Turn A Gundam Earthlight - A thorough review of the moving story and grand worldview

Turn A Gundam Earth Light - Turn A Gundam One Earth Light

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

February 9, 2002 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

・Distribution: Shochiku, ・Video media distributor: Bandai Visual

■Original Story

Original story by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino

■ Director

・General Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino

■ Production

・Production: Sunrise

■Works

© Sotsu, Sunrise

■ Story

The year is 2343. The people of the moon, the "Moonrace", have sent three boys and girls, including Loran, to Earth for an adaptation test before their return to Earth. Loran works as a driver for the Heim family and blends into the life on Earth, and participates in the coming-of-age ceremony with the Heim family's second daughter, Sochie. However, Loran's peaceful life is turned upside down when the moon's army, the "Diana Counter", descends to Earth. In response to the attack of the Diana Counter, the mechanical doll White Doll (∀ Gundam) awakens from a long slumber, and Loran pilots the White Doll as an Earthling. Against the Diana Counter, who are colonizing the planet with their overwhelming scientific and military power, Nguyen, the grandson of the Lord of Ingressa, plots to use Loran's White Doll as a trump card to advance favorable negotiations. Although Loran wishes for the coexistence of Earthlings and the Moonrace, he fights his compatriots, the Diana Counter, to balance the power between Earth and the Moon.

■Cast

・Roland/Romi Park ・Kiel & Diana/Rieko Takahashi ・Socie/Akino Murata ・Nguyen/Go Aoba ・Keith/Jun Fukuyama ・Fran/Kumiko Watanabe ・Harry/Toru Inada ・Phil/Takashi Koyama ・Ginganam/Takehito Koyasu ・Agrippa/Hiroya Ishimaru

■ Main staff

・General Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
・Character design: Akira Yasuda
・Character design: Yoshihito Hishinuma
Mechanical design: Kunio Okawara, Syd Mead, Atsushi Shigeta, Takumi Sakura
・Music: Yoko Kanno ・Production: Sunrise

■ Main Characters

・Roran Cehack: Moonrace (naturalized on Earth, Ingressa Militia) 17 years old. Moonrace boy. Turn A pilot. Born November 2nd, 2328. He is from the Mayzam district of the moon and is from a lower class called the Canal People. After graduating from middle school, at the age of 15, he descended to the North Amelia continent of Earth in the second of six Flats with Keith and Fran as an advance investigator for the return to Earth. He was saved by the Heim sisters Kiel and Shisoe when he drowned in a river and was hired as a servant. He admires both Diana, the Queen of the Moon, and Kiel, who looks exactly like her. He has a gentle personality and does not like fighting, and hopes for the peaceful return of the Moonrace. On the night of his coming-of-age ceremony on Mount Ark, he boarded a Turn A that appeared from inside the stone statue of White Doll, and due to Nguyen's plan, he was forced to participate in an unwanted battle as a female pilot, Lola Lola.
- Kiel Heim Affiliation: Earthling. 17 years old. The eldest daughter of the Heim family, who run a mine in Vicinity, Ingressa. She looks exactly like Diana. She was living in Knox and studying at university, but now she has an upwardly mobile ambition, believing that it is time to gain experience in the real world. In the confusion of the Diana counter attack, she becomes an assistant to Nguyen at Bostonia Castle. However, due to Diana's mischievous spirit, Kiel and Diana end up switching places.
- Sochie Heim Affiliation: Earthling (Ingressa Militia) The second daughter of the Heim family who runs a mine in Vicinity, Ingressa territory. A strong-willed, tomboyish, and selfish girl, but also cute. She joins the Militia and pilots a Capulus robot doll. She also occasionally pilots a Turn A. Having experienced the deaths of her father and fiance in the war, she aims for revenge at one point, but grows as she comes into contact with different cultures and learns the truth about her dark past.
Nguyen Third Lineford Affiliation: Earthling (Central figure of the Ingressa Militia) Grandson of Messer, Lord of Ingressa. At the age of 19, he became a central figure of the Ingressa Militia. He seeks to bring about an industrial revolution on Earth using lunar technology, and is enthusiastic about negotiating with the Moon and applying that technology. After the war between the Militia and Diana Counter breaks out and Nox falls, he seeks refuge in Rujana and plots a comeback. After joining the Rujana Militia, he heads to the Moon on the excavated battleship Wilgem.
・Diana Sorel Affiliation: Moonrace (Queen of the Moon) A thoughtful and intelligent queen of the moon. She looks exactly like Kiel. Hoping for the peaceful return of the Moonrace to Earth, she leads the Diana Counter, descends to Earth on her flagship Soleil, and begins negotiations with the lords of Earth. As the Moonrace are destined to be in artificial hibernation, her real age is unknown. She descended to Earth about 100 years ago and fell in love with the first Will Geim, but broke him off and returned to the moon. This story was passed down on Earth as the fairy tale "The Gendarme, the Ship of Feathered Robe". The Sorel family is a family that gained fame for successfully breeding plants that can grow in the space environment on the asteroid colony "Mistletoe". Since then, they have been administering the moon in collaboration with the Maintainer family, in charge of domestic affairs, and the Ginganam family, in charge of military affairs. She frequently switches places with Kiel, who looks exactly like her, and while acting as Kiel, she realizes Agrippa's betrayal and decides to return to the moon.
Harry Ord Affiliation: Moonrace (Captain of Diana's Royal Guard) Captain of Diana's Royal Guard with the rank of lieutenant (later promoted to captain). An excellent pilot who flies the golden MS Smoo. He is known for his red sunglasses. A tactician, he is an intelligent person who always makes calm decisions. He is fascinated by Queen Diana and has sworn absolute loyalty to her. He protects Kiel, who has been replaced by Diana, and the two of them develop a bond as they work together. He comes from the lower classes of the Moon and once served Ginganam.
Phil Ackerman: Moonrace (Diana Counter), 25 years old. Captain of Diana Counter (later promoted to Major). On-site commander of the First Return Fleet. Hard-line and military-like. Dotes on his subordinate, Pou Eiji. He rebels against the moderate Diana, but after Diana descends again, he becomes her subordinate and pledges his loyalty.
・Gim Ghinganum Affiliation: Moonrace (General of the Ghinganum Army) A Moonrace warrior. Along with Agrippa's Maintainer family, he is a family that supports the Sorel family and is in charge of military affairs. The Ghinganum family has been conducting military exercises for over 2,500 years, and it is estimated that their power exceeds that of the Diana Counter. He is a dangerous man who says that fighting is his reason for being, and fights in the mobile suit Turn X himself. At first, he joins forces with Agrippa and betrays Diana, but after Agrippa's death, he joins forces with Nguyen and invades Earth.
Agrippa Maintainer Moonrace (Maintainer family) The manager of the hibernation system in Genganham, the capital of the moon, who has been working on the moon in place of Diana, who descended to Earth. He is also the person named by Coren as the person to send reinforcements from the moon. The Maintainer family, along with the Genganham family, supports the Sorel family, and is mainly in charge of domestic affairs. Agrippa was known as a moderate, but in order to maintain peace and stability in the moon society, he planned to assassinate Diana, fearing that contact with Earthlings would awaken a fighting instinct in the people's hearts.
Fran Doll: Moonrace (naturalized on Earth), 17 years old. A Moonrace girl. At the age of 15, she descended to Earth with Loran and Keith as an advance investigator for the return to Earth. She joined the newspaper company "Knox Chronicle" in Knox as a printer and began working as a photographer.
Keith Leger Affiliation: Moonrace (naturalized on Earth) A Moonrace boy. 17 years old. At the age of 15, he descended to Earth with Laurent and Fran as an advance investigator for the return to Earth. He worked at the Donkey Bakery in Nox, the capital of Ingressa territory, and fell in love with the master's daughter, Verlaine. He began running a bakery during the battle with Diana Counter. He created a neutral zone by selling bread to Earthlings and Moonraces alike.

