Findings on Toshio Suzuki’s Involvement in Char’s Counterattack

Involvement in Production

Although Toshio Suzuki’s name does not appear in the film’s official production credits, reports indicate he supported Yoshiyuki Tomino during planning. According to accounts, Suzuki—then editor-in-chief of Animage—was consulted by Tomino, pledged support regardless of details, and backed the novel serialization in the magazine. At release, when box office exceeded expectations yet distributors downplayed Tomino’s contribution as “because it’s Gundam,” Suzuki—who happened to be present—consoled Tomino by saying, “As a thought experiment of making a completely different work under the name ‘Gundam,’ it succeeded, didn’t it?”
This episode suggests Suzuki encouraged Tomino off the record. There is, however, no evidence in the materials that he directly influenced the title decision or participated in scriptwriting.

Statements, Interviews, and Dialogues

Suzuki appeared with Tomino and others in publications and events discussing the film. In the 1993 dōjin volume Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack Tomo no Kai, Suzuki sat for an interview alongside Tomino and Mamoru Oshii, contributing to retrospection on the work.
A Tomino–Suzuki dialogue was also organized in late 2021: at the “Animage and Ghibli Exhibition” (Hankyu Umeda), their talk was recorded and slated for inclusion in the documentary The World of Yoshiyuki Tomino – Film works entrusted to the future (Blu-ray/DVD). Excerpts were also shared via broadcast (the radio show Toshio Suzuki’s Ghibli Ase-mamire).

• Dōjin interview (1993): In Char’s Counterattack Tomo no Kai, Suzuki appears with Tomino and Oshii to discuss the film.

• Exhibition dialogue (2021): Their talk at the Osaka “Animage and Ghibli Exhibition” was announced for inclusion on The World of Yoshiyuki Tomino Blu-ray/DVD and excerpted on radio.

Involvement in Title or Script

Available materials show no evidence that Toshio Suzuki influenced the title choice or script content. The title “Char’s Counterattack” had already been in circulation from around 1984 as part of sequel planning, and the script was written by Tomino himself. As Suzuki’s background is primarily editorial/producer, no records indicate participation in script revisions at that time, nor have clear statements to that effect been found.

Relationship and Appearances with Tomino

Suzuki has long been acquainted with Tomino, with multiple media appearances together. From his editorial days onward, this relationship led to Suzuki’s participation in the dōjin interview and the later exhibition dialogue. Since 2022, their high-profile conversations—Tomino the director and Suzuki of Studio Ghibli—have drawn attention and been distributed in video and audio formats. Through such joint appearances, Suzuki has shared perspectives and anecdotes that help illuminate the film and Tomino’s views.