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'''Yuichiro Hira''' (平雄一郎 ''Hira Yuichiro'') was a ''Transformers'' designer at [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] from the end of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' to the beginning of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]''. He eventually moved into upper-level TakaraTomy management.<ref>2015 press release noting Hira moving from Deputy Head of Global Business Division to Head of Global Business Division. https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/english/ir/financial/pdf/150714p_en.pdf</ref>
'''Yuichiro Hira''' (平 雄一郎 ''Hira Yūichirō'') was a ''Transformers'' designer at [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] from the start of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' to the beginning of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]''. He eventually moved into upper-level TakaraTomy management.<ref>2015 press release noting Hira moving from Deputy Head of Global Business Division to Head of Global Business Division. https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/english/ir/financial/pdf/150714p_en.pdf</ref>
 
==Known ''Transformers'' work==
===Toy design===
====Beast Wars====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Basic Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Airazor (BW)#Toys|Airazor]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Rattrap (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Rattrap]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Insecticon (BW)#Toys|Insecticon]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Powerpinch#Toys|Powerpinch]] / [[Scissor Boy#Toys|Scissor Boy]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Razorclaw (BW)#Toys|Razorclaw]] / [[Rockbuster#Toys|Rockbuster]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Snarl (BW)#Toys|Snarl]] / [[Tasmania Kid (BW)#Toys|Tasmania Kid]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Spittor (BW)#Toys|Spittor]] / [[Diver (BW)#Toys|Diver]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Bonecrusher (BW)#Toys|Bonecrusher]] / [[Bighorn (BW)#Toys|Bighorn]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Manterror#Toys|Manterror]] / [[Mantis (BW)#Toys|Mantis]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Wolfang (Maximal)#Toys|Wolfang]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Mega Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[B'Boom#Toys|B'Boom]] / [[Apache (BW)#Toys|Apache]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Inferno (BW)#Beast Wars|Inferno]]<br>(with [[Takio Ejima]])<ref>Yuichiro Hira's name is on Inferno's patent, but Ejima was credited as working on Inferno in a ''[[Figure Ō]]'' interview.</ref>}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Polar Claw#Toys|Polar Claw]] / [[Survive#Toys|Survive]]<br>(w/ [[Batscout#Toys|robotic bat]] / [[True One#Toys|True One]])}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#FirstUltra|Optimus Primal]]}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Tripredacus#Toys|Tripredacus]] / [[Tripledacus#Toys|Tripledacus]]<br>([[Cicadacon#Toys|Cicadacon]] / [[DJ (BW)#Toys|DJ]], [[Ram Horn#Toys|Ram Horn]] / [[Motorarm (BW)#Toys|Motorarm]], [[Sea Clamp#Toys|Sea&nbsp;Clamp]] / [[Gimlet#Toys|Gimlet]])}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:BW-toy AirazorBasic.jpg|upright=1.33|thumb|Basic [[Airazor (BW)#Toys|Airazor]]]]
|}
{{-}}
=====Transmetals 2=====


==Known design projects==
===Beast Wars===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Basic Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Basic Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Sonar (BW)#Toys|Sonar]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Sonar (BW)#Toys|Sonar]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Spittor (BW)#TM2|Spittor]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Spittor (BW)#TM2|Spittor]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Stinkbomb#Toys|Stinkbomb]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Stinkbomb#Toys|Stinkbomb]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#TM2|Cheetor]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#TM2|Cheetor]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Iguanus (BW)#TM2|Iguanus]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Iguanus (BW)#TM2|Iguanus]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Jawbreaker (BW)#Toys|Jawbreaker]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Jawbreaker (BW)#Toys|Jawbreaker]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Prowl (TM2)#Toys|Prowl]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Prowl (TM2)#Toys|Prowl]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Ramulus#Toys|Ramulus]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Ramulus#Toys|Ramulus]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Mega Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Mega Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Blackarachnia (BW)/toys#TM2|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Blackarachnia (BW)/toys#TM2|Blackarachnia]]}}
{{bp-m1|[[Cybershark#TM2|Cybershark]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{bp-m1|[[Cybershark#TM2|Cybershark]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra Class'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p1|[[Megatron (BW)/toys#TM2|Megatron]] (Transmetals 2)}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Megatron (BW)/toys#TM2|Megatron]]}}
{{bp-m1|[[Tigerhawk#Toys|Tigerhawk]]}}
{{bp-m1|[[Tigerhawk#Toys|Tigerhawk]]}}
|
|
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|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:BW-toy BlackarachniaTM2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.33|Mega [[Blackarachnia (BW)/toys#TM2|Blackarachnia]]]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:BW-toy BlackarachniaTM2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.33|Mega [[Blackarachnia (BW)/toys#TM2|Blackarachnia]]]]
|}
|}


