Gundam Seed
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (or "Gundam Seed") is an anime television series form Japan. It has 50 episodes. It is a part of the Gundam franchise that started in 1979.
The first episode of Gundam Seed aired on October 5, 2002. The last episode of Gundam Seed aired on September 27, 2003.
Directed by Mitsuo Fukuda (Future Cyber Formula GPX and Gear Fighter Dendoh), the series is set in an alternate universe to the original series, the Cosmic Era universe. This series begins with a war between Earth and the colonies that is similar to the One-Year War of the original Gundam series with elements from Gundam Wing and Gundam X. On one side is the Earth Alliance, and on the opposite is the space colonies that form ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty). Mankind has evolved into new forms through genetic engineering, with normal humans known as 'Naturals' and the genetically altered known as 'Coordinators'. Like the original series, ZAFT has a head start on mobile suit design, but the Earth Alliance quickly catches up with its five prototype Gundams. With ZAFT having stolen four of the prototypes, young pilot Kira Yamato takes the Strike Gundam and is forced to fight his old friend Athrun Zara.
The series began broadcasting in Japan in October 2002 and is currently licensed by Bandai Visual. The American edition is currently being broadcast on Cartoon Network as of April 2004 on Toonami. An abridged, six part version of the TV series is also being released in Japan as English manga is published by Del Rey Manga, while Gundam Seed Astray, a spinoff of Gundam Seed, is published by TokyoPop.
Another element leftover from the most popular recent Gundam series (1994-5's Gundam Wing) was the presence of five color-coded Gundams piloted by angst-ridden bishonen. This made the series quite attractive to female fans, though to date SEEDslash is primarily concentrated among the ZAFT adversary characters, rather than among the Archangel crew members.
Also running with the series as a series of manga called Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray that told a side-story to the anime series. This was also popular enough to garner two more side-stories, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray R and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray.
On July 6, 2004, the sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, was announced after over a month of rumors; the series will start airing on Mainichi Broadcasting System in October, 2004.
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
Cast & Crew
Cast
English-language Cast
- Narrator - Alison Matthews
- Kira - Matt Hill
- Rau - Mark Oliver
- Mu - Trevor Devall
- Murrue - Lisa Anne Beley
- Athrun - Sam Vincent
- Cagalli - Vanessa Morley
- Dearka - Brad Swaile
- Miriallia - Anna Cummer
- Tolle - Richard Ian Cox
- Flay, Birdy, Haro - Tabitha St. Germain
- Sai - Bill Switzer
- Kuzzey - Keith Miller
- Natarle - Sarah Johns
- Yzak - Michael Adamthwaite
- Neumann - Philip Pacaud
- Lacus - Chantal Strand
- Nicol - Gabe Khouth
- Chandra - Simon Hayama
- Tonomura - Matt Smith
- Pal - Brendan Van Wijk
- Murdoch - Ward Perry
- Siegel Clyne - Don Brown
- Patrick Zala - Andrew Kavadas
- Ades - Michael Dobson
- Kisaka - Adam Henderson
- Andy - Brian Drummond
- Sutherland - Ron Halder
- Azrael - Andrew Francis
Staff
- Director - Mitsuo Fukuda
- Series Writer - Chiaki Morosawa
- Character Design - Hisashi Hirai
- Mecha Designer - Kunio Okawara & Kimitoshi Yamane
- Music Composer - Toshihiko Sahashi
Characters
Archangel crew/Clyne Faction
- Kira Yamato - Protagonist who first pilots the Strike Gundam but later upgrades to Freedom Gundam. He has his "first time" with Flay and becomes her boyfriend for a time. He is also The Ultimate Coordinator created from a birthing lab.
- Murrue Ramius - Captain of the Archangel and Flaga's love interest. Her old boyfriend was a mobile armor pilot who was killed in action. Captain Ramius is a stern but fair commanding officer who treats Kira Yamato as a younger brother.
