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Featured Article
This trimester’s Feature Article is on GNX-U02X Masurao.
GNX-U02X Masurao (aka Masurao) is a unit built by Billy Katagiri for his friend Mr. Bushido that appears in Season Two of Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Masurao is the first Mobile Suit powered by pseudo solar reactor (GN Drive Tau) that was installed with Trans-Am System…. Read more.
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE is the twelfth incarnation of Sunrise’s Gundam franchise. The story of AGE will be written by Level-5’s President Akihiro Hino and will be directed by Susumu Yamaguchi
Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) Volume 4 Release Date
Bandai Visual announced on July 23 that the 4th installment of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn would be simultaneously released worldwide on December 2, 2011.
“Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn)” Volume 4 (Blu-ray Disc)
Episode Title: “At the Bottom of the Gravity Well”
Release Date: December 2, 2011
Regions to be Released: North America, Europe and Asia including Japan
Audio: Japanese, English
Subtitles: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Traditional Mandarin & Cantonese
Gundam Unicorn is based on the novel of the same name written by Hautoshi Fukui, continuing with the events after the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack in Universal Century timeline. The OVA was planned to have 6 episodes.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer Released in English Blu-Ray and DVD
The Final Chapter of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was released in July 4th by Bandai Entertainment in North America in the form of Blu-Ray and DVD. The Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer is the theatrical sequel of the Gundam 00, continuing after the events of Season 2. The movie had its theatrical debut in Japan and Singapore on September 18, 2010.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (機動戦士ガンダムSEED (シード), Kidō Senshi Gandamu Shīdo?) is an anime series developed by Sunrise and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda. As with other series from the Gundam franchise, Gundam SEED takes place in a parallel timeline, in this case the Cosmic Era, the first to do so. In this era, mankind has developed into two subspecies: Naturals, who reside on Earth and Coordinators, genetically-enhanced humans capable of withstanding the rigors of space who inhabit orbital colonies. The story revolves around a young Coordinator Kira Yamato who becomes involved in the war between the two races after a neutral space colony is invaded by the Coordinators.
The television series was broadcast in Japan between 2002 and 2003, on the Tokyo Broadcasting System and Mainichi Broadcasting System networks. The series spawned three compilations films and was adapted into a manga as well as various light novels. A sequel series, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny followed in 2004. Various types of merchandising have also been released, including models, CD soundtracks and video games. Gundam SEED was licensed by Bandai Entertainment for broadcast in North America, and began airing in the United States and Canada in 2004 and 2005 respectively. The films and the sequel were also licensed by Bandai. The manga and light novels as well as the spin off series, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray, were also licensed. A number of video games were also released in North America.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was widely popular with the public in Japan, winning numerous awards, with high sales of both the series DVD and music. The character development and animation has gained praise, but similarities with previous Gundam series has drawn both comparisons and criticism from Gundam fans.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Cover of the first Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DVD volume featuring Kira Yamato and his mobile suit, GAT-X105 Strike, in the background.
The series is the first of the Gundam franchise set in the “Cosmic Era” in which mankind is divided between normal Earth dwelling humans, known as “Naturals”, and the genetically altered humans known as “Coordinators”, who live in space colonies.
The story, set during the Bloody Valentine War,[1] begins in the neutral space colony Heliopolis, where secret development of advanced mobile suits for the Naturals’ war effort is being conducted. The colony is attacked by ZAFT forces, the military of the Coordinators, with the objective of stealing the new units. During the incursion a teenager Coordinator named Kira Yamato, upon seeing his friends in danger, pilots the GAT-X105 Strike mobile suit to fend off the invaders but the colony is critically damaged in the ensuing fight.[2] As Heliopolis disintegrates, the survivors board an Archangel class assault ship belonging to the Earth Alliance, the Natural’s military, and begin their journey to the Alliance base in Alaska.[3] During the journey to Earth, Kira pilots the Strike to counter a series of attacks by ZAFT but is seemingly killed by his childhood friend, ZAFT soldier Athrun Zala, during one of their battles in which the Strike is destroyed.[4] Kira survives the Strike’s destruction and is treated in one of the PLANT space colonies, home to the Coordinators. The Archangel arrives in Alaska but ZAFT launches a full scale attack on the base overpowering their enemies.[5]
Kira goes to Alaska with the ZGMF-X10A Freedom, a highly advanced ZAFT mobile suit stolen by the Coordinator Lacus Clyne daughter of Siegel Clyne, President of the Supreme Council of PLANT. Using Freedom, Kira ends the battle between the two armies, but the base is subsequently destroyed. The Archangel flees to the neutral country of the Orb Union. They subsequently join Lacus Clyne’s faction to form the Three Ships Alliance, with the common goal of ending the war between the Naturals and Coordinators. In the midst of the conflict, Athrun learns that Kira survived and searches for him under orders to recover Freedom.[6] However, after learning of Patrick Zala‘s, Athrun’s father and the radical faction leader of the PLANT Supreme Council, plan to commit genocide Athrun deserts him and joins the Three Ships Alliance.[7] In a final battle, the Earth Alliance deploys nuclear weapons to destroy the space colonies but are stopped by ZAFT’s GENESIS, a super weapon designed to commit genocide on the Naturals. The Three Ship Alliance intervenes to defeat the Earth Alliance’s forces and destroy the GENESIS ending the battle. The war ultimately ends as a peace treaty is signed.[8]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was directed by Mitsuo Fukuda (Future GPX Cyber Formula and Gear Fighter Dendoh) with music by Toshihiko Sahashi.[9] The series was first announced in June 2002, while a trailer was available in September on the series’ official website.[10][11] A total of eight writers were in charge of the series. The characters were designed by Hisashi Hirai, while the mechanical designs were made by Kunio Ohkawara and Kimitoshi Yamane.[9]Mobile Suit Gundam planning manager Koichi Inoue stated that the staff making Gundam SEED was a new and young team that would continue working with following Gundam series. Inoue, however, would work with anime based on the original Gundam series.[12] Fukuda stated that Gundam SEED was intially told from Kira’s point of view, but deeper into the series the point of view would shift to other characters. His main focus with the series was to entertain the audience, pointing out that the drama would develop through the series in a similar vein to previous Gundam series. The first part worked on was the plot followed by action sequences, stating that the human characters were more important than the combat sequences.[13] In retrospect, Fukuda said that Kira’s wish to fight was forced upon him stemming from his desire to protect his friends. Moreover, he considered these actions as being based on Japanese thoughts.[14]
