Hideaki Anno Analyzes 'Space Battleship Yamato' and 'Gundam': Combining 'Yamato' with 'Mazinger Z' is the Key to Success
On the 6th, Hideaki Anno (64), known for works like the Evangelion series, appeared as the host of a special one-night-only screening event titled Space Battleship Yamato 50th Anniversary Screening, which he planned and produced in Tokyo.
Space Battleship Yamato 50th Anniversary (C) Tohoku Shinsha / General Supervisor: Shoji Nishizaki (C) ORICON NewS inc.
At the event, Anno was joined by Yutaka Izubuchi (65), who worked as a mechanical designer on Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack and directed Space Battleship Yamato 2199, as well as anime and tokusatsu researcher Ryusuke Hikawa (66) for a talk session. Discussing the groundbreaking Space Battleship Yamato, Anno firmly stated, "If this work didn’t exist, Japanese animation today would look completely different." Izubuchi agreed, saying, "Our lives would have been different too," with Anno adding, "I probably wouldn’t be in anime." Hikawa further noted, "Without Yamato, anime would have remained targeted solely at children, and Hayao Miyazaki would have continued making children's films."
Hideaki Anno (C) ORICON NewS inc.
Anno went on to say, "Without Gundam, either." Izubuchi concurred, "Because Gundam exists thanks to Yamato. Tomino (Yoshiyuki)'s battle cry was 'destroy Yamato'." Anno elaborated, "The White Base concept in Gundam is modeled after Yamato. The genius of Tomino was that he also mixed in Mazinger Z. Yamato plus Mazinger Z—it's unbeatable! This combination is brilliant. The idea of turning ships like the Cosmo Zero and Black Tiger into robots piloted by the protagonist is the real invention behind Gundam."
Yutaka Izubuchi (C) ORICON NewS inc.
The conversation then shifted to the first episodes of Space Battleship Yamato and Mobile Suit Gundam. While Izubuchi noted, "I often revisit Yamato," Anno passionately declared, "For me, it's the first episode of Gundam. The level of completion is outstanding. Tomino's masterpiece."
Space Battleship Yamato (C) Tohoku Shinsha / General Supervisor: Shoji Nishizaki
During the event, a non-credit version of three Yamato openings (Episodes 1 and 21, along with an unused version with additional title and cut edits) was screened for the first time, alongside a non-credit ending. The audience also joined in singing the iconic theme song, and Anno made a surprise announcement about a new Yamato anime project, creating a highly energetic atmosphere.
On October 6, 1974, at 7:30 PM, a ship that would go on to influence countless creators and works took off—Space Battleship Yamato. In an era when animation was still called "TV manga," this 26-episode series shocked audiences and became a social phenomenon, continuing to be loved by many even today. Its journey has now reached its 50th anniversary. The screening event, planned and produced by Hideaki Anno, who said, "Meeting Yamato is the reason I have the life I do now," celebrated this milestone.
The first screening was the very first TV episode, "SOS Earth!! Revive, Space Battleship Yamato," aired exactly 50 years ago on October 6, 1974, at 7:30 PM. The event also featured the rare, full screening of the Space Battleship Yamato 8mm film trilogy. This 8mm version, though similar to the re-edited Space Battleship Yamato (1977) movie, was distinct in its editing and used new narration, making it a hidden gem among Yamato fans, now being shown in theaters for the first time.
Space Battleship Yamato 50th Anniversary Official Web SIte
Source : ORICON NEWS