Yoshiyuki Tomino has been a part of the anime industry almost as long as anime has been considered an art form, starting as a writer on the 1963 Astro Boy series. He's also an established director in his own right, not to mention the creator of the highly influential and long-running Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. Judging from his recent comments, he didn't get to where he is now by being nice.

The 79-year-old was interviewed by TV Asahi for Isamu Hayashi’s Ima Deshou Koza. When the record-breaking Demon Slayer movie and the more recent box office hit Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time came up in conversation, Tomino had this to say: 

If I still live long enough to make something new, it has to destroy Demon Slayer and crush Evangelion.”

The guy's determined, you have to admit. He's not saying this out of spite or jealousy of course, but because he claims his competitive spirit is the secret to his long career.

“If you don’t have that attitude, you can’t keep working in TV anime after you get into your 80s.”

Tomino will turn 80 by the end of this yearand he's still working hard, directing the upcoming Reconguista in G III: Uchu kara no Isan compliation movie and working on Jordan Vogt-Roberts' live-action Gundam movie. The last TV anime he directed was 2014's Reconguista in G, but his comments suggest he's got something up his sleeve that could crush his rivals in the near future.

What do you guys think? Is Tomino getting cocky in his old age or is his attitude something to be admired? Drop your thoughts below!