The series premiered in Japan on the terrestrialTokyo Broadcasting System and Mainichi Broadcasting System networks, where it occupied the Saturday 6 pm timeslot, replacing Ultraman Cosmos.[15]Mobile Suit Gundam SEED aired between October 5, 2002, and September 27, 2003.[16] Each episode was also streamed on the Internet the day after broadcast, for users subscribing to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone services, in Windows media or Real format.[17] The series was sold in Japan as thirteen DVD volumes released from March 28, 2003 to March 26, 2004.[18][19] On March 26, 2004, a five minute epilogue called After Phase: In the Valley of Stars was released on the thirteenth and final DVD of the Japanese release.[19] A DVD box set of the series was released on February 23, 2010.[20] A fifty-episode sequel titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny aired in Japan from October 9, 2004 to October 1, 2005, airing on the same stations as Gundam SEED.[21]Gundam SEED Destiny takes place two years after the original series and follows Shinn Asuka, focusing mainly on his involvement in the new war.[22] A HD remaster edition of the series was confirmed in August 2011 although Mitsuo Fukuda stated it was leaked information and that the official information would come in few following days.[23]
Bandai Entertainment licensed the animation of Gundam SEED on February 15, 2004, and it began airing in the United States and Canada in 2004 and 2005 respectively.[24][25] The English adaptation was produced in association with The Ocean Group and the English-language dub was recorded at Ocean Studios in Vancouver, Canada.[9] The series was released on ten DVDs in bilingual format between August 10, 2004, and May 10, 2005.[26][27] The epilogue was not released on the North American DVD release because it was not licensed to Bandai Entertainment by Sunrise;[28] however, it was released on the final European DVD release.[29]Beez Entertainment also published the series in ten DVDs from June 13, 2005 to March 6, 2006.[30][31] A two part box set called the “Anime Legends Edition” was released on January 8, 2008, and March 4, 2008, with each set containing five DVDs.[32][33]
A three-part film compilation of the television series has been released as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Special Edition. Each compilation film is 90 minutes in length and retells the story of Gundam SEED, with additional and altered scenes from the TV series. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny would also follow the same formula in four compilation movies as Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition. They were released from August 27 to October 22 during 2004 in DVD format.[34][35] The three films were also released alongside the four films from Gundam SEED Destiny on February 25, 2010.[36]Gundam SEED: Special Edition has been licensed for North America by Bandai Entertainment and was released on DVDs in English, between July 11, 2005,[37] and November 22, 2005.[38] A DVD box of the three films was released by Bandai on November 26, 2008 under the title of “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Complete Feature Collection”.[39]
The music from the series is composed by Toshihiko Sahashi with CDs published by Victor Entertainment. Notable artists who sang opening and ending themes for the series include the Nami Tamaki, who was fourteen years old when the third opening theme was used, and T.M. Revolution, who also provided the voice for the character, Miguel Aiman.[40][41] A total of four original soundtracks were released between December 4, 2002 and December 16, 2004. They include background music, insert themes as well as some opening and ending themes.[42][43]Symphony SEED -Symphonic Suit Mobile Suit Gundam SEED- is a collaboration album between Mobile Suit Gundam SEED music and the London Symphony Orchestra released on May 8, 2004 containing a total of ten tracks.[44] A compilation DVD, featuring four music videos from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny,[45] was released on May 24, 2006 under the title Mobile Suit Gundam SEED & SEED DESTINY Clipping 4 Songs. Five character CDs with themes performed by the Japanese voice actors were released between March 21, 2003 and July 23, 2003.[46][47] Two compilation albums have also been released; Mobile Suit Gundam SEED COMPLETE BEST was released on November 22, 2006, featuring thirteen tracks.[48]Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ~ SEED DESTINY BEST “THE BRIDGE” Across the Songs from GUNDAM SEED & SEED DESTINY is a 2-CD compilation of ending themes, insert and character songs from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny.[49] All the songs from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny by T.M.Revolution were collected in a CD titled X42S-REVOLUTION, released on March 24, 2010.[50] The limited edition version includes a DVD with music videos from the anime series.[51]
A manga series was written by Masatsugu Iwase based on the events from the anime series. It was published in five tankōbon volumes from March 20, 2003 to January 21, 2005 by Kodansha.[52][53] The English version was published in North America by Del Rey Manga who licensed it in January 2004 as one of their first titles,[54] and released between April 27, 2004 and August 30, 2005.[55][56] Another spin-off series is Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray, written by Tomohiro Chiba and illustrated by Kōichi Tokita, which focused on the three MBF-P0x mobile suit prototypes and their respective pilots and organizations. It was published in three tankōbon volumes from April 28, 2004 to February 26, 2004 by Kadokawa Shoten.[57][58] The English release was announced by Tokyopop in December 2003.[59] The volumes were released between May 11, 2004 and November 9, 2004.[60][61] A one-volume manga titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED featuring SUIT CD (機動戦士ガンダムSEED featuring SUIT CD?) was written by Yasushi Yamaguchi and released on January 22, 2005 by Kadokawa.[62]
Two more side stories titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray R and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray were also created. Toda Yasunari replaced Tokita as the illustrator in the former, while Tokita reprised his role in the latter. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray R follows the adventures of the Red Frame’s pilot Lowe and his Junk Guild associates and interlocks with the events of the original Astray-series. It spanned four volumes published from March 20, 2003 to August 26, 2004.[63][64] The English volumes published by TokyoPop were released from February 8, 2005 to November 8, 2005.[65][66]Gundam SEED X Astray is about Canard Pars, who is a failed experiment from the Ultimate Coordinator program. Canard is searching for Kira Yamato, the successful Ultimate Coordinator, so that he can defeat him and prove he was not a “failure”. Two volumes were published for the series in May and October, 2005.[67][68] TokyoPop published its two volumes on October 31, 2006 and February 27, 2007.[69][70] There was also a “photo novel” side story entitled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray B which was illustrated by Toda Yasunari. A single volume from the series was published on August 31, 2005 and follows Gai Murakumo and his fellow Serpent Tail mercenaries.[71]
There is also yonkoma series titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Club Yonkoma that parodies the events from both Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny. The comics were a joint venture between Sunrise’s official Gundam SEED fan club and Newtype Japanese magazine. Kadokawa Shoten released the first publications of the yonkoma on August 8, 2005.[72]
A light novel adaptation of the TV series was authored by Riu Goto. It was originally a supplement of Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko with illustrations by Ogasawara Tomofumi. The stories were eventually published in five volumes by Kadokawa Shoten with the first one in March 2003 and the fifth in January 2004.[73][74]Tokyopop released the first three light novels in North America from October 11, 2005 to May 9, 2006.[75][76] Two light novels volumes from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray spin-off series were also authored by Tomohiro Chiba and published by Kadokawa on September 1, 2003 and July 1, 2004.[77][78]
