A Talk with Mr. Yutaka Izubuchi x Mr. Ryuusuke Hikawa! The Valuable Mobile Suit Gundam in 16mm Film Screening Report

Theatre Shinjuku, Shinjuku Picadilly, and TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku have been holding the “Sunrise Festival 2016: The Sky” since the end of July. On August 5th, Friday, Theatre Shinjuku showed the TV series Mobile Suit Gundam’s first episode “Gundam Rises Upon the Earth!” and twelfth episode “The Threat of Zeon” and is a valuable project to screen the series in 16mm film. Mr. Yutaka Izabuchi (mechanic designer/illustrator), whom is well informed of the circumstances surrounding anime productions during that time, and Mr. Ryuusuke Hikawa (anime special effects researcher/visiting scholar at Meiji University’s graduate school) went up on stage as guests and talked about the series after the screening for approximately one hour.

16mm film is charming and unique. Especially due to the two guests being knowledgeable of the industry, they spoke of rich topics such as the state of the anime production industry at the time of the broadcasting of Mobile Suit Gundam. The attendees that filled the venue listened attentively with great interest.

Mobile Suit Gundam’s 16mm film utilizes what was remaining in the film laboratory. As Sunrise received the film projector from another film production company, they brought the film projectors to each movie theatre for the screenings. Mr. Hikawa used the time to set up the equipment before the screening to comment on the highlights of each episode. At the time of the broadcasting of Mobile Suit Gundam, the staff used 16mm film as an inspecting device and, Mr. Hikawa explained, that this was a valuable opportunity to be able to have the same experience.

In episode one, when Amuro Ray mutters, “This is Zeon’s Zaku?” Mr. Hikawa pointed out the change in angle of view and color. Even in the film that they were screening, it was clear that the angle of view and color changes in the corresponding sections. Mr. Hikawa elaborated the reason for that; due to circumstances of some sort, those frames were damaged. He guessed that it was due to the re-filming (a duplicate from an optical printer) that included those frames. He then spoke of how Director Yoshiyuki Tomino wanted to cherish the breath and rhythm of film.

They then guided the audience to the small differences and features of episode twelve, chosen as one of the closing chapters of the story, such as the difference in cuts from the theatrical version and the pilot’s half opened visor as he pilots the shuttle on the Musai Cruiser. Once one truly appreciates the TV version of episode twelve, one can feel the difference in taste including the feel of film from the theatrical version.

After the screening of episode one and twelve were over, Mr. Izubuchi and Mr. Hikawa went up on stage. Mr. Hikawa began the talk on Mobile Suit Gundam as the program director. Mr. Izubuchi then spoke of the mistakes in color and what drew his attention in the production, influenced by the nature of his line of work, and continued on to talk about the impact of the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Mr. Izubuchi in particular pointed out the beginning scene in which Side 7 is invaded by Zaku, saying that it shows how purposefully impressive the size of a standard powered armor is. After Side 7 is infiltrated, the existence of massive weapons comes to light. It is a production in which one can “comprehend its impressive size.”

Mr. Izubuchi and Mr. Hikawa once again realized the lack of idleness in episode one. The Gundam defeats not 1, but 2 Zakus and, amongst other things, as the episode is about to end, Zeon launches a missile at Side 7 in the final scene, but the impact does not occur. They explained that Director Yoshiyuki Tomino himself stated that it was “perfect” and that he approved of the quality. Mr. Izubuchi insisted that the part of the world that immediately pulls the viewer in is not the beginning of the war, but what is largely depicted from the middle onwards. They discussed with one another the skillful use of the Minovsky particle, the message of the video letter that Garma sends Degwin that appears like a receipt at the end, as well as the novel ideas found in episode twelve.

Afterward, the theme of the talk transitioned to “What is Gundam to Mr. Izubuchi?” At the time, Mr. Izubuchi had worked on Fight General Daimos and also Future Robot Daltanias as a designer and that he had heard from a rumor that Sunrise was producing Mobile Suit Gundam with a different studio. After that, Mr. Izubuchi had also played an active role in Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket and he expressed that such Mobile Suit Gundams were revolutionary. Since then, the science fiction and robot anime scene radically changed and that that had become an indicator of the good it has done in the industry until now. At the end, while they recalled the film era, they talked of the unique ambience a 16mm film held. Lastly, Mr. Izubuchi referenced a certain anime that he is currently involved with and the attendees responded in applause.

A 16mm film screening in which a filming project is brought to the movie theatres and an unusual method is used. Mobile Suit Gundam’s history and value were both thoroughly conveyed. Mr. Izubuchi and Mr. Hikawa, both friends of many years, exchanged their jokes as the talk was held with an extremely relaxed atmosphere. It can be said that the showing of precious episodes one after another was a supremely blissful time for Gundam fans.

Sunrise Festival 2016: The Sky

(Venue) Theatre Shinjuku / Shinjuku Picadilly / TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku

(Price) General Admission/Late Show: 1,600 Yen each / All Night: 4,300 Yen each