Masakatsu Saito: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Transformers Generations 2011 Vol.2 93.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|A herd of unsuspecting [[Thunderhead]]s wander under the hangry gaze of [[Unicron]] in a retrospective painting by Saito of his final and most famous creations, respectively.]]
[[File:Transformers Generations 2011 Vol.2 93.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|A herd of unsuspecting [[Thunderhead]]s wander under the hangry gaze of [[Unicron]] in a retrospective painting by Saito of his final and most famous creations, respectively.]]
'''Masakatsu Saito''' (斎藤まさかつ ''Saitō Masakatsu'') was a prolific mechanical designer and illustrator who provided [[TakaraTomy]] with concept art for the ''Transformers'' brand for nearly twenty years, usually alongside legendary designer [[Takio Ejima]]. Coming on to the company in 1982, he started out working on sticker sheets for the [[pre-Transformer]] line ''[[Micro Change]]'' and bounced around the office working on properties such as ''{{w|Dunbine}}'' and the ''Transformers'' - adjacent ''Blockman'' before coming on to the ''Transformers'' brand proper around halfway through ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (franchise)|The Headmasters]]'' supplying rough markups for the packaging artist. He was promoted to full-on concept artist for the next year's ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and just kept going from there, having a hand in the development of wide swathes of TakaraTomy Transformers from the headliners of [[1989]]'s ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' all the way through ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]''. Some of his most noteworthy contributions include ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Unicron]], the Generation 1 [[Action Master]] assortment, and, most significantly, pretty much the entire ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' toyline. He retired in late [[2011]] citing declining health.
'''Masakatsu Saito''' (斎藤まさかつ ''Saitō Masakatsu'') was a prolific mechanical designer and illustrator who provided [[TakaraTomy]] with concept art for the ''Transformers'' brand for nearly twenty years, usually alongside legendary designer [[Takio Ejima]]. Coming on to the company in 1982, he started out working on sticker sheets for the [[Pre-Transformers|pre-''Transformers'']] line ''[[Micro Change]]'' and bounced around the office working on properties such as ''{{w|Dunbine}}'' and the ''Transformers'' - adjacent ''Blockman'' before coming on to the ''Transformers'' brand proper around halfway through ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (franchise)|The Headmasters]]'' supplying rough markups for the packaging artist. He was promoted to full-on concept artist for the next year's ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and just kept going from there, having a hand in the development of wide swathes of TakaraTomy Transformers from the headliners of [[1989]]'s ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' all the way through ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]''. Some of his most noteworthy contributions include ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Unicron]], the Generation 1 [[Action Master]] assortment, and, most significantly, pretty much the entire ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' toyline. He retired in late [[2011]] citing declining health.
{{TOC|limit=5}}
{{TOC|limit=5}}
==Known ''Transformers'' work==
==Known ''Transformers'' work==
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{{Bp-m1|[[Razorbeast#Toys|Razorbeast]] / [[Randy (BW)#Toys|Randy]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Razorbeast#Toys|Razorbeast]] / [[Randy (BW)#Toys|Randy]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Terrorsaur (BW)#Toys|Terrorsaur]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Terrorsaur (BW)#Toys|Terrorsaur]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Armordillo#Toys|Armordillo]] / [[Bump#Toys|Bump]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Armordillo (BW)#Toys|Armordillo]] / [[Bump (BW)#Toys|Bump]]}}
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{{Bp-m1|[[Airazor (BW)#Toys|Airazor]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Airazor (BW)#Toys|Airazor]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Razorclaw (BW)#Toys|Razorclaw]] / [[Rockbuster#Toys|Rockbuster]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Razorclaw (BW)#Toys|Razorclaw]] / [[Rockbuster#Toys|Rockbuster]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Claw Jaw#Toys|Claw Jaw]] / [[Scuba#Toys|Scuba]] / [[Ikard#Toys|Ikard]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Claw Jaw#Toys|Claw Jaw]] / [[Scuba (BW)#Toys|Scuba]] / [[Ikard (BW)#Toys|Ikard]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Drill Bit (BW)#Toys|Drill Bit]] / [[Drill Nuts#Toys|Drill Nuts]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Drill Bit (BW)#Toys|Drill Bit]] / [[Drill Nuts (BW)#Toys|Drill Nuts]]}}