Various guidebooks have been released for Gundam SEED such as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Ultimate Super Encyclopedia (決定版 機動戦士ガンダムSEED超百科?) on July 10, 2003.[90] Two official guidebooks were released in Japan on July 18, 2003 by Kadokawa Shoten: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Photos Freedom Kira (機動戦士ガンダムSEED写真集 FREEDOMキラ?) and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Photos Justice Athrun (機動戦士ガンダムSEED写真集 JUSTICEアスラン?) focus on Kira Yamato and Athrun Zala respectively.[91][92] Also in the same month In the same year, a series of guidebooks with the label of “Official File” were released in Japan.[93][94][95] A guidebook titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED – All Characters Analysis (僕たちの好きなガンダムSEED 全キャラクター徹底解析編?) was published on April 19, 2004, featuring an extensive analysis on the storyline and characters.[96] A more detailed guidebook, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Perfect Archive Series (僕たちの好きなガンダムSEED PERFECT ARCHIVE SERIES?), featuring articles on the characters, technology and universe was published in March 2006.[97] An artbook titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED RGB Illustrations (機動戦士ガンダムSEED RGB ILLUSTRATIONS?) was released on July 26, 2004.[98]
The show has become one of the most popular of the Gundam series in Japan, enjoying high television ratings and DVD sales.[99] In April 2004, Bandai Visual announced that one million copies of the Gundam SEED DVD had been sold in Japan, with the first volume having sold over 100,000 copies.[100] CDs sales have also been high[101][102] with the single CD from the series’ first ending theme becoming one of the top-selling CDs in Japan during 2002.[103] By July 2004, 10 million plastic Gundam SEED models had been sold worldwide.[104] In the same month, Jerry Chu, marketing manager for Bandai Entertainment Inc., stated the response to Gundam SEED has been highly positive, having broken rating records when it first aired in Japan. Chu added that reaction in the United States was also the most enthusiastic Bandai received in the last six years.[105] According to the analyst John Oppliger of AnimeNationGundam SEED became the first Gundam series which was widely successful not only among “Gundam fans and hardcore otaku” but also among “mainstream, casual Japanese viewers”.[106]Gundam SEED was the eighth TV Feature Award winner at the Animation Kobe Awards in 2003. It was also the third winner at the Japanese Otaku Awards in 2003.[107] It also won Animage‘s twenty-fifth Anime Grand Prix award winner in 2002, with the characters of Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne topping the male and female anime catergories, respectively.[108][109] It also topped the charts in the Newtype magazine reader poll during 2004.[110] However, the show was not well received by older Japanese fans. In February 2004, Sunrise’s president, Takayuki Yoshii, stated it was because Gundam SEED incorporated elements from popular live-action television dramas.[111] On the other hand, Bandai Visual reported in April 2004 that Gundam SEED had a wide audience, including both young and older viewers.[100]
Gundam SEED has been praised for being a stand-out in a long line of Gundam series[2][112] with Anime News Network‘s Paul Fargo calling it “the best of the alternative timelines, but stands as one of the best Gundam titles”.[113] The story has been praised for its battle sequences as well as its character-driven scenes, neither of which were reviewed to have detracted emphasis from the other.[112][5] The series was also noted to “downshift” in pace from its early episodes as the main characters development began to progress along political themes, which appealed to some audiences.[114] Early in the series, speculations were made with regards to the progress the characters’ relationships.[2][115] The relationship between Kira Yamato and Athrun Zala earned praise as it resulted in entertaining action scenes between their mobile suits,[4] while in later reviews speculation arose as to whether the two would become allies. The climax has also been praised for bringing unexpected inclusions within the war, as well as revelations regarding the characters’ roles.[116][7] A common comment amongst writers was that Gundam SEED blended elements from previous Gundam series and displayed it in fast-paced way, making it enjoyable to younger fans but still engaging older fans familiar with previous series.[112][2]DVD Verdict writer Mitchell Hattaway further noted that while it used elements from other anime series, it still “drew [him] in so quickly [he] soon found [himself] wrapped up in the proceedings”.[117] Carl Kimlinger from Anime News Network stated that Gundam SEED adapted the original Mobile Suit Gundam series from 1979 for a modern audience in the same way Mobile Suit Gundam 00 would adapt Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.[118] Bamboo Dong from the same site stated that while this caused the appearance of “hardcore anti-Gundam Seed zealots” who criticized the series for these traits, it was nevertheless entertaining to watch and give anime fans a step into the “Gundam fandom”.[114]
The quality of the animation led THEM Anime Reviews’ Derrick L. Tucker to call it “by-and-far the best of any Gundam Series to date”.[119][120] Additionally, the soundtrack was popular for bringing popular J-pop artists such as Nami Tamaki and T.M. Revolution to perform the theme songs.[119][120] The casting of many talented voice actors, such as Rie Tanaka, Seki Tomokazu and Houko Kuwashima, provided the emotional depth in scenes that required it.[113] The English dub was reviewed favorably for the most part but comparisons between the English and original Japanese dubbing revealed weaknesses in the portrayal of the characters.[120][121][117]
The sixteenth episode of Gundam SEED features a scene in which Kira Yamato is seen dressing after getting out of a bed where the teenage girl Flay Allster lies sleeping naked, suggesting a sexual relationship. The Japanese Commission for Better Broadcasting reported that viewers filed complaints regarding the scene as the show was aired at 6 pm when children would be watching. Mainichi replied by mentioning it should have given more careful consideration to the episode before airing it.[122] The scene was extended in one of the compilation films with John Oppliger noting it expanded the off-screen scene with three shots.[123]
After War Gundam X, known in Japan as Mobile New Century Gundam X (機動新世紀ガンダムX, Kidō Shinseiki Gandamu Ekkusu?), is an anime television series from Japan. It is a part of the Gundam franchise that started in 1979, but takes place in an alternate universe called After War Era. The series has 39 episodes, aired in Japan from April 5, 1996 to December 28, 1996 across TV Asahi‘s ANN stations and the anime satellite television network Animax. It was directed by Sunrise veteran Shinji Takamatsu (SD Gundam, The Brave of Gold Goldran, School Rumble), and the screenplay was written by Hiroyuki Kawasaki.
Following the success of Gundam Wing, After War Gundam X premiered on TV Asahi on April 5, 1996. This series was the third of Bandai’s alternate universes. This series presented a scenario similar to the Universal Century‘s One Year War and showed what would have happened had the colonists dropped dozens of colonies instead of one and destroyed the Earth’s surface, destroying most of the Earth’s population and leaving the survivors in a ruined post-apocalyptic world.
The premise is the setting of Gundam X, which uses the After War (AW) calendar. The basis point of the After War timeline is the end of an apocalyptic war that resulted in the drop of virtually all space colonies onto Earth, devastating the planet and destroying 99% of humanity. The series begins in AW 0015, as the Earth is just beginning to recover. The star of this series is fifteen year-old Garrod Ran, a member of Vulture, a scavenger group that patrols the wasteland for profits, which is on a mission to find and save mistreated Newtypes in the world from those who wish to take advantage of them. The first episode’s main storyline started off with Garrod doing a ‘hold-up’ to a reckless bandit who possessed a Mobile Suit. He was discovered by an old man (who may have had an influence) and assigned him to rescue a girl named Tiffa Adill from Vulture. As he rescues Tiffa, he discovers that she is a target of an unknown party and finds out that she is a Newtype. Then as the story goes on, they find the “15 year-old nightmare”, the Gundam X. Gundam X also used the space war concept featured in previous Gundam series as a backdrop, with the New United Nations Earth and the Space Revolutionary Army as the opposing factions.
According to Japan’s Weekly The Television magazine, the series peaked at 6.2% of the viewing audience watching which averaged 4.3% during the first two quarters,[1] about the same as Gundam series from the mid-90s onward. In October 1996, the third quarter was moved from a Friday afternoon 5:00 PM timeslot to a Saturday morning 6:00 AM timeslot, suffering declining ratings.
