Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn | |
機動戦士ガンダムUC(ユニコーン) (Kidō Senshi Gandamu Yunikōn) | |
---|---|
Genre | Mecha, Military science fiction |
Serial novel | |
Written by | Harutoshi Fukui |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Magazine | Gundam Ace |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | February 2007 – August 2009 |
Volumes | 10 + 1 extra |
Manga | |
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: Bande Dessinée | |
Written by | Harutoshi Fukui |
Illustrated by | Kouzou Oomori |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Magazine | Gundam Ace |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | January 26, 2010 – December 26, 2016 |
Volumes | 17 |
Sunrise | |
Released | March 12, 2010 – June 6, 2014 |
Runtime | 50 minutes (ep. 1−6) 90 minutes (ep. 7) |
Episodes | 7 |
Anime television series | |
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 | |
Directed by | Kazuhiro Furuhashi |
Written by | Yasuyuki Muto |
Music by | Hiroyuki Sawano |
Studio | Sunrise |
Original network | ANN (NBN, TV Asahi) |
English network |
|
Original run | April 3, 2016 – September 11, 2016 |
Episodes | 22 |
Manga | |
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: Bande Dessinée Episode: 0 | |
Written by | Harutoshi Fukui |
Illustrated by | Kouzou Oomori |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Magazine | Gundam Ace |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | September 26, 2017 – September 26, 2018 |
Volumes | 3 |
Film | |
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (
An
Plot
The series begins in U.C. 0001, at the very beginning of human space colonization, when Laplace, the residential space station of the Federation's Prime Minister, is destroyed by an anti-federation group during a ceremony hosted by the Prime Minister ushering in the Universal Century Calendar. The main story takes place in UC 0096, sixteen years after the end of the One Year War, three years after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, and 27 years before Mobile Suit Gundam F91.
The story revolves around Banagher Links, a seemingly normal boy living and going to school in the space colonies. His life changes one day when he meets a girl named Audrey Burne, as it results in his becoming the pilot of a new Gundam that has connections to an item that is a potential threat to the Federation's existence called "Laplace's Box."
Media
Novel
No. | Title | Release date | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Day of the Unicorn (Part 1) Yunikōn no Hi (Jō) (ユニコーンの日(上)) | September 21, 2007[3] | 978-4-04-713969-5 |
2 | Day of the Unicorn (Part 2) Yunikōn no Hi (Ge) (ユニコーンの日(下)) | September 21, 2007[4] | 978-4-04-713970-1 |
3 | The Red Comet Akai Suisei (赤い彗星) | December 20, 2007[5] | 978-4-04-715003-4 |
4 | Palau Capture Battle Parao Kōryaku Sen (パラオ攻略戦) | April 24, 2008[6][7] | 978-4-04-715060-7 (regular edition) 978-4-04-715018-8 (limited edition) |
5 | The Ghost of Laplace[8] Rapurasu no Bōrei (ラプラスの亡霊) | July 24, 2008[9] | 978-4-04-715084-3 |
6 | In the Depths of a Gravity Well Jūryoku no Ido no Soko de (重力の井戸の底で) | October 23, 2008[10] | 978-4-04-715112-3 |
7 | Black Unicorn Kuroi Yunikōn (黒いユニコーン) | December 24, 2008[11] | 978-4-04-715143-7 |
8 | The Sky and the Stars Sora to Hoshi to (宇宙と惑星と) | April 15, 2009 (limited edition)[12] April 23, 2009 (regular edition)[13] | 978-4-04-715197-0 (limited edition) 978-4-04-715229-8 (regular edition) |
9 | Over the Rainbow (Part 1) Niji no Kanata ni (Jō) (虹の彼方に(上)) | August 20, 2009[14] | 978-4-04-715286-1 |
10 | Over the Rainbow (Part 2) Niji no Kanata ni (Ge) (虹の彼方に(下)) | August 20, 2009[15] | 978-4-04-715287-8 |
11 | Phoenix Hunting Fushichō Kari (不死鳥狩り) | March 26, 2016[16] | 978-4-04-103921-2 |
Fukui also wrote a prequel novel, which was bundled with the PlayStation 3 game's Special Edition released on March 8, 2012. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn - The Postwar War (機動戦士ガンダムUC(ユニコーン) 戦後の戦争, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Yunikōn Sengo no Sensō) contains an all-new story set two years before the events of the first episode. It deals with Full Frontal's origins and how the Neo Zeon stole the Sinanju. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn - Phoenix Hunting (機動戦士ガンダムUC(ユニコーン) 不死鳥狩り, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Yunikōn Fushichō kari) was originally included with Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn GREAT WORKS III episode 7, a collection of storyboards, artworks and interviews released on June 23, 2015, and revolved around Operation Phoenix Hunting, a top secret mission carried out by a Federation garrison just before the last battle between the Nahel Argama and the Neo Zeon forces.
