The 1990s decade had set a pathway for the anime and manga industry, which was further developed by the Big Three. Mobile Suit Victory Gundam was one of the few anime that held the credit for paving the way. The anime followed the military science fiction and the mecha genre, and it felt a mark on every anime fan’s mind with its plot and amazing mecha suits.
The anime featured war and the aftereffects of horrific man-made disasters. Mobile Suit Victory Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino took the reference to the latest war, the Ukraine-Russia war, and made a few interesting comments on Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. He said if Putin had watched his magnum opus, the Ukraine-Russia war would not have happened in the first place.
Yoshiyuki Tomino Believes the Ukraine-Russia War Could Have Been Avoided
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam depicted the horrors of war as the two teen protagonists were left speechless after experiencing it in the first place. Yoshiyuki Tomino took this reference and mentioned Vladimir Putin would have not gone forward with the war if he had known about his magnum opus. The creator believes his story completely matches the geopolitical realities that led to the war.
During an interview in 2023, Tomino said, “It’s been a year since the war between Ukraine and Russia started. To me, V Gundam feels so on the nose it’s like it’s entirely about Putin’s war. If Putin had watched V Gundam, I think he definitely wouldn’t have gone to war.” The interview did not end there the host and Tomino went into a deep analysis of the situation.
Starting from modern warfare, sociologist’s point of view, to geopolitical factors. There were comparisons between historical paradigms and Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Yoshiyuki Tomino called Russia’s policy as ‘war of medieval royalty and titled nobility.’ It is a situation where Vladimir Putin marches his country to war and once he is satisfied, calls them back. It is not a total war with armies and economy on the line.
The mangaka also believes the future generation to be more optimistic than the war-scarred old generation. According to him, the future generation will have their ideals and enjoy a better world. There would no longer be individuals who have suffered from the aftermaths of wars like the Cold War and the Vietnam War.
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Is A Generational Anime
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam is one of the best anime of the 1990s. It is one of the few anime that the fans can connect on a psychological level. Even though it is fun to watch, the horrors of war hit hard, especially after someone experienced it in their life. Released in 1993, the 51-episode anime has a massive fanbase worldwide.
Yoshiyuki Tomino is the creator of the entire Gundam franchise. Watching his interview on the Ukraine-Russia war and his geopolitical view on the situation has showcased his intellect on the real-world situation. Often, mangaka takes inspiration from real-life experiences, and the same happens with Yoshiyuki Tomino.
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam is available on Crunchyroll.
