Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

"Why must we fight amongst each other and further pollute the Earth?"

— Quattro Bajeena aka Char Aznable

"Men are perhaps born to fight each other. And women are perhaps fated to be their tools."

— Reccoa Londe

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム, Kidō Senshi Zēta Gandamu?) (aired 1985–1986) 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 among Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita. The series was originally aired by Nagoya Broadcasting Network (and its sister ANN stations), rerun on the anime satellite television network, Animax, across Japan and later its respective networks worldwide, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and other regions. During its intial run, Zeta had the highest rating of any Gundam series before and since. The show continues to be extremely popular in Japan, and its model kit sales continually get near the top of the Gundam lists. Zeta represents Gundam and Real Robot anime at its best, making it a must see for any anime fan.

Series Premise

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (Kidou Senshi Zeta Gundam) is the second, arguably darkest (though Unicorn might be heading that way), and arguably most well-received, installment in the Gundam franchise. The original sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam's story follows wangsty Teen Genius Kamille Bidan, who joins the rebellion AEUG out of hatred for the Federation. Following the One Year War, the Earth Federation has created a special, elite branch of the military to police the space colonies and prevent anything like the One Year War from happening again. Unfortunately for all involved, this group, the Titans, are oppressive, corrupt, and elitist, believing that those born on Earth are inherently superior.

Zeta Gundam features a much older and mature new cast; however, is supported by many characters from the original series such as Captain Bright Noah, Amuro Ray, and Char Aznable wearing a Paper-Thin Disguise as Quattro Bajina.

Between 2005 to 2006, the series was reproduced and compiled into a movie trilogy, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation. Though still directed by Tomino, the story was given a new, Lighter and Softer Bittersweet Ending that apparently retcons Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ and possibly Char's Counterattack, if not the entire rest of the Universal Century timeline, out of canon, if not for Tomino explicitly saying it's just an Alternate Universe retelling of Zeta.

Appearances in Super Robot Wars

Zeta is a mainstay in Super Robot Wars, being in every game until Judgement, where after that all UC was excluded from the handheld titles, but reappears in Z and Another Century's Episode R, as well as returning UC to handhelds in Z2.