The new cast of the theater animation "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Island of Cruculus Doan" has been announced, and Shunsuke Takeuchi will play Cruculus Doan, an important character who develops the story with the main character Amuro Ray, and who is also in the title of the film. In addition, in commemoration of "Zaku Day" on March 9, two mecha were also unveiled. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, who served as animation director for the 1979 broadcast of "Mobile Suit Gundam," has re-imagined episode 15, "The Island of Cruz Doan," known as a unique episode of the series, from a new angle. In the original story "The Island of Cruz Doan," a boy named Amuro is involved in the war and is forced to become the pilot of the Earth Federation Forces' new mobile suit "RX-78-02 Gundam," while a deserter from the Zeon army who lives on an isolated island while raising war-ravaged orphans, is forced to become a pilot. The sadness of war was depicted through the interaction of Cruz Doan. The Earth Federation Forces, having successfully defended Jaburo, launched a major counterinsurgency operation to capture Odessa, the home base of the Zeon Earth Advance Force. Amidst this situation, the White Base, on which Amuro and his crew ride, is ordered to clear out the remaining enemies on an uninhabited island commonly referred to as "the island of no return," and embarks on a search for the remaining agents. There, they see "children who should not be there" and a Zaku. Amuro, who lost his Gundam in the battle, meets a man who calls himself "Cruz Doan. Character drawing of Cruz Doan Doan, played by Takeuchi, is a former MS pilot in the Principality of Zeon army who lives on an isolated island with many children. Since becoming a deserter after running away with the Zaku he was flying, he has been using the Zaku, which he repaired and refurbished himself, to fight the Earth Federation Forces and the Principality of Zeon forces that approach the island, disabling them in battle. He is a pilot who is capable of overwhelming even Amuro's Gundam, and after an encounter with Amuro's Gundam, he rescued Amuro by lowering him from the cockpit. He is hiding "a secret" on the island, and his former subordinate, the Southern Cross Squadron, is after his life. In addition, to commemorate "Zaku Day," two mechanical setting drawings of the "MS-06F Zaku for Doan," which Doan flew when he led the Southern Cross Corps of the Principality of Zeon, and the "RX-78-02 Gundam," a prototype mobile suit for white combat of the Earth Federation Forces that Amuro flies, have been released. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Island of Cruz Doan" will open in theaters nationwide on June 3. Takeuchi's comments are as follows Shunsuke Takeuchi (Cruz Doan) I am Shunsuke Takeuchi, the voice of Cruz Doan in this film. I feel very honored to be involved in the Gundam series at this time, which marks the 40th anniversary of the series, and to be a part of the "first series" directed by Yasuhiko-san. I have known about the existence of episode 15 for a long time, but I never imagined that it would be rebooted. I have reviewed all the episodes of the first series to make sure I did not disappoint everyone's expectations, and I have taken on the challenge. As with the original subject matter, this work will be enjoyable for those who know Gundam as well as those who do not. How I said something like that, but don't think about it too hard! The new "Doan Zaku"! The white one! And many other new elements! Mobile suits fighting with flamboyance! We hope you will enjoy them on the big screen! You want to get out? Doan Shokken-tsuki! (C) Sotsu, Sunrise
【Background】
・Graduated from Kyoto University with a major in Japanese Culture Studies, Faculty of Letters
・After graduation, worked 4 years as editor and proofreader for a print magazine specializing in traditional performing arts and culture
・Became a freelance journalist in 2021 and launched japanculturean.com in 2022
【Expertise】
・Pop-Culture Fusion Analysis
Analytical commentary on how modern pop-culture media (anime, film, fashion) incorporates and reinterprets traditional Japanese motifs.
