ZETA GUNDAM PART 2 PROPOSAL
A). Background
This series, including Mobile Suit Gundam, will enter its tenth year next year. Historically, we can certainly see it as something of a milestone. Having come so far, what is the meaning behind the proposed continuation of Zeta Gundam? There are many reasons, but one of them is that the proposal is meant to serve as a reminder that we shouldn’t plan our future programs based on the ones previously made. I cannot say that this is solely the result of market-wide research by all parties involved, but what can be said is that the situation involving anime, toys, and plastic models have all led to this decision. This is the blunt fact of the matter.
B). The Meaning of Zeta Gundam
As a television show, Zeta Gundam was daring (took risks). It was an inappropriate time to resume the program, and there was a certain danger that the producers didn’t have experience with Part II. In particular, the era of original anime projects slipped into a cooling-off period, and the production of Zeta Gundam had strong, negative elements. Besides, the first half of the series certainly could have been a lot better, and we need to admit that this is attributable to the producer’s unfamiliarity with Part II. It seems that we were all too eager to make a sequel of the previous work, and this desire was so strong that Part II eventually turned out to be less than ideal – this is what we have been feeling towards Part II. And, for the story of Part II, we have been working hard to dispel concerns that we might end up losing our edge. However, with the advice and cooperation of everyone involved, I am proud to say that the series has grown into something that our viewers will surely approve of.
As it stands, Zeta Gundam has been able to overcome these negative elements. However, if people ask me whether I am satisfied with how it is, I will have to say no. The very reason I would say I am not feeling satisfied with how the anime series is, is also the very reason we need to keep going with the current Gundam series.
C). The Significance of Zeta Gundam Part II
Zeta Gundam, as it is now, at least until recently, has given a good impression of the program as a whole from the popularity of the machines, so I get the impression that the surrounding market has finally blown up. For a sponsor of the series, I imagine that, at this particular point in time, if we can offer our viewers a work that more clearly shows them what there is to love about Zeta Gundam, the work would be the least with which we can show our humbleness to the market, especially now that from now through next year, we will only be faced with more challenges than when Zeta Gundam first started.
The increasing lack of original anime programs, along with a growing closure of the toy market, has made sponsors feel threatened. Some people believe that, at this time, we need to bring life back to the market by offering new anime. However, let’s not forget that ever since Gundam was produced, we have yet to see original works able to surpass it. As such, we have yet to see any programming surpassing Gundam, and we think because Gundam is the program that is meant to take the lead of them all.
It is in times like this that it is difficult to come up with something new.
New works are either frowned upon by grown-ups or appear out of the blue. New things don’t just appear for no reason.
So, at a time like this, it seems prudent for us to support the market by continuing Zeta Gundam, and, at the same time, to use Zeta Gundam as a springboard for new projects. Above all, we adults won’t be able to respond to the market if we continue forward solely with the preconceived notion that this series is a one-year project, as we’d planned.
Instead, we feel that it’s more appropriate to continue with this project until we have a stronger new project in hand once we pass the ten-year milestone of the era.
D). Zeta Gundam Against the Market
There is a consensus that we are seeing signs of change in both the toy and television markets. My assessment is that the question of how to deal with such changes is beyond the level of arbitrary development. The only thing to do at this juncture is market research. So, for this market research, we, in principle, would like to base it on the Zeta Gundam series. At the very least, the market around Gundam has undergone an excessive expansion, with too many works and projects since Gundam. If the new project is simply going to incorporate that, then going down the path of something Gundam would probably be the right thing to do. In particular, there is a valid interpretation that the time has come to expand this series’ path (including series other than Gundam).
I think we need to break free of the conventions where our works only last for a year, sustain the market a little longer, and expanding on Gundam and its name recognition – and for us to come up with a historical milestone for the future of this series, we will need to do all of these, no?
E). Zeta Gundam as a Program
a). Let’s just say that Part 1 took place during a time when it was necessary for it to be recognized in order for it to continue Gundam. Depending on future developments, I’m proud that the drama contains elements that can tap into new markets and viewers.
