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[[File:Takio Ejima.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
[[File:Takio Ejima.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
'''Takio Ejima''' (江島 多規男 ''Ejima Takio'', born [[June 6]], [[1964]]) is a designer at [[TakaraTomy]]. His first product at Takara was Crazybird from the "Flower Rock" series, and after joining the Overseas ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Product team in the Boys Enterprise department, he single-handedly created the [[The Transformers (European toyline)#1991|all European ''Transformers'']] during the period when the American ''Transformers'' line ended, until the advent of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''. After the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)#1998|Beast Wars Metals]]'' (the Japanese release of the [[Transmetal]]s ''Beast Wars'' figures), he moved to the Girls Toy Department, but came back to Transformers during the ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' line. According to fellow designer [[Takashi Kunihiro]], Ejima is "the man who created the most transforming robot toys in the world".  
'''Takio Ejima''' (江島 多規男 ''Ejima Takio'', born [[June 6]], [[1964]]) is a designer at [[TakaraTomy]]. His first product at Takara was Crazybird from the "Flower Rock" series, and after joining the Overseas ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' Product team in the Boys Enterprise department, he single-handedly created the [[The Transformers (European toyline)#1991|all European ''Transformers'']] during the period when the American ''Transformers'' line ended, until the advent of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''. After ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)#1998|Beast Wars Metals]]'' (the Japanese release of the [[Transmetal]]s ''Beast Wars'' figures), he moved to the Girls Toy Department, but came back to Transformers during the ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' line. According to fellow designer [[Takashi Kunihiro]], Ejima is "the man who created the most transforming robot toys in the world".  


Hand-in-hand with developing the [[Turbomaster]]s and [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]]s, Eijima created the concept of using [[light-piping]] for the eyes of ''Transformers'' toys.<ref>[https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/PU/JP-H05-013494/DC25758C65298F7ACD69A2E5B4D0823F2E2992B7FCE4EB3A521E82504B1AC4B0/21/en 1993 patent for light piped eyes in action figures] at the online directory of the {{w|Japan Patent Office}}</ref> He is also credited with coming up with the idea of the extensive use of [[ball joint]]s seen towards the end of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' toyline as a means of making toys more durable, thus complying with more rigorous [[For safety reasons|safety standards]]. This idea opened up possibilities of robot toys with extensive [[articulation]].
Hand-in-hand with developing the [[Turbomaster]]s and [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]]s, Eijima created the concept of using [[light-piping]] for the eyes of ''Transformers'' toys.<ref>[https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/PU/JP-H05-013494/DC25758C65298F7ACD69A2E5B4D0823F2E2992B7FCE4EB3A521E82504B1AC4B0/21/en 1993 patent for light piped eyes in action figures] at the online directory of the {{w|Japan Patent Office}}</ref> He is also credited with coming up with the idea of the extensive use of [[ball joint]]s seen towards the end of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' toyline as a means of making toys more durable, thus complying with more rigorous [[For safety reasons|safety standards]]. This idea opened up possibilities of robot toys with extensive [[articulation]].
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===Interviews===
===Interviews===
*[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html "Tantou! Staff! Special Talk!?"] roundtable  with [[Takashi Kunihiro]] and [[Hisashi Yuki]] on the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' toyline in ''[[Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1]]'', translated at TFW2005
*[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html "Tantou! Staff! Special Talk!?"] roundtable  with [[Takashi Kunihiro]] and [[Hisashi Yuki]] on the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' toyline in ''[[Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 1]]'', translated at TFW2005




Revision as of 02:51, 25 March 2025

Takio Ejima (江島 多規男 Ejima Takio, born June 6, 1964) is a designer at TakaraTomy. His first product at Takara was Crazybird from the "Flower Rock" series, and after joining the Overseas Transformers Product team in the Boys Enterprise department, he single-handedly created the all European Transformers during the period when the American Transformers line ended, until the advent of Beast Wars. After Beast Wars Metals (the Japanese release of the Transmetals Beast Wars figures), he moved to the Girls Toy Department, but came back to Transformers during the Energon line. According to fellow designer Takashi Kunihiro, Ejima is "the man who created the most transforming robot toys in the world".

Hand-in-hand with developing the Turbomasters and Predators, Eijima created the concept of using light-piping for the eyes of Transformers toys.[1] He is also credited with coming up with the idea of the extensive use of ball joints seen towards the end of the Generation 2 toyline as a means of making toys more durable, thus complying with more rigorous safety standards. This idea opened up possibilities of robot toys with extensive articulation.

We all owe this man, so, so much.

Known design projects

Generation 1

1991

Action Master figures Exo-Suit Action Masters Motorized Exo-Suit Action Masters Action Master Elites
Action Master Elite Omega Spreem

1992

Turbomasters / Road Corps
Predators / Jet Corps
Turbomaster Thunder Clash

1993

Axelerators Skyscorchers Aquaspeeders Stormtroopers
Obliterator Clench
Lightformers Trakkons Obliterators

Generation 2

Rotor Force Laser Rods Cyberjets[2] Auto Rollers[3]
Smokescreen (the design he is most proud of)
Color Changers ATB Unreleased

Beast Wars

Basics Deluxes Megas Ultras
Deluxe Cheetor
Supers MicroVerse And...

