is the third installment in
Sunrise
Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon and its accompanying atmospheric effects.
Terminology
Al ...
's long running ''
Gundam
is a Japanese military fiction media franchise. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise (now Bandai Namco Filmworks), the franchise features giant robots, or mecha, with the name "Gundam". The franchise began on April 7, 1979, with ''Mobile ...
'' franchise and the last TV series in the franchise released in Japan's
Shōwa period
Shōwa may refer to:
* Hirohito (1901–1989), the 124th Emperor of Japan, known posthumously as Emperor Shōwa
* Showa Corporation, a Japanese suspension and shock manufacturer, affiliated with the Honda keiretsu
Japanese eras
* Jōwa (Heian ...
. A direct follow up to ''
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
is a 1985 Japanese television anime series, the second installment in the ''Gundam'' franchise, and a sequel to the original ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu ...
'', it is directed and written by
Yoshiyuki Tomino
is a Japanese mecha anime creator, animator, director, screenwriter, songwriter and novelist best known for creating the ''Gundam'' anime franchise. He was born in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and studied at Nihon University's College of Art. ...
, and he assembled a new team consisting of character designer
Hiroyuki Kitazume
is a Japanese animator, manga artist, and illustrator. He is often noted for his work with anime studio Sunrise. Helen McCarthy in ''500 Essential Anime Movies'' commented that he "shot to fame" in 1985 as a character designer on the ''Zeta Gunda ...
, who had been one of ''Zeta Gundam's'' animation directors, and mechanical designers Makoto Kobayashi,
Yutaka Izubuchi
is a Japanese anime designer, screenwriter and director. Izubuchi is credited for designing costumes, characters and creatures, but most of his designs are mechanical (both robots and other vehicles). He created and directed the ''RahXephon'' ser ...
and Mika Akitaka. Initially airing on
Nagoya Broadcasting Network
JOLX-DTV, virtual channel 6 (UHF digital channel 22), branded as is the Chūbu region flagship station of the All-Nippon News Network, owned by the , with its headquarters in Nagoya. It is broadcast in Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and ...
and affiliated
ANN
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie.
Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...
stations in Japan, the series was later aired by the anime
satellite television
Satellite television is a service that delivers television programming to viewers by relaying it from a communications satellite orbiting the Earth directly to the viewer's location. The signals are received via an outdoor parabolic antenna comm ...
network,
Animax
, stylized as ANIMAX, is a Japanese animation satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. The channel also dubbed other cartoons in Japanese language. A subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, it is headq ...
, across Japan and its respective networks worldwide, including
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
, Hong Kong,
South Asia
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
, and other regions. The defunct video streaming website
Daisuki had the rights to stream the series worldwide.
Sunrise
Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon and its accompanying atmospheric effects.
Terminology
Al ...
themselves released the series on home video via
Right Stuf Inc.
Right Stuf Inc. (formerly known as The Right Stuf International Inc.) is an American video publisher and distributor of video programming that specializes in Asian entertainment (anime and live action films). The company since 2022 is owned by ...
to North America in 2015. On June 24, 2022, the series was made available for streaming on
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Sony through a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex. The service primarily distributes films and tel ...
.
Overview
''Gundam ZZ'' was conceived as a sequel to ''Zeta Gundam'', featuring a mostly all-new cast. Its broadcast immediately followed that of Zeta Gundam and continues to follow a major plotline from ''Zeta'' involving
Haman Karn
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and sev ...
, regent to
Mineva Lao Zabi
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and sev ...
, and also continues to follow Captain
Bright Noa
This is a list of fictional characters from the 1979 Japanese science fiction anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''.
Earth Federation
Amuro Ray
is the son of Tem Ray, the project leader for the Earth Federation's Project V, whi ...
and the ship, ''Argama'', as well as introducing the new characters led by
Judau Ashta
This is a list of fictional characters from the Japanese science fiction anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ''. ''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ'' picks up where ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' left off with Haman Khan, regent to Mineva Lao Zabi, ...
.
