The Energon Pub

Amid all of the BotCon 2016 news comes some very sad news from about a week ago. On Sunday, April 3, 2016, Japanese pop artist Kōji Wada passed away at the young age of 42. According to Anime News Network, Wada had contracted cancer in his upper pharynx, which he had fought and beat twice before, first in 2003 and again in 2011. But sadly, the cancer was not to be overcome a third time. In his honor, Wada's agency Solid Vox will hold a "Wada Kōji Owakare no Kai" (Kōji Wada Farewell Event) for his fans in Tokyo later this month, with further details on the event to be given on Wada's official website (http://wadakoji.com/).

To most of his fans, Kōji Wada was known for performing nearly all of the theme songs and many other songs for the Digimon anime franchise, but to Transformers fans, he is best known for performing "Honō no Overdrive ~Car Robot Cybertron~" ("Blazing Overdrive ~Car Robot Autobots~"), the theme song to the 2000 Japanese anime series Transformers: Car Robots (known better to the English-speaking world as the first Transformers: Robots in Disguise cartoon from 2001). He also performed "Kimi Iro no Mirai ~Yume~" ("The Future of Your Color ~Dream~"), the c/w song for the single release album of the Car Robots theme song.

Though his contributions to Transformers were few (which can all be found below), he will be missed. Sayōnara, Wada-sensei. May you rest in peace.

After a hearty Botcon weekend, we are saddened to bring you word that Koji Wada, singer of the Car Robots Theme song, has passed away. Below is a statement brought to us courtesy of Seibertronian Sarblade:

Sabrblade wrote:Amid all of the BotCon 2016 news comes some very sad news from about a week ago. On Sunday, April 3, 2016, Japanese pop artist Kōji Wada passed away at the young age of 42. According to Anime News Network, Wada had contracted cancer in his upper pharynx, which he had fought and beat twice before, first in 2003 and again in 2011. But sadly, the cancer was not to be overcome a third time. In his honor, Wada's agency Solid Vox will hold a "Wada Kōji Owakare no Kai" (Kōji Wada Farewell Event) for his fans in Tokyo later this month, with further details on the event to be given on Wada's official website (http://wadakoji.com/).

To most of his fans, Kōji Wada was known for performing nearly all of the theme songs and many other songs for the Digimon anime franchise, but to Transformers fans, he is best known for performing "Honō no Overdrive ~Car Robot Cybertron~" ("Blazing Overdrive ~Car Robot Autobots~"), the theme song to the 2000 Japanese anime series Transformers: Car Robots (known better to the English-speaking world as the first Transformers: Robots in Disguise cartoon from 2001). He also performed "Kimi Iro no Mirai ~Yume~" ("The Future of Your Color ~Dream~"), the c/w song for the single release album of the Car Robots theme song.

Though his contributions to Transformers were few (which can all be found below), he will be missed. Sayōnara, Wada-sensei. May you rest in peace.

TV sized version of "Honō no Overdrive ~Car Robot Cybertron~" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhoNW0VTJWo


Full version of "Honō no Overdrive ~Car Robot Cybertron~" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZcIxQGu19s


"Kimi Iro no Mirai ~Yume~" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXr854awT_8

The stresses on his vocal chords. Either that or he smoked a lot. He will be missed!

I was already mourning his loss because of his contributions to Digimon, I forgot he sang the Car Robots theme song as well. RIP good sir, your talents will be truly missed.

42 really is too young, such a shame.

I had cancer one time and that was pretty awful, I can imagine three times would make you just want to not bother fighting it again.

For Primus sake, Death, stop taking musicians!

Sad to hear the Car Robots theme is one of my favourites. Rest in peace

Once again, we lose another contributor to the joy of our shared hobby, but we'll remember you, Mr. Wada for your music.

Be at peace Mr. Wada, I am sorry that you suffered and that your time here was short.