For Gundam fans, "Turn A Gundam" is undoubtedly a memorable and unconventional series. With a worldview vastly different from previous Gundam installments, this show, directed and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino, featured character designs by Akira Yasuda (Akiman) that had a strong "World Masterpiece Theater" vibe, totally blowing existing audiences away.
Turns out, a curious fan recently took to X (formerly Twitter) with a burning question about the protagonist, Loran Cehack, asking about the origins of his character design. And guess what? Akira Yasuda himself chimed in, explaining the production background from back in the day.
Originally, X user Hina posted that they wanted to ask Akira Yasuda a question, but felt it might be "the sin of asking questions" (as in, bothering someone with a query), so they decided to hold back. Unexpectedly, Akira Yasuda himself responded, saying it wouldn't be a bother if he asked directly: "What's your question?"
The fan was absolutely floored to get a direct reply and asked: "Regarding 'Turn A Gundam,' I'd like to ask how the original concept for Loran Cehack's character was decided? (Within what you can disclose!)
I've heard before that 'they wanted his image color to be green,' is that true?"
Akira Yasuda then posted a lengthy explanation, revealing that Katsuyuki Sumisawa, the screenwriter for "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing," was initially involved in the "Turn A Gundam" project. However, due to creative differences with director Yoshiyuki Tomino, the two ultimately "parted ways on less-than-friendly terms."
Before that, though, Sumisawa had suggested that the protagonist's image should be similar to the "Green Ranger" from a "Sentai" series. Director Tomino accepted this idea and incorporated it into Loran's green eye design. Whether this concept was directly influenced by Sumisawa or if Tomino already had a similar idea isn't entirely clear. However, in Tomino's initial character concept draft, he had already written that the protagonist was a boy who would clean the "White Doll" every day.
Later, Director Tomino further elaborated that the protagonist should be a "gender-neutral character who looks good on both males and females." Following these instructions, they drew several design drafts, going back and forth with the director for multiple revisions. Then, at some point, a significant change occurred in the setting—Earth's civilization and culture would be set in a style similar to the 19th century. Based on this new setting, further design modifications were made, and finally, the familiar Loran Cehack we know today was officially established.
▼ Akira Yasuda also shared the early design changes for Loran during production, noting that the first version, which he thought was good, wasn't wasted and later became the character Keith Leyjie in the show.
▼ The "White Doll" (ホワイトドール) is actually the true form of the former Earth defense force's strongest MS, the ∀ Gundam (which once brought human civilization to the brink of collapse).
Hina was incredibly moved by Akira Yasuda's detailed explanation of the origins, thrilled to hear such behind-the-scenes stories. Who knew a casual tweet could lead to such an amazing revelation?
Many other netizens also commented on how such intricate behind-the-scenes information was just casually revealed on X. Talk about a lucky fan, or just Akira Yasuda being an absolute legend!
It just goes to show how incredibly kind Akira Yasuda is, fully answering a fan's question and even sharing details only known to the production team. So, if you've got something you're dying to ask, maybe try tweeting him on X – who knows, you might just get a direct reply!