Following the full reveal of Transformers Bishoujo Bumblebee, an interview with the Bishoujo series planner has been posted on the Kotobukiya official blog. The interview discusses the history of the Bishoujo Series, how Transformers Bishoujo started, and goes over the designs for Optimus, Megatron, and Bumblebee. Additionally, the blog post also shares a Transformers Bishoujo Series survey (in Japanese) in which Kotobukiya will receive fan responses for future Transformers Bishoujo characters. The survey is running from now until March 28.
TFW2005 has translated the interview into English. For answering the Transformers Bishoujo survey, a reference English-translated version of the survey has been provided on the Kotobukiya fan subreddit r/Kotobukiya.
Check out the English translation of the interview after the jump, respond to the survey with what Transformers you’d like to see in the Transformers Bishoujo series line-up, and discuss the interview on the TFW2005 boards!
The first “TRANSFORMERS Bishoujo” , “Optimus Prime” was released in January 2023.
The 3rd Bishoujo ” Bumblebee ” has started pre-orders, so once again, I interviewed the person in charge of the planning about the highlights and particular points regarding the “TRANSFORMERS Bishoujo” series!
Q1. Please tell all Transformers fans what the BISHOUJO series is like.
The BISHOUJO series is Kotobukiya’s figure series that started in 2009, and an illustrator named Shunya Yamashita is in charge of all the concept illustrations.
We have released more than 100 BISHOUJOs to the world so far!
This series started with the concept of “arranging popular characters around the world in a Japanese style and turning them into figures.”
At that time, it wasn’t as popular as it is now to “enjoy overseas works as they are”, so I hear that customers both in Japan and overseas were surprised by adding a Japanese arrangement.
▽For details, go to the official page of the “BISHOUJO series”
Q2. Please tell us why you decided to turn the Transformers series into beautiful girl characters.
The fact that the planner likes Transformers was a big factor, but it also helped that Hasbro proposed the idea through the “MY LITTLE PONY BISHOUJO” connection.
△The MY LITTLE PONY Bishoujo series that inspired the TRANSFORMERS Bishoujo series.
Q3. Kotobukiya converts a robot into a bishoujo, but are there any parts that you pay attention to when making a human character?
The poses and clothing are designed with each character’s individuality in mind. Even the “BISHOUJO-ization” of a character is a rearrangement, so if the character’s personality is lost, he or she becomes nothing more than a character. The other thing I have to do is to make sure that the original design of the costume would not look out of place in the real world. I try not to make it too fantastical.
When planning a figure, our criteria are a silhouette and a color scheme that evokes the “the character when viewed through half-closed eyes”. (Please try to look at the TF bishoujo with your eyes half-closed.)
Q4. I think it’s difficult to express the character’s personality and details as a beautiful girl character.
I think it’s also a feature of Transformers, but it’s cool that Autobots transforms into a “working vehicle” and Decepticons transform into a “weapon”! (Of course, there are exceptions…)
That image is also important in the BISHOUJO series.
Convoy and Bumble are dressed in such a way that you can see that they are ‘friends of justice, heroes, and friendly!’ It seems that they will come to help you in a relatively casual way.
In order to create a “military look” and a “rigorous image”, Megatron has detailed designs unique to military uniforms, such as a garrison cap, tie, and epaulets.
Bumblebee, who is younger and smaller than the other two, also has a more youthful outfit. I like the modern and unique hoodie and the feeling of combining old and new fashion while recreating loose socks on the round feet!
Q5. Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee were made into beautiful girls, but are there any characters that are particularly memorable?
It’s Optimus Prime!
Megatron had an image of a soldier = a military feeling, which is also Mr. Shunya Yamashita’s specialty, and the image came to me right away, but I had a lot of trouble with Convoy.
I think it took shape thanks to Mr. Yamashita coming up with a lot of ideas and incorporating the opinions of TF fans in the company.
Personally, I was most worried about the antenna part reproduced with “loose dumplings and uncoordinated hair”…
The result is my favorite design.
I think it’s a good hairstyle because it’s a little careless and it’s like a convoy.
Everyone on the Transformers development team advised me to include a container in the design, and I think that made it more like Convoy.
Q6. In the future, I would like to make this character from the Transformers series into a beautiful girl! Do you have such a thought?
