Kiss Players format featuring a larger PVC figure of Atari with a Smallest Transforming Transformers-style version of an Autorooper unit.
| Alternators molds | Kiss Players Figure Collection |
2007
The second year featured two exclusive sets of 3-packs, one of redecoed Generation 1 Mini-Cassettes and another of redecoed Beast Wars Egg Beasts.
It also saw the second and final release in the Figure Collection with an exclusive redeco of Atari minus the Autorooper.
| Toy Festival (March 2007) | e-HOBBY (March 2007) | Dengeki Hobby magazine mail-order (April 2007) |
Notes
- According to series designer Yuki Ohshima, the larger Autorooper toy was not originally planned for release. When it was added to the toyline, it was opted to discontinue the Figure Collection, which was originally going to continue with Melissa × Convoy (and presumably would have ended with Syaosyao × Hot Rodimus).
- Kiss Players Autorooper received a new toy in 2023 through an alternate head for the Buzzworthy Bumblebee Animated Universe Autotrooper. Hasbro designer Evan Brooks even said "Kiss Players" on stream!
