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Shōji Kawamori

May 04, 2023

Shōji Kawamori (河森 正治, Kawamori Shōji, born February 20, 1960) is a Japanese anime creator and producer, screenwriter, visual artist, and mecha designer. He is best known for creating the Macross mecha anime franchise and the Diaclone toyline, which were in turn the basis for the Robotech and Transformers franchises, respectively. He is also known for creating The Vision of Escaflowne anime series. He pioneered several innovative concepts in his works, such as transforming mecha (including the VF-1 Valkyrie in Macross and Optimus Prime in Transformers) and virtual idols (including Lynn Minmay and Sharon Apple in the Macross franchise). His work has had a significant impact on popular culture, both in Japan and internationally.

Shōji Kawamori
Taken during the 14th edition of Japan Expo in 2013 organised at the 'Parc de expositions of Villepinte near Paris in France
Born (1960-02-20) February 20, 1960 (age 63)
Toyama City, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Other namesEiji Kurokawa
Occupation(s)Anime creator
Producer
Screenwriter
Visual artist
Mecha designer
EmployerSatelight
Known forMacross
Diaclone
The Vision of Escaflowne
Robotech (Macross Saga)
Transformers toyline
Shōji Kawamori in his studio, in May 2011

Personal life

Shoji Kawamori was born in Toyama, Japan in 1960. Later in his youth he attended Keio University in the late seventies and in the same years as Macross screenwriter Hiroshi Ōnogi and character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto, where they became friends and founded a Mobile Suit Gundam fan club called "Gunsight One", a name the group would use years later during the development of the fictional world of the Macross series.[1]

Anime creation and production

Shoji Kawamori occasionally used the alias Eiji Kurokawa (黒河影次 Kurokawa Eiji) early in his anime career when he started as a teenage intern at Studio Nue and worked as assistant artist and animator there during the late seventies and early eighties. Later in his career Kawamori created or co-created the concepts which served as basis for several anime series such as Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Vision of Escaflowne, Earth Maiden Arjuna, Genesis of Aquarion, Macross 7, Macross Frontier, and Macross Delta. His projects are usually noted to contain strong themes of love, war, spirituality or mysticism, and ecological concern. Kawamori is currently executive director at the animation studio Satelight.

Mecha design

Shoji Kawamori is also a visual artist and a mecha designer — projects featuring his designs range from 1983's Crusher Joe to 2005's Eureka Seven. Also, each and every variable fighter from the official Macross series continuity has been designed by him.

Kawamori also helped to design various toys for the Takara toyline Diaclone in the early 1980s, many of which were later incorporated into Hasbro's Transformers toyline. Quite a few of them became iconic Transformers: Generation 1 toy designs. Among them the first Optimus Prime ("Convoy") toy design, Prowl, Bluestreak, Smokescreen, Ironhide, and Ratchet. In 2006, he designed both the Hybrid Style Convoy and the Masterpiece version of Starscream for Takara.

One of his key mech design innovations was transforming mecha, which can transform between a standard vehicle (such as a fighter plane or transport truck) and a fighting mecha robot. Kawamori came up with the idea of transforming mechs while working on the Diaclone and Macross franchises in the early 1980s (such as the VF-1 Valkyrie in Macross and Robotech), with his Diaclone mechs later providing the basis for Transformers. Some of Kawamori's most iconic transforming mecha designs include the VF-1 Valkyrie from the Macross and Robotech franchises, and Optimus Prime (called Convoy in Japan) from the Transformers and Diaclone franchises.[2]

In 2001, he brought his mecha design talent to real-life projects when he designed a variant of the Sony AIBO robotic dog, the ERS-220.[3]

Legacy

Kawamori came up with several innovative concepts and helped create several franchises which had a significant impact on popular culture, both in Japan and internationally. One of his original ideas was the transforming mecha, which can transform between a standard vehicle (such as a fighter plane or transport truck) and a fighting mecha robot. He introduced the concept with Diaclone in 1980 and Macross in 1982, with some of his most iconic transforming mecha including the VF-1 Valkyrie from Macross (later adapted into Robotech in 1985) and Convoy from the 1983 Diaclone line (later called Optimus Prime in Transformers). The concept later became more popular in the mid-1980s, with Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984) and Zeta Gundam (1985) in Japan, and with Robotech (1985 adaptation of Macross) and Transformers (1986 adaptation of Diaclone) in the West. In turn, Macross and Zeta Gundam became influential in Japan, while Robotech and Transformers became influential in the West, with Robotech helping to introduce anime to North America and Transformers influencing the Hollywood movie industry.[2][4]