- Mu La Flaga - Top Newtype Mobile Armor pilot, later pilots a rebuilt Strike Gundam. He is Ariaga Flaga's son. Mu and his father's clone Raw Le Crueset are the last Newtypes in the world. Like Ramius, Mu treats Kira as a younger brother, taking the younger pilot frequently under his wing to teach him the finer points of piloting.
- Miriallia Haw - Tolle's girlfriend who is in charge of communications in Archangel and later becomes friends with Deakka.
- Kuzzey Buskirk - Part of Kira's group but later leaves Archangel when the Archangel crew defects to Orb.
- Tolle Koenig - Miriallia's boyfriend and backup pilot for the Sky Grasper. He is later beheaded by Athrun while piloting the FX-550 Skygrasper.
- Sai Argyle - Flay's boyfriend and Archangel crew member.
- Dearka Elsman - Pilot of Buster Gundam and later befriends Miriallia and joins the Clyne Faction
- Athrun Zala - Pilot of Aegis Gundam and upgrades to Justice Gundam after losing Aegis in a battle with Kira.
- Cagalli Yula Athha - Daughter of the President of Orb also Kira's Natural twin sister. She later pilots Strike Rouge to support Athrun in the final battle. She also has the ability to go into SEED mode
- Jackie Tonomura - Archangel's original crew member, in charge of CIC
- Dalida Lolaha Chandra II - Archangel's original crew member, in charge of CIC
- Romero Pal - Archangel's original crew member, first in charge of fire control, then CIC
- Arnold Newmann - Archangel's original crew member, in charge of driving Archangel itself
- Andrew Waltfeld - The "Desert Tiger" of ZAFT who pilots a LaGOWE. Develops an interest in the twins (Kira Yamato and Cagalli Yula Athha). He is first believed to have been killed by Kira but survives the battle, losing an arm and an eye. He then goes on to become the captain of the Eternal
- Kojiro Murdoch - Archangel's original crew member, a veteran mechanic
OMNI
- Natarle Badgiruel - Executive Officer of Archangel and later Captain of Dominion. She is later repeatedly shot by Azrael and dies when Dominion is destroyed from Archangel's beam attack. Badgiruel is a stern martinet who operates strictly by the book, even when it conflicts with Captain Ramius.
- Lewis Halberton - Commander of 8th Fleet. Rear Admiral Halberton is Lt. Murrue Ramius's mentor and rumored(1) to be her lover. Admiral Halberton sacrifices his life to protect Archangel during her descent to the Earth's surface.
- Crot Buer - Pilot of Raider Gundam and is addicted to performance enhancing drugs to have co-ordinator powers for a short period of time. He is later killed by a combined attack by Deakka and Yzak
- Shani Andras - Pilot of Forbidden Gundam and is addicted to performance enhancing drugs to have co-ordinator powers for a short period of time. He is later killed by Yzak Jule
- Orga Sabnak - Pilot of Calamity Gundam and is addicted to performance enhancing drugs to have co-ordinator powers for a short period of time. He is later killed by Athrun Zara
- Murata Azrael - Leader of Blue Cosmos, an extreme right-wing group dedicated to destroying Coordinators for a "Blue and Pure Earth" and in charge of the new OMNI Gundam pilots. He tries to kill Natarle when she disobeys orders, and manages to kill Flaga. However, he is killed when Dominion is destroyed.
- Flay Allster - Hates Coordinaters and gives herself to Kira. She later becomes La Crueset's prisoner and later escapes to become the Dominion's commucation officer. However, Flay returns to Archangel after being ordered to abandon ship by Nataru. She later dies when her escape pod is shot down by Le Crueset.
