In case you forgot how badly the Japanese beat down the entire world when it comes to designing robotics, take a look at this amazing "vintage" design by Kazushi Kobayashi. Seemingly available from a do it yourself kit available in Harajuku (For a whopping ¥28000, or about $300 USD), it just goes to show what the rest of the world is missing out on.

This design in particular comes from an alternate 1950s setting where robots act as forms of personal transport. It sounds perfect for an anime, especially with the heavy influence of Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Steamboy), Hajime Ueda (FLCL), and perhaps a bit of Toriyama (Dragonball, Sandland) thrown in for good measure. Who knows? Given the kind of things that hit a chord with the population, the storyboards could be half-done by now!

[via Notcot]