Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack | |
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機動戦士ガンダム:逆襲のシャア (Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Gyakushū no Shā) |
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Genre | Drama, Mecha, Military |
Animated film | |
Director | Yoshiyuki Tomino |
Studio | Sunrise |
Released | March 12, 1988 |
Runtime | 124 minutes |
Manga | |
Author | Yoshiyuki Tomino |
Illustrator | Koichi Tokita |
Publisher | Kodansha |
Magazine | Comic Bom Bom |
Original run | September 1998 – January 1999 |
Volumes | 1 |
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (機動戦士ガンダム 逆襲のシャア Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Gyakushū no Shā?) is an anime movie set in the primary Universal Century timeline of Gundam, taking place in UC 0093.
Making its theatrical debut on March 12, 1988, Char's Counterattack is the final culmination of the original saga begun in Mobile Suit Gundam and continued through Zeta Gundam and Double Zeta Gundam, marking the final conflict of the fourteen year rivalry between Char Aznable and Amuro Ray, and the end of the EF/Zeon conflicts. The movie is based on the novel by Yoshiyuki Tomino.
In addition to being the first original Gundam theatrical release, Char's Counterattack was also the first Gundam production to make use of computer graphics during a five-second shot of a colony rotating serenely in space. Char's Counterattack made its American debut on January 4, 2003 at 11 p.m. on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
Contents |
[edit] Story
The year is Universal Century 0093. Five years have passed since the First Neo-Zeon War. The Federation has recovered from its defeat and has created a new anti-colonial special forces unit to deal with rebel forces: Londo Bell. Elsewhere in space Char Aznable re-appears out of self imposed hiding with a declaration that he now commands his own Neo-Zeon movement. Unlike movements of the past, Char intends to force the emigration of Earth's inhabitants to space by bringing about an ice age. Faced with a renewed space war the Earth Federation tasks Londo Bell to suppress Char’s uprising before it can gain momentum. When Neo Zeon forces agree to surrender in exchange for the abandoned mining colony Axis the Federation believes that the crisis has been averted; however Londo Bell forces think otherwise, and when the asteroid unexpectedly begins moving toward earth Londo Bell’s worst fears are realised. With Neo Zeon forces poised to win, and the Federation unable to reinforce Londo Bell the fate of Earth once more rests with Amuro Ray and his RX-93 Nu Gundam.
Initially, because of the ambiguous ending, it was debatable as to whether Char and Amuro actually died at the end. As there wasn't a concrete evidence to their conclusion and fate, common fan wisdom in such cases is the assumption that the characters could somehow return if the actors playing them were interested enough. Both First Gundam and Zeta Gundam ended with Char unaccounted for and with a visual teaser indicating that he may have survived the final battles of those series. There was such a case at the end of the movie as well for CCA. It is interesting to note that Tomino in his novelization of Char's Counter Attack, (Not Beltochika's Children) has clearly indicated that Char and Amuro were indeed killed in action. However, like Tomino's previous novelization of First Gundam, the Char's Counterattack novelization substantially changes many aspects of the story and thus its ending does not necessarily reflect that of the movie.
Despite this, one should further note that neither Char nor Amuro have appeared in any form of Gundam merchandise dating after UC 0093. If they had survived, it would be a great waste of money on Bandai's part to not include them in some succeeding anime or manga. In fact, the closest thing to Char and Amuro returning to the series comes in the form of A.I.'s based on the two's respective combat data.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Earth Federation
[edit] Londo Bell
- Bright Noa
- Amuro Ray
- Chan Agi
- Astonaige Medoz
- Kayra Su
- Meran
[edit] Neo-Zeon
- Char Aznable
- Gyunei Guss
- Nanai Miguel
- Rezin Schnyder
- Horst Harness
- Lyle
[edit] Civilians
- Mirai Yashima
- Hathaway Noa
- Cheimin Noa
- Quess Paraya
- Cameron Bloom
- Katherine
- October Saran
[edit] Other
- Lalah Sune (Shown in flashbacks and dreams)
[edit] Weapons and Support Units
[edit] Earth Federation Forces
Mobile Weapons
Support Units
- Clop class
- FF-X7-Bst Core Booster
- Salamis Kai class
[edit] Londo Bell
Mobile Weapons
- Med
- RGM-89 Jegan
- RGZ-91 Re-GZ
- RX-93 ν Gundam
- Zuck
Support Units
- Base Jabber Mobile Suit Sled
- Clop class
- Ra Cailum-class (Ra Cailum)
- Note: clicking the first link will take you to the class page, clicking the second link will take you to the Ra Cailums personal page.
[edit] Neo-Zeon
- AMS-119 Geara Doga
- MSN-03 Jagd Doga
- MSN-04 Sazabi
- NZ-333 α Azieru
- RMS-116H Hobby Hizack
Support Units
- Musaka-class
- Rewloola-class
- Shackles Mobile Suit Sled
[edit] Cast
Character | Japanese Actor | English Actor |
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Amuro Ray | Tōru Furuya | Brad Swaile |
Char Aznable | Shūichi Ikeda | Michael Kopsa |
Bright Noah | Hirotaka Suzuoki | Chris Kalhoon |
Quess Paraya | Maria Kawamura | Jocelyne Loewen |
Hathaway Noah | Nozomu Sasaki | Bill Switzer |
Gyunei Guss | Kōichi Yamadera | Kirby Morrow |
Nanai Miguel | Yoshiko Sakakibara | Jenn Forgie |
Chan Agi | Mitsuki Yayoi | Nicole Leroux |
Astonaige Medoz | Shingo Hiromori | Ty Olsson |
Cameron Bloom | Kaneto Shiozawa | David Mackay |
Mirai Noah | Fuyumi Shiraishi | Cathy Weseluck |
Cheimin Noah | Mayumi Shou | Alaina Burnett |
Kayra Su | Shinobu Adachi | Angela Hendricks |
Adenaur Paraya | Shunsuke Shima | Trevor Devall |
Lalah Sune | Keiko Han | Willow Johnson |
[edit] Production
Yoshiyuki Tomino adapted Char's Counterattack from the novel Beltorchika's Children, although most think it vice versa. Tomino had planned previously to feature Char's return in Gundam ZZ, however when he got the green light to do Char's Counterattack, he dropped the planned appearance. Tomino does not recall his plans to bring back Char in ZZ.
Three of the four mecha designers credited on Char's Counterattack went on to direct their own anime series: Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Yutaka Izubuchi (RahXephon) and Koichi Ohata (Burst Angel). Yoshinori Sayama continued designing on shows such as Patlabor, Cowboy Bebop and Izubuchi's RahXephon.
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Theme songs
Ending:
- Beyond the Time ~Beyond the Möbius Universe~ (BEYOND THE TIME ~メビウスの宇宙を越えて~ Mebiusu no Sora wo Koete?)
- Performed by TM Network (Tetsuya Komuro, Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine)
- Music and arrangement by Tetsuya Komuro
- Lyrics by Mitsuko Komuro
[edit] External links
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
Preceded by Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ |
Gundam metaseries (production order) 1988 |
Succeeded by Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket |
Preceded by Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ |
Gundam Universal Century timeline U.C. 0093 |
Succeeded by Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash (novels); Mobile Suit Gundam F91 |
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