In addition to his innovative mecha design work, Kawamori also came up with innovative concepts in his character writing. In contrast to earlier mecha anime which focused on combatants, he wanted to portray a mecha conflict from the perspective of non-combatant civilians, which led to his creation of the fictional singer Lynn Minmay in Macross.[2] She went on to become the first virtual idol. Voiced by Mari Iijima, Minmay was the first fictional idol singer to garner major real-world success, with the theme song "Do You Remember Love?" (from the film Macross: Do You Remember Love?) reaching number seven on the Oricon music charts in Japan.[5] Kawamori later took the concept further in Macross Plus (1994) with the virtual idol Sharon Apple, an artificial intelligence (AI) computer program who takes the form of an intergalactic pop star.[6] The same year, he created Macross 7 (1994), which featured the virtual band Fire Bomber who became a commercial success and spawned multiple CDs released in Japan.[7] The Macross franchise set the template for later virtual idols in the early 21st century, such as Hatsune Miku and Kizuna AI.[5][6]

Another innovative character concept he came up with was the role of Misa Hayase in Macross (called Lisa Hayes in Robotech), who was one of the main commanders of the Macross battleship. She was the boss and commanding officer of the fighter pilot protagonist Hikaru Ichijyo (called Rick Hunter in Robotech), and later his love interest. This was a scenario Kawamori came up with which he had not seen in any Hollywood movies before. A similar scenario, however, later appeared in the Hollywood movie Top Gun (1986). According to Kawamori, "Many people pointed out that later films like Top Gun copied that idea and setting, as well as including the combination of many songs and fighters too."[2]

Works

Anime

Macross series

Note: Macross II is the only animated Macross project in which Kawamori had no involvement.

Other anime

Video games

• Super Mecha Champions — Designed Playable Mecha "Pulsar"

Other work

References

  1. ^ . The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Liner Notes. AnimEigo. 2001-12-21. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2012-02-12. According to the liner notes of the AnimEigo DVD release of the Macross TV series Gunsight One was also the fanzine title of the Gundam fan club that creator Shoji Kawamori, character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto, and writer Hiroshi Oonogi (members number 1, 2, and 3 of said club) founded while they were students at Keio University in Japan...
  2. ^ a b c d Barder, Ollie (December 10, 2015). "Shoji Kawamori, The Creator Hollywood Copies But Never Credits". Forbes. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. ^ Hara, Yoshiko (2001-08-11). "Sony robot goes to pieces for owners". EE Times. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  4. ^ Knott, Kylie (27 February 2019). "He created Macross and designed Transformers toys: Japanese anime legend Shoji Kawamori". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b Eisenbeis, Richard (September 7, 2012). "The Fictional (Yet Amazingly Popular) Singers of Japan". Kotaku. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b Rattray, Tim (June 25, 2018). "From Macross to Miku: A History of Virtual Idols". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. ^ Camp, Brian; Davis, Julie (2011). Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces. Stone Bridge Press. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-61172-519-3.
  8. ^ . Anime Jump. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007.
  9. ^ "Shoji Kawamori Finally Reveals His Creative Involvement with 'Devil May Cry 5'".
  10. ^ Loo, Egan (7 April 2015). "Macross Creator Kawamori Designs New CG Thunderbirds Series' Plane". Anime News Network. Retrieved 7 October 2021.

