Takara Tomy Designer Shogo Hasui Discusses Transformers Masterpiece MP-20 Wheeljack
Tuesday, February 25th, 2014 1:01PM CST
Categories: Toy News, People News, InterviewsPosted by: Va'al Views: 32,391
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(The article also lists other highlights from the magazine, including a special Tomy licensed Transformers iPhone 5 case).
* The interpretation of Wheeljack's transformation was rather 'arcane' (new? innovative?).
* "Structure of the head and waist became great way stuffing"
* The removable shoulder cannon can be installed in the vehicle mode roof.
* The hand gun can be stored in the figure's 'underbody' (?).
* The wings on the robot's back are transformable, and do not need to be removed.
* Thansk to the Tomica branch of the company (model cars), the licensing was a lot easier to negotiate with car manufacturers.
* Color of the car mode is faithful to the actual vehicle. On the other hand, the robot mode colors are closer to the cartoon.
* Thanks to the sale numbers for MP- Lambor to Streak, they were able to add new parts to Smokescreen, and Wheeljack was developed without having to consider repurposing.
* The first three realistic cars of the Masterpiece line were supposed to become 'super cars'.
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Posted by Counterpunch on February 25th, 2014 @ 1:06pm CST
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on February 25th, 2014 @ 1:08pm CST
* The interpretation of Wheeljack's transformation was rather 'arcane' (new? innovative?).
* "Structure of the head and waist became great way stuffing"
* The removable shoulder cannon can be installed in the vehicle mode roof.
* The hand gun can be stored in the figure's 'underbody' (?).
* The wings on the robot's back are transformable, and do not need to be removed.
* Thansk to the Tomica branch of the company (model cars), the licensing was a lot easier to negotiate with car manufacturers.
* Color of the car mode is faithful to the actual vehicle. On the other hand, the robot mode colors are closer to the cartoon.
* Thanks to the sale numbers for MP- Lambor to Streak, they were able to add new parts to Smokescreen, and Wheeljack was developed without having to consider repurposing.
* The first three realistic cars of the Masterpiece line were supposed to become 'super cars'.
So, in a nutshell:
1) The transformation should be similar to the original toy, with a few surprising twists
2) Licensing of car models has gone through Tomica, which is like Hot Wheels to Mattel. That would mean Hasbro has no such luxury.
3) We shouldn't count of him being retooled at all (let alone into Sunstreaker), as they didn't have to take that into consideration
Posted by Va'al on February 25th, 2014 @ 1:19pm CST
Does anyone with more Japanese than me (not that difficult) help decipher that second point about stuffing?
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on February 25th, 2014 @ 1:31pm CST
Posted by Va'al on February 25th, 2014 @ 1:34pm CST
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on February 25th, 2014 @ 2:22pm CST
Va'al wrote:That's what I thought it could be, too. But I can't phrase it in a satisfying way. Hmph.
I had a Japanese friend look at it and here's what she said: "The head and torso has a compressed structure". Makes more sense than Google, huh?
Posted by Va'al on February 25th, 2014 @ 2:25pm CST
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Va'al wrote:That's what I thought it could be, too. But I can't phrase it in a satisfying way. Hmph.
I had a Japanese friend look at it and here's what she said: "The head and torso has a compressed structure". Makes more sense than Google, huh?
I can see clearly now, the rain has gone.
Posted by Mindmaster on February 25th, 2014 @ 2:27pm CST
Va'al wrote:JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Va'al wrote:That's what I thought it could be, too. But I can't phrase it in a satisfying way. Hmph.
I had a Japanese friend look at it and here's what she said: "The head and torso has a compressed structure". Makes more sense than Google, huh?
I can see clearly now, the rain has gone.
Seriously, we need a speaker of Japanese on the staff. It would help us out by the butt-tons.
Posted by kirbenvost on February 25th, 2014 @ 2:38pm CST
Really cool to hear that the success of the early releases is helping finance future ones as well.
Posted by Va'al on February 25th, 2014 @ 2:44pm CST
Mindmaster wrote:Va'al wrote:JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Va'al wrote:That's what I thought it could be, too. But I can't phrase it in a satisfying way. Hmph.
I had a Japanese friend look at it and here's what she said: "The head and torso has a compressed structure". Makes more sense than Google, huh?
I can see clearly now, the rain has gone.
