Kunio Okawara
Encyclopedia
is a mechanical designer in the Japan
ese anime
industry. A mechanical designer is similar to a character designer, but the design is for robots, ships, and other mechanical items found in a particular show. Okawara was the first in the industry to be specifically credited as a mechanical designer. He designed mecha
for the Gundam
and Brave Series
franchises, as well as those of numerous Super Robot
and Real Robot
shows. (The characters used for his family name are usually spoken as "Ōgawara," though he signs his works as "K.Okawara" in Romaji.)
He was born and currently lives in Inagi, Tokyo
, where he works out of a studio in his home.
as a student in its graphic design
department, moving to its textile design
department one year later. Following graduation, he had been assigned by his school to a position as a fashion designer at the apparel company Onward Kashiyama Co. Ltd., where he also drew display backgrounds for their specialty store. Through the experience of drawing background art, he was led to take an art position at the animation company Tatsunoko Production
; there, he (on suggestion from art director Mitsuki Nakamura) was assigned to design the enemy mecha for Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
—soon devoting his time to that brand of design almost exclusively thereafter during Tatsunoko's production of Hurricane Polymar
and Tekkaman: The Space Knight
. This would prompt Nakamura to found the internal Tatsunoko "Mechaman Design Office" with Okawara, where Okawara would receive the first ever recorded industry credit of "mechanical designer." Ultimately, he would go on to design of the title mecha of the show Gowappā 5 Godam
, hitting his stride at the company.
series in 1978, Okawara would leave Tatsunoko Production as an employee, striking out on his own as an independent contractor for "mechanical design." In addition to handling occasional design contracts from his old employer, he became a fixture at the studio Nippon Sunrise (one half of the studio that would later become Sunrise, Inc.
). His first assignment from the studio would be principal mechanical design on the Super Robot show Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3
, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
. Tomino would soon ask Okawara to continue to work with him on a new robot-oriented television project that he had tentatively named "Gunboy." In a then unheard-of move, Tomino instructed Okawara to design more "realistic," practically-designed title mecha for the series, closer to lines of the "powered armor" described in the Robert A. Heinlein
novel "Starship Troopers
," rather than the fanciful iron giants depicted since the airing of Mazinger Z
. The result would be Mobile Suit Gundam
: a show which would cause a model kit boom in Japan and spark a new interest in mecha design, as well as originate the entire Real Robot genre prevalent among televised anime in the 1980s.
Following Mobile Suit Gundam, Okawara would continue to design mecha for later entries in the emerging Gundam franchise as well as many later Real Robot shows emerging from Sunrise. Notable in the 1980s alone were his works on Space Runaway Ideon
, Combat Mecha Xabungle
, Fang of the Sun Dougram
, Armored Trooper VOTOMS
, Galactic Drifter Vifam and Blue Comet SPT Layzner
. The late 1980s and early 1990s would soon see him joined by other mechanical designers working on various entries in the Gundam franchise such as Kazumi Fujita
, Yutaka Izubuchi
, Mamoru Nagano
, Mika Akitaka, Makoto Kobayashi and Hajime Katoki
, all of whom would provide their own "take" on Okawara's original work. Okawara himself would take note, their designs in turn inspiring him to expand the scope of his own.
In the early 1990s, many of Okawara's designs made an unexpected turn back toward those of classic Super Robots with Brave Exkaiser
, the first show in Sunrise's Brave Series funded by Transformers
manufacturer Takara
. As the series of shows continued, Okawara would go on to design the principal robot for every entry in the Brave Series, culminating in his design of almost every robot seen in The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
—the series' final televised entry—as well as the show's OVA sequel
, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL
.
In 2004, Okawara's fame as a mecha designer led him to be contracted by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa
(Ishikawa
) to design a type of head-mounted display
used in the museum's "SYS*O17" electronic exhibit, created by Mathieu Briand. While describing the exhibit to museum management, Briand had referred to the subtle shape of Gundam's mecha when describing the displays he had intended to use; this in turn had led to the museum bringing Okawara into the project.
