Interview: Masterpiece Movie Next Sideswipe - Takahiko Shirai

Transformers "Masterpiece Movie Next MPMN-01 Sideswipe" Interview 

“Faithfully recreating the streamlined vehicle mode and the detailed robot mode as seen on the big screen.” By Yoshida Kōhei 2nd February 2026 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2026. 

Masterpiece Movie Next MPMN-01 Sideswipe & Masterpiece Movie Next MPMN-02 Sideswipe G1 Red

Scheduled for release in late September 2026
Price: ¥14,850 each 

Takara Tomy’s high-end hobby label, T-SPARK, will release Masterpiece Movie Next MPMN-01 Sideswipe from the Transformers action figure line in late September 2026. The figure is priced at ¥14,850. 

The Masterpiece Movie (MPM) line, the premier brand for figures based on the live action Transformers films, has been reintroduced as Masterpiece Movie Next (MPMN). The Autobot warrior Sideswipe leads the series as the first release. 

Sideswipe is an Autobot warrior who appeared in the live-action film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. His robot mode features a sleek silvery-white body and agile, high-speed movement, while his vehicle mode transforms into a Concept Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Masterpiece Movie Next MPMN-01 Sideswipe recreates the intricate mechanical detail of the robot mode, with articulated joints enabling a wide range of dynamic poses. In vehicle mode, he transforms into an officially licensed Concept Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, faithfully capturing the sleek design seen in the film. 

Accessories include the Cybertonium Blade, which famously sliced the Decepticon Sideways in half in the film, two hand cannons, and effect parts to add extra impact to the action. 

In this article, we spoke with Takahiko Shirai, Planning and Marketing Manager in Takara Tomy’s Hobby Character Business Division, Collector’s Business Department, about the appeal of Masterpiece Movie Next MPMN-01 Sideswipe, along with photographs of the prototype. 

- Firstly, could you tell us about the background behind the relaunch of Masterpiece Movie Next. 

Shirai-san: I’d like to talk about its predecessor, Masterpiece Movie first. 

Around 2010, Leader Class products, Bumblebee and Starscream, were released based on the live-action movie, but only for the overseas market. 

These were such high-quality figures that it felt a shame to release them domestically as one-off Leader Class items. However, if we made them to the same specifications as the overseas versions, there were colour limitations, and it would have been difficult to produce them with additional paint applications. 

So I took on the role of producer and, together with the development team, proposed increasing the number of colours and paying more attention to detail, such as fully painting parts that had previously been moulded in colour. 

At the time, I had also become the Masterpiece planner, starting with Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy. We decided that if we were going to create a high-spec figure, it should carry the Masterpiece name. That led to the release of Masterpiece Movie (MPM), featuring completely redesigned packaging and increased standards. 

From the third figure onwards, Hasbro took over, and the line continued to evolve. However, after the release of MPM-15 Brawl, there was talk of ending the series, as most of the main characters from the first film had already been released. 

Personally, I was saddened to see the series end, as I had been involved in both naming and producing it.

There were still characters from films such as Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon, Age of Extinction, and The Last Knight that had not yet seen a release. After discussions with Hasbro, we were granted permission to continue the series and choose the lineup ourselves. However, rather than continuing the numbering from Masterpiece Movie, and given the time that had passed, we decided to relaunch the line with the addition of “Next” in the name. That is how Masterpiece Movie Next came about. 

-Why was Sideswipe chosen as the first character for Masterpiece Movie Next? Was it because you wanted to include a character from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the second film in the series? 

Shirai-san: That’s correct. While there are still characters from the first Transformers film that have yet to be released, since some time had passed since the original Masterpiece Movie series, we felt that a character from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen would be the best choice. 

When considering who to feature, as the planner in charge, I recommended Sideswipe. He’s a cool character who appears at the beginning of the film and, importantly, is a licensed car. As planning progressed, the development team agreed, and we decided to move forward with Sideswipe. 

His striking image, such as his dashing entrance at the start of the film and his action of slicing the Decepticon Sideways in half with his Cybertonium Blade, makes him a perfect choice for a fresh start. 

-This Sideswipe is also going to be available in G1 colours. Since Sideswipe was known as Lambor in Japan, it’s possible that this colour scheme was inspired by the cartoon Transformers: The Super Robot Lifeform. 

Shirai-san: There’s the concept car from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and the convertible version from the subsequent Transformers: Dark of the Moon. 

We initially considered releasing these types in sequence, but the development team suggested launching a red Corvette at the same time, as the character is often associated with red. 

We felt it would be a good idea to start a new chapter in Masterpiece Movie Next with a character available in two colours, so we decided to proceed with planning the G1 colour scheme alongside it. 

-Fans of both the live-action films and the cartoon are sure to be thrilled by this. 

Shirai-san: I also have a strong attachment to Lambor. When I first took charge of planning and producing Masterpiece models, I began with Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy, taking over partway through the series. 