ZAFT
- Patrick Zara - Athrun's father and escalates the ZAFT-OMNI war in his quest to purge the world of Naturals. He believes Coordinators are the only Humans for the Cosmic Era. The war has also pushed him into extreme measures such as the use of the Neutron Jammer Cancellers, the creation of the Eternal, and the building of a superweapon called GENESIS. He is later shot by a dissenting soldier who objects to his plan to vaporize Earth
- Sigel Clyne - The Chairman of the ZAFT council and father of Lacus Clyne. He is more moderate in seeking a peaceful solution to the war and doesn't have the hate most have towards naturals. Unfortunately, this had made him and his supporters the minority in the ZAFT council and he gets brutally gunned down by Patrick's minions searching for his daughter
- Nicol Amalfi - Pilot of Blitz Gundam, he later gets killed by Kira. Has the worst last words in anime history ("Mother... my piano...")
- Yzak Jule - Pilot of Duel Gundam, gets a scar on the forehead from Kira. He later joins Deakka to fight OMNI
- Rau Le Creuset - A failed clone of Ariaga Flaga and is hellbent on destroying all of humanity. He is killed by Kira Yamato at the final battle. Raw and Ariaga's son Mu La Flaga are the last Newtypes in the world. Raw's surname means "Crucible" in French.
- Lacus Clyne - Athrun's former fiancee. She is Anti-war and heads the Clyne faction of ZAFT after her father is gunned down by Patrick Zara. She has the ability to go into SEED mode
- Miguel Aiman - A GINN pilot and dies in the third episode. He personifies the senseless casualties of war. Miguel demonstrates the amazing ability to miss an utterly green mobile suit pilot at point-blank range.
Civilians/Other
- Uzumi Nara Athha - Leader of the Emirate of Orb; later commits suicide with the rest of Orb forces to stop OMNI from occupying their nation
- George Glenn - Graduated from MIT, became an American Football star, served in the Air Force, develops PLANT as research labs and headed the Jupiter exploration project. He is the first Coordinator and gives away his genetic secret to the world; sowing the Coordinator-Natural rift. He was asassainated in C.E. 53 by a young Natural, further inflaming both sides.
- Evidence 01 - Also called the "Winged Whale", it is an extraterrestial fossil that was found orbiting Jupiter by George Glenn, proving the existance of life beyond Earth.
The name "Gundam" is never used in the series to identify any mobile suit; it is an acronym for two of the various Mobile Operating Systems used to run mobile suits, and Kira Yamato uses it to refer to his mobile suit until he's informed otherwise. The word "Gundam" is used in marketing copy and model kit/toy packaging to designate the "hero" mobile suits, as opposed to the normal "grunt" mobile suits.
Archangel Crew/Clyne Faction
- Buster (GAT-X103)- Retaken by The Earth Alliance Defectors and still piloted by Deakka; eqipped with two powerful cannons that can be combined together to form either a long range beam sniper rifle or a highly damaging beam shotgun.
- Strike/Strike Rouge (GAT-X105/MBF-02) - Destroyed by Aegis Gundam and rebuilt by Orb. Spare parts made to rebuild Strike are used to make Strike Rouge (designated MBF-02) which is piloted by Cagalli. Strike is piloted first by Kira Yamato, then Mu La Flaga. Cagalli's Strike Rouge remains mostly intact at the end of the series's final episode. The Strike Gundam is unique because it uses power-up parts called Striker Packs to improve its functionality. Three Striker Packs are seen in the series:
- 1) Aile Striker (the most used pack), provide 2x beam sabers, additional maneuverability and atmospheric flight.
- 2) Launcher Striker, equipped with a high impulse cannon and additional shoulder mounted weapons, provide battleship-grade long range firepower.
- 3) Sword Striker, equipped with a MS-sized anti-ship beam saber, rocket anchor and a beam boomberang, provide powerful melee attacks.
When equipped with these packs, the Strike Gundam is referred to as (unsurprisingly) "Aile Strike", "Launcher Strike" and "Sword Strike". There are additional packs, however:
- 4) IWSP: Intergrated Weapon System Pack, combine the benefits of all aforementioned packs by giving a basic aile striker with two cannon and two rail cannon, as well as two 9.1m solid state anti-ship swords.
