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Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

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Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Logo

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (機動戦士ガンダムSEED), shortened to Gundam SEED is a TV anime series created by Sunrise and directer by Fukuda Mitsuo, based on scripts by Morisawa Chiaki with character design by Hirai Hisashi. It takes place is the Cosmic Era (C.E.), the fifth alternate calendar of Gundam series. The anime was aired in Japan at 6:00 PM Saturday slot of MBS and TBS from October 5, 2002 to September 27, 2003. A sequel titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY was aired one year later on the same broadcasting system.

The series was adapted into three manga series, a five volumes novel series, an upcoming movie and several video games. On February 15, 2004, Bandai Entertainment licensed Mobile Suit Gundam SEED in United States.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is known for its popularity in Japan during 2002 and 2006 by winning the Animage's Anime Grand Prix prize in 2002, Animation Kobe's TV Feature Award, Japanese Otaku Awards in 2003 and Tokyo International Anime Fair's animation of the year in 2004.

Synopsis

In the Cosmic Era, mankind was divided into two races: the Naturals, normal humans who mainly live on Earth and the Coordinators, special genes-enhanced humans who mostly reside in the PLANTs (Productive Location Ally on Nexus Technology), a special space colony system. On February 14, CE 70, the Earth Alliance fired nuclear missiles at Junius Seven PLANT, causing the "Bloody Valentine Tragedy" and killing 243,721 civilians. The tragedy struck the "Blood Valentine War" between Earth Alliance and ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty), PLANT's military forces.

January CE 71, Kira Yamato, a student and his friends are involved to an assault of ZAFT to hijacking the new Earth Alliance's mobile suits which are currently developed in Heliopolis, a space colony owned by Orb, a neutral country of Earth. During the battle, he meets Athrun Zala, his best friend since childhood who is a now a ZAFT soldier. The two take the Strike Gundam and Aegis Gundam and escape the destroyed base. Kira later teams up with the Archangel, an Earth Alliance new model battle ship to protect his friends, it was also revealed that Kira is a Coordinator. The series follow the journey of Kira with the Archangel and the rivalry between him and his best friend Athrun.

Characters

The main cast of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (from left to right: Lacus Clyne, Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala, Cagalli Yula Athha)
Main Article: List of characters in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and SEED DESTINY
  • Kira Yamato (キラ・ヤマト)
The main protagonist of Gundam SEED. Born as a first generation Coordinator, he is gifted with the ability of piloting a mobile suit. Kira befriended with Athrun Zala when the two attended preparation school on the Moon. At the beginning of the series, he was involved to an assault of ZAFT to Heliopolis and ends up piloting the Strike Gundam and boarding Earth Alliance's battle ship, the Archangel.
Voiced by Hoshi Soichiro
  • Athrun Zala (アスラン・ザラ)
Kira's best friend and the second leading character of the series. After losing his mother in the Bloody Valentine tragedy, he enlisted for ZAFT and graduated from military school with excellent grades. He is wearing a red uniform and was assigned to Le Creuset team. Athrun hijacked the Aegis Gundam from Earth Alliance and became the main rival for Kira Yamato as his friend now siding with the Naturals.
Voiced by Ishida Akira
  • Cagalli Yula Athha (カガリ・ユラ・アスハ)
The daughter of Orb Union's representative, Uzumi Nara Athha, she is called "Princess" by her people. Cagalli met with Kira at the beginning of the series but soon parted after he forced her to a shelter and stayed behind. She later reappears in episode 15 as a member of the Desert Dawn resistance.
Voiced by Shindo Naomi
  • Lacus Clyne (ラクス・クライン)
The daughter of PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne. She is the fiancée of Athrun Zala and a pop singer in PLANT. She was rescued by Kira Yamato at the vestiges of Junius Seven and brought to the Archangel. She is later returned to ZAFT by Kira.
Voiced by Tanaka Rie

Music

The music of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was composed by Sahashi Toshihiko with assistances by Kajiura Yuki. Backing by the popularity of the series, all song singles and albums enjoyed good sales.

In the year 2002, after listening and getting inspired by "THUNDERBIRD", director Fukuda Mitsuo asked Nishikawa Takanori to perform the first opening theme, "INVOKE". In addition to this, Nishikawa also voiced the character Miguel Aiman and narrated a recap episode. "METEOR", a special equipment in the anime is named after Nishikawa's song "Meteor" which was used as an insert song while the concept of his sixth album "coordinate" is also based on the theme of Gundam SEED.

The insert song "Akatsuki no Kuruma" was first released in "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED SUIT CD vol.4 MIGUEL x NICOL" on June 21, 2003 but was later re-released as a single on September 22, 2004, Gundam SEED first anniversary due to the its popularity.

