Takara Tomy’s Missing Link line, a modern reimagining of classic Generation 1 (G1) Transformers toys with more details and articulation, has just welcomed another fan-favorite character: Grimlock. The leader of the Dinobots, which was introduced in 1984, will soon join the retro team of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Sunstreaker, Arcee, and more.
Grimlock first stomped into Transformers history in 1985 as a robot that turns into a mechanical T-Rex, which already makes him cooler than most things that exist. Now he is back as Missing Link C-12 Grimlock [JP], redesigned from the ground up while keeping the soul of the original toy. He still transforms from robot to mechanical Tyrannosaurus, still uses die-cast parts, but now comes with modern articulation so he can finally strike poses that do not look like he is stuck in traffic.
The old sticker details are now sculpted and painted, which means no more crooked decals ruining your childhood dreams. He comes with a silver-plated saber inspired by the Diaclone era, plus a double laser gun and a missile launcher with removable missiles for pretend blasting. Like C-11 Delta Magnus, he also includes a female human figure that can sit inside the cockpit on Grimlock’s back, which is still one of the weirdest but coolest features ever. There is also a heat-activated secret emblem, a stand connector, retro-style box art, and a collector card.
This is basically the Grimlock you remember, but with knees that actually work.
Takara Tomy Missing Link C-12 Grimlock is priced at 18,700 yen [JP] (about US$118) and is scheduled for release in late July 2026.
Images: Takara Tomy [JP].
