According to Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, his fantasy of Newtypes may not be too far off.

In an interview on Gundam Ace translated by Zeonic Scanlations, Tomino refers to Newtypes in the literal sense- a new type of person to upend the status quo.

His suggestion? That Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be one of these Newtypes.

“Given my position, I’ve been compelled to speak about things in terms of anime concepts, but with the emergence of someone like President Zelenskyy, I’ve started to think that the theory of a human ‘Newtype’ could truly be possible”, Tomino says. “Although it will likely take at least 50 more years for the ‘Newtype’ to actually become rooted, I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to propose this concept from an anime perspective”.

Newtypes are the supposed next step of humanity featured in Mobile Suit Gundam, representing taking the next steps to live in space.

While later series like Gundam Unicorn and Char’s Counterattack gave them supernatural feats, they’ve always represented a more optimistic view of the future- with a recurring theme that empathy is their biggest strength.

His reasoning for Zelenskyy being a Newtype comes from the President’s background- having been an entertainer first, before becoming President and then leading his country in a war against Russia.

Tomino explains that it’s by this definition that he thinks we’re going to see Newtypes- ones who find new solutions to society’s problems without veering into extremist territories.

“The Newtype I envision is an entity that transcends those limitations, one that integrates opposing views and the status quo, while simultaneously seeking a novel system or direction”, he says. “Humanity needs an Aufheben – to transcend and sublate. This diverges from the traditional notion of revolution, and is certainly not the same as reform”.

“This isn’t a matter of right or wrong. Considering its social impact, there’s hardly anyone, including those in their 30s, who can articulate and contemplate this issue accurately. They are all Oldtypes, and hence, President Zelenskyy is just a budding Newtype”, he says.

“The children of today, aged around seven to thirteen, who can precisely grasp the explicit issues surfacing in Putin’s War, and discern a future path forward from a neutral perspective, are the ones who may embody the Newtype once they assume decision-making positions. It’s your generation’s duty to ensure they safely reach adulthood. This is something beyond my capabilities now, so please, do persevere”, he concludes.

Given the social commentary and generally more optimistic outlook of the Gundam series, none of Tomino’s words should come as a surprise to the seasoned Gundam fan.