Koboyashi's tracks looks great. It's nice to see that he can design at that level. Too bad about Ironhide though. Hopefully something can be done about the kibble. Will anyone be asking Hasui about his MP-22 design?

 

Why so many people are hating on a figure that is still NOT finished ? Ironhide will turn out great . I never understood how you can judge a figure that you only seen a hand full of picks of and have never even owned yet.

 

Ask him if he's married. Heeee!

 

So I'm guessing you buy everything before forming an opinion on it? I don't have that kind of money. I use pics to get an idea of a product and whether or not I'll like it. I'm glad companies release pics of their products, rather than just list the names of future releases. That way I can have some idea of what it will look like before it is released.

I don't actually "hate-on" Ironhide, and will get him. I just don't think he's as good as tracks is. My main issue is the hip kibble and the size of the hips, but maybe they will fix that, who knows. It doesn't normally happen though. I did "hate-on" magnus and still bought him - curse of being a collector.

 

So I got to meet Hasui yesterday and it was pretty cool. My wife and I had our 6 and 3 year old boys with us. Both were in costume, our 6 year old dressed as the new Black Chrome Trooper from the Force Awakens, and my 3 year old was dressed as Optimus Prime complete with a cloth helmet. They wanted to go see the combiner toys in the Hasbro booth. While we were there, I saw three guys up in the Hasbro autograph booth. I asked a lady about Hasui and she pointed to the guy in the middle and said he was right there. Not believing my good luck, I started getting excited.

I pulled out my MP Sideswipe box, I had been carrying it around the con for three days in hopes of meeting Hasui. The Hasbro lady smiled in approval and directed me over to the line. I was the last person in line, and my wife sent over our 3 year old "Optimus" to join me in the line.

They had some really cool two-sided posters up for signing by the artists at the autograph table. Many of the people in line were getting the posters signed. I don't think anyone knew who Hasui was. I approached the autograph table while carrying my MP Sideswipe box in one hand, and my 3 year old in the other hand. I got up to the table and the guys at the table call out "Hi Optimus!!" My 3 year old is usually shy, but he smiles and actually calls out "Autobots transform!"

Hasui had noticed me in line with the box. And when I got up there, he took the box and said "I designed this toy!" I said "I know! It's awesome!!" The exchange then proceeded as follows:

(In my head)
Me: Mr. Hasui, you've designed some incredible toys that have really expanded the appeal of the Masterpiece line for adult collectors. Thank you for your contributions.

(In reality)
Me: Mr. Hasui, duh . . duh . . duh . . you do awesome work!!

Hasui: Thank you.

(In my head)
Me: Mr. Hasui, can you give us any information about future releases, what you are working on right now, or the possibility of getting Masterpiece style/scaled combiner robots?

(in reality)
Me: Uhh . . . any chance of getting Masterpiece combiners . . . please ?

Hasui: Well, I am not on Masterpiece team anymore. However, I designed this Devastator.

Me: Yes, it . . . is . . very . . . awesome, thank you! I love your designs, please continue the good work! Thank you for coming here to see us . . . do you do appearances like this in Japan?

Hasui: Yes, it is an honor to come here.

Me: Uh . . . uh . . it's an honor to have you here and meet you. Please keep up your great work!

He signed my MP Sideswipe box, and I showed him a quick picture of my display at home with all my MP's out. He took my phone, looked at the picture and he seemed taken aback, remarking "wow!" I was able to get some pictures, and they asked me to go around the table to take a group shot with my son. They also personalized the posters for my two boys. It was pretty awesome.

Afterwards, I went back to my wife and started gushing about the nerd-gasm experience. My wife simply looked at me and asked "did you show him your display??" To which I replied sheepishly "uhhh . . . yeah." That was met with a roll of the eyes and a bemused smile.

Here is Hasui with my signed MP Sideswipe box:



Here is what the posters looked like:

 

LOL!!
What a great experience. I would be exactly the same, well done for asking the questions you did!

 

Pretty sure many would say there's a world of difference between making a cool, nicely proportioned version of Star Saber from the simple confines of his space jet shtick and likewise a G1 Megatron when utterly hamstrung by the limitations of accurately adhering to a Walther P-38. Star Saber was the kind of simple design any reasonably talented customiser could have come up with in their sleep.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good, solid design and does what's required but in terms of complexity and design limitations, it's not even in the same ball park as an accurate G1 Megatron. Hell, it's not even the same sport.

 

Aww, thank you for this! This is the coolest thing that could've been posted! So jealous of the people who got to meet him; this would've been my #1 bit of SDCC (I stay away from Episode VII coverage - "I like to go in fresh!").

Thanks for asking about Tracks and sending our support!

 

Thanks for a great little read, hilarious.

So how do we convince him to help improve Ironhide (there still might be time!)? lol

 

Nicely done! Hasui-san seems like a class act!

 

Not surprised Hasui didn't do Tracks or Ironhide; we already knew Kobayashi took over mid Ultra Magnus so Tracks is Kobayashi's first full project since Rodimus in that lins. Still Shogo Hasui really does seem like an awesome guy. Kinda jealous of those of you who met him. Hopefully he and some of the other designers at Takara attend another event or two in the states some day.

You do make a fair point and I agree for the most part. To an extent though I think Star Saber tunred turned out better than he would've had he come out earlier. There are quite a few clever things in his articulation as well as with the Brainmaster gimmick.
That said yes, Megatron certainly is a monster to design to be both an accurate Walther and still look like Megatron.Even today it's a herculean task.
Overall my comment was more about comparing Mp5 to Mp12 though your point would stand on that comparison as well

 

Fun thread.

 

Man i am soo jealous right now,wish I could've met the legend that is Hasui san.The news about him possibly returning to the MP line within the next year has me smiling like a Cheshire cat,the MP line reboot really hit the ground running thanks to him.

 

Someone ask him if Hasbro will release Deluxe Groove! Please! Oh wait, it is over. Nevermind then. :/

 

I hope Hasui returning to the MP line as one of the designers next year really happens. Dude's got some world class talent. I hate to see that talent wasted on TF movie toys.

 

How can you say wasted? They honed their skills & cut their teeth designing those complex movie toys (pre-AOE）.

 

Wasted for someone who doesn't collect movie stuff. If Has/TT pulls Hasui away from whatever and onto RID, I'm sure he'll design great toys for RID but it's WASTED time for others who might only collect MP and Generations. We want his skills on the toys that we buy.

 

I'm very jealous, would've got my MP Wheeljack box signed if had gone to SDCC.

 

So I take it Kobayashi's skills make it too subpar for you eh?