The appeal and reputation of "Mobile Suit Z Gundam": A thorough explanation of the profound worldview of this classic robot anime

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: The profound appeal of a timeless masterpiece

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

March 2, 1985 - February 22, 1986 Every Saturday 17:30-18:00

■Broadcasting station

Nagoya TV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 50

■Original Story

Original story by Hajime Yatate, original work by Yoshiyuki Tomino

■ Director

General Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino

■ Production

Nagoya TV, Sotsu Agency, Nippon Sunrise

■Works

© Sotsu, Sunrise

■ Story

Seven years have passed since the end of the war between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon. The Earth Federation Forces, controlled by the Titans, an elite unit of Earthnoids, have been exerting an authoritarian control over the spacenoids. People who rebel against this form a resistance group called the AEUG, and one of them, Quattro Bajeena, also known as Char, leads a raid on the Titans' base, Gryps, and the war finally begins. In the midst of this battle, a civilian boy named Kamille Bidan impulsively steals a Gundam Mk-II and joins the AEUG. Kamille has the talent to be a pilot and quickly grows into an AEUG ace, but through many battles and encounters, he faces the madness of the times and becomes troubled.

■Explanation

After "Mobile Suit Gundam," various "real robot" works flourished, but the anime world was also growing a sense of stagnation that "no hits that surpassed the original had appeared." So, this long-awaited sequel, "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam," was released amid high expectations. However, the production team deliberately avoided a simple reproduction of the atmosphere of the previous work, and pursued a harder, more complex work than fans had hoped for. It became a controversial work that drew both positive and negative reactions as a story about a harsh recognition of reality.

■Cast

• Char Aznable/Ikeda Shuichi
• Camille Bidan/Nobuo Tobita
• Jerid Mesa/Kazuhiko Inoue
• Bright Noah/Hirotaka Suzuoki
• Fa Yuiry/Miyuki Matsuoka
• Emma Sheen/Maya Okamoto
• Amuro Ray/Toru Furuya
• Recco Rondo/Masako Katsuyo
• Four Murasame/Shimazu Saeko
• Paptimus Scirocco/Shimada Bin
• Haman Karn/Ryoko Sakakibara
• Narrator: Jurota Kosugi

■ Main staff

• Planning: Nippon Sunrise
• Original story/Hajime Yatate
• Original work by Yoshiyuki Tomino
• Character design: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
• Mechanical design: Kunio Okawara, Kazumi Fujita
• Art by Junichi Azuma
• Design Works/Mamoru Nagano
• Mechanical animation director: Yoshihisa Uchida
• Director of photography: Akio Saito
• Edited by Yumiko Fuse (Inoue Editorial Office)
• Sound Director: Sadayoshi Fujino
• Music by Shigeaki Saegusa
• General Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
• Producers: Kei Moriyama (Nagoya TV), Kuniaki Onishi (Sotsu Agency), Kenji Uchida (Nippon Sunrise)

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: "Black Gundam"
• Episode 2: "Departure"
• Episode 3: "Inside the Capsule"
• Episode 4: Emma's Escape
• Episode 5: "Father and Son..."
• Episode 6: To the Earth Sphere
• Episode 7: "Escape from Side 1"
• Episode 8: "The Dark Side of the Moon"
• Episode 9: "New Bonds"
• Episode 10: "Reunion"
• Episode 11: "Atmospheric Entry"
• Episode 12: The Winds of Jaburo
• Episode 13: "Shuttle Departure"
• Episode 14: "Amuro Returns"
• Episode 15: Katsu's Attack
• Episode 16: "Through the White Darkness"
• Episode 17: "Hong Kong City"
• Episode 18: "Captive Mirai"
• Episode 19: "Cinderella Four"
• Episode 20: "The Scorching Escape"
• Episode 21: Zeta's Heartbeat
• Episode 22: "Scirocco's Eyes"
• Episode 23: "Moon Attack"
• Episode 24: Counterattack
• Episode 25: "The Day the Colony Falls"
• Episode 26: "Ghost of Zeon"
• Episode 27: "Char's Return"
• Episode 28: "Infiltrating Jupiter"
• Episode 29: "Crisis at Side 2"
• Episode 30: Jerid's Suicide Attack
• Episode 31: "Half Moon Love"
• Episode 32: The Mysterious Mobile Suit
• Episode 33: "Messenger from Axis"
• Episode 34: "The Voice Calling from Space"
• Episode 35: "Storm on Mount Kilimanjaro"
• Episode 36: "The Eternal Four"
• Episode 37: "Dakar Day"
• Episode 38: "The Presence of Reccoa"
• Episode 39: "Lakeside"
• Episode 40: "Gryps Starts"
• Episode 41: "Awakening"
• Episode 42: "Goodbye Rosamy"
• Episode 43: Haman's Sneer
• Episode 44: "Gate of Zedan"
• Episode 45: "Something that comes from heaven"
• Episode 46: "Scirocco Stands Up"
• Episode 47: "The Vortex of Space"
• Episode 48: Inside Rosamia
• Episode 49: "Life is Scattered"
• Episode 50: "Running through the sky"

