Interview: MPG-19 Soundwave Developer

Transformers: Interview with the Developers of MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor

The first release in the ‘Sound Wave Festival’ series is Soundwave, a flawless tribute to his classic cartoon design. 

Interview Date: 27th October 2025

MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor
Scheduled for release in late May 2026
Price: ¥24,200 

Takara Tomy’s high-end hobby label, T-SPARK, will release “MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor” from the Transformers action figure series in late May 2026, priced at ¥24,200.
The MPG series—centered on the themes of GATTAI (combination), GIANT, and GREAT—represents a new evolution of the Masterpiece (MP) line, the ultimate brand for transforming robot toys. Using the latest technology, it brings beloved Transformers characters to life like never before.
The 19th release in the series features Destron Intelligence Officer Soundwave along with his cassette companion Condor. This marks nearly a decade since the original MP-13 Soundwave debuted in 2013. Both figures faithfully recreate the colour scheme from the classic cartoon Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers.
Soundwave is the Destron Intelligence Officer, appearing in the original Generation 1 (G1) Transformers series, including the cartoon Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers. Loyal to the Destron leader, Megatron, he serves as his trusted confidant. Soundwave transforms from a cassette player into a robot, and deploys Cassetron, a cassette that transforms into a robot, to carry out espionage missions. This release includes Condor, a condor-type Cassetron.
In this article, we speak with a developer from Takara Tomy’s Collector Division, Hobby Character Business Office, about the appeal of MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor. We also showcase photos of the prototype and highlight the Soundwave Festival announced during the T-SPARK Live broadcast on September 25th.
Together, Soundwave & Condor faithfully bring the cartoon’s original look and feel to life.

-We’d love to hear about how MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor came to life—can you walk us through the development process?
Developer: “Soundwave” is the first character to be re-released as part of the “Sound Wave Festival” announced during T-SPARK Live. The promotional video also teased silhouettes of future characters, and when planning the lineup, we wanted them to feel connected. We felt it would feel incomplete if “a certain character” didn’t have a rival, so we decided to release Soundwave in a fresh anime-inspired colour scheme. 

-Regarding the design, I’m curious, did you carry over any of the underlying structures or die-cast features from the 2013 Masterpiece Soundwave and Condor into this new version?
Developer: Yes. Just like the original Masterpiece release, we’ve used die-cast parts for the robot-mode feet and chrome plated parts for the switches and other details. While keeping these strengths and maintaining high quality, we’ve finished the figure in a familiar colour scheme that faithfully matches the cartoon. 

-Did you manage to keep the original design and styling of the cassette player as well?
Developer: While the transformation into a cassette player has been preserved, some parts have been recoloured to match the design seen in the cartoon rather than a real cassette player. For example, we modelled it after the cassette player that appears in the scene where Spike brings it into the Cybertron base, unaware that it’s actually Soundwave, and Teletraan I is hacked.
Nowadays, most people don’t often see real cassette players, but we made sure that, even when compared to the cartoon, it’s instantly recognisable as Soundwave. 

-What’s the size of the figure? Is it larger than the Generations Studio Series version?
Developer: The figure is indeed larger than the Generation Studio Series version. Even within the Masterpiece line, starting with MP-10 Convoy, the height differences between characters become noticeable when displayed together.
With die-cast metal components and a multitude of detailed parts, the figure’s meticulous transformation reflects its size and value, continuing the tradition of the MP series. This careful attention to scale and detail is a key point that sets it apart from other lines, and something we place great emphasis on. 

-The colours on this figure are true to the cartoon, did you use the original cartoon model design as a reference?
Developer: We didn’t just rely on reference materials from the cartoon model sheets, we also carefully watched the series itself. Colouring varied across the series, and since MP-13 Soundwave had a more realistic, darker palette, we used the cartoon colours as a reference to create a clear distinction for this new figure.
The buttons are chrome plated, just like in the MP series, giving them a bold, striking look. 

-Compared to the MP series, this figure is more faithful to the cartoon, with some of the intricate colour detailing around the shoulders simplified.
Developer: The MP series was originally designed with realism in mind, so even the smallest details were painted individually. In contrast, the actual cartoon kept things simpler. Looking at recent merchandise illustrations, the MP series often included more colour information, which sometimes made it feel removed from the anime’s image. This led us to consciously focus on bringing the cartoon Soundwave to life in physical form. 

-Is Condor coloured to match the cartoon as well?
Developer: The MP series was designed with microcassettes in mind, but in the cartoon, the cassette patterns are simplified and the colours are different.
Condor is also memorable for ejecting out of Soundwave’s chest, so we wanted to capture that iconic moment. That’s why we chose the current colour scheme, which evokes the scenes from the cartoon. 

