New Mobile Report Gundam Wing
New Mobile Report Gundam Wing is a 1995 mecha anime series that revolutionised the Gundam franchise for Western audiences.
New Mobile Report Gundam Wing is a 1995 Japanese mecha anime series that marked a revolutionary turning point for the Gundam franchise. Directed by Masashi Ikeda and written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa, the series takes place in the After Colony timeline and follows five young pilots who use advanced mobile suits called Gundams to fight against the oppressive OZ organisation. The series aired in Japan from 7 April 1995 to 29 March 1996 on TV Asahi, and became the first Gundam series to be broadcast on American television when it premiered on Cartoon Network’s Toonami programming block on 6 March 2000.
The series distinguished itself from previous Gundam entries through its bishōnen character designs, focus on five main protagonists, and political intrigue that appealed to a broader demographic, particularly female audiences. Set in After Colony 195, the story centres on Operation Meteor, a plan conceived by five rogue scientists to send powerful Gundam mobile suits to Earth to combat the tyrannical rule of the Earth Sphere Alliance and its military arm OZ.
Plot
Synopsis
Main article: New Mobile Report Gundam Wing episodes
In After Colony 195, mankind has colonised space with massive orbital colonies at the Earth-Moon Lagrange points. The Earth Sphere United Alliance controls these colonies with an iron fist, assisted by the military organisation known as OZ. Following the assassination of pacifist colonial leader Heero Yuy in AC 175, five disgruntled scientists from OZ turn rogue and develop a plan for revenge called Operation Meteor.
The operation involves sending five highly advanced mobile suits constructed from rare Gundanium alloy to Earth, each piloted by a teenage boy trained by one of the scientists. The five Gundam pilots—Heero Yuy (pilot of the Wing Gundam), Duo Maxwell (pilot of the Gundam Deathscythe), Trowa Barton (pilot of the Gundam Heavyarms), Quatre Raberba Winner (pilot of the Gundam Sandrock), and Chang Wufei (pilot of the Shenlong Gundam)—initially operate independently, unaware of each others’ existence.
The series follows these pilots as they discover their shared mission and gradually form alliances while navigating the complex political landscape involving OZ, the Alliance, the peace-loving Sanc Kingdom, and various other factions. Key figures include Relena Peacecraft, heir to the Sanc Kingdom who becomes an important political ally, and Zechs Merquise, a mysterious OZ ace pilot whose true identity as Relena’s brother Milliardo Peacecraft drives much of the series’ conflict.
Themes
Gundam Wing explores several recurring themes throughout its narrative. The series examines the nature of war and its impact on individuals, particularly through the experiences of the five Gundam pilots who are essentially child soldiers. The concept of pacifism versus the necessity of violence is central to the story, embodied in characters like Relena Peacecraft who advocate for peace while the pilots fight for change.
The series also delves into themes of identity and purpose, as each pilot grapples with their role in the conflict and their personal motivations. The political intrigue and complex relationships between various factions reflect real-world concerns about power, corruption, and the struggle for freedom.
Development
Conception
The development of Gundam Wing was heavily influenced by the success of Mobile Fighter G Gundam, particularly its concept of having five main characters. Originally conceived under the title “Gundam Meteor” after the central Operation Meteor plot device, the series underwent significant changes during development. Bandai specifically requested the inclusion of a Gundam with transformation capabilities, which led to the creation of the Wing Gundam and its distinctive “Bird Mode” flight form.
The creative team spent one intensive week conceptualising the characters, mobile suits, and the first 40 episodes of the series. Director Masashi Ikeda noted that their initial work combined elements reminiscent of the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and G Gundam all at once.
Production
The series experienced a tumultuous production process marked by significant staff changes. Masashi Ikeda served as the initial director but was replaced halfway through production by Shinji Takamatsu. Head writer Katsuyuki Sumizawa left the series due to scheduling conflicts, resulting in episodes 27 and 28 being converted into recap episodes. The planned flashback episodes revealing the Gundam pilots’ backstories were subsequently relocated to the manga Episode Zero.
