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'''Shōhei Kohara''' (小原渉平 ''Kohara Shōhei'') was one of the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] artists who translated the earliest Transformers' toy designs into [[character model]]s that formed the basis of the designs used in [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the cartoon series]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic books]].
'''Shōhei Kohara''' (小原渉平 ''Kohara Shōhei'') was one of the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] artists who translated the earliest Transformers' toy designs into [[character model]]s that formed the basis of the designs used in [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the cartoon series]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic books]].


It is unclear how ''many'' first-year characters Kohara designed; as the gallery below shows, he was at least responsible for creating the eight designs that appeared in the small handful of [[Commercial/Generation 1|1984 Transformers commercials]], but that may have been the extent of his contributions. The designs were all subsequently simplified by [[Floro Dery]], who generally removed wheels in robot mode and enlarged the characters' heads before the designs saw commercial use, and who would go on to design most Transformers characters for the cartoon.
Indications are that Kohara designed the first animation models for the eight characters who appeared in the original [[Commercial/Generation 1|1984 Transformers commercials]]. His designs were simplified for the commercial animation by [[Floro Dery]], who generally removed wheels in robot mode and enlarged the characters' heads; Dery would go on to design most Transformers characters for the cartoon.
 
The most notably different of Kohara's designs was [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s, which he based on a prototype image of the toy, rather than the finished figure. Dery's modified version of the design, seen in the commercials and early issues of the Marvel comic, retained many details from Kohara's model, such as the head and fusion cannon; a second revision by Dery altered these elements to create Megatron's finalized design for the cartoon


The early animated comic book and toy commercials utilized a modified [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] design that was closer to the actual [[:Image:G1Megatron toy.jpg|toy]] than Kohara's original model (based on a toy prototype).  However, this modified design still retained many details from Kohara's original model, such as the head and fusion cannon.  The design was then modified further by Dery to make it better reflect the toy, and this Dery-revised version was used in the cartoon series and comic books along with the other simplified character models.


[[Image:Kohara Autobots.jpg|center|thumb|600px|Kohara's designs for [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].]]
[[Image:Kohara Autobots.jpg|center|thumb|600px|Kohara's designs for [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].]]

Revision as of 08:51, 15 November 2023

Shōhei Kohara (小原渉平 Kohara Shōhei) was one of the Takara artists who translated the earliest Transformers' toy designs into character models that formed the basis of the designs used in the cartoon series and comic books.

Indications are that Kohara designed the first animation models for the eight characters who appeared in the original 1984 Transformers commercials. His designs were simplified for the commercial animation by Floro Dery, who generally removed wheels in robot mode and enlarged the characters' heads; Dery would go on to design most Transformers characters for the cartoon.

The most notably different of Kohara's designs was Megatron's, which he based on a prototype image of the toy, rather than the finished figure. Dery's modified version of the design, seen in the commercials and early issues of the Marvel comic, retained many details from Kohara's model, such as the head and fusion cannon; a second revision by Dery altered these elements to create Megatron's finalized design for the cartoon


Kohara's designs for Prowl, Sideswipe, Jazz, and Optimus Prime.
Kohara's designs for Laserbeak, Soundwave, Starscream, and Megatron.