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{{Bp-p1|[[Lazorbeak#Toys|Lazorbeak]] / [[Hydra (BW)#Toys|Hydra]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Lazorbeak#Toys|Lazorbeak]] / [[Hydra (BW)#Toys|Hydra]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Powerpinch#Toys|Powerpinch]] / [[Scissor Boy#Toys|Scissor Boy]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Powerpinch#Toys|Powerpinch]] / [[Scissor Boy#Toys|Scissor Boy]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Snarl (BW)#Toys|Snarl]] / [[Tasmania Kid#Toys|Tasmania Kid]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Snarl (BW)#Toys|Snarl]] / [[Tasmania Kid (BW)#Toys|Tasmania Kid]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Spittor (BW)#Toys|Spittor]] / [[Diver (BW)#Toys|Diver]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Spittor (BW)#Toys|Spittor]] / [[Diver (BW)#Toys|Diver]]}}
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{{Bp-m1|[[Cybershark#Toys|Cybershark]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Cybershark#Toys|Cybershark]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Jetstorm (BW)#Toys|Jetstorm]] / [[Tonbot#Toys|Tonbot]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Jetstorm (BW)#Toys|Jetstorm]] / [[Tonbot#Toys|Tonbot]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Bonecrusher (BW)#Toys|Bonecrusher]] / [[Bighorn#Toys|Bighorn]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Bonecrusher (BW)#Toys|Bonecrusher]] / [[Bighorn (BW)#Toys|Bighorn]]}}
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|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Manterror#Toys|Manterror]] / [[Mantis#Toys|Mantis]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Manterror#Toys|Manterror]] / [[Mantis (BW)#Toys|Mantis]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[K-9#Toys|K-9]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[K-9#Toys|K-9]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Retrax#Toys|Retrax]] / [[Powerhug (BW)#Toys|Powerhug]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Retrax#Toys|Retrax]] / [[Powerhug (BW)#Toys|Powerhug]]}}
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<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p1|[[Inferno (BW)#Toys|Inferno]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Inferno (BW)#Toys|Inferno]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[B'Boom#Toys|B'Boom]] / [[Apache#Toys|Apache]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[B'Boom#Toys|B'Boom]] / [[Apache (BW)#Toys|Apache]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Transquito#Toys|Transquito]] / [[Bigmos#Toys|Bigmos]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Transquito#Toys|Transquito]] / [[Bigmos#Toys|Bigmos]]}}
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{{Bp-m1|[[Magnaboss (BW)#Toys|Magnaboss]] / [[Magnaboss (BWII)#Toys|BWII Magnaboss]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Magnaboss (BW)#Toys|Magnaboss]] / [[Magnaboss (BWII)#Toys|BWII Magnaboss]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Ironhide (BW)#Toys|Ironhide]] / [[Santon#Toys|Santon]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Ironhide (BW)#Toys|Ironhide]] / [[Santon#Toys|Santon]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Prowl (Magnaboss)#Toys|Prowl]] / [[Lio Junior#Toys|Lio Junior]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Prowl (Magnaboss)#Toys|Prowl]] / [[Lio Junior (BW)#Toys|Lio Junior]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Silverbolt (Magnaboss)#Toys|Silverbolt]] / [[Skywarp (BW)#Toys|Skywarp]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Silverbolt (Magnaboss)#Toys|Silverbolt]] / [[Skywarp (BW)#Toys|Skywarp]]}}
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{{Bp-m1|[[Lio Convoy (BW)#Toys|Lio Convoy]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Lio Convoy (BW)#Toys|Lio Convoy]]}}
{{Bp-mn|[[Moon (BW)#Toys|Moon]]}}
{{Bp-mn|[[Moon (BW)#Toys|Moon]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Megastorm#Toys|Megastorm]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Megastorm (BW)#Toys|Megastorm]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Starscream (BW)#Toys|Starscream]] & [[BB (BW)#Toys|BB]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Starscream (BW)#Toys|Starscream]] & [[BB (BW)#Toys|BB]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dirge (BW)#Toys|Dirge]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dirge (BW)#Toys|Dirge]]}}