When asked what the favorite of his works was during an interview, Okawara chose his designs for Shippū! Iron Leaguer.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
industry. A mechanical designer is similar to a character designer, but the design is for robots, ships, and other mechanical items found in a particular show. Okawara was the first in the industry to be specifically credited as a mechanical designer. He designed mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
for the Gundam
Gundam
The is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....
and Brave Series
Yusha
The is a toy and animation franchise that began after toy company Takara had ended the animated "Generation One" storyline of Transformers in Japan. Following a decline in the series' popularity that led to the cancellation of the OVA series Transformers: Zone, Takara struck a cooperative deal...
franchises, as well as those of numerous Super Robot
Super Robot
is a term used in manga and anime to describe a giant robot or mecha, with an arsenal of fantastic super-powered weapons, extreme resistance to damage unless the plot calls for it, sometimes transformable or combined from two or more robots and/or vehicles usually piloted by young, daring heroes,...
and Real Robot
Real Robot
is a genre of Japanese animation. The genre contains mecha robots that are powered by conventional power sources and weapons explainable by real world science, and that use ranged weapons and speed to survive battle situations....
shows. (The characters used for his family name are usually spoken as "Ōgawara," though he signs his works as "K.Okawara" in Romaji.)
He was born and currently lives in Inagi, Tokyo
Inagi, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 81,134 and the density of 4,096.33 persons per km². The total area is 17.97 km².The city was founded on November 1, 1971.-History:...
, where he works out of a studio in his home.
Formative years
Okawara attended Tokyo Zokei UniversityTokyo Zokei University
is a private university in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1966 by Japanese female art educator, fashion designer and design journalist, Yoko Kuwasawa . It is a four-year art college offering both bachelor's and master's degrees in studio arts....
as a student in its graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
department, moving to its textile design
Textile design
Textile design is the process of creating designs and structures for knitted, woven, non-woven or embellishments of fabrics.Textile designing involves producing patterns for cloth used in clothing, household textiles and decorative textiles such as carpets. The field encompasses the actual pattern...
department one year later. Following graduation, he had been assigned by his school to a position as a fashion designer at the apparel company Onward Kashiyama Co. Ltd., where he also drew display backgrounds for their specialty store. Through the experience of drawing background art, he was led to take an art position at the animation company Tatsunoko Production
Tatsunoko Production
, often shortened to , is a Japanese animation company. Founded in October 1962 by acclaimed anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida along with his brothers Kenji and Toyoharu...
; there, he (on suggestion from art director Mitsuki Nakamura) was assigned to design the enemy mecha for Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
is a 5-member superhero team that is composed of the main characters in several Japanese anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and later adapted into several English-language versions...
—soon devoting his time to that brand of design almost exclusively thereafter during Tatsunoko's production of Hurricane Polymar
Hurricane Polymar
is a Japanese anime series produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The show was created by Tatsuo Yoshida, who had produced many of Tatsunoko's series. Other romanizations of the name include Hurricane Polymer, and Hariken Polymar .Hurricane Polymar is the secret identity of...
and Tekkaman: The Space Knight
Tekkaman: The Space Knight
is an anime produced by Tatsunoko Productions in 1975. A short-lived English adaptation aired in the US in 1984.Two decades later, it was followed by the much more popular Tekkaman Blade, which was dubbed in the U.S. by Saban as Teknoman....
. This would prompt Nakamura to found the internal Tatsunoko "Mechaman Design Office" with Okawara, where Okawara would receive the first ever recorded industry credit of "mechanical designer." Ultimately, he would go on to design of the title mecha of the show Gowappā 5 Godam
Gowappa 5 Godam
is an anime series aired in 1976. There were 36 episodes. It is also referred to as Gowapper 5 Gundam, Godam, Go Wapper 5 Go Dam, Gowappa 5 Gordam.The series has also been aired on Italian television under the title Godam.-Outline:...
, hitting his stride at the company.
Sunrise, Inc.
