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Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (機動戦士ガンダム00, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Daburu-ō) is the latest television anime of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise.

It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The series was first officially announced by Sunrise during a 15-second trailer on June 2, 2007. Gundam 00 will consist of two seasons, with the first one containing 25 episodes. The second season is set to go on air in October 2008. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is the first Gundam series to be animated in high-definition, as well as the first to be set in a non-fictional era (Anno Domini).

The series is set in a futuristic Earth and centered around Celestial Being, a private paramilitary force and their efforts to rid the world of war and conflict with a series of unique and highly effective mobile suits known as "Gundams".

Licensing for a North American release of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was announced by Bandai Entertainment at New York Comic Con 2008 on April 18 2008.

Plot

Story and settings

The series is set in the years 2307-2312 AD of the Gregorian calendar. During this time, fossil fuels became exhausted and the distribution of fuels became imbalanced. Humanity must rely on an array of solar power generation systems orbiting the Earth, and supported by three orbital elevators, each one pertaining to one of the three "major powers" on the planet.

The Union of Solar Energy and Free Nations (世界経済連合, sekaikeizairengō, abbrev. ユニオン Union, lit. World Economic Union), centred around the United States and consisting of the Organization of American States, Australasia and Japan, control the elevator located in South America. The Human Reform League (人類革新連盟, Jinrui Kakushin Renmei, abbrev. 人革連 Jinkakuren, lit. Human Reform Alliance), centred around China, Siberian Russia, and India, and including the member states of the SAARC (excluding Afghanistan and Pakistan) and ASEAN, Korea, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and Taiwan, control the elevator located in the Pacific Ocean. The Advanced European Union (AEU), consisting of Iceland, the islands of the Barents Sea, Greenland, Turkey, European Russia and the entirety of the traditional continent of Europe, control an elevator built in the middle of the African continent.

With this infinite source of energy benefiting only the major powers and their allies, constant warfare erupts around the globe for fuels and energy. The nations that rely on fuel have plunged into poverty. Many believed that solar energy threatened the "promised land of God". The chaos led to the formation of a private military organization, called Celestial Being (ソレスタルビーイング, Soresutaru Biiingu), dedicated to eradicating war and uniting humanity with the use of four humanoid machines called Gundams. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 follows four mobile suit pilots termed Gundam Meisters (ガンダムマイスター, Gandamu Maisutā), sided with Celestial Being. The protagonist is 16-year old Setsuna F Seiei (刹那・Ｆ・セイエイ), a quiet, taciturn young man who grew up in the Kurdish Republic, and a Gundam Meister for two years. He pilots the GN-001 Gundam Exia, a high mobility mobile suit effective in melee combat.

Characters

Setsuna F Seiei (刹那・F・セイエイ, Setsuna Efu Seiei)

The primary protagonist of the show. Having been discovered by Celestial Being at the age of 14 for having special potential as a pilot, he is currently a Gundam Meister for their organization, piloting the Gundam Exia. Setsuna's real name is Soran Ibrahim; Setsuna is his Gundam Meister codename. He was a child soldier in the war-torn Kurdish Republic. He murdered his own parents under Ali Al-Saachez's influence in order to prove his devotion to God, and hence bears a deep hatred towards Saachez. Due to his previous religious brainwashing (and awakening from it), Setsuna no longer believes that God exists within the world. Setsuna believes that war can only be stopped through direct confrontation, and therefore has little tolerance for diplomats and politicians, believing that their "peace talks" only lengthen the conflict and cause more casualties.

Lockon Stratos (ロックオン・ストラトス, Rokkuon Sutoratosu)

Lockon decided to join Celestial Being after losing his parents and little sister to terrorists in Ireland; because of this, he loathes terrorists. As the eldest pilot, he is considered the team leader of the Gundam Meisters, and sports a more easygoing, flamboyant personality as compared to the other Gundam Meisters. He owns an orange Haro to aid Gundam Dynames' defense and movement when sniping. He has a personal feud with Ali Al-Saachez, who was directly involved in a terrorist bombing that caused the death of his family members.

Allelujah Haptism (アレルヤ・ハプティズム, Areruya Haputizumu)

Allelujah spent his childhood as an orphan in the Human Reform League as a Super Soldier experimental subject. While generally gentle and rational compared to the other Gundam Meisters, he has another harsher, unstable, and outright sadistic alter ego, named Hallelujah inside him, which was the result of the Super Soldier experiments. Allelujah/Hallelujah appears to harbor a grudge against the Human Reform League for conducting superhuman experiments on children. He is the pilot of GN-003 Gundam Kyrios.

