Gundam Character Designer Opens Up About Long-Awaited Anime Comeback: ‘I Had Lingering Regrets’

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Over the years, many talented manga and anime artists have contributed to the franchise, and many have gone on to successful careers outside of it. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko is one such artist, and he recently shared his thoughts on the current anime industry while talking about a past science fiction anime he worked on.

After watching his anime film Venus Wars recently, Yasuhiko reflected on his career and the current state of the anime industry. He shared some potentially surprising thoughts about his work on Gundam and how artificial intelligence might change anime in the future. Though he doesn’t seem to be planning a return to the Gundam series, he’s expected to contribute something new to the world of anime soon.

Gundam: The Origin Creator Talks Anime and AI

During a screening of Venus Wars at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2026, Yasuhiko discussed his career in anime. He admitted he used to dislike the film, which is why it wasn’t available in Japan for many years. He explained, “I was upset and said I had hidden it away, refusing to release it.” However, after a theatrical screening about three years ago, he rewatched the film and realized it wasn’t as bad as he remembered.

I’ve been following the buzz around AI, and it’s definitely causing a lot of debate – both among people who make games and those of us who love to play them! But honestly, Yasuhiko seems really positive about it all. He thinks AI could actually help developers, making things smoother and faster, and he pointed out that it’s just another step in the evolution of the industry, like so many other changes we’ve seen over the years.

I prefer drawing traditionally by hand, and that includes manga. While digital animation is now really convenient – you can make changes all the way up to the deadline, which feels amazing – I think we should use it for anime production. And if it doesn’t quite work out, we can always go back to hand-drawing it later, just in case.

Gundam’s Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Aims to ‘Return to the Anime World’ in Next 2-3 Years

Yasuhiko primarily identifies as a manga artist, even more so than an anime designer. However, his involvement with both the manga and anime versions of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin won’t be his last anime project. He admitted to having some unfinished business in the anime world, explaining that Gundam: The Origin felt like a stepping stone, and he plans to return with a project that isn’t connected to the Gundam franchise.

Despite being over 77 years old, Yasuhiko says he’s still mentally and physically capable. He hopes to start a new project, something outside of the Gundam franchise, within the next two or three years, which he sees as a potential return to anime. While he doesn’t have a release date or specific plans yet, Yasuhiko is eager to begin work and share it with the world while he’s still healthy.

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2026-04-25 23:09