When the Toynami Master Piece Collection was announced it basically promised the sky. However it was delayed and delayed and kept honest supporting fans hanging with out a shred of info or reason to stay loyal. Then when the product came out it flopped and fell far below any of our lowest expectiation. The only real thing people like about it is the Box it comes in!!!!
Not only that but in Japan there are two companies making similar products called Macross Valkyries. These two companies are Bandai and Yamato. Their versions of these products were in existence before Toynami and Harmony Gold decided to make their own. The Bandai and Yamato are the best toys of the Macross toys that are out today. Yet HG decided to block them and copy their design.
The Toynami MPC, when analyzed, is a scaled up version of a Bandai toy made back int he 1980s called the Hich Complete Model (HCM) The HCM is 1/72 scale. Toynami copied the transformation process exactly and even the small details liek the tail hooks in the legs which were a unique feature to only the HCM. Then toynami decided to copy the Yamato valkyrie using thier unique design on the tailfin/backpack. Prior to the Yamato there there had been only one way of makign the tail fins transform into the back pack and that was the Bandai/Takatoku version. Yamato has forsaken that and created something new.
Other toys of toynami are straight out copies liek their "Superposeable" toy line is a copy of a resin model form Japan that was an exclusive to the "Wonderfest" model convention. The only thing Toynami did was add poseable joints to the design and say it is theirs.
Back in the mid 90's a Chinese company had bootlegged Starwars action figures. they made them a little bigger and changed the color hee and there. Yet nomatter the small changes George Lucas and Hasbro squashed that company.
At Anime Expo 2002 I brought this information to the attention of Harmony Gold's representatives in a public question and answer panel. They out right said that since the copy rights to the Japanese products are only in Japan. And so that has no impact on them in America. Because I brought all these things to the publics attention they tried to hit me personally.
While I was at the San Diego Comic Convention I saw my boss on the Sunday. He and I were there for personal reasons not for business. He took me aside to tell me that Toynami told him what I did at Anime Expo. I could not believe it!!! Toynami somehow tracked me down and tried to use my boss to quiet me. Of course my boss doesnt care. He only cares about the reputation of his comapny which is understandable. First off my company is not in business with HG or toynami and we are not competitors. Also I was not representing my comapny at any time During my insinuating questioning.
These people will sotp at nothing to bury the truth.
Nicholas
Burbank, California