The GNZ-004 Gaga (aka Gaga) is a mass production mobile suit of the Innovators in season two of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
One of the "GNZ Series" mobile suits created by the Innovades that called themselves Innovators, the Gaga is unlike the other units in the series as it was developed as a "Decisive Battle Weapon" and produced in large numbers.[1][2][3][4] The Gaga's primary means of attack is a suicide charge in which it launched itself at high-speed using the acceleration power of the Trans-Am System and then crashed into the enemy unit, or self-destruct at point-blank.[1][2][3][4] The combination of this battle tactic with the Gaga's massive numbers gave the Celestial Being's CBS-74 Ptolemaios 2 and its mobile suits a hard time.[1][2][5]
The Gaga is also labelled as a "Suicide Weapon" due to its attack method, and it can equip an optional booster unit to enhance its acceleration speed.[1][2][3][6] Befitting its use, the Gagas were piloted by mass-produced, disposable, Innovades.[2][4][5][7] A GN Drive Tau is located in the center of the mobile suit's chest.[7] When it self-destructs, the chest and back covers would slide outward, revealing several flywheels and triggering the explosion of the GN Drive Tau, which had reached a critical state due to the use of Trans-Am.[7][8] Unlike the other GN Drive Tau-equipped mobile suits with Trans-Am System, the Gaga is deemed worthless after using the system.[2][9][10] It is possible for the Gaga to launch a suicide charge without using Trans-Am, and the mobile suit can also attack enemies with a pair of low-powered GN Vulcans mounted in its chest.[1][5][7][11]
Since the Gaga is primarily used for suicide attack, it has a simplified, legless form.[3][7] Its two arms are for capturing enemy machine, ensuring damage is dealt to the latter when the Gaga self-destructs.[1][7][12] These arms are also used for walking in place of the omitted legs.[5] Besides emitting GN Particles from its back for propulsion, the Gaga has a pair of GN Verniers built into its shoulders, and a pair of Sub GN Verniers mounted at the bottom of its legless body.[1][7][11] With the Gaga being based on the GNZ-003 Gadessa, it also shares features with the latter, such as the same cockpit design, shoulder-mounted GN Condensers, and a line sensor on the head.[6][7][13][14] As the Gaga is not equipped with twin eye cameras like the Gadessa, the line sensor functions as its eyes.[7][12][13]
The model number of the Gaga indicated that it was in development before the other Gadessa variants in the GNZ series, such as the GNZ-005 Garazzo.[2][15] After the Innovators' defeat, the Earth Sphere Federation seized the remaining Gagas that were functional, and in 2314, these machines were modified into the GNZ-004/BW Gaga Cannons by the Earth Sphere Federation Forces (ESF Forces) to battle the alien lifeform known as "Extraterrestial Living-metal Shape-shifter".[16][17][18][19] Additionally, some of the GNZ series machines, including the Gaga, served as the basis for the Celestial Being's CB-002 Raphael Gundam, while the ESF Forces utilized their technologies in the GNMA-Y0002V Gadelaza.[18][20][21]
Armaments[]
- GN Vulcan
- A pair of rapid-fire, low-powered beam guns mounted in the chest, they are the Gaga's sole armament.[5][7][11][22] The GN Vulcans are used for restricting the movements of enemy units, and to assist in the assault of enemy ships and bases.[7]
Special Equipment & Features[]
- When activated, this system releases at once all the compressed high-density GN Particles accumulated in a machine, enhancing its thrust and defensive capabilities as well as allowing it to perform at three times its normal output for a limited time.[23][24][25][26] The entire machine will also glow red and afterimages are generated during movements.[1][22] This system was originally usable only by the original GN Drive-equipped Gundams, but the Innovators created a version usable by their GN Drive Tau-equipped mobile suits, such as the Gaga, after the spy Anew Returner brought back data from the Celestial Being.[1][9][10][23] However, the GN Drive Tau becomes inoperable following the use of Trans-Am, and while other mobile suits are meant to return to their base of operation to replace their GN Drive Tau, the Gaga is simply discarded after Trans-Am.[2][9][10] It is said that the A-Laws' Billy Katagiri was involved with the installation of the Trans-Am System on the Gaga.[27] After the battle, Billy studied the Gaga's system to fully understand the original Trans-Am System.[5]
- Booster Unit
- A booster unit can be attached to the bottom of the Gaga's legless body, this is the same booster that other GNZ Series mobile suits, such as the GNZ-003 Gadessa, attached to their legs.[1][2][3][12] Taller than the Gaga itself, this booster features multiple attitude control verniers in the recessed areas and a GN Vernier at the rear.[3][7][28] Unlike the other machines in the GNZ Series, the Gaga utilized the booster as an accelerator, allowing it to charge at the enemy unit at ultra-high speed, thereby putting it in an advantageous position for a suicide attack.[1][2][6][22] With the use of the booster as well as Trans-Am System, numerous Gagas managed to penetrate the CBS-74 Ptolemaios 2's GN Field and crashed into the ship.[1][22]
- Like the Gadessa, the operating system of the Gaga is linked to Veda, allowing the mobile suit and its pilot to receive support from the quantum processing system.[4][11]
History[]
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season[]
Episode 23: Flower of Life[]
In the final battle, the Innovators deployed numerous Gagas from their base of operation, the colony-class deep space mothership Celestial Being, after the large ship's particle guns proved insufficient against the CBS-74 Ptolemaios 2 and its Gundams. Equipped with booster unit, the Gagas activated their Trans-Am System soon after launch and charged straight at the Ptolemaios 2. While a number of Gagas were intercept by the Gundams and Ptolemaios 2's weapons, there were just too many of them.
