Takara Tomy T-Spark Transformers Evangelion Prime Unit-01

T‑SPARK Evangelion Prime Unit‑01: Product Overview

Core Specs and Line Placement
Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 is part of the T‑SPARK Synergenex Series, Takara Tomy’s crossover line that fuses Transformers with other major properties like Monster Hunter, Zoids, Macross, and now Neon Genesis Evangelion. The figure stands just under 10 inches (around 9.8–9.84 inches / 25 cm) in robot mode and converts into a semi‑truck in vehicle mode, reusing and heavily retooling the earlier “Legendary Optimus Prime” mold from 2018. It is marketed as a complete, finished, high‑target collector toy—no model‑kit assembly, but also no kid‑oriented gimmicks like spring‑loaded launchers or simplified “one‑step” transformations.

In terms of target audience, Takara and retailers position this as an adult collectible, not a mainline children’s toy; TFSource, for example, explicitly flags that items in this range are intended for collectors 16+ due to small parts and complexity. On Amazon Australia, it typically appears in the higher end of the action‑figure price range, reflecting its import status, size, and license stack (Transformers plus Evangelion). Expect it to sit at a premium compared to standard Generations figures, but broadly comparable to other large Optimus crossovers and Masterpiece‑adjacent pieces once shipping and seller mark‑ups are factored in.

What’s in the Box
Official breakdowns of the included parts are consistent: Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 comes with the main transforming figure plus a full suite of EVA‑inspired weapons and display parts.

• Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 figure (robot/semi‑truck transformer)
• Ion Gatling blaster (a reimagined Prime blaster with EVA styling)
• Cassius’ Axe (an Evangelion‑style take on the Spear of Cassius, functioning as a large melee weapon)
• Two Progressive Energy Knives (Prime‑scaled Progressive Knives that echo EVA‑01’s iconic melee weapons)
• Core Matrix (glowing‑style core piece housed in the chest alongside a Matrix of Leadership motif)
• Back‑mount unit and holder parts (connection pieces to mount weapons and gear on the back or in vehicle mode)
• Instructions sheet

Some promotional materials and early coverage also mention a removable mask that reveals a more “berserk” EVA‑like face beneath, tying directly into Evangelion’s visual language of controlled vs unleashed forms.Altogether, it feels like a complete package rather than a bare‑bones crossover repaint.

Design and Sculpt: Where Prime Meets EVA‑01

Reusing the Legendary Optimus Prime Base
Underneath the purple‑and‑green Evangelion armour, this toy is structurally based on the Takara “Legendary Optimus Prime” mold—a stylised Optimus that blended G1 and Bumblebee (2018) design cues.That means the underlying proportions, transformation scheme, and basic layout of joints and panels will look familiar to collectors who handled that earlier release. However, T‑SPARK did more than just recolour the old shell; multiple sources highlight new head tooling, reworked chest armour, and extended shoulder components designed specifically to echo EVA‑01’s silhouette.

EVA‑01 Colour Palette and Head Sculpt
The most obvious Evangelion cue is the colour palette: deep purple and fluorescent green dominate the armour, with black, grey, and small orange accents breaking up the body in ways that are strongly reminiscent of Unit‑01’s plating. The head sculpt departs from a standard Prime helmet by incorporating EVA‑style horn/antenna elements and more angular cheek lines, giving the impression that Optimus has literally been “reskinned” in EVA armour rather than simply wearing a recoloured helmet. This is an important distinction: it looks less like a quick repaint and more like a full hybrid design.

Chest, Shoulders, and Berserk Details
The chest area has been reworked with EVA‑inspired armour lines and a central section that opens to reveal a core/Matrix assembly, similar to how EVA‑01’s chest plating sometimes opens in the anime to reveal internal systems.Shoulder pylons are bulked out and angular, creating a more Evangelion‑like profile in silhouette; combined with the brighter green edges, this helps the robot mode instantly read as EVA‑01 even from a distance. When the optional beast‑like “berserk” face is exposed by removing or swapping the mask, the figure leans even further into Evangelion’s horror‑tinged aesthetics—far more so than a normal heroic Prime would.

Articulation, Engineering, and Transformation

Articulation for Display Poses
As a high‑end crossover figure, Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 is engineered with collectors’ posing needs in mind. The Synergenex range and similar T‑SPARK releases are described as fully articulated, and photos show a full complement of joints: ball‑jointed or hinged head, rotating shoulders with outward swing, bicep swivels, elbows, wrist or forearm swivels, waist rotation, hip ball‑joints with good outward range, thigh swivels, and knee bends, plus some form of ankle or foot pivot for stability.This allows for dynamic combat poses wielding the Progressive Knives or Cassius Axe, as well as more stoic “hero stance” and truck‑cab‑style soldier poses.