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- Zeta Gundam has taken on a vintage style, which allows us to experiment with a sequel series, something that has not been seen in past anime. In other words, it’s possible to constantly transform the program to meet the needs of newer markets that are changing with the times, to popularize it, and try and establish it as a staple, which convinces me that this too lends to the uniqueness that is Gundam.
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b). Several designers have been involved with the mechanical designs, and fans are recognizing their accomplishments. This fact means that Gundam now has the groundwork to try out a variety of things. Through these designs, we like to proceed with the development of different types of mobile suits – including those that can transform – and seek ways to commercialize them in the future. (This strategy is an element that will be imitated in subsequent/future new projects)
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- Given our expectations that it will be necessary to use name recognition as an anchor while we carry out experiments during the turning point, we would like to carry out these experiments in Part 2.
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F). Specific Plans for the Work
a). In order to broaden the market for anime programs, the age of the main character in Zeta Gundam should be lowered by two or three years. By making the story feel close to something like a one-shot storyline, it will be easier to understand, thus broadening the audience.
b). Striving to create programming with close connections between the drama, characters, and machines. This will help to foster a closer relationship between the viewer and the program.
c). Of course, we will strive to continue expanding the audience for anime programs, all while carrying on the feeling of Gundam and Zeta Gundam.
d). Transform it into a work suitable for the power of the feelings of the children who are alive today (hobbies like playing on the Famicon, a mom-and-pop candy store taste). We’re convinced that the more frustrated children are, the more they’ll crave the above feelings. Zeta Gundam is a stark reminder that we forgot that portion and created a work according to the logic and convenience of adults. However, we also believed that without Zeta Gundam, there would be no discussion on which to base the next work.
To summarize the above, we believe that the second part of Zeta Gundam will:
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- Broaden the age range of its viewers.
- Break free of a locked-in market and, through brand recognition and teamwork, seek to broaden the product range and a path toward popularization.
Appendix). Reflections on the Zeta Gundam series and Guidelines for the Next Production (reflections written by the current author)
Japanese children today are probably special in that they do not have a specific enemy (sense of crisis). Having this group of children as our audience, we need to immediately address the lack of a clear enemy and, more importantly, the lack of a clear purpose for which the characters are fighting, in particular.
Paradoxically, children, in reality, also feel uneasy about their own lack of sense of crisis. They see their lack of sense of crisis as something weird, and they want to do something about it. It is probably safe to say that they feel anxious about becoming full-fledged adults because they know that the “real world” has its ups and downs that they must deal with.
It seems to me that the Tigers Phenomenon is a manifestation of this sense of anxiety and that the Tigers Riot happened as a way to rid the children of their anxiety. It is also, even more paradoxically, a manifestation of the children’s desire to be heroes. That is, the children wanted people to know who they are and where they stand as a way to rid themselves of the anxiety that they felt.
We need to come up with things to satisfy and purify the impulses and desires that these children have. In practice, we need to come up with a protagonist that can sub in for them. Next, we also need to show the children that the world of Gundam and its universe is not just some sort of fantasy – but rather, a part of their life and that that is where they want to go.
More dramatically, we must make the series so that, watching the series, the children would feel scared about the universe and feel a sense of crisis, and then they will see why the Gundams are fighting to protect the universe. In a way, we can see Gundams as megaphones with which people use to shout and cheer at baseball games. People wouldn’t be able to cheer out loud without megaphones, but if they do, they can do just both of those.
People would be able to do the same through Gundams, which is why we should put Gundams out there. As an expression of its direct “function,” I feel we should publish a work called Gundam.
On top of that, the story is wrapped up in a drama that goes back to the roots of action stories.
There is a strong enemy, and we have an ally to fight against the enemy alongside us. We need to work hard to win the fight.
I believe this sort of storyline is essential.
People said that they were expecting the Zeta Gundam series to be a story about Char turning Kamille into a pawn for evil.
The actual anime series, however, didn’t live up to that expectation.
