Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (Manga)

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Ji Orijin) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu. Originally serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s Gundam Ace magazine from 2001 to 2011, it serves as a comprehensive retelling of the 1979 anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam.

Yasuhiko, who was the original character designer and animation director for the 1979 series, used his intimate knowledge of the franchise to create what many consider the definitive version of the original Gundam story. The manga significantly expands upon the original narrative whilst maintaining fidelity to its core themes and characters.

The series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, winning the prestigious Seiun Award and selling over 10 million copies worldwide. It has been adapted into an anime OVA series and has influenced numerous subsequent Gundam productions.

Synopsis

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin follows the same basic narrative as the original 1979 anime but with significant expansions and modifications. Set in Universal Century 0079, the story chronicles the One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.

The manga begins with the traditional story of Amuro Ray, a civilian who becomes the pilot of the experimental RX-78-2 Gundam when Zeon forces attack Side 7. As Amuro and the crew of the White Base fight their way to Federation headquarters at Jaburo, they repeatedly encounter the enigmatic Zeon ace pilot Char Aznable.

However, Yasuhiko’s most significant contribution comes after the successful defence of Jaburo, where the story diverts into an extensive flashback sequence. This backstory, told primarily from the perspectives of Sayla Mass and Char, reveals the tragic history of the Deikun family, the rise of the Zabi family, and the political machinations that led to the One Year War.

The flashback sequences chronicle the transformation of the Autonomous Republic of Munzo into the Principality of Zeon following the death of Zeon Zum Deikun, the exile of his children Casval and Artesia, and their eventual emergence as Char Aznable and Sayla Mass respectively.

Development

Conception

The origins of The Origin can be traced to Yasuhiko’s long-standing desire to tell the complete Gundam story as he envisioned it. Having been involved in the original 1979 production as character designer and animation director, Yasuhiko possessed unique insights into the intended themes and character motivations that weren’t fully explored in the television series.

In interviews, Yasuhiko has stated that he felt compelled to create The Origin as a corrective to what he perceived as misunderstandings about the original Gundam’s themes, particularly regarding Newtypes and their role in the story. He was particularly concerned that subsequent Gundam series had emphasised the fantastical aspects of Newtypes rather than their intended role as a metaphor for human evolution and understanding.

Production

Yasuhiko began serialisation of The Origin in the inaugural issue of Gundam Ace in June 2001. The monthly magazine, launched specifically to celebrate the Gundam franchise, provided the perfect platform for Yasuhiko’s ambitious retelling.

The manga was notable for Yasuhiko’s distinctive artistic approach. Rather than using traditional manga techniques of sketching and inking, Yasuhiko drew directly onto manuscript paper in pencil before inking everything with a Sakura brush, except for panel borders which were done with a fineliner pen. This technique gave the artwork a distinctive painterly quality that set it apart from typical manga production.

Yasuhiko’s attention to detail extended beyond the artwork to the storytelling itself. He conducted extensive research for the series, developing detailed geographical locations for the White Base’s journey and providing specific real-world context that was absent from the original anime.

Serialisation

The manga ran for ten years, from 2001 to 2011, comprising 24 tankōbon volumes. The extended production timeline allowed Yasuhiko to craft a more deliberate and detailed narrative than typical manga series, with each chapter receiving meticulous attention to both artwork and storytelling.

The series maintained consistent quality throughout its run, with later volumes featuring some of Yasuhiko’s finest artwork as he continued to refine his technique and approach to the material.

Story differences

Narrative structure

Whilst following the basic plot of the original anime, The Origin makes several significant structural changes. The most notable is the placement and expansion of the backstory material, which in the manga forms a substantial multi-volume flashback sequence rather than being scattered throughout the narrative as in other Gundam media.

The manga also provides more realistic geographical context for the White Base’s journey. Where the original anime implied a vague circumnavigation of Earth, Yasuhiko places the ship’s landfall near Los Angeles and traces a specific route southeast through South America to Jaburo in Brazil.

