{"product_id":"mobile-suit-gundam-rx-78-2-vs-rick-dom-機動戦士ガンダム-original-japanese-animec-art-poster-c-1980s-b2-size-51-73-cm-copy","title":"“Symphonic Poem Gundam” (交響詩ガンダム), Rare Original Japanese Promotional Poster 1980, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Artwork, B2 Size (c. 51.5 × 72.8 cm)","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese promotional poster produced in 1980 in connection with King Records’\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSymphonic Poem Gundam\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003e交響詩ガンダム\u003c\/strong\u003e), featuring original artwork by legendary \u003cstrong\u003eMobile Suit Gundam character designer and animation director Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (安彦良和)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eReleased during the formative years of the original \u003cem\u003eMobile Suit Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e phenomenon, \u003cem\u003eSymphonic Poem Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e transformed music from the television series into a \u003cstrong\u003eten-part full-orchestral suite\u003c\/strong\u003e, conducted by \u003cstrong\u003eKazuhiko Komatsu\u003c\/strong\u003e and performed by the \u003cstrong\u003eNew Japan Philharmonic Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e, with music by \u003cstrong\u003eTakeo Watanabe and Yūshi Matsuyama\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe original LP, catalogue number \u003cstrong\u003eK25G-7001\u003c\/strong\u003e, was issued by King Records in \u003cstrong\u003e1980\u003c\/strong\u003e, at precisely the moment when \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e was beginning its transformation from an initially modest television production into one of the defining franchises of Japanese popular culture. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical context\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWhen \u003cem\u003eMobile Suit Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e first aired in 1979, it dramatically altered the language of Japanese robot animation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eRather than treating giant robots primarily as colourful superhero machines, creator \u003cstrong\u003eYoshiyuki Tomino\u003c\/strong\u003e placed them inside a sprawling military and political conflict, populated by psychologically complex characters whose loyalties, relationships and ideals were continually tested by war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe series’ reputation grew rapidly following its original broadcast, helped by reruns, model kits, records and an increasingly passionate fan culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSymphonic Poem Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e belongs directly to this early period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eRather than presenting the soundtrack simply as television music, King Records commissioned a \u003cstrong\u003efull orchestral interpretation\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving the score the treatment of a dramatic symphonic work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe album consists of ten movements, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「眠りより」 — From Sleep\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「珠玉の人」 — A Precious Person\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「大地を発って」 — Leaving the Earth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「遭遇の宇宙」 — Encounter in Space\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「ララア・ときめき」 — Lalah, Heartbeat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「疾風のように」 — Like the Gale\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「女たちよ」 — Women\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「戦場空域」 — Battlefield Airspace\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「ソーラ・パワー」 — Solar Power\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「黎明」 — Dawn\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIt is an unusually ambitious piece of merchandise from the earliest \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e boom, signalling that the series was already being treated as something far more substantial than conventional children’s animation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYoshikazu Yasuhiko artwork\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe poster features an exceptionally elegant composition by \u003cstrong\u003eYoshikazu Yasuhiko\u003c\/strong\u003e, universally known among fans as \u003cstrong\u003e“YAS.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eYasuhiko was responsible for the original series’ \u003cstrong\u003echaracter designs and animation direction\u003c\/strong\u003e, establishing the human visual language of \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e just as \u003cstrong\u003eKunio Okawara\u003c\/strong\u003e defined its mechanical forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis design deliberately removes the mobile suits altogether.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eInstead, Yasuhiko concentrates entirely on the characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAgainst an almost entirely \u003cstrong\u003eblack background\u003c\/strong\u003e, four figures emerge through soft areas of gouache-like colour:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmuro Ray\u003c\/strong\u003e occupies the lower-left section, rendered not as a victorious hero but as a thoughtful, almost melancholy young man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAbove him are the principal female figures, including the immediately recognisable blonde \u003cstrong\u003eSayla Mass\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose pale complexion and flowing hair almost dissolve into the surrounding atmosphere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAt right stands \u003cstrong\u003eChar Aznable\u003c\/strong\u003e, unmistakable in his red Zeon uniform, cape and mask.