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Interview(s):
Takashi
Kunihiro
Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwaves Oblivion
2021. With thanks to Delvon for sending me the scans.
Interview from Hero X Transformers Generations 2021 (May 2021)
Takashi Kunihiro
●PROFILE
Takashi Kunihiro, born in 1960 in Shiga, joined Takara in 1980. He started
developing Transformers in 1985 for “The Movie” and has been in charge of
the design teams behind many of the lead protagonists. In the 90’s he played
a lead role developing the Brave series.
“Hot Rodimus was a lot more complicated in the beginning.”
Masterpiece Movie Optimus
Prime
- First off, could you please tell us about the
Bumblebee Movie Optimus Prime which we have specially photographed today?
The Studio Series SS-30 Optimus Prime designed by Onishi was really well
received and based on that feedback we decided to brush up on the design and
release a Masterpiece version.
- What sort of things did you brush up on?
The base model Optimus made for SS-30 is really cool but it was made before
the movie came out. There were changes made to the CGI model which we
weren’t able to add to the toy so it felt unfinished. Our direction
therefore was to make a movie accurate version. I feel that we certainly
improved the accuracy by using the CGI model featured in the movie as a
reference. I wanted to do it justice by reproducing the plump thighs and the
way the tyres fit on the side of the legs which gives it a very impressive
look. There is also a rounded section on the robot's back and I wanted to
get that shape right.
- The vehicle mode is very reminiscent of the G1
style.
As it isn’t a licensed vehicle we were able to reproduce it from its
fleeting appearance in the movie. Putting it plainly, when speaking of
Convoys there is always a cab with legs behind it. I can’t change this but I
was able to shift sections to the legs to make them look thicker. As the
lower body has to carry all the weight I opted to use diecast metal parts.
The metal parts are clearly visible in vehicle mode but they aren’t visible
in robot mode.
- The chest windows aren’t dummy sections either.
The movie series introduced the split chest appearance. I sometimes use
dummy chest windows but as this is a Masterpiece, I didn’t want to do this.
Therefore there is a mechanism so when you press the left and right sides,
the windows tilt diagonally.
- The trailer isn’t included either.
I was secretly able to include connector ports which are compatible with
Masterpiece Ver 3.0. That trailer has a square connector so I simply
included square holes enabling you to attach it.
-Could you please let us know any stand out
features.
The front section of Optimus’ gun is long and cool looking. That's why the
toy gun is long. When you pose it and leave it standing there, it just looks
cool.
War for Cybertron Unicron
- Unicron has finally shipped. Could you please
tell us your thoughts on this largest Transformer in history.
Ono made Unicron 35 years ago, didn't he? If you try to use the planet's
curved surface as a body, that's what happens. But you can't mess with the
spherical shape. It was never sold and it has taken 35 years to put it into
production. Thank you for everyone's support. As it was a crowdfunding
project, there was a very real possibility it would never have been made.
Therefore I wasn't able to spend my entire budget so I used the same mould
for the left and right sides of the figure therefore the screw holes were
visible both at the front and the back. I therefore prepared detailed covers
for the screw holes.
-It’s the first Transformer to hide the screw
holes.
There is always talk of covering the screw holes but as this was a
crowdfunding project that we created with you, we are asking you to fill the
screw holes yourself as a rite of passage (laughs)! They are detailed covers
so we’d like you to add them, please try it.
Memories of
Transformers The Movie.
- Can you recall any memorable events?
It was just after I joined the company, the third Transformer I designed was
for the movie. Both Hot Rodimus and Rodimus Convoy’s intended price points
were changed right in the middle of production so I had to remake them from
scratch.
-So you not only had to remake Rodimus Convoy but
also Hot Rodimus!?
I had only made prototypes for the basic transformation sequence. The actual
transformation would have been far more elaborate. I think those prototypes
are long gone by now…….
-I really want to see the complex version of Hot
Rodimus.
It wasn’t great, it was designed by someone who had just started for the
company. Well, it was awful (laughs). I did try to make the updated version
as similar as I could.
-On the contrary, the finished version of Hot
Rodimus was quite a complicated toy for its time.
Thank you. One of the designers who joined the company later on did call it
a masterpiece. If you look at it now you can see the mistakes such as the
outline of the car mode. These issues have been fixed with the more recent
versions of Hot Rodimus.
-I’ve photographed the prototypes for Rodimus
Convoy and Wheelie before. It's impressive that they were much larger than
the finished products.
Rodimus Convoy did shrink, didn't he? I remember working on it thinking “I'm
going to make a big hero for Japan.” Galvatron on the other hand was huge in
comparison!
-Have you seen the remade Kingdom and Studio Series
versions?
The current direction is remaking and improving upon the old figures whilst
still maintaining the nostalgia and I think the fans are happy with this.
Hot Rodimus is very well made isn’t he? Transformers is a very old and long
series, the people who make them change and the Generations change. Speaking
of Cyclonus for example, at the time my senior instructor was designing
Cyclonus the same time I was working on Hot Rodimus. With Transformers
Henkei I had the opportunity to remake Cyclonus. I designed it so the nose
cone could fold inside the robot body. Now younger staff members are
remaking it for Studio Series. I’m deeply moved when I think about it. I’m
already over 60 (laughs)!
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