Anti-war messaging is the center of Gundam, and that messaging might come off as too on-the-nose when juxtaposed towards the present international panorama. Kenji Kamiyama is aware of that concern all too properly, as he’s on the helm of the most recent title within the franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam RG: XARX-ZERO. Pronounced “RG Alex Zero,” the story follows Ray Azumi, an orphan who is ready to pilot the new-generation cellular go well with, Gundam ZERO. Humanity, after a interval of prosperity and enlargement throughout the photo voltaic system, is pressured to desert Earth on account of a hostile silicon-based lifeform known as Apocalypse.
Initially revealed at San Diego Comedian-Con in July, XARX-ZERO will happen outdoors the Common Century, Gundam’s main timeline. Identified for his work on a number of sci-fi collection, together with Ghost within the Shell: Stand Alone Advanced, and Star Wars: Visions, Kamiyama is anticipated by longtime followers to deliver his style experience to the Gundam universe. Throughout a panel at SDCC, Kamiyama shared how the Gundam franchise impressed him to work within the anime trade.
On the identical time, he feels immense strain to craft a brand new storyline that honors the collection’ legacy. In keeping with producer Yasufumi Kohashi, government producer Naohiro Ogata requested that the setting be a “hardcore sci-fi world” which has “by no means been executed in Gundam.” Kohashi, who has labored with Yoshiyuki Tomino, recalled seeing the phrases “It’s important to break taboos to create one thing new” on the Gundam creator’s desk. This motto is what has formed this undertaking total and offered Kamiyama with the area to take the story to new heights.
Talking with Kotaku, Kamiyama laid out his strategy to Gundam as a complete and the pressures that include taking over the mantle of an almost 50-year-old franchise. The interview kicked off with the apparent query across the peculiar title of his collection, because it follows the distinctive studying sample set by its 2025 predecessor, GQuuuuuuX.
“We began with Alex Zero as a result of it’s a model new timeline within the universe,” mentioned Kamiyama. “I needed to remake what Gundam is for myself. RX is the codename for Gundam, and it’s my means of wordplay as properly.”
As a fan himself, Kamiyama could be very accustomed to the franchise’s core messaging, which integrates political pressure and character conflicts. “Gundam’s theme is struggle, and the message is anti-war. In a time of actual struggle, like now, I wasn’t certain how a lot influence animation can have. I don’t suppose animation is one thing that may cease the struggle.” Right here, Kamiyama turns to the characters to steer the viewers in the fitting course. “I’ve tasked the characters that I’ve made with hope. Maybe if now we have individuals like this, then presumably we are able to enhance upon the good separation that now we have today. With individuals at every excessive, maybe there may be empathy for others. Hopefully, that may assist what’s occurring proper now in Japan and the remainder of the world, which is one thing that I needed to discover.”
Along with the anti-war messaging, he shared the second most vital takeaway from Gundam is how one can’t change the previous. “Though you may’t change your previous, you may take constructive motion towards the longer term. By emphasizing these constructive contributions and actions in direction of the longer term, maybe that may assist reassign or rewrite the that means of the previous and the way that impacts you.”
For somebody who has labored on each pre-existing collection—together with Ultraman and Star Wars—and authentic ones like Eden of the East, Kamiyama weighs the professionals and cons of engaged on both. “The issue working inside a franchise is that there are current followers. There are particular expectations that it’s important to meet, and conclusions that followers have already preconceived of what that’s. It’s important to ship on that. However on high of it, you might want to shock them and betray their expectations on the identical time, which is a conflicting strategy.”
In distinction, he shared how an authentic collection can be difficult to spin up from nothing. “On the identical time, the entire means of arising with a brand new story, making an attempt many alternative issues, and anticipating how this might shock somebody could be very exhilarating. In the end, it’s robust to do an authentic collection since you’re ranging from zero.”
With regards to XARX-ZERO, the director admits it’s a little bit of each. “Because it’s a franchise, you’ve obtained to take care of expectations, but it surely’s a model new story and universe. In a means, this was double the trouble and problem,” he laughed.
At San Diego Comedian-Con, Kamiyama ruminated over what makes Gundam the juggernaut that it’s. He lightheartedly mentioned that the face of the Gundam was the main focus and that its “cool face” was intentional. For a extra severe reply, the director merely mentioned, “the theme of struggle and people.” Whether or not it’s a future with superior know-how or not, Kamiyama locations “human nature and battle” as a central characteristic of the Gundam franchise. “Cell fits themselves are weapons of struggle. So how have people advanced their means of preventing by means of that? It’s inside a fantasy setting, in a way. On the identical time, there’s some scientific explanations that the creators got here up with to clarify why it’s the means it’s. It’s a characteristic that different robotic anime titles didn’t have, and that’s why it in all probability isn’t known as a robotic.”
Final however not least, no Gundam anime collection could be full and not using a signature Char clone. In the end, Kamiyama didn’t share any particulars on the design, kind, or traits of the Char-like being in XARX-ZERO. Nonetheless, he reaffirmed the significance of the character within the story. “A Char-type character is a villain, but in addition a rival to the principle character. It’s reflective and a mirror picture of the principle character. It’s additionally one other vital characteristic of Gundam as properly.”
Hi, I’m Rishab. I’m a passionate pc gamer and an avid video game content writer. I have been involved with video games for over 2 decades now, and even today, after playing an astronomical number of games over the years, I’m still eager for more. In my free time, you will find me enjoying a hot cup of coffee and playing my favorite relaxing fishing game, Dave the Diver.
