Great Anime Directors: Ryosuke Takahashi

By Mark McPherson
24th May 04

Ryosuke Takahashi is yet again another underrated anime director. Not only did he create some of the greatest mecha series ever, but he re-defined mecha anime in a totally different view.

Ryosuke Takahashi started his work in the early 80's with the creation of Armored Trooper VOTOMS. Though the mecha flavor of the day in those days was mostly intergalactic alien war, Takahashi avoided this genre and created his own. Much like Gundam, it would take place in an alternative timeline, but it would also take place in an alternative universe. This alone would have attracted viewers to this TV series, but it got even better when told through the eyes of a merc soldier named Chirico. Chirico, after having been banished from his unit, meets a woman in space. This woman is nothing but ordinary. She is a test tube soldier. Frightend, but interested, Chirico sets out to be with her again with the help of some new friends by the names of Vanilla, Connoca and Gotho.

The TV series not only went as long as 4 seasons, but also sprung into OAVs and movies. When a series is spun-off, you know you're doing something right. Takahashi continued on with VOTOMS until he finally decided to do something different. In 1998, he got back in the game by creating two new mecha anime series. The first was Gasaraki.

Gasaraki told the story of the Gowa family, an ancient Japanese clan, who are trying to weild the power of their ancient ancestors in order to bring new mecha to the table to be used in international wars. This, however, has been partially achieved with immitations called Tactial Armors. However, when Japan sends it's Tactical Armors against a middle eastern nation, they discover a similar model called FAKEs. This triggers flares between two people, Yushiro Gowa and Miharu. Yushiro Gowa is the youngest son of the Gowa family who pilots TAs and is also used to summon the Gasaraki. Miharu plays a similar role, but is more artificially created. Their personalities are so similar they don't want to kill each other, but with Japan and a secret organization called Symbol after both of them, it will no be easy for them to be together.

Takahashi's second series was the highly popular Blue Gender. Blue Gender told the story of Yuji Kaido, a sleeper who was put into cryogenic stasis in the year 2009 and awoken amist a battle between man and insects in the year 2031. Of course, it is here where he meets a female partner and pilots a mecha. Same storytelling, different angle.

While Takahashi's works are somewhat limited, his works are very well known and well written. There is even a novel version of VOTOMS out in Japan right now. Nothing is currently in the works for Takahashi right now, but one can only imagine what he will write next. The sky is the limit.

-- Mark McPherson 24th May 04