Tieria Erde (ティエリア・アーデ, Tieria Āde)

A boy with a rare kind of beauty, his history, nationality and origins all a mystery. Within his gentle tone, he can give a sense of cold intentions. He values the mission above all other issues, including life, and doesn't show any 'concern' for his teammates. As the Gundam Meister of GN-005 Gundam Virtue, Tieria seems extremely loyal to Veda, and will go to any length to ensure the secrecy of Celestial Being remains what it is, a secret, even if he has to kill other Gundam Meisters himself to achieve this end. Compared to the rest of the Gundam Meisters, Tieria is the most enigmatic, with none of his past explained.

Production

Development

According to Hiroomi Iketani, one of the Gundam 00 producers, planning for Gundam 00 started in 2005, under the temporary name "Next". Iketani approached Seiji Mizushima, the director who was initially reluctant about accepting the job due to his lack of knowledge regarding the Gundam series, for the first time at the end of 2005. The staff, consisting of over 300 people, spent roughly 2 years planning the series.Compared to other anime shows, Gundam 00 has more main staff members.

Release

The series premiered on October 6, 2007, replacing Toward the Terra on the terrestrial MBS and TBS networks, occupying the networks' noted Saturday 6:00 p.m. timeslot.

Season 1 of the series will be re-broadcasted across Japan on various television networks such as TBS, Kids Station, MBS and BS-i from April onwards.

Currently, six DVD collections have been released, with a seventh volume slated for July 25. The DVDs performed well in sales, with the first collection selling approximately 22,847 copies on the first week, ranking third on the Oricon's overall weekly DVD chart.

The Blu-ray disc collections have been confirmed, with the first and second volume slated for an August 22 release.

Music

The series' music was composed by Kenji Kawai. Two original soundtracks have been released so far, the first one on January 10 2008, with the second OST being released later on March 26 2008.

The first opening theme song, "Daybreak's Bell" was performed by the band L'Arc~en~Ciel. The first ending theme was "Wana" (罠, lit. "The Trap"), performed by The Back Horn. Both songs were replaced in episode 14 with "Ash Like Snow", performed by The Brilliant Green, as the new opening and "Friends" by Stephanie as the new ending. The first opening song, "Daybreak's Bell" was also used as the ending theme to the last episode. "Love Today", performed by Taja, was used as an insert song in episode 19 and 24.

A series of character CDs has been announced; with the first one, featuring Setsuna F. Seiei and the character's seiyu Mamoru Miyano, to be released on August 13.

Reception

After a sneak preview of Gundam 00 on September 1 2007, Anime News Network remarked "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." Later, Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network suggested that just like Mobile Suit Gundam SEED adapted the original Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) for modern audiences, Gundam 00 may possibly be an attempt to do the same with Gundam Wing. He also remarked that "its political flavour is distinctly post-9/11".

While critically acclaimed, the first season of Gundam 00 experienced lower average ratings than its predecessors Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Over its 25 episode run, it averaged a rating of 4.85% and peaked at 6.1%. On a more positive note, Gundam 00's average rating was higher than all other previous Gundam shows set in alternative universes such as Gundam Wing (which averaged 4.3%) and G Gundam (which averaged 4.1%). Gundam 00's third DVD release also managed to top the anime DVD sales chart, apparently selling 25,135 copies in its first week.

In a top 20 anime poll published in the April 2008 issue of Newtype magazine, Japanese readers voted for Gundam 00 as #1 best anime, higher than its predecessor Gundam SEED which was voted #9. In Newtype's poll for top 10 male anime characters, Setsuna F Seiei was voted #2, Tieria Erde #3, Lockon Stratos #4, Graham Aker #5 and Allelujah Haptism at #7; and in its poll for top 10 female anime characters, Nena Trinity was voted #8 and Marina Ismail was voted #10. Mamoru Miyano, the seiyū for Setsuna F Seiei, also won the "Best Voice Actor" award at the 2008 Tokyo International Anime Fair. Miyano and Tieria Erde's seiyū, Hiroshi Kamiya, both won the "Best Main" and "Best Supporting" Male Characters respectively at the 2008 Seiyū Awards.