The sequelmangaGundam X: Under the Moonlight, released as a tie-in with the DVD release of Gundam X, proved popular and was extended from its initial run of six chapters.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (機動戦士ガンダム00（ダブルオー）, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Daburu Ō?, Mobile Suit Gundam Double-O) is the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise’s long-running Gundam franchise[2] consisting of two seasons.[3] It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise during a 15-second trailer on June 2, 2007.[2][4][5] The series aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 5, 2007 to March 29, 2008. On July 13, 2008, a trailer announcing a second twenty-five episode season was aired.[6] The second season began on October 5, 2008 and concluded on March 29, 2009. A movie sequel was released on DVD & Blu-ray on December 25, 2010 in Japan.[7]Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is the first Gundam series to be animated in widescreen and in high-definition,[8] as well as the first to be set in the non-fictional Anno Domini era. The series is set in a futuristic Earth and is centered on the exploits of the fictional paramilitary organization Celestial Being and its efforts to rid the world of war and conflict with a series of unique and extremely advanced mobile suits known as “Gundams“.
The main tagline for the first season is Rebirth Begins Through Destruction.
The series is set in 2307 AD.[9] As a result of the depletion of fossil fuels, humanity had to search for a new source of power. The power was found in the form of massive arrays of solar power collectors orbiting the Earth, and supported by three orbital elevators, each one serving one of the three “power blocs” on the planet, namely Union, controlling the region surrounding North America; Human Reform League (Sino-Japanese: 人類革新連盟; Romaji: jinrui kakushin renmei; Pinyin: rénlèi géxīn liánméng), consisting of China, Russia and India; and AEU, which controls mainland Europe.[10]
With this nearly inexhaustible source of energy benefiting only the major powers and their allies, constant warfare erupts around the globe among minor countries for fuels and energy. Countries that once economically relied on the sale of fossil fuels have plunged into poverty. Some even believe that solar energy threatened the “promised land of God”, resulting in the 20-year Solar Wars. This chaos led to the formation of a private military organization, called Celestial Being (ソレスタルビーイング, Soresutaru Bīingu?), dedicated to eradicating war and uniting humanity through the use of four humanoid machines called Gundams.[2][5]Mobile Suit Gundam 00 follows four mobile suit pilots termed Gundam Meisters ( ガンダムマイスター, Gandamu Maisutā?), sided with Celestial Being. The main protagonist is 16-year old Setsuna F Seiei (刹那・Ｆ・セイエイ?), a taciturn young man who grew up in the war-torn Republic of Krugis. He pilots the GN-001 Gundam Exia, a high mobility mobile suit effective in melee combat.[11][12]
Unable to counter Celestial Being’s superior technology, the three major powers eventually unite into the United Nations Army (国連軍?) in order to counter Celestial Being‘s armed interventions.[13] In order to fight the Gundams, the United Nations Army employed the help of Laguna Harvey. Harvey, a Celestial Being intelligence agent turned traitor, provides them with 30 GN-X, mobile suits equipped with pseudo-GN Drives. As the United Nations resist Celestial Being’s interventions, a second team of Gundams, known as Team Trinity, appears and assists in the Meisters’ eradication of war, albeit in a much more cruel and cold-blooded fashion, in contrast with the original Meisters’ less-aggressive nature of armed intervention.
Alejandro Corner, a former Celestial Being observer who plans to make use of the chaos and destruction created by Celestial Being to rule a reconstructed world, subsequently takes over Veda, Celestial Being’s supercomputer which is located on the moon. Without the tactical aid from the organization’s artificial intelligence, Celestial Being is easily overwhelmed and overpowered by GN-X units and their superior numbers.
The United Nations Army initiates Operation Fallen Angels to destroy the Gundams, having discovered the location of the Meisters’ mothership, Ptolemaios. During the operation, Ali Al-Saachez kills Lockon Stratos after a climactic battle. Alejandro Corner, in his unique custom mobile armorAlvatore, attacks Gundam Exia as the GN-X units proceed to destroy the Ptolemaios and the remaining Gundams. Exia struggles with the monstrous Alvatore, but in the end succeeds in killing Alejandro. Graham Aker, an ace pilot of the United Nations Army, then challenges Setsuna to a fight, seeking revenge for his fallen comrades and questioning the purpose of Gundams’ existence. The fight results in the destruction of the GN-Flag, while the Exia is heavily damaged.
Four years have passed since the final battle between Celestial Being and the UN Forces. Humanity, having established the Earth Sphere Federation, forms an autonomous peace-keeping force, A-Laws, separate from and above the formal Federation army. Given unfettered discretion, A-Laws is charged with the duty to further unify nations, enforce the will of mankind, and dispose of terrorist cells. Unknown to the general public, however, is that the A-Laws misuse their power and employ inhumane tactics to oppress freedoms, doctrines, and ideologies, all in the name of ‘unity’.
Saji Crossroad has followed the path to becoming a space engineer, to keep his promise to Louise Halevy. But he ends up being mistaken for a member of the dissident organization Katharon and is unjustly imprisoned. Louise herself is compelled to become involved in Federation government reform and joined A-Laws as a mobile suit pilot during the four-year gap, using her family inheritance to fund A-Laws research.
Meanwhile, Setsuna, having survived the battle with Graham Aker four years ago and is in hiding, has witnessed a change in the world due to the actions of Celestial Being. Setsuna tries to confront the A-Laws by himself with his battered Gundam Exia, but is easily overpowered by their newer models. He is soon rescued by Tieria Erde, piloting his new mobile suit, the Seravee Gundam.
By combining the GN Drives of Exia and 0 Gundam, Celestial Being’s engineers manage to complete Aeolia’s plans for an advanced mobile suit with twin GN drives – the 00 Gundam – which is entrusted to Setsuna. To pilot the two remaining new units, Lockon Stratos’ twin brother is invited to assume his brother’s codename and former position as the pilot of the Cherudim Gundam, and after Allelujah Haptism is rescued from the prison he was being detained in during the timeskip, he assumes the command of Arios Gundam.
Unknown to Celestial Being and the A-Laws, a third party is manipulating both sides of the conflict. This group call themselves “Innovators“, composed of Alejandro Corner’s former assistant Ribbons Almark, and his six subordinates. Subsequently, it is revealed that Aeolia Schenberg’s plan is to ensure humanity’s survival; unite the world’s factions through Celestial Being’s armed interventions and then advance humanity into deep space and undergo Innovation, a trans-human process.
A theatrical release was announced at the end of episode 25 of season 2, called Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer (劇場版 機動戦士ガンダム00 -A wakening of the Trailblazer-, Gekijōban Kidō Senshi Gandamu Daburu Ō -A wēkuningu obu za Torēruburēzā-?) A new character is revealed to be the first officially acknowledged true Innovator, whose name is revealed to be Descartes Shaman.[14] A new enemy appears to be a newly discovered alien life form, Extraterrestrial Livingmetal Shapeshifter (ELS).[15] The Japanese premiere has been announced for September 18, 2010.[16] The year is 2314 AD, two years after Celestial Being’s last great battle and the world faces a new crisis. A derelict Jupiter exploration ship, abandoned 130 years ago, has left its orbit and is approaching Earth. The ESF has also begun to exploit the power of Innovators through Descartes Shaman. The world’s exposure to GN Particles has resulted in many people awakening as True Innovators. Realizing the military benefits of such individuals, the Earth Sphere Federation has begun to research Innovation and exploit the emerging Innovators’ abilities. As Celestial Being and its Gundam Meisters begin their final mission to save humanity from an unimaginable threat, the Extraterrestrial Living-metal Shape-shifters (ELS), Gundam Meister Setsuna F. Seiei is about to discover the true purpose of his evolution as an Innovator and the nature of the “dialogues” for which Aeolia Schenberg’s plan had prepared the human race.