The first model I actually planned from scratch was MP-12 Lambor, for which I negotiated the licence myself. I persuaded the team to release a Masterpiece figure at a reasonable price by making it smaller, easier to transform, as well as securing the Lamborghini licence. We released it at an affordable price, and it became a huge hit. 

For me, Lambor was a very significant and landmark product among the top brands, so I immediately agreed to release a red version and began planning to release two cars at the same time. 

-In terms of the design, could you tell us what you focused on in terms of the robot mode’s proportions, colour scheme, and the distinctive details from the live-action film? 

Shirai-san: The development team explained: “The Corvette parts that appear all over the body in robot mode are made from real vehicle components wherever possible. We’ve tried to minimise dummy parts as much as we can, so that fans can experience the transformation as if it were a real car.” 

 The vehicle mode is based on the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept car, and Chevrolet supervised the design so I believe the design is very close indeed to the real car. 

- The included effect parts are a new feature. what are your thoughts on them? 

Shirai-san: The effect parts themselves, such as those depicting missile launches and flames, were included with some of the later figures in the Masterpiece Movie series. We wanted to continue that tradition, so this release also comes with effect parts. While Sideswipe uses both a blade and a gun, the effects go beyond simply adding small enhancements. They are designed to express his movements, allowing fans to recreate the movie scene in which he sprints with his blade in hand. 

This type of expressive effect has not appeared in the series until now, so we thought it would be a fresh and unique way to approach effects for the launch of Masterpiece Movie Next. 

- Next, I’d like to ask about articulation. First, what were the key points you focused on when designing the movement of the limbs in robot mode? 

Shirai-san: First of all, there’s a scene where Sideswipe runs in a fairly low stance, so we made sure he could be posed in that position. 

Of course, if the pose is unbalanced, he may not be able to stand on his own, so a stand may be needed. However, we have carefully designed him so that he can be posed in ways that evoke the movie scenes. 

To support this, we added a joint hole in the robot mode’s waist, a feature that has become familiar in recent figures. This allows a stand to be attached for dynamic posing. 

Additionally, unlike other Autobots, Sideswipe features a reverse-joint design in the knees. Because of this, we engineered him to allow for a wide range of knee movement. 

- So you can also recreate the pose inspired by Sideswipe’s low stance during cornering in the movie’s opening sequence? 

Shirai-san: The figure is designed to make it relatively easy to recreate the movie scene where he cuts in and shouts, “Sideswipe! Clear a path!” 

- This time, the Cybertonium Blade and Hand Cannon are included as accessories. What kind of features or gimmicks do they have? 

Shirai-san: Two Cybertonium Blades and two Hand Cannons are included, and as an added feature, they can now also be attached in vehicle mode. 

This is a feature that wasn’t available in previous figures, the weapons can be mounted on the roof in vehicle mode. It’s a new gimmick designed to prevent them from becoming redundant when the model is transformed. 

- Is the transformation challenging? 

Shirai-san: With this Sideswipe, we aimed to make the transformation as simple as possible, so that even those who have never purchased previous MPM series figures can enjoy it. 

We examined the transformation mechanisms of various Sideswipe products, including those released with previous films and the Studio Series, and we believe we have created a figure that strikes a good balance between design and playability. Compared to earlier MPM products, there are fewer steps and procedures involved in the transformation. 

With this fresh start as MPMN, and considering customers who may be approaching Transformers for the first time with this series, we designed the transformation to be straightforward and easy to experience. 

- Could you tell us about the key points you focused on and the challenges you faced while developing this product? 

Shirai-san: This may overlap slightly with what I mentioned earlier, but the main challenges were making the transformation simple and keeping the price as affordable as possible. We could have added more intricate transformations, but the more complex the structure, the higher the cost would be. The developers were therefore particularly mindful of how much detail to include while preparing the figure. 

In line with MPMN’s style, we also paid great attention to the texture of both the vehicle and robot modes. From the design stage, we were conscious of ensuring that visible parts, such as the vehicle’s exterior, could be faithfully reproduced with paint. The silver finish across the body is almost entirely painted, giving it a luxurious appearance. 

Sideswipe was an early character in Transformers: Human Alliance and later received positive reviews in the Studio Series, so the character itself is very well regarded. To overcome these challenges, we developed the figure with the aim of achieving the pinnacle of quality, as befits Masterpiece Movie Next. 

-Finally, could you share a closing message for our readers? 

Shirai-san: This time, Takara Tomy is launching Masterpiece Movie Next, taking charge of developing the lineup and specifications. 

The lineup will not only include characters from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen onwards, but may also feature characters from the original Transformers film that have not yet been released. 

A key point is that, as a top-tier brand specialising in licensed vehicles, we plan to continue expanding the lineup with a variety of new products in the future. 

At the same time, repainted versions of existing figures may also be introduced. Takara Tomy aims to create an even more exciting lineup, so we hope fans will look forward to what’s coming. 

-Thank you very much.

Original Interview: Hobby Watch Website