In commemoration of the release of "Transformers: Beast Awakening" movie! Optimus Primal battles a mysterious super life form!

The story of the video is as follows

Here are kind-hearted animals, powerful animals, and proud animals. This is the jungle of Peru in 1994 ......, where all kinds of creatures live, including kind-hearted, powerful, and proud animals, as well as super life forms that are still a mystery to us. Optimus Primal, a strong and wise commander, has protected this land for hundreds of years.
Today, while patrolling the jungle in search of his favorite snack, bananas, a new super life form appears from the shadows...

The video depicts a fierce battle between Takara Tomy's latest toy, "Kakusei Optimus Primal," and a super life form that looks like a human hand, "Oteteikron," and the result is very impressive. The master of this hand is Mr. Saori Watanabe, who created the video with his multiple talents as director, scriptwriter, director, and art director.

In addition to comments from Ms. Watanabe on the highlights of the video, we have also received photos of the production process, which we will share with Akiba Research Institute readers!

We hope you will enjoy them as well as the movie.

Director Saori Watanabe's comments and production photos

─ What are the highlights and points of particular interest?

Watanabe: "I used time-lapse photography to move not only the primals, but also the otelephon (hands) and the camera frame by frame. I hope you can experience firsthand the "dynamic expression that is rare in stop motion," "our commitment to analog," and "the wonderful finish of the awakened Optimus Primal. Also, although it's not a very obvious point, the fact that you can see a glimpse of the thing that has been attached to Primal's back for a long time is a highlight of the work.

─ What is the attraction of the "Awakening Optimus Primal" toy?

Watanabe: I like the three transformable expressions. I think that the three facial expressions when in Beast Mode and when the mask is on or off express Primal's character in the movie very well. I was also impressed by the detail in which even the fingers are movable. It's great because you can enjoy endless poses such as pointing, high-fiving, and goo-touching in combination with the transforming body. I thought the reproduction of the gorilla's proportions in beast mode was wonderful. The fact that the waist can transform with a single turn is also cool because it is a point where you can recreate the transformation scene not only in the movie "Beast Awakening" but also in "Beast Wars"!

Movie Production Staff

Saori Watanabe (Director/Screenplay/Direction/Hand time-lapse animation/Art)

　He is known for his expression that transcends countries and generations, and for his gentle and warm worldview. Born in Fukushima Prefecture.

Kimimasa Inazumi (Animation Director/Animator/Cameraman)

　He is the action creator of "HIDARI," a stop-motion period drama that has attracted attention for its fusion of stop-motion and Japanimation action.

Takuhiro Kawaguchi (Lighting Director)

　He has worked on numerous commercials, stop-motion video works, music videos, and more.

Product Information

Beast Awakening: Awakening Optimus Primal
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy Manufacturer's suggested retail price (including tax): 8,580 yen
Scheduled to go on sale in mid-July 2023
Ages 6 and up