WD-M01 Turn A Gundam
Encyclopedia
The WD-M01 Turn A Gundam is a fictional mecha from the calendar system in the anime
Turn A Gundam
. It is mainly piloted by the hero of the series, and acted as the symbol of the earth militia forces against the superior moonrace.
, for the series Turn A Gundam. The original design of the mecha was rejected by Yoshiyuki Tomino
due to its exotic appearance and Tomino decided that he wanted a figure that is closer to the previous Gundam designs. The old design was renamed and used for the Mobile Suit Sumo instead. The design is still exotic to Gundam anime fans, however, Syd Mead designed Turn A Gundam using real world industrial design aspects, which was aimed to make it look simple and realistic. The shield was designed by Syd Mead with little constraint from the production team, it needed to be big enough so that the suit can hide behind it, making it easier for the anime production staff to draw. Syd Mead imagined it to be like a clam shell and finally settled with a design that looked like MS-14 Gelgoog's shield.
In the eyes of most viewers, the design of Turn A Gundam is comical, however, it is designed to be a figure like the fire of Prometheus
. With the earthrace using a lot of old age technology uncovered from mountain cycle that hides superior machines from the old world, the suit was also designed to be outstanding but looking like the ones the moonrace possess, acting like a Deus ex Machina where the inferior earthnoids obtained by luck.
Tomino addressed his little disappointment in the design of Turn A Gundam not having good reception, but he commented that it was happy to see that it was not pointless work as Turn A was selected as the 100th Master Grade model.
It was seldom called Turn A Gundam in the plot, the characters did not know what it was called, and mainly used the name White doll, MS with a mustache or simply Turn A.(as shown on the screen of the computer system and manual) It was known as a Gundam type mobile suit only when an enemy character saw it and called it Gundam, which is the terrifying logo of earthnoids controlling spacenoids in his memory.
The Turn A's main propulsion was provided by an I-field Beam Drive System, which left the suit completely hollow and allowed it to be filled with extra armaments and rocket thrusters. Standard armament consisted of two beam sabers and a beam rifle. The Turn A was also equipped with an I-Field barrier which could protect it from various sorts of attack, including nuclear weapons.
After accompanying the Willgame to the Moon, Loran finally learned the dark truth about the Turn A's past, that the Turn A had been responsible for the destruction of Earth's history by unleashing its "Moonlight Butterfly" attack, spreading nanomachines across the Earth's surface and turning all technology into sand. After learning of this truth Loran also discovered several features of the Turn A that he was unaware of, most notably that the cockpit was a Core Fighter capable of separating from the Turn A; also Loran discovered the ability to make the Turn A vanish from sight by means unknown. During the Turn A's final battle with the Turn X, both machines unleashed their Moonlight Butterfly systems at one another; Loran escaped unharmed, but both machines were encased in a large cocoon - along with the pilot of the Turn X, Gym Ghingnham.
Its nanomachines onboard are capable of an attack named "Moonlight Butterfly" (named after the effects of the attack when active). It is said that the attack has 3 requirements, the nano-machines, the energy to use them and finally the program to activate it. It is a plot device, which was used to destroy the previous advanced technological society and can stop all known machines from functioning.
Turn A Gundam was chosen to be the 100th Master Grade model of Gunpla (abbreviation of Gundam Plastic Model) and at an earlier time, the first release of the Turn A Gundam DVD box set was announced. Two of the three Model Magazine in Japan, Hobby Japan and Dengeki Hobby was informed to build their own Turn A model using the old 1/100 kit for a display in the official announcement of the MS100 Turn A. Hobby Japan modeller Seira Masuo drastically redesigned the unit while Dengeki Hobby modeller went for the original approach of diorama. Both of the models was placed next to the MG100 draft design at the Bandai display forum at the announcement of MG100.
titles since Zero, and its Moonlight Butterfly is the ultimate attack in every G Generation title it has appeared in. It has also appeared in Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden
and in Another Century's Episode 3
and also Super Robot Wars Z. Other than the Moonlight Butterfly, Gundam Hammer is another common weapon of Turn A Gundam, in The Gundam VS
series, Turn A Gundam's primary weapon are the Gundam Hammers (actually a pair of large maces that explode).
