Turn A Gundam or ∀ Gundam (∀（ターンエー）ガンダム Tān Ē Gandamu?) is a 50 episode anime series that aired between 1999 and 2000 on Japan's FNN networks and the anime satellite television network, Animax, created for the Gundam Big Bang 20th Anniversary celebration. It was also compiled into two feature-length movies titled Turn A Gundam I: Earth Light and Turn A Gundam II: Moonlight Butterfly.
Turn A Gundam was the last Gundam TV anime to be directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, who was the main creator of the Gundam franchise and had written and directed many previous Gundam works. This series was made after Tomino had recovered from his depression that influenced Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, and the general tone and mood of Turn A Gundam is much more hopeful and less dark than his other Gundam series.
Turn A Gundam is also the last of the Gundam metaseries (not counting the compilations and future video game cut scenes) to be hand painted on cels. 2002's Gundam SEED was the first series to use digital coloring.
Overview[]
Turn A Gundam takes place in the year Correct Century 2345 (正暦2345年 Seireki Nisen Sanbyaku Yonjū Go Nen?, CC 2345), in a different calendar system than the previous Gundam projects. Seireki is a wordplay on the Japanese term for the Common Era (C.E.) Western calendar system (西暦; also pronounced Seireki). The English acronym CC is Correct Century (コレクトセンチュリー?) in the official Japanese Turn A guide book and Correct Century in English in the 2001 Correct Century A Bibliographical Study of "Black History" as the black paged introduction of Gundam Officials.[1]
After the end of Victory Gundam in early 1994, Yoshiyuki Tomino took a five year hiatus from Gundam anime (although he created the story for the Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam manga during that time). In 1999, he returned to the Gundam franchise with the 50 episode series ∀ Gundam (read as Turn A Gundam) as part of Sunrise's "Gundam Big Bang" 20th Anniversary celebration. Set in Correct Century (CC) 2345, this series tells the story of a war between space colonists calling themselves the Moonrace who wish to colonize Earth, and the Earth Militia forces, which use the ancient Turn A Gundam to retaliate. Turn A Gundam is a dramatic departure from the franchise in many ways. Instead of being set in an era of high technology, it is set in a future that has regressed to the early 20th century. Also, the unorthodox design of the title suit comes courtesy of American designer Syd Mead, best known for his work in the film Blade Runner. The series also features the musical talents of Yoko Kanno, who previously worked on Macross Plus, Cowboy Bebop and Tomino's own series Brain Power'd. The series finished its run in early 2000, and in 2002 Tomino directed two compilation films, entitled Earth Light and Moonlight Butterfly. Both the TV series and the movies are now available on DVD in Japan, but they are not available in the U.S.
Plot summary[]
The story of Turn A is viewed from a third perspective mainly concerning the events that happened to the main character Loran Cehack. He is a recruit of the Moonrace which was sent to earth on a recon mission for the later Moonrace massive migration back to earth, which was planned 100 years ago with no positive response from earth. With aggressive parties of moonrace and Earthlings, a war soon broke out between the migrants and the people who lived in the area called Ameria, which was speculated to be America, where the Moonrace claimed to be theirs since their ancestors lived there.
Loran became an active member of the Earth's militia forces with the skills of piloting the white doll, Turn A Gundam, wanting to settle the conflict between Earth and Moon. Discovering more and more history of the past and why the technology deteriorated so much on earth.
Relationship with previous Gundam series[]
Image showing relationships of different Gundam series' timeline, sourced from SD Gundam G-Generation DS promotional leaflet in 2005, before the merger of Gundam SEED series into the Dark History Timeline.[2]