Transformation: Robot to Semi‑Truck
Despite the EVA armour, Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 still transforms into a recognisable flat‑front semi‑truck, leaning more G1 than live‑action movie in styling. The conversion uses the backbone of the Legendary Optimus Prime engineering, which means a torso that compacts, legs that fold into the rear of the truck, and arms that integrate into the cab and chassis. Reviews and previews highlight that the retool maintains solid truck mode integrity—panels line up cleanly and the truck rolls, rather than feeling like a compromised “alt mode” that only exists for the box copy.

Weapon Integration in Multiple Modes
One of the more thoughtful touches is how weapons and accessories can be arranged and stored across both modes. The back‑mount unit and holder parts allow the Ion Gatling blaster, Progressive Knives, and Cassius Axe to attach to Prime’s back in robot mode, creating a heavily armed Evangelion‑style loadout, or to mount on the cab and trailer area in truck mode for a “combat transport” look. This multi‑mode integration is key for display flexibility: the figure does not feel stripped down in truck form, and the weapons are less likely to end up in a parts bin between posing sessions.

Paint, Finish, and Build Quality

Premium Deco and Evangelion Accuracy
Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 leans on paint and tampo printing to sell the crossover. Collectors familiar with Takara’s high‑end releases will recognise the use of gloss, metallic, and matte finishes to create visual depth across the figure. The purple armour often appears slightly metallic or satin, contrasting with neon green highlights and darker mechanical greys underneath. Small printed details—warning stripes, panel lines, logos—nod to both Transformers insignia and the more industrial, utilitarian markings seen on EVA‑01 in official artwork.

Plastic Quality and Tolerances
T‑SPARK Synergenex items are marketed as premium adult collectibles, and listings emphasise high‑quality materials and solid tolerances across the line. Collectors can therefore reasonably expect tight joints out of the box, ratchets or firm friction joints on key load‑bearing connections (hips, knees, shoulders), and plastic that feels dense rather than hollow. Because the figure is based on an existing, tested mold that has been retooled, much of the transformation engineering and joint layout has already been through at least one production cycle, which usually improves reliability.

Potential Wear Points
As with most painted, transformable figures, there are a few foreseeable areas where care is warranted. The chest opening mechanism and any folding armour flaps could be prone to paint rub if transformed aggressively or repeatedly.Long, painted weapon edges (like the Cassius Axe blades or Progressive Knives) may also chip if dropped or forced into tight storage clips. For collectors who plan to transform and repose the figure frequently, keeping fingernails and tools away from prominent painted edges and following the instructions closely helps maintain the finish over time.

Packaging, Presentation, and Shelf Presence

Collector‑Oriented Packaging
While specific Amazon AU product photos may vary by seller, official T‑SPARK and Synergenex releases typically ship in collector‑friendly boxes with full‑colour artwork, character branding, and a mix of tech‑spec‑style diagrams and glamour shots on the back. The Evangelion Prime packaging emphasizes both the Transformers and Evangelion logos, making it instantly clear that this is a crossover piece. For in‑box collectors, the window or display flap presentation will matter; for out‑of‑box collectors, the box still functions as attractive storage that reflects the premium nature of the product.

Display Impact in Robot Mode
On a shelf, Evangelion Prime Unit‑01 commands attention primarily through colour and silhouette: the EVA‑01 purple and green read from across a room, and the beefed‑up shoulders and head crest break clearly from a standard Optimus profile. At roughly 10 inches tall, it pairs well with Leader‑class Transformers and other large robot figures, and it can anchor a mini display of Transformers x Evangelion manga, Blu‑rays, and artbooks. The ability to equip the full weapons loadout on his back or in his hands gives plenty of options for “fully armed” or more restrained heroic poses depending on taste.

Truck Mode as an EVA‑Branded Hauler
In vehicle mode, the figure becomes an unusual but striking semi‑truck: the familiar G1‑style cab now clad in purple, green, and black, creating what looks almost like an Evangelion logistics or combat support vehicle. While robot mode is clearly the primary display configuration for most collectors, the alt mode is strong enough that some may choose to alternate, particularly if they have a larger Transformers display where a unique truck colourway can stand out among red‑and‑blue Primes.