A fan meeting to commemorate the completion of Yasuo Ohtagaki's manga "Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt" was held at LOFT9 Shibuya (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) on December 20th, with Ohtagaki, anime director Hiroshi Matsuo, designer Yoshiyuki Seki, and writer Shinsuke Hiraiwa in attendance. Looking back on the approximately 13-year serialization, Ohtagaki said, "I'm exhausted. I didn't think it would last this long. There were many twists and turns. I've never had so much support from the people around me for any other work. I was never lonely."
◇I tried to do Gundam
"Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt" is a manga by Otagaki, who is known for works such as "MOONLIGHT MILE." It depicts the battle between the Earth Federation Forces and the Principality of Zeon in the Thunderbolt Sector during the One Year War, as well as the battles between the Zeon remnants, the Federation, and the South Seas Alliance after the One Year War. It has been adapted into an anime and Gunpla kits, and has gained popularity. The series began serialization in "Big Comic Superior" (Shogakukan) in 2012, and the final episode aired in September of this year, bringing the curtain down on a 13-year run. The final 27th volume of the manga was released on December 19th. The series has sold over 6 million copies in total.
The impetus for its creation was the TV anime "Mobile Suit Gundam AGE," which aired from 2011 to 2012. At the time, "MOONLIGHT MILE" was being serialized.
"A TV series called 'Gundam AGE' was about to start, and they asked me to draw a Gundam manga to support it. I jumped at the offer. However, I said I wanted to make a story that was one or two volumes long, not just a short story. My editor asked me, 'You'll be back after the festival, right?' But 13 years had passed. When I was planning the episode, I thought of a story about a man who has to support his ex-wife. However, I thought that making the main character middle-aged would be a stretch. Since I was going to do Gundam, I decided to make the main character young. I wanted to depict the rivalry that I wasn't able to resolve in 'MOONLIGHT MILE' head-on. I wanted to take on the challenge of something that I hadn't been able to do before."
Initially, it was planned to end after about two volumes of the comic, but due to the overwhelming response, the serialization was continued. The first season of the anime aired from 2015 to 2016, and the second season in 2017, and Gundam model kits were also released.
"Honestly, I had mixed feelings about the anime adaptation at first. I changed the settings however I wanted, so at first I was told there wouldn't be an anime or a model kit, but I said that was fine and we started. Then it was made into a model kit, and then into an anime. I felt joy."
"Since I've come this far, I want to do it all! I wanted to do Gundam," he said, and the unique development became a big attraction. Regarding the Perfect Gundam that combines with Brown Bro, he explained, "Brown Bro only appears in one episode in the anime. I wanted to give it a bit more of an active role."
Regarding the Perfect Zeong, he said, "The Zeong was designed for space use, so it doesn't have legs. I wanted some volume at the bottom, so I added propellant tanks. I've added propellant tanks to a lot of other things, like the Psycho Zaku."
◇An important work in my life
In 2018, due to tendonitis, he changed his art style from chapter 109 onwards. It was a big decision. He continued the series with the support of his "artistic partner" and mecha designer Mizuki Sakura, and colorist Umegrafix.
Otagaki tearfully expressed her gratitude, saying, "I entered the manga industry at the age of 19, practiced every day, and little by little I became better at drawing. I was really sad, and it wouldn't have been strange if I had given up at this point. But thanks to the kindness of the editorial department, I was able to continue. I was able to do it thanks to the support of Sakura and Umegrafix. I was so lucky."
After finishing the long serialization, he revealed his thoughts, saying, "This is the longest-running series since I became a manga artist. It is an important work in my life. I was able to try many different things and it has given me confidence. I am really glad I was able to draw this work. I was happy to meet so many people. I was happy that it reached and connected with so many people. I am grateful to everyone. I have now achieved a big goal of drawing something that can be surpassed. I am also happy that I have achieved such a big goal. With my next work, I would like to create one that will stay in people's hearts."
He says he is currently "drawing the storyboards to complete 'MOONLIGHT MILE'," and has also announced that his "next original work" will begin in the summer of 2026. We hope he continues to create "memorable works" in the future.