The 2001 Correct Century, A Bibliographical Study of "Black History", printed in black pages in front of the Universal Century Gundam Officials Encyclopedia, is supposedly uncovered by a fictional Lecturer in Black History named Yokk Wakk Onimott during Correct Century 1993. Onimott spends 2 years to fix the broken pages, 5 years to interpret the language and a year to find a publisher. He states the book was first printed around 3000 years ago by the Rhea branch of the Earth Federation Government University. Included is a picture (drawn by Kunio Okawara) showing a mobile suit supposed to be MS-04 as a S.U.I.T. project of the Zeon forces in UC0072~0075, found in 1993 Correct Century in the mountain cycle Library A-a. The white page introduction by another fictional writer, Minaka Junkers, an economy assistant professor of the Rhea branch of the Earth Federation Government University, states the book was published in UC0100, celebrating the Centennial anniversary of the Universal Century. Thus it is officially claimed that the Universal Century is a time before Correct Century, possibly around 3000 years before the story of Turn A begins.[3]
Mobile Units[]
Cast & Crew[]
Cast[]
- Loran Cehack/Laura Rolla - Romi Park (朴璐美)
- Dianna Soreil, Kihel Heim - Rieko Takahashi (高橋理恵子)
- Sochie Heim - Akino Murata (村田秋乃)
- Harry Ord - Tetsu Inada (稲田徹)
- Guin Sard Lineford - Tsuyoshi Aobane (青羽剛)
- Keith Laijie - Jun Fukuyama (福山潤)
- Gym Ghingham - Takehito Koyasu (子安武人)
- Merrybell Gadget - Rio Natsuki (夏樹リオ)
- Gavane Gooney - Yoshitada Ōtsuka (大塚芳忠)
- Meme Midgard - Ryuji Mizuno (水野龍司)
- Sid Munzer - Akio Nojima (野島昭生)
- Muron Muron - Fumihiko Tachiki (立木文彦)
- Yani Obus - Takuya Kirimoto (桐本琢也)
- Joseph Yaht - Setsuji Satō (佐藤せつじ)
- Corin Nander - Yasuhiko Kawazu (川津泰彦)
- Cancer Kafka - Urara Takano (高乃麗)
- Horace Niben - Hirohiko Kakegawa (掛川裕彦)
- Phil Ackman - Tsuyoshi Koyama (小山剛志)
- Teteth Halleh, Linda Halleh - Yumi Tōma (冬馬由美)
- Fran Doll - Kumiko Watanabe (渡辺久美子)
- Pou Aijee - Yumiko Nakanishi (中西裕美子)
- Bruno - Kazunari Tanaka (田中一成)
- Sam, Jacop - Hidenari Ugaki (宇垣秀成)
- Lily Borjarno - Ai Kobayashi (小林愛)
- Will Game - Kenichi Sakaguchi
Staff[]
- Director - Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Character Designer - Akira Yasuda, Yoshihito Hishinuma
- Art Director - Shigemi Ikeda
- Mecha Design - Atsushi Shigeta, Kunio Okawara, Syd Mead, Takumi Sakura
- Sound Director - Yota Tsuruoka
- Music - Toshiaki Ohta, Yoko Kanno
- Producers - Hideyuki Tomioka, Takayuki Yoshii, Yoshihiro Suzuki
Episode list[]
| # | Title | Original airdate | English airdate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Howl to the Moon "Tsuki ni Hoeru" (月に吠える) |
April 9, 1999 | |||
| Loran lands on Earth and begins working for a wealthy family as their driver. Meanwhile he meets up with his fellow comrades and discuss their plans. | |||||
| 02 | The Coming of Age Ceremony "Seijinshiki" (成人式) |
April 16, 1999 | |||
| The Coming of Age Ceremony begins, however during that time the Moon Race begins it's invasion. The White Doll Statue crumbles revealing the Turn A Gundam and Loran uses it to fight back the Moon Race. | |||||
| 03 | After the Ceremony "Matsuri no Ato" (祭の後) |
April 23, 1999 | |||
| 04 | Soldiers from the Hometown "Furusato no Gunjin" (ふるさとの軍人) |
April 30, 1999 | |||
| 05 | The Advent of Dianna "Diana Kōrin" (ディアナ降臨) |
May 7, 1999 | |||
| 06 | Forgotten Past "Wasurerareta Kako" (忘れられた過去) |
May 14, 1999 | |||
| 07 | Training to be a Lady "Kifujin Shugyō" (貴婦人修行) |
May 21, 1999 | |||
| 08 | Laura's Cow "Rōra no Ushi" (ローラの牛) |
May 28, 1999 | |||
| 09 | Corin Called it "Gundam" "Koren, Gandamu to Sakebu" (コレン、ガンダムと叫ぶ) |
June 4, 1999 | |||
| 10 | Visit to a Grave "Hakamairi" (墓参り) |
June 11, 1999 | |||
| 11 | The Destruction of Nocris "Nokkusu Hōkai" (ノックス崩壊) |
June 18, 1999 | |||
| 12 | An Underground Corridor "Chika Kairō" (地下回廊) |
June 25, 1999 | |||
| 13 | An Older Person "Toshiue no Hito" (年上のひと) |
July 2, 1999 | |||
| 14 | Separated Again "Betsuri, Futatabi" (別離、再び) |
July 9, 1999 | |||
| 15 | Memories, Disappear "Omoide wa Kiete" (思い出は消えて) |
July 16, 1999 | |||
| 16 | Everything About Turn A "Tān Ē no Subete" (∀の全て) |
