>
shop.seibertron.com amazon.seibertron.com Facebook Twitter X YouTube Pinterest Instagram Myspace LinkedIn Patreon Podcast RSS
Buy on eBay Contact Us Sign in Join Convert
This page runs on affiliate links — your clicks may earn us a few Shanix. Want the full transmission? Roll out to our Affiliate Disclosure.

The Energon Pub

SEIBERTRON - Your Planet For Everything Transformers

Skip to content

Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Discuss anything about the Transformers cartoons and comics! You can discuss anything from G1 to Cybertron as well as the comics from Marvel, Dreamwave, IDW and more!
Post a reply

Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby Emerje » Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:46 am

Motto: "Spellcheck's antithesis."
Weapon: Saw-Edged Pincer
It is with a heavy heart that we report on the passing of composer Michiaki Watanabe (known professionally as Chūmei Watanabe) at the age of 96 due to heart failure at a Tokyo hospital on June 23. Having been trained in jazz composition his music often combined brass instruments with synthesizers to make his signature sound. Among Transformers fans he'd be best known for composing the score to both the Transformers Victory and Zone animated series. However, among fans of Japanese giant robots and superheroes in general he's considered the father of their respective soundtracks. To his anime credit are Getter Robo Go, Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Kōsoku Denjin Albegas, and Kotetsu Zieg. On the live action side he composed for Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, Mechanical Violator Hakaider, Toei's Spider-man, and perhaps most importantly the first six Super Sentai series. As a man that never formally retired he was still working in his advanced years including 2021's Muteking anime series and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.

Image
User avatar
Emerje
News Staff
Posts: 11204
News Credits: 273
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:15 am
Location: Maine
Alt Mode: Lobster Moose
Strength: 9
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 4
Endurance: 8
Rank: 6
Courage: 10
Firepower: 3
Skill: 6
Top

Re: Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby Sabrblade » Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:26 am

Motto: "Can't do a job halfway. What's worth doing is worth doing well, I say."
Weapon: Saber Blade
He lived to a ripe old age and composed some amazing music. May he rest in peace.
"When there's gold feathers, punch behind you!!"

Shadowman wrote:This is Sabrblade we're talking about. His ability to store trivial information about TV shows is downright superhuman.
Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'
User avatar
Sabrblade
God Of Transformers
Posts: 39806
News Credits: 456
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:22 pm
Location: Tampa, FL
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 10
Speed: 7
Endurance: 8
Rank: 9
Courage: 8
Firepower: 7
Skill: 9
Top

Re: Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby o.supreme » Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:17 am

Motto: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
Amazing career, he will be missed. All of those Super Robot series compositions are pretty awesome, the fact he contributed to Transformers was just the icing on the cake.

I think it's extremely telling the difference in culture. In North America tens of thousands will pack a stadium to see their favorite rock, pop, or county musician.

In Japan, tens of thousands will pack a stadium to hear an orchestra play their favorite themes to Anime and Tokusatsu shows and movies. If such an event ever came within a driving distance of me, I'd definitely be there.
Bucket/Want List: Botcon 2016 Customization Class Ratchet (G2 Deco), or Customization Class Ratchet (Marvel Comics Deco) **would also be willing to pay for an Unpainted Botcon 2016 Ratchet, TT Legends Fortress Head (only) with working Electronics

Wish List of Modern Combiners: Road Caesar, Monstructor & Dinoking (proper size to fiction), Landcross, Guard City, Battle Gaia, & G2 Defensor. Wish List of Titans:Metrotitan,Majin Zarak
User avatar
o.supreme
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 7270
News Credits: 56
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:03 pm
Location: Born in the Bay Area, but stuck in Sacto.
Watch o.supreme on YouTube
Buy from o.supreme on eBay
Top

Re: Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby bluecatcinema » Thu Jun 30, 2022 2:02 pm

The Victory theme was always my favorite out of the Japanese TF series. RIP.
bluecatcinema
Targetmaster
Posts: 696
News Credits: 1
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:06 am
Top

Re: Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby Sabrblade » Thu Jun 30, 2022 5:17 pm

Motto: "Can't do a job halfway. What's worth doing is worth doing well, I say."
Weapon: Saber Blade
bluecatcinema wrote:The Victory theme was always my favorite out of the Japanese TF series. RIP.
He did the score, not the theme song.
"When there's gold feathers, punch behind you!!"

Shadowman wrote:This is Sabrblade we're talking about. His ability to store trivial information about TV shows is downright superhuman.
Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'
User avatar
Sabrblade
God Of Transformers
Posts: 39806
News Credits: 456
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:22 pm
Location: Tampa, FL
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 10
Speed: 7
Endurance: 8
Rank: 9
Courage: 8
Firepower: 7
Skill: 9
Top

Re: Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby bluecatcinema » Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:02 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
bluecatcinema wrote:The Victory theme was always my favorite out of the Japanese TF series. RIP.
He did the score, not the theme song.

