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The Yokosuka Museum presents the “Giant Robots” – The core of Japanese Mecha Anime Exhibition, unraveling the design and cinematic history of giant robot anime. This exhibition will be held from February 10th to April 7th, 2024.
Marking 60 years since the broadcast of the first giant robot anime, ‘Iron Man No. 28,’ in 1963, the exhibition showcases about 45 robot anime titles up to recent years. Alongside approximately 200 items including original drawings and a wealth of materials, it poses the question ‘What are giant robots?’ This explores the unique Japanese genre of ‘giant robot anime’ that has been cultivated over the years.
The Realism of Giant Robots: Their Presence in the Real World
Following ‘Iron Man No. 28,’ the massive success of ‘Mazinger Z’ and the groundbreaking ‘Mobile Suit Gundam,’ which influenced not just robot anime but anime and visual media as a whole, heralded a new era. Through these masterpieces, we explore their evolution and allure.
Transcending the realm of fantasy and anime, the design and visual representation of giant robots have achieved a ‘reality’ that integrates into everyday scenes. The exhibition examines this aspect of giant robots, focusing on their ‘mechanism’ and ‘size.’
As a unique culture that Japan proudly presents to the world, the history and culture of giant robot anime continue to captivate us. Experience this at the Yokosuka Museum’s ‘“Giant Robots” – The core of Japanese Mecha Anime Exhibition.
Highlights of the Exhibition
The ‘Mechanism’ and Design of Giant Robots
‘Piloting,’ ‘Combining,’ ‘Transforming’ – these are critical elements of giant robot anime. The exhibition deciphers the rationality and creativity hidden in these mechanisms and designs, illustrated through design sketches and scenes from animations, as well as crafted models.
Experiencing the Scale of Robots
By the 1980s, the portrayal of giant robots progressed to a level of ‘size’ akin to practical machinery, adding more realism to their representation. Through life-sized models of the robots, visitors can experience a sensation that transcends the boundaries between reality and the anime world.
Exploring the Internal Mechanics
Robots are depicted with ‘internal cutaway views,’ making them seem as if they truly exist. What lies behind the armor, the inner mechanisms – are these depictions the creators’ desires to materialize fictional mechanics, or a form of fetishism? The exhibition focuses on the ‘inside’ of the robots, which adds realism and is not always shown in the series.
Giant Robot Art by Mechanical Designer Kazutaka Miyatake
©東北新社
For this exhibition, Kazutaka Miyatake from ‘Studio Nue’ has specially created a large painting themed around giant robots. Utilizing the vast space of the museum, visitors can fully immerse themselves in Miyatake’s unique world of robots. Additionally, other works from ‘Studio Nue’ are also specially exhibited!
Kazutaka Miyatake is a pioneering mechanical designer in the Japanese anime industry. A founding member of ‘Studio Nue,’ he established the profession of mechanical designer alongside Kunio Okawara. Miyatake’s works are particularly prominent in the field of SF art, spanning a wide range of fields, from weaponry to flora and fauna. His contributions can be seen in various media, including anime, movies, and illustrations for novels.
Partial List of Works by Kazutaka Miyatake
- Mazinger Z (1972-1974) – Internal Diagrams
- Space Battleship Yamato (1974) – Mechanical Design
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1978-1979) – Cleanup and Detailing of the Arcadia
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982-1983) – Mechanical Design
- Aura Battler Dunbine (1983-1984) – Concept and Mechanical Design
- Aim for the Top! Gunbuster (1988-1989) – Mechanical Design
- Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) – Biollante Design Consideration, Super X2 Design Consideration (Uncredited)
- Macross 7 (1994-1995) – Mechanical Design
- AO6/Blue Submarine No. 6 by Satoru Ozawa (1997) – Mechanical Design
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002-2003) – Design Collaboration
- Eureka Seven (2005-2006) – Conceptual Design
- Macross Δ (2016) – Mechanical Design
- SYNDUALITY (2023) – Legendary Design
Information
| Exhibition Period | February 10th, 2024 (Sat) to April 7th, 2024 (Sun) |
| Location | Yokosuka Museum |
| Address | 4-1 Kamoi, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Phone | 046-845-1211 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Closed | Closed: March 4th (Mon), April 1st (Mon) |
| Admission Fees | Adults 1,300 (1,040) yen, High School/University Students & Seniors 65+ 1,100 (880) yen, Free for Middle School Students and Younger *Prices in parentheses are for groups of 20 or more. *Free for high school students residing or studying in Yokosuka City. *Free for persons with a disability certificate, rehabilitation certificate, or mental health welfare certificate, plus one accompanying person. |
| WEB | Yokosuka Museum |
Access to the Exhibition
■ By Train From Keikyu Line “Mabori Kaigan” station or JR “Yokosuka” station Take the bus bound for Kannonzaki, get off at “Lavista Kannonzaki Terrace/Yokosuka Museum” 2-minute walk from the bus stop.
From Keikyu Line “Uraga” station Take the bus bound for Kannonzaki, get off at the “Kannonzaki” terminal 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
■ By Car Approximately 3 km (about 5 minutes) from the Yokohama-Yokosuka Road Mabori Kaigan I.C.
Ticket Giveaway Campaign
Add Guidoor’s official LINE account and send a message saying “Let’s go to the Yokosuka Museum.”
We are giving away ‘“Giant Robots” – The core of Japanese Mecha Anime Exhibition at Yokosuka Museum of Art’ exhibition invitation tickets (pair of 2) to 10 lucky winners through a lottery!
Campaign Entry Deadline
April 1st, 2024 (Mon) 23:59
How to Enter
① Add Guidoor’s official LINE account: Guidoor Official LINE Account Add as a friend on LINE
② Send a message saying “Let’s go to the Yokosuka Museum” via LINE.
【Important Notes】
※ Entries from multiple accounts belonging to the same individual are invalid.
※ Entries are limited to residents of Japan, and prize delivery is limited to addresses within Japan. ※ Winners will be notified by the shipment of the prize. We cannot respond to inquiries about the results via phone or email.
※ Personal information provided in this campaign will be used only for the purpose of the lottery, prize shipment, and winner notification, and will not be used for other purposes.
※ For inquiries related to this campaign, please send a message via LINE.
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