The series featured mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara and Hajime Katoki, with character designs by Shuko Murase. The staff made a deliberate decision to focus more on drama than mecha action, which they credited as one of the primary reasons for the series’ popularity amongst female demographics.
Music
The musical score was composed by Ko Otani, who created an orchestral soundtrack that perfectly complemented the series’ dramatic tone. The opening themes, performed by the J-pop duo Two-Mix, became cultural phenomena in their own right. “Just Communication” served as the first opening theme for episodes 1-40, whilst “Rhythm Emotion” was used for episodes 41-49. Both songs, particularly “Just Communication”, achieved significant commercial success and helped establish Two-Mix as major artists in the anime music scene.
Sound
Voice casting proved more challenging than previous Gundam series due to the different atmosphere the creators wanted to achieve. The Japanese cast included Hikaru Midorikawa as Heero Yuy, Toshihiko Seki as Duo Maxwell, Shigeru Nakahara as Trowa Barton, Ai Orikasa as Quatre Raberba Winner, and Ryuzo Ishino as Chang Wufei. The series marked breakthrough roles for several voice actors, launching Hikaru Midorikawa, Toshihiko Seki, and Ryotaro Okiayu into stardom.
Sources & inspirations
Director Masashi Ikeda drew inspiration from various sources, including his admiration for director Tim Burton, which influenced the naming of Trowa Barton. The character of Heero Yuy was reportedly modelled on Japanese actress Yuki Uchida. The series also incorporated references to previous Gundam works, such as the Tallgeese being three times faster than standard mobile suits, echoing Char Aznable’s famous red Zaku.
Release
International release
Gundam Wing achieved the historic distinction of becoming the first Gundam series to be broadcast on American television. The series was licensed by Sunrise with Ocean Productions handling the English dubbing. It premiered on Cartoon Network’s Toonami programming block on 6 March 2000, running through 11 May 2000, with reruns continuing until Cartoon Network lost broadcast rights in 2002.
The series was broadcast in two versions: an edited version for daytime Toonami broadcasts and an uncut version for the late-night “Midnight Run” programming. The edited version removed blood, profanity, and references to death, notably changing Duo Maxwell’s nickname from “The God of Death” to “The Great Destroyer”, which necessitated altering two episode titles.
Beyond the United States, the series found success in various international markets. It became the first Gundam series to air on Philippine television via GMA Network in 1999, dubbed in Filipino. The series also premiered on Indonesian television through Indosiar on 22 July 2001.
Re-releases
The series has been re-released multiple times across various formats and regions. In Japan, it has been made available through streaming services and has received numerous DVD and Blu-ray releases with enhanced picture quality and additional bonus content.
Home media
Initial North American home video releases were handled by Bandai Entertainment, who released the series on both VHS and DVD formats. The VHS releases contained the edited television versions, whilst the DVD releases featured the uncut episodes. Following the closure of Bandai Entertainment, the series was out of print for several years.
In 2014, Sunrise announced a partnership with Right Stuf Inc. to bring the entire Gundam franchise back to North America. Right Stuf released Gundam Wing on Blu-ray and DVD in two collection sets in November 2017. Additionally, a comprehensive Collector’s Ultra Edition was released in December 2017, containing the complete television series, related OVAs, and extensive bonus materials including art books, metal pins, posters, and art cards.
Compilation movies
Following the television series’ conclusion, several related productions were created. Four original video animation episodes were released in 1996 as Gundam Wing: Operation Meteor I and II, which compiled various scenes from the series with additional new footage.
Reception
Critical reception
Gundam Wing achieved notable success both in Japan and internationally, though its impact varied significantly between regions. In Japan, the series was a modest success during its initial run, managing an average television rating above four percent—a feat achieved by only two Gundam series in the 1990s, the other being G Gundam.
The series earned significant recognition within the anime industry. It placed second in Animage magazine’s prestigious Anime Grand Prix Award in 1995, losing only to Neon Genesis Evangelion. In the same year, Duo Maxwell was selected as the favourite male anime character. Animage later ranked the series number 76 in their list of the 100 most important anime of all time.
