2005 Contributer SydneyY has been kind enough to translate a recent interview posted on Dime.JP with Takara-Tomy Masterpiece Designer, Shogo Hasui. Within this interview we learn why Masterpiece Soundwave took so long, how difficult the cassette Transformers were to design and even touches upon how much of the Generation 1 cartoon he’s watched to get these toys done properly. Also, Shogo mentions several characters he’d like to give the Masterpiece treatment to: Jazz, Bruticus and Ultra Magnus.
Click the title bar to read the full interview.
Imotron
JAZZ!!! Can't wait!!!
Aladar20003
Pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssee!!!!!
MP Meister/Jazz needs to happen. Now. Scatman Crothers.
GaussGunner
DIA Repaint make TAKARA or Ehobby…. Maybe…
Optibotimus
You are ABSOLUTELY correct and i would concede that point all day long. But as i said, it's not so much the robot mode we're talking about, but rather the gun form that is in question. And while i'm not the authority, by any stretch and things can change at any time, i'm sticking by what i said. If i'm ever wrong, i'll gladly eat my words as i'd love an official Shockwave MP figure.
Robogeek28
My thoughts exactly.
Incepticon
Hmm, well I don't think it's any coincidence that until around 2006 or 2007, Shockwave as a purple one-eyed robot with a left laser hand was basically left off the grid since G1… and then all of a sudden he was back… and everywhere again… with a VERY close likeness to his G1 self. Even that little non-transforming Robot Hero figure – exact G1 likeness. That tells me there is a lot of freedom back with this character and his design likeness, and the last people to actually know what Takara can or can't do based on licensing this or rights that is us. Respectfully
Optibotimus
"Third Party defending colors"
Umm okay. First, i never said MP Soundwave wouldn't be made, that design isn't owned by anyone else that Takara would have to worry about, so that is an argument with someone else, not me.
As far as Shockwave is concerned, yeah they can make any character they want. But since the MP line is designed to recreate the original look, and Shockwave is a character that matched his toy form rather spot on, (unlike Skyfire who could have a toy made based on the cartoon and not his toy because of the vast difference). I guess i shouldn't say it's IMPOSSIBLE, but other companies currently own the rights to the design of the toy, which would make it very difficult to get licensing rights to make a MP figure that would recreate that same aesthetic which is also why they can't even reissue the original G1 toy, (ignoring the fact that they say they've "lost" the molding for it)
And i can guarantee you, IF they ever did make a MP Shockwave, i wouldn't hesitate to get it.
Optibotimus
What i meant, is the license for the design aesthetic of the "Astro Magnum" is expired for Takara.
Optibotimus
haha thank you for the compliment, but no i can't say anything officially because i don't officially work for anyone, officially haha
deathsheadII
was waiting for someone to say this
Skeeve
Good news that Sideswipe sold out. Probably going to see a lot of quality figures in his price range now.
megatroptimus
In shit form, yes. In MP form, no.
Bass X0
Haven't we had enough of Bruticus already?
orangeitis
That's not an option if TakaraTomy sticks with the current scale.
Bass X0
It would be about $500, take two to three years for all components to come out or the limbs would be smaller than Sideswipe.
Macross7
You have to take into account that a reason we are getting so many so fast is many are repaints of each other with minior changes. Once they finised Sideswipe, it didn't take much to have Red Alert. Same with Prowl & the other 2.
Stepper
Totally agree,quality must be there or else we will just be spending so much on QC problem toys
stevej
As long as the quality is there bring them on. I'd take a G1 Season 1 full cast, like, yesterday!
Stepper
MP combiner highly unlikely,why not? They are TakaraTomy after all & they might give us surprise that we will not expect,cheers
Star Saber
I wouldn't say that (not until we started getting MPs of guys like God Ginrai, Overlord, Star Saber or Dai Atlas maybe), but it's definitely high up there