Theme Songs

Opening Themes
  1. T.M.Revolution - "INVOKE (INVOKE -インヴォーク-)" (PHASE-01 to 13)
  2. Vivian or Kazuma - "moment" (PHASE-14 to 26)
  3. Tamaki Nami - "Believe" (PHASE-27 to 40)
  4. Tamaki Nami - "Realize" (PHASE-41 to 50)
Ending Themes
  1. See-Saw - "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni (あんなに一緒だったのに; Although We Were So Close Together)" (PHASE-01 to 26)
  2. Ishii Tatuya - "RIVER" (PHASE-27 to 39)
  3. Nakashima Mika - "FIND THE WAY" (PHASE-40 to 50)
Insert Songs
  1. Lacus Clyne (Tanaka Rie) - "Shizuka na Yoru ni (静かな夜に; In the Quiet Night)" (PHASE-07, 08, 09, 14 and 20)
  2. FictionJunction YUUKA - "Akatsuki no Kuruma (暁の車; Wheels of the Dawn)" (PHASE-24, 32 and 40)
  3. T.M.Revolution - "Meteor (Meteor -ミーティア-)" (PHASE-26, 29, 35 and 47)
  4. See-Saw - "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni (あんなに一緒だったのに; Although We Were So Close Together)" (PHASE-28)
  5. Lacus Clyne (Tanaka Rie) - "Mizu no Akashi (水の証; Evidence of Water)" (PHASE-36 and 41)

Discography

Singles
Albums
Suit CDs

Episode List

Episode List
# Title Release Date
PHASE-01 Itsuwari no Heiwa (偽りの平和; False Peace) 2002.10.05
PHASE-02 Sono Na wa Gundam (その名はガンダム; Its Name Is Gundam) 2002.10.12
PHASE-03 Houkai no Daichi (崩壊の大地; The Collapsing Land) 2002.10.19
PHASE-04 Silent Run (サイレントラン) 2002.10.26
PHASE-05 Phase Shift Down (フェイズシフトダウン) 2002.11.02
PHASE-06 Kieru Gundam (消えるガンダム; The Vanishing Gundam) 2002.11.09
PHASE-07 Sora no Kizuato (宇宙(そら)の傷跡; The Scar of Space) 2002.11.16
PHASE-08 Songstress of The Enemy Forces (敵軍の歌姫; Tekigun no Utahime) 2002.11.23
PHASE-09 Kieteiku Hikari (消えていく光; The Fading Light) 2002.11.30
PHASE-10 Wakatareta Michi (分かたれた道; Crossroads) 2002.12.07
PHASE-11 Mezameru Yaiba (目覚める刃; The Awakening Sword) 2002.12.14
PHASE-12 Flay no Sentaku (フレイの選択; Flay's Decision) 2002.12.21
PHASE-13 Sora ni Furu Hoshi (宇宙(そら)に降る星; Stars Falling in Space) 2002.12.28
PHASE-14 Hateshinaki Toki no Naka de (果てし無き時の中で; Within Endless Time) 2003.01.04
PHASE-15 Sorezore no Kodoku (それぞれの孤独; The Respective Solitudes) 2003.01.11
PHASE-16 Moeru Sajin (燃える砂塵; Burning Clouds of Sand) 2003.01.18
PHASE-17 Cagalli Futatabi (カガリ再び; Cagalli Returns) 2003.01.25
PHASE-18 Pay Back (ペイ バック) 2003.02.01
PHASE-19 Shukuteki no Kiba (宿敵の牙; Fangs of the Enemy) 2003.02.08
PHASE-20 Odayakana Hi ni (穏やかな日に; On a Calm Day) 2003.02.15
PHASE-21 Sajin no Hate (砂塵の果て; Beyond the Clouds of Sand) 2003.02.22
PHASE-22 Kurenai ni Somaru Umi (紅に染まる海; The Sea Dyed Red) 2003.03.01
PHASE-23 Unmei no Deai (運命の出会い; Fateful Encounter) 2003.03.08
PHASE-24 Futaridake no Sensou (二人だけの戦争; War for Two) 2003.03.15
PHASE-25 Heiwa no Kuni e (平和の国へ; To the Land of Peace) 2003.03.22
PHASE-26 Moment (モーメント) 2003.03.29
PHASE-27 Hatenaki Rondo (果てなき輪舞(ロンド); Endless Rondo) 2003.04.12
PHASE-28 Kira (キラ) 2003.04.19
PHASE-29 Sadame no Kusabi (さだめの楔(くさび); The Turning Point) 2003.04.26
PHASE-30 Senkou no Toki (閃光の刻(とき); Flashing Blades) 2003.05.03
PHASE-31 Doukoku no Sora (慟哭の空; Grieving Skies) 2003.05.10
PHASE-32 Yakusoku no Chi ni (約束の地に; In the Promised Land) 2003.05.17
PHASE-33 Yami no Taidou (闇の胎動; Gathering Darkness) 2003.05.24
PHASE-34 Manazashi no Saki (まなざしの先; Seen and Unseen) 2003.05.31
PHASE-35 Mai Oriru Tsurugi (舞い降りる剣; The Descending Sword) 2003.06.07
PHASE-36 Seigi no Na no Moto ni (正義の名のもとに; In the Name of Justice) 2003.06.14
PHASE-37 Kami no Ikazuchi (神のいかずち; Divine Thunder) 2003.06.21
PHASE-38 Ketsui no Houka" (決意の砲火; Decisive Fire) 2003.06.28
PHASE-39 Athrun (アスラン) 2003.07.05
PHASE-40 Akatsuki no Sora e (暁の宇宙(そら)へ; Into the Dawn Skies) 2003.07.12
PHASE-41 Yureru Sekai (ゆれる世界; Trembling World) 2003.07.19
PHASE-42 Lacus Shutsugeki (ラクス出撃; Lacus Strikes) 2003.07.26
PHASE-43 Tachihadakaru Mono (立ちはだかるもの; What Stands in the Way) 2003.08.02
PHASE-44 Rasen no Kaikou (螺旋の邂逅(かいこう); Spiral of Encounters) 2003.08.09
PHASE-45 Hiraku Tobira (開く扉; The Opening Door) 2003.08.16
PHASE-46 Tamashii no Basho (たましいの場所; A Place for the Soul) 2003.08.30
PHASE-47 Akumu wa Futatabi (悪夢は再び; The Nightmare Reborn) 2003.09.06
PHASE-48 Ikari no Hi (怒りの日; Day of Wrath) 2003.09.13
PHASE-49 Shuumatsu no Hikari (終末の光; The Final Light) 2003.09.20
FINAL-PHASE Owaranai Asu e (終わらない明日へ; To a Future that Never Ends) 2003.09.27
AFTER-PHASE Hoshi no Hazama de (星のはざまで; Between the Stars) 2004.03.26

