Maybe we'll get lucky with Saleen at least , if not Ford. Hopefully we'll get the 2007 movie model, cause that's the only nitpick with MPM Bee, I liked the concept version alot more. Also, Onishi MUST design MPM Barricade!
Yes, this is the same reaction I had to myself. Yesterday's meme took 5 minutes, today's took 10. I do not prioritize well It is also sometimes the same reaction I have when I get out of bed and remember I exist I know Onishi is hailed as the designer of MPM-3 (and rightfully so, I've must've transformed the thing daily since I got it). Do you know if he was the one who designed HA Barricade, or any other past figures related to Barricade? Dank you <3
No idea. As far as I remember from that translated interview, he worked as a designer in the automotive industry so that makes him the best candidate to design sports-car transformers (after Hasui, hehe). From the wiki, he is pretty new at Takara, joining the company in 2011. LE: Looks like Hasui did the top three human alliance cars: Barricade, Jazz and Soundwave! Shogo Hasui - Transformers Wiki I am really curious who did the Leader Rotf Optimus and Leader Ironhide designs. I have a feeling the guy who designed MPM-4 Op also did Sentinel Prime.
This guy: Takashi Kunihiro - Transformers Wiki He also deisgned jetfire. He's also the one who designed the original star saber, he appeared as the old takara designer in this Hascon.
Like I've said before, while most of the collectors think that Bee's almost perfect aside from the inverted little wings, Prime even at its best still have some major opinions about not being exactly up to par, starting with the truncated window panels on the chest, the gap between the 2 chest pieces, the literally half-done paint job, and so. Mostly stuff that Leader Prime (it's premium versions anyway) have accomplished that MPM-04 glossed on. So maybe Takara have known about the QC issues and the above opinions, that they aren't ready to put the designer's name onto written articles and interviews yet. But then, Bee's car mode is a licensed brand so there might be more things regarding the sake of PR. I dunno.
I'm torn about whether HasTak should reveal the identity of the designer who did MPM-4. On one hand, I feel like the designer should be known. I, among others, really appreciate the figure and its accomplishments. It had big shoes to fill, especially with its existing predecessors, and I wish the designer knew just truly how much his design has been enjoyed. The only thing I can sin it for is the flames configuration on his arms, and I couldn't even devise an alternative design to the arms alone to make it work. On the other, I feel like protecting the anonymity of the designer would also be a great thing to do. What if the latest and greatest is yet to come from this designer? I know we as collectors come to expect MPs from a certain perspective, and one would be quick to dismiss any hope/future of this designer making a good MPM figure. But I think this figure was not spoiled in initial design, but spoiled during its physical execution. There were so many little nooks and crannies that never made it past production, such as the re-alignment of the face and the removed feature of extending inner canisters, and of course not to mention the tight tolerances on this figure. If you're reading this, designer of MPM-04, I know reactions to your design have been a mixed bag. But it never even got a fair chance with the wave of copies that were plagued with QC issues. Thank you for your work, please do not cut back or give up designing for the MPM line, and I would love to see your take on DOTM Optimus Prime.