Seriously, we need a speaker of Japanese on the staff. It would help us out by the butt-tons.
A reader would suffice, to be fair. But yes.
Posted by Sabrblade on February 25th, 2014 @ 2:55pm CST
- MP Wheeljack's colour scheme in vehicle mode is close to the real car, but he tried to make the robot mode's colours as close to the cartoon as possible.
- WJ's shoulder cannon can be attached to the car roof.
- WJ's Wings on the back do not require detaching when transforming.
- Thanks to Tomica (Tomy's Hot Wheels size, real vehicle base toy car series) it has become much easier to negotiate with car manufacturers. (I assume easier than when dealing with them as Takara, since Tomy has long-established connections thanks to Tomica)
- The sales of MP Lambor to Streak were excellent, and as a result, Smokescreen could have additional parts, and Wheeljack could be developed without considering re-purposing the mould.
- The first 3 real vehicle MPs were meant to be "Super Cars".
I guess they aren't listed in the same order as those in the above post from Autobase Aichi, huh.
Nor are all nine of the points included here (only six). But I think we can guess what the other three mean:
* The interpretation of Wheeljack's transformation in this toy is probably unique, creative, and original.
* JelZe already covered the "stuffing" one.
* The handgun can be stored on the underside of the car.
Posted by Va'al on February 25th, 2014 @ 3:02pm CST
Posted by Stormrider on February 25th, 2014 @ 10:01pm CST
Va'al wrote:Yurp.
Does anyone with more Japanese than me (not that difficult) help decipher that second point about stuffing?
Wheeljack's head and waist will make a good Autobot stuffing for your roast chicken.
Posted by Samsonator on February 26th, 2014 @ 1:00am CST
"Structure of the head and waist became great way stuffing"
"Great Way Stuffing" I like this... it's no "SEND THE BOOKS" (for those of use who've been here long enough to remember that one) but it's still great. I think I'mma adapt that to describe Shellformers... since you stuff the robot inside. "Big Convoy: Great Way Stuffing."
Posted by Va'al on February 26th, 2014 @ 1:21am CST
Posted by Mykltron on February 26th, 2014 @ 3:30am CST
Posted by Venoose1 on February 26th, 2014 @ 6:56am CST
* The first three realistic cars of the Masterpiece line were supposed to become 'super cars'.
Any ideas?
Posted by Sabrblade on February 26th, 2014 @ 6:58am CST
For what? They already are supercars.Venoose1 wrote:* The first three realistic cars of the Masterpiece line were supposed to become 'super cars'.
Any ideas?
Posted by Agent-539 on February 26th, 2014 @ 3:17pm CST
Deathscythetransform wrote:its stupid to put this thingy as an exclusive, since it was seen only once. that lunchbox is just a piece of plastic...Hero Alpha wrote:I do hope they add Chip Chase.
keep hoping. we got a green/gray, blue, white and black versions of doc arkeville, and a lime-green pilot for acidstorm.
we got nothing with the cars.
I would love to have chip, but it would be to good to be true.
Well, to follow that cab, we only saw both versions of Sideswipe's pile drivers once and Red's head sparks once as well.
539
Posted by Stormrider on February 27th, 2014 @ 7:55am CST
Posted by Sabrblade on February 27th, 2014 @ 8:00am CST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SupercarStormrider wrote:What is a super car? Does that mean race car? Or is it a 1980's G1 reference?
Posted by Stormrider on February 27th, 2014 @ 8:47am CST
Sabrblade wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SupercarStormrider wrote:What is a super car? Does that mean race car? Or is it a 1980's G1 reference?
Thanks. Is the Fairlady considered a super car?
Posted by Sabrblade on February 27th, 2014 @ 9:52am CST
I guess it could be if it were made to be one or something. *shrugs*Stormrider wrote:Sabrblade wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SupercarStormrider wrote:What is a super car? Does that mean race car? Or is it a 1980's G1 reference?
Thanks. Is the Fairlady considered a super car?
Posted by Stormrider on February 27th, 2014 @ 11:22am CST
Sabrblade wrote:I guess it could be if it were made to be one or something. *shrugs*Stormrider wrote:Sabrblade wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SupercarStormrider wrote:What is a super car? Does that mean race car? Or is it a 1980's G1 reference?
Thanks. Is the Fairlady considered a super car?
