Whoa that album illustration.
Reposting my edit to this post on its own so people actually see it.
I totally agree, Childings. The Origin is an example of adaptation done right. It isn’t a random artist converting screencaps to comics; Yasuhiko owns this work with both his masterful technique and his authorial intent. It’s a rare sight, and frankly, the existence of The Origin is a fluke (I mean, look at Zeta Gundam Define, which probably looks like “Gundam: The Origin 2” to marketers, but is such a commercial and uninspired project).
Really, it’s not a matter of if a project with the sensitivity and perspective of0080 or the personal touch and daring of The Origin could make money. They obviously can. But would 0080 make as much money now as Unicorn, which takes all the technical proficiency and puts it in a blender with excessive fanservice and toy-making potential (not only does Unicorn make new designs to appeal to the hardcore fans, but it makes old and obscure designs relevant again to make new toys out of them).
‘Cause let’s face it. The audience that more sophisticated Gundam works bring in won’t be bringing too much money with them. While 0080 has my favorite mechanical designs of any Gundam, if I hadn’t seen it when I was 10 and already predisposed to having toys of my favorite mobile suits/involved in that aspect of fan culture, I don’t think I would watch that show and think, “I’m going to show my appreciation of these mechanical designs by building model kits of them”. Buying into that goes directly against one of the message of that story. (Yes, I do have an ethical debate with myself when I look at my GM Sniper II action figure.)
Gundam is a beast with no beginning or end, and yet this is GUNDAM: THE ORIGIN.
I think I’ll make a lot of friends with this blog post.
Nah, you’re pretty much right on the mark with everything.
And really the annoying thing about the franchise is that there’s the potential for more works like Gundam 0080, but it’ll never happen because a series like that isn’t formulaic or mobile suit centric enough.
But didn’t 0080 introduce the Kampfer and those new Hygogg design? In general 0080 has some of my favorite Gundam mechanical designs and my favorite battle sequences, they are just short, which is really more realistic (well, bipedal mecha in general is not realistic but combat in an actual warzone isn’t typically something that lasts forever like in the movies)
ETA I feel like 0080 is a typical Gundam OVA that was well received by fans so I don’t see why there couldn’t be another UC series or OVA in that vein. I don’t think it needs to be formulaic or self-referential to be popular with fans, it’s just that UC fans will flock to anything UC-related no matter the quality.
And honestly Origin is not the exact same story as 0079, I hate when people say that. It’s like Yas took the existing mythos and expanded on it to tell a much more in-depth story with much more character development, expanding on the character’s lives and motivations. Not the same at all
One of the top reviews for the book on Amazon reads “This is one of your best chances to show bandai that we want Gundam in English. Even if they ignore the sales your worst case scenario is being stuck with this great book!”
I want nothing to do with the writer of that review.
Milo, though? You’ve fucking aced it.
EDIT: I totally agree, Childings. The Origin is an example of adaptation done right. It isn’t a random artist converting screencaps to comics; Yasuhiko owns this work with both his masterful technique and his authorial intent. It’s a rare sight, and frankly, the existence of The Origin is a fluke (I mean, look at Zeta Gundam Define, which probably looks like “Gundam: The Origin 2” to marketers, but is such a commercial and uninspired project).
Really, it’s not a matter of if a project with the sensitivity and perspective of 0080 or the personal touch and daring of The Origin could make money. They obviously can. But would 0080 make as much money now as Unicorn, which takes all the technical proficiency and puts it in a blender with excessive fanservice and toy-making potential (not only does Unicorn make new designs to appeal to the hardcore fans, but it makes old and obscure designs relevant again to make new toys out of them).
‘Cause let’s face it. The audience that more sophisticated Gundam works bring in won’t be bringing too much money with them. While 0080 has my favorite mechanical designs of any Gundam, if I hadn’t seen it when I was 10 and already predisposed to having toys of my favorite mobile suits/involved in that aspect of fan culture, I don’t think I would watch that show and think, “I’m going to show my appreciation of these mechanical designs by building model kits of them”. Buying into that goes directly against one of the message of that story. (Yes, I do have an ethical debate with myself when I look at my GM Sniper II action figure.)
Welp, there’s my serious giant robot rant for the month.
Fight back the tears.
THAT KAI AND MIHARU AND CHILDS PICTURE
Good things never happen to people in the Universal Century.
Happy Friday everyone! Thank you everyone for your patience with the lack of posts. I am happy to announce that I have hired a professional translator to actually translate some of major interviews and key articles. Thank you everyone for reading, re-blogging and favoriting(is this a word? ^_^) and for the new readers welcome aboard. So without further ado….
The Official Art of Gundam showcase in the 1/1986 issue of Newtype. Here we have an interview with Akinori Endo, the Scenario Writer of Zeta Gundam. Enjoy! (SPOILERS AHEAD!!)
「Zガンダム」のシナリオで一番心がけたことは、できるだけ豊かな表現をしようということでした。普通だと”行く””来る””走る””泣く”という感じで書いていって、そのスキ間を演出で埋めていく。そうじゃなくて、文学的な表現とまでは言わないけど、演出の方を乗せるような表現の仕方をして、読み物になった時にも十分鑑賞に耐えられるようなものにしようと最初から富野さんとも話し合っていましたから。それで、「Z]のシナリオは普通よりも長いんです。
What I kept in mind most when writing the scenario of “Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam” was to give rich expression as much as possible. Usually, I start writing “Go” “Come” “Run” or “Cry”, and fill the gap with direction later. It wasn’t like that with “Zeta Gundam”. I won’t say it was as rich as literary expressions, but I was discussing with Mr Tomino from the beginning to create something worth appreciation even when it would be published as a book, with expressions to stimulate direction. That’s why the scenario of “Zeta” is longer than usual.
