Gundam Generating Futures

In the quarter-century since Mobile Suit Gundam was first aired, the Gundam series of science fiction anime has taken many different forms, including movie theater versions as well as productions for TV. Through its success in terms of modeling and in terms of its story, it has exerted an influence on many different domains of culture, triggering a boom in plastic model kits based on the mecha appearing in Gundam, and resulting in many different game products.

Why has Gundam has won such wide-reaching acclaim? Probably because the message carried by the original Mobile Suit Gundam raised questions that are still relevant today. Mobile Suit Gundam was Japan's first anime to depict war as a struggle between people, and it told a story of human evolution attained by extending our intellects and our physiques through Newtype and Mobile Suit technology. It also presented ideas for the natural environment of space colonies and for new life where human intellect has even achieved control of time.

In this exhibition, curators, artists and creators of the Gundam generation turn their attention to key concepts of Mobile Suit Gundam- war, evolution, life - and to the cultural phenomena that the anime generated. Through these, they attempt to help us read the message it contains. For people of our generation, this exhibition is not just about science fiction; it is about the future.

Pressetext

Gundam Generating Futures

mit Odani Motohiko, Hisashi Tenmyouya, Makoto Aida, u.a.