Evangelion director warns Gundam may not survive next decade without redefining mecha genre

The future of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has been called into question by anime director Kazuya Tsurumaki, who suggested that the series may not survive another decade without a significant shift in its approach to mecha storytelling.

Tsurumaki, known for his work on Neon Genesis Evangelion and more recently Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX, shared his thoughts in an interview with Yahoo! Japan.

Reflecting on the original Gundam’s nearly fifty-year history, he highlighted how the series once resonated with youth culture by presenting piloted robots as metaphors for independence and adulthood.

“I think that was an extension of that, and that pilotable robots were a tool that allowed people to leap into adulthood and surpass adults. However, I don't think that's necessary for today's younger generation,” he explained.

Tsurumaki added that younger audiences are more accustomed to protagonists who rely on innate superpowers or intuitive abilities rather than mechanical vehicles. He drew comparisons to gaming, where players can freely control characters with a controller, suggesting that piloting a giant robot may no longer hold the same appeal.

Tsurumaki warned: “While the generation that dreamed of motorcycles and cars is still around, the Gundam series may not survive in another 10 years. I'm reminded of the need to update the meaning of robots, something I felt while creating the Evangelion series.”

He also noted the dominance of shonen manga such as Jujutsu Kaisen, which has become a cultural touchstone for younger audiences in a way that giant robots no longer are.

Recent Gundam projects have often revisited older series through anniversaries and legacy stories, raising concerns about the franchise’s ability to attract new generations.