The following is a side panel interview from a 2022 Sunday Mainichi interview with Yaz about the Cucuruz Doan film.

NAOHIRO OGATA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
THE ONE GUIDING GUNDAM INTO THE FUTURE

As a producer who’s collaborated with legendary creators like Yoshiyuki Tomino and Yasuhiko Yoshikazu on works bearing the iconic Gundam name, Naohiro Ogata is undoubtedly a key figure charting the course for the franchise’s future. We sat down with him to discuss his vision for where Gundam is headed next.

――How does this film position itself in relation to First Gundam?

Well, it’s been over 40 years since that first series, and even just looking at the Universal Century timeline, not everything necessarily fits neatly together. I mean, the original TV series and the movie trilogy have their inconsistencies, and the sequels don’t always line up perfectly, either. So, while we do try to keep a coherent big picture in mind, at the end of the day, each individual project has to stand on its own merits. With this latest film, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s approach was to “translate” the story of episode 15 from the original series through a modern lens. And sure, I get that for a lot of fans, the animated version is “official history,” but we as creators don’t box ourselves into “this is the official history” or “this is a parallel story.” There’s always room for a director or designer to put their own spin on the source material. Hopefully, fans will appreciate and enjoy those fresh interpretations.

――Since Sunrise was acquired by Bandai Namco in 1994, there’s been a lot of corporate restructuring, to the point where the Sunrise brand itself was retired this past April, and Gundam is now fully under the Bandai Namco umbrella. Is there a concern that the Gundam franchise might be overproduced due to “manufacturer’s convenience” to meet a revenue target of 150 billion yen by fiscal year 2025?

The figures are merely outcomes. Our aim is to broaden the recognition of Gundam, which still holds a niche allure globally. While we’re strategizing for international appeal, the essence of Gundam is sacred and immutable. Creative aspects remain the purview of Sunrise as a production studio. Granted, Gundam sustains many livelihoods, but we never compromise creativity for sales or push numbers over integrity. Gundam has thrived for 40 years on a synergy between animation and model kits. Commercial considerations are inevitable, but integrating them compellingly into our narratives has always amplified our artistic value. Our ultimate goal is for these new projects, and the Gundam library as a whole, to resonate with fans across the world. So, we just hope fans will stick with us on this journey and continue to show their support.