Both books were compiled into the 11th volume, released on March 26, 2016, the first of a series of short stories that take place around that point of the Universal Century.[17]
Manga
A manga adaptation titled Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Bande Dessinée (機動戦士ガンダムUC(ユニコーン)バンデシネ, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Yunikōn Bandeshine) was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Gundam Ace from January 2010 to December 2016. The manga was written by Harutoshi Fukui and illustrated by Kouzou Oomori. Its first tankōbon volume was released on July 26, 2010, and the seventeenth and last was released on February 25, 2017.[18] A three-volume prequel manga by Fukui and Oomori based on The Postwar War novel, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Bande Dessinée Episode: 0 was serialized in Gundam Ace from September 2017 to September 2018 and compiled into three tankōbon volumes.
Anime
In the June 2009 issue
A television rebroadcast of the anime titled Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 was announced by Sunrise on February 21, 2016 and began airing on April 3, 2016 in Japan on
The 11th novel volume, Phoenix Hunting, was loosely adapted as Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative animated film in 2018.
Video games
The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam is one of the playable secret mobile suits in
An action game
Toys/models
The first models to come from the series were the 1/100 Master Grade "Ver. Ka" (Ka stands for series mecha designer Hajime Katoki) kits of the Sinanju and the Unicorn in 2009, which were followed up with the Full Armor Unicorn in December 2011, the online exclusive Unicorn Banshee "Final Battle" version in March 2012, and the Sinanju Stein in February 2013. All four kits appear as depicted in the novels, while recolored versions based on the OVA were released. A 1/100 Sinanju rocket bazooka is packaged with the eighth issue in the novel series while a 1/100 Armed Armor DE is a free item for the eighth Bande Dessinee volume. The company also produced all of the OVA series' mobile suits (plus the UC MS Variations and Bande Dessinee manga series) in its HGUC line of 1/144 model kits (including the Base Jabber transports); some are special glitterized or colored transparent-plastic kits marketed as online exclusives or as "Theater Limited" items (sold at select moviehouses on the day of an episode screening). The prizes for Bandai's Gunpla mid-year 2014 campaign include clear-plastic HGUC versions of the Unicorn and Banshee (both in Destroy Mode), the Full-Armor Unicorn, Sinanju, Delta Plus, and the Kshatriya. The line also includes the biggest HGUC kit yet - the Neo-Zeong, which stands 86 centimeters high and 50 cm wide, and includes the Sinaju itself.[30] A Real Grade version of the Sinanju was later revealed in 2016 Shizuoka Hobby Show and be fully released in August 2016.
A number of the kits are also available as Master Grade and B-Club models, with the MG 1/100 Unicorn Gundam also sold in a "HD" version featuring its hangar cage. Several UC kits in the two lines have Titanium Finish (metallic) versions. The Phenex was first sold at Gundam Front Tokyo in 1/144 scale as part of the promotions for One of Seventy-Two; the initial casting was criticized, but a Master Grade version of the unit was released in February 2014 as a gold cast model. A proper gold-coat and crystal-cast version of the 1/144 Phenex was sold at the store. A 1/144 Destroy Mode Unicorn was also released in limited numbers as part of the ANA Gundam Sky Project in April 2011.[31]
The Gundam Fix Figuration line also has versions of the standard and Full-Armor Unicorn, and ReZEL, and metal composite Unicorns. Certain issues of Gundam UC Ace magazine also offer free weapon kits.