Following the first two Time BokanTime Bokan
is a Japanese anime series first aired on Fuji TV from October 4, 1975 to December 25, 1976 throughout Japan every Saturday at 6:30pm, with a total of 61 30-minute episodes. It was produced by Tatsunoko Productions, who later produced a number of spinoff programs as part of the "Time Bokan...
series in 1978, Okawara would leave Tatsunoko Production as an employee, striking out on his own as an independent contractor for "mechanical design." In addition to handling occasional design contracts from his old employer, he became a fixture at the studio Nippon Sunrise (one half of the studio that would later become Sunrise, Inc.
Sunrise (company)
is a Japanese animation studio and production enterprise. It is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings. Its former name was Nippon Sunrise, and prior to that, Sunrise Studios...
). His first assignment from the studio would be principal mechanical design on the Super Robot show Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3
Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3
is an anime series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate, and produced by Sunrise. It was first broadcast on Japanese TV in 1978. The series lasted for 40 episodes. The opening theme Come Here! Daitarn 3 is sung by Makoto Fujiwara...
, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshiyuki Tomino
is a Japanese mecha anime creator, director, screenwriter and novelist. He was born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and studied at Nihon University's College of Art...
. Tomino would soon ask Okawara to continue to work with him on a new robot-oriented television project that he had tentatively named "Gunboy." In a then unheard-of move, Tomino instructed Okawara to design more "realistic," practically-designed title mecha for the series, closer to lines of the "powered armor" described in the Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
novel "Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
," rather than the fanciful iron giants depicted since the airing of Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z
, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
. The result would be Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam
is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
: a show which would cause a model kit boom in Japan and spark a new interest in mecha design, as well as originate the entire Real Robot genre prevalent among televised anime in the 1980s.
Following Mobile Suit Gundam, Okawara would continue to design mecha for later entries in the emerging Gundam franchise as well as many later Real Robot shows emerging from Sunrise. Notable in the 1980s alone were his works on Space Runaway Ideon
Space Runaway Ideon
is a 1980 anime television series produced by Sunrise.-Production:Ideon was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, and was the series he produced immediately following his most famous work, Mobile Suit Gundam....
, Combat Mecha Xabungle
Combat Mecha Xabungle
, infrequently called Blue Gale Xabungle, is a mecha anime television series by Sunrise, and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. It was broadcast on the Nagoya TV and TV Asahi networks at 5:30 PM each Saturday from February 6, 1982 through January 29, 1983. Promotional toys were produced by Clover...
, Fang of the Sun Dougram
Fang of the Sun Dougram
is a 75-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, and aired in Japan from October 23, 1981 to March 25, 1983 on TV Tokyo...
, Armored Trooper VOTOMS
Armored Trooper Votoms
is a 52-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, featuring mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara. The series originally aired in Japan from April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 on TV Tokyo...
, Galactic Drifter Vifam and Blue Comet SPT Layzner
Blue Comet SPT Layzner
, sometimes translated as Blue Meteor SPT Layzner, is an anime series produced by Sunrise between 1985 and 1986. Its original creator was Ryousuke Takahashi of Armored Trooper Votoms fame who served as the writer and wrote the scripts for such shows as Panzer World Galient, Tetsuwan Atom, Zero...
. The late 1980s and early 1990s would soon see him joined by other mechanical designers working on various entries in the Gundam franchise such as Kazumi Fujita
Kazumi Fujita
is a Japanese mecha designer, who has worked on several noted anime series and video games, notably Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Gaogaigar Final, and Quo Vadis 2. He designed the Zeta Gundam, winning heated competition between Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano and himself to design a finalized Zeta Gundam...
, Yutaka Izubuchi
Yutaka Izubuchi
is a Japanese anime designer and director. Izubuchi is credited for designing costumes, characters and creatures, but most of his designs are mechanical...
, Mamoru Nagano
Nagano Mamoru
is a Japanese manga artist, animator, and mecha designer.He is noted for his work with anime studio Sunrise, with his work inHeavy Metal L-Gaim introducing mecha with armor plates that appeared to fit loosely over an internal skeleton. These detailed and somewhat plausible designs sparked a fresh...
