Hirofumi Ichikawa

Hirofumi Ichikawa( thị xuyên dụ vănIchikawa Hirofumi) is a Japanese author, illustrator and toy designer perhaps best known as the architect of the high-conceptBinaltechandAlternityfranchises. He's a noted old-schoolTransformersfan who made the jump to working on the brand in an official capacity forTakaraTomyat the turn of the twenty first century. A furiously prolific renaissance man, he somehow found time while crafting his licensed car magnum opus to work as a mecha designer (broadly, concept artist) on theUnicron Trilogytoylines, create the decoes and bios for boutique TakaraTomy affiliatee-HOBBY's series of retro toylines and, notably, participate as one of a very select group of Japanese creators to coordinate their own collector-oriented fiction with the crew behind the westernBotCon.Nowadays, he continues to contribute design work to theGenerationsmega-brand as well as being tapped by TakaraTomy to compose prose stories andbiosfor theMasterpieceandMissing Linktoylines, amongst others.

In hisfandomdays, he wrote numerous fan-comics and magazines (calleddōjinshiin Japan), mainly focusing on introducing Japanese fans to theHasbro/American version ofTransformersand the concepts and characters within. Among them was a very indignant magazine decrying the "funny"dub ofBeast Warsthat was presented in Japan, as it had removed much of the "serious sci-fi" edge that had made the show immensely popular with the English-speaking fanbase. But perhaps his most well known pre-official work isTransformers Chronicles,a sort of "bridge" story for his take on the lead-up toGeneration 2.Though this book was translated to English, it has unfortunately long since sold through its short run. Its influence can be seen to live on, however, in his heavilyMarvelinspiredMasterpiecestorylines.

Ichikawa's art style is toy-based; his Transformers almost always have the toy's proportions and detailing down exactly, not approximations or "influenced" altered cartoon models. The only changes made are there to make them more "realistic" by adding in joints for motion that the toys may lack. These joints are always very realistic in terms of mechanical detailing of the pistons and rotating joints necessary for real-life machines, similar to the mechanical detailing artistE. J. Suemploys. In terms of story, Ichikawa has a definite preference for the Western take ofTransformers,enjoying its more sci-fi-oriented and older-aimed feel, though he eschews the more metaphysical/mystical aspects of the fiction, especiallyPrimus.

Outside of theTransformersbrand, some of Ichikawa's other noteworthy licensed work has included working as a translator for various western comics, writing, illustrating, and coloring theX-Men'92adaptationX-Men: The Manga,and creating promotional art for theCapcomtitleMarvel Super Heroesin the 90s arcade magazineGamest.In the creator-owned sphere, he is best known as the author of the original seriesBoldor The Invisible Neighbourin theBandai-sponsored sci-fi magazineCyber Comix(nowDengeki Daioh). As he has stepped back from working on theTransformersbrand full time in recent years, he has shifted his focus to his independent projects likeBoldorandRainfall.

Contents 1Writing 1.1Prose stories 1.1.1Beast Wars Reborn 1.1.2Binaltech 1.1.3Alternity 1.1.4Masterpiece 1.1.5G-Shock × Transformers 1.1.6Canon/Transformers 1.2Known toy bios 1.2.1Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 1.2.2The Transformers 1.2.3Collector's Edition 1.2.4Encore[1] 1.2.5Binaltech 1.2.6Alternity 1.2.7Masterpiece[1] 1.2.8Missing Link 1.3Other prose 2Comics 2.1Armada 2.2Binaltech 2.3Alternity 2.4Masterpiece 3Known packaging art 3.1Beast Wars 3.2Transformers Collection 3.3Commemorative Series 3.4Binaltech 4Other illustration work 5Known toy design work 5.1Deco 5.1.1Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 5.1.2Collector's Edition 5.1.3Missing Link 5.2Detailing 5.2.1Energon 5.2.2Cybertron 5.2.3Generations 5.2.3.1Generations Selects 5.2.3.2War for Cybertron: Earthrise 5.2.3.3War for Cybertron: Kingdom 5.2.3.4Studio Series 5.2.3.4.1Studio Series'86 5.2.3.5Legacy 5.2.3.5.1Wreck N' Rule Collection 5.2.4Canon/Transformers 5.3Concept art 5.3.1Alternity[4] 5.3.2Masterpiece 5.4Unspecified 6Gallery 7References 8External links 8.1Interviews