Media

Books and publications

A novelized version of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was published by Kadokawa, currently ongoing with two volumes and authored by Tooru Kimura.

A light novel series, Mobile Suit Gundam 00P was serialized in Dengeki Hobby Magazine and centers around the previous generation of Gundam Meisters. Set 15 years before the anime series, 00P features events that happened before the main story. It is penned by Tomohiro Chiba, with model conductions by Dengeki Hobby Magazine. The first volume of the sidestory was released in May, 2008 by Dengeki Hobby.

A graphic novel that features variations of existing mobile suits, Mobile Suit Gundam 00V, which is currently being serialized in Hobby Japan, is told told in the format of a mobile suit development history book published 20 years after the anime series, featuring photo guides of customized models. Unlike most other sidestories, 00V has no real plot. Instead, it reveals and discuss the origins, past and future of mobile suits and characters from the series proper.

Manga

Two TV broadcast-based manga series exist to date. One is serialized in Kerokero Ace and drawn by Kouzoh Ohmari. 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.

The other manga adaptation series of the same name is also based on the television series, and is drawn by Auto Taguchi. Unlike the first manga series, this title is published by Kodansha. The two manga series essentially follow the same story as the anime's main plot, but vary in the sequence of events that unfold and in artistic style.

A manga sidestory entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00F is serialized in Gundam Ace. Illustrated by Kōichi Tokita, this manga series focuses on Fereshte, an autonomous branch of Celestial Being that is also in possession of several previous generation Gundams. The series acts as a link for the main story to the 2 other sidestories and introduces the characters and mecha from the other publications. First volume to this title was released on March 26, 2008 by Kadokawa Comics.

CDs

A drama CD prequel entitled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Another Story: Mission-2306 is currently being produced, with a planned release date of July 23.

Two original soundtracks and five singles, featuring the theme songs used throughout the first season, have also been released.

Video games

A Nintendo DS game titled Mobile Suit Gundam 00 has been released. The game was produced by BEC.

A PS2 game will be coming out in October.

References

1. ^ "機動戦士ガンダム００ [ダブルオー]" (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
2. ^ "MOON PHASE" (in Japanese). 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. ^ "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 TV Series Announced for October". Anime News Network. 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. "Gundam 00's Second Season to Start in October of 2008". Anime News Network. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2007-11-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. ^ "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Preview Screening". Anime News Network. 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-10-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. "Bandai Entertainment Gets Gundam 00 TV Anime". Anime News Network. 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
7. "Press Release" (PDF). Bandai Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
8. "STORY 機動戦士ガンダム００ [ダブルオー]" (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
9. Newtype Magazine, July 2007
10. "Gundam Double 0 Mobile Suits Revealed". Famitsu. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2007-06-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. See Episode 1: Celestial Being
12. See Episode 7: Unrepayable Soul
13. See Episode 19: Bonds
14. See Episode 11: Allelujah
15. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Official Site". Sunrise. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
16. ^ "00 Production Info". Gunota. 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
17. Japan's TBS Confirms Anime's Move from Saturday, 6 p.m. - Anime News Network
18. "Rebroadcast Info". Gundam 00. 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
19. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Products". Gundam 00. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
20. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 DVD 7". Sunrise. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
21. "DVD 1 Sales". Sunrise. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
22. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Products". Gundam 00. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
23. "Products". Sunrise. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
24. "L'Arc En Ciel for Gundam 00 theme". Gunota Headlines. 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
25. "ED theme by The Back Horn". Gunota Headlines. 2007-08-19. Retrieved 2007-08-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. "Taja for Gundam 00 insert song". Gunota. 2008-1-30. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. "Sunrise". Sunrise. 2008-5-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. "Sunrise". Gunota Headlines. 2008-5-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
29. ^ "The Fall 2007 Anime Season Guide". Anime News Network. 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2007-10-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
30. Gunota Headlines
31. Japanese Animation DVD Ranking, March 26–April 1 - Anime News Network
32. Gunota Headlines
33. Newtype April 2008 Issue Poll
34. "Eva 1.0 Wins Tokyo Anime Fair's Animation of the Year". Anime News Network. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
35. "2nd Annual Seiyū Awards Announced". Anime News Network. 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
36. "Kadokawa Shoten". Kadokawa. 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2008-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
37. ^ "Gundam 00 gets trio of side stories". Gunota Headlines. 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2007-10-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
38. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00P Vol.1". Retrieved 2008-06-04.
39. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Vol.1". Retrieved 2008-03-27.
40. "Kodansha". Retrieved 2008-03-27.
41. "Mobile Suit Gundam 00F Vol.1". Retrieved 2008-03-27.
42. "Gunota Headlines". Gunota Headlines. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2007-06-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
43. "Gunota Headlines". Gunota Headlines. 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2007-06-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Official website Template:Ja icon
• Official MBS website Template:Ja icon
• Template:Anime-links
• U.S Gundam Official Site Template:En icon