■Detailed review

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is an anime series that aired from 1985 to 1986, and attracted much attention as a sequel to the Gundam series. The series is set in a world after the war between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon has ended, and depicts a new conflict that breaks out between Earth residents and space dwellers. Of particular note is the way it delves deeply into the ruthlessness of war and human psychology through the growth and suffering of the main character, Kamille Bidan.

Kamille Bidan is a young man who steals the Titans' new mobile suit, the Gundam Mk-II, and joins AEUG. His character is depicted as being emotional and impulsive at times, yet growing through the battles. Kamille's growth is not just an improvement in his skills as a pilot, but also shows his maturity as a person, deeply moving viewers.

Characters from the previous film, such as Char Aznable and Amuro Ray, also make an appearance, and their new roles and changes in relationships add depth to the story. In particular, Char's exploits as Quattro Bajeena brought fresh surprises to fans. Char's character is calm and calculating, but he also has hidden passions and conflicts, and his actions and decisions have a major impact on the development of the story.

The mechanical design of this work is also not to be missed. The designs of the new mobile suits by Kunio Okawara and Kazumi Fujita are more sophisticated than those of the previous work, greatly enhancing the visual appeal. The design of the Zeta Gundam in particular was innovative and set it apart from the traditional Gundam series, and was loved by many fans. Also noteworthy is the design work of Mamoru Nagano, whose unique style breathes new life into the entire work.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The soundtrack by Shigeaki Saegusa effectively creates tense battle scenes and moving scenes. In particular, the opening theme "ZZZ Theme" resonates strongly with viewers and can be said to be a symbol of the work.

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a work that exquisitely combines many elements, such as the depth of the story, the growth of the characters, the beauty of the mechanical design, and the power of the music. However, on the other hand, the complexity of the story and the serious themes can be difficult for some viewers to understand. In particular, the scenes depicting the ruthlessness of war and the human psychology can encourage viewers to think deeply, but can also create a heavy atmosphere.

Even so, this work is one of the most highly acclaimed in the Gundam series, due to its high level of completion as a realistic robot anime and its deep themes that make viewers think. "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" is more than just entertainment; it continues to be loved by many fans as a work that questions the true nature of society and humanity.

■Recommendation details

If you are watching Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam for the first time, we recommend that you pay attention to the following points.

• Kamille Bidan's growth : By paying attention to his emotional ups and downs and his growth process, you can feel the depth of the story.
• Char Aznable's new role : By paying attention to Char's actions and decisions as Quattro Bajeena, you can enjoy the differences from the previous work.
• Mechanical Design : Pay attention to the design of the new mobile suits, including the Zeta Gundam, and you can feel their visual appeal.
• Music : By paying attention to the soundtrack and opening theme by Shigeaki Saegusa, you can get a deeper feel for the atmosphere of the work.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, we also recommend watching the previous Mobile Suit Gundam. By learning how the characters in the previous series have grown and changed, you will be able to understand the story of this film more deeply.

In addition, it is a good idea to refer to related books and materials. Books such as "Sunrise Complete Works Collection" and "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Official Guidebook" contain behind-the-scenes stories and detailed character settings, allowing you to learn more about the background of the work.

"Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" is a particularly profound work in the Gundam series, and its appeal touches each and every viewer in a different way. Please enjoy this work and feel the cruelty of war, human psychology, and the story of people wavering between hope and despair.