Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム, Kidō Senshi Gandamu?, lit. "Mobile Soldier Gundam") is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Written and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between April 7, 1979 and January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes. It was the very first Gundam series, which has subsequently been adapted into numerous sequels and spin-offs.
The series was later re-edited for theatrical release and split into three movies in 1981. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko did the character designs and Kunio Okawara was responsible for the mechanical designs, including the titular giant robot, the RX-78-2 Gundam.
The series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1979 and the first half of 1980.
Synopsis
Set in a fictional universe in the Universal Century 0079, The Principality of Zeon has declared independence from the Earth Federation, and subsequently launched a war of independence. The conflict has directly affected every continent on earth and nearly every space colony and lunar settlement. Zeon has the upper hand through their use of a new type of weapon, called humanoid mobile suits. A Zeon recon team disobeys mission orders and attacks an unfinished base called Side 7. Its citizens accidentally find the Federation's new weapon called the Gundam. The newly formed crew of refugees, with support from Earth Federation soldiers stationed aboard the MS carrier White Base set out to change the course of the One Year War.
Novel
In 1979, before the end of the anime, Yoshiyuki Tomino himself created the first novelizations of the original Gundam anime series. The novels, issued as a series of three books, allowed him to depict his story in a more sophisticated, adult, and detailed fashion. Along with this adaptation came several major changes to the story. For example, Amuro is already a member of the Federation military at the time of the initial Zeon attack on Side 7, and the main characters in the Federation serve on the White Base-class ships Pegasus and Pegasus II rather than the Pegasus-class White Base. Additionally, the war continues well into the year UC 0080 in the novels, whereas it concludes at the beginning of that year in the anime series.
Perhaps the most controversial difference between the anime series and the novels is that in the latter, Amuro Ray is killed in the final attack against the Zeonic stronghold of A Baoa Qu when his RX-78-3 is pierced through the torso by a Rick Dom's beam bazooka. This occurs as Char's unit attempts to warn him about Gihren's intention to destroy the fortress and take the Federation's offensive fleet along with it. Char Aznable and the crew of Pegasus II (White Base), along with handpicked men under Kycilia Zabi's command, make a deep penetrating attack against the Side 3 and together kill Gihren Zabi, after which Kycilia is killed by Char. Tomino later lamented that had he known that anime ending would be different and that another series would be made, he would not have killed off Amuro in the novels. Because of such significant deviations from the animated series, movies, and subsequent sequels the novels themselves are not considered canonical; however, the detailed account of past events leading up to the introduction of the mobile suit and early skirmishes of the OYW are more or less accepted in the continuity. Nonetheless, they are often enjoyed by fans because they provide a great deal of detail and help explain the philosophical underpinnings of the Gundam series.
Character
Earth Federation
Further information: Read on gundam wikia
- Amuro Ray
- Bright Noa
- Fraw Bow
- General Revil
- Haro
- Hayato Kobayashi
- Kai Shiden
- Matilda Ajan
- Mirai Yashima
- Ryu Jose
- Sayla Mass
- Slegger Law
- Tem Ray
Principality of Zeon
Further information: Read on gundam wikia
- Char Aznable
- Crowley Hamon
- Degwin Sodo Zabi
- Dozle Zabi
- Garma Zabi
- Giren Zabi
- Kycilia Zabi
- Lalah Sune
- M'Quve
- Ramba Ral
- Black Tri-Stars
Opening&Ending
Opening:
- Tobe! Gundam (Fly! Gundam) by Koh Ikeda (TV series)
Ending:
- Eien Ni Amuro (Forever Amuro) by Koh Ikeda (TV series)
- Suna no Juujika (Cross of Sand) by Takajin Yashiki (Movie I)
- Ai Senshi (Soldiers of Sorrow) by Daisuke Inoue (Movie II)
- Meguriai (Encounters) by Daisuke Inoue (Movie III)
Read
- Mecha Series
- Gundam
- SD Gundam Series