Takashi Kunihiro: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:37, 23 October 2022

Takashi Kunihiro (國弘高史 Kunihiro Takashi) is a veteran designer in TakaraTomy's Transformers product team. He joined Takara in 1984 and joined the Transformers staff during the period when they were designing the toys introduced in the 1986 animated movie and Season 3 of the television series. In addition to Transformers, he was responsible for the main characters of Brave series figures from Exkaiser to GaoGaiGar, which have subsequently influenced the designs of modern Transformers.

Known design projects

Generation 1

2010/Scramble City

The Headmasters

The Transformers

TakaraTomy did not release Crankcase domestically:

Crankcase

Beast Wars

Beast Wars II

Gigastorm
Ikard and Tako Tank

Beast Wars Neo

Beast Machines

Night Viper

Car Robots/Robots in Disguise

Megatron

Energon

Super Class

Optimus Prime

Cybertron

Deluxe Class

Crosswise

Voyager Class

Leader Class

Vector Prime with Safeguard

Supreme Class

Primus

Classics

Deluxe Class

Astrotrain (with Don Figueroa)

Voyager Class

Jetfire

Transformers (2007)

Deluxe Class

Decepticon Brawl

Leader Class

Universe (2008)

Deluxe Class

Cyclonus with Nightstick (with Don Figueroa and Bill Rawley)

Ultra Class

Onslaught (with Bill Rawley)
Silverbolt (with Bill Rawley)

Revenge of the Fallen

Voyager Class

Megatron

Leader Class

Dark of the Moon

Robo Power Bash Bots

Bumblebee vs Megatron
Optimus Prime vs Starscream^[2]

Prime

Robots in Disguise

Generations

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What's needed: credits from Hasbro Pulse livestreams, virtual conventions, Hasbro designer social media (mostly Instagram), etc etc etc

Thrilling 30

Combiner Wars

Titans Return

Autobot Apex & Powermaster Optimus Prime

Power of the Primes

Evolution Optimus Prime

Studio Series

File:TF-Studio-Series-86-09-Voyager-Wreck-Gar.jpg

Studio Series 86

War for Cybertron: Siege

Omega Supreme

War for Cybertron: Kingdom

HasLab

Unicron^[1]

Buzzworthy Bumblebee

Origin Bumblebee

Legacy

Kickback
"A Hero is Born" 2-Pack (Orion Pax and Alpha Trion w/ Vector Sigma)

Legacy: Evolution

Armada Universe Hot Shot

Masterpiece Movie Series

Gallery

Extended Takashi Kunihiro gallery

Notes

Considering his pedigree with creating robots with super modes (from Transformers to the Brave series), he seems to be one of Takara's go-to talents when it comes to designing them
Fellow TakaraTomy designers Shogo Hasui and Hisashi Yuki jokingly commented on Kunihiro's difficulties in designing the Revenge of the Fallen Leader class Optimus Prime and Jetfire toys. Yuki revealed that Kunihiro had problems reserving space for the electronics whilst maintaining on-screen accuracy, while Hasui joked that Kunihiro was "looking paralyzed" when he saw he had to make the two toys combine as well.^[4]

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 TakaraTomy designer interview in Transformers Generations 2021 Translated interview on TFW2005.com
↑ https://patents.google.com/patent/CN202173779U/en?assignee=tomy&num=100&oq=tomy The patent lists Kunihiro as the designer for Bumblebee and Starscream. It's possible he designed Bash Bots Megatron and Optimus Prime as well.
↑ August 16, 2022's Hasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstream on YouTube, with Ben MacCrae, Delaney Norris, Sam Smith, Evan Brooks, Isabella Weiss, and Mark Maher.
↑ TakaraTomy designer interview in Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 3 Translated interview on TFW2005.com

External links

Translated interview from Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1 on TFW2005.com

[G21-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 TakaraTomy designer interview in Transformers Generations 2021 Translated interview on TFW2005.com

[2] ttps://patents.google.com/patent/CN202173779U/en?assignee=tomy&num=100&oq=tomy The patent lists Kunihiro as the designer for Bumblebee and Starscream. It's possible he designed Bash Bots Megatron and Optimus Prime as well.

[3] August 16, 2022's Hasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstream on YouTube, with Ben MacCrae, Delaney Norris, Sam Smith, Evan Brooks, Isabella Weiss, and Mark Maher.

