Via Kakakumag website we have a very interesting and revealing interview with longtime Transformers designer Takashi Kunihiro.
While the interview is in Japanese, fear not because our very own Super Mod Shin Densetsu was very kind to translate it for us. On this interview, Takashi-san shares his thoughts and trivia about Optimus Prime movie figures from Transformers 2007 to Dark Of The Moon. We are sure you will enjoy the background story of Revenge Of The Fallen Leader Class Optimus Prime, one of the most popular toys of the entire line.
This interview is part 2 of 3. Part 2 of the interview will be published on August 10th maybe about most of the designing process of Transformers toys and the Studio Series line, and Part 3 will be published on August 18 and cover Kunihiro’s top 5 favorite Transformers toys.
Update: You can read part 2 here
You can read the full translation and the mirrored images after the jump, and then you can share your impressions on the ongoing discussion on the 2005 Boards.
Part 1: “The 1st Transformers Movie Toy Struggles & Revenge Of The Fallen Optimus Prime(leader class)”
- For every movie, Takara only has very limited information; 1 drawing from the oblique front of the robot/vehicle modes, 1 drawing diagonally(isometric view?) from the back. This is because sometimes the onscreen models/designs are being worked on up until the last minute, long after the toy design has already been completed. For reoccurring characters with the same design from previous movies, it’s easier but when looking at them frame by frame, their movement is so fast so it’s still a challenge.
- Kunihiro makes a comparison to old movies with actors in suits like Godzilla where the suit design is finalized before filming. However with Transformers, the CG model for each Transfomer does not need to be complete during filming, it can be finished during filming/post-editing and the CG director might make changes up until the last minute. So to reiterate, when initially designing toys for a Transformers movie line, the design Takara is working off of isn’t necessarily final, they work with limited information. They only see the final design when they get to watch the movie in theaters
Kunihiro talks about DA-15 DOTM Jetwing Optimus:
- The design was very similar to concept art* Kunihiro was referencing during the production stage. However he laughingly says it looked different in the finished movie.
*Massive Black released their concept art(2012 maybe?) for DOTM which did show the jetwing design Kunihiro mentioned
In relation to concept art differences compared to final designs, Kunihiro mentioned Brawl.
- He designed deluxe and leader Brawls for the 2007 line
- He thought Brawl was going to be a big success in the movie since he was going to be made in leader class.
- He laughs and said in retrospect, he should’ve made Bonecrusher in leader class instead
- His point was that you never know how things turn out in the movie until the movie is finished
When given concept art to reference, Takara was only given a few drawings and from those drawings, could not tell how the designs would transform. After watching a movie preview, the designers were able to boil down designs to a frame(implied that this is a base/core design) to move parts around. After the 2nd movie, they were able to visualize a more solid structure to design parts around.
Intriguing tidbits about ROTF leader Optimus:
- Since ROTF came out only 2 years after the 2007 movie, Kunihiro points out that usually a company could get by, by just rereleasing a previous figure(in this case the 2007 leader Optimus).
- However it became clear prior to the movie that Jetfire would combine with Optimus(this wasn’t evident from the beginning)
- Takara then decided to make a new leader Optimus figure
- Kunihiro sought out to make ROTF leader Optimus more accurate to stand apart from the 2007 leader figure. His reasoning being that a fan wouldn’t want to buy a figure that looks so similar to an existing figure and he himself wouldn’t want to see that.
- By pursing more movie accuracy, Kunihiro wanted fans to see a figure that looked much different from the 2007 figure.
- The interviewer mentions that the ROTF leader Optimus is said to transform similar to how Optimus transforms onscreen
- Kunihiro acknowledges that he has heard that before, but that the transformation similarity just happened by chance
- He had watched Prime transform onscreen many times but when watching the details, he laughingly says he realized it will be impossible(to design the toy to transform the way Optimus does onscreen).
- He thought about adding more inbetween to steps the transformation or reproducing the inner mechanical parts(Mech Alive?)
There’s mention about character movement on the big screen and how Kunihiro wanted to replicate it via pressing a button to activate lights and having the figures play back phrases….I think they are referring to seeing the Transformers looking realistic onscreen and talking? Kunihuro mentions that batteries were needed and I think it said it could’ve made the torso look stupid but he cheated with the balance and design of the limbs as to not draw too much attention to the torsos.
