Kobayashi Makoto

Kobayashi Makoto (小林誠, Kobayashi Makoto, born 28 April 1960) is a Japanese mechanical designer and illustrator best known for winning the design competition for the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam, the titular mobile suit of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. His winning design became one of the most distinctive and recognizable mobile suits in the Universal Century timeline.

Career

Kobayashi established himself as a freelance mechanical designer and illustrator in the 1980s, working across various anime and science fiction projects. His detailed, technical approach to mechanical design caught the attention of Sunrise during the pre-production of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ.

ZZ Gundam Design Competition

For Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Sunrise and director Tomino Yoshiyuki organised an unprecedented design competition to determine the appearance of the series’ protagonist mobile suit. Several prominent mechanical designers were invited to submit their visions for the new Gundam, including:

Kobayashi Makoto
Okawara Kunio (original Gundam designer)
Akitaka Mika
Izubuchi Yutaka
Okamoto Hideo
Kitazume Hiroyuki (character designer)
Nagano Mamoru (Zeta Gundam mechanical designer)
Fujita Kazumi

Kobayashi’s design won the competition. His concept featured several revolutionary elements:

Separating Core System: The MS could separate into three components (Core Fighter, Core Top, Core Base)
Combining Transformation: Unlike previous Gundams, the ZZ combined from separate units rather than transforming from a single unit
Massive Armament: Heavy weaponry including the signature double beam rifle and high mega cannon
Bulk and Power: A more heavily built frame emphasising raw firepower over speed

Whilst Kobayashi’s design won the competition, it underwent clean-up and refinement by Okamoto Hideo and Akitaka Mika to ensure it could be animated consistently and would work well in production. The final design retained Kobayashi’s core concepts whilst improving line work and proportions for animation.

The ZZ Gundam’s design influenced numerous subsequent mobile suits, particularly in its modular construction and emphasis on firepower. The Full Armor ZZ Gundam variant further developed Kobayashi’s vision of an ultra-heavy-weapons mobile suit.

Other Gundam Work

Beyond the ZZ Gundam, Kobayashi contributed mechanical designs for various other Gundam ZZ mobile suits and continued to work on Sunrise productions. His technical approach and attention to mechanical detail made him a valued contributor to the franchise.

Dragonar and Other Works

Following Gundam ZZ, Kobayashi served as mechanical designer for Kiko Senki Dragonar (1987-1988), another Sunrise mecha series. He has also contributed illustrations and mechanical designs to various science fiction projects, books, and model kit packaging throughout his career.

Design Philosophy

Kobayashi’s approach to mechanical design emphasises:

Technical Plausibility: Designs that suggest real mechanical function
Modular Construction: Systems that can combine and separate logically
Heavy Firepower: Weapons that convey overwhelming combat capability
Industrial Aesthetic: A “working machine” appearance rather than sleek elegance

His ZZ Gundam design deliberately contrasted with the more aerodynamic MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, presenting a different philosophy of mobile suit development—prioritising firepower and armour over transformation capability and speed.

Legacy

The MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam has become one of the most iconic mobile suits in the Gundam franchise, instantly recognisable for its distinctive silhouette and unprecedented firepower. Kobayashi’s winning design:

Introduced the concept of a combining Gundam to the Universal Century timeline
Influenced subsequent “heavy weapons” mobile suit designs
Became one of the most popular model kit subjects in the franchise
Won a Gundam.info census in 2016 for a new Master Grade Ver. Ka model kit

The Core Block System concept, central to Kobayashi’s design, expanded on the core fighter concept from the original RX-78-2 Gundam into a more elaborate modular system, demonstrating evolution in Universal Century mobile suit technology.

Behind the Scenes

During the design competition, early names considered for the mobile suit included “Gundam Mk-III”, “Omega Gundam”, and “Neo Gundam” before “Double Zeta” (ZZ) was selected. Kobayashi’s design successfully incorporated requirements from director Tomino Yoshiyuki for a mobile suit that could:

Separate for dramatic escape/rescue scenarios
Showcase technological advancement beyond the Zeta Gundam
Provide visual spectacle with overwhelming firepower
Support toy and model kit marketing with transformation gimmicks

The names “Gundam Mk-III” and “Neo Gundam” would later be reused for the MSF-007 Gundam Mk-III in Z-MSV and the RX-99 Neo Gundam in Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ – Mechanical designer (ZZ Gundam)

External links

Makoto Kobayashi on Anime News Network