Yoshiyuki Tomino is one of the greatest storytellers ever. The creator of the Gundam franchise has influenced multiple manga artists through his works and to date, remains a celebrity that people look up to. Even though his popularity extends overseas, Tomino has an infamous reputation for being too upright with his words.
The Gundam creator never sugar-coated his words and always delivered his true feelings. Hayao Miyazaki and he are from the same generation, yet he was brave enough to say that he never liked the multiple Academy Award winners. It surprised countless fans, but there is a particular reason as to why he felt such a thing.
Yoshiyuki Tomino Is Not Convinced About Hayao Miyazaki Being A Craftsman
Hayao Miyazaki is known worldwide for his anime movies with Studio Ghibli. Since the 1970s, he has been actively making movies and won two Academy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. His latest work, The Boy and the Heron was critically acclaimed and won his second Academy Award. There are only a handful of directors who come close to Miyazaki’s stature. Even after achieving so much, Yoshiyuki Tomino is not convinced about Miyazaki being a craftsman.
During an interview with Full Frontal, Tomino said,
If he were a craftsman, he wouldn’t have done something like The Boy and the Heron. If you say he’s a craftsman, you don’t know anything. He’s an auteur. Look, he made an animated film without a happy end. That’s impossible if you do things half-heartedly.
That’s why I don’t think I can compare with an auteur like that. Maybe Miyazaki would rather compare with someone like Victor Hugo. But that’s just for The Boy and the Heron. I don’t really like Miyazaki’s other works either way.
According to Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hayao Miyazaki is not a craftsman since he is not creative enough to be a director. He influences the movies to a certain point that he is seen as an auteur. Miyazaki and Tomino’s works are quite different, too. The former deals with the adventure genre and often includes spiritual things. On the other hand, Tomino’s works are also over-the-top, with giant robots battling each other, but he used real life to influence his magnum opus.
Yoshiyuki Tomino Is Not An Auteur Like Hayao Miyazaki
Yoshiyuki Tomino has claimed Hayao Miyazaki to be an auteur, but he believes himself to be a craftsman. He believes himself to have creative abilities, and that is why he could create a $26 billion franchise. Unfortunately, he gave Gundam his all, but the fans were too focused on their obsession with giant robots with lasers. They missed the hidden meanings behind all the intergalactic war.
Tomino’s statements have often been the subject of controversies, but that does not affect his image at all. At 82 years old, he might not be as active as he was in the past, but he still visits his studio. It shows how passionate he is about his profession. With the anime and manga industry gone mainstream, more people came across his works and praised him. Gundam remains one of the pillars behind the success of modern-generation anime, and Tomino will always be appreciated for its creation.
Mobile Suit Gundam is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
