Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview

Thursday, March 15th, 2012 8:13AM CDT

Categories: Toy News, People News
Posted by: El Duque Views: 43,846

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PlayworksOnline has posted an interview with Takara's legendary lead Transformers designer Hideaki Yoke from Cybertron Con 2012. Of all the figures he's developed over his 28+ year career which are his favorites? Perceptor, followed by Reflector. We've posted a couple of excerpts below, click here read the full interview.

PW: Did you ever imagine Transformers to become the success that it is today?

HY: Never ever! The franchise we see today is more than something that I could have imagined. All I can say is that all of this is more than a dream come true to me.

PW: Which is harder? Trying to put character and personality into a machine, or trying to design the way the robots Transform? Because it is one thing to see the robots transform on screen, but to have toys that do the same thing? That’s looks like a lot of planning to us.

HY: I understand why this question came up as we keep aiming to amaze customers by designing rich personalities in both vehicle and robot mode with great transforming skills. The fact is however, that they are not that hard to design in either way. There will be some challenges in matching the products with the screen characters, but our designers enjoy accomplishing their job and at the same time, raise the bar a couple of notches.

Credit(s): PlayworksOnline

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Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358621)
Posted by Rated X on March 15th, 2012 @ 9:20am CDT

Now here is a guy I really respect. For all of you who worship Hasbro, pay homage the REAL father of Transformers. :BOWDOWN:

Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358644)
Posted by Counterpunch on March 15th, 2012 @ 10:34am CDT

He's a really nice guy too. I got to talk with him at Botcon 2009, very friendly and enthusiastic.

Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358672)
Posted by Sodan-1 on March 15th, 2012 @ 12:09pm CDT

CHRIST!!! The first part of this news article I saw was the picture of his framed photo and I thought for a second that he had suddenly passed away. #-o

Thank god his legend lives on. :BOWDOWN:

Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358678)
Posted by MINDVVIPE on March 15th, 2012 @ 12:31pm CDT

That says it all doesn't it, haha.

Major props to the man with the vision.

Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358737)
Posted by kirbenvost on March 15th, 2012 @ 3:51pm CDT

Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358766)
Posted by Stormrider on March 15th, 2012 @ 5:40pm CDT

Did he help out on the Transformers movies? It sounds like it from his answers unless I am missing his point.

Re: Takara Lead Designer Hideaki Yoke Interview (1358817)
Posted by Rated X on March 15th, 2012 @ 9:17pm CDT

Stormrider wrote:Did he help out on the Transformers movies? It sounds like it from his answers unless I am missing his point.

He is the designer of the Diaclone line. He started off by designing the red version of the Sunstreaker mold back in 1983-84. (my first Transformer) Hasbro might have brought the icing, but this guy baked the cake !!!