Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

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Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

新機動戦記ガンダムＷ: ENDLESS WALTZ (New Mobile Report Gundam W: Endless Waltz)
Genre	Action, Mecha, Science Fiction
OVA
Directed by	Yasunao Aoki
Studio	Sunrise
No. of episodes	3
Released	January 25, 1997 — July 25, 1997
Runtime
Movie
Directed by	Yasunao Aoki
Studio	Sunrise
Released	August 1, 1998
Runtime	90 min

Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, known in Japan as New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (新機動戦記ガンダムＷ: ENDLESS WALTZ, Shin Kidō Senki Gandamu W: Endoresu Warutsu^?), is the sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, both of which are set in the After Colony timeline, an alternate universe to that of the original Gundam series . Endless Waltz is both sequel and prequel to the Gundam Wing series. It is a sequel as it is a continuation of Gundam Wing, but is also a prequel as it reveals details regarding the past of the Gundam pilots and the true objective behind Operation Meteor.

Endless Waltz was first produced as a three part OVA and later in 1998 a compilation movie was released which also contained new scenes. It was broadcast on Cartoon Network on November 10, 2000.

1 The Endless Waltz redesign
2 Synopsis
3 Theatrical Version Changes
4 Manga Version Changes
5 Theme Songs
6 Trivia
7 External links

[edit] The Endless Waltz redesign

In Endless Waltz, all of the major Gundams underwent a massive redesign by Katoki Hajime. The Gundams are still the same ones that were used at the end of the TV series, although changed from the original TV versions. The Gundams have more stylized and somewhat ostentatious appearances, reflected in the "Angel Wings" on the Wing Zero, the much more demonic appearance of the Deathscythe Hell, and the more dragon-like appearance on the Altron. Zechs Merquise also appears in the series piloting the new OZ-00MS2B Tallgeese III, which has several similarities with was most likely conducted to boost model kit sales. Despite the dramatically different designs of the Gundams, the story in the OVA assumes that they've always looked that way. In other words, a retroactive redesign that makes these new appearances the 'official' designs. It is noteworthy that while most of these changes in design do not have an overly large impact on most of the Gundams. However the angel wings redesign of Wing Zero makes its plane mode transformation impossible.

Furthermore, in order to maintain a sense of balance, Hajime Katoki also redesigned the original gundams. One of these, the Wing Gundam version Katoki, has become a very popular model kit. This redesigned version of Wing Zero is also known among fans as the Wing Zero Custom, or simply Zero Custom.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Treize Khushrenada is dead and OZ has come to an end. Exactly one year after his death and the end of the conflict between the colonies and Earth, a rebellion occurs on the newly completed colony, L3 X-18999. Led by eight year old Mariemaia Khushrenada, Treize's daughter, the rebellion kidnaps Relena Darlian, now the Vice Foreign Minister of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation (ESUN), during a diplomatic mission to X-18999. As the Gundam pilots investigate further, they discover that Mariemaia is merely a puppet controlled by her grandfather Dekim Barton, a former advisor to martyred colony leader Heero Yuy, who is using X-18999 to go through with the original Operation: Meteor, as a contingency plan in case the ESUN doesn't comply. The Gundam pilots must prevent Dekim from seizing power over the ESUN.

[edit] Theatrical Version Changes

When Endless Waltz was released in theaters in 1998 as a lead-in to Gundam's 20th anniversary, several new scenes were added, adding approximately ten minutes of new footage to the story. Most of this footage comes in the form of an extended battle scene between the Gundams, but there are a few noteworthy changes that were made between the two versions.

The titlecards and transitions between episodes were removed, making the three episodes into a single movie.

The theatrical version uses the same songs as the OVA, but many of the songs are shuffled around. Additionally, the OVA's ending theme, White Reflection, was replaced with a new theme, Last Impression, performed by TWO-MIX.

Duo's flashback is moved up to the shuttle flight, just before Heero's; in the OVA, it takes place as Trowa's Serpent fires at Duo's damaged Leo.

There is a new scene which shows Zechs Merquise reading his field manual inside the Tallgeese III and his eventual reunion with Lucrezia Noin. This takes place after he destroys the Mariemaia Army headquarters at MO-3.

A new scene shows Sally Po, donning a stolen Mariemaia Army uniform, rescuing the hostages on X18999 (including Catherine and the circus manager).

Another new scene, taking place after Relena's impromptu speech, has Dorothy Catalonia appear in Brussels, convincing the citizens to heed Relena's words and do things for themselves if they want true peace.

The individual character endings are changed, but remain generally the same in tone.

[edit] Manga Version Changes

Published in 1997, the manga version of Endless Waltz was handled by Koichi Tokita, the man responsible for most of Gundam Wing's manga. While the manga cleaves most closely to the OVA, it has several additions and changes not present in either animated version. Please note that this list does not include minor dialogue changes.

