Takio Ejima( giang đảo đa quy namEjima Takio,bornJune 6,1964) is a designer atTakaraTomy.His first product at Takara was Crazybird from the "Flower Rock" series, and after joining the OverseasTransformersProduct team in the Boys Enterprise department, he single-handedly created theall EuropeanTransformersduring the period when the AmericanTransformersline ended, until the advent ofBeast Wars.After theBeast Wars Metals(the Japanese release of theTransmetalsBeast Warsfigures), he moved to the Girls Toy Department, but came back to Transformers during theEnergonline. According to fellow designerTakashi Kunihiro,Ejima is "the man who created the most transforming robot toys in the world".
Hand-in-hand with developing theTurbomastersandPredators,Eijima created the concept of usinglight-pipingfor the eyes ofTransformerstoys.[1]He is also credited with coming up with the idea of the extensive use ofball jointsseen towards the end of theGeneration 2toyline as a means of making toys more durable, thus complying with more rigoroussafety standards.This idea opened up possibilities of robot toys with extensivearticulation.
We all owe this man, so,somuch.
Known design projects
Generation 1
1991
| Action Master figures
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Exo-Suit Action Masters
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Motorized Exo-Suit Action Masters
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Action Master Elites
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1992
1993
Generation 2
| Basics
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Deluxes
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Megas
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Ultras
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| Supers
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MicroVerse
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And...
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Beast Wars II
| Energon Class
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Combat Class
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Mega Class
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Command Class
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| Scout Class
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Deluxe Class
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Voyager Class
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Ultra Class
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 Sideways(the other design he's most proud of) |
| Leader Class
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| Deluxe Class
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Voyager Class
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The Ultimate Battle
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Transformers (2007)
| Real Gear Robots
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Deluxe Class
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Voyager Class
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Leader Class
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Universe (2008)
Revenge of the Fallen
Dark of the Moon
Rescue Bots
- All transforming products.[8]
Generations
War for Cybertron: Kingdom
Studio Series
Legacy / Legacy: Evolution / Legacy: United
What's all this about?
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Convention appearances
Hasbro Pulse livestream appearances
Notes
The only designer who makes even cooler figures off the clock.
- He is reverently referred to as "The Big E"by theHasbrodesign team.[13]
- Besides developing the concept of light-piped eyes, Ejima also holds patents for thePredatormissile launchers[14]andmegavisorsystem.[15]
- Ejima reused the engineering from the toy that would becomeMachine WarsSkywarp/Thundercrackerfor the bat version ofOptimus Primal(the toys were applied for in the same patent).[16]Likewise, the basic class version ofTerrorsaurshares engineering with the toys that would becomeMachine WarsHoist/HubcapandMirage/Prowl.[17]
- Fellow TakaraTomy designerShogo Hasuiwas assigned to do the large Combiner Class Constructicon Devastator toy, and had completed some early sketches, but Ejima subsequently took over due to scheduling conflicts.
- Off-hours, Ejima's main hobbies include gardening and creating striking, intricate, almost jewelry-esque articulated metal sculptures. Pictured right are a couple he slipped in to the bonus features of theBeast Wars Rebornbehind-the-scenes DVD.
References
- ↑1993 patent for light piped eyes in action figuresat the online directory of theJapan Patent Office
- ↑*InterviewwithShuhei UmezuforTransformers Generations 2022translated at Soundwave's Oblivion
- ↑3.03.1Designer interview withHisashi YukiinFigure ŌNo. 303 (April 2023 issue)
- ↑Yuichiro Hira's name is on Inferno's patent, not Ejima's, but Ejima was credited as working on Inferno in aFigure Ōinterview.
- ↑Design notesonStudio SeriesKupfrom Hasbro designerEvan Brookson Instagram
- ↑All designed in 1995, but not sold until 1997.
- ↑Transformers Generations 2022designer interviews
- ↑December 9,2024InterviewwithHasbrodesignerBrian Parrishon the "Triple Takeover" podcast, from their YouTube channel.
- ↑Transformers panel atHasbro Pulse Fan Fest 2021
- ↑BumblebeeRatchet design notesonSam Smith's Instagram
- ↑11.011.1August 16,2022'sHasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstreamon YouTube, withBen MacCrae,Delaney Norris,Sam Smith,Evan Brooks,Isabella Weiss,andMark Maher.
- ↑Thanks fromBen MacCraeandEvan Brooksduring theHall of Fameceremony atHasbro Pulse Con 2023.
- ↑Interview with Ejima inBeast Generations,p.122-124 as well as his variousHasbro Pulselivestream appearances.
- ↑1992 patent for missile launchersat the online directory of theJapan Patent Office
- ↑1993 patent for the viewfinder doohickey underlying the megavisor play patternat the online directory of theJapan Patent Office
- ↑1997 patent for the springloaded mechanism used in theMachine WarsBasic jets andBeast WarsBasic Optimus Primalat the online directory of theJapan Patent Office
- ↑1997 patent for the springloaded mechanism used in theMachine WarsBasic truck and racecar molds as well asBeast WarsBasic Terrorsaurat the online directory of theJapan Patent Office
External links
Interviews
