Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
2002 anime series that modernised Gundam for the 21st century.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (機動戦士ガンダムSEED, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Shīdo) was a 2002 television anime series produced by Sunrise that modernised the Gundam franchise for the 21st century. Directed by Mitsuo Fukuda and written by Chiaki Morosawa, the series introduced the Cosmic Era timeline and aired in Japan from 5 October 2002 to 27 September 2003 on MBS and TBS, spanning 50 episodes.
The series was notable for updating classic Gundam themes and storylines for a modern audience, featuring enhanced character development, contemporary animation, and themes of genetic enhancement, discrimination, and the cyclical nature of war. SEED became one of the most successful Gundam series commercially, leading to multiple sequels, manga series, and a 2024 film.
Plot
Synopsis
Main article: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED episodes
The series is set in Cosmic Era 71, a timeline where humanity is divided between Naturals, unmodified humans living primarily on Earth, and Coordinators, genetically enhanced humans who possess superior physical and intellectual abilities. Most Coordinators have migrated to the PLANTs, space colonies at the L5 Lagrange point that declared independence from the Earth Alliance.
The conflict between the Earth Alliance and the ZAFT military organisation escalates when ZAFT steals five advanced mobile suits from the Alliance, leading to an attack on the neutral space colony Heliopolis. During the attack, teenage Coordinator Kira Yamato is forced to pilot the experimental GAT-X105 Strike Gundam to protect his friends, despite being a civilian and having no combat experience.
Kira’s best friend Athrun Zala is revealed to be a ZAFT pilot, forcing the two childhood friends to fight against each other on opposite sides of the war. The series follows Kira as he struggles with the morality of killing, particularly when facing his friend Athrun, whilst the war escalates into devastating conflicts that threaten both Earth and the PLANTs.
Development
Conception
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was conceived as a modern update to the original Mobile Suit Gundam for the 21st century. The series deliberately incorporated themes and story beats from the original 1979 series whilst updating them for contemporary audiences. Director Mitsuo Fukuda and writer Chiaki Morosawa sought to maintain the core Gundam philosophy whilst making the series more accessible to new viewers.
The Cosmic Era timeline was created to tell a standalone story that didn’t require knowledge of previous Gundam series, allowing it to serve as an entry point to the franchise. The division between Naturals and Coordinators served as a modern allegory for discrimination and prejudice, replacing the Earth vs. space colony conflict of the Universal Century timeline.
Production
The series utilised digital animation techniques that were modern for its time, combining traditional cel animation with computer-generated imagery. The production faced challenges including tight schedules and the need to balance action sequences with character development. The series featured extensive use of stock footage for mobile suit transformations and combat sequences, a practice that became a point of criticism in later episodes.
Character designs by Hisashi Hirai emphasised a more contemporary aesthetic compared to earlier Gundam series, with character models that appealed to broader demographics. The mobile suit designs, led by Kunio Okawara and Kimitoshi Yamane, updated classic Gundam aesthetics whilst introducing new concepts like the Strike Gundam’s striker pack system.
Music
The series featured a score composed by Toshihiko Sahashi, with opening themes by T.M.Revolution and Nami Tamaki, and ending themes by See-Saw and Rie Tanaka. The music contributed significantly to the series’ popularity, with songs like “Invoke” and “Meteor” becoming associated with the series.
Release
International release
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED received international distribution through Bandai Entertainment in North America, where it was broadcast on Cartoon Network’s Toonami programming block beginning in September 2004. The series was edited for television broadcast, with later uncut DVD releases providing the complete experience.
Home media
The series received multiple home media releases, including DVD box sets and later Blu-ray collections. Special edition compilation releases condensed the series into longer episodes with additional footage.
Reception
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED achieved significant commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Gundam series. The series was praised for its character development, particularly the complex relationship between Kira and Athrun, and for updating classic Gundam themes for modern audiences.
Criticism focused on the heavy use of stock footage, pacing issues in later episodes, and comparisons to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. However, the series was generally well-received and became a gateway series that introduced many viewers to the Gundam franchise.
Legacy
The success of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED led to the creation of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, a direct sequel that continued the Cosmic Era timeline. The series spawned an extensive collection of manga series, including the popular Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray series, and various video games.
The Cosmic Era timeline became the second most developed alternate universe timeline after the Universal Century, with multiple series, films, and manga expanding on the setting. The 2024 film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom marked a return to the timeline after nearly two decades, becoming the highest-grossing Gundam film.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED – Characters
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED – Mecha
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED – Episodes
External links
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED on the Gundam Wiki
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED on Wikipedia
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