Unlike other alternate universe Gundam robots, Turn A Gundam has occasionally participated in games that are set in the Universal Century timeline, as although it is not officially a part of the Universal Century
storyline, as Turn A Gundam is supposed to take place 3,000 years after previous series.
Turn A Gundam appeared in a special scenario in SD Gundam G Generation Spirits which can be unlocked by completing all missions. Completing the mission makes the Turn A available for purchase. Turn A Gundam also appeared as a hidden unit in SD Gundam SCAD Hammers
, which is set in the One Year War
timeline.
The Turn A is also a default mobile suit in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
s Original Mode, with Loran as its default pilot. This marked the first appearance of the Turn A Gundam, Loran, and Horace in the U.S. Loran makes a second appearance in the sequel Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
along with a few other Turn A Gundam characters such as Gym and Queen Dianna.
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....
Turn A Gundam
Turn A Gundam
is a 50 episode anime series that aired between 1999 and 2000 on Japan's FNN networks and on the anime satellite television network, Animax, which was created for the Gundam Big Bang 20th Anniversary celebration...
. It is mainly piloted by the hero of the series, and acted as the symbol of the earth militia forces against the superior moonrace.
Design
Turn A Gundam is designed by Syd MeadSyd Mead
Sydney Jay Mead, commonly Syd Mead, is a "visual futurist" and concept artist. He is best known for his designs for science-fiction films such as Blade Runner, Aliens and Tron...
, for the series Turn A Gundam. The original design of the mecha was rejected by 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...
due to its exotic appearance and Tomino decided that he wanted a figure that is closer to the previous Gundam designs. The old design was renamed and used for the Mobile Suit Sumo instead. The design is still exotic to Gundam anime fans, however, Syd Mead designed Turn A Gundam using real world industrial design aspects, which was aimed to make it look simple and realistic. The shield was designed by Syd Mead with little constraint from the production team, it needed to be big enough so that the suit can hide behind it, making it easier for the anime production staff to draw. Syd Mead imagined it to be like a clam shell and finally settled with a design that looked like MS-14 Gelgoog's shield.
In the eyes of most viewers, the design of Turn A Gundam is comical, however, it is designed to be a figure like the fire of Prometheus
Prometheus
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother to Atlas, Epimetheus and Menoetius. He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals...
. With the earthrace using a lot of old age technology uncovered from mountain cycle that hides superior machines from the old world, the suit was also designed to be outstanding but looking like the ones the moonrace possess, acting like a Deus ex Machina where the inferior earthnoids obtained by luck.
Tomino addressed his little disappointment in the design of Turn A Gundam not having good reception, but he commented that it was happy to see that it was not pointless work as Turn A was selected as the 100th Master Grade model.
Plot
The System-Turn A99 (WD-M01) Turn A Gundam (also known as "Turn A") first appeared in the show when the Moonrace's Diana Counter army arrived on Earth and attacked the city of Nocis; which at the time was holding a Coming of Age ceremony for Loran Cehack and Sochie Heim, who danced and offered prayers in front of the "White Doll" statue. When the Moonrace forces attack, the "White Doll" statue crumbled, revealing the Turn A. Loran and Sochie take shelter inside the cockpit, which activates and automatically fires at the unaware Moonrace forces. After several battles with the Moonrace, the Turn A became the symbol of the struggle to resist the Moonrace's attempts at colonizing Earth.It was seldom called Turn A Gundam in the plot, the characters did not know what it was called, and mainly used the name White doll, MS with a mustache or simply Turn A.(as shown on the screen of the computer system and manual) It was known as a Gundam type mobile suit only when an enemy character saw it and called it Gundam, which is the terrifying logo of earthnoids controlling spacenoids in his memory.
The Turn A's main propulsion was provided by an I-field Beam Drive System, which left the suit completely hollow and allowed it to be filled with extra armaments and rocket thrusters. Standard armament consisted of two beam sabers and a beam rifle. The Turn A was also equipped with an I-Field barrier which could protect it from various sorts of attack, including nuclear weapons.