- 5) Lighting Striker: Additional of two energy packs and a sniper-class railcannon gives it at least additional 150% of operating time.
- 6) Gunbarrel Striker: A self contained, remote-controlable MA that's an enhancement of the Moebius Zero, it can transform into a Striker pack, providing the Strike Gundam or 105 Dagger all range attack by using its 4 wire-guided weapon pods.
- Freedom (ZGMF-X10A)- Nuclear-powered and has the N-Jammer Canceller. Freedom is severely damaged in Kira's battle with Rau Le Creuset.
- Justice (ZGMF-X09A)- Nuclear-powered and has the N-Jammer Canceller. Athrun self destructs Justice to destroy Genesis.
- Mobius Zero (TS-MA2mod.00) - Mu La Flaga's custom mobile armor, equipped with a linear gun and 4 wire-guided "Gunbarrel" units, allowing for all-range attacks. Each Gunbarrel mounts 2 smaller railguns.
- Mistral (MAW-01) - A standard mobile pod primarily used for colony defense and for general utility work. Cheap and easy to use.
OMNI Enforcer
OMNI mobile suits have the designation GAT (Gressorial Armament Tactical). Experimental units in the series include the modifier of "X" before the unit designation number (example: GAT-X105 Strike Gundam) The word "Gressorial" means "adapted for walking." Mobile armors have the designation TS-MA (Tactical Striker - Mobile Armor).
OMNI's mobile suit operating system is designated "General Unilateral Neurolink Dispersive Autonomous Maneuver" (or "GUNDAM").
The Calamity, Forbidden and Raider Gundams are equipped with a new Phase Shift Armor variant called Trans-Phase Armor. TP armor varies from PS armor in that it activates only at the point and time of impact, because of this it uses less energy than PS armor, that energy can be used for heavy energy weapons; and Calamity, Forbidden and Raider are far more heavily armed than the five original Gundams.
- Calamity (GAT-X131) - OMNI's new heavy combat Gundam. Calamity carries the heaviest weapon loadout of any mobile suit, with five heavy beam guns and a powerful plasma bazooka. Its "living CPU" is Orga Sabnak
- Sword Calamity: (GAT-X133) - Close combat version of calamity. its backpack cannons are replaced with anti-ship beam sabers, its shoulders have additional thrusters and mounted two beam boomberangs, and it have two rocket anchors. It retain its chest mounted beam cannon, but was 30% weaker than its counterpart. Three units are built, one piloted by famed ace Edward "Ed the Ripper" Harrelson.
- Forbidden (GAT-X252) - OMNI's new close-combat Gundam. Forbidden carries a powerful scythe and two movable energy shields which can deflect virtually any weapon that strikes them. It is also heavily equipped with two CIWS, two machine cannons, a rail gun and a plasma induction cannon which it uses at all ranges and has a controllable arcing beam. Its "living CPU" is Shani Andras.
- Forbidden Blue (GAT-X255) The OMNI's prototype ampibious MS. Basically, they modified it such that the TP armor and beam barrier was designed to combat pressure and regulate waterflow, allowing the MS to be used in water and travel upto 100 knots. The Plasma induction cannon was changed into a Phonon Maser； On both side of the beam barrier was mounted supersonic torpedo and sharp point claws However, the head mounted vulcan and 115mm vulcan on both forearms were kept due to the need to fight on land. In addition, there was a mechanical tail, was function as anchor, long wavelength antenna, and sonar sensors. Originally, the tail also function as a method of thrust by moving tail back and forth like a fish, allowing soundless movement but it was abandoned afterward Also, th sensors were equipped with IR sensors, nightvision, sonar, and wide-range sensors. Due to the system can malfunctioneasily, it was known as "Forbidden Coffin" to many pilots.
