Transformers: Alternity is a subline of the Transformers series by Takara Tomy. The Alternity series consists of toys of well known Transformers characters as licensed scale 1:32 vehicles.[1] The Alternity series is the successor to the Binaltech line, which was sold in the U.S. as Alternators.
The Alternity toys are only released in Japan by Takara Tomy. Hasbro have indicated they have no plans to release the line in their markets.[2]
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The Alternity story is told through character bios and mini-comics packed with the toys.
In the climax of the Binaltech saga, the universe itself is collapsing due to manipulation to the timestream. Amidst the chaos, a mysterious figure, calling itself only the "Protector", appears and restores the balance. While the Autobots had unsuccessfully tried to repair the damage by attempting to undo the events of the corrupted timeline, the Protector instead split the Binaltech world into its own universe, both restoring the original timeline and preserving the Binaltech continuity in a new, parallel universe. When asked the reason for preserving events that were never supposed to happen, the Protector responded that the Binaltech universe and the Binaltech warriors would give birth to the Alternity.[3]
In the closing chapters of the story, it's revealed that the Protector is Optimus Primal, from the future, and that materials and technology that will be key to the existence of the Alternity are starting to emerge from the research and development of projects derived from Binaltech technology.
As the Alternity fiction opens, it is revealed that the Alternity are the evolution of the Transformers race into higher-dimensional beings.[4] These beings are so powerful they cannot be perceived in three dimensional universes, and they therefore occupy one or more vehicle avatars in order to interact with beings on a lesser plane. The Alternity must deal not only with Megatron, but also a super-dimensional beast known as "Hytherion".[4]
Like the Binaltech line before it, Alternity consists of well known Transformers characters with extensively detailed scale licensed vehicle modes. However, while Binaltech figures were 1:24 scale and consisted of large amounts of die cast, those in the Alternity line are 1:32, making them approximately "deluxe" sized, and their metal content is limited to supporting substructure, such as spines or driveshafts. The working title for the line was originally "Binaltech Mini".[1] The line also takes some cues from the Movie toyline, with finely sculpted robot-mode details, as well as its Automorph technology.