, Mika Akitaka, Makoto Kobayashi and Hajime Katoki
Hajime Katoki
is a popular Japanese mecha designer. A member of the studio Sunrise, he is highly noted for his work on the Gundam series as well as his work on video games, such as the Virtual On series and Policenauts.-Biography:...
, all of whom would provide their own "take" on Okawara's original work. Okawara himself would take note, their designs in turn inspiring him to expand the scope of his own.
In the early 1990s, many of Okawara's designs made an unexpected turn back toward those of classic Super Robots with Brave Exkaiser
Brave Exkaiser
is a Japanese animated television series that began in 1990, created by Sunrise under the direction of Katsuyoshi Yatabe, and is the first of the long running Yuusha or "Brave" metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise.-Story:...
, the first show in Sunrise's Brave Series funded by Transformers
Transformers (toy line)
The is a line of toys produced by the American toy company Hasbro. The Transformers toyline was created from toy molds mostly produced by Japanese company Takara in the toylines Diaclone and Microman. Other toy molds from other companies such as Bandai were used as well...
manufacturer Takara
Takara
Takara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
. As the series of shows continued, Okawara would go on to design the principal robot for every entry in the Brave Series, culminating in his design of almost every robot seen in The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
is an anime television series series begun in 1997, created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani, and was the eighth and final in the Yūsha metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise.- Plot :...
—the series' final televised entry—as well as the show's OVA sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final
is the OVA sequel to the 1997 anime television series The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. The series begun in 2000, created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani, and the first Yūsha metaseries funded by both Takara and Bandai and produced by Sunrise.-Premise:The...
.
In 2004, Okawara's fame as a mecha designer led him to be contracted by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
(Ishikawa
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
) to design a type of head-mounted display
Head-mounted display
A head-mounted display or helmet mounted display, both abbreviated HMD, is a display device, worn on the head or as part of a helmet, that has a small display optic in front of one or each eye .- Overview :...
used in the museum's "SYS*O17" electronic exhibit, created by Mathieu Briand. While describing the exhibit to museum management, Briand had referred to the subtle shape of Gundam's mecha when describing the displays he had intended to use; this in turn had led to the museum bringing Okawara into the project.
Current projects
Today, Okawara continues to design various title mecha in the Gundam franchise, most recently those related to Gundam SEED as well as Gundam 00.History of works
(Listed chronologically)- Science Ninja Team GatchamanScience Ninja Team Gatchamanis a 5-member superhero team that is composed of the main characters in several Japanese anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and later adapted into several English-language versions...
(1972-1974) - Artist (enemy mechanical design)
- Hariken Polymer (1974)
- Mechanical design (Tatsunoko Mechaman Design Office)
- Tekkaman: The Space KnightTekkaman: The Space Knightis an anime produced by Tatsunoko Productions in 1975. A short-lived English adaptation aired in the US in 1984.Two decades later, it was followed by the much more popular Tekkaman Blade, which was dubbed in the U.S. by Saban as Teknoman....
(1975) - Mechanical design (Tatsunoko Mechaman Design Office)
- Gowappā 5 GodamGowappa 5 Godamis an anime series aired in 1976. There were 36 episodes. It is also referred to as Gowapper 5 Gundam, Godam, Go Wapper 5 Go Dam, Gowappa 5 Gordam.The series has also been aired on Italian television under the title Godam.-Outline:...
(1976) - Primary mechanical design (Tatsunoko Mechaman Design Office)
- Time BokanTime Bokanis a Japanese anime series first aired on Fuji TV from October 4, 1975 to December 25, 1976 throughout Japan every Saturday at 6:30pm, with a total of 61 30-minute episodes. It was produced by Tatsunoko Productions, who later produced a number of spinoff programs as part of the "Time Bokan...
(1976) - Blocker Gundan IV: Machine Blaster (1976)
- YattāmanYattermanis a Japanese anime television series broadcast from January 1, 1977 to January 27, 1979, comprising 108 episodes. It is the second and longest show in the Time Bokan series by Tatsunoko Productions...
