Kunio Okawara

Kunio Okawara (大河原 邦男) is a mechanical designer in the Japanese 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.

Formative years
Okawara attended Tokyo Zokei University 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&mdash;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.

Sunrise, Inc.
Following the first two 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.). 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&mdash;the series' final televised entry&mdash;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.

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.

ca. 1972-1978
Okawara's early designs tended to stem less from the designs of Mazinger Z and Brave Raideen, approaching a more discrete, angular composition&mdash; his works replete with curving "tail fin"-like spars seen in 1970s automotive design (as is evidenced with Daitarn 3). Early designs in Mobile Suit Gundam itself were also in that mindset, drafts of the "beam rifles" seeming more ornate and irrational than practical; Tomino's notes are assumed to have made for a great deal of adjustment.

ca. 1979-1989
Following the success of the original Gundam, Okawara's designs shed many of their 1970s qualities, opting for more of a utilitarian bent (as the Real Robot shows of the 1980s did themselves). As Okawara's designs were "built upon" by other emerging designers in his field&mdash;Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam being one such case, the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam more a product of Kazumi Fujita and Mamoru Nagano than Okawara himself&mdash;Okawara incorporated the "lessons learned" into his own designs later on.

ca. 1990-present
Okawara's Brave Series work would show his versatility and range, incorporating his old Super Robot elements paired with a seemingly Real Robot aesthetic (probably due in no small part to his analysis of Takara's Transformers designs). These works would culminate in the creation of Genesic GaoGaiGar: as un-"Okawara"-like a design as some might otherwise have guessed in its drastic, beast-like lines.

Okawara's Gundam SEED work incorporates thinner lines combined with the "lessons learned" from his peers&mdash;on the whole providing a much more "mature" Gundam look while still remaining dynamic to a newer audience.

History of works
(Listed chronologically)


 * Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972-1974)
 * Artist (enemy mechanical design)


 * Hariken Polymer (1974)
 * Mechanical design (Tatsunoko Mechaman Design Office)


 * Tekkaman: The Space Knight (1975)
 * Mechanical design (Tatsunoko Mechaman Design Office)


 * Gowappā 5 Godam (1976)
 * Primary mechanical design (Tatsunoko Mechaman Design Office)


 * Time Bokan (1976)
 * Blocker Gundan IV: Machine Blaster (1976)
 * Yattāman (1977)
 * Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo (1977)
 * Chōgattai Majutsu Robo Gingaizer (1977)
 * Tobidase! Machine Hiryū (1977)
 * Gekisō! Ruben Gaizer (1977)
 * Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 (1978)
 * Principal mechanical design
 * Selected works: Daitarn 3


 * Uchū Majin Daikengō (1978)
 * Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II (1978)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
 * Principal mechanical design
 * Selected works: RX-78-2 Gundam, MS-06 Zaku II


 * Zendaman (1979)
 * The Ultraman (1979)
 * Science Ninja Team Gatchaman F (1979)
 * Muteki Robo Trider G7 (1980)
 * Time Patrol Tai Otasukeman (1980)
 * Tondemo Senshi Muteking (1980)
 * Space Runaway Ideon (1980)
 * Fang of the Sun Dougram (1981)
 * Yattodetaman (1981)
 * Saikyō Robo Daiōja (1981)
 * Doraemon: The Record of Nobita: Spaceblazer (1981)
 * Kaitei Taisensō (1981)
 * Combat Mecha Xabungle (1982)
 * Gyakuten Ippatsuman (1982)
 * Armored Trooper VOTOMS (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 Galient (1984)
 * Chōriki Robo Galatt (1984)
 * MS-X manga series (cancelled) (1984)
 * Principal mechanical design


 * Blue Comet SPT Layzner (1985)
 * Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, RMS-106 HiZack


 * Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986)
 * Metal Armor Dragonar (1987)
 * Armor Hunter Mellowlink (1988)
 * Mado King Granzort (1989)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (1989)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam F90 model kit series (1990)
 * Principal mechanical design
 * Brave Exkaiser (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 F91 (1991)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: F91 Gundam Formula 91


 * Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991)
 * The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn (1992)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: Da-Garn, Da-Garn X, Great Da-Garn GX


 * Hero Senki: Project Olympos (1992)
 * The Brave Express Might Gaine (1993)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: Might Gaine, Great Might Gaine, Might Gunner, Great Might Gaine Perfect Mode


 * Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993)
 * Mechanical design


 * Shippū! Iron Leaguer (1993)
 * Brave Police J-Decker (1994)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: Deckerd, J-Decker, Fire J-Decker


 * Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam, GF13-017NJII God Gundam


 * The Brave of Gold Goldran (1995)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: Goldran, Great Goldran


 * New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (1995)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: XXXG-01W Wing Gundam, XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero


 * Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (1996)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: RX-79[G] Gundam Mass Production Ground Type


 * Brave Command Dagwon (1996)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: Fire Dagwon, Super Fire Dagwon


 * After War Gundam X (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 GaoGaiGar (1997)
 * Principal mechanical design
 * Selected works: GaoGaiGar


 * Turn A Gundam (1999)
 * Mechanical design


 * Betterman (1999)
 * Sunrise Eiyūtan (1999)
 * The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL (2000)
 * Principal mechanical design
 * Selected works: GaoFighGar, Genesic GaoGaiGar


 * Time Bokan 2000: Kaitō Kiramekiman (2000)
 * Gravion (2002)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: GAT-X105 Strike Gundam


 * Kikō Busō G-Breaker (2002)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray (2003)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: YMF-X000A Dreadnought Gundam, CAT1-X Hyperion Gundam


 * Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004)
 * Mechanical design
 * Selected works: ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam


 * Super Robot Wars GC (2004)
 * "Original Mechanical Designer" (token credit; no actual work done?)


 * "SYS*017" exhibit at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Ishikawa (2004)
 * Head-mounted display and control trigger design


 * Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation: Heirs to the Stars (2005)
 * Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation II: Lovers (2005)
 * Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation III: Love is the Pulse of the Stars (2006)
 * Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (2006)
 * Apo Mekhanes Theos: Gigantic Formula (2007)
 * Guest mechanical design
 * Selected work: Chronos Zero


 * ''Another Century's Episode 3 (2007)
 * Mechanical design of Falugen Custom, variation unit from Metal Armor Dragonar


 * Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2007)
 * Mechanical design of GN-000 0 Gundam and others


 * Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010)
 * Original mechanical design

Trivia

 * When asked what the favorite of his works was during an interview, Okawara chose his designs for Shippū! Iron Leaguer.