- Raider (GAT-X370) - OMNI's new high-speed Gundam. Raider can transform into a flight mode and carries considerable weaponry, as well as acting as a subflight unit for the heavy, groundbound Calamity Gundam.
- Raider Full Spec: (GAT-X333) The original plan for Raider, it lacked the mouth mounted cannon, as well as the shield cannon and hammer. However, its atmospehric flight capacity is much better.
- Strike Dagger (GAT-01) - Mass produced and simplified version of the Strike Gundam. Strike Dagger carries a 57mm high energy beam rifle and one beam saber. Its first deployment is the Battle of Porta Panama, where the 13th Independent Mobile Battalion prove the mobile suit's worth (until ZAFT forces deploy EMP weapons that destroy their internal circuitry and subsequently murder the Alliance defenders)
- 105 Dagger (GAT-01A1) - The true mass production type of Strike Gundam. Aside from the appearance, and replacement of PS armor with laminated armor (good against beam attacks), 105 Dagger can also use the Striker packs, and its feet was mounted with vulcans for anti-infantry function.
- Deep Forbidden (GAT-706S) - the mass production version of Deep Forbidden. Aside from appearance, having hardpoints, and a strengthened pressure hull, it was identical to Deep Forbidden.
- Mobius (TS-MA2) - Earth's mobile armor. Markedly inferior to the ZGMF-1017 GINN. Standard armament is a linear gun and four missiles, but these can be replaced by a single nuclear missile, as was used to destroy Junius 7 in the infamous "Bloody Valentine Incident".
- Skygrasper (FX-550) - Support fighter capable of carrying and using Strike's battle packs. Skygrasper unit #2 was an unlucky craft; in its brief life it was shot down twice and repaired both times before finally being destroyed.
- Cosmograsper (FXet-565) - A space-use version of the Skygrasper support fighter.
Eurasian Federation
While also in the Earth Alliance, the Eurasians do not trust the Atlantic Federation, and so, they create their own mobile suit, the Composition Armament Tactical Gundams. They are based on Acteton Industry's Gel-Finito.
- Hyperion Gundam: unit 1(CAT-X1/3), unit 2(CAT-X2/3), unit 3(CAT-X3/3). Unlike the Alliance's Gundams, they do not have PS armor, but instead utlize the "Armure Lumiere" light wave shield generator, which can either simply create a lightwave shield on the forearm (which protect all attacks), or at the risk of running out of power, activate the "dome" mode, which provide 360 degrees protection. Aside from that, its armament (1xbeam SMG and 5x beam knifes) also have internal batteries. It also have two over shoulder beam cannons. In addition, the beam armament is variable-speed, allowing the unit to return fire through the Armure Lumiere.
ZAFT
ZAFT mobile suits have the following designations and meanings:
- ZGMF (Zero-Gravity Maneuver Fighter)
- AMF (Airborne Maneuver Fighter)
- TMF/S (Terrestrial Maneuver Fighter/Striker(?))
- TMF/A (Terrestrial Maneuver Fighter/Assault(?))
- UWMF/S (UnderWater Maneuver Fighter/Striker(?))
- UMF (Underwater Maneuver Fighter)
- YMF (Service Test Maneuver Fighter)
When ZAFT builds three new mobile suits based on the captured mobile suits Buster, Duel, Aegis and Blitz, they designate the operating system for those suits "Generation Unsubdued Nuclear Drive Assault Module" (or "GUNDAM").
- Duel (GAT-X102) - Gets upgraded with body armor, called the "Assault Shroud," after being cut down on its first battle with Strike
- Blitz (GAT-X207) - Is the only Gundam with stealth capabilities; Destroyed by Strike Gundam
- Aegis (GAT-X303) - Able to transform into mobile armor mode and equipped with devasting beam cannon. Destroyed by its self-destruct mode set by Athrun
- Providence (ZGMF-X13A) - Another ZAFT Gundam containing the strengths of both Justice and Freedom and it is piloted by Le Creuset; have remote 13 control units for space dominance; later pilot wounded by Freedom, then destroyed by GENESIS
- BuCUE (TMF/A-802) - Standard MS for desert warfare, looks like a dog.