External links

  • Official site: Japanese, English
  • Shoji Kawamori Official site (Satelight)
  • Shōji Kawamori at IMDb
  • Shōji Kawamori at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
  • Shoji Kawamori at the Macross Compendium
  • Shoji Kawamori entry at Gears Online

May 04, 2023
shōji, kawamori, 河森, 正治, kawamori, shōji, born, february, 1960, japanese, anime, creator, producer, screenwriter, visual, artist, mecha, designer, best, known, creating, macross, mecha, anime, franchise, diaclone, toyline, which, were, turn, basis, robotech, t. Shōji Kawamori 河森 正治 Kawamori Shōji born February 20 1960 is a Japanese anime creator and producer screenwriter visual artist and mecha designer He is best known for creating the Macross mecha anime franchise and the Diaclone toyline which were in turn the basis for the Robotech and Transformers franchises respectively He is also known for creating The Vision of Escaflowne anime series He pioneered several innovative concepts in his works such as transforming mecha including the VF 1 Valkyrie in Macross and Optimus Prime in Transformers and virtual idols including Lynn Minmay and Sharon Apple in the Macross franchise His work has had a significant impact on popular culture both in Japan and internationally Shōji KawamoriTaken during the 14th edition of Japan Expo in 2013 organised at the Parc de expositions of Villepinte near Paris in FranceBorn 1960 02 20 February 20 1960 age 63 Toyama City JapanNationalityJapaneseOther namesEiji KurokawaOccupation s Anime creatorProducerScreenwriterVisual artistMecha designerEmployerSatelightKnown forMacrossDiacloneThe Vision of EscaflowneRobotech Macross Saga Transformers toylineShōji Kawamori in his studio in May 2011 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Anime creation and production 3 Mecha design 4 Legacy 5 Works 5 1 Anime 5 1 1 Macross series 5 1 2 Other anime 5 2 Video games 5 3 Other work 6 References 7 External linksPersonal life EditShoji Kawamori was born in Toyama Japan in 1960 Later in his youth he attended Keio University in the late seventies and in the same years as Macross screenwriter Hiroshi Ōnogi and character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto where they became friends and founded a Mobile Suit Gundam fan club called Gunsight One a name the group would use years later during the development of the fictional world of the Macross series 1 Anime creation and production EditShoji Kawamori occasionally used the alias Eiji Kurokawa 黒河影次 Kurokawa Eiji early in his anime career when he started as a teenage intern at Studio Nue and worked as assistant artist and animator there during the late seventies and early eighties Later in his career Kawamori created or co created the concepts which served as basis for several anime series such as Super Dimension Fortress Macross The Vision of Escaflowne Earth Maiden Arjuna Genesis of Aquarion Macross 7 Macross Frontier and Macross Delta His projects are usually noted to contain strong themes of love war spirituality or mysticism and ecological concern Kawamori is currently executive director at the animation studio Satelight Mecha design EditShoji Kawamori is also a visual artist and a mecha designer projects featuring his designs range from 1983 s Crusher Joe to 2005 s Eureka Seven Also each and every variable fighter from the official Macross series continuity has been designed by him Kawamori also helped to design various toys for the Takara toyline Diaclone in the early 1980s many of which were later incorporated into Hasbro s Transformers toyline Quite a few of them became iconic Transformers Generation 1 toy designs Among them the first Optimus Prime Convoy toy design Prowl Bluestreak Smokescreen Ironhide and Ratchet In 2006 he designed both the Hybrid Style Convoy and the Masterpiece version of Starscream for Takara One of his key mech design innovations was transforming mecha which can transform between a standard vehicle such as a fighter plane or transport truck and a fighting mecha robot Kawamori came up with the idea of transforming mechs while working on the Diaclone and Macross franchises in the early 1980s such as the VF 1 Valkyrie in Macross and Robotech with his Diaclone mechs later providing the basis for Transformers Some of Kawamori s most iconic transforming mecha designs include the VF 1 Valkyrie from the Macross and Robotech franchises and Optimus Prime called Convoy in Japan from the Transformers and Diaclone franchises 2 In 2001 he brought his mecha design talent to real life projects when he designed a variant of the Sony AIBO robotic dog the ERS 220 3 Legacy EditKawamori came up with several