Among Gundam fans, Episode 15 is often discussed as a humorous anecdote. Yet, the fact that this "unusual Zaku" continues to be talked about more than 40 years later is itself a testament to the wide-ranging appeal of the Gundam series. Given the changes in animation and design over the years, perhaps that "round Zaku" was ahead of its time. It might be that the times have only just caught up with Doan's Zaku.

The anime "Mobile Suit Gundam" was produced by Sunrise and aired from April 1979 to January 1980 under the direction of Yoshiyuki Tomino. It pioneered the genre of "real robot anime," significantly influencing subsequent robot anime. Although it did not perform well in ratings during its initial broadcast, its popularity surged with reruns and the release of theatrical versions, leading to the "Gunpla" boom. Numerous sequels and spin-offs have been produced since, maintaining a high level of popularity to this day.

(C)SOTSU·SUNRISE

English