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Post by DawnSanada on Oct 13, 2023 15:24:48 GMT -5
The following information and pictures come from the following sources.   |
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:29:18 GMT -5
 Alt vn link - i63.servimg.com/u/f63/19/22/47/65/0156.jpgk ih _______________________________ These are the pictures that are about the creation, evolution, and alternate designs for the subarmor / undergear.  (This is from the book 'Kaitai Shinshou' page 60) Hideo Okamoto: Actually, the design for the 4 Mashou was originally an idea I had for "Metalder" (Choujinki Metalder / Superhuman-Machine Metalder). To be more specific, I had adapted a design I had in mind for the second year of the cancelled "Metalder". For example, the design of Metalder's Garadoh, a ninja-like bombing fighter, was the inspiration for the design of subarmors. The third manga was released in 1990. MESSAGE was released in 1991. Hideo Okamoto said (page 60 from the book 'Kaitai Shinshou") "What was the reason for the redesigned armor in MESSAGE? - I was told, "Since this is your final project for this series, please feel free to do whatever you want with it," and I designed it completely differently (laughs) We didn't have any plans for toys, so the design is very similar to actual armor." These are rough subarmor / undergear designs made for MESSAGE. (These pictures are from page 77 of the book MESSAGE Anthology.) (To explain the title for this little bit of text and the description is very simplified here for your sake. The fuller explaination of it is as follows. Neither the armors Kaosu or Suzunagi made were not considered to be "true Japanese" style armors, aka armors based on the style of real Japanese Warring States era armors. This also includes the undergear / subarmors. They ARE armors in their own right, just not 'real Japanese' style armors. So any armor that falls outside of that particular style is seen, to Japanese people, as 'not real Japanese style armor'. These armors are based on a merging of traditional Japanese armor and mecha influence. Due to the fact that Suzunagi based the style of her armors from a stage play, and not real life armors, makes them seen as even less like 'real' Japanese styled armors. Just something to keep in mind. Does it change anything? No. And you can call these subarmors / undergears if you want. That's totally fine and it's all the same thing being talked about.)
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:30:33 GMT -5
 The earliest concept for the subarmor / undergear design is based off of ninja attire, where the armor pieces could be equipped on top of the ninja suit. And the pieces of armor could come flying off in battle (if the wearer decided to do so) to allow the wearer to unleash more powerful attacks. (From the book MESSAGE Anthology, page 77) Rough subarmor designs We thought about what kind of design would be best to use for these armors, and we finally decided on the one on the far left. It's a pity that there weren't any scenes where the subarmors were used."
They don't clarify if this was meant for MESSAGE, or just the series as a whole because
(from the 30th anniversary book, page 98) Makino: The original idea was for a battle between martial artists wearing armor on top of ninja suits with the whole story being set in a different world. As they fought, the armor would come off and the ninja suits would be used for the fighting. (If this sounds odd to you, just think of something like Dragonball Z where they remove their weighted clothing to reveal their much stronger power and abilities. Pretty much the same premise.)
It's very easy to assume that these 3 subarmor / undergear designs were made solely for MESSAGE.
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:31:21 GMT -5
 Alt vn link - i63.servimg.com/u/f63/19/22/47/65/0350.jpg____________________________  (Info is from the 30th anniversary book, Page 98) Although no pictures exist (that I could find) to show this concept, we can see it in the design for Saryuto as well as the model kit and action figures. Small side note - It's good to keep in mind that the stereotypical ninja we see in modern media isn't what real Japanese ninja looked like. The stereotypical ninja we know of are from a misunderstanding, That look is from people who would help out moving set pieces and backgrounds for stage plays. They would wear all black so as to not distract the audience's attention from the events of the play. For more information about this, feel free to search online for this. It's interesting stuff.
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:34:06 GMT -5
 Alt vn link - i63.servimg.com/u/f63/19/22/47/65/0549.jpg____________________ Although we know this armor as Rekka, in the beginning it had the name of "Fuma" (wind demon). These pictures show this armor known as Fuma. (However, the picture to the far right is the final design, and when the transition was made from Fuma to Rekka and just before the character's ages were changed from adult to young teenager.)  Before anything else, you have to keep in mind that when this armor was first made, it was called 'Fuma' or wind demon. Easy to assume it's element / power was going to be air/flight related. Not Rekka, raging fire, related. That change would come later. (This from page 59 of the book 'Kaitai Shinshou'. This is from the interview with Hideo Okamoto.) "In the beginning, the design for Rekka (the armor of Rekka) was intended to create a sense of 'being open'. With the lines of each section radiating out from the chest. After Rekka became the star of the show, we decided to include an image of an airplane in the lead role. That's when we decided on a large design with shoulder guards that were stretched to the limit."