After accompanying the Willgame to the Moon, Loran finally learned the dark truth about the Turn A's past, that the Turn A had been responsible for the destruction of Earth's history by unleashing its "Moonlight Butterfly" attack, spreading nanomachines across the Earth's surface and turning all technology into sand. After learning of this truth Loran also discovered several features of the Turn A that he was unaware of, most notably that the cockpit was a Core Fighter capable of separating from the Turn A; also Loran discovered the ability to make the Turn A vanish from sight by means unknown. During the Turn A's final battle with the Turn X, both machines unleashed their Moonlight Butterfly systems at one another; Loran escaped unharmed, but both machines were encased in a large cocoon - along with the pilot of the Turn X, Gym Ghingnham.
Its nanomachines onboard are capable of an attack named "Moonlight Butterfly" (named after the effects of the attack when active). It is said that the attack has 3 requirements, the nano-machines, the energy to use them and finally the program to activate it. It is a plot device, which was used to destroy the previous advanced technological society and can stop all known machines from functioning.
Master Grade 100 Campaign
Involvement in video games
As a leading Gundam of a Gundam series, Turn A Gundam has appeared in every G GenerationSD Gundam G Generation
SD Gundam G Generation is a series of strategy-RPG video games that focus on the Gundam anime franchise.-History:The G Generation series technically began in 1996, when Bandai released a series of six games for Nintendo's Super Famicom console's Sufami Turbo add-on, each focusing on a particular...
titles since Zero, and its Moonlight Butterfly is the ultimate attack in every G Generation title it has appeared in. It has also appeared in Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden
Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden
, for the PlayStation, is the first side-story in the Super Robot Wars Alpha series, continuing from Super Robot Wars Alpha. Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden, or simply, Alpha Gaiden, includes several rare series choices, such as After War Gundam X, Turn-A Gundam and Xabungle, all of which debut in...
and in Another Century's Episode 3
Another Century's Episode 3
, abbreviated as A.C.E.3, is a mecha action video game produced by Banpresto and developed by From Software. It is the sequel to the popular 2006 game Another Century's Episode 2, and the third game in the Another Century's Episode series. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on September 6,...
and also Super Robot Wars Z. Other than the Moonlight Butterfly, Gundam Hammer is another common weapon of Turn A Gundam, in The Gundam VS
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam is an arcade game that newly crossover with other Gundam in Gundam Vs. series. The game features up to 30 different Mobile Weapons, and a play system similar to previous titles in the Gundam Vs. series....
series, Turn A Gundam's primary weapon are the Gundam Hammers (actually a pair of large maces that explode).
Unlike other alternate universe Gundam robots, Turn A Gundam has occasionally participated in games that are set in the Universal Century timeline, as although it is not officially a part of the 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....
storyline, as Turn A Gundam is supposed to take place 3,000 years after previous series.
Turn A Gundam appeared in a special scenario in SD Gundam G Generation Spirits which can be unlocked by completing all missions. Completing the mission makes the Turn A available for purchase. Turn A Gundam also appeared as a hidden unit in SD Gundam SCAD Hammers
SD Gundam: Scad Hammers
SD Gundam: Scad Hammers is a Gundam title for the Wii in which players control a mech unit equipped with a giant hammer. It has been released in Japan.-Playable Mobile Suits:* RX-78-2 Gundam* RGM-79 GM* RX-78-2 Gundam [Magnet Coating]* RX-78-3 Gundam "G-3"...
, which is set in the One Year War
One Year War
The is a fictional conflict from the Universal Century timeline of the anime Mobile Suit Gundam metaseries. The One Year War is very similar to World War II, the major difference being that The One Year War is in a science fiction setting and some major battles occurred in space...
timeline.
The Turn A is also a default mobile suit in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
On the first day of its release, Gundam Musou sold over a 100,000 copies, making it the first PS3 title to do so on its first day. Also, the game sold about 70 percent of its 170,000 -180,000 launch day shipments, making it rank third in overall sales — after Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam:...
s Original Mode, with Loran as its default pilot. This marked the first appearance of the Turn A Gundam, Loran, and Horace in the U.S. Loran makes a second appearance in the sequel Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2, originally released in Japan as , is a tactical action video game based on the Gundam anime series, and the sequel to 2007's Dynasty Warriors: Gundam. It is developed by Koei/Omega Force and is published by Namco Bandai...
along with a few other Turn A Gundam characters such as Gym and Queen Dianna.