innovative concepts and helped create several franchises which had a significant impact on popular culture both in Japan and internationally One of his original ideas was the transforming mecha which can transform between a standard vehicle such as a fighter plane or transport truck and a fighting mecha robot He introduced the concept with Diaclone in 1980 and Macross in 1982 with some of his most iconic transforming mecha including the VF 1 Valkyrie from Macross later adapted into Robotech in 1985 and Convoy from the 1983 Diaclone line later called Optimus Prime in Transformers The concept later became more popular in the mid 1980s with Macross Do You Remember Love 1984 and Zeta Gundam 1985 in Japan and with Robotech 1985 adaptation of Macross and Transformers 1986 adaptation of Diaclone in the West In turn Macross and Zeta Gundam became influential in Japan while Robotech and Transformers became influential in the West with Robotech helping to introduce anime to North America and Transformers influencing the Hollywood movie industry 2 4 In addition to his innovative mecha design work Kawamori also came up with innovative concepts in his character writing In contrast to earlier mecha anime which focused on combatants he wanted to portray a mecha conflict from the perspective of non combatant civilians which led to his creation of the fictional singer Lynn Minmay in Macross 2 She went on to become the first virtual idol Voiced by Mari Iijima Minmay was the first fictional idol singer to garner major real world success with the theme song Do You Remember Love from the film Macross Do You Remember Love reaching number seven on the Oricon music charts in Japan 5 Kawamori later took the concept further in Macross Plus 1994 with the virtual idol Sharon Apple an artificial intelligence AI computer program who takes the form of an intergalactic pop star 6 The same year he created Macross 7 1994 which featured the virtual band Fire Bomber who became a commercial success and spawned multiple CDs released in Japan 7 The Macross franchise set the template for later virtual idols in the early 21st century such as Hatsune Miku and Kizuna AI 5 6 Another innovative character concept he came up with was the role of Misa Hayase in Macross called Lisa Hayes in Robotech who was one of the main commanders of the Macross battleship She was the boss and commanding officer of the fighter pilot protagonist Hikaru Ichijyo called Rick Hunter in Robotech and later his love interest This was a scenario Kawamori came up with which he had not seen in any Hollywood movies before A similar scenario however later appeared in the Hollywood movie Top Gun 1986 According to Kawamori Many people pointed out that later films like Top Gun copied that idea and setting as well as including the combination of many songs and fighters too 2 Works EditAnime Edit Macross series Edit The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Original Series Concept Creator Production Supervisor Mechanical Designer Macross Do You Remember Love Movie Concept Creator Director Mechanical Designer Series Script Supervisor Movie Story The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Flash Back 2012 Executive Director Compilation Mechanical Designer Macross Plus Creator Executive Director Writer Mechanical Design 8 Macross 7 Creator Writer Supervisor Mechanical Designer Macross Dynamite 7 Creator Series Script Supervisor Mechanical Designer Ending Photography Macross Zero Creator Director Writer Mechanical Designer Macross Frontier Creator Supervising Director Story Composition Mechanical Designer Macross FB 7 Ore no Uta o Kike Original Creator Valkyrie Design Macross Delta Creator Main Director Writer Valkyrie Mechanical DesignerNote Macross II is the only animated Macross project in which Kawamori had no involvement Other anime Edit Space Battleship Yamato series Spaceship Mechanical Design Uncredited Future GPX Cyber Formula Machine Design Future GPX Cyber Formula SIN Machine Design The Vision of Escaflowne Original Creator Series Script Supervisor Spring and Chaos Director Screenplay Earth Maiden Arjuna Original Creator Director Series Script Supervisor The Family s Defensive Alliance Original Creator Series Planner Genesis of Aquarion Original Creator Director Series Script Supervisor Aquarion Design Genesis of Aquarion OVA Director Series Composition Original Creator Aquarion Evol Original Creator Director Series Script Supervisor Aquarion Design Patlabor The Movie Mechanical Design Credited as Masaharu Kawamori Patlabor 2 The Movie Mechanical Design Credited as Masaharu Kawamori WXIII Patlabor the Movie 3 Mechanical Design Eureka Seven