Just designing Prime and Jetfire to combine was a big deal and some parts turned out the way they did just by chance when design of the toys progressed(as in some aspects of the toy were a result of designing as they went along, not necessarily having finished designs to work off of, from the start).
Kunihiro mentions using good articulation for a figure that must move well. Mentioned that a joint must move well but also be stable, hence adding detents to ROTF leader Optimus’ ball jointed ankles. Mentions that it was a little effective. Also made note of how the combined Optimus and Jetfire toys looked different from the movie but he does not get to see what the final movie designs look like until he watches the movie.
Kunihiro then talks about MPM-04 Optimus Prime
- Seen as a chance to make a movie Optimus Prime with an accurate transformation
- Feels that the transformation of MPM04 is based on ROTF leader Optimus(feels at this point, many figures have a similar transformation to to ROTF Optimus too) without the constraint of having to be able to combine with Jetfire.
snoopcow
Blasphemy, we all know blackapple is better than those hacks at tt.
Afterburner
Seems like a great guy who loves our hobby as much as we do, as they all do. He also seems to get it, like their team generally does. His hard work is appreciated.
Datsun87
No kidding. For as much as we tend to put specific designers on a pedestal around here, they are still working on bringing someone else's vision to life. I adore Hasui, Kobayashi, and Kunihiro but I know they weren't responsible for coming up with G1 Prowl, G1 Starscream, or movie Barricade.
cybernaut
…but at the end of the day, Kunihiro is still an employee of the company. Regardless of his "vision", if management decrees he accomplish said design with the "compromised" constraints, he will have to do it.
Richard McBeef
I'm talking about G1 CHUG scale though. The 3rd party stuff is all Masterpiece scale.
I agree 100%. The only thing missing is an awesome vehicle mode, one that is as sleek and aerodynamic as he was in the G1 days.
Raiyuki
Universe Cyclonus was one of my favorite molds at the time. In retrospect it's articulation is a bit hampered in the arms but that transformation and the bot mode are still stellar. I'm still trying to get every version of that mold along with Classics Rodimus to pull as many sets of Rodimus vs. Cyclonus as possible (though United Rodimus Prime ruins everything there by not having an extra Cyclonus to go with.)
Shmoptimus Prime
There are a lot of G1 inspired Cyclonus figures when you include 3P stuff. I want a decent and accurate IDW-inspired one that isn't that add-on kit.
Richard McBeef
Universe cyclonus was okay, but I still think that they could come up with a perfect CHUG interpretation. It was cool that they did a voyager version recently, because Cyclonus should be a voyager.
But hampering him with the combiner wars gimmick really did a disservice to how cool he could have been in both modes. I am so tired of gimmicks ruining what could be fantastic Transformers, which is why I'm excited for Siege.
Shin Densetsu
You're welcome. I have the FE Vehicon and RID one. Once I got my RID one I was surprised, most FE figures are better than their RID counterparts but the RID Vehicon stuck out. It's very impressive.
Loved Universe Cyclonus, dug how the Targetmaster could be handheld or turned into an armgun
EradiconA113N
!!! I am so glad the vehicon made it on to his top 5. Anyone who loves the vehicons and their frame, especially the toy is an awesome person in my book!
supervir2
Thanks for the translation!
Nightviper and cyclonus were unexpected additions. Nightviper was definitely unique and I enjoyed cyclonus at the time. Don’t have movie figures so I can’t comment on those. I know the vehicon is well-regarded – may have to see what the buzz is about.
Shin Densetsu
They aren't guest designers. Takara didn't give Yuki a choice for MP5 Megatron, it was 2 weeks or nothing.
XXLMagnus
Star Saber was just … boring … I know that’s super subjective but even with the travails of Dinobot, which I purchased at a roughly similar price point, he still feels miles more engaging as a MP figure … Hot Rod’s boxy chest and simplistic spindleshanks just scream ‘fuck it, they’ll buy it anyway’ and the whole ‘designed MP-05 in a wkend’ narrative always rubbed me the wrong way … a true master of his craft, one w/artisic vision and professional integrity, would reject such a comprised proposition out of hand … so yeah, I’m out on “guest designers” in the MP line … my bad
Raiyuki
Exactly where was Star Saber "flubbed?" In fact outside of the chrome how was Hot Rod "flubbed?"