(1977) - Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo (1977)
- Chōgattai Majutsu Robo Gingaizer (1977)
- Tobidase! Machine Hiryū (1977)
- Gekisō! Ruben Gaizer (1977)
- Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3is an anime series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate, and produced by Sunrise. It was first broadcast on Japanese TV in 1978. The series lasted for 40 episodes. The opening theme Come Here! Daitarn 3 is sung by Makoto Fujiwara...
(1978) - Principal mechanical design
- Selected works: Daitarn 3
- Uchū Majin Daikengō (1978)
- Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II (1978)
- Mobile Suit GundamMobile Suit Gundamis a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
(1979) - Principal mechanical design
- Selected works: RX-78-2 Gundam, MS-06 Zaku IIMS-06 Zaku IIThe MS-06 Zaku II is a mobile suit from the Mobile Suit Gundam metaverse. It is redesigned by Kunio Okawara based upon the earlier draft by the series director Yoshiyuki Tomino, in which only the name was kept. The Zaku II has seen various redesigns and variants for hundreds of pieces of...
- Zendaman (1979)
- The UltramanThe Ultramanis a Japanese animated television series co-produced by Tsuburaya Production and Tokyo Broadcasting System. The series aired on TBS Television affiliates on the Wednesday 7:00 PM time slot from April 4, 1979 to March 26, 1980, lasting a total of 50 episodes. It was the eighth installment in the...
(1979) - Science Ninja Team Gatchaman F (1979)
- Muteki Robo Trider G7Trider G7Trider G7, known in Japan as , was a Japanese anime television series which aired from 1980 to 1981. There were 50 episodes. It is also referred to as "Trider G7", "Unchallengeable Trider G7" and "Tryder G7", "Bird Attack Tryder G7", "Unrivaled Robot Trider G7".-Concept:Invincible Robo Trider G7...
(1980) - Time Patrol Tai Otasukeman (1980)
- Tondemo Senshi Muteking (1980)
- Space Runaway IdeonSpace Runaway Ideonis a 1980 anime television series produced by Sunrise.-Production:Ideon was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, and was the series he produced immediately following his most famous work, Mobile Suit Gundam....
(1980) - Fang of the Sun DougramFang of the Sun Dougramis a 75-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, and aired in Japan from October 23, 1981 to March 25, 1983 on TV Tokyo...
(1981) - YattodetamanYattodetamanYattodetaman is the fifth book in the Time Bokan series. In this series, two royal houses are battling for the power to rule the Kingdom of Fir...
(1981) - Saikyō Robo Daiōja (1981)
- Doraemon: The Record of Nobita: Spaceblazer (1981)
- Kaitei Taisensō (1981)
- Combat Mecha XabungleCombat Mecha Xabungle, infrequently called Blue Gale Xabungle, is a mecha anime television series by Sunrise, and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. It was broadcast on the Nagoya TV and TV Asahi networks at 5:30 PM each Saturday from February 6, 1982 through January 29, 1983. Promotional toys were produced by Clover...
(1982) - Gyakuten Ippatsuman (1982)
- Armored Trooper VOTOMSArmored Trooper Votomsis a 52-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, featuring mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara. The series originally aired in Japan from April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 on TV Tokyo...
(1983) - Principal mechanical design
- Selected works: ATM-09-ST Scopedog
- Round Vernian Vifam (1983)
- Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman (1983)
- "Mobile Suit Variations" model kit line (1983)
- Principal mechanical design
- Panzer World GalientPanzer World Galientis a 1984 Japanese fantasy and science fiction anime TV series produced by Sunrise company.-Production:The series premiered on TV in October 1984 and lasted 25 episodes...
(1984) - Chōriki Robo Galatt (1984)
- MS-XMS-XMobile Suit X, or MS-X for short, is a series of new mecha designs and variations on standard anime mecha designs, from the Mobile Suit Gundam animated series...
mangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series (cancelled) (1984) - Principal mechanical design
- Blue Comet SPT LayznerBlue Comet SPT Layzner, sometimes translated as Blue Meteor SPT Layzner, is an anime series produced by Sunrise between 1985 and 1986. Its original creator was Ryousuke Takahashi of Armored Trooper Votoms fame who served as the writer and wrote the scripts for such shows as Panzer World Galient, Tetsuwan Atom, Zero...
