After War
After War (AW) is the timeline of After War Gundam X. It starts after the devastating 7th Space War that resulted in massive colony drops, killing 99% of humanity and leaving Earth devastated. The third of a series of Gundam anime’s made in the 1990s that take place in an alternate universe, following the success of Mobile Fighter G Gundam and New Mobile Report Gundam Wing.
The After War timeline is unique among Gundam series for its post-apocalyptic setting and its exploration of themes related to survival, environmental destruction, and the consequences of war. It is also the first series outside of the Universal Century to use Newtypes. Many fans regard the After War timeline as showing what might have happened if conflicts like the One Year War had escalated to their worst possible conclusion.
Timeline
Main article: After War timeline
The After War period starts following the massive colony drops that brought an end to the 7th Space War and killed 99% of humanity living on the Earth’s surface. The series begins fifteen years after this catastrophic war, in AW 0015, with the surviving population of Earth struggling to rebuild civilisation.
The timeline focuses primarily on the events surrounding the crew of the Freeden and their efforts to protect Newtypes from exploitation whilst preventing another war from breaking out between the reformed New United Nations Earth and the Space Revolutionary Army.
| Series | Year |
|---|---|
| After War Gundam X | AW 0015 |
| After War Gundam X: Under the Moonlight | AW 0024 |
Mecha
Main article: After War mecha
The series is set in AW (After War) 0015 on an Earth devastated by massive colony drops at the end of the 7th Space War. Armed groups called Vultures roam the devastated Earth in search of mobile suits and other technology to salvage.
The mecha designs in the After War timeline blend elements from the Universal Century with new concepts suited to the post-apocalyptic setting. The GX-9900 Gundam X serves as the protagonist unit, featuring the powerful Satellite Cannon that draws energy from the moon. Other notable units include the GT-9600 Gundam Leopard and GW-9800 Gundam Airmaster.
The series features a mix of salvaged mobile suits from the 7th Space War and newly developed units. Gundam X is the only non-UC series to utilize the Newtype concept, and it is the second series to be canceled prematurely (after Mobile Suit Gundam).
Series & Films
Main article: Gundam series and films
List of After War Gundam animated series in order of release:
| Title | Type | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| After War Gundam X | TV | 5 April 1996–28 December 1996 |
The series was notable for being the first to use cold opens and for having its episode titles taken from lines spoken by characters within each episode. Due to poor ratings, there were multiple time slot changes for the series, pushing it back further and conflicting with other shows airing at the time. Due to low TV ratings and merchandise sales, Gundam X was cut short by 10 episodes from its planned 49 episodes.
Manga
Main article: Gundam manga
In addition to an anime, the After War timeline also contains three mangas. The first was a manga adaptation of the anime, with the second being a sequel called After War Gundam X: Under the Moonlight that introduces a new cast of characters. The third manga called After War Gundam X: Newtype Warrior Jamil Neate follows the adventure and missions of Jamil Neat, a principal character in the anime, before the end of the 7th Space War.
List of After War Gundam manga in order of release:
| Title | Author(s) | Release Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| After War Gundam X | Kōichi Tokita | April 1996–March 1997 |
| After War Gundam X: Under the Moonlight | Chitose Oojima (script) Yutaka Akatsu (art) Takayuki Yanase (design cooperation) | 2004–2006 |
| After War Gundam X Re:Master Edition | Kōichi Tokita | 26 January 2022 |
| After War Gundam X Next Prologue: If I Am With You | Hiroyuki Kawasaki (script) Kōichi Tokita (art) | 23 March 2018 |
The manga adaptation by Tokita outlasted the anime series by three months. Originally planned as only a short series in Gundam Ace, the popularity of Under the Moonlight caused it to be expanded and compiled into a four volume manga series published by Kadokawa Shoten. The four book series stars a new cast of characters different than those in the anime, but includes the same designs and mechanical drawings of the ships and mobile suits featured in the anime.
Video Games
Main article: Gundam video games
The After War timeline has had limited representation in video games compared to other Gundam timelines. However, appearances by the show’s Gundams and cast in the Super Robot Wars games also helped it gain more popularity in (ironically) the new century, and it’s been a particular mainstay of SRW Z.
Notable game appearances include:
Super Robot Wars series
- Super Robot Wars α
- Super Robot Wars Z series
- Super Robot Wars T
VS. series
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON
Mobile Game
- Super Robot Wars X-Ω
- SD Gundam G Generation series
Units and pilots from Gundam X will have the advantage of sharing aspects of balanced pilot types from the Universal Century and the unique, specialized Gundam and mobile suit types typically observed in alternate universes.
Reception & Legacy
After War Gundam X was one of many alternate universe Gundam shows, but it wasn’t nearly as successful as Gundam Wing for a variety of reasons. The series faced numerous production challenges, with multiple time slot changes for the series, pushing it back further and conflicting with other shows airing at the time. These time slot moves caused the producers to start dropping out of the series.
Despite its initial poor reception, the series has gained appreciation over time. Lauren Orsini of Anime News Network stated, “Getting cancelled just might be the best thing that could have happened to After War Gundam X, because the difference in entertainment quality between its first and second halves is like night and day.” She praised the later half for “adapting into a master juggler, balancing the conflict’s complexities in both the Earth and space theaters from the perspective of an increasingly likable main cast, with a concise final arc resolving neatly into a satisfying conclusion.”
However, the series also received criticism. Carlos Ross of THEM Anime gave a mixed review calling the series “bland” and that “The plot seems like a drab retelling of a post-apocalyptic Gundam Wing as told by the recently lobotomized.”
Relationship to Other Timelines
The After War timeline is regarded by some fans as an alternate version of the Universal Century where the One Year War escalated to a horrific conclusion. In some fan theories, the AW period is considered as a direct continuation from the Universal Century. AW period starts after 7th Space War, while there are six known major conflicts during Universal Century timeline (One Year War, Gryps Conflict, First Neo Zeon War (fought against Axis Zeon), Second Neo Zeon War (fought against Char’s Neo Zeon faction), Cosmo Babylon Wars (involving the original Crossbone Vanguard), and Zanscare Empire Insurrection). It is presumed that the 7th War took place years after the Zanscare conflict.
This connection is supported by the series’ use of Newtypes and similar technological concepts, as well as thematic parallels with Universal Century conflicts.
Home Media & International Release
On March 2, 2016, at 15:03 CST, Nozomi Entertainment announced first ever North American release of After War Gundam X. The series was later made available for streaming, with the series being available for streaming on the ad-supported service Tubi as of December 22, 2024.
After the success of Gundam Wing, the staff who worked on Toonami approached Sunrise for another series, having their eyes on this series (as well as Turn A Gundam), likely due to a combination of factors (similar animation and production staff as Wing, taking place in the United States). However, for whatever reason, Sunrise instead insisted that they start with the original Mobile Suit Gundam.
External links
- After War Gundam X on the Gundam Wiki
- After War on the Gundam Wiki
- After War Gundam X on MAHQ