Bandai Entertainment hosted the North American premiere of the film at New York Comic Con/New York Anime Festival.[17] They later announced the license for the film.[18] It was announced on 13 September that Singapore is going to be the first country to screen Gundam 00 movie with English subtitles on the same day as Japan, running from 18 September to 29 September in the Alliance Francaise Theatre .[19]
The movie was released on DVD & Blu-ray on December 25, 2010 in Japan.[7]
Born as Soran Ibrahim, Setsuna is the primary protagonist of the show and was discovered by Celestial Being at the age of 14 for having special potential as a pilot. He is currently a Gundam Meister for their organization, piloting the Gundam Exia, and later the 00 Gundam, both specialized in close combat. Before gaining his Gundam Meister codename, he was a child soldier in the war-torn Republic of Krugis.[20] He murdered his own parents under Ali Al-Saachez‘s influence in order to prove his devotion to God,[21] and hence bears a deep hatred towards Saachez. Due to his previous religious brainwashing (and awakening from it), Setsuna no longer believes that God exists. Setsuna believes that war can only be stopped through direct confrontation, and therefore has little tolerance for diplomats and politicians, believing that their “peace talks” only lengthen the conflict and cause more casualties. Disappearing at the end of the first season, Setsuna reappears four years later and rejoins Celestial Being. In the movie, Setsuna initially pilots a repaired version of the 00-Raiser Gundam (it use double particle tanks instead of two GN Drives) named the 00 Raiser Condenser Type, but later in the movie however, he pilots his new mobile suit 00 Qan[T](“Double Oh Quanta”), a new mobile suit specifically suited to his Innovator abilities.
Born Neil Dylandy, Lockon decided to join Celestial Being after losing his parents and little sister to terrorists in Ireland; because of this, he loathes terrorists. As the eldest pilot, he is considered the team leader of the Gundam Meisters,[22] and sports a more easygoing, flamboyant personality as compared to the other Gundam Meisters. He owns an orange Haro to control Gundam Dynames when sniping and just like Setsuna, he has a personal feud with Ali Al-Saachez, who was directly involved in the terrorist bombing that caused the death of his family.[23] After being killed at the climax of the first season, his younger twin brother Lyle Dylandy chooses to become the new Lockon Stratos, primarily to help spy on Celestial Being for the dissident group Katharon. He pilots the Cherudim Gundam, which is also specialized in long range combat. Later on, he falls in love with a new member of the Ptolemy, Anew Returner. In the movie, Lockon pilots a powerful redesigned variant of Cherudim, Gundam Zabanya, which focuses on both heavy artillery and sniping.
Allelujah spent his childhood as an orphan in the Human Reform League as a Super Soldier experimental subject, designated “E-57”. While generally gentle and rational compared to the other Gundam Meisters, he has another harsher, unstable, and outright sadistic alter ego, named Hallelujah inside him, which was the result of the Super Soldier experiments. His main rival in combat is another subject of the Super Soldier program, the HRL pilot Soma Peries who shares a mysterious connection with him.[24] He is the pilot of Gundam Kyrios, and later, the Arios Gundam, both of which specialize in high mobility and are able to transform into mobile armors (fighter jets). Allelujah is imprisoned during the four year timeskip between both seasons, but he ends up being rescued by his companions after the other three Meisters reunite. In the movie, Allelujah and his friend Marie Parfacy pilot together Gundam Harute, which was created over Arios’ and GN Archer’s frame.
Gundam Meister of the heavily armored Gundam Virtue and its successor unit, the Seravee Gundam, Tieria treats Veda’s orders with high regard, valuing the mission above all other issues; he is also able to independently access Veda directly. As a result of his arrogance and cold attitude towards others, his relationship with the other Gundam Meisters got off a rocky start, but later learns to care for the other Meisters. Of all the Gundam Meisters, Tieria is the most enigmatic, with an unknown past and a peculiar connection with the Innovators.[25] Contrary of the other Meisters who were either K.I.A. or M.I.A. in the end of the first season, Tieria continued to work for Celestial Being during the 4 year timeskip. Tieria first appears in the second season rescuing Setsuna in his battered Exia from A-Laws’ mobile suits; Tieria then brings Setsuna back to Celestial Being to resume his position. In the movie, Tieria pilots the Raphael Gundam, a new unit produced by Tieria for his own personal use, with features from both GN-008 Seravee Gundam and GNZ-003 Gadessa .
According to Hiroomi Iketani, one of the Gundam 00 producers, planning for Gundam 00 started in 2005, under the tentative name “Next”.[26] Iketani approached Seiji Mizushima, the director who directed Fullmetal Alchemist. Mizushima was initially reluctant about accepting the job due to his lack of knowledge regarding the Gundam series, for the first time at the end of 2005.
The staff, consisting of over 300 people, spent roughly 2 years planning the series.[26] Compared to other anime shows, Gundam 00 has more main staff members, partly due to the detailed mobile suit designs.
The series premiered on October 6, 2007, replacing Toward the Terra on the terrestrialMBS and TBS networks, occupying the networks’ noted Saturday 6:00 p.m. timeslot.[4][5][27] The first season ended its run on March 29, 2008. Season one of the series will be re-broadcast across Japan on various television networks such as TBS, Kids Station, MBS and BS-i from April onwards.[28] Season two is being broadcast in the MBS and TBS Sunday 5:00 p.m. slot since October 5, 2008.
Currently, fourteen DVD collections have been released.[29][30] The DVDs performed well in sales, with the first collection ranking third on the Oricon‘s overall weekly DVD chart.[31] The Blu-ray disc collections have been confirmed, with the first and second volume released on August 22, 2008.[32]
The final DVD of season one contains a whimsical trailer for the second season. Featuring voice work by the four Meisters, the trailer lampoons many early ideas for the show, fan theories and anime clichés before leading into a special message from Mizushima and a preview of the 00 Gundam.
A series of compilation movies with new animated sequences and re-recorded dialogue, titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Special Edition, has been announced. The first volume will be released in Japan on October 27, 2009 in the DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and UMD format.[33]
Licensing for a North American release of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was announced by Bandai Entertainment at New York Comic Con 2008 on April 18, 2008. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is the first Gundam series to air on national television in the United States since Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and began airing twice weekly on November 24, 2008 on SCI FI (now known as SyFy).[34][35] The first season concluded its first run on SCI FI on February 9, 2009. The second season is set to air on the same network and time slot starting June 29, 2009.
The English version (U.S. version) of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 premiered in the Philippines on November 20, 2010 on Cartoon Network Philippines and airs weekend nights as part of its Toonami block. Since the series airs on an early evening slot, a Parental Guidance warning is shown by the network before each episode due its violent nature and is aired with minor edits. The letters PG are also shown on the upper left side of the screen for a few seconds after the opening credits and commercial breaks.
The series’ music was composed by Kenji Kawai. There are four TV-series soundtracks released, the first on January 10, 2008, the second on March 26, 2008,[36] the third on December 24, 2008, and the fourth on April 1, 2009. Kawai continues to compose the music in the movie adaptation, and the soundtrack was released on September 22, 2010.
