IS GIGI’S MODEL A MADONNA FROM THE BELLE ÉPOQUE ERA?

Inoue: While Tomino never explicitly named anyone, Gigi’s character was likely inspired by a woman named Alice Prin. She was a darling of the artists in Paris during the Belle Époque, a kind of Madonna of the art world at that time. Known affectionately as Kiki, she was a muse that sparked the creativity of many artists and was also romantically involved with some of them.

Ogata: It really shows the breadth of his knowledge. He has an intense desire to learn, and to get on well with him, it’s best to be well-versed in history and current affairs. Conversely, he shows little interest in those indifferent to these subjects. That’s why he often says, “Don’t just watch anime.”

Inoue: Whenever I met him, we ended up discussing current and social issues rather than just work. It’s impressive how he not only gathers information but also seeks to understand what people are thinking.

YOSHIYUKI TOMINO’S FORESIGHT

Inoue: Whether in novels or on screen, what astonishes me about Tomino’s works is his incredible foresight. Hathaway’s Flash, written 30 years ago, predicted that the future of warfare would shift from inter-nation conflicts to terrorism.

Ogata: And it’s not just a whim. He predicted this through a diligent study of history and sociology, almost like it was a prophetic script.

Inoue: He’s been consistently vocal about the deterioration of Earth’s environment, and Hathaway’s Flash even incorporates issues like the refugee crisis. Technologically speaking, there’s the Base Jabber and the Bugs from Gundam F91. The Base Jabber concept has materialized into something we now see as the Flyboard Air, and the Bugs essentially presaged today’s drone warfare. Back when I first saw them, they seemed like mere children’s anime weaponry. I must admit, it’s a humbling realization to see how far we’ve come (laughs).

FROM NOVELIST TO FIRST-EVER MANGA ORIGINAL WORKS

Inoue: In 1994, I took the helm as the editor-in-chief for the newly launched Monthly Shonen Ace. Right from the start, I had my eyes set on a particular project—it was to craft a manga sequel to Gundam F91. Unfortunately, F91 ended its run as a movie, and the planned TV series sequel never saw the light of day. When I approached Director Tomino about turning this into a manga, his initial reaction was, “If I do it, it won’t turn out as a shounen manga.” Yet, contrary to his words, he graciously provided us with an original plot.

As you might be aware, the content featured a Gundam with a cape, and a space pirate ship modeled after a sailing vessel—quintessential Tomino, aiming to capture the spirit of shounen manga to the fullest. We didn’t set the story immediately after F91 was because of this. Initially, Tomino wrote the original plot for each episode monthly, but as the series progressed, the characters and the story gradually shifted towards Yuuichi Hasegawa’s vision. Eventually, Tomino himself suggested, “Let’s leave it to Hasegawa.” He and I had been toying with the idea of introducing more aesthetically pleasing characters. Ultimately, entrusting the series to Hasegawa led to its enduring popularity, a fact that Tomino acknowledges without regret.