Wolf Morpher

Length: 12cm, width: 6.5cm (Morpher); 22cm (strap)

Articulation: N/A

Colors: Molded black; Painted metallic purple, gold, silver, black, orange, light blue.

Accessories: Strap.

Release Data: Released in the US in March, 2008 at a retail price of $12.99.

Gallery: 13 images.

Additional Media: Switch on; Wolf Fang Fist!; It's Morphin' Time!

Author: ExVee




Although I'm a big fan of roleplay toys, I rarely sit down to review them. Actually, I don't think I've ever reviewed one. Even so, five minutes with this particular toy, and my course was clear. It's notable that with Jungle Fury Bandai is not using the same transformation device toys as were in the sentai source material as the morphers. Our Wolf Morpher today is the exception, but the morphers for the Primary Color Trio and the yet to come Rhino Ranger have all been replaced with original mold toys exclusive to Jungle Fury. Meanwhile the toys used as the Changers in the sentai are being repurposed as weapon toys for Jungle Fury. The Battle Claws are the currently available example, and have most of their interesting electronics removed for the American version. We'll just have to wait and see how the Rhino Blade is modified from Japan's SaiBlade...



While based directly on Gekiranger's Gong Changer, the Wolf Morpher is an entirely new tooling at a smaller size and with most of the electronic functions omitted, not to mention losing the chromed pieces. Since it's the morpher for the Wolf Ranger, the morpher is designed as a stylized wolf's head that somewhat resembles the design of the Wolf Zord's head. The wolf face is hinged, and flips open to reveal what would have been working lights and an alternate function button in the Gong Changer. Here it's just painted, solid-molded decoration. With the cover open, you can see the entire "bell" that figures into the main function of the toy. On the other hand, without the lights, button, and missing functions, there's little or no reason to have to flip back the cover at all.

The on/off switch on the right side of the toy will greet you with a startup sound not otherwise repeated in the toy's electronics. With the switch on, even the slightest movement of the morpher results in triggering a "punching" action sound, which is much more reliably sensitive than the motion activated sounds in the Ranger figures. It sounds vaguely like a series of four rapid punches. Very vaguely. The sound is interruptable, meaning it can be retriggered at any point during the playback cycle. I do not raise this point as a positive element. The other sound is the morphing sound. For this, you pull back on the wolf's left ear, which draws back a "hammer". Releasing the ear causes the "hammer" to strike the "bell", triggering the fight bell sound, followed by a wolf's howl, and generic energy effect noises. This sound set can also be interrupted, so if you're quick enough you can get off a rapid succession of the bell sound before any of the other morphing sounds kick in. But that might only be amusing to me, I'm not sure.

In the past, wrist-worn Morphers such as this came with rubberized plastic straps and closed using velcro patches. While these toys are meant for children, the velcro setup still allowed for them to fit, albeit snugly, on an adult wrist. Jungle Fury has seen Bandai take a different route with wrist straps. First seen on the Tiger Battle Claws, and now repeated on the Wolf Morpher is a thicker rubberized strap very similar to a watch band, and it closes with rubber tabs at fixed points. Basically, if your wrist is too big for one, you have to up to the next. And if you're an adult, odds are the last notch won't reach, if the strap even makes it all the way around your wrist. Let's be clear: This toy will be readily and easily worn by any normal child, but since the adult collector is the primary audience for this site, I have to strongly note that this toy is gonna be next to useless for you without replacing the strap or otherwise performing modifications to the toy to accomodate a wrist with more than a 20cm circumference, give or take. I've found one quick fix, but I'm reluctant to detail it since I suspect it'd make breaking the toy really easy. The main point is that with a ten year history of wrist morpher toys being able to be fit to adults, I feel that it shouldn't be an unreasonable expectation they continue to do so, and I shouldn't have to modify my toy in order to be able to use it.

But then, I'm not the target audience and I accept that, and realize it still works just fine for who it's intended. So basically take this as warning to be prepared to find your own solution to wearing the toy.


The paint work is done very nicely, considering practically all the actual color you see on the toy is paint apps. There's only a small spot on mine where the purple paint dripped out of place. All told the paint job is simply fantastic. Granted, a chromed bell would have looked nicer for the intended form of the toy, but the gold paint does look quite nice.



Closing Remarks

To be perfectly honest, I'd rather have a Gong Changer. However, for those of us unable to afford spending $40 or so on importing a Japanese Sentai Changer, the Wolf Morpher can be an adequate substitute. Assuming the strap either fits your wrist or you have a replacement strap lined up. Despite being smaller than its Japanese original version, the size is certainly acceptable and feels like a good, proportionate fit on my wrist at least. Given the wrist strap issues, I personally feel that $13 is too much for a toy that I can't immediately use out of the packaging, but that may not be the case for others. I'm going to objectively rate the Wolf Morpher as Good, but for my own personal experience it'd have to be Could Have Been Better.


-ExVee, 04/09/2008