The first opening theme song for the second season is performed by Uverworld,[40][unreliable source?][41][unreliable source?][42] titled “Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi” (儚くも永久のカナシ?).[43] The ending theme, “Prototype” is performed by Ishikawa Chiaki.[44] The second opening theme song “Namida no Mukou” (泪のムコウ?), is performed by Stereopony. The second ending theme, “Trust You” is performed by Yuna Ito. The song “Unlimited Sky” by Tommy Heavenly6 served as an insert song for the seventh, eighteenth, and twenty-second episodes[45] and as the ending song for the twenty-fifth episode. The song “Tomorrow” by Ayumi Tsunematsu served as an insert song for the fourteenth and fifteenth episodes and as the ending song of the fourteenth episode. The “Tomorrow” CD single, released on February 25, 2009, contained two versions of the song: “Marina’s Solo” and “Marina and Children”.
A series of character CDs has been announced; with the first one, featuring Setsuna F Seiei and the character’s seiyūMamoru Miyano, with a song written by the band Skoop On Somebody, to be released on August 13, 2008.[46][47][unreliable source?] The second entry to the series of character CDs, featuring Lockon Stratos and seiyū Shinichiro Miki, was released on September 24, 2008. The music for second character CD was done in collaboration with Eijun Suganami and Shinji Matsuda, members of The Back Horn.[48][unreliable source?]
The cover to the first volume of Mobile Suit Gundam 00P
A novelized version of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was published by Kadokawa, currently ongoing with two volumes and authored by Noboru Kimura.[49] The book series have been licensed by Bandai Entertainment and will have the first volume released on the December 29, 2009.[50] The manga adaptation have also been licensed and will be released in the United States on the August 24, 2009.[51]
A light novel series, Mobile Suit Gundam 00P was serialized in Dengeki Hobby Magazine and centers around the previous generation of Gundam Meisters. Like the anime, it was also divided into 2 seasons: First season is set 15 years before the anime series, while second season is set 10 years after season one. 00P features events that happened before the main story. It is penned by Tomohiro Chiba, with model conductions by Dengeki Hobby Magazine.[52] The first volume of the sidestory was released in May 2008 by Dengeki Hobby.[53] After the series ended, a sequel named Mobile Suit Gundam 00N was on serialization, taking place the same time as season one.
A graphic novel that features variations of existing mobile suits, Mobile Suit Gundam 00V, which was serialized in Hobby Japan, is told in the format of a mobile suit development history book published 20 years after the anime series, featuring photo guides of customized models.[52] It centers around the Mobile Suit observer Robert Spacey and his encounters with the different mobile weapons in the Gundam 00 universe. A sequel entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00V Senki has replaced 00V after its serialization ended. 00V’s timeline happens between the end of season one and beginning of season two, and 00V Senki’s timeline is after the ending of season two.
Four TV broadcast-based manga series exist to date with two new ones coming in the future. One is serialized in Kerokero Ace and drawn by Kouzoh Ohmori. Minor changes are present compared to the anime, such as the use of more visually comedic facial expressions, and the omission of certain characters and subplots. The first volume to this version was released on March 26, 2008 by Kadokawa Comics.[54] It has been released in English in North America by Bandai Entertainment,[55] with the first volume released on September 23, 2009.[56]
The other manga adaptation series of the same name is also based on the television series, and is drawn by Auto Taguchi.[57] Unlike the first manga series, this title is published by Kodansha. The two manga series essentially follow the same story as the anime’s main plot, but vary in the sequence of events that unfold and in artistic style.
A manga sidestory entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00F was serialized in Gundam Ace. Illustrated by Kōichi Tokita, this manga series focuses on Fereshte, an autonomous branch of Celestial Being that is also in possession of several previous generation Gundams. The series acts as a link for the main story to the 2 other sidestories and introduces the characters and mecha from the other publications.[52] First volume to this title was released on March 26, 2008 by Kadokawa Comics.[58] A sequel for 00F, called Mobile Suit Gundam 00I, was serialized in Gundam Ace after 00F. It is also illustrated by Kōichi Tokita and takes place in the same time as season two. It mainly focuses on Innovades, and few characters from 00F has appeared.
Another manga series based on the anime, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Aoi Kioku, runs monthly on Kadokawa’s Gundam Ace. This series focuses on the Gundam Meisters’ memories and is illustrated by Tarō Shiguma.[59]
The cover to Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters
A 3D action game based on the anime entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00, published by Namco Bandai Games and produced by BEC for the Nintendo DS, was released on March 27, 2008. This game follows the anime’s plot with slight variations, but lacks the introduction of the GN-X, ending with the entrance and introduction of Team Trinity instead.[60]
A second video game, titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters and developed by Yuke’s for the PlayStation 2, was released on October 16, 2008 Capcom and published by Bandai (now known as Namco Bandai Games).[61][unreliable source?][62][63] Unlike the first Nintendo DS game, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters covers the first season’s plot completely, albeit with slight deviations.[64][unreliable source?]
A drama CD prequel entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Another Story: Mission-2306 was released on July 23, 2008.[65][unreliable source?] In this drama CD, Setsuna F Seiei is tasked with the mission of preventing an assassination of Barry Halevy, the leader of a fossil fuel export regulation watchdog group, and protecting his daughter, Louise Halevy from terrorist organizations.[66] A second drama CD, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Another Story: Road To 2307, has been announced and is currently slated for a September 24, 2008 release. This drama CD will focus on the Meisters, as well as the Union‘s story.[67][unreliable source?] Unlike the first prequel CD drama, the second will have a comparatively much more serious tone, with stories that link to the original TV series.[67][unreliable source?]
A series of character CDs based around the concept of being a message to the character from the cast member who plays them will be released, starting from Setsuna‘s on August 13, 2008.[46][unreliable source?] Three original soundtracks and five singles, featuring the theme songs used throughout the first season, have also been released.
After a sneak preview of Gundam 00 on September 1, 2007, Anime News Network remarked “striking parallels” between the series and an earlier installment of the metaseries, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995): “Like Gundam Wing, Gundam 00’s main story begins with hyper-powerful Gundam units appearing at various locales to execute slightly-less-than-Dynasty-Warriors-level mayhem in synchronized phases of a paramilitary operation.”[8] Later on October 21, 2007, Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network remarked that “its political flavour […] is distinctly post-9/11“, noting the political and cultural similarities between the series and our modern society.[68] Critics have praised the series for the smooth, detailed visual effects and animation.
“As for the production values, they’re top-notch: the mecha and character designs are attractive, and the fights—especially the opening chase scene—are fluid and composed with an eye for maximum impact.”