Writing

Prose stories

Beast Wars Reborn

Binaltech

• "Story of Binaltech"

Alternity

Masterpiece

• "Noise & Smoke"

G-Shock × Transformers

Canon/Transformers

Known toy bios

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Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

• Tigertrack^[1]
• Nucleon Quest Super Convoy

The Transformers

• Pepsi Convoy

Collector's Edition

Encore^[1]

Binaltech

Alternity

Masterpiece^[1]

Missing Link

• Sentinel Prime(withDillo)

Other prose

Comics

Armada

• "Linkage"

Binaltech

• "Outlier"

Alternity

• "Arch-Nemesis!"
• "To Die Game!"

Masterpiece

• Controverse

Known packaging art

Beast Wars

• Grizzly-1(Only bio card artwork)
• Double PunchwithBeeline(Only bio card artwork)

Transformers Collection

Commemorative Series

(reused fromTransformers Collection)

• Astrotrain

Binaltech

• Wheeljack

Other illustration work

• "World of the Transformers" illustrations
• "Beast Wars Reborn" illustrations
• PioneerLaserDiscand DVD pack-in booklets
  • Fight! Super Robot Lifeform TransformersBox 1 and 2
  • Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010
• Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition GuideVolume 5 (front cover)
• BotCon Japan 1997commemorative T-shirt design
• The Transformers ClassicsVol. 2 (Japanese reprint cover)
• Character design work forAlignedAlpha TrionandMicronus Primefor theCovenant of Primusguidebook.

Known toy design work

Deco

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

• Nucleon Quest Super Convoy

Collector's Edition

• Road Hauler
• G1 Gobots
  (Bug Bite,Bad Boy,Treds,Small Foot,Path Finder,andRoad Ranger)
• Detritus

Missing Link

• Sentinel Prime(withDillo)

Detailing

With the beginning ofEnergon,Ichikawa was given the job of "mech design", taking the engineering designs of many toys and finalizing the aesthetic details, sculpts, etc. The toys he is known to have worked on include:

Energon

Energon Class

Mega Class

• Wing Saber

Command Class

• Scorponok

Leader Class

Supreme Class

• Omega Supreme

Cybertron

Scout Class

• Undermine^[3]

Deluxe Class

Voyager Class

Ultra Class

Leader Class

• Optimus Prime^[3]

Supreme Class

• Primus^[3]

What's all this about? This article on a real person associated with the Transformers brand is astuband is missing information. You can helpTransformers Wikibyexpanding it. What's needed:Everything between 2006 and 2019

Generations

Generations Selects

• Combat Megatron^[2]

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

War for Cybertron: Kingdom

• Slammer

Studio Series

• BumblebeeBrawn(drill only)

Studio Series'86

• Core Class Wheelie

Legacy

Wreck N' Rule Collection

• Comic Universe ImpactorwithSpindle

Canon/Transformers

• Optimus Prime R5
• Decepticon Refraktor R5
• Nemesis Prime R5

Concept art

Alternity^[4]

• Convoy
  (Vibrant Red, Ultimate Metal Silver)
• Megatron
  (Blade Silver, Premium LeMans Blue, Diamond Black)
• Meister(Unused)

Masterpiece

• MP-8 Grimlock

Unspecified

• Unite Warriors^[5]
• Legends^[5]

Gallery

• 

  Grizzly-1'spackaging art forBotCon Japan 1998.

• 

  ReissueSmokescreenpackaging art.

• 

  TheSonic Assault Team,fromLinkage.

Extended Hirofumi Ichikawa gallery

References

External links

• Hirofumi Ichikawa's website(dead link)
• Hirofumi Ichikawa on Twitter

Interviews

• 2004 Interview with Dengeki Daioh Magazine,translated byDoug Dlinand hosted at Altered States Magazine
• Original upload of the interview(archived)