Machine Wars

Basics[6]
Basic Mirage

Beast Wars II

Autorollers[3] Others
  • Starscream & BB
  • Dirge
    		•
    Autoroller Autolauncher

    Animorphs

    Deluxes
    Deluxe Rachel

    Beast Machines

    Deluxe Class Mega Class
    Deluxe Jetstorm

    Mutant Beast Wars

    Deluxe Class
    Deluxe Icebird

    Car Robots / Robots in Disguise (2001)

    Deluxe Class
  • Skid-Z / Wind Sheer
  • Tow-Line / Skyfire
    		•
    Robots in Disguise Towline

    Energon

    Energon Class Combat Class Mega Class Command Class
    Command Class Landmine

    Cybertron

    Scout Class Deluxe Class Voyager Class Ultra Class
    Sideways (the other design he's most proud of)
    Leader Class

    Classics (2006)

    Deluxe Class Voyager Class The Ultimate Battle
    Voyager Class Optimus Prime

    Transformers (2007)

    Real Gear Robots Deluxe Class Voyager Class Leader Class
    Voyager Class Incinerator

    Transformers Animated

    Activators

    Universe (2008)

    Deluxe Class Ultra Class

    Revenge of the Fallen

    Combiner Class

    Dark of the Moon

    MechTech Deluxes


    Rescue Bots

    • All transforming products.[8]

    Generations

    War for Cybertron: Kingdom

    Titan Class

    Studio Series

    Deluxe Class Leader Class
  • 91 The Fallen (Revenge of the Fallen)[11]
    		•
    The Fallen

    Legacy / Legacy: Evolution / Legacy: United

    Core Class Deluxe Class
  • Scraphook
  • Decepticon Wild Rider
  • Infernac Universe Magneous
  • Star Raider Lockdown
    		•
  • Infernac Universe Shard
  • Infernac Universe Nucleous
  • Star Raider Road Pig
    		•
    Menasor
    Voyager Class
  • Trashmaster
  • Prime Universe Thundertron
    		•  Leader Class
  • Transmetal II Megatron[11]
    		•  Commander Class
  • Decepticon Motormaster / Menasor
    		•  Others
  • "A Hero is Born" 2-Pack
    (Orion Pax and Alpha Trion w/ Vector Sigma)




    • What's all this about?

    This article on a real person associated with the Transformers brand is a stub and is missing information.
    You can help MediaWiki by expanding it.

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


    Convention appearances

    Hasbro Pulse livestream appearances

    Notes

    The only designer who makes even cooler figures off the clock.
    • He is reverently referred to as "The Big E" by the Hasbro design team.[13]
    • Besides developing the concept of light-piped eyes, Ejima also holds patents for the Predator missile launchers[14] and megavisor system.[15]
    • Ejima reused the engineering from the toy that would become Machine Wars Skywarp / Thundercracker for the bat version of Optimus Primal (the toys were applied for in the same patent).[16] Likewise, the basic class version of Terrorsaur shares engineering with the toys that would become Machine Wars Hoist / Hubcap and Mirage / Prowl. [17]
    • Fellow TakaraTomy designer Shogo Hasui was assigned to do the large Combiner Class Constructicon Devastator toy, and had completed some early sketches, but Ejima subsequently took over due to scheduling conflicts.
    • Off-hours, Ejima's main hobbies include gardening and creating striking, intricate, almost jewelry-esque articulated metal sculptures. Pictured right are a couple he slipped in to the bonus features of the Beast Wars Reborn behind-the-scenes DVD.

    References

    1. ↑ 1993 patent for light piped eyes in action figures at the online directory of the Japan Patent Office
    2. ↑ *Interview with Shuhei Umezu for Transformers Generations 2022 translated at Soundwave's Oblivion
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Designer interview with Hisashi Yuki in Figure Ō No. 303 (April 2023 issue)
    4. ↑ Yuichiro Hira's name is on Inferno's patent, not Ejima's, but Ejima was credited as working on Inferno in a Figure Ō interview.
    5. ↑ Design notes on Studio Series Kup from Hasbro designer Evan Brooks on Instagram
    6. ↑ All designed in 1995, but not sold until 1997.
    7. ↑ Transformers Generations 2022 designer interviews
    8. ↑ December 9, 2024 Interview with Hasbro designer Brian Parrish on the "Triple Takeover" podcast, from their YouTube channel.
    9. ↑ Transformers panel at Hasbro Pulse Fan Fest 2021
    10. ↑ Bumblebee Ratchet design notes on Sam Smith's Instagram
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 August 16, 2022's Hasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstream on YouTube, with Ben MacCrae, Delaney Norris, Sam Smith, Evan Brooks, Isabella Weiss, and Mark Maher.
    12. ↑ Thanks from Ben MacCrae and Evan Brooks during the Hall of Fame ceremony at Hasbro Pulse Con 2023.
    13. ↑ Interview with Ejima in Beast Generations, p.122-124 as well as his various Hasbro Pulse livestream appearances.
    14. ↑ 1992 patent for missile launchers at the online directory of the Japan Patent Office
    15. ↑ 1993 patent for the viewfinder doohickey underlying the megavisor play pattern at the online directory of the Japan Patent Office
    16. ↑ 1997 patent for the springloaded mechanism used in the Machine Wars Basic jets and Beast Wars Basic Optimus Primal at the online directory of the Japan Patent Office
    17. ↑ 1997 patent for the springloaded mechanism used in the Machine Wars Basic truck and racecar molds as well as Beast Wars Basic Terrorsaur at the online directory of the Japan Patent Office

    Interviews

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