I agree, I don't perceive Fairlady as a super sports car but perhaps I am wrong. The reason I ask is because the designer mentioned 3 supercars, correct? If Fairlady is not included, is there another supercar he is referring to coming out in the future?
Posted by GuyIncognito on February 27th, 2014 @ 12:30pm CST
The Fairlady was an affordable sports car that's sold in the millions. It was used in racing, but I don't think it qualifies as a "supercar".
But if this was translated, then the original statement may not have meant supercar in the same way that we're interpreting it.
Posted by Sabrblade on February 27th, 2014 @ 12:36pm CST
"スーパーカー" is the term Autobase Aichi uses.
Posted by GuyIncognito on February 27th, 2014 @ 12:44pm CST
So what Supercars was he referring to? The Lamborghini obviously counts. I suppose the Lancia Stratos counts, too. (That's what Wheeljack is, right?)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 27th, 2014 @ 12:53pm CST
Maybe he meant that he designed the MP version of the Fairlady Z to be a custom-made Supercar version of the Fairlady Z. Maybe Teletraan I happened to come across and scan one that somebody had taken and customized into a Supercar Fairlady Z.GuyIncognito wrote:In that case, the Fairlady Z, which was designed to be an AFFORDABLE sports car by using parts from other Nissan cars, is pretty much the OPPOSITE of a supercar.
Posted by Stormrider on February 27th, 2014 @ 1:10pm CST
Posted by Sabrblade on February 27th, 2014 @ 4:10pm CST
Posted by El Duque on March 2nd, 2014 @ 10:47am CST
Posted by Stormrider on March 2nd, 2014 @ 6:23pm CST
Posted by El Duque on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:00pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:08pm CDT
Posted by mooncake623 on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:18pm CDT
Posted by LOST Cybertronian on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:20pm CDT
Posted by Captain on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:30pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:36pm CDT
Nope!Captain wrote:So does WJ look like this in G1? I don't remember the black windows?
This deco is based on the real life Lancia Stratos instead of Wheeljack's cartoon colors.
Posted by Captain on March 26th, 2014 @ 11:48pm CDT
Posted by Joetx on March 27th, 2014 @ 12:13am CDT
Captain wrote:That's what I thought. I hope at least Hasbro or Takara has the clear version windows. That black is a pass for me.
There will be a Hasbro version?
Posted by BumbleDouche on March 27th, 2014 @ 1:02am CDT
They need to release a version of this with a button for sound clips so we can hear him say "F@$# you Huffer!"
Posted by megatronus on March 27th, 2014 @ 1:02am CDT
Joetx wrote:Captain wrote:That's what I thought. I hope at least Hasbro or Takara has the clear version windows. That black is a pass for me.
There will be a Hasbro version?
We don't know if Hasbro will do one; they haven't released any of the (2) licensed cars to date. The next MP on their list is another Grimlock reissue.
At any rate, this deco doesn't look bad at all. Especially considering the original toy.
Posted by kirbenvost on March 27th, 2014 @ 1:36am CDT
Posted by megatronus on March 27th, 2014 @ 1:38am CDT
kirbenvost wrote:I agree the windows could be a lot less dark, but otherwise he looks amazing. That fourth pic is so cool, almost like he just jumped out of the cartoon.
I think Prime is the only MP not to have tinted windows... I guess they're trying to hide their holo-drivers
Posted by Samsonator on March 27th, 2014 @ 3:15am CDT
Posted by Cyberpath on March 27th, 2014 @ 3:44am CDT
The windshield are consistent with the other Autobot cars.
It appears that the "wings" are made from clear plastic as a homage to the G1 toy.
Posted by robotmel on March 27th, 2014 @ 6:15am CDT
Is this the official release or the KO..?
Posted by DecepticonFinishline on March 27th, 2014 @ 6:27am CDT
My problem is with the bit of the hood still under windshield in bot mode. That is the biggest let down for me.
Posted by craggy on March 27th, 2014 @ 6:43am CDT
Posted by Stormrider on March 27th, 2014 @ 7:34am CDT
MegaDump wrote:Every time I see this, I think of Dr Smoov's "S.O.S. Wheeljack"
They need to release a version of this with a button for sound clips so we can hear him say "F@$# you Huffer!"
lol. I love Dr Smoov's impression of Wheeljack!
I am surprised that this has an August release date. They seem to be ahead of schedule with the painted prototype. This is going to be a long 5 month wait.