Why Gundam Creator Defended Hayao Miyazaki Despite Calling Him His Greatest Enemy: ‘He has always been my enemy’

Where there is rivalry, there is bound to be sportsmanship as well. This extends to the anime industry as well. Of all the mecha anime, Gundam is a cult-popular series in most aspects. From its robots to profound storytelling, the series holds relevance to this date. What’s more interesting is the creator’s approach to the rivalry.

Kou Uraki in a still from the series | Credit: Nippon Sunrise

Yoshiyuki Tomino has a unique take on rivalry and competition. Despite deeming Hayao Miyazaki as his enemy, he reveres him. This is clear in his defense of the Ghibli founder in an interview. This statement reflects the sportsmanship and healthy competition among the artists.

Gundam creator’s rivalry with Hayao Miyazaki

Gundam is one of the finest and most revolutionary mecha series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino. From its robot designs to its anti-war stance, the series is truly avant-garde. Like its predecessors, the series shaped the future mecha series through its portrayal of strife. The mobile suits and robot designs influenced several anime notably Code Geass, Macross, and Transformers.

A still from The Boy and the Heron | Credit: Studio Ghibli

The series outclasses other anime in terms of its heavily researched themes. From war, apocalypse, and depravity, the series highlighted dystopia. This holds relevance to Char Aznable’s character in the series.

Most occurrences in the series are inspired by real-life events. Despite its popularity, Tomino holds insecurities regarding his work. This was evident when he compared his work to Miyazaki. And there’s more to it.

In an interview with Full Frontal, Tomino revealed the Ghibli studio founder to be his enemy. He quoted:

I’ve always been aware that I basically don’t have what it takes to be an auteur. There’s this thing called the giant robot genre, and I thought it might serve as a good platform to create stories – and so I ended up joining a place that specializes in that kind of works. It’s not really what I aspired to initially, but considering my own abilities, there was no other way to go. That’s why the director Hayao Miyazaki has always been my enemy: being in the same era as someone I’d never been able to surpass has become my incentive.

Miyazaki’s vision and profound understanding of art are reflected in his works. His staunch beliefs and perspectives are what make his rivals revere him. This holds especially true for Tomino’s admiration which makes him a brilliant artist.

Yoshiyuki Tomino holds high regard for his enemy

Hayao Miyazaki is an esteemed figure in the world of Japanese animated films. Through his poignant depiction of humanity and childhood, he tugs at viewers’ heartstrings. Whether he is an auteur or a craftsman, is unknown. His navigation of profound and complex themes in the storyline is truly remarkable. This is notched up by the use of traditional animation methods.

San in a still from the movie Princess Mononoke | Credit: Studio Ghibli

It is a known fact that Miyazaki is averse to technology. While one may deem this as a conservative approach, it is quite the opposite. The Director’s approach and vision resonate with a few people including Tomino.

Despite their rivalry, Tomino defended Miyazaki in the interview. This was clear when interviewers deemed the latter a craftsman rather than an artist. His response was a true marker of his artistic brilliance. To be able to defend your rival reflects one’s sportsmanship and integrity.

Despite his insecurities, Tomino is oblivious to the cultural impact of his series. From robots to wars, his series shaped the future of mecha anime. Miyazaki, on the other hand, has set a benchmark in animation. This is clear in his staunch vision and approach to art. Regardless of their rivalry, both artists are esteemed in their genres.

Gundam series are available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Studio Ghibli movies are available for streaming on Netflix.