Director Hideaki Anno, the mastermind behind anime hits like "Gunbuster," "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water," and "Neon Genesis Evangelion," plus live-action blockbusters "Shin Godzilla" and "Shin Ultraman," is back at it, actively involved in the new Gundam anime, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," this year.
But Anno's recent creative trajectory has sparked a massive debate on Japanese X (formerly Twitter). Many netizens are pointing out that his work and activities over the past decade seem to be part of an elaborate otaku culture preservation project. The theory? He's leveraging his fame and influence to safeguard and pass on the anime and tokusatsu culture that shaped his youth to the younger generation – even if it means "force-feeding" them. The key, they say, is to ensure these classics never fade away.
This discussion really kicked off thanks to the plot developments and settings in "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX." Fans are speculating that if the goal of this work was to expand the audience familiar with the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" all the way to "Char's Counterattack" to include younger viewers, then this whole operation has been a resounding success.
However, one X user posted, stating: "Anno these past few years is like he's using his own fame and IPs to practically force the next generation to engage with old anime and tokusatsu classics. It's totally a conscious act of cultural preservation."
Netizens also pointed out that the "Hideaki Anno Exhibition," held previously, clearly showcased his respect and gratitude for past tokusatsu culture, with the exhibition's theme aptly titled "Gratitude, Then Repayment." Fans even discovered that Anno himself established a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving tokusatsu-related materials and models, proving his consistent vision.
Cultural critic Ikuto Kambe also weighed in, stating: "From his involvement in anime and tokusatsu preservation organizations to the extensive display of tokusatsu materials at his exhibitions, you can really feel Anno's sense of mission as a 'living dictionary of otaku culture.' It's truly admirable how he, as a seasoned cultural figure, uses his influence to drive these initiatives."
Some netizens also credit Anno's "Shin Godzilla" with single-handedly reviving the domestic tokusatsu Godzilla series, suggesting that without it, "Godzilla Minus One" might never have seen the light of day. Other viewers have noticed an increase in explanatory dialogue in Anno's recent works, speculating that he might believe "Gen Z won't understand unless it's explicitly explained," intentionally using clearer methods for knowledge transfer.
Beyond just content, Anno has also shown a strong commitment to technical preservation. For instance, his original motivation for creating the short film "Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo" was specifically for the preservation of tokusatsu techniques.
However, some netizens jokingly suggest that Anno might not be quite so grand; he's simply an otaku who deeply loves anime and tokusatsu. Having started in doujin (fan-made) creations, Anno can now just use his resources to produce massive, unreplicable fan works that no one else could.
He's like an anime fanatic evangelizing with his knowledge and influence, just like Anno's portrayal in Kazuhiko Shimamoto's manga "Blue Blazes" – truly a living encyclopedia of otaku culture.
Regardless of Anno's original intentions, it's undeniable that Hideaki Anno is, little by little, passing on the "otaku culture" he cherishes to future generations through his influence.
Just like his beloved "Mobile Suit Gundam," "Godzilla," "Kamen Rider," "Ultraman," and "Space Battleship Yamato," you'll find him actively involved in these very things he was passionate about as a student, extending the life of these works in his own unique way.
via： togetter