Personal details
- Birth Date: 1941-11-05
- Birth Location: Odawara, Japan
- Professions: Writer, Director, Art Department
Yoshiyuki Tomino, born back in ’41 in Odawara, Japan, is basically a legend if you even remotely care about anime or mecha stuff. The guy’s fingerprints are all over some of the most iconic Gundam projects ever made. We’re talking about the original Mobile Suit Gundam from '79, which—let’s be honest—set the bar for every giant robot series that came after. It’s not just about flashy robots fighting in space either; Tomino’s stuff usually packs in messy politics, flawed heroes, and, yeah, more than a few tragic moments. Nobody’s safe. Fast forward a bit and you get his work on the Zeta Gundam movies from the 2000s—specifically “Z Gundam: A New Translation - Heirs to the Stars” and its sequel, "Lovers." These aren’t just remakes; they tweak the story, shift some character fates, and basically turn nostalgia on its head for old-school fans. Tomino’s direction style is often fast-paced, sometimes chaotic, but it always feels human underneath all the high-tech mayhem. He didn’t just give anime cool robots—he brought a whole new level of emotional depth and moral gray zones. Even if you’ve never watched a single Gundam, odds are something you like was inspired by his work. The guy’s a cornerstone of the industry, no question.
Back in the late ‘70s, Hayao Miyazaki was deep in the trenches at Nippon Animation, working on Mirai Shônen Konan. But here’s the kicker—not everyone was vibing with his style. There was this constant push and pull between him and another creative mind on the project. Their approaches couldn’t have been more different, honestly. Miyazaki’s all about that meticulous detail and emotional depth, while the other guy? Total opposite—more direct, sometimes even blunt. That clash? Oh, it wasn’t just creative tension; it spilled over into the day-to-day grind. People around the studio probably felt like they were walking on eggshells half the time. Still, despite all the drama, the show actually came out pretty great. You can almost feel the tug-of-war in the final product. It’s kind of wild to think how much behind-the-scenes chaos can actually shape the stuff we end up loving on screen.
November 5, 1941
Konidela Ram Charan
Odawara, Japan
83 years old