The Untold Story Behind the Hollywood Live-Action Gundam: A Grueling Production and the Encouragement Sent by Director Tomino

Text by Yoshie Kawahara

Gundam as an American-Style Hero Story?

Once upon a time, the fantastical worlds of robots and other sci-fi elements in animation were brought to life through painstakingly moved costumes or puppets, or hand-drawn animation. But now, we live in an era where 3D CG makes these fantastical elements appear as if they exist right beside us, with a realism that has become the new norm.

Lately, the genre of “robot anime,” something Japan has long excelled at, is being adapted into live-action films overseas, stirring quite the buzz. And now, I hear whispers that the beloved Mobile Suit Gundam, a franchise nearing its half-century mark, is being transformed into a live-action movie in America. For Gundam fans, this might feel like a long-awaited dream coming true.

However, did you know that 25 years ago, there was already a live-action Gundam work using 3DCG?

It’s G-SAVIOUR, Sunrise’s first overseas production, which was commissioned by them and produced under their supervision by the Hollywood film company POLESTAR, and broadcast only once as a TV special on December 29, 2000, to commemorate Gundam’s 20th anniversary.

If you look at the images, it’s clearly a Gundam-type robot, but this work doesn’t have “Gundam” in the title. Also, in terms of content, it’s completely different from the so-called Gundam formula and was made as a very “ordinary” American-style hero story, so it rarely comes up as a topic among Gundam fans.

But in fact, this work had a very significant meaning. It’s a bit of a complicated story but bear with me.

At the time, many works closely resembling Japanese content were being rapidly made into films in America. However, this wasn’t very profitable for the Japanese side, and it was predicted that Gundam could face a similar situation in the future.

Hence, it became crucial to assertively protect the rights associated with Gundam’s design and concept in the American market.

The rights surrounding such entertainment, starting with films, in America are completely different from those in Japan – they’re so strong that contracts state things like “for all eternity throughout the universe.” Also, to secure the rights in America ahead of the Japanese side, it was necessary to have actual production done on the American side.

The Grueling Production and the Encouragement Sent by Director Tomino

But bringing this project to fruition was no small feat, and the hardships faced by the actual staff who took on the production against veteran Hollywood film industry members cannot be explained in just a few words. But it’s precisely because of those hardships that a “Gundam-esque robot work” has never once been made on the American side.

Incidentally, Gundam’s director Tomino also understood this and sent encouragement, saying, “In that case, it’s better not to include my name. It’ll be tough, but do your best making it.” This “better not to include the name” is also why it doesn’t bear the Gundam title.

The visuals from 25 years ago may pale in comparison if viewed now. However, in an era when just calculating a single minute of CG footage took an entire day and night, this work, completed with actual actors and large props, is by no means something to be ashamed of.

Some might think the mobile suit movements on screen were done using motion capture, but that’s a misconception.

The mobile suit related footage uses what was made for the pilot film at the same CG production company two years prior for the 20th anniversary, and at that time, the director of Gundam 0083, Takashi Imanishi, went to the US as a supervisor and thoroughly instructed them on the unique movements and presentation of Japanese robot anime. In other words, all the CG movements were input by human hands, just like hand-drawn animation.

There’s also some misinformation floating around stating the production was done in Canada, but Canada only handled the “live-action portion filming,” and the production was ultimately done in America.

As one of the staff members involved, I hope that when the time comes to view the upcoming live-action Gundam, you’ll spare a moment to remember G-SAVIOUR, the cornerstone that made it all possible.