From G1, it would be “Soundwave” and “Shockwave”!
If choosing from the live-action movie continuity, “Barricade” and “Blackout” would be attractive.
I especially like Transformers Animated, so it would be interesting if I could make BISHOUJO with the deformed feeling of that animated series, and I would like to try it.
Q7. Finally, please give your comments to the fans of the “Transformers” series!
I think that many of you may have learned about Kotobukiya’s “BISHOUJO series” from the TF Bishoujo series.
The BISHOUJO series will be celebrating its 15th anniversary next year, making it a long series.
We have been involved in various collaborations with the hope that we can bring new attention to “wonderful works that have been loved for a long time” and “wonderful works that we want people to know more about” through the seemingly unusual arrangement of “BISHOUJO-ization”.
Under such circumstances, I am very honored to have the Transformers lineup.
There are also new TRANSFORMERS Bishoujo characters that will be announced in the future, so I would be happy if you could support us.
Nice to meet you!
Transformers Bishoujo Series Survey (in Japanese)
Reference English translation of the Survey (provided via r/Kotobukiya)
cybeast
Yes
Why would I want an actual Dog Girl tho, I was thinking alongside the style of Strike Witches- esque Wolf eared girl dual wielding Katanas
Fafnir72
Li Koran from SW or Lucca from Chrono Trigger?
Fafnir72
Arcee a mom/aunt type? Legends was already the aunt type, just humanizing her into a Princess Leia appearance with the buns. As for Hotrod, JK type?
mx-01 archon
It'd just be kemonomimi, and not like, an actual dog-girl, since these figures are in gijinka-style.
Mercurius
If we're just making requests, I really want a Hot Rod and Arcee the most…
Fafnir72
Kunoichi 6shot! Yes! Taciturn type (ninja don't talk or show their real side right?)? Bad guy at first vibe then reforms into a good guy trope?
cybeast
Crossing finger for wolf eared girl Bishoujo TF Sixshot
NemiMonkey
Bah it was just a fan vote at a con for now. Although given the reception I don't see why they wouldn't continue with the line.
mx-01 archon
Really, though, that's just the style. Especially in lower-detail, "cuter" styles like this, they rely on spot highlights like that to add shape and definition, rather than overdo the details. It also reflects the beauty ideal of healthy, glowing skin.
Fafnir72
Until we read it in the back of the package or art work, official artwork gets released………..
Reflection off smooth surfaces such as a mirror, an automobile, or a calm body of water leads to specular reflection. This reflection makes an object look glossy or shiny and is responsible for the lustrous or mirror-like appearance.
So she's a car inspired character
Mercurius
Has this actually been confirmed anywhere, or is it just conjecture?
NemiMonkey
We still have Starscream, after that who knows.
Fafnir72
In Optimus's box it indicated Megs coming next. I wonder if the same for Bb? Or will she be the last
cybeast
A little bit adding, kuudere originated from kuuru (Cool) and dere (loving), so it's not stoic or expresionless, those are more Dandere than Kuudere.
mx-01 archon
You seem to have gotten that a bit mixed up.
Kuudere is the personality usually described as "icy-hot" – a frosty, guarded, often emotionless exterior, but often warmly affectionate once you've gained their attention and trust.
Tsundere is more a "fiery, but soft" personality type – in its original incarnation, it used to describe a form of character development, where a brash and aggressive character mellows out to show their affectionate side. The term, however, quickly evolved into a singular personality trait, regarding a person typically deeply confused or in denial about their own affections that they tend to react in hot-headed and aggressive ways when pressured about them.
Fafnir72
Kuudere: a Japanese term for a character who appears to not have emotions. They are often stoic, expressionless, and remain calm in stressful situations (more imho Shockwave)
Tsundere: adjective used to describe a person or character who swings between emotionally hot and cold, in particular when dealing with a love interest. Especially used to describe someone who is usually cold or cranky but occasionally shows a soft, kind, mushy side ( Sw does care for Ravage in numerous situations)
ckhtiger
Wait, what are these types you're talking about? I'm clearly outside my normal realm here.
cybeast
Or make Wheeljack a maniacal nerd
I think I've found one cute pic or her in Pixiv once, though I forgot the artist.
Fafnir72
Bee has that effect