THE UNIVERSAL CENTURY AS A VESSEL
–Its Possibilities Continue to Expand

UC NexT 0100, the new Gundam project launched alongside the announcement of Mobile Suit Gundam NT. What is the intent behind depicting the era beyond Universal Century 0100?

An Interview with Naohiro Ogata.

THE UNIVERSAL CENTURY’S CAPACITY TO EMBRACE ALL

――The announcement of the UC NexT 0100 PROJECT came as a significant surprise to fans. Could you tell us what sparked the inception of this project?

Ogata: As Gundam approaches its 40th anniversary, we launched this project with the vision of nurturing it into a series that will be cherished for the next 50, even 100 years. Our primary focus is on exploring the Universal Century timeline, particularly the unexplored eras and narrative gaps. We aim to deepen Sunrise’s involvement in works that have previously been developed through various media – games, manga, and novels – and expand them more proactively.

――The Universal Century setting has often been perceived as a high-end series targeting mature audiences. What was the reasoning behind centering a project around this particular timeline?

Ogata: You’re right – even when we launched Mobile Suit Gundam UC, there was a strong perception that Universal Century works were high-end productions for mature audiences. Initially, UC was actually targeted at those who were elementary school students when the original Mobile Suit Gundam aired. During UC’s development, we discovered that the Universal Century had appeal not just for adults, but for younger viewers too – this realization laid the groundwork for our current project. The unexpected reach to younger demographics we saw when Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 aired on Nagoya TV was particularly enlightening.

――Perhaps there wasn’t such a significant difference between new and Universal Century settings when it came to new fans engaging with the world?

Ogata: While it might appear to have a steep learning curve, that wasn’t actually the case. Looking back, even we weren’t fully versed in Mobile Suit Gundam when we first became engrossed in it. The core appeal of Gundam lies in the drama of characters fighting for survival – if viewers can connect with that, they can overcome any barriers of setting or history. Naturally, knowing characters like Char and Amuro and the history of the Universal Century enhances the experience. However, UC proved that you can enjoy it without prior knowledge – this applies to all storytelling, not just Gundam or Universal Century works.

――Will all Gundam series elements eventually converge into the Universal Century timeline?

Ogata: No, that’s not our intention. Recent Gundam series have maintained distinct pillars: Universal Century works like Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt and Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN, alongside youth-oriented series like Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans and the Gundam Build series. We’re actually looking to establish a third pillar targeting even younger audiences. We also want to create more opportunities for our long-time fans in their 40s and 50s who’ve supported us since the original Mobile Suit Gundam, as well as younger fans who came in through Mobile Suit Gundam SEED or Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Our ultimate hope is to create content that transcends generations through the synergy of these different works.

――It feels like the UC NexT 0100 project title itself holds a lot of meaning.

Ogata: Yes, NexT certainly plays on Newtype. As for 0100, since works like Mobile Suit Gundam UC and Mobile Suit Gundam NT effectively summarized the first century of the Universal Century, this represents our invitation to collectively create the next hundred years.

――While the Universal Century is typically written as U.C. with periods, the title uses UC. This seems to evoke connections to Gundam UC.

Ogata: Since Gundam UC itself plays on the Universal Century, we’d like people to draw various interpretations from this title.

THE UNSEEN FUTURE COMPLEMENTS THE UNIVERSAL CENTURY

――Will depicting the future of the Universal Century be this project’s fundamental approach?

Ogata: The project’s premise involves moving beyond the eras of Mobile Suit Gundam F91 and Mobile Suit V Gundam. While the theatrical release beginning with Mobile Suit Gundam NT spearheads this initiative, we’re not excluding the One Year War era or the U.C. 0080s. Particularly in games, novels, and manga, we may focus more on reinforcing past events. Take Fukui’s Mobile Suit Moon Gundam – it’s precisely this kind of supplementary work. Though our theatrical releases will drive the project forward, our commitment to exploring the Universal Century through diverse media remains unwavering.

――What was the reasoning behind centering the project around theatrical releases?

Ogata: Given the current shifts in viewing habits, the video distribution landscape, and business model trends, theatrical releases seem most appropriate for flagship titles. However, we’re not rigidly committed to theaters alone. As times change, our approach might evolve – whether that means streaming platforms or television series in the future.

――While Universal Century works are typically associated with high-end realism, might this image become more flexible?

Ogata: I believe the Universal Century’s charm lies in its capacity to accommodate even dramatic tonal shifts – it could potentially support something as different as as a “pretty girl series.” Through this project, we hope to attract various creators and encourage them to explore new possibilities within the Universal Century framework.

――NT, the project’s first release, seems to offer a comprehensive Universal Century experience. This appears ideal for newcomers to the timeline.

Ogata: Indeed. While NT continues from UC, there’s a reason it’s neither UC2 nor a sidestory – viewers will understand why when they see it. Beginning with the colony drop and touching on stories of the Titans and Cyber-Newtype, I believe it serves well as an introduction to the Universal Century.

――The way we perceive and portray disasters has shifted since experiencing 3.11.

Ogata: Yes, when depicting a disaster-stricken world, we can’t separate it from our post-3.11 perspective. Our experiences from that time have fundamentally changed both how we create and view such content.

――Moving forward with works building upon UC and NT, won’t this demand even greater precision in terms of cross-media coordination?