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<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Longrack (BW)#Toys|Longrack]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Longrack (BW)#Toys|Longrack]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Colada#Toys|Colada]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Colada (BW)#Toys|Colada]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Stampy (BW)#Toys|Stampy]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Stampy (BW)#Toys|Stampy]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Break#Toys|Break]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Break (BW)#Toys|Break]]}}
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|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p1|[[Guiledart#Toys|Guiledart]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Guiledart (BW)#Toys|Guiledart]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Saberback#Toys|Saberback]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Saberback (BW)#Toys|Saberback]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Sling (BW)#Toys|Sling]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Sling (BW)#Toys|Sling]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dead End (BW)#Toys|Dead End]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dead End (BW)#Toys|Dead End]]}}
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|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Big Convoy#Toys|Big Convoy]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Big Convoy (BW)#Toys|Big Convoy]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Magmatron#Toys|Magmatron]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Magmatron (BW)#Toys|Magmatron]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Heinrad (BW)#Toys|Heinrad]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Heinrad (BW)#Toys|Heinrad]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Sharp Edge#Toys|Sharp Edge]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Sharp Edge#Toys|Sharp Edge]]}}
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{{Bp-p1|[[Ravage (G1)/toys#Metals|Metals Jaguar]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Ravage (G1)/toys#Metals|Metals Jaguar]]}}
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|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan = 2|[[File:Beast Wars-Magmatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|[[Magmatron#Toys|''Beast Wars Neo'' Magmatron]]]]
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan = 2|[[File:Beast Wars-Magmatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|[[Magmatron (BW)#Toys|''Beast Wars Neo'' Magmatron]]]]
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|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Role play'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Role play'''</u>
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{{Bp-p1|[[Sky-Byte (RID)#Toys|Sky-Byte]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Sky-Byte (RID)#Toys|Sky-Byte]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dark Scream#RID|Dark Scream]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dark Scream#RID|Dark Scream]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Gas Skunk#RID|Gas Skunk]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Gas Skunk (RID)#RID|Gas Skunk]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Slapper (RID)#RID|Slapper]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Slapper (RID)#RID|Slapper]]}}
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==References==
==References==
While far too numerous to cite individually, this article is sourced from:
While far too numerous to cite individually, this article is sourced from:
*The ''[[Transformers Generations 2011 Volume 2|Transformers Generations 2011 Vol 2]]'' feature on Saito commemorating his retirement (p. 84-95)
*The ''[[Transformers Generations 2011 Vol. 2]]'' feature on Saito commemorating his retirement (p. 84-95)
*The ''[[Beast Wars Reborn]]'' Golden Disk<ref>The concept art included with the ''Beast Wars Reborn'' two-pack is credited to Saito by [[Hisashi Yuki]] in ''[[Transformers Generations 2011 Volume 2|Generations 2011 Vol 2]]'', p 94.</ref>
*The ''[[Beast Wars Reborn]]'' Golden Disk<ref>The concept art included with the ''Beast Wars Reborn'' two-pack is credited to Saito by [[Hisashi Yuki]] in ''[[Transformers Generations 2011 Vol. 2]]'', p 94.</ref>
*The ''Beast Wars'' feature in ''[[Transformers Generations 2017|Generations 2017]]'' (p. 69-77)
*The ''Beast Wars'' feature in ''[[Transformers Generations 2017]]'' (p. 69-77)
*The ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Again|Beast Wars Again]]'' feature in ''[[Transformers Generations 2023|Generations 2023]]'' (p. 68-71)
*The ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Again|Beast Wars Again]]'' feature in ''[[Transformers Generations 2023]]'' (p. 68-71)


