Transformers Visualworks

2010-06-05T16:42:54Z

82.7.119.159: /* The world of line art */

{{Comicstory|
|title=Transformers Visualworks
|image=Transformers Visualworks cover.jpg
|caption=Look to the right! No, the other right!
|publisher=[[Million Publishing]]
|written by=
|date=[[December 4]], 2007
|illustrated by=
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Japanese Generation 1]]
|pagecount=128
|ISBN=ISBN 4813020690<br>
ISBN 978-4813020691
}}

'''Transformers Visualworks''' is a Japanese-exclusive art book featuring artwork mainly from [[Generation 1]] and [[Generation 2]]. The book was published by [[Million Publishing|Million Publishing Co.,Ltd.]] on [[December 4|December 4th]], 2007.

== Content ==
=== The world of Studio OX ===
[[Image:Generations-CybertronBattle.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]
This section mainly includes colour artwork by [[Studio OX]] published in ''[[TV Magazine]]'', ''[[Comic Bom Bom|Comic Bom-Bom]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Newtype_(magazine)|Newtype]]'' during the mid-1980s in Japan. It is subdivided into sections for the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], and battles between the two factions, focusing exclusively on the characters of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' and ''[[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Transformers 2010]]''. There is a noticeably large amount of [[combiner]] art, and the famous head-ache inducing piece of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] fighting together on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s shoulder. The final page of this section is for "color charts," showing colorized versions of a small number of Studio Ox's character model sheets, including [[Centurion drone|some]] which are not featured as line art later in the book.

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=== The world of Ban Magami===
[[Image:BattlestarsStoryPage17-18.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
This section contains works by [[Ban Magami]], the original character designer for
the assorted Japanese-exclusive ''Transformers'' animated series, including illustrations from ''TV Magazine''. The section opens with a small selection of random artwork from each series through to ''[[Victory (franchise)|Victory]]''. It was after these series that Magami began drawing large [[story page]] illustrations for ''TV Magazine'', and the book turns to focus on these, showcasing numerous images from the final third of ''[[Zone]]'', at least one image from all but one of ''[[The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars]]''' story pages, and finally, several ''[[Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination]]'' images to round out his part of the book.

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=== The world of Hidetsugu Yoshioka ===
[[Image:G2PrimeJustice.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Slag! You just ruined my [[Fusion cannon|precious]]!!"]]
This section features various artwork from [[Hidetsugu Yoshioka]], opening with a collection of miscellaneous art from various sources, featuring series as diverse as ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' and ''Operation Combination''. This is followed by line art of Yoshioka's famous [[Pioneer]] laserdisc covers, rendering the entire cast of the animated series in four [[Super deformed|super-deformed]] cram scenes, then by several images created for [[e-Hobby]] exclusives like [[Ga'mede]], [[Orion Pax]] and [[Pepsi Convoy]]. Yoshioka's section is rounded out by a complete collection of all sixteen of his ''[[Generation 2]]'' mini-comics, in full color.

Between this section and the next, there is a "Special Feature" spotlighting the cover art for the ''[[Song Universe]]'' CD set and special art featuring [[Artemis]] and [[T-AI]], both illustrated by [[Munetaka Abe]].
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=== The world of line art ===
[[Image:Springerstudiooxcharactermodel.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Despite what [[Studio Ox|some]] think, this art has been deemed [[Talk:Springer (G1)|not good enough]] for [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s actual page.]]
At this point, the book shifts from glossy color paper to uncoated black-and-white stock. This section features a wide variety of images, including design art and conceptual art, and features work from both Studio Ox and Ban Magami.

Studio Ox's section begins with a large gallery of character models, many of which were seen (at a smaller resolution) in [[Transformers Generations]]. Three pages of monochrome artwork from Comic Bom Bom follow, and the Ox section is then brought to a close with a final random collection of line art and sketches, including some unused [[Super Hybrid Model]] designs for ''The Headmasters'' characters.

Magami's section contains a sampling of his original character designs for ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|The Headmasters]]'', ''[[Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and ''Victory'', including multiple technical cutaways and storyboards for processes like [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s transformation and [[Head Formation]].

Between this section and the next, there is another "Special Feature" page, featuring six manga strips from the instruction booklet for the ''[[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]]'' video game.
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=== The world of related people ===
This section contains interviews with creators involved in the ''Transformers'' franchise, including Yoshioka, Magami, [[Tokubiko Sugita]], [[Akira Danizaki]], [[Shuto Nagajima]] and [[Masumi Kaneda]]. A few more random illustrations are spotted throughout these pages, including [[Sixliner]] by Magami, and pictures from [[MC Axis (pack-in comic)|the comics]] Yoshioka drew for the [[MC Axis (company)|MC Axis]] model kits.
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== Notes ==
[[Image:Encoreratchetemergencygreen.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Here comes the postman.]]
* Included in the book is an offer for '''[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] [[Ratchet (G1)|Emergency Green]]''', a mail-away [[exclusive]] product only available with a purchase of the book. The toy is a [[redeco]] of Ratchet from the [[Encore|Transformers Encore]] toy line and homages the [[Ratchet (Movie)|live-action movie Ratchet]].

* Note that the book features ''much'', but by no means close to ''all'', of the artwork of ''TV Magazine'', ''Comic Bom Bom'', LD covers and other sources. For example, the section "Illustrations by Ban Magami" omits several works published on ''TV Magazine'' from the late Japanese G1 era (including ''[[:Image:SkyGarry1.jpg|The Battlestars]]'') and [[:Image:SDLDDecepticons1.jpg|colored version]]. The section doesn't feature any of the [[:Image:Thunderwingboxart.jpg|box art]] by Yoshioka, either.

== External links ==
*[http://www.millionhero.jp/tf/ Transformers Visualworks] from [http://www.millionhero.jp Million Publishing]
*[http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&album=8717&dispsize=800&start=0 Pictures of "Transformers Visualworks" review] from [http://tformers.com/ TFORMERS.COM]

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Transformers Visualworks