CATDOLL: Gundam's creator Yoshiyuki Tomino made a shocking statement: Animation has no future!

At the "Tokyo Anime Awards 2014", director Yoshiyuki Tomino, who had just released his new work "Mobile Suit Gundam G Restoration", held a conversation with industry insiders. In addition to director Yoshiyuki Tomino, guests attending the conversation included Cedric Ritaldee from Pioneer (a French animation-related company) and industrialist Kato Takashi (chairman of 246capital Co., Ltd.). The three discussed the theme of "the future of animation." However, Director Tomino made a shocking statement as soon as he opened his mouth: " Although we are discussing the future of animation, animation has no future !" This black hole-level statement also made the audience suddenly realize. But then Tomino said that this also has prerequisites. But there were really not many people at the scene who could keep up with the old man's thinking...

Director Tomino: "I've been reading The Tale of Genji recently. It seems that from this book, the world was already doomed 1,000 years ago. It can be said that the world is over! There is no future at all! As long as we understand this, it is meaningless to discuss what will happen in the future! ... What should we do in the future (laughs)" (By the way, what does this sentence mean...)

Specialization of animation and loss of realism

Why does animation have no future? Director Tomino said: "Nowadays, some specialized schools have been established, and animation has become a full-time job. However, when a group of experts gather together, their vision becomes narrow. In the animation studios forty or fifty years ago, there were a bunch of guys who didn't even know what animation was. But they each had a 'sense of reality' in fields other than animation. If animators do not have this quality, and only receive relevant training to become professionals because they like animation, then the things they produce will have no freedom at all!"

Director Tomino: "Not to mention that now with websites like YouTube, it is possible for individuals to make animations. As a result, the works tend to be more and more personal and delusional. Therefore, this kind of animation is not a work at all, but just something like a personal diary. If you ask whether you can see the future of animation in this kind of thing, then the answer is obviously no. So is there a future in Disney's animation? Those who have been brainwashed by Disney will think that 'the so-called animation is the same as Disney', and then continue to make copycat versions of Disney works. There is no future for such animation, right? So there is no way out at all."

So does animation really have no future?

Director Tomino: "There is a way to break this situation. That is for us to admit that we are powerless and pass the responsibility to future generations. This is a question that everyone present here should think about. However, almost no animation practitioners will consider this issue."

Director Tomino also said: "Because I am a person without talent, if you look at my resume, you will find that it is difficult for me to maintain a stable work creation." Indeed, there are several blank periods in Director Tomino's career. "There are some people who are truly talented and can output works steadily. But we must recognize the fact that these works are not all the same (maintaining a high standard)." Yes, it is impossible for a creator to continue to bring excellent works to everyone. At this time, the creator must think about "Why can't I make good works?", "What is the problem?" Then admit the existence of the problem and keep these problems clearly... In this way, the next generation will have the opportunity to solve the problem and create new works. This is what Director Tomino thinks about the "future of animation". But in fact, this is just worrying that Japanese animation has no future. In my great country, all animations are future stars, and there is no need to worry about animation having no future.