DVDs

Japan

The episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was collected into thirteen DVDs, released one volume per month from March 2003 to March 2004. Each DVD contains four episodes up to volume 12 and volume 13 only spends two episodes. With a average of 58,205 copies sold per volume (not including Special Editions), Gundam SEED is the fourth best selling anime of all time in Japan.

# DVD Title Release Date Catalog Number Price Sales
1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.1 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.1) 2003.03.28 BCBA-1571 ¥6,000 71,081
2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.2 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.2) 2003.04.25 BCBA-1572 ¥6,000 62,949
3 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.3 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.3) 2003.05.23 BCBA-1573 ¥6,000 55,983
4 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.4 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.4) 2003.06.27 BCBA-1574 ¥6,000 54,753
5 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.5 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.5) 2003.07.25 BCBA-1575 ¥6,000 52,582
6 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.6 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.6) 2003.08.22 BCBA-1576 ¥6,000 54,295
7 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.7 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.7) 2003.09.26 BCBA-1577 ¥6,000 50,884
8 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.8 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.8) 2003.10.24 BCBA-1578 ¥6,000 49,018
9 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.9 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.9) 2003.11.28 BCBA-1579 ¥6,000 53,046
10 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.10 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.10) 2003.12.21 BCBA-1580 ¥6,000 56,776
11 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.11 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.11) 2004.01.23 BCBA-1581 ¥6,000 58,140
12 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.12 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.12) 2004.02.25 BCBA-1582 ¥6,000 56,027
13 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.13 (機動戦士ガンダムSEED Vol.13) 2004.03.26 BCBA-1590 ¥6,000 86,128
SE1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Special Edition Kyokuu no Senjou (機動戦士ガンダムSEED スペシャルエディション 虚空の戦場; The Empty Battlefield) 2004.08.27 BCBA-1925 ¥4,800 59,639
SE2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Special Edition II Harukanaru Akatsuki (機動戦士ガンダムSEED スペシャルエディションII 遥かなる暁 (はるかなるあかつき); The Far-Away Dawn) 2004.09.24 BCBA-1926 ¥4,800 55,611
SE3 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Special Edition III Meidou no Sora (機動戦士ガンダムSEED スペシャルエディションII 鳴動の宇宙 (めいどうのそら); The Rumbling Space) 2004.10.22 BCBA-1927 ¥4,800 67,177

