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The creator of the original Gundam franchise, Yoshiyuki Tomino, says that had Vladimir Putin watched Sunrise’s 1993 anime series V Gundam, he would never have gone to war.
Translated by Zeonic Republic, a resurfaced interview with Tomino in the Summer 2023 edition of Great Mechanic G asked the iconic creator about how V Gundam has aged and its links to the current social climate given the Russo-Ukrainian War. “I revisited V Gundam and reviewed some of it. As far as directing is concerned, there were shortcomings and looseness in the direction, but there was also the opposite impression. And that is the relevance to the times. It’s been a year since the war between Ukraine and Russia started. To me, V Gundam feels so on the nose it’s like it’s entirely about Putin’s war. If Putin had watched V Gundam, I think he definitely wouldn’t have gone to war.”
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Tomino continued, “Previously, a sociologist said, ‘Putin’s war is a war of the medieval royalty and titled nobility, not a modern war,’ and that’s exactly it. A ‘war of the royalty and titled nobility’ is a war where the king’s direct forces arrive at his call and retreat once he is satisfied, not a total war involving the economy and everything else between nations.” Tomino’s contrast between a war motivated by economies versus a King’s Conquest came up again later in the interview. He revealed his hope for future generations, compared to older people who lived through the Cold and Vietnam Wars. He added that the children of today may achieve the ideal of philosophers who are also able to handle practical matters.
Tomino likewise mentioned his faith in the next generation in the 2023 interview with The Change, saying, “Today’s children from 7 or 8 years old to 12 or 13 years old are seeing the stupid reality of Putin’s war. I think that by the time they reach around 30 years old, they will have reached a new level of being a Newtype.” Newtypes refer to evolved humans in the Gundam series, able to tangibly feel the emotions of others. A Reddit post adds that the advanced empathy that the Newtypes can exhibit represents Gundam and Tomino’s hope for humanity.
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Anime like Gundam, widely praised for its ability to depict different sides of humanity through master storytelling and animation, possesses an empathy that many anime fans feel is missing over the last few decades. This remains a subject of fierce debate that many, including Tomino, have chimed in on. Tomino said that the anime boom had peaked, and would likely fall into decline. He urged creators to go and see the world — something that Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto praised of Hayao Miyazaki and said was missing in the new generation of Japanese filmmakers.
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Similarly, Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii’s said in an interview just last week, “After all, top-class animators unconsciously search for a beautiful balance no matter what they draw. It’s more of a physical expression than a technique. The life experiences of the creators come out as they are. That’s why it’s interesting.” Oshii added, “There are an increasing number of young people who have never flown on an airplane or driven a car, so it is becoming increasingly difficult to do things that were once commonplace. That’s the troublesome part.”
Fans could previously purchase Mobile Suit Victory Gundam on Right Stuf. Sunrise describes the series: “In U.C.0153, the newly founded Zanscare Empire in Side 2 holds up the principles of Mariaism in the name of implementing new law and order. But it is, in actual fact, a self-righteous reign of terror. In order to fight back the Imperial Army, a resistance organization called the League Militaire develops the V Gundam as their weapon. And Usso is a thirteen-year-old boy who happens to be its pilot.”
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
The Universal Century year 0153. The oppressive Zanscare Empire tightens its grip on space colonies, leaving only pockets of resistance like the League Militaire. Uso Ewin, a young boy living on a colony under Zanscare rule, stumbles upon the powerful Victory Gundam. Thrust into the conflict, Uso becomes a symbol of hope for the League Militaire as he pilots the Gundam in daring missions against the Empire’s forces. Along the way, he encounters allies and enemies, uncovers hidden agendas, and grapples with the harsh realities of war. His journey forces him to confront his own ideals and fight for a future where freedom prevails.
- Release Date
- April 2, 1993
- Creator
- Yoshiyuki Tomino (original concept), Toshifumi Kawase (series director)
- Cast
- Tomokazu Seki , Megumi Hayashibara , Shinichirô Miki
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- sunrise
- Number of Episodes
- 50
Source: Great Mechanic G (Summer 2023) translated by Zeonic Republic, via Reddit