[4] TakaraTomy designer interview in Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 3 Translated interview on TFW2005.com

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Known design projects==
 ===Generation 1===
+[[File:G1 RodimusPrime toy.jpg|thumb]]
 ====2010/Scramble City====
 *[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hot Rod]]
 *[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#G1RodimusPrime|Rodimus Prime]]<ref name ='G21'>TakaraTomy designer interview in ''[[Transformers Generations 2021]]'' [https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/06/19/translated-interviews-with-yuya-onishi-and-takashi-kunihiro-from-the-transformers-generations-book-2021-435763 Translated interview on TFW2005.com]</ref>
+{{-}}
+[[File:G1Sixshot toy.jpg|thumb]]
 ====The Headmasters====
 {{collist|3|
@@ Line 18: / Line 20: @@
 *[[Snapdragon (G1)#The Transformers|Snapdragon]] with [[Krunk#The Transformers|Krunk]]
 }}
+{{-}}
+[[File:Victory-toy Liokaiser.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Super-God Masterforce====
 *[[Hardspark#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers|Hardspark]] / [[Guzzle (G1)#The Transformers|Guzzle]]
@@ Line 36: / Line 39: @@
 *[[Killbison#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers|Killbison]] with [[Bisonbreast#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers|Bisonbreast]]
 |}
+{{-}}
+[[File:G1 VictorySaber toy.jpg|thumb]]
 *[[Star Saber (G1)/toys#VictorySaber|Victory Saber]]
 **[[Star Saber (G1)/toys#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers|Star Saber]]
 **[[Victory Leo#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers|Victory Leo]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:StarConvoy toy.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Return of Convoy====
 *[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Return of Convoy|Star Convoy]]
@@ Line 47: / Line 52: @@
 TakaraTomy did not release Crankcase domestically:
 *[[Crankcase (G1)#The Transformers|Crankcase]]
+{{-}}
 ===Beast Wars===
+[[File:BWII-toy TakoTank.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Beast Wars II====
 *[[Megastorm#Gigastorm|Gigastorm]]
 *[[Ikard#Beast Wars|Ikard]] and [[Tako Tank#Beast Wars|Tako Tank]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:Beast Wars-Magmatron.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Beast Wars Neo====
 {{collist|3|
@@ Line 63: / Line 70: @@
 *[[Unicron's subordinate#Beast Wars|"Unicron's subordinate"]] (unreleased)
 }}
+{{-}}
+[[File:RID Megatron toy.jpg|thumb]]
 ===Beast Machines===
 *[[Night Viper#Beast Machines|Night Viper]]
@@ Line 69: / Line 77: @@
 ===Car Robots/Robots in Disguise===
 *[[Megatron (RID)#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Megatron]]
+{{-}}
 ===Energon===
-*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Energon|Optimus Prime (Super class)]]
+[[File:Energon Prime toy.jpg|thumb]]
+;Super Class
+*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Energon|Optimus Prime]]
+{{-}}
 ===Cybertron===
-{{collist|3|
+[[File:Cybertrontoy leader optimus prime.jpg|thumb]]
+;Deluxe Class
 *[[Crosswise (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Crosswise]]
+;Voyager Class
 *[[Overhaul (Cybertron)#Voyager|Leobreaker]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Cybertron|Optimus Prime]]
+;Leader Class
+*[[Vector Prime#Cybertron|Vector Prime]] with [[Safeguard (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Safeguard]]
+;Supreme Class
 *[[Primus#Cybertron|Primus]]
-*[[Vector Prime#Cybertron|Vector Prime]] with [[Safeguard (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Safeguard]]
+{{-}}
-}}
 ===Classics===
+[[File:Jetfireclassicsvoyager.jpg|thumb]]
+;Deluxe Class
 *[[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#Classics|Astrotrain]] (with [[Don Figueroa]])
+;Voyager Class
 *[[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Classics|Jetfire]]
+{{-}}
 ===Transformers (2007)===
+[[File:TF07-Leader-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb]]
 ;Deluxe Class
 *[[Brawl (Movie)#Deluxe Class toys|Decepticon Brawl]]
@@ Line 92: / Line 109: @@
 *[[Brawl (Movie)#Leader Class toys|Decepticon Brawl]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys|Optimus Prime]]
+{{-}}
 ===Universe (2008)===
+[[File:UniverseCyclonusCorrected.JPG|thumb]]
+;Deluxe Class
 *[[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Cyclonus]] with [[Nightstick (G1)#Universe (2008)|Nightstick]] (with [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Bill Rawley]])
+;Ultra Class
 *[[Onslaught (G1)/toys#2008Ultra|Onslaught]] (with Bill Rawley)
 *[[Silverbolt (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Silverbolt]] (with Bill Rawley)