{{-}}
{{-}}
===Beast Machines===
 
====Beast Machines====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Basic Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Basic Class'''</u>
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<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m2|[[Cheetor_(BW)/toys#BMSupreme|Cheetor]]}}
{{Bp-m2|[[Cheetor_(BW)/toys#BMSupreme|Cheetor]]}}
{{Bp-m2|[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Air Attack Optimus Primal]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
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{{-}}
{{-}}
===Mutant Beast Wars===
====Mutant Beast Wars====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe Class'''</u>
Line 86: Line 123:


{{-}}
{{-}}
===Car Robots/Robots in Disguise (2001)===
====Car Robots/Robots in Disguise (2001)====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Predacons'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p1|[[Gas Skunk (RID)#RID|Gas Skunk]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Slapper (RID)#RID|Slapper]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Sky-Byte (RID)#Toys|Sky-Byte]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Team Bullet Train'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Team Bullet Train'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Rail Racer (RID)#Toys|Rail Racer]]<br>([[Midnight Express (RID)#Toys|Midnight Express]], [[Railspike (RID)#Toys|Railspike]], and [[Rapid Run (RID)#Toys|Rapid Run]])}}
{{bp-a1|[[Rail Racer (RID)#Toys|Rail Racer]]<br>([[Midnight Express (RID)#Toys|Midnight Express]], [[Railspike (RID)#Toys|Railspike]], and [[Rapid Run (RID)#Toys|Rapid Run]])}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Supreme Class'''</u>
|
<ul class="iconlist">
|width="20%" valign="top"|
{{Bp-a1m1|[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Air Attack Optimus Primal]]}}
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
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{{-}}
{{-}}
===1-2-3 Transformers===
 
====1-2-3 Transformers====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
* [[Rescue Roy#Toys|Rescue Roy]]
* [[Rescue Roy#Toys|Rescue Roy]] / [[Roy (Go-Bots)|Roy]]
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
Line 118: Line 162:


{{-}}
{{-}}
===Armada===
 
====Armada====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Mini-Con Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Mini-Con Class'''</u>
Line 140: Line 185:


{{-}}
{{-}}
===Playskool Big Adventures===
====Playskool Big Adventures====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultra'''</u>
Line 156: Line 201:


{{-}}
{{-}}
===Transformers Go-Bots===
====Transformers Go-Bots====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Deluxe'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
<ul class="iconlist">
*[[Speed-Bot#Toys|Speed-Bot II]] / [[Mirage-Bot]]
*[[Speed-Bot#Go-Bots|Speed-Bot II]] / [[Mirage-Bot]]
|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
Line 172: Line 217:


{{-}}
{{-}}
===Energon===
 
====Energon====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Energon Class'''</u>
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Energon Class'''</u>
Line 186: Line 232:
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:En-toy BattleRavage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.33|[[Battle Ravage#Toys|Battle Ravage]]]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:En-toy BattleRavage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.33|[[Battle Ravage#Toys|Battle Ravage]]]]
|}
|}
{{-}}
===Cartoon production===
*''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)#Japanese release|Beast Wars Returns]]'' (Executive Producer)
*''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Galaxy Force]]'' (planning)
*''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)#Japanese release|Transformers Animated]]''


