The cartoons of the 1980’s were really something else. Thanks to an ongoing infusion of Japanese animation taking over the boring after-school spots, it seems like everyone I grew up with wanted to pilot a mystical metal lion, desired the opportunity to personally fire off a few rounds of the “motion wave gun,” or was convinced that their mother’s car would transform into a giant sentient robot if they just talked to it long enough.

But for a lot of us, the animated series that best personifies that wonderful era in cartoons is Robotech. The series, a gripping action drama telling the tale of the Robotech Wars between humans and a legion of mysterious alien invaders, ran for several years and introduced us to one of the meanest, most versatile battle machines ever conceived - the Veritech Fighter. These machines were essentially state-of-the-art jet fighters that could transform into humanoid form to deal with larger-than-life alien invaders on a more “personal” level.

You’ve always wanted to own one, and now you can own six. Anime Toy maker Toynami has recently released the Robotech Super Deformed Morpher Veritechs Set, a collection of 6 fan-favorite Veritech fighters from the Robotech series.

The Robotech Super Deformed Morpher Veritechs are produced in the “Chibi” anime technique, a very stylized way of drawing that alters forms by making them shorter and slightly distorting them. When people are illustrated in this style, it results in the “big-headed” figures we’re used to seeing in anime and manga. With these super-deformed fighters, it results in a very short and wide cockpit and body. In battloid (humanoid) form, the arms and legs are somewhat proportional to the large torso though the head is relatively small.

Each roughly 3” plastic figure is very well painted and detailed. The intakes of the engines are readily apparent, and the figures have various grooves and markings that give the illusion of a level of detail that normally is difficult to create on figures so small. Transforming the toys from jet to battloid form is simple; the legs swing down, the arms swing out, and the cockpit comes down revealing the head. Each toy comes with its own rifle that fits snugly into the plastic hole on either hand. Though not fully articulated (there are no elbow or shoulder joints), the range of movement on the sturdy joints does allow for a few slightly different poses, and it does stand well on its own.

In this impressive set, you get six ‘super deformed’ Veritech fighters. Naturally, Rick Hunter’s white with red trim fighter is included, along with Max Sterling’s royal blue fighter, Zentraedi ace Miriya Sterling’s crimson Veritech, the white, black, and gold Veritech of the Skull Squadron Leader Roy Fokker, a light olive and orange “training” morpher, and Ben Dixon’s white and tan morpher. Dixon’s Veritech fighter is exclusive to this gift set, so if you’re considering buying these individually, you may want to wait and just grab this set for the added value.

For those of you’ll who will actually open to box and play with the toys (you’re never too old to play with really cool toys right?), you’ll be pleased to see that the fighters have a small gearbox and wheels on the underside in fighter mode. If you set the wheels on any hard, smooth surface and pull back a few inches, it’ll zoom away for a few feet. Feel free to imagine you’re watching Rick and the rest of the Vermilion Group take off from the SDF-1 to battle the vile Zentraedi.

The only negative point about the set is that it may not have as much detail as some fans would like. While certain grooves and ruts on the surface plastic help create the impression of detail, the units would still look slightly better with more detail actually painted or “stickered” on. Also, the toys were not constructed to transform into guardian mode (half jet, half humanoid), and hard-core Robotech fans might not be too pleased with that. However, these are very minor points.

So for fans of anime who lovingly recall days of running home from school to see the best in animation from the Land of the Rising Sun, check out this set of Robotech Veritech Super-Deformed Morphers. They’re available at video game stores, online at www.robotech.com, and probably anywhere else fanboys hang out.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 29.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: Whole Family