Yoshiyuki Tomino Questions Whether Modern Filmmaking Has Lost Its Sense of Wonder

Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino has shared his thoughts on modern filmmaking, digital technology and generative AI, arguing that advances in technology can sometimes come at the expense of direction and storytelling.

Tomino discussed the subject in an interview featured in the August 2026 issue of Monthly Gundam Ace, following his receipt of the Order of the Rising Sun earlier this year.

Yoshiyuki Tomino. Photo by Miho Takahashi

Speaking about the role of a director, Tomino criticized productions that focus on capturing impressive panoramic images without giving enough attention to the story.

He believes modern filmmaking may also be losing something he describes as a “sense of wonder.”

Tomino recalled how filmmakers would once use different types of shots to encourage audiences to actively search for characters within large backgrounds. He says that process of searching helped immerse viewers in the story and created a sense of wonder.

However, he questioned whether modern films still have that same quality now that digital technology can create almost anything.

Tomino specifically pointed to CG, saying it has become a convenient tool that allows objects to be easily copied or moved. He feels some anime and films focus too heavily on showing off CG simply because it was created, rather than using it to support the story.

“We’ve forgotten the principles of direction and storytelling that give films their sense of wonder,” Tomino said.

He also expressed concerns about increasingly high-resolution imagery. Tomino questioned the need for extremely detailed close-ups that can reveal things such as the pores on an actor’s skin, arguing that directors can become too reliant on cameras and take an easier approach to filmmaking.

Tomino was also asked about generative AI. While he acknowledged that the technology is becoming increasingly convenient, he questioned whether creators have the judgment needed to determine when it actually fits a dramatic scene.

He feels that the “eye of the director” is not being exercised enough, with convenient close-up shots sometimes allowing an actor to carry a scene without properly depicting the dramatic process.

Tomino also pointed to films that lose track of their narratives, stressing the importance of showing the development of the drama itself rather than simply presenting impressive imagery.

As for Tomino's own work, the director is currently developing a brand-new project. He has kept details about it secret, but says that if he is given the opportunity to produce it, he is confident it will be a masterpiece.