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe contrast between Char’s formal, upright figure and the softer floating portraits surrounding him gives the composition a remarkable psychological quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThere are \u003cstrong\u003eno explosions, mobile suits, beam rifles or battlefield imagery\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eInstead, the poster presents \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e as a drama about people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe artwork is exceptionally restrained by the standards of early anime promotional material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eLarge expanses of \u003cstrong\u003edeep black negative space\u003c\/strong\u003e dominate the sheet, allowing Yasuhiko’s softly painted figures to appear almost suspended in darkness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe colour palette is equally sophisticated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAmuro’s uniform introduces muted blue and cream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eSayla’s blonde hair creates a luminous yellow-white field near the top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eChar provides the composition’s strongest saturated colour, his \u003cstrong\u003edeep crimson uniform and mask\u003c\/strong\u003e sharply contrasting against the surrounding black.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe character portraits have a visibly hand-painted quality, with loose brushwork and areas where colour seems almost to evaporate into the paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis is one of the defining characteristics of Yasuhiko’s illustration work: his figures rarely feel static. Even when posed, they retain the fluidity and emotional responsiveness of animation drawings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe tiny \u003cstrong\u003e“YAS.” signature\u003c\/strong\u003e at the lower-right edge confirms the artwork’s authorship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn unusually human Gundam image\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWhat makes the design especially compelling is what it leaves out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe RX-78-2 Gundam—the object most immediately associated with the franchise—is nowhere to be seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eInstead, the poster emphasises the \u003cstrong\u003ehuman cost and emotional relationships underlying the One Year War\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis approach is particularly appropriate for \u003cem\u003eSymphonic Poem Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAn orchestral recording invites the listener to revisit the story not through dialogue or mechanical combat but through mood, memory and emotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eYasuhiko’s image serves the same purpose visually.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe figures appear almost as recollections: isolated, contemplative and separated from one another by darkness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFor collectors, it represents a very different side of early \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e imagery from the battle-heavy theatrical posters and model-kit advertising that would later dominate the franchise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe 1980 Gundam boom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe year \u003cstrong\u003e1980\u003c\/strong\u003e occupies a particularly important place in \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe original television broadcast had ended, but fan enthusiasm was accelerating dramatically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eMerchandising, soundtrack releases and Bandai’s rapidly expanding \u003cstrong\u003eGunpla\u003c\/strong\u003e model line helped propel the series toward the theatrical films that began the following year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis poster therefore predates the first \u003cem\u003eMobile Suit Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e compilation movie and comes from the period when the franchise’s long-term cultural importance was only beginning to become apparent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eMore than four decades later, \u003cem\u003eGundam\u003c\/em\u003e has become one of Japan’s most internationally recognised entertainment properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOriginal promotional material from this very early period is consequently particularly appealing, especially material featuring artwork by the creators who established the original visual identity of the franchise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+ original condition overall.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe principal artwork remains \u003cstrong\u003eextremely strong\u003c\/strong\u003e, with excellent colour retention across the character portraits and a deep, richly printed black background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eYasuhiko’s delicate brushwork remains clearly visible, while the red of Char’s uniform, Amuro’s blue-and-cream clothing and the softer flesh and hair tones retain very good saturation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThere is \u003cstrong\u003evisible age-related handling and display wear\u003c\/strong\u003e, including light creasing, scattered surface impressions and some wear along the outer edges and corners. These points are consistent with an original promotional sheet from \u003cstrong\u003e1980\u003c\/strong\u003e and are most apparent when viewed closely or under angled light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe reverse shows general age-related handling and paper character but remains substantially clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully; they show the \u003cstrong\u003eexact poster for sale, front and reverse\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese promotional poster from the 1980 \u003cem\u003eSymphonic Poem Gundam\u003c\/em\u003e campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e, featuring artwork by \u003cstrong\u003eYoshikazu Yasuhiko\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot a reproduction or modern reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIt is approximately \u003cstrong\u003e46 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57280047219066,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments_34_4235b749-8874-43a8-b975-4c78e0c19086.jpg?v=1789704803","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/mobile-suit-gundam-rx-78-2-vs-rick-dom-%e6%a9%9f%e5%8b%95%e6%88%a6%e5%a3%ab%e3%82%ac%e3%83%b3%e3%83%80%e3%83%a0-original-japanese-animec-art-poster-c-1980s-b2-size-51-73-cm-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}