Interviews: Kojin Ono (Various)

Interview(s): Kojin Ono

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2021

Interview from Figure King 278 (March 2021)

Here is a message from Mr Ono, the legendary toy designer who worked on the latest Masterpiece Skids.

The recent Masterpiece figures are complicated to transform, I feel it's much better to focus on a more straightforward and mechanical transformation…. For Skids, the starting point was to create a Masterpiece figure which took a different direction and this is very different from the current trend of figures. Another aim was to keep the costs down without affecting the quality. After all the iconic "Transformers" started with the Car Robots, vehicles which turn into robots. When thinking of characters yet to receive the MP treatment, Skids the Honda City immediately came to mind. It's true he only appeared twice in the cartoon but the overall look of the City is so attractive and the 80’s is currently enjoying a resurgence. That's why I decided to take the challenge with Skids, not only to bring out more characters from the cartoon but also to bring back the appeal of this car. Back in the day, the City was very popular, sporty and cool. It was fascinating. I used to own a red City R so I’m personally attached to it.

Interview: Takashi Kunihiro

Interview: 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.”

Interview: Yuya Onishi

Interview: Yuya Onishi

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)

 

Yuya Onishi Design Team Leader

 

●PROFILE
Yuya Onishi was born in 1984 in Osaka. He majored in mechanical engineering at university and was in charge of the development of white goods in a consumer electronics research and development group. He studied car design at a vocational college and joined Takara Tomy in 2011. With an understanding of the entire product line he is currently the team leader as well as a designer himself.

“I want to give our customers an “unforgettable experience” that only toys can offer.”

Interview: Kojin Ono, Dai Ono, Hideki Shimanuki

Interview: Kojin Ono, Dai Ono & Hideki Shimanuki

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2021

Interview from Figure King 285 (October 2021)

Masterpiece G MPG-01
Trainbot Shouki
Scheduled Release Late June 2022 / 19,800 Yen
The Transformers top brand, Masterpiece, now includes a new sub-line “MPG”, otherwise known as “Masterpiece G”. The added “G” stands for “Gattai”, “Giant” and “Great!”. The first release is the Trainbot Leader, Light Speed Commander Shouki, whose origins lie in Diaclone and was also included in the 1987 Japanese exclusive series Transformers: The Headmasters.
The vehicle mode is based on the Super Express 0 Series Shinkansen (Bullet Train). With the permission of the JR Group and the help of Tomytec who manage the TOMIX brand within the Takara Tomy Group, the train mode has been scaled to fit with the international model railway HO gauge size. The fully articulated robot is a gem of a masterpiece designed with the latest toy technologies.
All 6 Trainbots will be released under the fitting MPG name as they will combine into the Heavy Union Warrior Raiden. We hope you will assemble the first Masterpiece combiner!!

Interview: Motoki Takaya

Interview: Motoki Takaya

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2019.

Interview from Dengeki Hobby website, June 2019 (Link)

“Diaclone”, the updated series of adult collectables! “Triverse” begins! Interview with toy designer Motoki Takaya (Takara Tomy).

The main action figures (Diaclone pilots) are only 3cm in height but interact with powered suits, robots, bases, etc. The Diaclone world is jam packed with diverse attractive items which stimulate the imagination of adult boys!
Relaunched in 2016 as high end collectables, the original Diaclone science fiction series began in 1980 and was the predecessor of transforming / combining toy robots; this groundbreaking concept paved the way for The Transformers.
This time, one of Takara Tomy’s toy designers has taken the helm to develop the current Diaclone series, “Triverse”, utilising the latest available technologies. We talk with Motoki Takaya.

Profile
Motoki Takaya Currently responsible for the planning and development of the Diaclone line. Involved in the development of Computer Police Cybercop, Transformers Zone, Armoured Police Metal Jack, Iron Man No.28 FX, Lightning Superman Gridman, B’T (Beat) X, Small Giant Microman (2000 edition), CoolGirl, Beast Saga etc.

Interviews: Kojin Ono

Interviews: Kojin Ono

 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2022

 

Interview from Figure King 293 (June 2022)

Interview
Kojin Ono
●Legendary designer Mr Ono developed Raidens predecessor, the “Train Robo” during the Diacone era. Once more he spearheads the Raiden project as a member of the Masterpiece team. Let’s talk about Raiden’s origins.

Interview: MP-43 Megatron Developer

Interview: MP-43 Megatron (Beast Wars) Developer

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2022
 
Interview from Figure King 245 (June 2018)
 
Developer Interview: Masterpiece Megatron (Beast Wars)
The definitive version, both in size and gimmick

-Was the scale for Megatron decided upon from the beginning?
During the development for Convoy, I created a scale chart for all the main characters. Convoy’s size was used to scale Megatron. Even in the scene where Convoy throws Megatron, Megatron is overwhelmingly larger.

Interviews: Hero Generation X (Various)

Hero X Generations 2022 Interviews

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2022. Many thanks to Paco_Grande for providing me with photographs from the book, without which I would have been unable to translate the below.

