General Information
Release Date: June 2026
Price Point: $27.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.) - All preceding links are Sponsor/Affiliate links for Ben's World of Transformers
Accessories: Blaster
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- 5.5-INCH KRANIX FROM THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE: This Transformers Studio Series Kranix figure is 5.5 inches (14 cm) in robot mode and features movie-inspired deco and details
- CONVERT BETWEEN ROBOT AND SPACESHIP MODES: The Transformers action figure converts from robot to spaceship in 20 steps
- ACCESSORY THAT ATTACHES IN BOTH MODES: Figure comes with blaster accessory
- KRANIX: Hot Rod and Kup encounter Lithonian Kranix when they are all captured by the Quintessons
- COLLECTIBLE TRANSFORMERS GIFTS: Transformers action figures make a great Christmas, holiday, or birthday gift for boys and girls 8 and up or anyone who collects Transformers toys
Experience the epic action of The Transformers: The Movie with the Deluxe Class Studio Series Kranix figure. The 5.5-inch (14 cm) figure converts from robot action figure to spaceship mode in 20 steps. With movie-inspired details, intricate poseability, and an attachable blaster accessory, this Transformers Kranix action figure makes an awesome addition to any collection. Look for more Studio Series Transformers figures (sold separately, subject to availability) featuring favorite characters like Optimus Prime, Thundercracker, Wheeljack, and more to create a lineup that is - More Than Meets the Eye. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
Background:
In the opening moments of "The Transformers: The Movie", we see the last moments of the planet Lithone as Unicron descends on the planet before consuming it. Two characters we meet are Kranix and Arbulus. When the two realize their world is doomed, they race to escape ships to get off the planet, but only Kranix manages to get away. Later in the film we learn he was captured by the evil Quintessons before being fed to the ravenous Sharkticons!
However, there was an alternate series of events where things were slightly different. In the comic book adaptation of the film, Kranix did not get into a ship to escape Lithone. Instead, he transformed into a ship! Poor Arbulus never had the chance to transform however as he was disintegrated before he could get off the planet. This adaptation was likely based on an earlier draft of the script explaining the difference. It is this version of Kranix that the designers used when creating this action figure.
Packaging:
Kranix is packaged in a standard Generations style box. The box is rectangular with a black background. A large window is cut away to show the entire figure (behind a plastic window!). The "Transformers" logo is now set horizontally under the figure with the Studio Series logo under that. Underneath that is the logo for the movie and Kranix's name. Next to the figure is a graphic which calls out his 20 step transformation and age recommendation of 8+. To the right is Kranix's artwork in both modes.
The back of the box has a red section at the top with a screen capture of the Decepticons on the Autobot shuttle. To the right is the movie logo, Kranix's name and the blurb "KRANIX encounters HOT ROD and KUP after they are captured by the QUINTESSONS." in multiple languages. Under that is the figure in both modes calling out the 20 step transformation. The background is from the jail cell Kranix is imprisoned in on Quintessa.
Accessory:
Kranix's accessory is a small hand held blaster. This was not actually seen in the animated movie, but in the comic book adaptation, his vehicle mode featured a blaster on top of the space ship. The designers of this figure took that blaster and made it into his handheld weapon. This weapon featured a barrel on top, a smaller tube under it and a back section that is set at an angle.
The blaster features a 5mm peg at the bottom and the front can fit Blast Effects. This piece is made of grey plastic with no paint applications. It may seem odd for a seemingly peaceful Lithonian to have a blaster, but in his official profile Kranix was identified as a warrior, so it totally fits!
Robot Mode:
The design of the Lithonians was very different than the typical Transformers design. They were kind of humanoid in that they have one head, two arms and two legs, but their body shapes were very different from Cybertronians who tended to be more blocky. The designers of this figure worked hard to use the design from the film, but this design leans more towards the model that you can see in his "Transformers Universe" profile from the 80's. The details carried over from these designs include:
- The head features a very distinctive design that is mostly flat with a wide "V" shaped point at the top. His face has wide, triangular eyes and he has a tiny "mustache" and "beard" with a triangular face.
- The torso sticks out a bit at the chest before curving inward and down to the waist. The middle features a series of sculpted horizontal lines that look like a large vent.