Main Mechanic Design Eureka Seven AO Nirvash Design Engage Planet Kiss Dum Main Mechanical Design Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula Mechanical designer Junova VIII Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory Designed the RX 78GP01 Zephyranthes and the RX 78GP02A Physalis Gundams Ulysses 31 Mechanical Design Dangaioh Mechanical Design key animation Ghost in the Shell Mechanical Design Basquash Original Concept Project Director Outlaw Star Designed the ship XGP15A II Tōshō Daimos Guest Mechanical Designer Gordian Warrior Guest Mechanical Designer Golden Warrior Gold Lightan Guest Mechanical Designer Anyamaru Tantei Kiruminzuu Original Creator AKB0048 Original Creator Director Mechanical Design Ani Kuri15 Director ep 4 Robotech Adapted from Macross Cowboy Bebop Script ep 18 Stage Setting Cooperation Glass Fleet Mechanical Design M3 Sono Kuroki Hagane Mechanical Design Nobunaga the Fool Original Creator Last Hope Original Creator Director Noein Storyboard ep 20 RahXephon Storyboard ep 9 Techno Police 21C Action Choreography Assistance and Mechanical Design The Ultraman Mechanical DesignVideo games Edit Ace Combat Assault Horizon Guest Designer Armored Core Mechanic Designer Armored Core Project Phantasma Mechanic Designer Armored Core Master of Arena Mechanic Designer Armored Core 2 Mechanic Concept Designer Armored Core 2 Another Age Mechanic Concept Designer Armored Core 3 Mechanic Concept Designer Silent Line Armored Core Guest Designer Armored Core Nexus Mechanic Concept Designer Armored Core For Answer Mechanic Concept Designer Eureka Seven vol 1 The New Wave Main Mechanical Designer Eureka Seven vol 2 The New Vision Main Mechanical Designer MechWarrior 3050 Cover Art Japanese Version Omega Boost Mechanical Design Advisor Supervisor Mechanical Costume Designer Opening Ending Movie Director Tech Romancer Mechanical Design Original Concept Macross 30 The Voice that Connects the Galaxy Supervisor Mechanical Designer Animated Sequences Director Daemon X Machina Mechanic Designer Devil May Cry 5 Designed the robotic arms Devil Breakers found throughout the game Gerbera GP01 was designed with Shoji Kawamori s past works in mind as inspiration Devil Breaker 9 Call of Duty Mobile Designed the Reaper skin titled Ashura Super Mecha Champions Designed Playable Mecha Pulsar Other work Edit Diaclone 1980 1982 toyline Mecha design Transformers 1984 2006 toyline Adapted from Diaclone mecha design Gunhed 1989 live action film Mechanical Design The Vision of Escaflowne 1994 manga Writer Thunderbirds Are Go 2015 animated TV series Mechanical Design 10 References Edit Translation amp Cultural Notes The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Liner Notes AnimEigo 2001 12 21 Archived from the original on 2008 12 30 Retrieved 2012 02 12 According to the liner notes of the AnimEigo DVD release of the Macross TV series Gunsight One was also the fanzine title of the Gundam fan club that creator Shoji Kawamori character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto and writer Hiroshi Oonogi members number 1 2 and 3 of said club founded while they were students at Keio University in Japan a b c d Barder Ollie December 10 2015 Shoji Kawamori The Creator Hollywood Copies But Never Credits Forbes Retrieved 16 April 2020 Hara Yoshiko 2001 08 11 Sony robot goes to pieces for owners EE Times Retrieved 2015 11 07 Knott Kylie 27 February 2019 He created Macross and designed Transformers toys Japanese anime legend Shoji Kawamori South China Morning Post Retrieved 16 April 2020 a b Eisenbeis Richard September 7 2012 The Fictional Yet Amazingly Popular Singers of Japan Kotaku Retrieved 16 April 2020 a b Rattray Tim June 25 2018 From Macross to Miku A History of Virtual Idols Crunchyroll Retrieved 16 April 2020 Camp Brian Davis Julie 2011 Anime Classics Zettai 100 Must See Japanese Animation Masterpieces Stone Bridge Press p 163 ISBN 978 1 61172 519 3 Shoji Kawamori The Man the Myth the Mecha Anime Jump Archived from the original on 6 November 2007 Shoji Kawamori Finally Reveals His Creative Involvement with Devil May Cry 5 Loo Egan 7 April 2015 Macross Creator Kawamori Designs New CG Thunderbirds Series Plane Anime News Network Retrieved 7 October 2021 External links EditOfficial site Japanese English Shoji Kawamori Official site Satelight Shōji Kawamori at IMDb Shōji Kawamori at Anime News Network s encyclopedia Shoji Kawamori at the Macross Compendium Shoji Kawamori entry at Gears Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shōji Kawamori amp oldid 1139609236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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