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'''Kōjin Ōno''' (大野 光仁 ''Ōno Kōjin'') is a [[TakaraTomy]] employee born on [[May 11]], [[1959]] in [[Tokyo]]. He worked for Takara for several decades prior to the merger with Tomy. Ōno was one of the main designers for the ''[[Microman]]'' and ''[[Diaclone]]'' toylines, and designed many of the [[toy]]s that were later licensed to [[Hasbro]] and repurposed as the first ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys. He subsequently became one of the primary design leads on product designed for the Generation 1 toyline proper. His name is sometimes transliterated as "'''Koujin Ohno'''", "'''Kouzin Ohno'''"<ref>Several of the US patents for the early Generation 1 toys that originated from ''Diaclone'' transliterate his name as "Kouzin Ohno" when listing him as the designer.</ref> or "'''Kohjin Ohno'''". | '''Kōjin Ōno''' (大野 光仁 ''Ōno Kōjin'') is a [[TakaraTomy]] employee born on [[May 11]], [[1959]] in [[Tokyo]]. He worked for Takara for several decades prior to the merger with Tomy. Ōno was one of the main designers for the ''[[Microman]]'' and ''[[Diaclone]]'' toylines, and designed many of the [[toy]]s that were later licensed to [[Hasbro]] and repurposed as the first ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys. He subsequently became one of the primary design leads on product designed for the Generation 1 toyline proper. His name is sometimes transliterated as "'''Koujin Ohno'''", "'''Kouzin Ohno'''"<ref>Several of the US patents for the early Generation 1 toys that originated from ''Diaclone'' transliterate his name as "Kouzin Ohno" when listing him as the designer.</ref> or "'''Kohjin Ohno'''". | ||
Among Ōno's designs were the first "car to robot transforming toy", [[Spin-Out (G1)|the toy]] that later became the [[Autobot]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]], and the former largest ''Transformers'' toy ever, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. After some time in marketing where he played a key role in the introduction of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toy line to the Japanese market, Ōno returned to toy design in a big way as the lead of ''Car Robots'', the franchise that would become the pivotal 2001 franchise ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''.<ref name ="Gens24">[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono6.html Interview on the 40th Anniversary of the ''Transformers'' brand] with Ōno in ''[[Transformers Generations 2024]]'', translated at Soundwaves Oblivion</ref> In subsequent years he would recede to a more managerial role overseeing the development of lines like ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' though he continued to personally pitch in on the odd toy for such varied lines as ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'', | Among Ōno's designs were the first "car to robot transforming toy", [[Spin-Out (G1)|the toy]] that later became the [[Autobot]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]], and the former largest ''Transformers'' toy ever, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. After some time in marketing where he played a key role in the introduction of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toy line to the Japanese market, Ōno returned to toy design in a big way as the lead of ''Car Robots'', the franchise that would become the pivotal 2001 franchise ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''.<ref name ="Gens24">[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono6.html Interview on the 40th Anniversary of the ''Transformers'' brand] with Ōno in ''[[Transformers Generations 2024]]'', translated at Soundwaves Oblivion</ref> In subsequent years he would recede to a more managerial role overseeing the development of lines like ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' though he continued to personally pitch in on the odd toy for such varied lines as ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'', the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 live-action movie line]], its successor, ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and even ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (toyline)|Rise of the Beasts]]''. | ||
More recently, he personally oversaw the 2021-2024 ''Masterpiece'' slate and helmed the launch of its successor, [[The Transformers: MPG|''MPG'']].<ref name="Gens24"/> He also handled TakaraTomy's licensed crossover toys in the lead-up to the launch of [[T-SPARK]], TakaraTomy's collector mega-brand.<ref name ="King303">Designer interview in ''[[Figure | More recently, he personally oversaw the 2021-2024 ''Masterpiece'' slate and helmed the launch of its successor, [[The Transformers: MPG|''MPG'']].<ref name="Gens24"/> He also handled TakaraTomy's licensed crossover toys in the lead-up to the launch of [[T-SPARK]], TakaraTomy's collector mega-brand.<ref name ="King303">Designer interview in ''[[Figure Ō]]'' No. 303 (April 2023 issue)</ref> | ||
==Known design projects== | ==Known design projects== | ||
| Line 294: | Line 294: | ||
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''2022'''</u> | |width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''2022'''</u> | ||
<ul class="iconlist"> | <ul class="iconlist"> | ||
{{Bp-a1|MPG-01 [[Shouki#MPG|Trainbot Shouki]]<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/10/28/figure-king-285-interview-with-mpg-01-raiden-development-team-english-translation-443964 Figure | {{Bp-a1|MPG-01 [[Shouki#MPG|Trainbot Shouki]]<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/10/28/figure-king-285-interview-with-mpg-01-raiden-development-team-english-translation-443964 ''Figure Ō'' 285: Interview With MPG-01 Raiden Development Team – English Translation] on TFW2005</ref>}} | ||
{{Bp-a1|MPG-02 [[Getsuei#MPG|Trainbot Getsuei]]}} | {{Bp-a1|MPG-02 [[Getsuei#MPG|Trainbot Getsuei]]}} | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| Line 354: | Line 354: | ||
===Interviews=== | ===Interviews=== | ||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070307/http://www.reocities.com/planetsabretron/oonokoujin.html Translated Interview] from ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' (p.126) at Planet Sabretron (archived) | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070307/http://www.reocities.com/planetsabretron/oonokoujin.html Translated Interview] from ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' (p.126) at Planet Sabretron (archived) | ||
*[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono.html Translated Interviews] from [[Figure Ō | *[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono.html Translated Interviews] from ''[[Figure Ō]]'' #278 (March 2021 issue) and ''[[Transformers Generations 2021]]'' at Soundwaves Oblivion | ||
*[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono5.html Translated Interviews] from Figure | *[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono5.html Translated Interviews] from ''Figure Ō'' #316 (May 2024 issue) at Soundwaves Oblivion | ||
*[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono6.html Translated Interview] from ''[[Transformers Generations 2024]]'' at Soundwaves Oblivion | *[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/techspecs/interviewkojinono6.html Translated Interview] from ''[[Transformers Generations 2024]]'' at Soundwaves Oblivion | ||
Latest revision as of 14:28, 25 February 2026
Kōjin Ōno (大野 光仁 Ōno Kōjin) is a TakaraTomy employee born on May 11, 1959 in Tokyo. He worked for Takara for several decades prior to the merger with Tomy. Ōno was one of the main designers for the Microman and Diaclone toylines, and designed many of the toys that were later licensed to Hasbro and repurposed as the first Transformers toys. He subsequently became one of the primary design leads on product designed for the Generation 1 toyline proper. His name is sometimes transliterated as "Koujin Ohno", "Kouzin Ohno"[1] or "Kohjin Ohno".