Following the end of the first season, Gundam 00 has received much critical acclaim. Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network gave the first season a B+ rating, praising the second half of the season for its “unstoppable narrative momentum.” He stated that its “sheer momentum is breathtaking, and even as coldly detached as the series is, the catastrophic fates in store for its cast make for compelling viewing,” and concluded that “being swept up in the coalescing second half, the abrupt drop-off at the end only raises a raging thirst for season two.”[69] Chris Beveridge of Mania.com gave the first season a B rating, stating that as “this part of the series comes to a close, events become bigger than they were before and nobody is safe from change – or death.” He concludes that the “culmination of this season does give me all that I like from a Gundam series as it tries to change the world and then throws you for a loop by moving everything ahead four years.”[70] Ross Liversidge of the UK Anime Network gave the first season a 9/10 score, concluding that it is “Everything Gundam should be – huge cast, lots of politics and big battles. Fans should be pleased.”[71]
While critically acclaimed, the first season of Gundam 00 experienced lower average viewer ratings than its predecessors Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Over its 25 episode run, it averaged a television viewer rating of 4.85% and peaked at 6.1%. On a more positive note, Gundam 00’s average rating was higher than the other previous Gundam shows set in alternative universes such as Gundam Wing (which averaged 4.3%) and G Gundam (which averaged 4.1%).[75] The viewer ratings for the second season of Gundam 00 had improved, reaching ratings as high as 6.3%.
The series was also a commercial success, with the DVDs showing consistently high sales figures. The third and seventh DVD release topped the anime DVD sales chart.[76][77]
In a top 20 anime poll published in the April 2008 issue of Newtype magazine, Japanese readers voted for Gundam 00 as the best anime, higher than its predecessor Gundam SEED, which was voted ninth. In Newtype’s poll for top 10 male anime characters, Setsuna F Seiei was voted second, Tieria Erde third, Lockon Stratos fifth, Graham Aker sixth and Allelujah Haptism at seventh; and in its poll for top ten female anime characters, Nena Trinity was voted eighth and Marina Ismail was voted tenth.[78]
At the Anime News Network website, the first season of Gundam 00 has an average rating of 8.4/10 and ranked #129 in its top 250 anime poll as of October 18, 2008,[79] while the second season has an average rating of 9/10 and ranked #14 in its top 250 anime poll as of December 13, 2008.[80]
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, known in Japan as New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (新機動戦記ガンダムW(ウイング), Shin Kidō Senki Gandamu Uingu[1]?), is an anime series in the mecha genre, and is one of the alternate universe Gundam series, taking place in the After Colony timeline. It is the second alternate universe in the Gundam media franchise, following Mobile Fighter G Gundam. The plot centers around a war between Earth and its colonies in space; however, in contrast to the Universal Century continuity, the Gundam pilots of Gundam Wing are more closely allied to each other than they are to any particular side in the conflict unfolding around them.
The series aired across Japan on the terrestrial TV Asahi network. The series ran for forty-nine half-hour episodes, beginning on April 7, 1995 and ending on March 29, 1996. Masashi Ikeda was the overall director of the series. Katsuyuki Sumizawa (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers) wrote the scenario for the series and was one of three official script-writers, along with Akemi Omode and Katsuhiko Chiba. Ikeda wrote one script himself and one with Omode and one with Sumizawa. Toshifumi Kawase also wrote three scripts in the latter part of the first half of the series. Kow Otani composed the music. The series was loosely based on the original 1979 series, Mobile Suit Gundam, created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate. Gundam Wing was among the first series in the Gundam franchise (not including OVAs) to be dubbed in English and was aired on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and the U.K.[2] Since then, the series has also been dubbed into Tagalog, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Spanish, Indonesian, Malay and Portuguese.
In the distant future, Mankind has colonized space (with clusters of space colonies at each of the five Earth-Moon Lagrange points), and, down on the Earth, the nations have united as the United Earth Sphere Alliance. However, the Alliance oppresses the colonies with its military power. The colonies desire a peaceful resolution to the situation, joining together in a movement headed by the pacifist Heero Yuy. In the year After Colony 175, Yuy is shot dead by an assassin (believed to be Odin Lowe), forcing the colonies to search for other paths to peace. The assassination also prompts five disaffected scientists from the Organization of the Zodiac (more commonly referred to as OZ) to turn rogue after the completion of the mobile suit prototype Tallgeese.
The story of Gundam Wing begins in the year After Colony 195, with the start of “Operation Meteor”: the scientists’ plan for revenge against OZ. The operation involves five teenage boys, who have each been chosen and trained by each of the five scientists, then sent to Earth independently in extremely advanced mobile suits (one designed by each of the scientists) known as “Gundams” (called such because they are constructed from a rare and astonishingly durable material known as Gundanium alloy, which can only be created in outer space). Each Gundam is sent from a different colony, and the pilots are initially unaware of each other’s existence.[3]
The series focuses primarily on the Gundam pilots: Heero Yuy (an alias, not to be confused with the martyred pacifist), Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, and Chang Wufei. Their mission is to attack OZ directly, in order to rid the Alliance of its weapons and free the colonies from its oppressive rule. The Gundam pilots each start out on separate missions, but encounter each other and then join forces later while on Earth.
Along the way, Heero meets Relena Darlian, the seemingly ordinary daughter of Earth’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, after her father is assassinated by OZ’s ruthless second-in-command, Lady Une, it is revealed to Relena that she is really Relena Peacecraft, heir to the pacifistic Sanc Kingdom.[4]
Although the five Gundams succeed in destroying several of OZ’s supply bases and mobile suit factories, the sinister organization is still able to complete its ultimate goal of overturning the Alliance and becoming the new ruler of Earth and the colonies. Wufei attempts to kill OZ’s ambitious yet chivalrous leader, Treize Khushrenada, only to be defeated in a sword duel. Treize, however, admires Wufei’s fighting spirit, and allows Wufei to escape so they can fight again another day.
Throughout the series, Heero has several mobile suit battles with OZ’s “Lightning Count,” Zechs Merquise (whose true identity is Milliardo Peacecraft, Relena’s older brother). During their second encounter in Siberia, however, the colonies are held hostage by Lady Une, who tries to force the Gundam pilots to surrender their mobile suits to OZ; Heero, in response, self-destructs his Gundam, nearly killing himself in the process.[5]
Later on, the Gundam pilots return to outer space, only to find that the colonies they were sent from have now sided with OZ. Marked as rebels, they fall on hard times; Quatre witnesses his father’s murder, Heero, Duo and Wufei are captured by OZ, and Trowa enlists as a soldier of OZ (secretly as a double agent).
At this time, the Wing Gundam ZERO is introduced. This mobile suit was the original Gundam designed by the five scientists, but was never constructed due to its signature feature: the ZERO System, a combat system that directly interfaces with the pilot’s brain and feeds the pilot tactical data on the fly. The downside of this is that prolonged exposure causes hallucinations, and in some cases, insanity. Quatre, who has been driven mad with grief over his father’s death and the colonies’ betrayal, discovers the schematics for Wing ZERO and has it built. He then uses it to go on a rampage against OZ and avenge his father’s death, but he is eventually stopped by Heero and Trowa (although Trowa is nearly killed and suffers temporary amnesia).[6]
After returning to Earth, Heero and Quatre take refuge in the newly reopened Sanc Kingdom, which is governed by none other than Relena. The kingdom, however, is being pressured by the Romefeller Foundation (the group that controls most other countries, as well as OZ) to dissolve. By this time, the Foundation has reformated OZ’s military force to consist primarily of mobile dolls.