The Gagas that were not intercepted forced their way through the Ptolemaios 2's GN Field and crashed into the ship. The CBS Lab Transport tried to act as a shield for the Ptolemaios 2, but it did not last long against the hordes of Gagas. Eventually, with aid from the Katharon forces and the ESF Forces' Coup faction, the Gundams and Ptolemaios 2 pushed back the Gagas long enough for the ship to activate its Trans-Am and head for Celestial Being's warship docking bays. However, the intervention by the Katharon forces and ESF Forces' Coup faction also caused their ships and mobile suits to become targets for the Gagas' suicidal attack.
Even after the Ptolemaios 2 landed in one of the warship docking bays, the Gagas did not give up on their attack. These Gagas were intercepted by the ship's weapons, the GN-007GNHW/M Arios Gundam GNHW/M, the GNR-101A GN Archer, and the GN-000 0 Gundam (Type A.C.D. Several Gagas managed to enter the docking bay, but they were destroyed before they could hit the ship. However, the GN Archer soon ran low on energy, and a Gaga that broke through the defensive fire crashed into it.
Episode 24: Beyond[]
Elsewhere, three Gagas targeted the GN-0000+GNR-010 00 Raiser that was battling the Innovators' GNMA-0001V Regnant. They did not stop even when the 00 Raiser was caught in a tight embrace by the Regnant. While two of the Gagas were destroyed by the GN Micro Missiles fired from the trapped 00 Raiser, the last unit continued on its course and crashed into the Regnant. The 00 Raiser survived with little to no damage, but the Regnant was disabled by the suicidal attack.
Back at the docking bay, the Gagas fired their GN Vulcans and landed several hits on the Arios Gundam GNHW/M. Another Gaga then broke through and crashed into the damaged GN Archer, further damaging the mobile suit. To protect the GN Archer, the Arios Gundam GNHW/M activated Trans-Am and quickly shot down a vast number of Gagas with its GN Submachine Guns.
The terror of the Gagas was put to an end when the Gundam Meister, Tieria Erde, regained his link to the quantum processing system, Veda, and activated the Trial System installed in his GN-009 Seraphim Gundam. This system seized control of all mobile suits linked to Veda, such as the Gagas, within its effective range and shuts them down. The Gagas were then left drifting in space around Celestial Being.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00N Chapter 10[]
Following the Innovators' defeat, the Earth Sphere Federation seized the remaining 100+ Gaga units that were still functional and stored them in the factory within the captured Celestial Being. In 2314, these Gagas were integrated into the Earth Sphere Federation Forces and assigned to Innovades managed by Veda. Additionally, these machines were modified into the GNZ-004/BW Gaga Cannons to combat the alien lifeform known as "Extraterrestial Living-metal Shape-shifter".
Variants[]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Gaga is the only GNZ series mobile suit to have an even model number, 4. Interestingly, said number is known for its association to death, which coincides with the Gaga's role as suicide unit.
- While the 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Mechanics 2nd' book claimed that only 100 Gaga units were available, this contradicts the number depicted in the anime, which clearly exceeds 100 units.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 48, Flower of Life
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Gundam 00 Official Website Gaga Profile
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 'Veda ~Mobile Suit Gundam 00~ "Ultimate" Art Works II' Book
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 'Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season' Book
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Data Archives' Book
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 21– GNZ-003 Gadessa / GNZ-005 Garazzo Mechanic File
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 28– GNZ-007 Gaddess / GNZ-004 Gaga Mechanic File
- ↑ Translation of information from 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Mechanics 2nd' book in 00 Forums (1)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 HG00 1/144 GNZ-005 Hiling Care's Garazzo model kit manual
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Gundam 00 Official Website Gadessa Profile
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 49, Beyond
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Archives Second Season' Book
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 HG00 1/144 GNZ-003 Gadessa model kit manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00F - Consonance of 00F Chapter 17
- ↑ Translation of information from 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Mechanics 2nd' book in 00 Forums (2)
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00N Chapter 10
- ↑ 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00N integrated G-ROOMS' Book
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Mechanics Final' Book
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 51– GNMA-Y0002V Gadelaza Mechanic File
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 107– CB-002 Raphael Gundam Mechanic File
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Special Edition 3: Return the World
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 42 World Guide: GN Particles & GN Drive
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 23, Stop the World
- ↑ Gundam 00 Official Website Exia Profile
- ↑ HG00 1/144 GNX-Y901TW Susanowo [Trans-Am Mode] model kit manual
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 138 Billy Katagiri Personal Profile
- ↑ Various Linearts (3) in Garazzo's References Gallery
External links[]