Mobile Suit Z Gundam II: Lovers", Physical Expression of Mobile Suits and Use of Cockpit [Nostalgic Anime Retrospective No. 81

In my previous entry in this column, I focused on the rest room scene in the theatrical animation "Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Heir to the Stars" (2005), which was directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. This time, we will touch on the second film version of "Mobile Suit Z Gundam," "Mobile Suit Z Gundam II: Lovers" (2005).
Lovers" opens with the intervention of the Axis, a third force, the remnants of the former Principality of Zeon, in the conflict between Aego, to which the main characters Camille Bidan and Char Aznable (Quattro Vagina in this film) belong, and the rival organization Titans. Near the end of the film, the scene where Haman Khan, the leader of the Axis, makes his first appearance is largely redrawn from the TV version. Let's take a look at the details.

There are three ways to depict a pilot inside a mobile suit

At the end of the film, Char attempts to sink the Titans' battleship Dogos Gear with the mobile suit Hyakushiki, but the mission goes awry. Meanwhile, Camille, riding in the Z Gundam, is attacked by the powerful enemy Yazan Gable. Just in time to save the day, a large contingent of Axis mobile suits, the Gaza C, appears on the battlefield and repels the Titans' mobile suits.
After Dogos Gear retreats, Haman Khan, riding a Gaza C painted in his white personal color, converses with the Ego pilots (the following "cut-in" refers to a triangular frame superimposed on a picture of a mobile suit to show which character is inside the cockpit. ).

(1) The camera on Gaza C's chest moves and PANs to the face camera. The face camera glows green.
(2) Gaza C approaches Ego's mobile suit, Rick Dias.
Haman (voice through microphone) "And this is the Rick Dias?"
Apolly (cut-in to face) "Yes, it is. Apolly Bey is piloting it."
Gaza C, moves to the left of the screen. Apolly, in the cut-in screen, follows it with his eyes.
(3) Gaza C, comes in front of the Z Gundam and lightly taps its chest with his fist.
Haman: "The aircraft has held up well, Gundam."
Camille (cut-in to her face) "My name is Z Gundam."
Hamann "You are young, boy."
(4) The cockpit of the Z Gundam opens and Camille comes out.
Camille "My name is Camille Bidan."
Haman (from off-screen) "You are not a regular soldier, are you?"
Camille: "Yes."
(5) Gaza C over the back of Camille's head, slowly moving to the right of the screen.
(6) Gaza C approaches the Type 100.
Haman: "Is that the Type 100?"
The Gaza C's head camera flashes green in time with the dialogue.
Char "Yes.
The eye of the Hyakushiki glows red along with the dialogue.
Haman: "We were finally able to pick you up. We will ask you to accompany us."
(7) Haman in the cockpit of the Gaza C.
Haman "...... sha"
Haman raises his right hand around his head.
(8) Gaza C, right hand with gun raised, slowly moving toward the back of the screen.

The Gaza C, which has two camera eyes on its chest and head, creates a sense of intimidation, and the actions of Haman and the Gaza C's right hand are interlocked from (7) to (8), emphasizing the physicality of the mobile suit.
Most of Haman's dialogue in this scene is spoken through the microphone emitted by Gaza C. Only in (7) is it a live voice, as it shows Haman in the cockpit. It can be seen that three methods are used to include both the mobile suits and the pilots in the scene at the same time. First, cut-ins like (2) and (3). Second, the cut itself is switched to show the pilot live in the cockpit, as in (7). Then, as in (4), the "cockpit hatch opens and the pilot comes out" is depicted.
In fact, in the first half of the film, considerable emphasis is placed on the depiction of the pilot coming out through the open hatch of the mobile suit. It is the scene where Camille has a heart-to-heart with Fau Murasame, a female pilot of the Titans.