Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

is a 1988 anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

film

Film

A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

set in Gundam's Universal Century

Universal Century

is the original timeline of the Gundam anime metaseries. The official English name U.C. is often used instead in recent production like MS Igloo and Master Grade model instructions and official pages is the original timeline of the Gundam anime metaseries. The official English name U.C....

timeline of Gundam

Gundam

The is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....

, specifically U.C. 0093.

Making its theatrical debut on March 12, 1988, Char's Counterattack is the culmination of the original saga begun in Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam
is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...

and continued through Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
is a television anime, part of the Gundam series and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split amongst Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita...

and Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
is a TV series aired on Japanese TV from 1986–1987, was the third Gundam series, and a direct follow up to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Director Yoshiyuki Tomino returned to lead the series, and he assembled a new team consisting of character designer Hiroyuki Kitazume, who had been one of Zeta...

, marking the final conflict of the fourteen-year rivalry between Char Aznable

Char Aznable

, born is a fictional character from the Gundam franchise. He is originally one of the main antagonists in Mobile Suit Gundam and later becomes one of the protagonists of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. In his final appearance in Char's Counterattack, he assumes leadership of the Neo Zeon movement,...

and Amuro Ray

Amuro Ray

is a fictional character from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam and its sequels, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Char's Counterattack, voiced by Tōru Furuya , Brad Swaile , Michael Lindsay and Matthew Erickson is a fictional character from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam and its sequels, Mobile...

. Based on a novel by Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino

Yoshiyuki Tomino

is a Japanese mecha anime creator, director, screenwriter and novelist. He was born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and studied at Nihon University's College of Art...

, the movie supposedly marked the end of tensions between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon (until Gundam Unicorn was released in 2010).

In addition to being the first original Gundam theatrical release, Char's Counterattack was also the first Gundam production to make use of computer graphics during a five-second shot of the Sweetwater colony

Space Colony (Gundam)

In the fictional Gundam anime metaseries, space colonies play a pivotal role in ever-changing stories. Below is an explanation of the colonies in each of the Gundam timelines.-Universal Century:...

rotating in space. Char's Counterattack was released in America on DVD on August 20, 2002 and was shown on January 4, 2003 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. This airing marked the end of the first incarnation of the Adult Swim Action Saturday night block.

Plot summary

Set in March UC 0093, the film features the return of main antagonist Char Aznable, who has emerged after five years in hiding to lead the Neo-Zeon once more in the fight for independence from the Earth Federation. Still determined to make humankind fully colonize in space, he mobilizes Neo-Zeon forces to drop the asteroid 4th Luna on the Federation headquarters in Lhasa, Tibet. Under the guise of surrendering the entire Neo-Zeon forces, he plans to drop the Axis asteroid base on Earth as well.

However, the Federation has assigned its own anti-insurgent task force, the Londo Bell, to take him down. Among the Londo Bell's members are One Year War veterans Bright Noa and Amuro Ray, whom Char wants to kill in revenge for the death of Lalah Sune. A major battle around Axis breaks out as the Londo Bell struggle to stop Char before the asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere. A Londo Bell demolitions team blows up Axis from the inside but one half is still on course to strike Earth, In the midst of the battle, Amuro catches Char and tries to push Axis from reentry, with Federation and Neo Zeon mobile suits coming to help. As the group tries to carry out the impossible, Amuro's RX-93 Nu Gundam resonates and creates a psyco-wave around the asteroid, pushing it away from Earth while shoving all the other mobile suits from the area. Both Federation and Neo-Zeon forces look on as Axis veers off from reentry.

Earth Federation

Amuro Ray

The famed Federation ace pilot from the One Year War, Amuro is now a member of the Londo Bell taskforce after years of being watched by Federation agents. His last appearance in the series was being part of the AEUG in Mobile Suit Z Gundam. He also designed and pilots the movie's main Federation mobile suit, the RX-93 ν-Gundam.

Bright Noa

is a fictional character from the Japanese science fiction anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam and the related films. In the anime, he is only mentioned as Earth-born...

The Londo Bell task force's commander, Noa is also the captain of the group's flagship, the Ra Cailum.

Chan Agi

A Federation engineering officer, Chan works with Amuro in testing the ν-Gundam, but also harbors feelings for him. She dies late in the movie after Bright Noa's son Hathaway kills her for shooting Quess Paraya.

Hathaway Noa

Hathaway Noa is a fictional character from the Gundam franchise. He first appeared in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and is most prominently featured in the feature film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack and the novel Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash...