- The back panel features two thin thrusters. These are reminiscent (but not exact copies of) designs seen on Kranix's back in the film.
- The arms feature cylinder shaped shoulders and forearms with rectangular indentations in the middle.
- The legs have a circular section at the hips which lead to three overlapping designs which then lead to the curved knees.
- His feet are not your typical blocky Transformers design but instead feature three distinct "claws" on the front and sides.
Overall, the designers did an excellent job on Kranix's sculpt. He is instantly recognizable as the unfortunate Lithonian and has a very distinct design that sets him apart from most Transformers figures.
Kranix is made up of beige and pink plastic. The pink color leans towards a magenta color. Paint colors include pink (matching the plastic), maroon, neon green and gunmetal grey. While the sculpt leans towards the proportions of the "Transformers Universe" profile, the colors all come right from the animated movie and they look great. If I were to add any color to this, it would be on the sides of his shoulders and knees along with the back. In the film, blue energy is seen glowing from those sections. It would have been cool to see something like that on this figure, but to be fair the blue lights did not appear to be "activated" in every scene with Kranix.
There are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. This includes three on each arm and six on each leg. Interestingly the head has a unique design with three points of articulation. His head can turn side to side, it can also look up and his mouth moves! This is of course mostly intended to facilitate the transformation but it gives him some extra play value too! All that said, his ankle articulation is a bit restricted due to the design of his feet, but it's there. Kranix has a 5mm port in each hand with no other ports to attach accessories. Normally I would miss them, but in this particular case I'm fine with it given who the character is. Also, the ports would kind of mess with his aesthetic.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the blaster and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the head back.
- Swing the mouth/beard section back.
- Swing the mid-body panel out.
- Swing the chest panel up.
- Swing out the small panel in the middle of the chest plate.
- Swing the chest plate up, then swing the small piece in the middle against the robot head, tabbing it in.
- Rotate each forearm inward.
- Swing each wing panel on the forearms out.
- Swing the grey pieces inside the forearms out.
- Swing the hands into the forearms.
- Rotate the forearms around, then swing them up against the biceps and shoulders.
- Swing the arms up.
- Swing the arms down. The shoulder pieces will line up with the hips.
- Move the grey pieces forward.
- Rotate the feet so the central "claw" points outward.
- On each lower leg, swing the back panels up.
- Swing the lower legs up over the thighs.
- Lift the back panel of the robot mode and swing it back.
- Push the two large panels from the lower legs together to form the central vertical stabilizer fin. The tabs on the back piece will fit into the openings on the insides of the thighs.
- On the sides of the lower legs, swing out the small panels to form the horizontal stabilizer fins.
- Attach the blaster to the top of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
The best look fans had at Kranix's vehicle mode was in the comic book adaptation of the movie and his "Transformers Universe" profile. Using that as reference, the designers did their best to come as close to that design as they could, and for the most part they succeeded. Key features from the comic book model to this figure include:
- The front end of the vehicle is formed from Kranix's head with a small extension in the front.
- The wing sections on the sides feature a vent in front with short wings on the sides.
- The back of the ship features his blaster as a weapon mounted on top. The barrel is nowhere near as long as the one in the character model drawings but the shape is about right.
- The rear section features a large, vertical fin. The fin is roughly triangular in shape.
- The back of the vehicle features boosters sculpted into the bottom of the feet. Now, the ones on the character model extend out the back a bit and these don't, but you can see the basic design is intact.
Overall the sculpt looks great. To actually create one true to the character model would involve parts of the figure stretching out in ways a real figure can't (well, not without a much larger budget).
All the colors from the robot mode carry over to this mode, so there are no real surprises there.
Final Thoughts:
Kranix is not your typical Transformers figure. His aesthetics are very different than many other Transformers toys and he features a very simple "robot to vehicle with a weapon" design. All that said, I have always wanted a Kranix figure but I never thought there would be an official, transformable figure based on his movie appearance! Even better, the figure looks great in both modes and has a fun transformation. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt that looks great in both modes.
- Good deco.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
- A character I never thought I'd see made into a transformable figure.
Cons:
- Fans looking for a more traditional aesthetic or more 5mm ports will be disappointed.
