Khara’s Japan Animator Expo Posts “Gundam Key Animation” Short:

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Animator Yoshikazu Yasuhiko played a central role in creating images for the memorable first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam (TV: 1979, theater: 1981 to 1982), an anime series which remains popular among a wide range of age groups even today. Yasuhiko served as character designer, animation director and creative director, ensuring unification through involvement in aspects from characters to mobile suits. In particular, for the new theater production, Yasuhiko provided layouts and rough original drawings for all cuts. The popularity of Gundam was further heightened by the high quality and feeling of human warmth in Yasuhiko’s animation.

At the production location at that time, the still inexperienced Ichiro Itano was promoted from video to original pictures. Eventually, he began to show the talent which would revolutionize mecha anime. Hideaki Anno was deeply affected by the work of the two men and took the first step toward his own career as an animator.

The power of animation has grown while being passed down from one animator to another. This plan examines the origin of animation by “creating a film from original pictures.” While praising the achievements of Yasuhiko and Itano, two creators whose work has vastly influenced today’s animation industry, I seek to convey “the wonder of animation” to coming generations.

Existing original pictures were filmed to recompose a film shown together with a finished image that has undergone video production and coloring.

Production Method

Same as the original picture filming used in normal production of animation. A portion of superimposed images originally drawn on different sheets were synthesized together.

Moving Timing & Camera Work

There were numerous cuts for which time sheets no longer exist. These cuts were arranged by referring to TV broadcasts and movies.

Film Frames

In order to more accurately convey the work of animators, we filmed the entire original picture sheet instead of only the frame drawn on the sheet.

Due to the nature of the work, there are several types of original picture material. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko was involved differently with each type. Differences are discussed below.

1. Types of paper

Paper with frames: Layout paper (original drawing paper)

Plain white paper: Animation paper (original pictures)

Plain yellow paper: Edited paper (original pictures edited by the creative director)

2. Involvement of animators

Primary Original Picture

Original picture drawn on layout paper. In addition to the layout, these rough original pictures gave internal staff a basic understanding of action such as character performance. These pictures were not drawn with the intention of showing to external audiences as a finished product.

Secondary Original Picture

Features parts arranged based on lines and settings of the primary original picture. Also has a detailed time sheet for submission as a video. Cuts by Ichiro Itano are secondary original pictures. At least one existing sheet was based on a primary original picture by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko.

Primary Original Picture System

Among recorded films, this system was used to produce the first episode of the TV series and the theater production trilogy.

Edited Original Picture

Among the TV series, productions for which Yoshikazu Yasuhiko served as creative director. Movement and poses were based on drawings by other animators. Yasuhiko placed yellow paper on these drawings and created edited original pictures. Therefore, the drawings and movements were not created entirely by Yasuhiko.

*The opening animation of the TV series is one case in which Yoshikazu Yasuhiko drew original pictures (intended for use in video without modification) and formulated the entire basis of movement and characters. Unfortunately, the original picture of this opening animation could not be found.

Commentary Ryusuke Hikawa

Reference

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM “Gundam Rising”

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM “Coming Home”

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM “Amuro Deserts”

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM “The Trap of M’ Quve”

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Ⅰ

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Ⅱ

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Ⅲ

Original picture drawn on layout and edited

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Ichiro Itano

Composition/Editing

Hideaki Anno

Supervisor

Ryusuke Hikawa

Filming Supervisor

Syuichi Heishi

Filming

Kazuki Urabayashi

Editor

Hidemi Li

MA

Haru Yamada(sound team DonJuan)

Main Title Design Works

Tomoko Masuda

Producer

Tomoyuki Ogata

Line Producer

Takatoshi Okajima

Line Manager

Yuki Sugitani

Cooperation

Q-TEC,INC

Animation Production

Studio Khara

Original production and Copyright

Sunrise

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One new short will stream every week for a planned total of 30 shorts, ranging from original projects and spinoffs to promotional videos and music videos. The episodes will be streamed for free via a dedicated iOS/Android app and on the web. There are no plans for a commercial release at this stage.