�¡ Animation Kobe - TV Feature Award

�¡ Judge's Comment

Hello, I am [first name] Shiraishi, editor in chief of the monthly New Type magazine. I'm extremely happy for this opportunity to explain the judges' decision in giving this award to "Turn A Gundam", which has a deep connection to the name of our magazine. Put simply, our decision was made on the basis of this being one of the most talked-about shows this year. This year was Gundam's 20th anniversary, and the sudden appearance of executive director Yoshiyuki Tomino making this a pedigreed Gundam; the use of such top-flight talents as [first name] Yasuda for character creation and Sid Mead for robot design; and Tomino-san's "All-Gundam Affirmation Declaration" were some of the factors that influenced our decision. And the fact that Gundam, beyond the show itself, was consistently newsworthy was really amazing. Just the other day, for example, there was a wonderful orchestra performance conducted by Yoko Kanno at the Tokyo Forum. Also, the show continues to promise new developments all the time -- in fact, we'll be featuring a new robot called Turn X on the cover of our next New Type issue. I believe that Gundam--and this is something I can say about all of the works that have won awards here today--is a work that has continuously fought to express the total freedom of animation. Heartiest congratulations!

�¡ Executive Director Yoshiyuki Tomino Comments

Thank you, truly, for inviting me here today. The fact is, in the past three years that these awards were given out, I was sitting on the sidelines looking on enviously. More than anything, I believed I would never be asked to such an event again. When the great earthquake struck, I was ill at the time, and I wanted to see if I could make it to Kobe on my own. So one week after the earthquake I arrived in Kobe, but that time I only got as far as the Merchant Marine School. I looked up at the blue sky, and I thought, "This is what life is like for the people of Kobe. I can't work because I'm ill, but I'm not the only one suffering." I came to Kobe again last year for work, but only got as far as Sannomiya and didn't make it out to Port Island. So it's taken me five years to get here. It made me really happy today to see the ground here on the island is flat again. Currently, my work--as usual--is getting really low ratings. (audience laughs) So I hope to use this award as a springboard for doing better, and hope for your support. Thank you very much.