v t e Gundam
TV series Main series Mobile Suit Gundam (1979–80) Zeta (1985–86) ZZ (1986–87) Victory (1993–94) G (1994–95) Wing (1995–96) X (1996) Turn A (1999–00) SEED (2002–03) SEED Destiny (2004–05) 00 (2007–09) AGE (2011–12) Reconguista in G (2014–15) Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015–17) The Witch from Mercury (2022–23) GQuuuuuuX (TBA) Build series Build Fighters (2013–14) Build Fighters Try (2014–15) Build Divers (2018) Other spin-offs Gundam-san (2014)
Films Char's Counterattack (1988) F91 (1991) G-Saviour (1999, TV live-action) 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer (2010) Build Fighters Try: Island Wars (2016, TV) Narrative (2018) Hathaway (2021) Cucuruz Doan's Island (2022) SEED Freedom (2024)
OVA/ONA 0080: War in the Pocket (1989) 0083: Stardust Memory (1991) The 08th MS Team (1996) Wing: Endless Waltz (1997) Evolve (2001) SEED MSV Astray (2004) MS IGLOO (2004) SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (2006) Unicorn (2010–14) Gunpla Builders Beginning G (2010) The Origin (2015) Thunderbolt (2015–17) Twilight AXIS (2017) Build Fighters Battlogue (2017) Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack (2017) Build Divers: Prologue (2018) Build Divers Re:Rise (2019–20) Build Divers Battlogue (2020) The Witch from Mercury – Prologue (2022) Build Metaverse (2023) Requiem for Vengeance (2024)
Print Manga Plamo-Kyoshiro (1982) Crossbone (1994) Wing: The Last Outpost (1997) Wing: Episode Zero (1997) Gundam-san/The Men who Created Gundam (2001) Lost War Chronicles (2002) École du Ciel (2002) The Origin (2002) Thoroughbred (2003) SEED Destiny Astray (2004) SEED C.E. 73 Δ Astray (2006) Alive (2006) Thunderbolt (2012) Novels Gaia Gear (1987) Sentinel (1987) Hathaway's Flash (1989) Unicorn (2007) Wing: Frozen Teardrop (2010) Twilight AXIS (2016)
Music Albums Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack I, Senshi: Ai Senshi Tribute Gundam Tribute from Lantis Gundam Rock NT Gundam Cover Gundam Song Covers Gundam Song Covers 2 Gundam Song Covers 3 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Singles "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" "Beyond the Time ~Möbius no Sora wo Koete~" "Eternal Wind" "Just Communication" "Rhythm Emotion" "White Reflection" "Last Impression" "Find the Way" "Pride" "Re: I Am" "StarRingChild" "Sora no Uta ~Higher and Higher~/Hisōbi" "The Beyond" "Shukufuku" Music of Gundam Wing Music of Gundam SEED Music of Gundam 00
Characters Mobile Suit Gundam Amuro Ray Char Aznable Zeta ZZ Victory G Wing X Turn A SEED Kira Yamato Athrun Zala Cagalli Yula Athha Lacus Clyne Shinn Asuka SEED Astray 00 Setsuna F. Seiei Unicorn AGE Build Fighters Build Fighters Try Iron-Blooded Orphans The Witch from Mercury
Technology RX-78-2 Gundam Zaku Haro Universal Century technology
Related Models Video games SD Gundam Gundam War Collectible Card Game Cultural impact Statue of Unicorn Gundam Gundam Factory Yokohama Kami-Igusa Station Crossover
Category

• Articles needing cleanup from June 2008
• Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from June 2008
• Misplaced Pages pages needing cleanup from June 2008
• Sunrise
• Gundam series
• Anno Domini
• Drama anime and manga
• Mecha anime and manga
• Science fiction anime and manga
• Anime of 2007
• Anime of 2008
• Shōnen
• Yun Kōga