United States

  • [2004.10.08] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.1 - Grim Reality
  • [2004.10.12] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.2 - Unexpected Meetings
  • [2004.10.12] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.3 - No Retreat
  • [2004.12.14] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.4 - Desert Warfare
  • [2004.12.14] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.5 - Archangel's Flight
  • [2005.03.15] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.6 - Momentary Silence
  • [2005.03.15] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.7 - Suspicious Motives
  • [2005.03.22] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.8 - Eternal Crusade
  • [2005.03.22] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Vol.9 - Evolutionary Conflict
  • [2005.07.12] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED The Movie I: The Empty Battlefield
  • [2005.09.13] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED The Movie II: The Far-Away Dawn
  • [2005.11.22] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED The Movie III: The Rumbling Sky
  • [2006.11.28] Complete Feature Collection: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
  • [2008.01.08] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Anime Legends Complete Collection I
  • [2008.04.03] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Anime Legends Complete Collection II

Adaptions

Special Editions

In the year 2004, the events of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED were collected into three "Special Edition" movies with new and edited scenes. The first movie is from PHASE-01 to 21, the second is from PHASE-22 to 40 while the last movie covered PHASE-41 to 50.

Ending Themes
  1. See-Saw - "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni (あんなに一緒だったのに; Although We Were So Close Together)"
  2. FictionJunction YUUKA - "Akatsuki no Kuruma (暁の車; Wheels of the Dawn)"
  3. Nakashima Mika - "FIND THE WAY"
Insert Songs
  1. Lacus Clyne (Tanaka Rie) - "Shizuka na Yoru ni (静かな夜に; In the Quiet Night)"
  2. T.M.Revolution - "Zips"
  3. T.M.Revolution - "Meteor (Meteor -ミーティア-)"
  4. FictionJunction YUUKA - "Akatsuki no Kuruma (暁の車; Wheels of the Dawn)"
  5. Lacus Clyne (Tanaka Rie) - "Mizu no Akashi (水の証; Evidence of Water)"
  6. T.M.Revolution - "IVOKE (INVOKE -インヴォーク-)"

Original Video Animation

In the last DVD of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, a special five minutes episode title "AFTER-PHASE" was included. It revealed the fate of the main characters after the last battle in the main series and their sentiments. The manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY was also adapted to a two episodes OVA titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV ASTRAY. "Tanekyara Genkijo (たねきゃら劇場; Seed Club Theater), a two special OVA based on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Club Yonkoma was also coupled with the first fan disc of Gundam SEED.

Manga

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was adapted into three manga series:

  • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (機動戦士ガンダムSEED) by Iwase Masatsugu
    • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY (機動戦士ガンダムSEED ASTRAY), story by Chiba Tomohiro and art by Tokita Koichi
    • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X ASTRAY (機動戦士ガンダムSEED X ASTRAY)
    • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FRAME ASTRAYS (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FRAME ASTRAYS)
    • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY R (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FRAME ASTRAY R), art by Toda Yasunari
  • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Club Yonkoma (機動戦士ガンダムSEED SEED Club 4コマ)

Novels

A five volumes novel series of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was written by Goto Liu with illustrations by Ogasawara Tomofumi and published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan from March 2003 to January 2004. The three first volumes were licensed in United States by Tokyopop.

Books
  • [2003.03] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 1 Surechigau Tsubasa (機動戦士ガンダムSEED 1 すれ違う翼; To a Divergent Strike)
  • [2003.06] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 2 Sabaku no Tora (機動戦士ガンダムSEED 2 砂漠の虎; The Desert Tiger)
  • [2003.08] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 3 Heiwa no Kuni (機動戦士ガンダムSEED 3 平和の国; The Country of Peace)
  • [2003.10] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 4 Mai Oriru Tsurugi (機動戦士ガンダムSEED 4 舞い降りる剣; The Descending Sword)
  • [2004.01] Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 5 Owaranai Asu e (機動戦士ガンダムSEED 5 終わらない明日へ; To a Future that Never Ends)

Video Games

Aside from various game adaption by Bandai, Gundam SEED's character also were included in several video games such as Super Robots Taisen series and Another Century's Episode series.

Movie

On May 6, 2006, a movie for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was announced at Sony Music Anime Fes. A short trailer showed Shinn Asuka, Athrun Zala, Kira Yamato, Lacus Clyne and Cagalli Yula Athha. However, the project was put on an unknown hiatus due to script-writer Morisawa Chiaki's health problems.

External Links