Monthly BANDAI Making Journal was a monthly publication released by Bandai to advertise their upcoming model kits. I picked up this particular issue out of curiosity since it had some of the old CCA promo art on the cover. Just for fun, here’s a look inside at the movie announcement and some bonus pages of other Gundam related content.
The art on the cover is credited to Kōichi Tokita (artist for many different Gundam manga series), who actually tweeted about this particular issue a few years ago.
Translation of the tweet:
The July 1987 issue of Model Information featured a breaking news article about Char’s Counterattack.
I’m pretty sure the colors hadn’t been decided yet…
I was told, “Draw a cel illustration as soon as possible. I’ll leave the finishing touches to you.” and this is what I drew.
Gundam movie confirmed!!
Char’s Counterattack
The Gundam saga enters a new phase as the shockwave that shook the era is revived once again.
The “Mobile Suit Gundam” series has enjoyed immense popularity since it first aired on television in 1979. Although ZZ has ended and the series has seen its tentative conclusion, the fans’ request for more only grows stronger. In response to this, the long-rumored film version of Gundam is finally getting underway. The staff includes director Yoshiyuki Tomino of course, as well as the currently most popular animator Hiroyuki Kitazume and the equally popular mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi, ensuring that everything is at its best. The story is set in the 93rd year of Universal Century, after ZZ, and will center around the all-out confrontation between Char Aznable, who has revived the Zeon forces, and Amuro Ray, who is in the Federation forces. What’s more, the mobile suits that appear will have all-new designs (a new version of the Hi-Zack will also appear)!! Anyway, we plan to bring you new model information as soon as it becomes available, so please look forward to it.
Quess Paraya
A girl who plays an important role in this film, she sympathizes with Char and joins the battle.
Hathaway Noa
As his name suggests, he is Bright and Mirai’s son.
Chan Agi
A female mechanic in the Federation forces who is attracted to Amuro Ray’s kindness.
Gyunei Guss
A Zeon pilot who has suspicions about Char’s attitude towards Quess.
Amuro Ray
Forced into a fateful showdown with Char.
[The table below Amuro lists some movies and corresponding theaters where the Char’s Counterattack trailer will be screened]
Special trailer now showing
| Films to be screened | Screening theater | |
| ●Beverly Hills Cop 2 | (Tokyo) | Marunouchi Piccadilly Shinjuku Piccadilly |
| (Osaka) | Umeda Piccadilly 1 | |
| (Sapporo) | Sapporo SY Yuraku | |
| (Fukuoka) | Fukuoka Piccadilly 1 Fukuoka Piccadilly 2 | |
| ●Police Academy 4 | (Tokyo) | Marunouchi Piccadilly 2 Toho Theater |
| (Kansai) | SY Shochiku Kyoei Kobe Big Movie Theater | |
| ●Lethal Weapon | (Tokyo) | Shochiku Central |
| (Kansai) | Shochikuza Theatre Umeda Piccadilly 2 Kyoto Shochiku | |
| ●Amazing Stories | (Tokyo) | Toho Theater |
| (Osaka) | Umeda Piccadilly 3 |
※ Other films include “Twenty-Four Eyes” and “Otoko wa Tsurai yo” at Shochiku Japanese film theaters nationwide.
Staff
●Original story, director and scriptwriter: Yoshiyuki Tomino
●Character design: Hiroyuki Kitazume
●Mobile suit design: Yutaka Izubuchi
●Mechanical design cooperation: Gainax Inc.
●Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda
●Animation Director: Hiroyuki Kitazume, Hidetoshi Omori
●Producer: Kenji Uchida
●Planning and production: Sunrise Inc.
●Distributor: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
As a bonus, here’s a few extra pages of Gundam related content from this issue not related to Char’s Counterattack.