- LaGOWE (TMF/A-803) - Andy Waltfeld's customized BACOW MS; later destroyed by Strike
- CGUE (ZGMF-515) - An upgraded version of the GINN
- GINN (ZGMF-1017 GINN) - Standard ZAFT MS
- Proto GINN (YMF-01A) - Original mobile suit
- GINN Reconnaissance (ZGMF-LRR704B) - A variation of the ZGMF-1017 GINN, designed for long range reconnaissance and search missions
- GINN Orcher (TMF/S-3) - A variation of the ZGMF-1017 GINN, designed for use in desert environments and support ZAFT's TMF/A-802 BuCUE during combat
- GINN WASP (UWMF/S-1) - Another variation of the ZGMF-1017 GINN, designed for use in aquatic environments
- ZuOOT (TFA-2) - The TFA-2 ZuOOT was designed as a ground assault artillery unit that could transform into a tank
- GOOhN (UMF-4A) A mobile suit designed for aquatic use
- ZnO (UMF-5) A mobile suit designed for aquatic use
- GuAIZ (ZGMF-600)- ZAFT's next generation mobile suits; a successor to the GINN series
Orb Union
Orb's mobile suits are designated "MBF" for Main Battle Figure.
- Gundam Astray Gold Frame/Amatu(MBF-P01): Featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray side story series. It was designed to have multiple additional packs for numerous missions. Later modified to Blue Frame Second, which can also mount a Tactical Backpack that transform into a Gatling Gun platform or a oversized sword. As well, it can be protect by a Full Armor Aile Pack for working near the sun. The Full Armor pack also adds Phase Shift armor to the Blue Frame.
- M1 Astray (MBF-M1) - Orb's Standard MS and is featured in the second half of the series. Enhancement include the Flight pack.
- M1A Astray (MBF-M1A) - Space use model. Have additional thrusters and have a sniper beam rifle.
- Strike Rouge (MBF-02) - Orb reconstruction of the Strike Gundam, with improvements to its Phase Shift Armor and power capacity. The red hue of the armor is due to the improvements made to the Phase Shift Armor.
Battleships and Spacecraft
Earth Alliance/Archangel crew
ZAFT/PLANT/Clyne Faction
- Laurasia-class Mobile Suit carrying Frigate (FFM) - Vesalius
- Nazca-class High-Speed Mobile Suit carrying Destroyer (DDMH) - Gamow
- Bosugolof-class Submarine - Tsuigara.
- Eternal-class mobile suit transport ship - Constructed to support Freedom Gundam and Justice Gundam, this ship carries the two METEOR units for the aforementioned mobile suits. For some unknowable reason, it's pink, despite being built as a warship.
- Lesseps-class Land Battleship - A mobile giant goundbase, it moves quite fast using a snakelike "scale system"
- MS Transport Ship
- METEOR - Mobile suit weapons support system (Mobile suit Embedded Tactical EnfOrceR). Converts a mobile suit into a mobile armor, similar in concept to Gundam 0083's ∀ Gundam
Followed by: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- Gundam Seed Episode 1 - FALSE PEACE
- Gundam Seed Episode 2 - ITS NAME IS GUNDAM
- Gundam Seed Episode 3 - COLLAPSING HOMELAND
- Gundam Seed Episode 4 - SILENT RUN
- Gundam Seed Episode 5 - PHASE SHIFT DOWN
- Gundam Seed Episode 6 - THE VANISHING GUNDAM
- Gundam Seed Episode 7 - THE SCAR OF SPACE
- Gundam Seed Episode 8 - THE SONGSTRESS OF THE ENEMY
- Gundam Seed Episode 9 - THE FADING LIGHT
- manga adaptation of Gundam Seed. The canonical status of the manga adaptations is unknown.