This sequel to ''Zeta Gundam'' sometimes struck a much lighter, often comical, tone, in contrast to its predecessor's brooding drama. For example, in the second episode, the protagonist Judau Ashta attempts to help
Yazan Gable
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and sev ...
by throwing oranges at the Argama. This is contrasted in the same episode however when Yazan kills the technician Saegusa, and Judau then attempts to pilot the
Zeta Gundam
is a 1985 Japanese television anime series, the second installment in the ''Gundam'' franchise, and a sequel to the original ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu ...
to go after Yazan but is incredibly poor at combat in his first battle. The whimsical first opening theme song ''Anime Ja Nai'' (lit. "It's Not Anime") set the tone for the first half of the series. The second half of the series sports a more somber opening theme song ''Silent Voice'' to accompany a change in tone to the more serious.
Plot summary
As the continuation of ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'', this series once again follows the story of the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) battleship ''Argama'' after ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam''s final episode. To fight off the Axis Zeon, now called the Neo Zeon, Captain Bright Noa recruits a group of teenage junk collectors led by the loudmouthed but powerful Newtype
Judau Ashta
This is a list of fictional characters from the Japanese science fiction anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ''. ''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ'' picks up where ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' left off with Haman Khan, regent to Mineva Lao Zabi, ...
to pilot the ''Argama''s mobile suits. Now sporting a line-up of the behemoth ZZ Gundam and the returning
Zeta Gundam
is a 1985 Japanese television anime series, the second installment in the ''Gundam'' franchise, and a sequel to the original ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu ...
,
Gundam Mk-II
The is a fictional manned robot (mecha), introduced in 1979 in Yoshiyuki Tomino's and Sunrise's anime series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. In the series, it is a prototype weapon for the Earth Federation when it falls into the hands of Amuro Ray, the ...
and the Hyaku Shiki, the group is nicknamed the ''Gundam Team''. As such, this became the first of a number of Gundam series where a team of Gundam mobile suits fight alongside each other regularly. The climax takes place at Side 3 in the Battle of Axis.
Out of the major ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' characters, Captain
Bright Noa
This is a list of fictional characters from the 1979 Japanese science fiction anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''.
Earth Federation
Amuro Ray
is the son of Tem Ray, the project leader for the Earth Federation's Project V, whi ...
and Axis leader
Haman Karn
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and sev ...
are featured prominently in ''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ'';
Hayato Kobayashi
This is a list of fictional characters from the 1979 Japanese science fiction anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''.
Earth Federation
Amuro Ray
is the son of Tem Ray, the project leader for the Earth Federation's Project V, whi ...
,
Kamille Bidan
'' Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and s ...
,
Fa Yuiry
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and se ...
,
Wong Lee,
Yazan Gable
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and sev ...
,
Mineva Lao Zabi
''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'' featured many new characters and sev ...
, and the children Shinta and Qum are featured in various episodes as well;
Sayla Mass
This is a list of fictional characters from the 1979 Japanese science fiction anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''.
Earth Federation
Amuro Ray
is the son of Tem Ray, the project leader for the Earth Federation's Project V, whi ...
, who had appeared in the first series but had no speaking role in ''Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam'', also appeared in several episodes of ''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ'';
Char Aznable
, born and also gone by the name , is a fictional character from the ''Gundam'' franchise. He is originally one of the main antagonists in ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' working for the Principality of Zeon, named after his late father Zeon Zum Deikun, ...
's planned appearance was canceled when Tomino was given the go-ahead to do the ''
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack'' film. Yoshiyuki Tomino's original plan for the show which involved Char's return was never revealed, nor does Tomino himself remember it. Also, aside from the openings and story recap/preview episode,
Amuro Ray
is a fictional character introduced in Sunrise's 1979 anime series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. Amuro is a mechanic who becomes the pilot of the mecha known as RX-78-2 Gundam to protect himself from the Zeon forces invading his space colony during the ...
does not make an appearance in the series either.
Reception
The series remains one of the more polarizing series in the franchise due to its lighthearted and campy tone in its first half when compared to Zeta Gundam's grittier one. In 2016, to coincide with the show's Blu-Ray release, Ollie Barder of ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...
'' referred to ''Gundam ZZ'' as a "misunderstood and underappreciated classic." James Whitbrook of ''
Gizmodo
''Gizmodo'' ( ) is a design, technology, science and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton, and runs on the Kinja platform. ''Gizmodo'' also includes the subsite ''io9'', whic ...
'' called ''Gundam ZZ'' "the black sheep of early ''Gundam''", citing the show's early comedic tone in comparison to the dark ending of its predecessor.
References
External links
Official Website*
*
{{Sunrise
1986 anime television series debuts
ZZ
Sunrise (company)