==Notes==
==Notes==
* Hira's earliest sign of working for Takara is a 1993 patent for a game that seemed to be a cross between [[w:Tiddlywinks|Tiddlywinks]] and [[w:Pogs|Pogs]].<ref>https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/PU/JP-H07-116291/2E46558689E545EF1934588E68B2723E2DDAF5CB6AB6F2AC36579F022F954A65/11/ja</ref>
* Hira's earliest sign of working for Takara is a 1993 patent for a game that seemed to be a cross between [[w:Tiddlywinks|tiddlywinks]] and [[w:Pogs|pogs]].<ref>https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/PU/JP-H07-116291/2E46558689E545EF1934588E68B2723E2DDAF5CB6AB6F2AC36579F022F954A65/11/ja</ref>
* He may have been the lead on Takara's ''[[w:Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver|Webdiver]]'' series. He designed the main robot Gladion, worked on other toys in the line, and appears on 3 patents relating to Gladion's internal video game system.
* He may have been the lead on Takara's ''[[w:Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver|Webdiver]]'' series. He designed the main robot Gladion, worked on other toys in the line, and appears on 3 patents relating to Gladion's internal video game system.
* His transition to management occurred around 2004, as he was given an Executive Producer credit on ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' and an executive-level "planning" credit in the Japanese version of the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' anime. He would receive similar high-level credits on the Japanese version of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'', as well as Takara's home-grown shows ''Ryukendo'', ''Metal Fight [[Beyblade]]'', ''[[Rescue Fire]]'', and most recently ''Cap Kakumei Bottleman''.
* His transition to management occurred around 2004, as he was given an Executive Producer credit on ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' and an executive-level "planning" credit in the Japanese version of the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' anime. He would receive similar high-level credits on the Japanese version of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'', as well as Takara's home-grown shows ''Ryukendo'', ''Metal Fight [[Beyblade]]'', ''[[Rescue Fire]]'', and most recently ''Cap Kakumei Bottleman''.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hira, Yuichiro}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hira, Yuichiro}}
[[Category:Beast Era designers]]
[[Category:Beast Era designers]]
[[Category:Producers]]
[[Category:TakaraTomy designers]]
[[Category:TakaraTomy designers]]
[[Category:Unicron Trilogy designers]]
[[Category:Unicron Trilogy designers]]

Latest revision as of 20:15, 14 May 2026

Yuichiro Hira (平 雄一郎 Hira Yūichirō) was a Transformers designer at Takara from the start of Beast Wars to the beginning of Energon. He eventually moved into upper-level TakaraTomy management.[1]

Known Transformers work

[edit]

Toy design

[edit]

Beast Wars

[edit]
Basic Class Deluxe Class Mega Class Ultra Class
Basic Airazor


Transmetals 2
[edit]
Basic Class Deluxe Class Mega Class Ultra Class
Mega Blackarachnia



Beast Machines

[edit]
Basic Class Deluxe Class Mega Class Ultra Class Supreme Class
Deluxe Strika


Mutant Beast Wars

[edit]
Deluxe Class


Car Robots/Robots in Disguise (2001)

[edit]
Predacons Team Bullet Train Supreme Class
The combined Rail Racer


1-2-3 Transformers

[edit]
Ultra
Ultra Rescue Roy


Armada

[edit]
Mini-Con Class Super-Con Class Roleplay Triple Changer
Super-Con Hot Shot


Playskool Big Adventures

[edit]
Ultra


Transformers Go-Bots

[edit]
Deluxe
Deluxe Speed-Bot II


Energon

[edit]
Energon Class
Battle Ravage


Cartoon production

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  • Hira's earliest sign of working for Takara is a 1993 patent for a game that seemed to be a cross between tiddlywinks and pogs.[3]
  • He may have been the lead on Takara's Webdiver series. He designed the main robot Gladion, worked on other toys in the line, and appears on 3 patents relating to Gladion's internal video game system.
  • His transition to management occurred around 2004, as he was given an Executive Producer credit on Beast Wars Returns and an executive-level "planning" credit in the Japanese version of the Cybertron anime. He would receive similar high-level credits on the Japanese version of Transformers Animated, as well as Takara's home-grown shows Ryukendo, Metal Fight Beyblade, Rescue Fire, and most recently Cap Kakumei Bottleman.

References

[edit]
  1. 2015 press release noting Hira moving from Deputy Head of Global Business Division to Head of Global Business Division. https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/english/ir/financial/pdf/150714p_en.pdf
  2. Yuichiro Hira's name is on Inferno's patent, but Ejima was credited as working on Inferno in a Figure Ō interview.
  3. https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/PU/JP-H07-116291/2E46558689E545EF1934588E68B2723E2DDAF5CB6AB6F2AC36579F022F954A65/11/ja