July 23, 1999 | |||
| An overview of episodes 1-15 from Loran's perspective. | |||||
| 17 | Dust Blows on the Founding of a Nation "Kenkoku no Dasuto Burō" (建国のダストブロー) |
July 30, 1999 | |||
| 18 | Kihel and Dianna "Kieru to Diana" (キエルとディアナ) |
August 6, 1999 | |||
| 19 | Sochie's War "Soshie no Sensō" (ソシエの戦争) |
August 13, 1999 | |||
| 20 | Anis' Power "Anisu Pawā" (アニス·パワー) |
August 20, 1999 | |||
| 21 | Dianna's Desperate Fight "Diana Funsen" (ディアナ奮戦) |
August 27, 1999 | |||
| 22 | Harry's Trouble "Harī no Sainan" (ハリーの災難) |
September 3, 1999 | |||
| 23 | Teteth's Last Words "Tetesu no Yuigon" (テテスの遺言) |
September 10, 1999 | |||
| 24 | Laura's Distant Howl "Rōra no Tōboe" (ローラの遠吠え) |
September 17, 1999 | |||
| 25 | Willgame Takes Off "Wirugemu Ririku" (ウィルゲム離陸) |
September 24, 1999 | |||
| 26 | The Battle of Enlightenment "Satori no Tatakai" (悟りの戦い) |
October 8, 1999 | |||
| 27 | Sunrise at Midnight "Yonaka no Yoake" (夜中の夜明け) |
October 15, 1999 | |||
| 28 | Entrusted Things "Takusareta Mono" (託されたもの) |
October 22, 1999 | |||
| 29 | The Two Named Soriel "Soreiyu no Futari" (ソレイユのふたり) |
October 28, 1999 | |||
| 30 | Holding it within the Chest "Mune ni Kakaete" (胸に抱えて) |
October 29, 1999 | |||
| 31 | Pursuit! Crybaby Poe "Tsuigeki! Nakimushi Pō" (追撃!泣き虫ポゥ) |
November 5, 1999 | |||
| 32 | The King of Legend "Shinwa no Ō" (神話の王) |
November 19, 1999 | |||
| 33 | Captured Manuipich "Manyūpichi Kōryaku" (マニューピチ攻略) |
November 25, 1999 | |||
| 34 | Fly! Through the Stratosphere "Tobe! Seisōken" (飛べ!成層圏) |
December 3, 1999 | |||
| 35 | Zacktraeger "Zakkutorēgā" (ザックトレーガー) |
December 10, 1999 | |||
| 36 | The Militia's Decisive Space Battle "Mirisha Uchū Kessen" (ミリシャ宇宙決戦) |
December 17, 1999 | |||
| 37 | Gateway to the Moon "Tsuki Sekai no Mon" (月世界の門) |
December 24, 1999 | |||
| 38 | Battle God Ghingnham "Sentōshin Ginganamu" (戦闘神ギンガナム) |
January 7, 2000 | |||
| 39 | Asteroid Explosion "Shōwakusei Bakuretsu" (小惑星爆烈) |
January 14, 2000 | |||
| 40 | Sea Battle on the Lunar Surface "Getsumen no Kaisen" (月面の海戦) |
January 21, 2000 | |||
| 41 | Determined to Fight "Tatakai no Ketsudan" (戦いの決断) |
January 28, 2000 | |||
| 42 | Turn X Activate "Tān Ekkusu Kidō" (ターンX起動) |
February 4, 2000 | |||
| 43 | Shocking Dark History "Shōgeki no Kuro-Rekishi" (衝撃の黒歴史) |
February 11, 2000 | |||
| 44 | New Enemy "Teki, Aratanari" (敵、新たなリ) |
February 18, 2000 | |||
| 45 | Guin's Betrayal "Uragiri no Guen" (裏切りのグエン) |
February 25, 2000 | |||
| 46 | Again, to Earth "Futatabi, Chikyū he" (再び、地球へ) |
March 3, 2000 | |||
| 47 | Ghingnham's Invasion "Ginganamu Shūrai" (ギンガナム襲来) |
March 10, 2000 | |||
| 48 | Return of Dianna "Diana Kikan" (ディアナ帰還) |
March 17, 2000 | |||
| 49 | Moonlight Butterfly "Gekkou-Chō" (月光蝶) |
March 24, 2000 | |||
| 50 | Golden Autumn "Ōgon no Aki" (黄金の秋) |
April 14, 2000 | |||
Openings & Endings[]
Openings:
- Turn A Turn by Hideki Saijo (Ep. 2-38)
- Century Color by RAY-GUNS (Ep. 39 - 50)
Endings:
- Aura by Shinji Tanimura (Ep. 1 - 40)
- Tsuki no Mayu (Moon's Cocoon) by Aki Okui (Ep. 41 - 49)
- Kagiri naki Tabiji (The Endless Journey) by Aki Okui (Ep. 50)
- After All by Donna Burke (First compilation movie ending)
- Tsuki no Mayu (Moon's Cocoon) by Aki Okui (Second compilation movie ending ~ In its full version right before the ending credits which are instrumental only)
See also[]
- List of Turn A Gundam characters
- WD-M01 Turn A Gundam
- Concept-X 6-1-2 Turn X
- Gundam
- The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
References[]
- ↑ 2001 Correct Century A Bibliographical Study of "Black History", Gundam Officials 公式百科事典
- ↑ "Moon's Wind", Gundam Ace, 2006
- ↑ Gundam Officials 公式百科事典
External links[]
- Official Website (Japanese)
- Animax's official website for Turn A Gundam (Japanese)
- Turn A Gundam (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
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| Preceded by Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz |
Gundam metaseries (production order) 1999 — 2000 |
Succeeded by G-Saviour |
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it:Turn A Gundam nl:Turn A Gundam pt:Turn a Gundam zh:∀GUNDAM