Commercial performance
The series found far greater success in North America, where it achieved groundbreaking popularity for the Gundam franchise. Within just over a week of its Toonami premiere, Gundam Wing became the top-rated programme across all age groups on Cartoon Network. During the summer of 2000, it consistently ranked as the first or second highest-rated show among children and teenagers during its twelve weekly airings on the Toonami block, often outperforming established series such as Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.
Critics and industry professionals have recognised the series’ significant impact. IGN ranked Gundam Wing as the 73rd best animated series of all time, stating it was “so good that even those opposed to anime have to give the show its due credit.” John Oppliger of AnimationAnime News Blog credited the series with single-handedly popularising the Gundam franchise among American audiences.
Fan reception
The series proved controversial within certain fan communities, particularly regarding its characterisation and departure from Universal Century traditions. However, it successfully attracted new demographics to the franchise, particularly female fans drawn to the bishōnen character designs and complex character relationships.
Legacy
Television
Gundam Wing’s success fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Gundam franchise and anime distribution in the West. As the first Gundam series to achieve mainstream television success in North America, it paved the way for subsequent Gundam series to receive international distribution and dubbing. The series’ success on Toonami contributed to the programming block’s evolution and helped establish it as a premier destination for anime content.
The series’ approach to storytelling, with its focus on multiple protagonists and political intrigue, influenced subsequent alternate universe Gundam series. Its success demonstrated that Gundam properties could find significant audiences outside the traditional Universal Century timeline.
Novel
Writer Katsuyuki Sumizawa returned to the Gundam Wing universe with the novel series New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop, which began serialisation in Gundam Ace magazine in August 2010. Set approximately 20-30 years after the television series, the novel introduces the “Mars Century” timeline and features the children of the original Gundam pilots. Though controversial among fans, the novel series ran until January 2016.
Manga
The series spawned numerous manga adaptations and side stories. Key manga works include New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Episode Zero, which provided the backstories originally planned for the television series, and New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz - Glory of the Losers, which retold the television series while incorporating elements from various side stories.
Other notable manga include Blind Target, Ground Zero, Battlefield of Pacifists, and Dual Story G-Unit, each expanding the After Colony universe with additional stories and mobile suit designs.
Video games
Gundam Wing has been featured in numerous video games across multiple platforms. The series received its own dedicated fighting game, Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel, developed by Natsume Co., Ltd. The Wing Gundam and other mobile suits from the series have appeared extensively in the Super Robot Wars series, Dynasty Warriors Gundam games, and various other Gundam-related video games.
Credits
Cast
Japanese cast:
- Hikaru Midorikawa as Heero Yuy
- Toshihiko Seki as Duo Maxwell
- Shigeru Nakahara as Trowa Barton
- Ai Orikasa as Quatre Raberba Winner
- Ryuzo Ishino as Chang Wufei
- Akiko Yajima as Relena Darlian
- Takehito Koyasu as Zechs Merquise
- Ryotaro Okiayu as Treize Khushrenada
- Sayuri Yamauchi as Lady Une
- Chisa Yokoyama as Lucrezia Noin
English cast:
- Mark Hildreth as Heero Yuy
- Scott McNeil as Duo Maxwell
- Kirby Morrow as Trowa Barton
- Brad Swaile as Quatre Raberba Winner
- Ted Cole as Chang Wufei
- Lisa Ann Beley as Relena Darlian
- Brian Drummond as Zechs Merquise
- David Kaye as Treize Khushrenada
- Enuka Okuma as Lady Une
- Saffron Henderson as Lucrezia Noin
Crew
- Original Concept: Hajime Yatate, Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Director: Masashi Ikeda (episodes 1-28), Shinji Takamatsu (episodes 29-49)
- Series Composition: Katsuyuki Sumizawa
- Character Design: Shuko Murase
- Mechanical Design: Kunio Okawara, Hajime Katoki
- Music: Ko Otani
- Producer: Hideyuki Tomioka
- Animation Studio: Sunrise
Appearances
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Characters
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Factions
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Locations
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Mecha
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Timeline
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Vehicles
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing — Vessels