After Colony
After Colony (AC) is the timeline of the Gundam Wing series. It features the space colonies’ struggle for freedom from Earth-based organisations such as the United Earth Sphere Alliance and the Organization of the Zodiac. Unlike other Gundam timelines, the Gundams in the After Colony timeline are the primary arm of the space colonies’ resistance rather than forming a small part of a larger army.
The After Colony era began when several nations established permanent space stations in Earth’s orbit, serving as prototypes for the establishment of space colonies. The timeline is characterised by the tension between Earth and its off-world colonies, with secret organisations and rebellions using specialised mobile suits known as Gundams to execute covert operations against oppressive Earth-based governments.
The After Colony timeline ends sometime before the present-day events of Frozen Teardrop, and is continued in the Mars Century (MC) era, during which that novel takes place.
Timeline
Main article: After Colony timeline
The After Colony timeline spans from AC 001 to AC 197, followed by the Mars Century from MC 0001 onwards. The main events centre around Operation Meteor in AC 195 and the subsequent conflicts that shape the Earth Sphere.
| Series | Year |
|---|---|
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Episode Zero | AC 145 to AC 195 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing | AC 195 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Blind Target | AC 195 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Ground Zero | AC 196 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists | AC 196 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz | AC 196 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop | MC 0022 |
Mecha
Main article: After Colony mecha
The mecha designs in the After Colony timeline are characterised by sleek, elegant forms that differ markedly from the utilitarian designs of the Universal Century. The five Gundam units—Wing Gundam, Gundam Deathscythe, Gundam Heavyarms, Gundam Sandrock, and Gundam Shenlong—each reflect their pilot’s personality and combat preferences.
The timeline’s mobile suits are constructed from Gundanium alloy, a rare and exceptionally durable material that can only be created in outer space. The Organization of the Zodiac developed their own series of mass-production mobile suits, including the OZ-06MS Leo, OZ-07AMS Aries, and the prototype OZ-00MS Tallgeese.
Series & Films
Main article: Gundam series and films
List of After Colony Gundam animated series and movies in order of their release:
| Title | Type | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing | TV | 7 Apr 1995–29 Mar 1996 |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Operation Meteor | OVA | 25 Aug 1996 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz | OVA | 25 Jan 1997–25 Jul 1997 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz Special Edition | Movie | 1 Aug 1998 |
Manga
Main article: Gundam manga
List of After Colony Gundam manga in chronological order:
| Title | Author(s) | Release Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Episode Zero | Katsuyuki Sumizawa | 1997 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (manga) | Koichi Tokita | 1995–1996 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Dual Story G-Unit | Koichi Tokita | 1997–2000 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Blind Target | Sakura Asagi | 1998 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Ground Zero | Reku Fuyunagi | 1999 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists | Katsuhiko Chiba | 1997 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing Endless Waltz (manga) | Koichi Tokita | 1998 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: The Glory of Losers | Katsuyuki Sumizawa | 2010–2017 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Tiel’s Impulse | Unknown | 1998 |
Novels
Main article: Gundam novels
List of After Colony Gundam novels in order of release:
| Title | Published date |
|---|---|
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (novel) | 1996–1997 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (novel) | 1997 |
| New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop | 2010–2016 |
Video Games
Main article: Gundam video games
List of After Colony Gundam video games:
Nintendo Super Famicom
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel | 29 Mar 1996 |
Sony PlayStation
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: The Battle | 11 Oct 2002 |
Multiple Platforms
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Dynasty Warriors: Gundam | 2007 |
| SD Gundam G Generation series | Various |
| Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs series | Various |
Mars Century
Main article: Mars Century
The Mars Century (MC) timeline is a continuation of the After Colony timeline that begins with the colonisation of Mars in AC 182 (MC 0001). Due to the difference in planetary revolutions, there is a dissonance in the flow of time between Mars and Earth, with one Martian year equalling approximately two Earth years.
The Mars Century timeline is explored in the novel series New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop, which takes place in MC 0022 and follows the aging Gundam pilots and their involvement in a new conflict centred around Mars colonisation. The story introduces new Gundam units including Snow White, Warlock, Prometheus, and Scheherazade.
Key Concepts
Gundanium Alloy
Gundanium alloy is a rare and exceptionally durable material that can only be created in the zero-gravity environment of outer space. This unique metal forms the primary construction material for the Gundam mobile suits, providing them with superior protection and performance compared to conventional mobile suits.
Operation Meteor
Operation Meteor was the scientists’ plan for revenge against the Organization of the Zodiac. The original plan involved dropping a space colony onto Earth to create massive destruction, but the five scientists modified it to instead deploy five highly advanced Gundam mobile suits to Earth to conduct surgical strikes against OZ installations.
Zero System
The Zero System is an advanced combat interface that provides pilots with enhanced tactical awareness by predicting enemy movements and battle outcomes. However, prolonged exposure to the system can cause severe psychological stress and potentially drive pilots to madness.
Behind the scenes
The After Colony timeline was created for New Mobile Report Gundam Wing as the second alternate universe in the Gundam franchise, following Future Century. Director Masashi Ikeda and writer Katsuyuki Sumizawa designed the timeline to focus on political intrigue and the struggles of young soldiers caught in larger conflicts.
The timeline’s focus on five distinct Gundam pilots rather than a single protagonist was influenced by the success of team-based anime series. The Gundams themselves were designed by Kunio Okawara to have more elegant, less military-oriented appearances compared to Universal Century mobile suits.
See also
- Universal Century
- Future Century
- Cosmic Era
- Mars Century
External links
- After Colony on the Gundam Wiki
- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing on Wikipedia