The Mechanical Designs of Nagano Mamoru

The aesthetic is highly
romanticized medieval. The
work is decidedly fetishistic; in
this case, mecha are really
armor for actual knights.

The dramatic
romanticizing of the
medieval aesthetic is
further explored in the
feminine ‘feel’ of the
designs.
Many suits of armor
may appear bulky, but
have very soft lines
especially in the details
(faces, extremities, and
accessories).

The Mecha, named 'mortar
headds' or 'electric knights' are
huge human-shaped war
machines standing somewhere
around 15 meters high
(measured at the shoulder).
Ownership of headds is
reserved exclusively for
members of the various orders
of knighthood in the galaxy,
called 'headdliners' as well as
heads of state such as kings
and feudal lords who are
permitted to hire such knights.
Headdliners are superhuman
beings far stronger and quicker
than normal humans. It is this
genetic ability that qualify
them as pilots.

The piloting of a mortar
headd in combat is
impossible without the
artificial life-form
computers called fatima
fates, or fatimas.
These beings serve the
headdliiners and call them
their masters.
(Pictured: the pilot and
fatima of the Black Knight
mortar headd)

Nagano Mamoru also made
some of the more outlandish
mecha designs for Gundam,
and is seen here with Tomino
Yoshiyuki himself.
(Pictured: Hamarabi, Rick Dias,
Quebeley, Hyaku Shiki; all from
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)