Anime @ Work : Anime scriptwriter Yamanobe Kazuki's Anime and Historical Drama Update - No.12

New TV programs are a hot topic in the anime world in October. More than any other, the featured new program this time is "Gundam OO (Double O)". As I mentioned in a previous column, this is being aired as a series on Saturdays at 6 p.m., with the first episode having aired on October 6.

"Gundam," an animation about a robot, was first televised as a series in 1979. Since then, there have been eleven TV animations and approximately 20 OVA (originally video releases) and movies made. Videos for children have also been developed.

The "Gundam" series has been tremendously popular in Japan. A search of "Gundam" on Amazon.co.jp yields 1719 hits under games and hobbies, 1674 under books, 789 under music, 202 under DVD's, and 186 under games. There are also exclusive events, attractions at a number of amusement parks, and games set up in game centers. There has also been considerable focus on the production of large, life-size Gundams and pure plantinum Gundams.

Kazunori Ueno is representative director of the major toy manufacturer Bandai, but he has one more formal title: "Chief Gundam Officer." How could anyone doubt the importance of Gundam for this company?

There are also a number of enthusiastic fans among men in their 30's and 40's who work as creators and would like to be involved in projects concerning Gundam. I too have some games in which Gundam appears in the senario, and I always get enthusiastically wrapped up in these.

Fans and content creators alike are always keeping an eye out for new Gundam products. And I am looking forward to the next television episode.



Profile of Yamanobe Kazuki
Scriptwriter
Member of the Writer's Guild of Japan
Representative Director of the scenario production company, Edgeworks

Official site of Edgeworks http://www.edge-works.co.jp