Bright Noa's only son, Hathaway joins the Ra Cailum crew after the Londo Bell saves the shuttle he and Quess Paraya are riding on. He is seen to have a crush on her. Her death at Chan's hands later prompts him to rebel against the Federation in Quess' name, which is detailed in the novel Hathaway's Flash.

Kayra Su

One of the Londo Bell's female pilots and Z Gundam character Astonage Medoz' lover, Kayra is the second pilot of the RGZ-91 ReGZ mobile suit (after Amuro gets the RX-93). She dies from shock after being shaken too hard by Gyunei Guss' Jagd Doga.

Neo-Zeon

Char Aznable

Having disappeared after the events of Z Gundam, Char seeks to force humanity to move into space as the next step in human advancement, and one day create a race of Newtypes. He pilots the MSN-04 Sazabi, a one of a kind mobile suit in his trademark red color scheme. In the film's climax, Char admits to Amuro that he provided Anaheim Electronics with the ν-Gundam's psycoframe technology (which the Sazabi also has) so they could fight on equal terms.

Quess Paraya

A daughter of Federation official Adenaur Paraya, Quess is a hard-headed teenager seeking adult acceptance. She is enamored with Amuro and carries a deep jealousy for his relationship with Chan. Later in the movie, she joins Char, whom she is looking at as a father figure, but as shown in her envy of Chan, she also hates Nanai. Initially piloting a red Jagd-Doga, Quess moves up to the massive NZ-333 α-Azieru mobile armor.

Nanai Miguel

Char's lover, Nanai is also the captain of the battleship Rewloola. She is saddened by Char's apparent death as Axis is pushed back.

Gyunei Guss

A pilot of one of two Jagd-Doga mobile suits, Gyunei is Char's wingman in the early part of the film. Already facing scorn from other pilots because of his cyber-Newtype enhancements, he is also obsessed with killing Amuro to prove himself as Char's equal and win Quess' affection in the process (even though she spurns him). Amuro kills him with two funnel hits.

Rezin Schneider

One of the Neo-Zeon's aces, Rezin pilots a blue Geara Doga to distinguish herself from the other Geara Dogas.

Others

Adenaur Paraya

A vice-minister in the Earth Federation government, Paraya leads the Federation panel in the negotiations for Neo-Zeon's surrender. At the surrender ceremonies in Luna II, he is surprised when the Neo-Zeon fleet opens fire. Paraya dies when the battleship he is in is attacked by his own daughter Quess.

Mirai Yashima

is a fictional character from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. She is one of the three White Base crew to display Newtype abilities, along with Amuro Ray and Sayla Mass.-History:...

Living in Hong Kong with children Hathaway and Cheimin, Mirai sends Hathaway to join his father.

Cheimin Noa

Bright and Mirai's only daughter, Cheimin accompanies her mother as they try to escape Hong Kong before Axis hits.

Production and development

Yoshiyuki Tomino adapted Char's Counterattack from the novel Hi-Streamer, and later wrote Beltorchika's Children as an alternate version. Tomino had planned previously to feature Char's return in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, however when he got the green light to do Char's Counterattack, he dropped the planned appearance. Tomino does not recall his plans to bring back Char in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. The novels' differences from the movie include Amuro and Char piloting advanced versions of the ν-Gundam and the Sazabi: the Hi-ν-Gundam and the MSN-04-II Nightingale, Z Gundam character Beltorchika Irma being pregnant with Amuro's child, Hathaway accidentally killing Quess instead of Chan, and the confirmed deaths of Amuro and Char.

Three of the four mecha designers credited on Char's Counterattack went on to direct their own anime series: Hideaki Anno

Hideaki Anno

is a Japanese animation and film director. Anno is best known for his work on the popular anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. His style has come to be defined by the touches of postmodernism that he injects into his work, as well as the thorough portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions,...

(Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion
, commonly referred to as Evangelion, is a commercially and critically successful Japanese anime series that began airing in October 1995. The series was highly influential, and launched the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. It garnered several major animation awards...

), Yutaka Izubuchi

Yutaka Izubuchi

is a Japanese anime designer and director. Izubuchi is credited for designing costumes, characters and creatures, but most of his designs are mechanical...

(RahXephon
RahXephon
is a Japanese anime series about 17-year-old Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a godlike mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world...

) and Koichi Ohata

Koichi Ohata

is a Japanese animation director and mecha designer, known for cult classics M.D. Geist and Genocyber.-Direct-to-video animation:* 1986 M.D. Geist* 1989 Cybernetics Guardian* 1994 Genocyber* 1996 M.D. Geist 2 – Death Force* 1996 M.D...

