Gundam Creator Can Only Trust One Piece, Said He Couldn’t Replicate 1 Thing That Eiichiro Oda Does Brilliantly

The anime industry is a dynamic sphere where creators often draw inspiration from one another, and occasionally, they openly admire each other’s strengths. Yoshiyuki Tomino, the legendary creator behind the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, has revolutionized the mecha genre with his mature storytelling and political undertones. Yet, Tomino’s groundbreaking achievements didn’t stop him from showing admiration towards Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash | Credit: Studio Sunrise

In fact, in a past interview, Tomino offered praise for Oda’s storytelling, specifically highlighting an aspect of One Piece that he feels is unparalleled and, by his own admission, unattainable in his work. His reflections offer a compelling lens through which fans can appreciate the craft behind both creators’ works.

Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Unique Perspective on Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece

Yoshiyuki Tomino has never shied away from sharing his blunt opinions on the anime industry, often critiquing trends and creators. In an interview with Animate Times in 2021, the Gundam creator delved into the contrasting elements that define popular manga. Framed within the context of his own novel Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash‘s getting an anime adaptation, he revealed that he had no idea what the film was going to be like.

Yoshiyuki Tomino | Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

However, Tomino stated that he trusts the director of the film adaptation, Shuko Murase, despite not going into the details of Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash anime. He revealed that due to working in the same studio, he saw some of his storyboards and was impressed with them.

Yet, at the same time, he expressed skepticism toward series with excessively “beautiful” art, arguing that intricate visuals often mask shallow storytelling. However, he made an exception for One Piece, stating:

This statement not only highlights Yoshiyuki Tomino‘s discerning eye for substance over style but also points to Eiichiro Oda’s ability to seamlessly blend intricate visuals with a deep, compelling storyline in One Piece — a feat that Tomino finds rare and worthy of trust.

The Unattainable Brilliance of Eiichiro Oda

Aside from praising Eiichiro Oda‘s work, Yoshiyuki Tomino also acknowledged his own lack of skills in designing beautiful visuals, as he thinks creating attractive illustrations is not his strong suit. Similarly, his praise for One Piece highlighted that according to him, Oda’s manga satisfies him fully; both visually and story-wise.

Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

It’s not the first time Tomino has acknowledged his admiration for Oda. Even during his prime time in 2001, he encouraged young animators to the legacy of One Piece along with Hayao Miyazaki by stating, “Young creators shouldn’t take this lightly. You can’t surpass Miyazaki or One Piece without truly dedicating yourselves”.

So, what exactly makes Eiichiro Oda’s work stand out? The answer lies in his storytelling ability to build a sprawling, interconnected world without losing sight of its emotional core. Apart from its beautiful character designs, One Piece‘s universe never feels overwhelming because Oda ties every element back to the overarching story.

Yoshiyuki Tomino’s acknowledgment of Oda’s brilliance highlights the unique qualities that make One Piece a masterpiece, from its detailed world-building to its emotionally resonant storytelling. As fans of both Gundam and One Piece, we can only hope that such cross-genre appreciation inspires future creators to push the boundaries of anime storytelling even further.

Both One Piece and Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash are currently available to watch on Netflix.