Ogata: Absolutely. Sunrise will take a more active role in coordinating cross-media efforts. In the near future, we may see more anime adaptations from games, manga, and novels. Particularly for games associated with the UC NexT 0100 PROJECT, Sunrise plans to provide visual assets to ensure consistency with the universe.

――The Universal Century encompasses various elements, including the significance of Newtypes’ absence in F91 and V Gundam. Will we also see UC characters return?

Ogata: NT will present one interpretation of Newtypes, but that’s not the end – this concept will remain central to the Universal Century world. As for UC characters, they naturally continue existing in that world a year later. Banagher and Mineva’s roles in the Universal Century aren’t finished – their future involvement remains to be seen. Fukui will likely be involved in many of the project’s flagship titles, including NT, so please look forward to future developments.

WHAT WILL WE SEE AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSAL CENTURY?

――While the project’s basic approach is to depict the century after U.C.0100, specifically how far do you plan to go?

Ogata: We intend to depict the Universal Century through to its end. Whether it concludes with Gaia Gear or differently, nobody knows yet. But even if it takes decades, we want to reach that endpoint. Tomino himself had some conception of when the Universal Century would end when creating Turn A Gundam and Gundam Reconguista in G, so we know there is definitely a conclusion out there.

――Did you research the undefined aspects of the Universal Century world with Tomino?

Ogata: Tomino always looks forward, constantly shedding the past while creating new works. When asked about past details, his response is typically “do as you please.” Even when making NT, when we asked about where the Psycho Gundam rampaged, he couldn’t remember at all (laughs). Remember, this was an era when they created Hong Kong scenes without visiting Hong Kong. Though it’s remarkable how they created such memorable scenes without even having internet access.

――Fans are curious about Tomino’s future involvement in the project.

Ogata: We maintain ongoing discussions with Tomino about future works. However, it’s unlikely he’ll personally create another Universal Century sequel.

――How does Tomino view this project?

Ogata: Tomino’s perspective seems to be that he wants creators – directors, performers, designers, cast members – to use Gundam as a stepping stone to success. Since Gundam is such a prominent title, he hopes it can launch everyone to stardom. Look at how Furuya and Ikeda became stars in other titles, but their starting point was Mobile Suit Gundam. Tomino appears to view this favorably. Though truthfully, I think he’d like to be the biggest star himself (laughs).

――He seems quite famous already…

Ogata: Apparently, he wants to be more popular with younger people (laughs).

――I see (laughs). Do creators tend to prefer working on Universal Century Gundam projects?

Ogata: It varies by individual. Among longtime Gundam fans, some creators are deeply committed to the Universal Century setting, while others prefer working on less established properties. While this project centers on the Universal Century, we’re not excluding Gundam works in other settings. As mentioned earlier, we plan to create works ranging from high-end to teenager and kids-oriented content, so creators can participate in projects that align with their vision.

KEEPING GUNDAM DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING THROUGH CONSTANT EVOLUTION

――NT involves many young staff members. Is actively collaborating with new creators part of the project’s future direction?

Ogata: Absolutely. Beyond the young creators who’ve grown within Sunrise, we’re open to working with completely new talent. And we’re not limiting ourselves to animation professionals – we welcome talent from other fields. After all, Fukui himself came from outside the animation industry. We believe we should further broaden our creative pool, and as exemplified by our joint development with Legendary Pictures, we’ll actively collaborate with international creators.

――While the international market is now an essential target, how well is Gundam received globally?

Ogata: In Asia, we see strong support through both content popularity and Gunpla sales. However, we can’t deny that in the West, Gundam remains relatively niche – known mainly to enthusiasts. Recently, with the Gundam and Unicorn Gundam appearing in Ready Player One and Pacific Rim: Uprising, we’re sensing the beginning of broader recognition. Our collaboration with Legendary Pictures on Gundam will likely mark a major turning point, achieving unprecedented recognition levels. Our critical mission is to ensure that when people discover Gundam through this work, they’ll find themselves surrounded by related content and merchandise.

――So you’re planning to leverage this opportunity to promote past works as well?

Ogata: Absolutely, given our extensive catalog of works and products. We hope to use Legendary Pictures’ Gundam as a major entry point, behind which lies a rich menu of Gundam content.

――Speaking of collaborations, your domestic partnership with GODZILLA seemed quite unprecedented.

Ogata: It stemmed from our work with Toho on G-Reco. Actually, there was a proposal then for a G-Reco and Godzilla collaboration. However, coordinating between two historic franchises proved challenging. This time, with works releasing simultaneously (NT and GODZILLA: The Planet Eater on January 9th), we finally made it happen.

――We’re seeing Gundam developments that would have been unimaginable before.

Ogata: We maintain a mindset of constant evolution. With the 40th and 50th anniversaries approaching, letting Gundam become outdated would be fatal. Sunrise’s mission is to continuously evolve while delivering engaging Gundam works and various other productions.

――Finally, could you share your vision for the project’s future?

Ogata: With NT as our new starting point, we aim to create works that expand ways to enjoy the Universal Century. The project will evolve with how fans engage with it, so please enjoy Gundam alongside this project. We’ll continue delivering Gundam works with various possibilities, and we look forward to your continued support.

Source: Gundam: Universal Century Memorial (pages 22-23)