Instruct: Given a question, retrieve relevant documents that can help answer the question.
Query: When did Gundam Wing premier?
The series aired in Japan on the terrestrial TV Asahi network. It ran for 49 episodes; beginning on April 7, 1995 and ending on March 29, 1996. It received multiple manga adaptations, as well as video games. Four original video animation (OVA) episodes were produced including a retelling of the series, Operation Meteor, and a direct sequel, Endless Waltz. In 2010, Sumizawa started writing the novel Frozen Teardrop, another sequel to the series. While the series fared modestly well in Japan, it found greater success in the United States and popularized the Gundam franchise in the West.
The "Mobile Fighter G Gundam" television series originally aired in Japan the terrestrial channel TV Asahi from April 22, 1994 to March 31, 1995 for a total of 49 episodes. The show would not reach North American audiences until many years later. "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing", a series that succeeded "G Gundam" on Japanese television in 1995, was first localized in North America by Bandai Entertainment in early 2000. "Gundam Wing" was a moderate success in the United States while being broadcast on the popular afternoon Toonami block of Cartoon Network. In late 2001, Bandai acquired the rights to distribute an English-dubbed version of "G Gundam" with voice casting recorded by Ocean Productions in their Blue Water studio in Calgary, Alberta. The English-language version of "G Gundam" premiered as a free screening at the Sony Metreon Action Theatre in San Francisco on March 30, 2002. "G Gundam" began airing on Toonami on August 5, 2002. Due to the channel's censorship policies, some edits were made for the broadcast. This mainly involved altering the names of several mobile fighters, such as changing God Gundam and Devil Gundam to Burning Gundam and Dark Gundam respectively. The show was also aired on the channel's "Midnight Run" and as part of its Saturday programming in November 2002. Cartoon Network officially dropped "G Gundam" from its afternoon schedule the following June. The series has since been re-broadcast on the Japanese cable network Family Gekijo and the satellite channel Animax.
PlayableBosses (Non-Playable)"Gundam: The Battle Master" features gameplay unlike most fighting games, let alone the other games within its series:In 1998, Bandai followed up with Gundam: The Battle Master 2, which in 2000 became the first Gundam: Battle Assault release. Though it changed the gameplay system to resemble a more traditional fighting game, seven new mobile suits were added:The game now resembles "Endless Duel" and the like. All future "Battle Assault" games were based on this formula:The game came out in the US two years later under the title "Gundam: Battle Assault". At the time, "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing" had started on Cartoon Network and was gaining popularity, so Bandai changed the storyline and mobile suit pilots to a Gundam Wing base, among other things. Particularly, the Hamma Hamma mobile suit was removed from the lineup and replaced with the Wing Gundam, though this new character is simply Zeta Gundam (which is still in the game) with a different visual design. Not only that, but this version removed the original intro and credits without replacing them.
Lon Sernan Lon is a Tech officer. He was present at Lake Victoria base when it was attacked by the Shenlong Gundam (Gundam Wing episode 4, "The Victorian Nightmare") and was later assigned to space fortress Barge. Sernan went to MO-V on a secret intelligence-gathering mission but was intercepted by Prize. He was rescued and taken to the colony, where he helped with MO-V's mobile suits until the war's end, when he joined the Preventers as Agent Quatorize.
Born in 1963, Katoki created designs for the graphic novel "Gundam Sentinel". He then worked in the OVA series "Gundam 0083", where he designed the majority of the mobile suits in the series, including the RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium Stamen and Orchis mobile weapons. His next prominent work was "V Gundam", where he was the main mechanical designer, creating the main mobile suits Victory Gundam, V2 Gundam and the V2 Assault Buster Gundam. After that, he worked on "G Gundam", now in design of the antagonist mobile suits. His next work was on "Gundam Wing", where most of the enemy mobile suits, including the popular Tallgeese, were designed by him. He also created the mobile suits designs for "Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz", and re-designed the Gundams with a more fantastic style, creating the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero EW. To correspond with these new designs, he also redesigned the 5 original Gundams from "Gundam Wing".
In early 2010, Gundam Ace magazine announced they would serialize a "New Gundam Wing Project".[15] The project was eventually revealed to be a novel, titled New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop. Written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa, the novel begins a new timeline, following the "Mars Century" calendar ("MC") which was the successor of the previous "After Colony" calendar.[16] According to an interview with the author, the novel spans backwards into the AC century and the Gundam pilots, Relena, and their children make appearances.
