Takatoku

Takatoku was a Japanese toy company. They were one of several to copy Popy's innovative use of die-cast metal for robot toys, with their Gokin line competing with Popy's Chogokin series of robots span off from anime series of the time.

Kanzen Henkei
In 1982, Takatoku released its best-known creation, the Macross toyline and accompanying anime series. The Macross Valkyrie figure was revolutionary for the time, introducing the concept of "kanzen henkei" ("perfectly transforming") robot toys - while many earlier toys had featured transformations (since Popy's DX Raideen figure), this was the first to give equal priority to robot and vehicle modes, instead of just to robot modes. It was also the first to feature something approaching a realistic vehicle as an alternate mode, paving the way for Diaclone.

Macross was a huge success, but the following series Orguss and Dorvack were expensive disasters. The company's final line was Beetras, which only contained three released figures (a fourth only got as far as the prototype stage) and had no supporting anime series,

After bankruptcy finally came in 1984, their designs were purchased by Bandai, who subsequently licensed some of themolds to Hasbro, who were desperate to meet demand for new Transformers figures. It should be noted that at the time Bandai themselves had a minimal American presence, and tended to license toys to American companies rather than distribute them themselves.

Air Guardian

 * Jetfire - Recolour of Macross 1/55 Super Valkyrie VF-1S figure

Deluxe Vehicles

 * Roadbuster - Recolour of Dorvack 1/55 Mugen Caliber
 * Whirl - Recolour of Dorvack 1/55 Ovelon Gazzette

Deluxe Insecticons

 * Barrage - Recolour of Beetras Beet-Gadol
 * Chop Shop - Recolour of Beetras Beet-Gugal
 * Ransack - Recolour of unreleased Beetras Beet-Vadam
 * Venom - Recolour of Beetras Beet-Zaguna