Thanks for the translation! A fantastic interview. I'm really regretting not getting MP-10 yet....

 

Takara's repeated history of using the line for a cash grab has me suspicious that no matter how enthusiastic designers are, there'll be someone in marketing given the green light to pull the rug out from under them.

 

I think it's gotta be bot modes because alt modes are already shot when they compare Optimus to Rodimus...

 

Great interview! Hearing about how the smaller details were conceived makes me appreciate the figure even more! It is clear that a lot of thought went into making MP-10.

While I love MP-10, I still think MP-09 is still the most aesthetically pleasing MP. Absolutely no compromises were made to make the three modes faithful to the cartoon models while MP-10 has a few inaccuracies. I think MP-09 is the pinnacle of Kobayashi's work and it is shame that the design hasn't translated well into a sturdy toy.

 

I love the idea of introducing smaller, cheaper Masterpieces to match Convoy's scale, rather than have everything be around the same height (and price), ignoring scale.

 

Makes me want MP-10...

 

Nice interview. Although I really wish Grimlock was more in scale with MP-10. Only because they are almost the same size makes me not want to buy Prime.
Btw, that sketch of the head design looks really great.

 

Neat article and interview. I'm optimistic about the direction of the MP line now (I wasn't around the time that MP-10 was revealed). Some things about the designer's words fill me with hope, namely producing more affordable and in-scale figures who aren't simply A-list "leader" characters, and the fact that Huffer was even up for consideration as an MP figure is a cool bit of trivia. That and Sideswipe being announced as the next figure too.

But I take his words with a grain of salt since, as some have noted, Takara is a business first and foremost, and they'll most certainly try to make the quick and easy (aka lazy) cash-grab when they can. Designers can only do so much but in the end, it's that marketing exec and the suits up at the top that make the final call as to what gets greenlit and what gets tossed back into the water as chum (MP Huffer).

As much as I'd like to have Sideswipe be in a decent scale with MP-10, I'll truly believe it when I see it. Hope for the best and plan for the worst, as they say. XD

 

No doubt MP9 works very well aesthetically, in fact, the sculpt is what sold me. It's just the execution of the toy that turns me off, to me, it didn't need to be that intricate. Maybe Kobayashi was on a tight deadline. Who knows. I respect the toy and decisions behind it, just wish it could've turned out better. My experience is from the TRU version with Offshoot, the Japanese V2 might be considerably better.

With MP10, sure there are inaccuracies, but thanks to this interview we now know that some were actually intentional, like the bigger arms aimed at making a more TF Animted-like silhouette. Not something I prefer but I still think that's actually pretty neat.

I do like how Shogo is pretty much handling MP from MP10 forward with animation robot mode scale in mind. From MP10 out, the toys should feel more consistent, ie, just as easy to play with as MP10. That can't be a bad thing.

I hope we get many of the core 84 Autobot cars out of this like Bumblebee, Ratchet, Ironhide, et al. Sure Alternators seemed like it was going in that direction initially but while durable some designs were more intricate than I would've liked and articulation was limited on some figures, not to mention, MP10 seems more playable.

After reading this interview I want an MP10 based Ultra Magnus even more..

 

IMHO, MP10 > MP-09 for both simplicity and character, of course.  

 

It's really sad that Volkswagen's reluctance makes Bumblebee pretty impossible.

-ZacWilliam, wonders if they'd even consider doing one based on his MTMtE Part 1 Cybertron mode from the toon. It would still be "toon accurate" after all, or if they'd feel that would be outside the MP toybox...

 

Great article, as always Y, you're a beast when it comes to bringing these interviews to the West.

MP-10 sounds like it's a lot of fun, but way out of my price range. I'm wondering with the hints and the anniversary if we're going to be getting a MP Galvatron. I'd be all in for that!

 

Damn it.

Things like this are going to make me want to start collecting again.

 

He has little indented "clipping points" all over him. Especially the arms. When we saw the grey proto its one of the first things i noticed along with the line "smaller scale" ie: affordable with armor. Seems like a no brainer for a cash grab that fans would love. Magnus, powermaster etc. Come to think of it i believe he even has a alignment bar/line on the outside front of his shoulders for shoulders armor. There are slidepoints and things like that all over. They are fun to spot.

 

How tall is MP10 anyway?

 

I'm excited just like the rest of you, however I have thought about some of his comments, and i'm a little unsure. I sort of infer that it will be ok for the MP line to be 'inaccurate' if it makes it more playable, hence MP10's gorrilla arms and feet.
That's sort of the wrong way around if you ask me.

 

We never saw a gray proto of MP-10, only full colored versions.

Randy

 

Up, your right. It was grainy concept sketches i had in my folder not prototype pics. They were the ones with the round gas tanks split in half and the tanks attached to his rear end in bot mode. He was also missing his tires on his legs which made me think they folded away. The sketch actually has more grooves and catches than the toy. The toy pics came out just a day later according to the date stamp. I had an argument that i had seen the prototype with half tanks on his ass with my friend the other day and he told me i was nuts. Guess i have to eat crow on that one.

 

Wow,there is plan for MP combiners after all

 

I really don't see it as plans, but more along the lines of he WANTS to do them, but obviously the ultimate decision isn't his.