Swaile is known for many roles in the "Mobile Suit Gundam" franchise. These roles include Amuro Ray of "Mobile Suit Gundam", Quatre Raberba Winner of "Gundam Wing", Dearka Elsman of "Gundam SEED", Auel Neider of "Gundam SEED Destiny" and Setsuna F. Seiei of "Gundam 00".
This is the most recent model kit series which aims for styled proportions, weapon customization, budget friendliness, and connecting every single SD Gundam Kit, and possibly even make kits from other grades that doesn't have SD versions of it; one example is the Try Burning Gundam, which currently has a HG (High Grade) version of it, and unlike its past counterpart, the Build Burning Gundam has its own BB Senshi counterpart. So far, this kit series has ten sets, which contains (orderly) RX-78-2, Aile Strike Gundam, Gundam Exia, Wing Gundam Zero EW, Gundam Unicorn (Destroy Mode), Strike Freedom Gundam, Astray Red Frame, OO Gundam, Destiny Gundam, Gundam Barbatos (form 4), Try Burning Gundam, Gundam Deathscythe Hell EW, Sinanju, and Gundam Barbatos Lupus. This kit series is really similar to the BB Senshi sets, but this kit series is a lot smaller than the BB sets or any other SD kit series.
A three-part OVA titled Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz was produced in 1997 as a sequel to the TV series; plot-wise, it brought the "After Colony" timeline to a close. The OVA was also notable for its massive redesigns of all the Gundams by Hajime Katoki, such as the Wing Gundam Zero's new "angel-winged" appearance.[8] A compilation movie version of Endless Waltz (featuring additional footage, alterations of the music score and a different ending theme) was later released in Japan on August 1, 1998. Endless Waltz premiered on Cartoon Network in the U.S. on November 10, 2000. Both the OVA and movie versions of Endless Waltz were later released together on DVD.[9] Right Stuf released both OVAs on Blu-ray and DVD in December 2017 (though Operation Meteor remains un-dubbed).[7]
Gundam Wing was not the first series in the Gundam franchise to be dubbed and distributed in the U.S. (the compilation movie version of the original Mobile Suit Gundam, as well as the OVAs War in the Pocket and Stardust Memory, preceded it by about two years), but it is well known as the first Gundam series to be aired on American television. This dub was produced by Bandai Entertainment and the voice work was done by Ocean Productions. [4] The series aired on Cartoon Network's weekday afternoon after-school programming block Toonami; premiering on March 6, 2000. In the first extended promo leading up to the series' premiere, voice actor Peter Cullen narrated the back story, evoking memories of Voltron's opening credits. The promo was said to be so riveting that Bandai decided to use it as the official promo for the series.[5]
"Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny" was first announced in July 2004 in Japanese magazines. Earlier, voice actor Seki Tomokazu had stated he was working on a popular show with fans hinting it was related to "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED". Next month, the first trailer from the series was hosted online in its official website. Before the series' premiere, staff member Kabashima Yousuke gave hints about Shinn's character, telling that the "Gundam SEED Destiny"s protagonist would be a character not seen in the prequel, and he would have a thin appearance. The main staff from "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" remained in "Gundam SEED Destiny" including director Mitsuo Fukuda. When the series was premiering in Japan, Fukuda stated that unlike "Gundam SEED", the sequel would not focus on Kira's and Athrun's relationship, but on Shinn's involvement in the war. He addressed that such conflict would happen in the series, but refrained from giving its reasons. In order to add more entertainment to the series, the staff also worked on the fight scenes between mobile suits. Shinn's character was meant to contrast Kira's in regards to their involvement across the series, but as Kira did, he would also go through a major development.
The game was eventually released in Japan as part of Bandai's Simple Characters 2000 Series (as The Battle) of budget-priced PlayStation games (the series was published by D3 Publisher instead of Bandai themselves), split into two separate games: one focusing on "G Gundam" and the other on "Gundam Wing". One of the differences with the two split versions of the game (other than that Burning Gundam and Dark Gundam's names were restored to their original names, God Gundam and Devil Gundam respectively) was that the Psycho Gundam Mk. III retained its original pilot from the "Gundam: The Battle Master" games.
