fenrir72 wrote:Wayyyyyyyyyyy back in 2004, there was a book published in Japan by Torkus(?) cataloguing the entire G1 and G2 US/Japanese and EU run. It also included several colored scenes by Studio OX. It is one book any transformers fan shouldn't be without..............much better if you know japanese . Trouble is, it sold out years ago , I wasn't even able to purchase one.
Fortunately I managed to borrow one from a friend, but I couldn't do any scans on it 'cause of a legal warning about unauthorized reproduction of any part of the book So at best I'll just describe the highlights.
Cover: Removable with sideflaps in a vs pose of the Autobots and decepticons
First page: a gold plated G1 Optimus Prime
Second page: a painted pic of Optimus (behind) Rodimus Prime (the same pic in the Chinese DVD set)
Third part:
Colored pics of the Autobots alternating with the Decepticons from 1984 to 1995.
Fourth part: Studio Ox paintings of hyper realistic battle scenes of the Autobot and decepticons followed by some European art work of Missile carrier Optimus with Megatron and a couple of G2 characters and conceptual color designs by the Takara engineers.
Fifth part: Sunbow/Marvel Character model sheets of the G1 charcters up until Rebirth followed by Toei Doga's "Headmasters" until Zone.
Sixth part: Studio Ox model sheets of selected TFs.( Pat Lee eat your heart out, wayyyyyyyyy beyond your caliber)
Seventh Part: An interview with who I believe was the engineering designer of the Transformers including a cruddy version of Unicron pre Beast Wars Neo.
Eigth part: A list of all the episodes aired of TF in both sides of the Pacific
Nineth part: A list of all the TFs released including their price in Yen
Tenth part: All the comics released in the USA and UK. Includes the title and artists. No to forget several Japanese exclusive manga.
Quite a list for a "toy" no? Anyway, the reason for my writing is that there were several peculiarities in the book
1. God Bomber(1) this version looked kick @ss! More like a sumo wrestler (literally he looked bald) and proportional when combined with Super Gin Rai. It also seemed that he was "transformable" unlike his final form that is taken apart.
2. Conceptual design of God Ginrai indicated that the Super Robot head was initially planned as a transforming buggy.
3. Metroplex at first looked liked a multiple level parking lot and a Macross knock off
4. Six shot had a total of three conceptual designs, the last one looking a lot like his current incarnation except he had a beard.
5. Fort Max's initial version looked close to his current with the exception of his head.
6. Pretenders..... [image] first look like a rip off of Saint Seya, looking a lot like graeco roman statues, there even was a dracula concept ( I kid you not)
7. Star Convoy had "white" briefs and his trailer part was metallic gray (just like the recent re-issue) and not white
8. Not all of the Autobot cassettes were featured, there was supposed to be a giraffe and a dinosaur cassette which was absent.
9. Studio Ox, either both colored and conceptual, their version really takes your breath away:
Examples :
a. Autobots and Decepticons
b. Gestahlts on both teams
c. Omega Supreme
d. Six Shot
e. Autobot females (Ariel and Elita 1+ the rest of her crew)
d. Dinobots
f. Weird Wolf
g. Chromedome
@ I could go on and on [image] but their reinditions are so good that the art look way better than the actual figure.
Were it not for this legal clause and that the book I have was only borrowed, I'd link the images to you'all to partake of the glory of the contents
The TF franchise sure has gone a long way, owing to the fact that we all have this hang ups with articulations etc. Still, the magic of G1 is really.........no words can describe.
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