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