Among Ōno's designs were the first "car to robot transforming toy", the toy that later became the Autobot Sunstreaker, and the former largest Transformers toy ever, Fortress Maximus. After some time in marketing where he played a key role in the introduction of the Beast Wars toy line to the Japanese market, Ōno returned to toy design in a big way as the lead of Car Robots, the franchise that would become the pivotal 2001 franchise Robots in Disguise.[2] In subsequent years he would recede to a more managerial role overseeing the development of lines like Alternators and Masterpiece though he continued to personally pitch in on the odd toy for such varied lines as Cybertron, the 2007 live-action movie line, its successor, Revenge of the Fallen, and even Rise of the Beasts.
More recently, he personally oversaw the 2021-2024 Masterpiece slate and helmed the launch of its successor, MPG.[2] He also handled TakaraTomy's licensed crossover toys in the lead-up to the launch of T-SPARK, TakaraTomy's collector mega-brand.[3]
Known design projects
[edit]Diaclone
[edit]- Pretty much every single real world vehicle, give or take a dinosaur.
Generation 1
[edit]Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers
[edit]2010/Scramble City
[edit]| Aerialbots[4] |
The Headmasters
[edit]| Trainbots |
Super-God Masterforce
[edit]Victory
[edit]
|
| Multiforce[4] | Dinoforce[4] / Pretender Monsters | Crossformers[4] / Mega Pretenders |
Zone
[edit]
|
Car Robots / Robots in Disguise (2001)
[edit](Design lead)
- Optimus Prime / Fire Convoy (voice actor, Car Robots release)
Cybertron
[edit]| Scout Class |
Transformers (2007)
[edit]| Deluxe Class | Fast Action Battlers | Cyber Slammers
|
G-Shock × Transformers
[edit]Masterpiece
[edit]2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
MPG
[edit]2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
Canon/Transformers
[edit]Rise of the Beasts
[edit]Notes
[edit]- For whatever reason, the American patent that credits Ōno for Sunstreaker also includes Bumper, leading to the mistaken impression that Ōno created both toys. The Micro Change Familia 1500 XG that became Bumper was actually created by a Takara designer named Masaki Maruyama.
- Ōno cites the Steel Jeeg franchise as his original inspiration for the Headmaster gimmick.[7] Takara created a number of toys for the Jeeg series in the 1970s, including one that was retooled into the original form of Baron Karza.
- Ōno personally provided the voice lines for the original Fire Convoy toy.[2]
- Ōno has something of a soft spot for Skids' alt mode the Honda City R, having owned a red one in his youth. This would inspire his creation of Reboost for the Masterpiece toyline.
References
[edit]- ↑ Several of the US patents for the early Generation 1 toys that originated from Diaclone transliterate his name as "Kouzin Ohno" when listing him as the designer.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Interview on the 40th Anniversary of the Transformers brand with Ōno in Transformers Generations 2024, translated at Soundwaves Oblivion
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Designer interview in Figure Ō No. 303 (April 2023 issue)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Interview with Ōno in the original 2001 edition of Transformers Generations by Kōji Igarashi, p.126
- ↑ Transformers Generations 2022 interview on the Masterpiece toyline.
- ↑ Figure Ō 285: Interview With MPG-01 Raiden Development Team – English Translation on TFW2005
- ↑ Interview in Diaclone Combat Chronicle Vol. 2
External links
[edit]Interviews
[edit]- Translated Interview from Transformers Generations (p.126) at Planet Sabretron (archived)
- Translated Interviews from Figure Ō #278 (March 2021 issue) and Transformers Generations 2021 at Soundwaves Oblivion
- Translated Interviews from Figure Ō #316 (May 2024 issue) at Soundwaves Oblivion
- Translated Interview from Transformers Generations 2024 at Soundwaves Oblivion
