Hirofumi Ichikawa: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Ichikawa.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Years of <s>clean living</s> doing freelance work for Takara can have you looking like this.]]
[[File:Ichikawa.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Years of <s>clean living</s> doing freelance work for Takara can have you looking like this.]]
'''Hirofumi Ichikawa''' (市川 裕文 ''Ichikawa Hirofumi'') is a noted Japanese Transformers fan who has made the jump to working on the brand in an official capacity for [[TakaraTomy|Takara]].
'''Hirofumi Ichikawa''' (市川 裕文 ''Ichikawa Hirofumi'') is a noted [[Japan]]ese ''Transformers'' fan who has made the jump to working on the brand in an official capacity for [[TakaraTomy|Takara]].


As a fan, he wrote numerous fan-comics and magazines (called ''dōjinshi'' in Japan), mainly focusing on introducing Japanese fans to the [[Hasbro]]/American version of Transformers and the concepts and characters within. Among them was a very indignant magazine decrying the "[[Yoshikazu Iwanami|funny]]" dub of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' that was presented in Japan, as it had removed much of the "serious sci-fi" edge that had made the show immensely popular with the English-speaking fanbase. But perhaps his most well known pre-official work is ''Transformers Chronicles'', a sort of "bridge" story for his take on the lead-up to ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''. This book was translated to English, but has long since sold through its short run.
As a fan, he wrote numerous fan-comics and magazines (called ''dōjinshi'' in Japan), mainly focusing on introducing Japanese fans to the [[Hasbro]]/American version of ''Transformers'' and the concepts and characters within. Among them was a very indignant magazine decrying the "[[Yoshikazu Iwanami|funny]]" dub of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' that was presented in Japan, as it had removed much of the "serious sci-fi" edge that had made the show immensely popular with the English-speaking fanbase. But perhaps his most well known pre-official work is ''Transformers Chronicles'', a sort of "bridge" story for his take on the lead-up to ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''. This book was translated to English, but has long since sold through its short run.


Ichikawa's art style is ''heavily'' toy-based; his Transformers almost always have the toy's proportions and detailing down exactly, not approximations or "influenced" altered cartoon models. The only changes made are there to make them more "realistic" by adding in joints for motion that the toys may lack. These joints are always very realistic in terms of mechanical detailing of the pistons and rotating joints necessary for real-life machines, similar to the mechanical detailing artist [[E. J. Su]] employs. His style can best be summed up as "if the toys were real robots". He is a long-time fan; Ichikawa was drawing toy-based artwork long before it got "popular" with the explosion of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] onto the fandom.
Ichikawa's art style is ''heavily'' toy-based; his Transformers almost always have the toy's proportions and detailing down exactly, not approximations or "influenced" altered cartoon models. The only changes made are there to make them more "realistic" by adding in joints for motion that the toys may lack. These joints are always very realistic in terms of mechanical detailing of the pistons and rotating joints necessary for real-life machines, similar to the mechanical detailing artist [[E. J. Su]] employs. His style can best be summed up as "if the toys were real robots". He is a long-time fan; Ichikawa was drawing toy-based artwork long before it got "popular" with the explosion of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] onto the fandom.


Ichikawa has a definite preference for the Western take of Transformers, enjoying its more sci-fi-oriented and older-aimed feel, though he eschews the more metaphysical/mystical aspects of the fiction, especially [[Primus]].
Ichikawa has a definite preference for the Western take of ''Transformers'', enjoying its more sci-fi-oriented and older-aimed feel, though he eschews the more metaphysical/mystical aspects of the fiction, especially [[Primus]].


==Writer/illustrator==
==Writer/illustrator==
*[[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]] {{w|LaserDisc}} and DVD pack-in booklets
*[[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]] {{w|LaserDisc}} and DVD pack-in booklets
**''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' Box 1 and 2
**''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' Box 1 and 2
Line 23: Line 22:
**"[[Arch-Nemesis!]]", "[[To Die Game!]]" (lineart)
**"[[Arch-Nemesis!]]", "[[To Die Game!]]" (lineart)
*"[[Beast Wars Universe]]" (co-written with [[Fumihiko Akiyama]])
*"[[Beast Wars Universe]]" (co-written with [[Fumihiko Akiyama]])
*''[[Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide]] Volume 5 (front cover)
*''[[Unofficial guidebooks|Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide]] Volume 5 (front cover)
*"[[World of Transformers]]" (information database/website)
*"[[World of the Transformers]]" (information database/website)
*[[BotCon Japan 1997]] commemorative T-shirt design
*[[BotCon Japan 1997]] commemorative T-shirt design
*Several entries of the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]]
*Several entries of the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]]
Line 72: Line 71:
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/0138998701/ Hirofumi Ichikawa's website]
*[http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/0138998701/ Hirofumi Ichikawa's website]
*[http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/features/articles/hi_dai-oh.php Translation of an interview with Ichikawa at ASM]
*[http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/features/articles/hi_dai-oh.php Translation of an interview with Ichikawa at ASM]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ichikawa, Hirofumi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ichikawa, Hirofumi}}

Revision as of 22:57, 1 July 2019

Years of clean living doing freelance work for Takara can have you looking like this.

Hirofumi Ichikawa (市川 裕文 Ichikawa Hirofumi) is a noted Japanese Transformers fan who has made the jump to working on the brand in an official capacity for Takara.

As a fan, he wrote numerous fan-comics and magazines (called dōjinshi in Japan), mainly focusing on introducing Japanese fans to the Hasbro/American version of Transformers and the concepts and characters within. Among them was a very indignant magazine decrying the "funny" dub of Beast Wars that was presented in Japan, as it had removed much of the "serious sci-fi" edge that had made the show immensely popular with the English-speaking fanbase. But perhaps his most well known pre-official work is Transformers Chronicles, a sort of "bridge" story for his take on the lead-up to Generation 2. This book was translated to English, but has long since sold through its short run.

Ichikawa's art style is heavily toy-based; his Transformers almost always have the toy's proportions and detailing down exactly, not approximations or "influenced" altered cartoon models. The only changes made are there to make them more "realistic" by adding in joints for motion that the toys may lack. These joints are always very realistic in terms of mechanical detailing of the pistons and rotating joints necessary for real-life machines, similar to the mechanical detailing artist E. J. Su employs. His style can best be summed up as "if the toys were real robots". He is a long-time fan; Ichikawa was drawing toy-based artwork long before it got "popular" with the explosion of Dreamwave onto the fandom.

Ichikawa has a definite preference for the Western take of Transformers, enjoying its more sci-fi-oriented and older-aimed feel, though he eschews the more metaphysical/mystical aspects of the fiction, especially Primus.

Writer/illustrator

Toy designer

With the beginning of Energon, Ichikawa was given the job of "mech design", taking the engineering designs of many toys and finalizing the aesthetic details, sculpts, etc. The toys he has worked on include...

Energon

Cybertron[1]

References

  1. ↑ Personal correspondence between Ichikawa and Doug Dlin on alt.toys.transformers mentioning the Galaxy Force/Cybertron toys he worked on
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