Trieze has been confined to Romefeller’s headquarters due to his outspoken dislike of the use of unmanned suits in combat (which he feels negate the true spirit of battle). In his confinement, Treize builds the Gundam Epyon and later gives it to Heero. Much like Wing ZERO, Epyon is equipped with the ZERO System. After being affected by the System, Heero fights once more against a returning Zechs, who is piloting Wing ZERO. After the battle ends in another draw, they exchange Gundams and part ways.
At the same time, Relena formally dissolves the Sanc Kingdom due to the tremendous pressure from Romefeller. She then becomes the chief representative for the Foundation (at first as a figurehead, but gradually gaining more and more power) under the title “Queen of the World”.[7]
Eventually, Treize is released from confinement, and he relieves Relena of her crown, telling her that while she has successfully laid the foundation for true peace, he is the one with the strength to bring it to fruition. Treize then takes control of the Romefeller Foundation; at the same time, Zechs returns to space to become the leader of the White Fang organization under his true name: Milliardo Peacecraft. White Fang has seized control of a Peacemillion-class battleship OZ was building for Romefeller to show its military power, called Libra. Zechs fires Libra’s main cannon at the Earth, causing great damage to the planet. This prompts Treize to start gathering all of the military power he can muster from Earth’s forces to retaliate, while the Gundam pilots remain neutral.[8]
White Fang continue to battle the Earth forces by taking out the only remaining OZ base in space: Space Fortress Barge. Eventually, the Gundam pilots choose to fight against White Fang. During the epic final battle, Treize is killed (of his own volition) in a rematch against Wufei, while Heero fights against Zechs one last time. Their battle is broadcast to all of Earth and space by Lady Une; when the citizens see the meaningless battle, they put aside their differences, whether they are from the colonies or from Earth, and form what becomes the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. However, White Fang refuses to surrender, and sends Libra plunging on a collision course with Earth. After several attempts from the other four Gundams to prevent this, Heero intercepts the battle station’s remains as it enters Earth’s atmosphere and destroys it with Wing ZERO’s twin-barrel buster rifle, bringing an end to the war.[9]
After the series ended, two OVAs, compiling various scenes from the series along with a few minutes of new footage, were released in 1996 as Gundam Wing: Operation Meteor I, II and III. A three-volume OVA series, Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, was produced in 1997 as a sequel to the TV series; plot-wise, it brought the After-Colony timeline to a close. In 1998, a movie version of Endless Waltz was made, with additional footage, alterations of the music scores, and a different ending theme song.
Gundam Wing was later licensed for release in North America by Bandai Entertainment and was dubbed into English by Ocean Productions. The series was broadcast in the U.S. on Cartoon Network’s action-oriented programing block Toonami, premiering on March 6, 2000 and ending on May 11, 2000. In the first extended promo leading up to the series’ premiere, voice actor Peter Cullen narrated the back story, evoking memories of Voltron‘s opening credits. The promo was said to be so riveting that Bandai decided to use it as the official promo for the series.
It was broadcast in two formats; an edited version shown in the daytime on Toonami and an uncut version shown past midnight as part of Toonami’s “Midnight Run.” Examples of the edits included the removal of blood, profanity, and the word “kill” being replaced with the word “destroy” (this was extended to Duo’s nickname, “The God of Death”, changed to “The Great Destroyer”, forcing the alteration of two episode titles), though the word “death” was mostly left intact. The uncut version shown was completely unedited. Reception for the uncut version was a factor in the eventual creation of the Adult Swim programing block, which premiered on September 2, 2001.[citation needed]
All Gundam Wing episodes have been released on VHS and DVD in the U.S. Differences between the two video systems is that the episodes on VHS contain the edited version while the episodes on DVD contain the uncut version. Endless Waltz was also dubbed by Ocean Productions and an edited version of it aired on Cartoon Network on November 10, 2000. It was later released on a DVD that contains both the OVA and movie versions.
“Just Communication” (Instrumental Version) by Kow Otani (Toonami Broadcast, ep. 1-49; the credits aired over an amended version of the show’s first opening)
In addition to manga adaptations of the series and Endless Waltz, several mangasidestories have also been produced. Episode Zero is a prequel, detailing the events leading up to series; the stories have been collected in a volume that also contains one brief open-ended interlude, Preventer 5, that details an operation that occurs after Endless Waltz. A coincident storyline to the series is presented in Last Outpost (G-Unit). Several sequel manga, occurring between Gundam Wing and Endless Waltz, have also been written: Blind Target, Ground Zero, and Battlefield of Pacifists.
The Gundam Wing, Battlefield of Pacifists, and Endless Waltz manga series were published in English by Tokyopop, while Blind Target, Ground Zero, and Episode Zero were published by Viz Communications. Another sequel manga detailing the future of the colonies entitled Tiel’s Impulse was printed in 1998 and has not been published in the United States.
In September 2010, Gundam Ace magazine began serializing a manga called New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz: Glory of the Defeated that retells the events of the anime while incorporating facts from Episode Zero and the novel Frozen Teardrop.
In early 2010, Gundam Ace magazine announced they would serialize a “New Gundam Wing Project”.[12] The project was eventually revealed to be a novel, titled New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop. Written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa, the novel begins a new timeline, following the “Mars Century” calendar (“MC”) which was the successor of the previous “AC” calendar.[13] According to an interview with the author, the novel will span backwards into the AC century and the Gundam pilots, Relena, and their children will make appearances.[14]
Upon the show’s popular debut in North America, Gundam Wing received a large roster of licensees for merchandise including wallscrolls, apparel, school supplies, skateboards, trading cards, and action figure models.[15]
Gundam Wing was only a modest success in Japan during its initial run; it, along with G Gundam, was the only Gundam series of the 1990s which managed an average television rating over four percent. It was ranked number two in Animage magazine’s Anime Grand Prix in 1996 and was also ranked number 76 in the publication’s list of the 100 most important anime of all time.[16][17]
Gundam Wing was a greater success in North America however, and is credited with single-handedly popularizing the Gundam franchise among Western audiences.[18] Just over a week after its premiere on Cartoon Network on March 6, 2000, the series was the top rated program in all age groups.[19] During the summer of 2000, it remained as the first or second top-rated show among kids and teens during its twelve airings per week on Toonami. The initial airing of the OVA Endless Waltz on November 10, 2000 was the channel’s second highest rated program ever at the time, only being topped by the premiere of Funimation‘s in-house dub of Dragon Ball Z.[20]
^ The translation New Mobile Report Gundam Wing is used by the R2 DVD releases in Japan, and thus is used extensively by the English-language fanbase in order to differentiate it from the Universal CenturyGundam series. While the use of the term “report” in the title is not necessarily incorrect, it does not convey the full meaning of the original-language terminology. The Japanese word senki (戦記) has a specific meaning of “military history.” Some official translations in the past have used the translation New Mobile War Chronicle Gundam Wing as well, and some of the official art uses The New Mobile History Gundam Wing, and at least one Japanese book has used Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.
^Moneca Stori voices Catherine Bloom throughout the series. Cathy Weseluck voices the character in Endless Waltz.
^Moneca Stori voiced Sally Po throughout episodes 3 to 12 of the English dub. Samantha Ferris, who had previously voiced minor characters in the anime, voiced the character from episode 20 until the end of the series, and in Endless Waltz.
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