MegaDolrailer
I want to say that was Hisashi Yuki, since he also designed Leo Convoy and Big Convoy, and his designs in BWII and Neo were in the style of original BW.
I'm only making a guess because i've never seen beast wars designer credits unfortunately.
rendsora
Alright it's ok but I find it odd Takashi Kunihiro has been involved with so many lines & iterations in the TF franchise but hasn't been openly involved in the MP line. Maybe he's there behind the scenes in an advisory role or something (who knows?).
I would love to see him as a guest star designer just like what TT did with Yuki san for designing MP Star Saber. Other than some weak ratchets on mp Star Saber, overall that turned out great!
Although some fans moaned abt the lack of paint apps on mp Star Saber, making it less premium. But there's a reason for that, Yuki san openly said in an interview, he purposely used mostly colored plastics instead of painted parts bcoz he wants the figure to be played with and transform back & forth without fear of paint chipping. He didn't want it to be a static display piece hence it's more toy-like in appearance.
D307
I love getting into the mindset of these designers, interviews are kinda rare which is unfortunate but I reckon somewhat necessary to keep things secret and to build momentum. I still find the same level of amazement that I did when I was 6 years old for Transformers, and I really do appreciate the efforts of these guys! My fingers and toes are crossed as to what may be coming for the 35th anniversary!
Shin Densetsu
I wonder if he designed Ultra Optimus Primal. Whoever designed that was a freaking GENIUS. Even today that toy holds up(I have that and Kobayashi's MP, yes the MP is good but I look at both toys differently).
If he designed Primal maybe he also designed voyager Incinerator from 2007. That's another favorite figure of mine since like Primal, its gimmicks are still able to work no matter which mode they're in and no matter how their limbs are arranged. There's so much going on yet parts still work in unison.
RazorclawX
Somehow I knew it was Night Viper. That was one of the standout figures.
Shin Densetsu
I get that you are joking but Kunihiro is no novice. He's been with Takara since 1984 and started working on Transformers in 1985. He's got years on Kobayashi and Hasui. Kobayashi joined in the late 90's.
Yuki designed MP Star Saber and is not new to MP's. He designed MP5 Megatron in under 2 weeks. If he can design something like that in under 2 weeks, imagine if he was given 2 years to work on something.
It's assumed Kobayashi designed MP36 but the jury is still out. With recent MP's, Takara hasn't been outright in saying who designed which. We didn't know until this interview that Kunihiro was behind MPM Barricade.
Not to shift blame to Hasbro but we do know Hasbro did play a part in designing some of the MPM line. Which figures and to what extent, we don't know. We know Ben Montano worked on the line but we don't know which Takara designers were paired with him(aside from Kunihiro designing MPM Barricade and Yuya designing MPM Bumblebee). MPM4 struck me as being designed by a newer member of the team due to the lack of secure locking mechanisms going to truck mode and the way the head was designed. At this point we know that any collaborative effort is led by Hasbro, so the MPM differs from the main MP line because it's not a Takara-led effort.
It's been a big misconception that MP's are largely led by 1 designer. It's a team effort. The whole team was giving Hasui feedback when he was designing MP10. They all bounce ideas off of each other. A main designer isn't permanently there, they all switch off every few years. So while there is sometimes a main designer, the resulting toy is a team effort.
We may not all like the end results and that's fine. I just find it odd that one of the most experienced veteran designers out there is being referred to as a guest and should be relegated to the fry station, especially when he's one of the guys the other designers turn to for advice.
You're welcome
Thanks! It's probably something to do with the 35th anniversary next year. I'm pretty excited but have no idea what it could be. I'm thinking a rather big/important G1 MP.
You're welcome. I love how their interviews are a treasure trove of background information. Being that he's been at Takara for over 30 years, it's great hearing about how things came to be from him.
Transformers would outright SUCK without Takara.
You're welcome and I agree, it was an amazing toy. It was one of the rare times I liked an RID figure a bit more than its 1st Edition counterpart.