Character development

Yasuhiko significantly expanded the characterisation of virtually every major figure in the story. Char Aznable in particular benefits from extensive development, with his motivations and psychological state explored in far greater detail than in the original anime.

The relationship between Amuro Ray and Lalah Sune receives more nuanced treatment, as does the political intrigue surrounding the Zabi family’s rise to power. Secondary characters such as Garma Zabi, Ramba Ral, and the Black Tri-Stars are given more substantial roles and development.

Technical modifications

The manga presents a more realistic approach to mobile suit technology and deployment. Unlike the original anime, where mobile suits were a new development, The Origin depicts both the Earth Federation and Zeon as having mobile suits well before the conflict begins, with units like the RX-75 Guntank and RX-77 Guncannon described as “obsolete” by the time of the main story.

Political complexity

Yasuhiko adds considerable political depth to the story, exploring the complex relationships within the Zabi family and the political pressures that shaped the path to war. The manga delves into economic and social factors that were barely mentioned in the original anime, providing a more sophisticated understanding of the Universal Century’s political landscape.

Publication history

Japanese release

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin was first serialised in Gundam Ace from June 2001 to June 2011. The series was collected into 24 tankōbon volumes published by Kadokawa Shoten under their Kadokawa Comics A imprint, with the final volume published in 2015 containing additional side stories.

The manga was also released in special aizōban (collector’s edition) hardcover volumes, which served as the basis for later international releases.

English releases

The manga has had a complex publication history in English-speaking markets. Viz Media initially attempted to publish the series beginning in 2002, releasing it in a quarterly, perfect-bound magazine format similar to National Geographic. However, due to low sales, Viz cancelled the series after publishing only 12 volumes, leaving the story incomplete for English-speaking readers.

In July 2012, at Otakon, Vertical Inc. announced that they had acquired the rights to publish the complete series in English. Vertical’s release began in March 2013 with hardcover editions based on the Japanese aizōban format. These volumes combined multiple tankōbon volumes into single hardcover releases, ultimately completing the series in 12 volumes by December 2015.

The Vertical edition was praised for its high production values, featuring glossy paper stock that showcased Yasuhiko’s artwork effectively, along with colour pages and bonus materials including interviews with prominent anime creators such as Anno Hideaki.

In 2024, Kodansha USA announced a new deluxe edition release, featuring even higher production values and collecting the entire series into fewer, larger volumes.

Reception

Critical acclaim

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin has received widespread critical acclaim both in Japan and internationally. Critics have praised Yasuhiko’s sophisticated storytelling, exceptional artwork, and the manga’s success in expanding upon the original Gundam narrative whilst maintaining its essential themes.

The Comics Journal described it as “very good war comics, requiring no prior experience with anime or mecha or Gundam—just a well-made, old-fashioned war comic, full of thrills and spills and lucky breaks and narrow escapes and preening villains you’ll love to hate and pigheaded heroes you may hate to love, and expert drawings by a master craftsman, and hard, sturdy violence.”

Forbes noted it as “one of the best drawn and told manga works of recent memory” and recommended it as an excellent entry point for understanding the appeal of the original Gundam series.

Awards and recognition

The manga won the Seiun Award in the comics category in 2012, one of Japan’s most prestigious science fiction awards. This recognition was particularly significant as it marked the second time Yasuhiko had won a Seiun Award, having previously won in the art category in 1981.

The series also achieved commercial success, with over 10 million copies in circulation worldwide. Volume IX of the Vertical English release reached number one on manga sales charts in the United States during the week of 26 April to 2 May 2015, outselling popular series such as Attack on Titan and Naruto.

Industry impact

The Origin has been credited with revitalising interest in the original Gundam story and demonstrating the viability of high-quality manga adaptations of classic anime properties. Its success influenced the production of the anime adaptation and helped establish a template for how classic mecha stories could be retold for contemporary audiences.

The manga’s approach to expanding backstory and providing political context has influenced subsequent Gundam productions, with