Key Takeaways:
– Yoshiyuki Tomino, a revered figure in the anime industry, regrets being pigeonholed into one genre due to the success of Mobile Suit Gundam.
– Despite his ability to succeed in other genres, fans and studios never allowed him to diverge from his signature masterpiece.
– Tomino calls for a return to traditional, manual drawing techniques, cautioning against over-reliance on digital tools.
The Unintended Consequences of Success
Yoshiyuki Tomino, a beacon of Japan’s anime and manga industry, has shared a surprising reflection on his illustrious, four-decade-plus career. Best known for his revolutionary 1979 anime series Mobile Suit Gundam, Tomino’s work redefined the mecha genre and laid down a foundation for countless franchises to come. However, the celebrated animator argues that this very success has come with its own drawbacks.
Revered for their intense intergalactic wars, humanoid robots, and laser blasts, the Gundam series has become a cultural landmark, grossing up to $26 billion in revenue. But such widespread acclaim didn’t come without its share of flack as Tomino’s career was put in jeopardy. Despite the enormous fame, the Gundam creator reflected on how he lost the freedom to explore other genres as fans and industry insiders alike couldn’t imagine him outside the Gundam universe.
Being Pigeonholed: A Creative Conundrum
Famed for his strong narrative acumen, skillful world-building, and keen character detailing, Tomino had the potential to flourish in any genre. Nonetheless, both fans and studio execs could not bear to see him venture beyond Gundam. When questioned about his lack of diversity, Tomino simply replied, “That’s because I never got any other job.”
The significance of Gundam in Tomino’s life has been bittersweet. It brought him fame, fortune, and allowed him to leave an indelible mark on the anime industry. However, on the flip side, the constant association with one project limited him, constricting his ability to explore other creative avenues. The situation is not unique to him, as many successful artists face similar dilemmas. Tomino’s contemporary, Eiichiro Oda, who gave the world the beloved One Piece, also faced similar circumstances.
The Dwindling Charm of Traditionalism
Apart from discussing the impact of his success, Tomino aired his concerns regarding the burgeoning trend of digitization in the manga industry. A proponent of traditional analog line drawing methods, Tomino shared that the over-reliance on digital tools might eventually spell doom for the industry. Even though digitalization aids manga artists in expedited completion of their work, Tomino labels it a fleeting fad that has reduced the charm of manual drawing.
He voiced his concern about the industry’s growing inclination towards a Disney-like makeover and personalized the more authentic manual hand drawing. The stances might stir a debate within the artistic community, where many have wholeheartedly adopted digital tools to match the contemporary zeitgeist. Yet, it’s worth noting that celebrated artists like Eiichiro Oda, Akira Toriyama, and Masashi Kishimoto also relied heavily on traditional hand drawing.
Fans still have the opportunity to witness the classic storytelling capacities of the revered mangaka and his legacy through Mobile Suit Gundam, available to watch on Crunchyroll. Despite the bittersweet journey, Tomino’s influence in the Japanese anime world remains unchallenged. His perspective on the evolving industry dynamics and the results of his own massive success provides crucial insight into the hidden complexities of an artist’s journey.
