The Appeal and Evaluation of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: A New Legend of the Universal Century

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: A New Legend of the Universal Century

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is a particularly noteworthy work in the Gundam series, known as the OVA that opened a new chapter in the Universal Century. A total of seven episodes were released between 2010 and 2014, and its epic story and beautiful visuals have earned it high praise among fans. In this article, we will take a deeper look into the appeal and details of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.

Story and Background

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is set in the Universal Century (UC) year 0096. The story begins in UC0001, when the start of space immigration was announced. In that year, the Earth Federation government's prime ministerial residence was hit by a terrorist bombing, and a young man named Syam was caught up in the explosion and later discovered a forbidden box known as "Laplace's Box." The secret of this box remained hidden in Syam's possession for a long time.

In the year UC0096, in the industrial colony "Industrial 7," a boy named Banagher Links who grew up without knowing his father meets a mysterious girl named Audrey Burne. She is a key figure in an anti-government organization known as the "Sleeves," and her true identity is Mineva Lao Zabi, a descendant of the Zabi family, the ancestors of the Principality of Zeon. She becomes embroiled in a conflict over "Laplace's Box," and together with Banagher, she begins to unravel its secrets.

The story revolves around the struggle over "Laplace's Box" and the growth of Banagher. Banagher pilots the prototype mobile suit "Unicorn Gundam" and throws himself into the battle against various forces. At the heart of the story are the questions: what is the secret of "Laplace's Box" and what impact will it bring?

character

The protagonist of this work, Banagher Links, is a 16-year-old boy who was raised as an illegitimate child. After his mother's death, he is taken in by an unknown father and becomes a student at Anaheim Electronics Industrial College. Through his encounter with Audrey, he becomes embroiled in an incident surrounding "Laplace's Box." Banagher's growth and awakening are major themes in the story.

The heroine, Audrey Burne (Mineva Rao Zabi), is a 16-year-old girl, just like Banagher. She is an important member of the Sleeves, and stows away on the disguised cargo ship Garenciers to Industrial 7. Her fate changes when she is saved by Banagher, and together they pursue the secret of Laplace's Box.

In addition, many other unique characters appear, such as Riddhe Marcenas of the Earth Federation Forces and Full Frontal of the Sleeves. The drama they weave has the power to draw viewers in.

Mechanic

The mechanical design of "Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn" is a symbol of the series. In particular, the protagonist's mobile suit, the "Unicorn Gundam," has captivated fans with its beautiful design and powerful performance. The Unicorn Gundam is equipped with a special system called the NT-D (Newtype Destroyer System), and when it transforms into Destroy Mode, it exerts overwhelming combat power.

In addition, there are many mobile suits that reflect the personalities of each character, such as Full Frontal's "Sinanju" and Marida Cruz's "Kshatriya." These mechanics play an important role as the story progresses, and greatly enhance the visual appeal.

Production and staff

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is an OVA series produced by Sunrise and published by Bandai Visual. It was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi, written by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino, and the story was written by Harutoshi Fukui. Character design was done by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, with designs by Kumiko Takahashi. Mechanical design was done by famous designers of the Gundam series, such as Hajime Katoki and Junya Ishigaki.

The music was composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, and the ending themes for each episode were sung by a number of talented artists, including CHiAKi KURiYAMA, Kylee, CHEMISTRY, earthmind, BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, and Aimer. These pieces of music are an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

Evaluation and impact

"Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn" is one of the most highly acclaimed works in the Gundam series. The reason for this is its epic storyline, beautiful visuals, and deep character portrayal. In particular, Banagher's growth and awakening, and the drama surrounding the secret of "Laplace's Box" left a strong impression on viewers.

This work also represents a new development in the Gundam series. It further deepened the history of the Universal Century and had a major influence on later works. For example, works that are considered to be successors to this work, such as "Mobile Suit Gundam NT" and "Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway's Flash", were produced.

Related works and media mix

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn has been expanded beyond just the original animation (OVA) to various other media mixes. For example, the TV series Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 and the movie Mobile Suit Gundam NT have been produced. It has also been expanded into a wide range of media, including novels, comics, and games, and is widely loved by fans.

Furthermore, a large number of Gundam plastic models were released, and the Unicorn Gundam kit in particular proved extremely popular, with many fans picking it up. These media mix developments played a role in further broadening and deepening the worldview of this work.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn" is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the Gundam series, but also to those who like anime and science fiction. The epic story, beautiful visuals, and deep character portrayal have the power to draw viewers in. It is also an important work in knowing the history of the Gundam series, and you can enjoy a new development in the Universal Century.

It is available in Blu-ray and DVD packaged versions, and can also be viewed through streaming services. The Blu-ray version in particular offers high-definition, beautiful images, making it a must-see for fans.

Conclusion

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is a particularly brilliant work in the Gundam series, and has written a new legend in the Universal Century. The epic story, beautiful visuals, and deep character portrayal left a strong impression on viewers and further deepened the history of the Gundam series. It is a must-see for fans, and is highly recommended for anime and science fiction lovers. Be sure to experience this new chapter in the Universal Century.