The 2008 April edition of アニメーションノート ( Animation Note ), a quarterly Japanese animation magazine featuring “top creators and workflows” is a bumper issue packed full of goodies for mecha fans :

There’s a comprehensive feature on the concept and design work from Macross F, and interviews with mecha designer Shoji Kawamori. ( below )

Now he seems to be holding what looks like a fully transformable Messiah fighter prototype toy, which is the coolest. ( below ) Some concept sketches and behind the scenes from the CG layout.

Next up we have mecha by Okubo Junji, who is the author of the highly acclaimed mecha design book “Industrial Divinities” and also worked on the bots in Capcom’s “Steel Battalion”. I’m thinking of writing a post on that book in the future too, though its not exactly new. Very, very nice robots indeed.

More delicious mecha from GITS SAC, Armored Core coming up in Part II.

You can grab a copy of the magazine here.

Continue reading Part II of this article.