Carlos Ross of THEM Anime gave a mixed review calling the series "bland" and that "The plot seems like a drab retelling of a post-apocalyptic Gundam Wing as told by the recently lobotomized. As the only emotions really expressed are rage, desperation, and, oh yeah, angst, Gundam X strikes me as being just as anti-Gundam as Gundam Wing was, but in a different way. Gundam X focuses on nothing but despair...and as such, fails utterly to keep this reviewer's interest. Whereas Gundam, though at times saddening, was exciting, suspenseful, and full of life, Gundam X is completely bleak and inhuman, and loses the point that Gundam is actually less about the mecha than about humanity itself. Then again, when neither the mecha or the humans inspire anything ... why should we care?" He concluded that "After War Gundam X" was "not an absolutely terrible anime, but it's downright mediocre."
In 2002, Bandai released a sequel to Battle Assault in North America and Europe titled Gundam: Battle Assault 2. The four Z Gundam mobile suits (Zeta Gundam, The O, Hamma Hamma and Qubeley) and the Wing Gundam were taken out and replaced with fourteen new characters: the main cast of "Mobile Fighter G Gundam" (including the Devil Gundam as a new end boss), "" as well as the Gundam Epyon from the "Gundam Wing" TV show.
All the features from the previous title remain, including all player-usable units, with the exception that G-Crossover has been removed. A new system "Next Dash", which can cancel moves instantly was introduced. Automatic blocking has been replaced by manual blocking. The music theme for Z Gundam, Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny, and Gundam 0083 are changed. Music theme for Gundam 00 has been added, and an additional theme has been added for Mobile Suit Gundam.
"Gundam Evolve 7" was written and directed by Shukou Murase, who was character designer for the original "Gundam Wing" series. The original Japanese voice actors are used; Hikaru Midorikawa for Heero Yuy and Minoru Inaba for Doctor J. The 3D animation was based on Bandai's Master Grade "Wing Gundam Zero - Endless Waltz" model.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, also known in Japan as New Mobile Report Gundam Wing[2](新機動戦記ガンダムW(ウイング),Shin Kidō Senki Gandamu Wingu), is a 1995 Japanese mecha anime series directed by Masashi Ikeda and written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa. It is the sixth installment in the Gundam franchise, taking place in the "After Colony" timeline. As with the original series, the plot of Gundam Wing centers on a war in the future (specifically the 2220s) between Earth and its orbital colonies in the Earth-Moon system.
In 1996, Tomino wrote and directed "Garzey's Wing", and in 1998 wrote and directed "Brain Powerd". In 1999, he returned to Gundam with "Turn A Gundam" and in 2002, directed two compilations movies for it entitled "Turn A Gundam I: Earth Light" and "Turn A Gundam II: Moonlight Butterfly". Also in 2002, he directed "Overman King Gainer", and in 2005, Tomino directed 3 compilation movies summarizing the events of 1985's "Zeta Gundam". His last major original work in the 2000s was the 6-episode OVA "The Wings of Rean", which first premiered on the Internet across Bandai Channel, the broadcast beginning from December 12, 2005 with the final episode starting on August 18, 2006. Also in 2006, Tomino made a special cameo appearance in Shinji Higuchi's tokusatsu film "Japan Sinks".
Gundam Wing was a greater success in North America, however, and is credited with single-handedly popularizing the Gundam franchise among Western audiences.[27] Just over a week after its premiere on Cartoon Network on March 6, 2000, the series was the top rated program in all age groups.[28] During the summer of 2000, it remained as the first or second top-rated show among kids and teens during its twelve airings per week on the Toonami block. Gundam Wing was ranked the 73rd best animated series by IGN, calling the series "so good that even those opposed to anime have to give the show its due credit".[29]
, released in the United States as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Episode Zero, is a manga miniseries based on the anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing", featuring stories set mostly before the events of that tale. Unlike other "Gundam Wing" manga, which are not necessarily considered as being in continuity, "Episode Zero" has the distinction of being written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa, who was also the writer of the anime series, and thus carries a higher level of credibility. Akira Kanbe handled the art duties for this project.