For Kojin Ono's full interview from the Generations 2022 Book, please click HERE.


Hisashi Yuki Transformers Legacy Metroplex / Victory Saber

● A Titan Class figure with fantastic articulation.

-How was Metroplex selected for this year's Titan Class?
Hasbro made the decision. When I heard Metroplex was next, my first thought was “You’re going to make another Titan Class Metroplex?”. I was surprised but it turned out to be the “Transformers Cybertron Metroplex”. In Japan it's called “Transformers Galaxy Force Megalo Convoy”. In the end it made perfect sense (laughs).

Interview: MP-39 Sunstreaker Developer

Interview from Figure King 232 (May 2017): MP-39 Sunstreaker Developer

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2022

Masterpiece Sunstreaker Development Team Interview

“Someday I’d like to line them up like you see in the opening sequence.”

-What made you decide to make a Masterpiece version of Sunstreaker?
From a development point of view, we want to have representations of the original Car Robot lineup. While making our selection on this occasion, Sunstreaker was the obvious choice. In the “Diaclone” series this was the first Car Robot and it was also a fantastic opportunity to revisit the New Countach which Lambor was based on. In the Masterpiece series Lambor was the first Car Robot to be released so this was the complete opposite of Sunstreaker. With this in mind we pursued a “Countach-likeness” by adding additional car mode styling and gimmicks. 

Interview: Kojin Ono (Various)

Interviews: Kojin Ono

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2022, 2023

Interview from MPG Trainbot Raiden Book (Packaged with MPG-03 Yukikaze) 

Transformers Raiden Developer Interview: Six outlines for MPG
In October 2021, the Raiden Project was full steam ahead after the announcement of the first MPG. Mr Kojin Ono, a Transformers veteran who created the original Raiden, started working on recreating the Trainbots, “MPG”, with the use of modern technology. Who would have thought that 35 years later the Trainbots would be revived by their original creator? Throughout this article we take a look behind the scenes to explore the “secret birth of MPG”, known only to the development team. This vision is unprecedented and these Transformers are only possible thanks to the technology that has been cultivated over the years.

MPG Transformers This is a new brand of Transformers which is an expansion to the Masterpiece series. It is a culmination of technology under the themes of “Gattai”, “Giant” and “Great”. The first figure selected is the Trainbot Light Speed Commander Shouki. This was first released in 1987 under the Transformers Headmasters series which was exclusively released to the Japanese market.

 

Interview: Hiroyuki Higashi & Hironori Kobayashi

Interview from Transformers Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide (2005) 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2023

The creation and future of Transformers Collection: Hiroyuki Higashi
(Takara Corporation, Boys Division, Marketing Department, Hero Character Team, Team Manager)

There were various reasons for creating the Transformers Collection series including the marketing aspect. As well as releasing new products for the current cartoon, we were also developing reissues. However we felt that if we kept releasing them as they were, they would lose their impact or have a very “American” multi-product feel.

Interview: Kojin Ono (Figure King 316)

Interviews: Kojin Ono 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2024

Interview from Figure King 316 May 2024

Talking to a Legend: 40 Years in Toy Development

Transformers 40th Anniversary Interview Number 2 with the man who created the Transformers toys.

Kojin Ono
Takara Tomy Transformers Development Team

We spoke with Kojin Ono, a legendary developer at Takara Tomy, who has been involved in toy development since the days of Diaclone and Microman, and has been an integral part of the Transformers family. With over 40 years of experience, Ono san has worked on numerous toy developments and has overseen entire projects as a team leader. He is truly a hall of fame figure in the Transformers world.

 

Interview: Kojin Ono (Generations 2024)

Interviews: Kojin Ono

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2024.

Thanks to @LinkFrost_ for photographs from the TFG2024 interview pages

Interview from Transformers Generations 2024

Kojin Ono
■ Takara Tomy Transformers Development Team Hall of Fame 2010 Kojin Ono, who has been involved in toy development since the days of "Diaclone" and "Microman," reflects on his 40 years of experience working with the "Transformers" series. Let's take a look back at the 40 year history of Transformers, along with Kojin Ono’s career. He has been pivotal in the development of numerous Transformers, creating the cutting edge Masterpieces and MPG’s.

Interview: Kozo Morishita (Toei Animation)

Kozo Morishita 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2024 

Interview from Figure King 316 (May 2024) 

Here is a message from Mr Ono, the legendary toy designer who worked on the latest Masterpiece Skids:

The first of our Transformers 40th Anniversary Interviews….The man who created the Transformers cartoon series.  

Kozo Morishita
(Current Chairman and CEO of Toei Animation & Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Director)

Here we interview Toei Animation's Chairman Kozo Morishita, a key figure in the creation of the cartoon "Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers" 40 years ago. Without the tireless efforts of the young Morishita, who worked diligently across Japan and the United States, Transformers would not have endured for four decades. 

Interview: Hironori Kobayashi (Generations 2024)

Interview: Hironori Kobayashi 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2024. 

Interview from Generations 2024 

Hironori Kobayashi, Missing Link Development Manager