The series' appearance in the Robot Spirits line of action figures began with the release of the normal mode Unicorn in November 2009, followed by its Destroy Mode version, the Geara Zulu, the Stark Jegan, the Sinanju (as appeared in Episode 2 and 3; a second version released in January 2014, features a rocket bazooka, brighter red color scheme, and a burnt head.), Angelo Sauper's Geara Zulu, and the Destroy Mode and Norn versions of the Banshee. Bandai's Tamashii Shouten online-exclusive shop carries the Elite Guard Geara Zulu, which was released in February 2011, a Destroy Mode Unicorn with glittering psycoframe [32] that can be mated with a special lighting stage.[33] A Destroy Mode Unicorn with green glittering psycoframe as depicted in Episode 5 was released in 2013 with its own lighting stage. Katoki also joined forces with Bandai to create Robot Spirits versions of the Byarlant Custom, Yonem Kirks' Zaku I Sniper, and the Guncannon Detector as online exclusives under the "Ka Signature" collection.[34] The Detector is also available in the red livery of the AEUG's Karaba terrestrial forces, plus the ARX-014 Silver Bullet.
Some units in the series are also available in the Assault Kingdom line of small poseable action figures.
Cross-promotion
In summer 2016, Sunrise partnered with
The collaboration earned praise from Harutoshi Fukui, who was quoted in Anime News Network as saying, "Our two works are connected like soul brothers by the theme of humanity's indomitable spirit pushing despair aside. The enemy this time may be reeeeally big, but humans won't lose! The Unicorn Gundam will help too! (In our hearts.)"
Reception
The seventh OVA episode of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn has grossed ¥308 million at the Japanese box office.[37]
Anime News Network's Richard Winters gave the first volume an overall rating of 'A', praising the "crisp visuals" and "emotional characters" while warning the "casual observer" of the large amount of onscreen character death. He said "the animation is nothing short of incredible" and "for once the transformation sequences of the variable types do not rely on parts being able to magically detach and reattach".[38]
References
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- ^ "Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 to Run on Toonami Starting January". Anime News Network. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダム UC (1) ユニコーンの日 (上)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダム UC (2) ユニコーンの日 (下)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダム UC (3) 赤い彗星" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (4) パラオ攻略戦" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (4) 特装版 パラオ攻略戦" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Story| Mobile Suit Gundam Uc (Unicorn)". Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (5) ラプラスの亡霊" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (6) 重力の井戸の底で" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (7) 黒いユニコーン" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (8) 特装版" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (8) 宇宙と惑星と" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (9) 虹の彼方に (上)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (10) 虹の彼方に (下)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC (11) 不死鳥狩り" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ Gundam.info (April 16, 2016). "2つの短編ストーリーを収録した小説最新巻「機動戦士ガンダムUC(11)不死鳥狩り」3月26日発売!". Gundam.info. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ^ "機動戦士ガンダムUC バンデシネ (1)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
- ^ Published in April, 2009
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- ^ "Gundam U.C. to Be 6 50-Minute OVAs". Anime News Network. 2009-08-21. Archived from the original on 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Report: Gundam Unicorn Planned for Simultaneous World Release". Anime News Network. 2009-04-27. Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
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- ^ Stimson, Eric (20 June 2016). "Gundam Unicorn Replaces the Statue of Liberty on Japanese Independence Day: Resurgence Poster". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ Stimson, Eric (23 June 2016). "Gundam Unicorn Joins the Fray in Independence Day: Resurgence Trailer". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
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- ^ Richard Winters (10 June 2011). "Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Vol. 1 DVD". Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
External links
- Official Websites: Novel, Anime (Japanese), Anime (English)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (OVA) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia