SHFiguarts Alphamon has added specifications and has evolved into "-Premium Color Edition-"!
In addition to all painting, the new Alphamon has more power-up options such as effect parts and cloak.
Therefore, this time, we interviewed Kenji Watanabe, who was the creator of Digimon and was in charge of supervision and box art for "SHFiguarts Alphamon" released in 2015, while watching "-Premium Color Edition-" with the planning staff.
Mr. Watanabe appears for the third time since D-Arts and Super Evolution Soul in "Interview Articles". Approaching Mr. Watanabe's "Interview Articles"!

■S.H.Figuarts ALPHAMON：OURYUKEN -Premium Color Edition-

――First of all, let me explain about this “-Premium Color Edition-” from the planning staff.

Planning staff:Since the Digimon series has been revived in TAMASHII NATIONS for the first time in a long time since the Super Evolution Soul series, first of all -Premium Color Edition-, "OMEGAMON" will be renewed based on metallic coloring while reviewing the specifications of the cloak. Furthermore, as the second installment, "Alphamon: King Dragon Sword" will be released this time. Kenji-san supervised the modeling of the regular version that was the base, right?

Watanabe:I saw it, I saw it.

Planning staff:The modeling that you supervised is used as it is this time.

Watanabe:Since that time, I've been very satisfied with the modeling, and it's a good product. However, was the gold so red (in the regular version)? Maybe it changed with the final mass production painting?

Planning staff:Well, the color of gold is a little difficult for products.

Watanabe:Even at the time of supervision, I feel like I was saying, "I hope it's difficult."

Planning staff:Partly because of that, this time we have renewed the color to the image of the setting image drawn by Kenji Kim. I made it a light champagne gold color.

Watanabe:This gold is my favorite gold. It feels more solid and sharp, and I think it's a very good color. (Illustration) I imagined platinum, like platinum, but this time it's getting closer.

Planning staff:As for black, I added a pearly color to keep in mind the balance with the first OMEGAMON. In the illustration, it is quite close to the color like gunmetal, but this time I made it the image in the play. The image of the anime "DIGITAL MONSTER X-evolution" and recent games doesn't have a mere gunmetal image. I was aware that Kenji used to say in an interview that "black is the correct answer."
* Editor's note: Gunmetal = Gunmetal. Gray with metallic luster.

Watanabe:Everyone said, "Alphamon is gray," so I said, "It's gunmetal black." It's difficult to paint in black if it's an illustration. It turns black.

Planning staff:That's right. So, it's metallic even in black so that it doesn't turn black even with gunmetal.

Watanabe:It's a little lacquer-like.

Planning staff:Yes, it has a glossy feel like lacquer.

Watanabe:"It's not just black."

Planning staff:I made about 6 to 7 kinds of gunmetal colors and black gloss patterns, and repeated trials and errors many times. I didn't change the image of black gold so much, but when I actually picked it up, I was conscious of the color that metallic particles and large particles would reflect.

Watanabe:Isn't it a molding color?

Planning staff:Last time, the black part was the molding color, but this time the whole body parts other than the joints are fully painted.

Watanabe:Yeah yeah! I don't want to do all the painting, right? In making things ... Hey (laughs)? I know that painting is difficult.

Planning staff:The tint of the molding color (of the regular version) is also one of the correct answers, and I think it's good. However, when I revisited the illustrations and animations, I was asked, "Isn't it okay to pursue a more exquisite color balance?" As for gold, I tried using a total of less than 10 paint samples.

Watanabe:I feel that you are particular about color. Also, the degree of freedom of this cloak! ...... It's amazing. The tattered feeling is also amazing. Is the cloak a little bag-shaped?

Planning staff:The front and back are sewn together, and the hem is tattered. At the time of OMEGAMON, it was pasted together, but then the cloak had an overall petty impression. As for Alphamon, I wanted to make the cloak feel fluffy. We also used apparel-based tsute for the fabric, and ordered various types of fabrics for consideration.

Watanabe:It doesn't feel like it's three-dimensional. Above all, this time it's this wing. Big wings, well made. You can also remove it, right?

Planning staff:Okay. If you have the Holy Sword Gradel Fur, the correct answer is to remove it, in terms of settings.

Watanabe:Last time I had a King Dragon sword, but I didn't have wings.

――Last time, the box art was drawn by Mr. Watanabe.

Watanabe:Yes, if you have a King Dragon sword, it will be strange (settingly) if it does not have wings. That's why I made a picture of a little flame, saying, "The wings of the flame will come out from now on!"

■ Alphamon-The beginning of X antibody

--Please tell us about the time when you designed Alphamon.

Watanabe:Alphamon is the beginning of so-called X antibody, isn't it? With that beginning, I had quite a few projects at that time, and I was in a position like the top of the project, so I retired from Digimon once. In the first place, the X antibody was "because I let other designers draw it".