通常は1本を３日で書き上げます。僕は立ち上がりで苦労するので、Aパートに２日くらい費やして、後は勢いで（笑）。逆に言うと、それ以上かかったものってのは良くないんです。今、ちょうどパート１のラストである４９，５０話をアップしたところなんですよ。２本分まとめて書くような形にして、統一感みたいなものに気をつけたので、時間はけっこうかかってます。実は書いている途中で延長が決まって、５１話からパート２ということになりましたから、その分の切りかえが難しかったこともあったんですけどね。
Usually, I write up one scenario in 3 days. As I always struggle at the beginning, A-part takes 2 days, and the rest is written up with just vigor. (laugh) In other words, if it takes more than that the outcome is not so good. I have just finished scenarios for episodes No. 49 and No. 50, which are the last of Part 1. It took quite a long time actually, as I wrote the two episodes together minding both would have the sense of unity. It was also because the extension of the series was decided while I was writing them, and I had to switch my mind as the Part 2 starts with No. 51, which was difficult.
僕としては、最後だからキャラクター一人一人に決着をつけてやりたかったんだけど、2話分を使ったとしてもまとめるのは無理だし、富野さんの方は作劇的な意味から切らなきゃいけないと言うことで、その辺の折り合いをつけるのが、やっぱり大変でした。それに、先のない分だけ話をつめこもうとすると、どうしても戦闘シーンばっかりになって、ドラマが吹き飛んでしまう。そういった意味で40話以降は苦労しました。
Although I was hoping to settle things down for each character at last, it was impossible to arrange everything even with two episodes at disposal. Mr Tomino also said it had to be cut out from the viewpoint of dramaturgy. So it was difficult to reach an understanding. Furthermore, as the end was nearing, if I try to cram everything into the scenario, drama would be blown away inevitably by continuous scenes of fighting. In that sense, it had always been struggles for me since episode No. 40.
ただ、最終的には見ている人たちの期待を裏切らない形で終わっていると思いますよ。カミーユに関しては、一応の最終回である50話は、主人公の割には苛酷な終わり方だなあと思いますが、出だしがああだったからしようがない、みたいな感じで納得できるんです。1年間主人公をやってきて、こういう終わり方かなぁという感慨が、ね。つまり、雰囲気的にはカミーユってのは好きなキャラなんですけど、すごい可能性があるんですよ。51話で主人公が入れ替わるんですけど、それはカミーユの資質の問題で、50話でああいう風（まだ具体的には言えませんが）にしないと、キャラクターとしての主人公が入れ替われないというのが、とてもよくわかるんです。それくらい、カミーユというのは力のあるキャラクターなんですね。
However, I think the end of Part 1 would not betray viewers’ expectations. In regard to Kamille, episode No. 50, which is an end for the time being, will be a harsh conclusion despite he was the leading character, but I can understand that considering the beginning of the story. I am filled with emotions thinking about the end after he spent a year as the leading character. After all, Kamille is one of my favorite characters, and has tremendous potential. There will be a change in the leading character in episode No. 51, and it is due to Kamille’s gift. I can understand well that there won’t be change in the leading character unless episode No. 50 ends like that (I cannot tell in detail yet). Kamille is such a powerful character.
フォウの終わり方（36話）というのも、ああしようと言ったのはもともと僕の方で、富野さん自身はもっと生かそうとしてたみたいですけど、結果的にはカミーユにとって一種のスプリングボードになりましたから、あれでよかったんじゃないでしょうか。
The end of Four (episode No. 36) was originally my idea. Mr Tomino appears to be trying to keep him alive longer, but Four became a kind of springboard for Kamille so I think it was as it should be.
「Zガンダム・パート2（仮題）」は引き続き鈴木裕美子さんと一緒に書いていくことになると思いますが、まだ具体的にどうこうというのはありません。ただ、パート1は自分の中ではきちんと、僕なりに決着をつけて終わらせることができましたので、気持ちのいい終わり方にはなっていると思います。ですから、パート2は気分としてはまた新しいシリーズということで、パート1とは違った感じでやっていきたいですね。
I think I will continue writing scenarios for “Zeta Gundam Part 2 (tentative title)” together with Ms Yumiko Suzuki, but we haven’t decided details yet. However, I could finish Part 1 properly by settling things as I would have liked, so I think it is pretty neat end. So, I am hoping to proceed differently from Part 1, as Part 2 is completely new series in my feeling.
The discussion of Gundam’s writing usually centers on Tomino, so it’s great to finally get some insight regarding the other writers on Zeta Gundam.
I hadn’t realized that a woman wrote over a third of the series, including some of Zeta’s strongest episodes. I’d also like to point out that while Yumiko Suzuki was switching off with Akinori Endo for the last half of the series, most of the weird misogynist rants and plot developments that plagued that part were in Endo’s episodes.
There it is… The first copy of Gundam THE ORIGIN vol 1. Wow, it has been a long time coming, but in a few weeks the wait will finally be over. Expect to see these in stores soon with some nice store placement in key markets.
Now let the world know, Gundam fandom is as strong as ever! Like! Reblog!! Sieg Zeon!! It’s an F-ing Gundam manga!! And you readers helped make it happen!
Gundam the ORIGIN pt 1 ACTIVATION goes on sale March 26th! (Now shipping!)
ya did it
FUCK YEAH
Remember, folks! Barnes & Noble increased their order by a ton to gauge in-store sales. If you don’t already have a preorder in, buying from a physical store will help guarantee that B&N will stock later volumes, increasing access to the series for new readers and uninitiated Gundam fans.
This book is a treasure for comics and mecha fans alike!
