Kimitoshi Yamane (山根 公利, Yamane Kimitoshi, born 1966) is a Japanese mecha designer.[1] He was born in Kawamoto, Shimane Prefecture, and lives in Hamada, Shimane Prefecture.[2][3] His representative works include Cowboy Bebop, Infinite Ryvius, The Vision of Escaflowne and the Gundam series.[3][1]
Yamane's designs are characterised by a sense of industrial product, designed with motifs from real vehicles and weapons, or from war and science fiction films.[2][4] While Yamane has a deep knowledge of tanks and ships, he has little interest in robot in human form.[1][5] In the Gundam series, he sometimes designs the main robot Gundam, but his work is basically focused on naval vessels, aircraft and vehicles.[4][5]
His hobbies include fishing, working on cars, and riding motorcycles.[1][6] He owns several old cars and would like to try his hand at designing real cars if he gets the chance.[7]
Biography
editAfter graduating from high school, Yamane moved to Tokyo and attended the Animation Department of Chiyoda Technical Art College in Tokyo for two years while working as a newspaper scholarship student.[8][9]
Yamane belonged to Artmic[a], whose main business is planning anime works, where he worked on mecha designs for animation, mainly OVAs, while receiving guidance from Shinji Aramaki, Hideki Kakinuma, and Kenichi Sonoda.[8][10] He participated in co-productions with foreign countries such as the United States and France, and spent some time in Paris.[8] He was also involved in the remake of Tatsunoko Production's Casshan and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.[10]
Around the time Artmik went into financial difficulties, Yamane decided to become a freelance designer in 1994, as he began to work for Sunrise on Mobile Fighter G Gundam and made contacts.[8][9][10]
Yamane designed the main robot for the first time in The Vision of Escaflowne.[8][10] However, although his title was main designer, it is more correct to say that he co-designed the robot based on director Shōji Kawamori's first draft.[11]
Yamane participated in Cowboy Bebop from the planning stage.[12] After passing the audition, Yamane was entrusted with the mecha design by director Shinichirō Watanabe, making it his first work as a designer to create a mecha from concept.[9][12][13] In episode 19, Wild Horses, he went beyond the position of mecha designer and proposed the plot of the episode.[14] This work was a huge hit, and he also gained recognition as a mecha designer.[9]
Yamane also participated in the next work, Infinite Ryvius, from the early stages, and was involved in creating the concept for the work.[15]
Yamane subsequently worked on Argento Soma, designing a human-shaped mecha to symbolize the work, as well as most of the aircraft and facilities.[16]
However, after those ambitious works, mecha design became increasingly fixed in the Japanese animation industry, and Yamane's free-thinking designs found it difficult to gain approval.[2][9] Feeling stuck in a rut at work and a sense of entrapment in the industry, he began to think about leaving Tokyo and returning to his hometown to reconsider himself.[2][9] He then returned to his home town of Shimane in 2000 at the age of 34, got married and found a large plot of land in Hamada City where he built a house.[2][9] He thought it would be a good place to build a garage for tinkering with his car, so he could use his hobbies in his work, and it would also be a turning point for his career.[2] At first, he was prepared to lose his job in anime, but the internet infrastructure made it easier to exchange image data, and he continued to receive offers of work from Tokyo.[2][9]
Main works
editTV series
edit- The Three-Eyed One (1990–1991)
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994–1995)
- The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)
- Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)
- Infinite Ryvius (1999–2000)
- Argento Soma (2000–2001)
- Overman King Gainer (2002–2003)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002–2003)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004–2005)
- Cluster Edge (2005–2006)
- Starship Operators (2005)
- Tide-Line Blue (2005)
- Galaxy Angel II (2006)
- Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula (2007)
- Eureka Seven: AO (2012)
- Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2013)
- Gundam Reconguista in G (2014)
Anime films
edit- Spriggan (1998)
- Escaflowne (2000)
- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
- Zeta Gundam: A New Translation II (2005)
- King of Thorn (2010)
- Short Peace (2013)
- Genocidal Organ (2017)
- Gundam Reconguista in G the Movie I〜V (2019-2022)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash (2021)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island (2022)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (2024)
OVA
edit- Genocyber (1994)
- Bubblegum Crisis (1987–1991)
- Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 (1988)
- Hades Project Zeorymer (1988–1990)
- Rhea Gall Force (1989)
- A.D. Police: Dead End City (1990)
- Bubblegum Crash (1991)
- Detonator Orgun (1991-1993)
- Gall Force: New Era (1991)
- Casshan: Robot Hunter (1993–1994)
- Gatchaman (1994–1995)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (1996–1999)
- Voogie's Angel (1997-1998)
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO (2004–2006)
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2 (2008–2009)
- Five Numbers! (2011)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2015)
Video game
edit- Shadow Squadron (1995)[17]
Web animation
edit- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (2006)
- Xam'd: Lost Memories (2008–2009)
- Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (2024)
Art books
edit- Yamane, Kimitoshi (January 20, 2008). Yamane Kimitoshi Meka Zukan (山根公利 メカ図鑑) 'Kimitoshi Yamane Mecha Picture Book'. MdN Corporation. ISBN 4-8443-5960-6.
- Yamane, Kimitoshi (February 19, 2024). Yamane Kimitoshi Mekanikku Dezain Shū Mono Gurafu (山根公利メカニックデザイン集 モノGRAPH) 'Kimitoshi Yamane Mechanic Design Collection Mono Graph'. Time. ISBN 4-9091-8515-1.
Notes and References
editNotes
edit- ^ He was only affiliated and not a full-time employee with benefits.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Meka Zukan 2008, p. 189.
- ^ a b c d e f g "「ビバップ」山根公利&IZM designworks・直良有祐が語る「島根で働く」ということ―島根クリエイター対談" [Kimitoshi Yamane of "Bebop" and Yusuke Naora of IZM designworks talk about 'working in Shimane' - Shimane creator conversation]. Inside (in Japanese). IID, Inc. January 10, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Ichino, Kai (April 5, 2022). "アニメの「メカ」地方で描く 自身の原点、作品に込める - Myway - 島根" [Drawing anime 'mecha' in the countryside: his origins and his work - Myway - Shimane]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Tokyo. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Meka Zukan 2008, p. 194.
- ^ a b Meka Zukan 2008, p. 103.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 201.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 195.
- ^ a b c d e Meka Zukan 2008, pp. 191–192.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ichino, Kai (March 2, 2020). "「オリジナルのメカを」 デザイナー山根公利さん" ['Original mecha' Designer Kimitoshi Yamane]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Tokyo. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "クリエイターインタビュー 第17回 『カウボーイビバップ』メカニカルデザイン 山根公利＜前編＞" [Creator interviews Vol. 17 Mechanical design for 'Cowboy Bebop' Kimitoshi Yamane <Part 1>]. Sunrise World (in Japanese). Sunrise. May 10, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 50.
- ^ a b Meka Zukan 2008, p. 193.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 18.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 40.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 82.
- ^ Meka Zukan 2008, p. 86.
- ^ Sega (26 April 1995). Shadow Squadron (32X). Sega. Level/area: Credits.
- ^ 山根公利 (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ "English Newtype Online Site Updated!". Anime News Network. 2001-03-05. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
- ^ "Argentosoma and Kikaider to premier at LA Comic Convention". Anime News Network. 2001-01-10. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
- ^ "Esaflowne Movie Announcements". Anime News Network. 2000-04-17. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
- ^ "New Escaflowne, Final Fantasy movie details announced". Anime News Network. 1999-08-04. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
External links
editKimitoshi Yamane at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
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