■ Related works

・[TVA] 99.04.09-00.04.14 Turn A Gundam (50 episodes)
・[MVA] 02.02.10 Turn A Gundam II Moonlight Butterfly

■ Review

"Turn A Gundam One Chikyuukou" is a work with a unique worldview and storyline among the Gundam series, and is strongly influenced by the creativity and philosophy of director Yoshiyuki Tomino. This film further deepens the story of the TV series "Turn A Gundam" and depicts the tension and conflict between the Earth and the Moon. Below, we will discuss the appeal and evaluation of this work in detail.

Story and Themes

"Turn A Gundam: Earthlight" deals with the theme of conflict and coexistence between Earth and the Moon. It depicts the cultural clash between the Moonrace and Earthlings, the misery of war, and the desire for peace. In particular, through the character of Laurent Cehack, the story progresses from the perspective of a boy who does not want war, evoking deep empathy in the viewer. In addition, the setting of Diana Sorel and Kiel Heim switching bodies symbolically expresses the complexities of human relationships and issues of identity.

character

Each character in this work has a unique personality and a deep background. Laurent Cehack is a pure-hearted boy who wishes for peace, but is drawn into the war in a moving way. Sochie Heim's coming-of-age story is also not to be missed. Although she is a victim of the war, she is depicted walking the path from revenge to coexistence. Nguyen Saad Reinford's ambition and strategy, and Diana Sorel's thoughtfulness and leadership also enrich the story. Harry Ord and Phil Ackerman's characters also play important roles in depicting the internal conflicts of Diana Counter.

Visual and mechanical design

The visuals of "Turn A Gundam: Earthlight" were drawn by famous designers such as Syd Mead and Kunio Okawara. In particular, the design of Turn A Gundam (White Doll) combines beauty and strength, making a visual impact. In addition, the world view that combines lunar technology with Earth culture creates a unique atmosphere. Not only the mecha design, but also the backgrounds and character costumes are made with great attention to detail.

music

Yoko Kanno's music further enhances the atmosphere of this work. It heightens the tension in dramatic scenes and plays melodies that move the viewer's heart in moving scenes. In particular, the background music in the battle scenes, combined with the visual impact, has the power to draw the viewer into the world of the story.

Director's philosophy

Director Yoshiyuki Tomino's philosophy is reflected throughout this work. It conveys a deep message to the viewer by depicting the meaninglessness of war, the desire for peace, and human dignity. In addition, the setting of a "dark history" that suggests a connection to past Gundam series is an interesting element for fans. Director Tomino's works are not just entertainment, but often raise social issues, and this work is one of them.

■Recommendation

"Turn A Gundam One Chikyukou" is recommended not only for fans of the Gundam series, but for all viewers who are drawn to deep stories and characters. It is especially a must-see for those who are looking for a work that makes them think about war, peace, and human dignity. It is also recommended for those who are looking for visual entertainment, as it features beautiful visuals and music. Experience the world view and philosophy of Director Yoshiyuki Tomino through this work.

Related information

To enjoy this work even more, we recommend watching the TV series "Turn A Gundam". Also, by watching the sequel movie "Turn A Gundam II: Moonlight Butterfly", you can get a deeper understanding of the whole story. Furthermore, if you are interested in other works in the Gundam series or other works by director Yoshiyuki Tomino, please check them out as well. You can also gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment by participating in the Gundam series fan communities and online discussions.