(Burst Angel
Burst Angel
is a Japanese animated television series directed by Koichi Ohata, from a screenplay by Fumihiko Shimo. It was produced by the Gonzo animation studio....

along with several other OVAs). Yoshinori Sayama continued designing on shows such as Patlabor
Patlabor
Patlabor also known as , is an anime and manga franchise created by Headgear, a group consisting of director Mamoru Oshii, writer Kazunori Itō, mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi, character designer Akemi Takada, and manga artist Masami Yūki.The popular franchise included a manga, a TV series, two OVA...

, Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop
is a critically acclaimed and award-winning 1998 Japanese anime series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, written by Keiko Nobumoto, and produced by Sunrise. Its 26 episodes comprise a complete storyline: set in 2071, the series follows the adventures, misadventures and tragedies of five bounty...

and Izubuchi's RahXephon.

Staff

Director/Screenplay: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshiyuki Tomino
is a Japanese mecha anime creator, director, screenwriter and novelist. He was born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and studied at Nihon University's College of Art...
Character Designer: Hiroyuki Kitazume
Mobile Suit Designer: Yutaka Izubuchi
Yutaka Izubuchi
is a Japanese anime designer and director. Izubuchi is credited for designing costumes, characters and creatures, but most of his designs are mechanical...
Mecha Designs: Gainax
Gainax
is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as Gunbuster, The Wings of Honneamise, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann which have gone on to critical acclaim and commercial success, as well as for their association with...

, Yoshinori Sayama
Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda

Theme music

Ending:

- Lyrics: Mitsuko Komuro
- Composition Arrangement: Tetsuya Komuro
  Tetsuya Komuro
  , also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
- Artist: TM Network
  TM Network
  TM Network is a Japanese pop/rock musical band. The members are Tetsuya Komuro , Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine...
  
  (Tetsuya Komuro
  Tetsuya Komuro
  , also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
  
  , Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine)

Release

The film made its American debut on August 20, 2002 on DVD and was later re-released during Sunrise's release of its One Year War properties (specifically Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam

is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...

, 08th MS Team, 0080

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

is a 1989 Japanese science fiction original video animation series, the first such series in the Gundam franchise. Directed by Fumihiko Takayama, it was also the first time anyone other than creator Yoshiyuki Tomino was given a chance to direct a Gundam story. Released in 1989, it serves to...

, and 0083

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

is a 13-episode anime OVA series set in the Gundam universe. The first volume containing two 30-minute episodes was released in Japan on May 23, 1991. Subsequent volumes, containing one 30-minute episode each, followed every one or two months; the final volume went on sale on September 24, 1992...

). This left North American audiences without exposure to Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

is a TV series aired on Japanese TV from 1986–1987, was the third Gundam series, and a direct follow up to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Director Yoshiyuki Tomino returned to lead the series, and he assembled a new team consisting of character designer Hiroyuki Kitazume, who had been one of Zeta...

, despite their important role in setting up the film's plot and the fact that some events are mentioned by characters. Zeta Gundam has since been released in America as a six volume DVD set in 2004 as well as a trilogy of movies in 2010, but as of 2011 Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ has still not been dubbed for western audiences, although at the 2011 Anime Expo, Sunrise said it will be possible that it will be released.

Home media

Bandai released a limited-edition DVD of the movie in 2001. The product was a maroon slipcase edition embossed with the gold Neo Zeon logo. The DVD was later reissued as part of the Anime Legends line in 2006.

Game

Bandai produced a Char's Counterattack 3D fighting game for the PlayStation in 1998 as part of the Big Bang Project for Gundam's 20th anniversary. The game featured scenes from the film that were remade with updated animation and CGI. The game also has stages featuring Amuro and Char's classic encounters in the original Mobile Suit Gundam series.

Models

A line of Gunpla models based on the movie's mobile suits was released, along with a Hobby Japan special. The model line had 1/144 kits of the Jegan, the Geara Doga, the Sazabi, Gyunei Guss and Quess Paraya's Jagd Dogas, and the ν-Gundam (with or without Fin Funnel), a 1/550 α-Azieru, and a 1/100 ν-Gundam. Bandai would re-release them plus the Hi-ν-Gundam, years later as part of the HGUC and Master Grade lines, the latter being featured in Bandai's Gundam Weapons line of mooks (modelling books). Many of them are also available as part of the B-Club resin line.

External links

Official Websites: Anime,GundamOfficial
Animerica review

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