(1985) - Mobile Suit Zeta GundamMobile Suit Zeta Gundamis a television anime, part of the Gundam series and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split amongst Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita...
(1985) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: RX-178 Gundam Mk-IIRX-178 Gundam Mk-IIThe RX-178 Gundam Mark-II is a fictional mobile suit from the Universal Century Gundam anime series. A collaborative design created by Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita, it is featured prominently as protagonist Kamille Bidan's mobile suit in the first half of Mobile Suit Zeta...
, RMS-106 HiZack - Mobile Suit Gundam ZZMobile Suit Gundam ZZis a TV series aired on Japanese TV from 1986–1987, was the third Gundam series, and a direct follow up to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Director Yoshiyuki Tomino returned to lead the series, and he assembled a new team consisting of character designer Hiroyuki Kitazume, who had been one of Zeta...
(1986) - Metal Armor DragonarMetal Armor Dragonaris a 48-episode mecha anime series, created by Sunrise and aired from 1987 to 1988. Devised shortly after the release of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Dragonar was intended to be both a "starter" series to get new fans into mecha anime, and a potential successor to the Gundam franchise. In fact, it's...
(1987) - Armor Hunter MellowlinkArmor Hunter Mellowlinkwas a twelve episode anime OVA spinoff of Armored Trooper Votoms. It takes place in the same universe as Votoms, but the two stories are entirely independent of each other....
(1988) - Mado King GranzortMado King Granzortis a Japanese young children's animated television series that aired from 1989-1990. It was produced by Bandai Visual and animated by Sunrise animation studio. It also spawned 3 special direct-to-video episodes and two movie ....
(1989) - Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketMobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocketis a 1989 Japanese science fiction original video animation series, the first such series in the Gundam franchise. Directed by Fumihiko Takayama, it was also the first time anyone other than creator Yoshiyuki Tomino was given a chance to direct a Gundam story. Released in 1989, it serves to...
(1989) - Mobile Suit Gundam F90 model kit series (1990)
-
- Principal mechanical design
-
- Brave ExkaiserBrave Exkaiseris a Japanese animated television series that began in 1990, created by Sunrise under the direction of Katsuyoshi Yatabe, and is the first of the long running Yuusha or "Brave" metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise.-Story:...
(1990) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: Exkaiser, King Exkaiser, Dragon Kaiser, Great Exkaiser
- The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird (1991)
- Mechanical design
- Selected works: Fighbird, Busou Gattai Fighbird, Granbird
- Mobile Suit Gundam F91Mobile Suit Gundam F91is a 1991 anime film, which was Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's attempt to launch a new Gundam saga, set thirty years after Char's Counterattack and twenty seven years after Gundam Unicorn. He re-teamed with character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and mecha designer Kunio Okawara for the occasion....
(1991) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: F91 Gundam Formula 91F91 Gundam Formula 91The F91 Gundam Formula 91 is the title mobile suit of the anime movie Mobile Suit Gundam F91.-F91 Gundam Formula 91 :The F91 Gundam is a high-performance mobile suit developed by Earth Federation's Strategic Naval Research Institute...
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryMobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memoryis a 13-episode anime OVA series set in the Gundam universe. The first volume containing two 30-minute episodes was released in Japan on May 23, 1991. Subsequent volumes, containing one 30-minute episode each, followed every one or two months; the final volume went on sale on September 24, 1992...
(1991) - The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-GarnThe Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garnis a Japanese animated television series that aired in 1992, created by Sunrise under the direction of Katsuyoshi Yatabe, and is the third of the long running "Brave" series funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise.-Story:...
(1992) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: Da-Garn, Da-Garn X, Great Da-Garn GX
- Hero Senki: Project Olympos (1992)
- The Brave Express Might GaineThe Brave Express Might Gaineis an anime television series series begun in 1993, created by Sunrise' under the direction of Shinji Takamatsu, and was the fourth in the Yūsha metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise.-Story:...