There are minor costume changes throughout the manga. For example, Heero wears a different outfit in his flashback dream, while in the anime, he wore his outfit from the TV series.

The resource satellite that is launched into the sun is changed into Vulkanus, the mobile doll plant from Battlefield of Pacifists, another Gundam Wing sequel illustrated by Tokita. This fact is alluded to early on, but is more important just before the final battle when Lady Une suggests using the OZ-02MD Virgos on Vulkanus to fight Dekim. Zechs flatly refuses the idea, going so far as to threaten Une's life if she makes the order, and insists that he'll handle things personally.

When Trowa confronts Dekim (and is stopped by Wufei), he claims that he took on Dekim's son's name as a show of alliegance to the Mariemaia Army. Dekim then boasts to the soldiers that the presence of two Gundam Pilots proves that they are just. Interestingly, Dekim says that he harbors no ill will towards Trowa for his son's death.

Zechs calls Lady Une from a city street to ask for enrollment into Preventer, instead of coming to her office. Unlike the anime, the manga shows his face. Additionally, he knows about the existence of Tallgeese III, and specifically requests it.

A brief scene shows a soldier telling Mariemaia about Heero and Duo's break-in, but she simply tells Relena that it's a minor disturbance; Relena, however, immediately knows that it's Heero.

In the anime, Duo recognizes Trowa as the Serpent's pilot because it uses his preferred tactic of heavy suppression fire. In the manga, he recognizes it because Trowa uses an acrobatic maneuver to dodge one of Duo's attacks.

Trowa's description of Operation Meteor is accompanied by a series of illustrations showing how the plan would work. Notably, the scene ends with the original five Gundams, but re-imagined in Tokita's style. Though Wing is identical to Okawara's version, the other four combine elements of Katoki's "Customs" with the originals, such as Heavyarms' beam Gatling and Sandrock's shoulder missiles. However, just like the animated version, Tokita uses the Custom versions in all flashback sequences.

Dorothy appears at the beginning of the fourth chapter, watching the Serpents descend from her mansion. Her hairstyle, as well as the mansion, are inspired by Battlefield of Pacifists, in which she played an important role.

When Dekim, Mariemaia, and Relena arrive at the Presidential mansion, Relena has a brief flashback to a scene from Battlefield of Pacifists, in which Heero promised to be there whenever she needed him.

Wufei's flashback includes minor elements of Episode Zero, with Master Long disagreeing with Operation Meteor and asking Wufei to fight according to his own sense of integrity.

A new scene shows Zechs and Lady Une assessing the situation in Brussels before Zechs deploys. In addition to the event described earlier, this scene includes a cameo appearance by Dick Higasaki, the engineer from Tokita's popular spinoff G-Unit.

Wufei gets a brief flashback to Treize's death; as with the rest of Endless Waltz, this scene replaces Okawara's Altron with Katoki's.

Dorothy appears among the crowd of civilians near Altron, as do the President and his granddaughter.

Some character endings are slightly different. It is worth noting that Tokita's version features the strongest hints towards a Heero/Relena relationship, as he stays on as her bodyguard, complete with a Secret Service-like suit. On a more humorous note, Duo's ending features him wearing a baseball cap with "Gundam 20th Anniversary" written on the front.

[edit] Theme Songs

XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero

OVA Ending Theme

"White Reflection" by TWO-MIX

Movie Ending Theme

"Last Impression" by TWO-MIX

[edit] Trivia

As mentioned earlier, the movie exclusvely uses Hajime Katoki's versions of the Gundams. However, this lead to some confusion as the characters' flashbacks, set before the television series, feature the upgraded Gundams that only appeared later on in the show. The manga Episode Zero re-tells several of these flashbacks, replacing the Gundams with the appropriate ones (such as Heavyarms and Shenlong).

One of Trowa's flashbacks shows him as a preteen, piloting a Leo while wearing heavy winter clothes and a crucifix. This is a reference to Episode Zero, which explains that he got the cross from Midii Une.

One major point of contention comes up in the movie; after Dekim shoots Mariemaia and prepares to kill Relena, he says "I can make another Mariemaia, if need be!" While most simply accept this as him saying that he can always groom another puppet, the manga and novel versions add to the confusion by adding the line "I found her on the street, after all!" Some have taken this to mean that Mariemaia was orphaned following her mother's death, while others believe that she is not in fact Mariemaia Barton, but an orphan Dekim deceived.

It is worth noting that though Dekim went out of his way to murder Odin Lowe, he seems to bear no special animosity towards Heero, despite the fact that not only did the boy rebel against Operation Meteor, but he bears the name of Dekim's former boss and idol.

Notable for the infamous ad campaign on YTV; "Endless Waltz has Endless Walts". This advertisement is often brought up when fans are discussing the networks sometimes poor treatment of anime.