+{{-}}
 ===Revenge of the Fallen===
+[[File:ROTF Leader OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb]]
 ;Voyager Class
 *[[Megatron (Movie)/toys#Voyager Class toys 2|Megatron]]
@@ Line 104: / Line 125: @@
 *[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys 2|Optimus Prime]]
 *[[Jetfire (Movie)#Leader Class toys|Jetfire]]
+{{-}}
 ===Dark of the Moon===
+[[File:DOTM MechTech JetwingOptimusPrime.jpg|thumb]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Supreme Class toys|Jetwing Optimus Prime]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Ultimate|Ultimate Optimus Prime]]
@@ Line 111: / Line 133: @@
 *[[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Bash Bots|Bumblebee]] vs [[Megatron (Movie)/toys#Bash Bots|Megatron]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Bash Bots|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Starscream (Movie)/toys#Bash Bots|Starscream]]<ref>https://patents.google.com/patent/CN202173779U/en?assignee=tomy&num=100&oq=tomy The patent lists Kunihiro as the designer for Bumblebee and Starscream. It's possible he designed Bash Bots Megatron and Optimus Prime as well.</ref>
+{{-}}
 ===Prime===
+[[File:Primetoy-VehiconRevealers.jpg|thumb]]
 ;Robots in Disguise
 *[[Vehicon (Prime)#Robots in Disguise|Vehicon]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Voyager Class|Optimus Prime]]
+{{-}}
 ===Generations===
 {{creatorstub|credits from [[Hasbro Pulse]] livestreams, virtual conventions, Hasbro designer social media (mostly Instagram), etc etc etc}}
+[[File:Gen-toy Jetfire Leader.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Thrilling 30====
 *[[Roadbuster (G1)#Generations|Roadbuster]]
 *[[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Generations|Jetfire]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:GenerationsCWHotSpot.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Combiner Wars====
 *[[Hot Spot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Protectobot Hot Spot]]
 *[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Ultra Magnus]]
+{{-}}
 ====Titans Return====
+[[File:Titans Return Optimus.jpg|thumb]]
 *[[Hi-Q#Titans Return|Autobot Apex]] & [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|Powermaster Optimus Prime]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:TF-Generations-PotP-Leader-Class-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Power of the Primes====
 *[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Power of the Primes|Evolution Optimus Prime]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:StudioSeries-08-MV1-Leader-Blackout.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Studio Series====
 {{collist|3|
@@ Line 141: / Line 170: @@
 *[[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#SSDOTM|''Dark of the Moon'' Bumblebee]]
 }}
+{{-}}
+[[File:TF-Studio-Series-86-09-Voyager-Wreck-Gar.jpg|thumb]]
 =====Studio Series 86=====
 *[[Scourge (G1)/toys#Studio Series|Scourge]]
 *[[Wreck-Gar (G1)#Studio Series|Wreck-Gar]]
 *[[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Studio Series|Ironhide]]<ref>[[August 16]], [[2022]]'s [https://youtu.be/mxRrhLJ1KH0 Hasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstream] on YouTube, with [[Ben MacCrae]], [[Delaney Norris]], [[Sam Smith]], [[Evan Brooks]], [[Isabella Weiss]], and [[Mark Maher]].</ref>
+{{-}}
+[[File:WFC-Siege-WFCS29-Titan-Omega-Supreme.jpg|thumb]]
 ====War for Cybertron: Siege====
 *[[Omega Supreme (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Omega Supreme]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:WFC-Kingdom Leader Megatron.jpg|thumb]]
 ====War for Cybertron: Kingdom====
 *[[Megatron (BW)/toys#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Megatron (Beast)]]
 *[[Tracks (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Tracks]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:TF-WFC-S-Unicron.jpg|thumb|upright=2]]
 ====HasLab====
 *[[Unicron/toys#HasLab|Unicron]]<ref name ='G21'/>
 ====Buzzworthy Bumblebee====
 *[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#BuzzworthyOrigin|Origin Bumblebee]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:TF Legacy Deluxe Class Hot Shot.jpg|thumb]]
 ====Legacy====
 *[[Kickback (G1)#Legacy|Kickback]]
@@ Line 163: / Line 199: @@
 ====Legacy: Evolution====
 *[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Legacy|Armada Universe Hot Shot]]
+{{-}}
+[[File:TF-Masterpiece-MPM-5-Barricade-(Hasbro).jpg|thumb]]
 ===Masterpiece Movie Series===
 *[[Barricade (Movie)/toys#Masterpiece|Barricade]]
 *[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#MasterpieceMPM12|''Bumblebee'' Optimus Prime]]<ref name ='G21'/>
+{{-}}
 ==Gallery==
 <center><gallery>