(1993) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: Might Gaine, Great Might Gaine, Might Gunner, Great Might Gaine Perfect Mode
- Mobile Suit Victory GundamMobile Suit Victory Gundam, is a 1993 Japanese science fiction anime television series. It consists of 51 episodes, and was directed by Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino. The series was first broadcast on TV Asahi and later by the anime satellite television network, Animax, across Japan and later its respective networks...
(1993) - Mechanical design
- Shippū! Iron LeaguerShippu Iron Leagueris an anime series by Sunrise. Directed by Tetsurō Amino and featuring mecha designs by Kunio Okawara, it premiered on TV Tokyo on April 6, 1993 and ended its run on March 29, 1994, spanning a total of 52 episodes....
(1993) - Brave Police J-DeckerBrave Police J-DeckerBrave Police J-Decker was the fifth series of the anime television meta Brave series that aired in Japan during 1994 and 1995....
(1994) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: Deckerd, J-Decker, Fire J-Decker
- Mobile Fighter G GundamMobile Fighter G GundamMobile Fighter G Gundam, known in Japan as , is a Japanese animated television series directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa . Created to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the franchise in 1994, it is the first of the Gundam series to be set in an alternate continuity from the original "Universal Century"...
(1994) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam, GF13-017NJII God Gundam
- The Brave of Gold GoldranThe Brave of Gold Goldranis a Japanese anime television series series begun in 1995, created by Sunrise under the direction of Shinji Takamatsu, and was the sixth in the Yūsha metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise. Goldran follows the adventures of three young boys who are tasked with finding alien robot...
(1995) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: Goldran, Great Goldran
- New Mobile Report Gundam WingMobile Suit Gundam WingMobile Suit Gundam Wing, known in Japan as , is an anime series in the mecha genre, and is one of the alternate universe Gundam series, taking place in the After Colony timeline. It is the second alternate universe in the Gundam media franchise, following Mobile Fighter G Gundam...
(1995) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: XXXG-01W Wing Gundam, XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamMobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Teamis an original video animation anime series in the Gundam franchise. Released from January 25, 1996, to April 25, 1999, the 11-episode series details the adventures of an Earth Federation Space Force ground unit during the One Year War - specifically before the original 1979 Gundam series and into...
(1996) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: RX-79[G] Gundam Mass Production Ground Type
- Brave Command DagwonBrave Command Dagwonis a Japanese anime series begun in 1996, created by Sunrise under the direction of Akira Oguro and Tetsuya Yanagisawa, and was the seventh Yūsha or "Brave" metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise....
(1996) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: Fire Dagwon, Super Fire Dagwon
- After War Gundam XAfter War Gundam XAfter War Gundam X, known in Japan as , is an anime television series from Japan. It is a part of the Gundam franchise that started in 1979, but takes place in an alternate universe called After War Era. The series has 39 episodes, aired in Japan from April 5, 1996 to December 28, 1996 across TV...
(1996) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: GX-9900 Gundam X
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997)
- "Original Mechanical Designer" (actual mecha redesigned by Hajime Katoki)
- The King of Braves GaoGaiGarThe King of Braves GaoGaiGaris an anime television series series begun in 1997, created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani, and was the eighth and final in the Yūsha metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise.- Plot :...
(1997) - Principal mechanical design
- Selected works: GaoGaiGar
- Turn A GundamTurn A Gundamis a 50 episode anime series that aired between 1999 and 2000 on Japan's FNN networks and on the anime satellite television network, Animax, which was created for the Gundam Big Bang 20th Anniversary celebration...
(1999) - Mechanical design
- BettermanBettermanis a Japanese anime television series which began airing in 1999. It was created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani...
(1999) - Sunrise Eiyūtan (1999)
- The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINALThe King of Braves GaoGaiGar Finalis the OVA sequel to the 1997 anime television series The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. The series begun in 2000, created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani, and the first Yūsha metaseries funded by both Takara and Bandai and produced by Sunrise.-Premise:The...