My bad. But the score was great, too.
bluecatcinema
Targetmaster
Posts: 696
News Credits: 1
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:06 am
Top

Re: Prolific Transformers Victory and Zone Composer Michiaki Watanabe Passes Away at Age 96

Postby o.supreme » Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:27 pm

Motto: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
Also just thinking about it, I believe the music score in the single Zone episode was all just reused music from Victory. Not trying to take away anything from the man, just an observation. A lot of Mazinger Z themes reappear in Great Mazinger as well, but GM has its own unique compositions as well.
Bucket/Want List: Botcon 2016 Customization Class Ratchet (G2 Deco), or Customization Class Ratchet (Marvel Comics Deco) **would also be willing to pay for an Unpainted Botcon 2016 Ratchet, TT Legends Fortress Head (only) with working Electronics

Wish List of Modern Combiners: Road Caesar, Monstructor & Dinoking (proper size to fiction), Landcross, Guard City, Battle Gaia, & G2 Defensor. Wish List of Titans:Metrotitan,Majin Zarak
User avatar
o.supreme
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 7270
News Credits: 56
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:03 pm
Location: Born in the Bay Area, but stuck in Sacto.
Watch o.supreme on YouTube
Buy from o.supreme on eBay
Top
Post a reply

Return to Transformers Cartoons and Comics Forum

Who is online

Registered users: AdsBot [Google], Bing [Bot], Glyph, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], MSN [Bot], Sabrblade, Silver Wind, trailbreaker, Yahoo [Bot]

Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group

[ Incoming message. Source unknown. ] No Signal - Please Stand By [ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]

Patreon Become a Member

Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit our store on eBay
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "X-MEN AGE OF REVELATION #0 Shadow Drop Variant Marvel Comics 2025 (CA) Ramos"
NEW!
X-MEN AGE OF REVEL ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "X-MEN #1 3D Edition Gatefold Marvel Comics 2025 0924PG802 Pan-Universal Galactic"
X-MEN #1 3D Editio ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "DEADPOOL #1 Facsimile Foil Marvel Comics 2024 ptg APR240894 (CA) McGuinness"
NEW!
DEADPOOL #1 Facsim ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Ghost Rider Wolverine WEAPONS VENGEANCE #1 Marvel Comics JUN230949 (CA) Kuder"
NEW!
Ghost Rider Wolver ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "NEW MUTANTS #98 3D Edition Marvel Comics 2024 0524PG820 Pan-Universal Galactic"
NEW MUTANTS #98 3D ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Ghost Rider Wolverine WEAPONS VENGEANCE #1 var Marvel Comics JUN230944 Texeira"
NEW!
Ghost Rider Wolver ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Ghost Rider Wolverine WEAPONS VENGEANCE #1 Marvel Comics MAY238596 (CA) Logo"
NEW!
Ghost Rider Wolver ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Ghost Rider Wolverine WEAPONS VENGEANCE #1 Marvel Comics JUN230947 (CA) Perez"
NEW!
Ghost Rider Wolver ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Deadpool Circle Chase #1 Facsimile 3D Marvel Comics 2024 ptg APR240892 Madureira"
Deadpool Circle Ch ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "X-MEN LEGENDS #11 Marvel Comics 2022 NOV210886 (W) Simonson (A/CA) Simonson"
NEW!
X-MEN LEGENDS #11 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "X-FORCE #27 var Promo Marvel Comics 2022 FEB220949 (W) Percy (CA) Weaver (A)Gill"
NEW!
X-FORCE #27 var Pr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Ghost Rider Wolverine WEAPONS VENGEANCE #1 Marvel Comics JUN230943 (CA) Stegman"
NEW!
Ghost Rider Wolver ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Ghost Rider Wolverine WEAPONS VENGEANCE #1 Marvel Comics MAY238597 (CA) Logo"
NEW!
Ghost Rider Wolver ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WOLVERINE #28 Marvel Comics 2022 OCT220912 (CA) Yu (W) Percy (A) Ryp"
NEW!
WOLVERINE #28 Marv ...
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.

Featured Products on Amazon.com

Buy "Transformers MPM-03 Movie 10th Anniversary Figure Bumblebee" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 10 Deluxe Class Movie 1 Autobot Jazz" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 08 Leader Class Movie 1 Decepticon Blackout" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Windblade and Scorchfire" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Evolution Optimal Optimus" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Terrorcon Rippersnapper" on AMAZON
Buy "Cyberverse Warrior Class Acid Storm" on AMAZON
Buy "Cyberverse Warrior Class Megatron" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Air Raid Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Master Loudmouth" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Attacker 20 Costanza Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Titans Return Legends Class Seaspray" on AMAZON
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.
Optimus Prime on his deathbed
The Ultimate Caption Contest
Latest: Optimus Prime on his deathbed

© 2025 Seibertron LLC. All Rights Reserved. Established June 2000. SEIBERTRON™ is a trademark of Seibertron LLC. Trademark application pending. SEIBERTRON™ — the brand behind Seibertron.com — was founded by Ryan Yzquierdo and is powered by an elite squad of Wreckers on a mission to share and preserve Cybertronian history.

This site runs on affiliate Energon — some links may generate a small commission when you click or purchase. It costs you nothing, but helps us keep the Kremzeeks out of the server room. For all the disclosure details, roll out to our Affiliate Disclosure.

SEIBERTRON™ is your unofficial headquarters for everything Transformers — forged from fan-fueled Energon, not corporate assembly lines. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro or Takara Tomy. Transformers® is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Want the official word from Cybertron High Command? Visit Hasbro’s Transformers HQ or Takara Tomy’s base of operations.

Got intel, sightings, or feedback from the field? Contact us.

Over 13,330 pages retrieved from Vector Sigma’s databanks by 7,309 unique Seibertronians. This page was recently scanned 1 times. Transmission logged by Earth Defense Command – July 27th 2025 4:58pm CDT.

You are viewing SEIBERTRON™ v13.297 | Database Extension: MYSQL | Silver Age: 0