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==

Latest revision as of 21:23, 14 May 2026

A herd of unsuspecting Thunderheads wander under the hangry gaze of Unicron in a retrospective painting by Saito of his final and most famous creations, respectively.

Masakatsu Saito (斎藤まさかつ Saitō Masakatsu) was a prolific mechanical designer and illustrator who provided TakaraTomy with concept art for the Transformers brand for nearly twenty years, usually alongside legendary designer Takio Ejima. Coming on to the company in 1982, he started out working on sticker sheets for the pre-Transformers line Micro Change and bounced around the office working on properties such as Dunbine and the Transformers - adjacent Blockman before coming on to the Transformers brand proper around halfway through The Headmasters supplying rough markups for the packaging artist. He was promoted to full-on concept artist for the next year's Super-God Masterforce and just kept going from there, having a hand in the development of wide swathes of TakaraTomy Transformers from the headliners of 1989's Victory all the way through Dark of the Moon. Some of his most noteworthy contributions include Armada Unicron, the Generation 1 Action Master assortment, and, most significantly, pretty much the entire Beast Wars toyline. He retired in late 2011 citing declining health.

Known Transformers work

[edit]

Toy deco

[edit]

Micro Change

[edit]

Packaging illustration

[edit]

The Headmasters

[edit]

Toy design

[edit]

Generation 1

[edit]
1988 - Pretenders and Masterforce
[edit]
Pretenders
Pretender Beasts Godmasters
Pretender Skullgrin
Targetmasters Cassettes


1989 - More Pretenders and Victory
[edit]
Pretender Monsters[1] / Dinoforce Classic Pretenders Mega Pretenders / Crossformers Ultra Pretenders
Mega Pretender Thunderwing
Brainmasters Breastforce

Other


1990 - Action Masters
[edit]
Action Masters


Action Master Banzai-Tron and Razor-Sharp
Action Master Action Blasters Action Master Autobot Vehicles Action Master Decepticon Attack Vehicles Action Master Autobot Armored Convoy


1991 - Action Masters continued
[edit]
Action Masters
  • Sideswipe
    (w/ Vanguard)
  • Take-Off
    (w/ Screech)
  • Tracks
    (w/ Basher)
    		•  Exo-Suit Action Masters Motorized Exo-Suit Action Masters
    Action Master Elite Double Punch
    Action Master Elites


    1992 - Euro-G1 and Operation Combination
    [edit]
    Turbomasters / Road Corps Predators / Jet Corps
    Predator Skyquake


    Unreleased
    [edit]
    Action Masters Turbomasters


    1993

    [edit]
    The global 1993 production slate consisted of the same toys existing in a sort of superposition of Generation 1 and Generation 2 depending on the market. Don't think about it too hard. Point is, Saito worked on all of the new molds that year.
    Axelerators / Autobot Cars Skyscorchers / Decepticon Jets Aquaspeeders / Color Changers Stormtroopers
    The Transformers Hawk / Generation 2 Eagle Eye
    Lightformers Trakkons Obliterators Leader


    Generation 2

    [edit]
    1994
    [edit]
    Rotor Force Laser Rods Heroes Others
    Rotor Force Leadfoot


    1995
    [edit]
    Go-Bots
    		Cyberjets Laser Cycles
    Cyberjet Hooligan
    Auto Rollers Leaders


    Unreleased
    [edit]
    Go-Bots Auto Rollers '"flipchangers"


    Beast Wars

    [edit]
    1996
    [edit]
    Basics
    		Deluxes
    Ultra Class Optimus Primal
    Megas Ultras


    1997
    [edit]
    Basics
    		Deluxes
    Scout Class Spittor
    Megas Ultra Teams
    		Playsets / MicroVerse


    1998 - Transmetals, Fuzors, and Beast Wars II
    [edit]
    Autorollers Cyborg Beasts Blentrons Others
    Beast Wars II Tako Tank
    Playsets & Vehicles Role Play


    Fuzors
    [edit]
    Basics
  • Terragator
  • Bantor
  • Buzzclaw
    		•  Deluxes
    Fuzors Basic Class Air Hammer


    Transmetals
    [edit]
    Deluxes Megas Ultras Supers
    Transmetals Deluxe Class Terrorsaur


    1999 - Transmetals 2 and Beast Wars Neo
    [edit]
    Beast Wars Neo Magmatron
    Role play


    Transmetals 2
    [edit]
    Basics Deluxes Megas Ultras
    Transmetals 2 Ultra Class Tigerhawk
    2000 - Mutants
    [edit]
    Mutants
    Deluxe Mutant Poison Bite
    Unreleased
    [edit]
    Blentrons Organic triple changers
    • "Gorilla/Eagle Optimus Primal"
    • "Cheetah/Shark Cheetor"
    • "Bull/Crab Rattrap"
    • "Raptor/Cobra Dinobot"


    Machine Wars

    [edit]


    Animorphs

    [edit]
    Deluxe Class Super Class Unreleased ("Double beasts")
  • (Ax or Visser Three)/Wasp/Frog
  • ???/Ram/Lizard
  • Tobias/Vulture/Pirahna
    		•
    Animorphs Tri-Rex


    Car Robots / Robots in Disguise (2001)

    [edit]
    Spychangers
  • Hot Shot
  • R.E.V.
  • W.A.R.S.
  • Crosswise
  • Ironhide
    		•
  • Mirage
  • Prowl 2
  • Side Swipe
  • Side Burn
  • Daytonus
    		•  Autobot Brothers Build Team
    Robots in Disguise Omega Prime
    Team Bullet Train
  • Railspike
  • Midnight Express
  • Rapid Run
  • Rail Racer
    		•  Others
  • Optimus Prime
  • Ultra Magnus
  • Omega Prime
  • Tow-Line
  • Skid-Z
    		•
  • Megatron
  • Sky-Byte
  • Dark Scream
  • Gas Skunk
  • Slapper
    		•
  • Scourge


    • Armada

    [edit]
    Supreme Class Unicron

    Energon

    [edit]
    Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Masakatsu_Saito&oldid=1916930"