Well, the popularity in the Transformers have grown with the recent release of the live-action movie in theatres. I know many of my friends (like myself) have grown-up watching the Transformers cartoons as children and owning the popular toys. I recall I used to have Optimus Prime and Starscream as a kid and have recently repurchased both of them as part of Takara’s Masterpiece series. However, one of the more popular Transformers was the Decepticon lieutenant, Soundwave. Takara has reissued most of the G1 series Transformer toys, including Soundwave, however, this time around, they’ve decided to produce a transformable Soundwave which is also a fully functional MP3 player! Instead of using old-school audio cassettes, you can store your tunes on an mini SD Card. Just imagine, you’re on the bus and you’re feeling bored, you can just transform Soundwave into robot mode and kick some butt! However, if you want one of these bad boys, you gotta import them because they are currently only available in Japan and Asia (how come Asia has all the best toys?). Better yet, you can pair them up with the transformable Rumble and Frenzy earphones!

I thought it was already neat when they made Optimus Prime’s Trailer into an iPod docking station or made transforming Nike shoes, but this is definitely a must-have gadget for the die-hard Transformer fan! I wonder what’s next? Turning the Autobot called Blaster into a fully functional boombox? or perhaps a transforming toaster? Only the future will tell!

-Stephen