MDS Vol.01 "What is Mecha Design?"

What is Mecha Design?

Performance

Kunio Okawara (Mechanical Designer)

Kazutaka Miyatake (Mechanical Designer)

Hiroshi Oobuchi (Animation Director / Mechanical Designer)

Contents

When people hear 'mechanic design,' many probably think of robots, but that is only a small part; the field also encompasses other mechanics, vehicles, weapons, small items, and more.
At that time, the role of mechanic designer was not yet established as a profession. Humanoid robots were handled by character designers, while bases, ships, weapons, and similar sets were concurrently managed by art setting staff. However, over time, demands increased, and designers specializing in these areas became necessary.
The job of a mechanic designer is to convey accurate shapes to the animators. Since the designs will be animated, it is also necessary to limit the amount of information, such as reducing the number of lines. Additionally, it is important to listen to the sponsors' intentions and consider product commercialization.
Interweaving behind-the-scenes stories from the development phase, we were able to catch a glimpse of the creative process, emphasizing that the method of ideation and daily accumulation are essential.