(2000) - Principal mechanical design
- Selected works: GaoFighGar, Genesic GaoGaiGar
- Time Bokan 2000: Kaitō Kiramekiman (2000)
- GravionGravionis an anime television series produced by Gonzo. It aired in Japan from October 7, 2002 to December 16, 2002 and ran for 13 episodes. In 2004, was released and aired from January 8 to March 25 in Japan, running for twelve additional episodes, answering the questions generated from the first...
(2002) - Mobile Suit Gundam SEEDMobile Suit Gundam SEEDis an anime series developed by Sunrise and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda. As with other series from the Gundam franchise, Gundam SEED takes place in a parallel timeline, in this case the Cosmic Era, the first to do so...
(2002) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: GAT-X105 Strike Gundam
- Kikō Busō G-Breaker (2002)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X AstrayMobile Suit Gundam SEED Astrayis a collection of "gaiden" set in the Cosmic Era of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Whereas the main story of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED focuses on the struggles between the Earth Alliance, ZAFT, and Orb Union, the Astray series is focused on the three MBF-P0x mobile suit prototypes and their respective...
(2003) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: YMF-X000A Dreadnought Gundam, CAT1-X Hyperion Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DestinyMobile Suit Gundam SEED Destinyis an anime television series, acting as a sequel of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise. It retains most of the staff from Gundam SEED, including Director Mitsuo Fukuda. Set two years after the original Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, the plot follows the new character Shinn Asuka, a soldier from ZAFT,...
(2004) - Mechanical design
- Selected works: ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam
- Super Robot Wars GCSuper Robot Wars GCis the first and only Nintendo GameCube Super Robot Wars title. The basic premise of the game is that the plot, settings, characters, and other mechanics consist of essentially mixing and combining the like of Gundam, Mazinger, Getter Robo, Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh, and many other mecha-based anime...
(2004) - "Original Mechanical Designer" (token credit; no actual work done?)
- "SYS*017" exhibit at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, IshikawaKanazawa, Ishikawais the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
(2004) - Head-mounted display and control trigger design
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation: Heirs to the StarsMobile Suit Zeta Gundamis a television anime, part of the Gundam series and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split amongst Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita...
(2005) - Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation II: LoversMobile Suit Zeta Gundamis a television anime, part of the Gundam series and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split amongst Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita...
(2005) - Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation III: Love is the Pulse of the StarsMobile Suit Zeta Gundamis a television anime, part of the Gundam series and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split amongst Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita...
(2006) - Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: StargazerMobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazeris a side story to the anime TV series, Gundam SEED Destiny. As of July 2006, it is being streamed on as an original net animation. The show is directed by Susumu Nishizawa and written by Shigeru Morita, both staff members of Gundam SEED Destiny....
(2006) - Apo Mekhanes Theos: Gigantic Formula (2007)
- Guest mechanical design
- Selected work: Chronos Zero
- Another Century's Episode 3Another Century's Episode 3, abbreviated as A.C.E.3, is a mecha action video game produced by Banpresto and developed by From Software. It is the sequel to the popular 2006 game Another Century's Episode 2, and the third game in the Another Century's Episode series. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on September 6,...
(2007) - Mechanical design of Falugen Custom, variation unit from Metal Armor DragonarMetal Armor Dragonaris a 48-episode mecha anime series, created by Sunrise and aired from 1987 to 1988. Devised shortly after the release of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Dragonar was intended to be both a "starter" series to get new fans into mecha anime, and a potential successor to the Gundam franchise. In fact, it's...
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00Mobile Suit Gundam 00is an anime TV series, the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise consisting of two seasons. It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise...
(2007) - Mechanical design of GN-000 0 Gundam and others
- Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornMobile Suit Gundam Unicornis a novel by popular Japanese author Harutoshi Fukui . The novel takes place in Gundam's Universal Century timeline. Character and mechanical designs are provided by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and Hajime Katoki, respectively...
(2010) - Original mechanical design
When asked what the favorite of his works was during an interview, Okawara chose his designs for Shippū! Iron Leaguer.
Further reading
- Interview with Kunio Okawara in Nikkei Monozukuri, October 2010
- Mag2 profile of Kunio Okawara