-What can you tell us about its articulation?
Developer: When it comes to smaller figures, there’s always a balance between the movement needed for transformation and the articulation in robot mode. In those cases, joint movement can be limited or feel unnatural.
With the MP series, we’ve carefully defined which areas should combine transformation and joint mechanisms, and which should remain separate. We’ve also thoughtfully used additional parts to incorporate mechanisms that expand the range of movement, achieving poses that would be difficult in other series. 

-Next, as part of the figure’s special features, can it replicate the eject function, along with the blasters, scanners, and other handheld accessories?
Developer: The figure comes with a scanner, just like the MP series, which can be attached to the wrist. It also includes a chest display panel and a clear Energon cube. The Megatron gun from the MP series has been omitted due to moulding constraints. In its place, we’ve included a clear purple Energon cube, designed to look filled with energy. In the MP series, fans could print an Energon Sheet and insert it into a clear cube, but to reduce the burden on collectors, and because the Megatron gun is no longer included, we opted for a pre-filled design this time.
Additionally, the figure retains the feature that allows you to press the eject button, as well as the fast-forward and rewind buttons. 

-How difficult is the transformation? Could someone who’s new to the MPG series manage it easily?
Developer: I’d say Soundwave’s transformation is on the easier side. Unlike Transformers that take on completely different forms, like cars or planes, he’s essentially a square box. The chest doubles as the cassette ejection port, so you mainly move the parts around the chest, making the transformation intuitive and easy to follow. 

-Let’s talk about the ‘Sound Wave Festival’ from T-SPARK Live. Since Soundwave & Condor is the first figure in the series, what other Transformers can fans look forward to down the line?
Developer: Some of you may have already noticed from the silhouettes in the trailer, but we’re planning to release Cybertron Communications, Broadcast next. Broadcast and Soundwave, in particular, have an inseparable relationship, and I personally wanted to see them posed side by side as rivals.
Broadcast has appeared in the Generations Studio Series and other lines, but no release has fully captured the cartoon version. Previous series often added a modern twist, so for MPG, we aim to recreate a design that feels familiar and evokes nostalgia for fans of the original line.
Cassettebots have also appeared in other series, but their designs have often been rearranged, diluting the original look from the cartoon and the classic toys. For MPG, we are keeping the design true to both the cartoon and the original toys of the time. 

-Is this the first time Broadcast has been made into a physical figure in the MP series?
Developer: He hasn’t been released in the MP series before, so this will be his first time as a physical figure in the MPG series, as part of the Transformers Sound Warriors.
Because of that, we wanted to include features we couldn’t achieve in the Generations Studio Series version, and we’re exploring other various features, so we hope fans will look forward to it. 

-I noticed that in the trailer, besides Soundwave, Broadcast, and the Cassettebot, there’s a bigger silhouette, who does that represent?
Developer: That would be the resurrected sound warrior (laughs). 

-Are there plans for bundle sales that include items like the Cassettebots and Cassetterons?
Developer: The tentative plan is to include a Cassettebot in the set with Broadcast first. We’re also considering a set that includes several other Cassettebots.
Additionally, we’re exploring a set that will feature the ‘resurrected sound warrior’ along with a cassette that’s different from the ones in the other lineups. 

-‘Resurrected Sound Warrior’ and ‘Sound Wave Festival’ are names that will sound familiar to Japanese Transformers fans.
Developer: That’s right. ‘Soundwave’ is a name that fans use affectionately, and we wanted to make a strong impression, so we decided to present it as the ‘Sound Wave Festival. 

-Next, we’d love to hear what aspects you focused on in creating MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor.
Developer: One of our main focuses was staying true to the cartoon’s colours. During development, we went through a lot of trial and error, testing shades of blue from very bright to very dark to find the perfect balance.
The MP series aimed for a more realistic look, using metallic gold and silver that really stood out. But since the cartoon was cel animated, there isn’t much of a shiny metallic feel. Keeping that in mind, we made the silver less metallic and closer to the tone seen in the anime, rather than a standard grey. 

-At first glance, the figure has a cel-shaded colour scheme, but on closer inspection, you’ll see the silver has been carefully painted to meet the standards of a top-quality brand. I believe the colouring and paintwork truly live up to a premium collectable. Finally, do you have a message you’d like to share with fans?
Developer: The ‘Sound Wave Festival’ commences with MPG-19 Soundwave & Condor. Soundwave is an iconic character, but with Transformers celebrating its 40th anniversary in Japan this year (2025), some fans may only be discovering him now.
We wanted to give both long-time fans and newcomers the chance to experience the ‘ultimate Soundwave,’ so we’ve released him in his widely recognised cartoon colours. We also hope that Soundwave serves as a gateway to other characters. In particular, we focused on developing his rival, Broadcast, with a variety of gimmicks, cartoon-inspired styling, and display options that let fans recreate classic scenes from the show.
We hope the MPG series will be a way for fans to explore Transformers further, enjoy its intricate transformations, and continue to love the series for many years to come. Thank you for your support.

-Thank you very much.

Original Interview: Hobby Watch Website