Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, Legendary Animator of Original Mobile Suit Gundam, “Wanted people to forget” the Show

The legendary animator and original character designer for Mobile Suit Gundam, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko holds a special place in the world of anime. As a well-known master storyteller and artist, Yasuhiko has impacted much of Japanese animation. Yet, despite his contributions to one of the most iconic franchises in anime history, Yasuhiko permanently wanted to quit being an animator and started to focus on manga artistry.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Blue Eyed Casval | Credit: Studio Sunrise

In fact, at the end of the 1980s, Yasuhiko totally left the animation industry and started his career as a mangaka. While he returned to the franchise again later, his comeback was full of conflicts and, a somewhat bitter relationship with the Gundam franchise; which led to him moving on to other projects as he wanted to forget about his work on Mobile Suit Gundam altogether.

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s Complicated Relationship with Gundam

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s involvement in Mobile Suit Gundam dates back to 1979, when the original TV series first aired. Despite its iconic status today, the initial reception of Gundam was far from spectacular. The ratings were mediocre, and on top of that, the production faced numerous challenges, including tight schedules and a lack of manpower resources.

Char Aznable | Credit: Studio Sunrise

Yasuhiko himself had to leave the project before its completion due to health reasons, which only added to his bittersweet feelings about the Gundam series. In a 2015 interview via Animage, Yasuhiko stated that when he was contacted again for the manga adaptation of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Blue Eyed Casval in 2000, Yasuhiko initially refused to take on the role as he was content being a mangaka, quoting,

This desire to distance himself from the series arose not from disdain but from a sense of finality. Yasuhiko believed there was nothing more to do with Gundam anymore and had moved on to other projects, becoming a successful manga artist with many new stories he wanted to tell.

Despite his reluctance, Yasuhiko found himself drawn back into the world of Gundam in the early 2000s. This return was largely due to the persistence of Takayuki Yoshii, then-CEO of Sunrise, the studio behind Gundam. Yoshii convinced Yasuhiko to create a manga adaptation of the original Mobile Suit Gundam story, and that’s how Yasuhiko made his return to the animation industry.

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s Struggle During Initial Gundam Era

To understand why Yasuhiko initially wanted people to forget about Mobile Suit Gundam, we need to look at the conditions under which the original series was produced. During its initial run, the series struggled to establish an audience due to a hasty production.

Gundam Origin | Credit: Studio Sunrise

Moreover, other challenges like extreme work pressure, lack of manpower, poor facilities, and negative reactions from audiences affected the morale of the employees, including Yasuhiko, who started to doubt their potential, Stating,

Thus, during his return to the franchise, Yasuhiko was full of scepticism about Gundam’s success. He thought that the new adaptation wouldn’t resonate with the newer audiences.

Despite his initial hesitation, Yasuhiko eventually returned to Mobile Suit Gundam in the role of chief director for the OVA adaptation of The Origin. The OVA series was well-received for its stunning animation and faithful adaptation of the manga, showcasing Yasuhiko’s skills as both a director and an artist. Despite his struggle through the process, his decision to return to Gundam was not born out of nostalgia but out of a desire to do justice to the story and characters he helped create.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Blue Eyed Casval is currently available to watch on Hulu.