In September 2010, Gundam Ace magazine began serializing a manga titled New Mobile Report Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: The Glory of Losers that retells the events of the anime while incorporating facts from Episode Zero and the novel Frozen Teardrop. The manga also uses Hajime Katoki's Gundam redesigns from Endless Waltz and other subsequent media, instead of the original Kunio Okawara designs featured in the anime. Vertical began publishing English editions of the manga volumes, under the title Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers, in July 2017.[14]
It is the year After Colony 195, and the battles between Earth and the space colonies have ended. Treize Khushrenada is dead and OZ has come to an end. This gives birth to the Earth Sphere Unified Nation (ESUN) and the Preventers. Seeing they won't be needed anymore, the Gundam pilots (except Chang Wufei) send their suits into the sun. However, this peace would not last, for a rebellion occurs on the newly completed colony, L3 X-18999. Led by seven-year-old Mariemaia Khushrenada, Treize's illegitimate daughter, the rebellion kidnaps Relena Darlian, now the Vice Foreign Minister of the ESUN, during a diplomatic mission to X-18999. As the Gundam pilots investigate further, they discover that Mariemaia is merely a puppet controlled by her grandfather Dekim Barton, a former advisor to martyred colony leader Heero Yuy, who is using X-18999 to go through with the original Operation Meteor, as a contingency plan in case the ESUN doesn't comply. The Gundam pilots must prevent Dekim from seizing power over the ESUN. The Gundams are retrieved from their course to sun to Earth's orbit thanks to Quatre and the Maganacs. The pilots use their Gundams one last time to fight against Dekim's forces, not killing anyone. In the end, Dekim is killed by one of his own soldiers, Earth and its colonies are at peace once again and all mobile suits (including the Gundams) are forever destroyed.One of the most notable features of "Endless Waltz" was the massive redesigns all five of the Gundams from the end of the "Gundam Wing" TV series received, courtesy of the artist Hajime Katoki. The Gundams in "Endless Waltz" have more stylized appearances; reflected in the even more demonic design of the Gundam Deathscythe Hell, the more dragon-like design of the Altron Gundam, and the new "angel-winged" design of the Wing Gundam Zero. Despite the dramatically different designs of the Gundams, the story in "Endless Waltz" retcons them as if the original designs from the TV series never existed. However, this changed after the release of the "Glory of Losers" manga series.In North America, "Endless Waltz" premiered on Canada's YTV on September 11, 2000 and on Cartoon Network in the U.S. on November 10, 2000. It was later released to VHS, UMD, and DVD by Bandai Entertainment, with the DVD edition containing both the OVA and compilation movie versions on one disc. Due to the closure of Bandai Entertainment, the OVA and Movie went out-of-print. On October 11, 2014 at their 2014 New York Comic-Con panel, Sunrise announced they will be releasing all of the Gundam franchise, including "Endless Waltz" in North America though distribution from Right Stuf Inc., beginning in Spring 2015. Right Stuf had re-released "Endless Waltz" on Blu-ray and DVD in December 2017.
The making of Gundam Wing was influenced by Mobile Fighter G Gundam with the idea of having five main characters. Originally, the series was meant to be titled Gundam Meteor after "Operation Meteor." Bandai suggested having a Gundam with the ability of transforming into a plane-like form. The writers worked together for one week conceptualizing the characters, mobile suits and first 40 episodes. Director Masashi Ikeda reacted to their work comparing it to the first Gundam series, Zeta and G all at once.[3] The series was more focused on drama than mecha, which the staff credits as one of the reasons for the show's popularity within the female demographic.
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, known in Japan as , is the sequel to "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing", both of which are set in the "After Colony" timeline, an alternate universe to that of the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" series. Aside from being a continuation to the "Gundam Wing" TV series, it also reveals details regarding the pasts of the five Gundam pilots and the true objective behind "Operation Meteor."
While critically acclaimed, the first season of "Gundam 00" experienced lower average viewer ratings than its predecessors "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" and "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny". Over its 25-episode run, it averaged a television viewer rating of 4.85% and peaked at 6.1%. On a more positive note, Gundam 00's average rating was higher than the other previous Gundam shows set in alternative universes such as "Gundam Wing" (which averaged 4.3%) and "G Gundam" (which averaged 4.1%). The viewer ratings for the second season of "Gundam 00" had improved, reaching ratings as high as 6.3%.