Mobile Suit Gundam 00 — BrandWiki

Mobile Suit Gundam 00

genre	Mecha
creator	Hajime Yatate Yoshiyuki Tomino
director	Seiji Mizushima
screenplay	Yōsuke Kuroda
music	Kenji Kawai
company	Mainichi Broadcasting System Sunrise
producer	Hirô Maruyama (Mainichi Broadcasting) Hiromi Iketani (Sunrise)
network	JNN (MBS, TBS)
first aired	October 6, 2007
last aired	March 29, 2009
country	Japan
language	Japanese
num episodes	50
list episodes	List of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 episodes

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (機動戦士ガンダム00（ダブルオー）) is a Japanese anime television series and the eleventh installment of Sunrise's Gundam franchise.[1] The series is set on a futuristic Earth and is centered on the exploits of the paramilitary organization Celestial Being and its efforts to rid the world of war and conflict with a series of unique and extremely advanced mecha mobile suits known as "Gundams". Unlike the previous installments, the timeline that this series takes place in corresponds to the real life Gregorian calendar, in this case Anno Domini (AD).

Comprising two seasons, the series was directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The 25-episode first season was officially announced by Sunrise with a 15-second trailer on June 2, 2007.[1] It aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System, Tokyo Broadcasting System and its affiliated JNN stations from October 5, 2007 to March 29, 2008. The second season began on October 5, 2008 and concluded on March 29, 2009. A film sequel, titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer, premiered in Japan on September 18, 2010 and was released on DVD and

Plot

Season 1

The series is set in 2307 AD.[4] 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 multiple Dyson rings (massive arrays of solar power collectors) orbiting Earth, and supported by three orbital elevators, each one serving one of the three "power blocs" on the planet, namely the Union (Union of Solar Energy and Free Nations), controlling the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan; the Human Reform League (Sino-Japanese: 人類革新連盟; Romaji: jinrui kakushin renmei; Pinyin: rénlèi géxīn liánméng), controlling nearly all of mainland Asia besides the Middle East along with most of Oceania; and the AEU (Advanced European Union), which controls mainland Europe as well as many islands in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.[5] 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), dedicated to eradicating war and uniting humanity through the use of four advanced machines called Gundams.[1] Mobile Suit Gundam 00 follows four mobile suit pilots termed Gundam Meisters (ガンダムマイスター), sided with Celestial Being. The main protagonist is 16-year-old Setsuna F. Seiei, a taciturn Gundam pilot who grew up in the war-torn Middle Eastern Republic of Krugis (which seems to be based on the territory of Kurdistan).[6][7]

Unable to counter Celestial Being's superior technology, the three major powers eventually unite into the United Nations Army in order to counter Celestial Being's armed interventions.[8] 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.

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 believed to be located in the moon somewhere. Without the tactical aid from the organization's artificial intelligence, Celestial Being is easily overwhelmed and overpowered by the 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 (Lockon Stratos was just injured in a previous battle). Alejandro Corner, in his unique custom mobile armor Alvatore, attacks Setsuna as the GN-X units proceed to destroy the Ptolemaios and the remaining Gundams. Setsuna 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 the Gundams' existence. The fight results in the destruction of the GN-Flag, while the Exia is heavily damaged.

Season 2

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, the A-Laws, separate from and above the formal Federation army. Given unfettered discretion, the 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'.

Meanwhile, 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. Saji Crossroad reluctantly joins Setsuna to pilot the upgraded 00 Raiser and confront his girlfriend Louise Halevy who has joined the A-Laws.

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. It is revealed that Ribbons had a hand in many different historical events since Schenberg and intends to rule over humanity as a god-like figure, believing that he is now above the rest of humanity as an Innovator.

Media

Publications

A novelized version of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was published by Kadokawa, currently ongoing with two volumes and authored by Noboru Kimura.[26] The book series has been licensed by Bandai Entertainment and the first volume was released on December 29, 2009.[27] The manga adaptation has also been licensed and was released in the United States on August 24, 2009.[28]

A light novel series, Mobile Suit Gundam 00P was serialized in Dengeki Hobby 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.[29] The first volume of the sidestory was released in May 2008 by Dengeki Hobby.[30] 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.[29] 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.

Manga

Four TV broadcast-based manga series exist to date. One was 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.[31] It has been released in English in North America by Bandai Entertainment,[32] with the first volume released on September 23, 2009.[33]

The other manga adaptation series of the same name is also based on the television series, and is drawn by Auto Taguchi.[34] Unlike the first manga series, this title is published by Kodansha

Film

A theatrical release was announced at the end of episode 25 of season 2, titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer A new character is revealed to be the first officially acknowledged true Innovator, whose name is revealed to be Descartes Shaman.[38] A new enemy appears to be a newly discovered alien life form, Extraterrestrial Livingmetal Shapeshifter (ELS). The Japanese premiere was announced for September 18, 2010.[39] 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.

Bandai Entertainment hosted the North American premiere of the film at New York Comic Con/New York Anime Festival.[40] They later announced the license for the film.[41]

Stage play

A stage play adaptation of the anime series titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Re:Build (機動戦士ガンダム00 -破壊による再生-Re:Build) premiered at the Nippon Seinenkan in Tokyo on February 15, 2019 and ran until February 18 before moving to the Morinomiya Piloti Hall in Osaka on February 23–24.[43][44] The play starred Shohei Hashimoto as Setsuna F. Seiei, Yū Imari as Lockon Stratos, Taiyō Ayukawa as Allelujah Haptism, and Seiichirō Nagata as Tieria Erde.[45] Gundam 00 Re:Build will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 26, 2019.[46]

A stage play adaptation of the second season of the anime series, titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 -Hakai ni Yoru Saisei- Re:(in)novation, was scheduled to premiere at the New National Theatre in Tokyo from July 17, 2020 and will run until July 26. The cast members include, Shohei Hashimoto, Yū Imari, Taiyō Ayukawa, and Seiichirō Nagata who all reprise their respective roles from the first adaptation. Yuki Maekawa as Saji Crossroad, Sakiho Motonishi as Louise Halevy, and Yuichi Nakamura as Mister Bushido.

Video games

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.[48]

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).[49][50][51] Unlike the first Nintendo DS game, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters covers the first season's plot completely, albeit with slight deviations.[52]

CDs

A drama CD prequel entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Another Story: Mission-2306 was released on July 23, 2008.[53] 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.[54] 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.[55] 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.[56]

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.[57]

Reception

Critical reception

After a sneak preview of Gundam 00 on September 1, 2007, Anime News Network remarked on "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."[3] 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.[58] 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."[59] 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."[60] 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."[61]

Mamoru Miyano, the voice actor for Setsuna F Seiei, won the "Best Voice Actor" award at the 2008 Tokyo International Anime Fair.[62] Miyano and Tieria Erde's voice actor, Hiroshi Kamiya, both won the "Best Main" and "Best Supporting Male Characters" respectively at the 2008 Seiyu Awards.[63] In the United Kingdom, Gundam 00 was nominated for the 2009 NEO Award for Best Anime.[64]

Popularity

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%).[65] 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 of action figures and Gunpla. The third and seventh DVD release topped the anime DVD sales chart.[66][67]

In a top 20 anime poll published in the April 2008 issue of Newtype, Japanese readers voted for Gundam 00 as the best anime, higher than its predecessor Gundam SEED, which was voted ninth.