Review: #159
Name: Starscream
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Animated
Year of Release: 2008
Size Class: Activators (Wave 1)
Variations: repainted into Thundercrack, Dirge, Ramjet and Skywarp. The Japanese version has a purple/white Decepticon insignia instead of a silver one from the Hasbro version.
JET MODE:
Unsurprisingly, Starscream transforms into a jet but not in the typical Starscream colours. He features forward sweeping wings (which is unusual in itself). He features some null-rays underneath each wing.
Sadly, his arms are not hidden in any way. The jet overall is fairly bulky, a byproduct of the simplistic transformation/gimmick. He is well painted though with red detailing throughout.
On a side profile, you can tell that the nosecone doesn't completely line up due to the auto-transformation aspect (and probably a one-off case). Starscream features two flip down rear landing gear (with molded wheels).
The transformation activation button is this conspicuous red button on the fuselage. If it wasn't red then it wouldn't have stood out as much...
You can see the gearing and how he folds up in jet mode. This means that he has a rather bulky underside, but not enough to ruin the figure.
Also, being a jet, he gives the illusion of being bigger than he is. Overall, this is still a good jet, especially for this size. He holds together well, with the exception that his legs can unhook slightly thanks to gravity (this only ruining the aesthetics though).
TRANSFORMATION:
Being an Activator, he partially auto-transforms. Before you press the red button though, you have to unhook his legs. After the spring-loaded transformation happens, you get the result that is pictured above. You then manually straighten the head, arms and legs. Starscream requires more manual handling than I expected or would have liked.
ROBOT MODE:
You are presented with a rather oddly proportioned robot. Nothing here particularly screams Starscream.
One good thing is that there is no unintentional kibble, with nothing sticking out the back.
Starscream's head sculpt is great, the evil red eyes and the open mouthed smirk. The head is attached to a balljoint which weirdly allows him to look up much easier than side to side (it's the big chin).
Starscream is tall and wide in robot mode. I love his red shoulder guards.
Poseability is great, his feet is stable in a lot of poses and he features a lot of balljoints.
He features a null-ray on each arm. It's awesome that he had some sort of weapon.
This is a great robot mode (sure, his knees are lower than normal but that is easily ignored) that's also show accurate.
OVERALL:
Another stunning Activator toy, in my mind, second only to Bumblebee. The auto-transforming aspect here requires just a tad too many manual adjustments but the resulting robot mode is amazingly good. It captures the character of Starscream from the sculpting of his hands to his head.
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