Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Gundam series has become one of the most renowned titles in the anime world and has forever revolutionized the genre, creating a unique niche in the world. The show could not get any more perfect, as it not only featured an appealing storyline blended with political uprising but also delved deeper into the horrors of war.
As a result, the mangaka created a series that became infectiously popular among the people in the United States of America. While some enjoyed the gripping storyline, others were impressed because it gave them a first-hand experience of intensifying the brutality of war.
To give us a closer look at the series, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, the screenwriter of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, describes how the show has appealed to the show’s legacy, which made the show so popular even after so many years.
Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Mobile Suit Gundam Screenwriter Explains Why Mobile Suit Is So Popular in America
Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Mobile Suit Gundam began in 1979 and was an inaugural entry into the anime industry. The show has become one of the founding pillars that has currently made the anime industry so popular.
The series featured a gripping narrative with an unconventional set of characters that would take its viewers on a rollercoaster of emotions. The mecha genre has certainly become the most pivotal and has received several spin-offs, becoming one of the many favorite series in the US.
In an interview via AnimeNewsNetwork, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, the screenwriter of Mobile Suit Gundam, was asked if he had any theories on why the series is so adored by American fans.
The screenwriter replied that the entire series is based on “What is peace? What is war?” and the viewers will repeatedly seek an answer. He said,
My personal theory is that Gundam Wing is a question being asked about “what is peace? What is war?” I believe this is the kind of question that everyone around the world is asking constantly. I think that is why it got recognition from people that are actually actively asking those questions. In a sense, we cannot get a success even if we try.
However, the series followed one key aspect following the success of the show. Sumisawa-San explained that that gripping series ensured that the mecha anime wanted people to think about the show by making them deliberately think about the series.
Gundam Wing’s Success Depended on One Key Aspect
The show takes place on a futuristic Earth, where it profoundly describes and focuses on the traumas of war. Hence, the show is much more than giant robots clashing with each other on the battlefield.
The series would constantly explore the brutal aspects of battle along with devastating outcomes, including PTSD, and make one feel hollow from within.
In the same interview, the screenwriter mentioned that Gundam Wing’s success depended on making the fans think about the show for “twenty years.” Ideas from both series can be expanded and resonate profoundly with their audiences.
But then the success of Gundam Wing was because it was something that makes you think for over twenty years—well, this you could kind of expand to the general idea of Gundam, but then Gundam and Gundam Wing are both kind of things that are asking questions that people have been thinking for a very long time, and thus might have resonated. That’s my personal theory anyway.
The series takes on an intricate and politically charged drama that challenges the notion of war by highlighting the tragic future that will leave long and enduring scars.
Mobile Suit Gundam can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