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:35:25 GMT -5
Rekka (raging fire / wildfire)  (from the 30th anniversary book, page 99) Hitoki Makino (in charge of developing the action figures. Former employee of Takara's Toy Development department): Mr. Numamoto gave us strict instructions. "Don't make an otherworldly story because children won't understand it." "Change the colors of the five fighters." and "Lower the age range so that children can relate to it." The content of the previous projects had nothing to do with children (laughs) Because, originally, the characters were all going to be full grown men. Source - book 'Kaitai Shinshou' page 62 Hideo Okamoto interview "As mentioned in these interview pages, the designs seen here are intended only as armor to be worn by adult men." As mentioned earlier, it was originally armor worn by the lord of the castle, so the young men had to be older. It was only before production began that this was changed, that one day, Mr. Numamoto suddenly said, "Let's make the main characters boys!". As with the sudden burst of "super ballistic," Mr. Numamoto has a sudden flash of inspiration (laughs) and that's how the main characters went from being men to being boys. Also, the reason for this was the theory that there was a young male character in the popular show 'Ultraman" who was very popular among schoolage children.
The third manga was released in 1990. The movie MESSAGE was released in 1991. When asked why the armors were redesigned for MESSAGE Hideo Okamoto said this. (page 60 from the book 'Kaitai Shinshou') "I was told, 'Since this is your final project for this series, please feel free to do whatever you want with it," and I designed it completely differently. (laughs) We didn't have any plans for toys, so the design is very similar to actual armor."
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:37:36 GMT -5
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:39:10 GMT -5
Alt vn link - i63.servimg.com/u/f63/19/22/47/65/0949.jpg__________________ Although we know this armor as Tenku (sky / heavens / firmament / strata) in the beginning it had the name of "Yokoshimarin" (yo ko shi ma rin) (evil forest). These pictures show this armor known as Yokoshimarin. (However, the picture to the far right is the final design, and when the transition was made from Yokoshimarin to Tenku and just before the character's ages were changed from adult to young teenager.)  (Although there was no name for the earliest design,, and you can easily ignore this design from the lineup, this was included because details of it looked the most like this particular armor's final design). . |
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:41:23 GMT -5
Tenku (sky / heavens / firmament / strata)  . |
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:43:53 GMT -5
 Alt link - i63.servimg.com/u/f63/19/22/47/65/1151.jpg__________________________ Although we know this armor as Korin (light wheel/halo) in the beginning it had the name of "Rekka" (raging fire/wildfire). These pictures show this armor known as Rekka. (However, the picture to the far right is the final design, and when the transition was made from Rekka to Korin and just before the character's ages were changed from adult to young teenager.)  |
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:45:23 GMT -5
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:47:06 GMT -5
 Alt vn link - i63.servimg.com/u/f63/19/22/47/65/1348.jpg________________________ Although we know this armor as Suiko (water margin / Torrent) in the beginning it had the name of "Fukayama" (fu ka yama) (deep in the mountains). These pictures show this armor known as Fukayama (However, the picture to the far right is the final design, and when the transition was made from Fukayama to Suiko and just before the character's ages were changed from adult to young teenager.)  Although no specific details were given, it may be safe to guess that these two designs to the far left might have influenced the creation of the Suiko armor. This is from page 99 of the 30th anniversary book. Hitoki Makino (former employee for Takara's Toy Development) : I love Western styled armors and helmets... I love the armor that Darth Vader wears... Also the armor of Suiko, that's a Western armor style, but his head was lonely looking, so I put a chopstick on it. (laughs)
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:51:42 GMT -5
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 15:59:25 GMT -5
____________________ There was no name provided for this armor in the early stages of development. The picture to the far right is the final design, and when the transition was made from not having a name to Kongo and just before the character's ages were changed from adult to young teenager. 
The armor of Kongo is said to be Chinese, but it's actually modeled after the armor of Kansuke Yamamoto.
Kongo (This is called 'hard rock' in the English dub. In the original Japanese, Kongo means a substance that is unable to be destroyed, diamond, and adamantine / unbreakable.)
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Post by blank on Oct 13, 2023 16:04:47 GMT -5
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