Military Hobby" that "Tribe Gundam" shows in conversation [Nostalgic Anime Retrospective No. 55

In the previous issue of this column, I pointed out that "Tribe Gundam" has an orthodox "kigeki" structure, and in the previous issue, I pointed out that "Mobile Suit V Gundam" is laced with "otogibanashi" (fairy tale) elements. In both cases, I have paradoxically revealed the "kigeki" and "fairy tale" aspects in order to emphasize director Yoshiyuki Tomino's distance from the military view of the space century (or rather the "Gundam Century" style of books).
Let's take a look at director Tomino's words to Mr. Mead from "MEAD GUNDAM," a large book of Syd Mead's design manuscripts. "First of all, the market is conservative." "To put the tastes of this market in a nutshell, it's all about 'military taste'" - huge baskets and We can read a sober analysis and criticism of the "military taste"-a love of giant buskers and giant humanoid weapons with propellant tanks. However, the reason why we have chosen "Tribe Gundam" again is because of its vivid "military taste.

When people of different birth and upbringing come together in one place, ......

Episode 46, "Again, to the Earth," is the episode in which the main characters, Roland and Princess Diana, set sail from the moon to the Earth in pursuit of the fleet of their enemy, Gim Ginganam. The "fairy tale" nature of "Tribe Gundam" is heightened to the utmost limit by the revelation of the "black history" that has made all previous Gundam series into ancient events, and the aerial battle with a powerful enemy mecha that appears only in episode 46 is also included, making it a "lively drama" episode. The "action drama" element is also perfect.
So, what is the highlight of episode 46 that is neither "fairy tale" nor "action drama"?　It is an ensemble drama in which the civilians living in the Moon City, who gathered at the call of Princess Diana, join forces with the soldiers from Earth to outfit a new ship.

Civilians in the Moon City (childhood friends of the main character, Roland, and others)
Suicide squads from Earth (John, Ames, etc.)
Princess Diana's SS (Lt. Harry and others)
Ingresa Mirisha (Société, Méchée, and others)

People living on the Moon may be older than they appear due to cryosleep technology. Of the military personnel from Earth, the Suicide Squad are professional soldiers, but Ingresa Milicha also includes civilian women. People from different backgrounds come together in one place and join forces.
First, let's pick up the conversation between John and Ames of the Suesside Unit, both of whom are riding on a small work robot.

John: "With these things being used for civilian purposes, we ain't gonna win a war.
Ames: "So we'll just bring this one (to Earth) too."

The civilian machines in the Moon city are astonishingly high-performance from the perspective of Earth-born professional military personnel, and by having one mecha used by a character who should not be using it, the film casually evokes the technological gap between the Moon and Earth. We also get a glimpse of Ames' optimistic nature, as if he is not afraid of the Moon's military if he brings the same mecha back to Earth. There is more to this interesting conversational drama.

Mecha are like hinges that let people talk to each other.

A young man from Moon City and Mesheh, a female soldier belonging to Inglesa Militsia, are riding on Wad, a small robot that has appeared in the first half of the series. The young man carries his luggage across the belly of the Uad.

Meshay: "Wow, armadillos can be used like this.
The young man "Uad is originally used like this."
Meshay: "This is called an armadillo."
Young man: "It's an ud.
Meshay: "Armadillo is better"
Young man "Well, I'll do that."
Meshay: "Uh-huh."

The difference in the sense of distance toward the mechas is created by making the attachment to the name and the name somewhat tantalizingly audible. The difference between professionals and amateurs, in other words. The two are at odds with each other in wartime.
The confusion that only wartime can bring is smartly presented by using weapons as props. Isn't that what creative "military taste" is all about?

The twin sister mechanics who ask Roland for his autograph are also amusing, and at first they yell at him, "Don't the pilots of the Smor (a mecha used by the SS Diana) know about such things? he yells at Roland at first. Roland is only borrowing the Smoe from Lieutenant Harry because he has no choice, since his beloved Tribe Gundam has been stolen by the enemy. When the sisters learn of Roland's true identity, their attitude changes.
Tribe Gundam" teaches us that the battlefield is a place where "people who should not be there meet," and that is why it is possible to depict tragedy and comedy with rich emotion.


(Text by Keisuke Hirota)