Planning staff:It was a Digimon drawn with a special feeling.

――What kind of image was it designed for?

Watanabe:Like black OMEGAMON. Since OMEGAMON was lanky, I drew him with a slightly macho, bulky feel. In short, since there is OMEGAMON, it is Alphamon who is its counterpart. This is the top image of the new series. I also remember drawing Zwarth from "Aura Battler Dunbine" and Griffon from "Mobile Police PATLABOR".

--Did you have any special design for the X antibody?

Watanabe:Digimon has always aimed to express something that makes the character understandable in its silhouette, and to make it look like it with as few lines as possible. As the beginning of the X antibody, I designed it as "a line like this." Well, from that point onward, X-antibodies will be extremely difficult. Also, I was designing X antibody marks in various places. However, no one inherited it (laughs). So, Watanabe's is red, and As' Maria's is green. It's called "Nabeken Red" or "As' Maria Green". As'Maria's is all green, isn't it?

Planning staff:That's right. I did not know.

Watanabe:The reason why I made it red was that the product itself had a red LED. I think it was the LED of "Digimon Pendulum X", but that was the image.

――How was the reaction from the fans at the time of the announcement?

Watanabe:I wonder what about. I didn't have SNS like I do now. From Bandai, there was a feeling like "Let's do it because it's a Digimon" regardless of the market (laughs). I kept trying to do something even a little so as not to interrupt it.

――Actually, that judgment was correct, wasn't it? Partly because of that, it is still continuing, including new animations, and may it have led to this commercialization?

Watanabe:I think. In the meantime, the children at that time will also grow up, right? After 10 years, a 10-year-old child at that time will be 20 years old. Then, if you know that Digimon are still doing it and that the product is still out, they will buy it with nostalgia.

――Alphamon is still very popular, isn't it?

Watanabe:Thank you, really. It appeared in the anime "DIGITAL MONSTER X-evolution", but the design was completed before that. As a way to convey the world view, I used to attach a cartoon booklet to the product. Also, at that time, Wiz was also producing animation, so Wiz was working on the original scenario for "DIGITAL MONSTER X-evolution".

-Anime was a pioneering work of full CG, which was rare at that time, and Alphamon appeared as the last showcase.

Watanabe:I'm glad that no one appeared in that work. Isn't it difficult to make humans with CG? Because it is a Digimon, I was addicted to CG unexpectedly well. Even if I watch it now, it says "I'm doing well, this" (laughs). Well, the screening time is unexpectedly long.

--Alphamon was also drawn in the art book "Digital Monster ART BOOK Ver.X" released in 2019, wasn't it?

Watanabe:If anything, I was forced to draw this.

Planning staff:It was from you!

Watanabe:Oh yeah. On the contrary, he said, "I don't draw the pictures in the art book!" "No, I can't draw such a large amount of X antibody ... Instead, let me draw the cover" (laughs).

■ Thoughts on Digimon

――What do you think about the fact that Digimon are still loved by many fans?

Watanabe:I'm grateful that it continues. That's why after having Toei Animation and Bandai participate in the Digimon 15th Anniversary event, I myself will often come out and meet customers in person, right? Then, I was able to know that "Digimon seemed like this." At that time, in addition to Digimon, I was also planning Tamagotchi, Legends, and Precure, but it was behind the scenes. Due to my busy schedule, I could hardly see the reaction of the customers. But now, when I meet the children who grew up with it, they really like the characters. It was a part of my work, but I realized that it was an important part of the growth of these children, and I have to do something with these characters more than I think. I wanted to be able to respond to.

――That's why there are many staff who grew up in Digimon in both the anime industry and the toy industry.

Watanabe:I'm talking about other products, but the illustrations for the current card games are also drawn by those who were fans at the time. In short, I'm a fan, so the illustrations aren't perfect. Why do you draw so much with this budget (laughs)? I thought that the power of fans and favorite people was amazing, including techniques that I couldn't compete with.

Planning staff:It's because of love. After all, I'm full of thoughts.

Watanabe:That's right. Well, I think that Digimon have become quite independent.

Planning staff:I am of the generation that was just watching "Digimon Adventure" at the time. Now that Digimon is gaining momentum with anime adaptations, etc., I am planning future productization with a renewed focus on TAMASHII NATIONS 's most major brand, S.H.Figuarts, and the Digimon series. The product itself at that time is very good, but we would also like to consider planning a new modeling item as a future project.

――So, is it okay to have a message from the fans at the end?

Watanabe:I myself (Digimon) is one of the things I've been doing for a long time, and Alphamon was also designing in the process, and I'm still alive and alive. I think Alphamon had a different and better design than OMEGAMON. It's quite difficult to create such a character. I'm deeply moved that it is closer to the finished product as a product. Therefore, I hope that fans will enjoy the place called "This is Alphamon".

──Thank you very much.