If the anime series did fail to live up to the audience’s expectations, it was due to the ego of the author, who was too focused on making Part II a sequel to Part I. This desire of the author’s resulted in a work that failed to live up to the audience’s expectations.
In the pre-Gundam era, Char was not just an enemy but the voice of logic for the existence of the enemy, the “constitution” of the “enemy,” and the universe in which the enemy “existed.”
These are facts that we need to remind ourselves of.
Furthermore, if the universe is also real for the younger audience, we must come up with the series in such a way that the universe would appear to be something that the protagonist must win back and protect.
Char from the Zeta Gundam series may have wanted to make things easier, and this is something that the author needs to reflect upon.
And we would guess that the future Gundam universe will be the same as the current American one.
That is, people will grow and become more powerful. They will impose forceful measures on others, get tired, lose to weaker countries, and then fight back again.
We should portray the universe as a symbol of such authority and corruption.
Such is the existence of the “universe” of the Gundam world.
We would like to make it an anime series that portrays how the new protagonist uses and masters the Gundam to bring about peace and love.
★ZETA GUNDAM PART 2★
■STORY■
Yoshiyuki Tomino
■ The story follows Judau Ashta, a thirteen-year-old boy who grows as a mobile suit pilot as he encounters remnants of the Titans and the Manivaling unit dispatched by Haman Karn. He eventually becomes the first Newtype and leaves a message to the people of Earth before departing for Mars.
○ PREFACE
The conflict between the Argama, Scirocco, and Haman has come to an end, with Scirocco’s demise. With the nexus of the Titans now gone, the Earth Federation Forces were in total disarray, though they were coming together and uniting under the AEUG. Haman Karn’s fleet retreated to the outskirts of the Moon’s orbit and used the remainder of Axis as a base to target Earth.
Char, who was missing in action during the previous battle, remains unaccounted for.
Critically wounded, the Argama limps its way to the colony of Shangri-la in Side 1. However, post-war poverty in the colony left its inhabitants living in miserable conditions under the tyrannical rule of the Colony Public Corporation. Despite Bright and Emma’s best efforts, it was extremely difficult to procure the necessary materials to repair the Argama at Sangri-La. Kamille was transported to a hospital in the colony, accompanied by Fa.
Enter Judau Ashita, a mischievous young boy from Shangri-la. He tags along with a bunch of hot-rodders known as “Giger.” When they come across the wounded soldiers of the Argama, they consider commandeering the ship with her sparse defenses. Then, Judau steals the Zeta Gundam, brushing off the resistance of both Bright and Emma.
In the meantime, men from Haman’s Manivaling unit, in a bid to quickly win over the colony, attempt to lay the groundwork for the destruction of the Argama. Haman comes to the decision that it will be necessary for her men to get acclimated to the Earth Sphere as she only has young staffers. Judau is initially swayed by the persuasiveness of the Manivaling’s members and briefly looks at destroying the Argama, but Fa and Emma convince him to protect the ship from Manivaling instead. Nonetheless, to the amateur boy’s distress, even though he’s piloting the Zeta Gundam, things to not fare well for him.
Shinta and Qum are extremely attached to Judau and, wanting to turn Judau into a force to fight with, they cooperate with Judau.
After several attempts from the Manivaling to sabotage the Argama, Judau soldiers on, bringing in his friend from the Giger into the fold. “Running a warship is so much fun!” he says.
However, after realizing that staying in Shangri-la was no longer feasible, Bright tries to reach out to another colony for assistance. But the system that is the Earth Federation Forces were in such disarray that no matter which colony he turned to, his efforts to repair the Argama were unsuccessful.
He wanted to return to Granada, but he was not confident that ARGAMA could navigate that short distance on its own.
○ BUILDUP
○ THE ENEMY & THE ARGAMA
○ THE BATTLE TO RECLAIM SHANGRI-LA
○ THE EARTH FEDERATION FORCES
○ HAMAN’S FORCES
○ FINAL CHAPTER
PUBLICATION INFORMATION
Publisher: Animedia
Released: 1987.03.01
Price: 580
Size: —
