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[[Image:Kawamori.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Affectionately nicknamed "Holy Floating Head" by western fans. I do not know why.]]
[[File:Shoji Kawamori and son.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Shōji Kawamori (left)]]


'''Shōji Kawamori''' (河森正治 ''Kawamori Shōji'') is a renowned [[Japan]]ese mechanical designer.  He was born [[February 2]], [[1960]], in Toyama Prefecture.
'''Shōji Kawamori''' (河森 正治 ''Kawamori Shōji'', b. [[February 20]], [[1960]]) is a renowned Japanese mechanical designer best known as the primary architect of the ''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross|Macross]]'' mega-franchise which he continues to lead to this day.


He was one of the designers working for [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] on ''[[Diaclone]]'' and is known to have contributed to the design of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Battle Convoy]] amongst others. However, he is most famous for creating and writing ''[[Wikipedia:The Super Dimension Fortress Macross|Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]'' as well as having designed the transforming VF-1 Valkyrie fighter jet/mecha and other mechanical design for the series, and for his work on ''Escaflowne'' and ''Eureka 7''. A toy version of the Valkyrie was later used as the Transformer [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]].
Kawamori cut his teeth as one junior designer of many in the design studio [[Studio Nue]] working for [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] on the [[pre-Transformer]] ''[[Diaclone]]'' franchise, where he is known to have contributed to the design of ''Diaclone'' flagship "Battle Convoy" (pre-[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]) and quite a few of the pre-[[Autobot Cars]], amongst others. ''Diaclone'' is a bit of a footnote however, relative to Kawamori's most famous work: creating and writing the seminal '80s mecha anime ''Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' and nine of its ten and counting sequels, as well as his work on many smaller critically acclaimed productions such as ''{{w|Escaflowne}}'' and ''{{w|Eureka 7}}''. Of particular pertinence to ''Transformers'' is his design work on the transforming "VF-1 Valkyrie" fighter jet/mecha of the original ''Macross'', which was subsequently ported into ''The Transformers'' alongside his ''Diaclone'' work as [[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Toys|Jetfire]].


Kawamori has recently returned to the ''Transformers'' franchise, supervising the design of a [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Hybrid Style|G1 Optimus Prime toy]] for Takara's ''Transformers [[Hybrid Style]]'' line, and a highly detailed [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Starscream]] for the ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece| Masterpiece]]'' line.
Kawamori briefly returned to the ''Transformers'' franchise in 2006 to oversee the design of a new [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Hybrid Style|Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy]] for Takara's ''Transformers [[Hybrid Style]]'' line as well as the immaculate jet mode of the original [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Starscream]] toy of the nascent ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' toyline.


[[Category:Designers|Kawamori Shoji]]
==Known design work==
[[Category:TakaraTomy|Kawamori Shoji]]
===''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]''===
====via ''[[Diaclone]]''====
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ultra Magnus]]<ref name="2009v1">"Design Maniax" feature in ''[[Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1]]'' by [[TARKUS]], p74-79</ref>}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Autobot Cars#The Transformers|Autobot Cars]]
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Inferno (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Inferno]]<ref name ="2009v1"/>}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Mirage (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Mirage]]<ref name ="2009v1"/>}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Skids (G1)#The Transformers|Skids]]<ref name = "DiacloneNext">''Diaclone World Guide Next'' by [[Kōji Igarashi]], p.106</ref>}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Dinobot (G1)#The Transformers|Dinobot]]s'''
{{Bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Grimlock]]<ref name ="2009v1"/>}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sludge (G1)#The Transformers|Sludge]]<ref name ="2009v1"/>}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|}
 
====via ''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross|Macross]]''====
{{Bp-a1|[[Jetfire (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Jetfire]]}}
 
===''[[The Transformers: Collector's Edition|Collector's Edition]]''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|[[Crosscut (G1)#Toys|Crosscut]] (via ''Diaclone'')<ref name = "DiacloneNext"/>}}</ul>
 
===''[[Hybrid Style]]''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Hybrid Style|Convoy]]}}</ul>
 
===''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-3 Starscream]] (final version, initial design by [[Hironori Kobayashi]])}}</ul>
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[https://shojikawamori.jp/ Shōji Kawamori's personal website]
*[https://twitter.com/kawamoriexpo Shōji Kawamori on Twitter]
*{{w|lang=ja|河森正治|Shōji Kawamori}} at Japanese Wikipedia
*{{w|Shōji Kawamori}} at English Wikipedia
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kawamori, Shoji}}
[[Category:Generation 1 designers]]
[[Category:Masterpiece designers]]
[[Category:Studio Nue]]
[[Category:TakaraTomy designers]]

Latest revision as of 11:46, 21 March 2026

Shōji Kawamori (left)

Shōji Kawamori (河森 正治 Kawamori Shōji, b. February 20, 1960) is a renowned Japanese mechanical designer best known as the primary architect of the Macross mega-franchise which he continues to lead to this day.

Kawamori cut his teeth as one junior designer of many in the design studio Studio Nue working for Takara on the pre-Transformer Diaclone franchise, where he is known to have contributed to the design of Diaclone flagship "Battle Convoy" (pre-Optimus Prime) and quite a few of the pre-Autobot Cars, amongst others. Diaclone is a bit of a footnote however, relative to Kawamori's most famous work: creating and writing the seminal '80s mecha anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross and nine of its ten and counting sequels, as well as his work on many smaller critically acclaimed productions such as Escaflowne and Eureka 7. Of particular pertinence to Transformers is his design work on the transforming "VF-1 Valkyrie" fighter jet/mecha of the original Macross, which was subsequently ported into The Transformers alongside his Diaclone work as Jetfire.

Kawamori briefly returned to the Transformers franchise in 2006 to oversee the design of a new Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy for Takara's Transformers Hybrid Style line as well as the immaculate jet mode of the original Starscream toy of the nascent Masterpiece toyline.

Known design work

[edit]

The Transformers

[edit]

via Diaclone

[edit]
Autobot Cars Dinobots
  • Grimlock[1]
  • Sludge[1]
    		•

    via Macross

    [edit]
  • Jetfire

    • Collector's Edition

    [edit]

    Hybrid Style

    [edit]

    Masterpiece

    [edit]

    References

    [edit]
    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Design Maniax" feature in Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1 by TARKUS, p74-79
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Diaclone World Guide Next by Kōji Igarashi, p.106
    [edit]
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