RIP Andy Couzens

[GoktimusPrime]

Andy Couzens has sadly passed away. Couzens was senior designer at Hasbro EU during the Late G1 years (1991-93), as such, he kept the brand alive during its least popular years. Some dubious decisions were made under Couzen's watch, including:
+ Releasing only four out of six Liokaiser Breastmasters as the Autobot Rescue Force, and not including Liokaiser's head
+ Releasing the Constructicons without the ability to combine
+ The Autobot Rescue Force and New Constructicons not having any individual names or tech specs profiles
+ Releasing the Brainmaster cars as the Autobot Motorvators but without Roadcaesar's accessories
+ Boss' packaging art featuring a face that looks nothing like the toy's (Takara would correct on the Japanese version's box art)
+ Some 1993 G1 toys having new names in their G2 releases, which isn't an inherently bad thing... but Zap was renamed as "Windbreaker"

I think that Couzens' most widespread contribution to the Transformers brand is the introduction of light-piping. It's an inexpensive and simple yet effective gimmick. And thanks to some kids who grew up loving these Late G1 toys in their childhood, particularly IDW writers Nick Roche and James Roberts, many of these characters have since been lifted from Obscurity. e.g. Stalker, Ironfist, Hasbro's Overlord, Thunder Clash, Pyro etc. Heck, even Rotorstorm has recently received a new toy in Generations Selects.

Couzens was captain of a sinking ship, but managed to sail it through rough waters and kept it afloat until the brand became a smashing success again. It is thanks to people like Couzens, that the Transformers brand has been in continual production since 1984, and too many other toy brands can boast such this kind of unbroken longevity.

Vale, Andy Couzens.

[Seraphim Prime]

It's sad to think that Andy didn't really get much publicity for his impact compared to the American / Japanese designers.

His work is very much part of my earliest memorable experiences with Transformers with the Turbomasters & Predators being some of the figures I received as a 5 or 6 year old.