Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Please note that this is the Gundam Wiki's article on the television series; if you are looking for the article on the eponymous theory about human evolution from the series then you should head to SEED factor.

"Anime" is not in the list (Manga, Novel, Game, Movie, OVA, Variation, Stage Play, Documentary, TV Series, Audio Drama, ...) of allowed values for the "Media" property.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (機動戦士ガンダムSEED, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Shīdo)
Companies
English Dub	The Ocean Group NYAV Post (HD Remaster)
Staff
Director	Mitsuo Fukuda
Story & Script	Chiaki Morosawa Hiroyuki Yoshino Hiroshi Ohnogi Shigeru Morita Akinori Endo Yuuichi Nomura Akemi Omode
Producer	Sunrise
Character Design	Hisashi Hirai
Mechanical Design	Kimitoshi Yamane Kunio Okawara Junichi Akutsu
Art Director	Shigemi Ikeda
Music	Toshihiko Sahashi
Release
Japanese	October 5, 2002–September 27, 2003
English	April 17, 2004–April 15, 2005
Number of Episodes	50 (original),48 (HD remaster)
Relations
Adapted into	Divergent Strike

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (機動戦士ガンダムSEED, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Shīdo^?) is a 2002 anime television series created by Sunrise. It aired in Japan from October 5, 2002 to September 27, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. on the JNN TV stations (Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS TV), Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS TV, producing TV station), etc.). The series had finished remastering in High-Definition for its 10th year anniversary, omitting two recap phases.

It has been announced that the new HD version is currently being planned for an English release with a brand-new voice cast that will be recorded by NYAV Post with the new voice cast for the characters that appear in the early episodes already confirmed.

Plot

Year 70 of the Cosmic Era, the war rages on. On one side is the Earth Alliance, and on the opposite is the space colonies that form ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty). Mankind is divided over human genetic engineering, with normal humans known as 'Naturals' and the genetically altered humans known as 'Coordinators'. ZAFT has a head start on mobile suit design, the Earth Alliance quickly catches up with its five prototype Gundam’s. With ZAFT having stolen four of the prototypes, young pilot Kira Yamato takes the Strike Gundam and is forced to fight his old friend Athrun Zala. Little do they know that there are sinister forces at work that go far beyond their worst nightmares.

Cast

• Athrun Zala - Akira Ishida (Japanese), Samuel Vincent (English), Louie Paraboles (Tagalog)
• Cagalli Yula Athha - Naomi Shindou (Japanese), Vanessa Morley (English)
• Clotho Buer - Hiro Yuuki (Japanese), Andrew Toth (English)
• Dearka Elsman - Akira Sasanuma (Japanese), Brad Swaile (English), Bernie Malejana (Tagalog)
• Martin DaCosta - Akira Sasanuma (Japanese), Brian Dobson (English)
• Ezalia Joule - Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese),
• Haro - Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese), Tabitha St. Germain (English)
• Murrue Ramius - Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese), Lisa Ann Beley (English)
• Flay Allster - Houko Kuwashima (Japanese), Tabitha St. Germain (English)
• Natarle Badgiruel - Houko Kuwashima (Japanese), Sarah Johns (English)
• Kira Yamato - Souichirou Hoshi (Japanese), Matt Hill (English), Michael Punzalan (Tagalog)
• Lacus Clyne - Rie Tanaka (Japanese), Chantal Strand (English)
• Miguel Aiman - Takanori Nishikawa (T.M. Revolution) (Japanese), Tony Sampson (English)
• Mu La Flaga - Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), Trevor Devall (English)
• Nicol Amarfi - Mami Matsui/Romi Paku (Special Edition) (Japanese), Gabe Khouth (English)
• Orga Sabnak - Joshida Ryohei (Japanese), Andrew Toth (English)
• Rau Le Creuset - Toshihiko Seki (Japanese), Mark Oliver (English)
• Shani Andras - Shunichi Miyamoto (Japanese), Richard Ian Cox (English)
• Yzak Joule - Tomokazu Seki (Japanese), Michael Adamthwaite (English), Jefferson Utanes (Tagalog)
• Andrew Waltfeld - Ryotaro Okiayu (Japanese), Brian Drummond (English)
• Aisha - Vivian Hsu/ Fumi Hirano (Special Edition) (Japanese),
• Muruta Azrael - Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese), Andrew Francis (English)
• Tolle Koenig - Takayuki Inoue (Japanese), Richard Ian Cox (English)
• Arnold Neumann - Isshin Chiba (Japanese), Philip Pacaud (English)
• Ledonir Kisaka - Isshin Chiba (Japanese), Adam Henderson (English)
• Kuzzey Buskirk - Yasuhiro Takato (Japanese), Keith Miller (English)
• Romero Pal - Yasuhiro Takato (Japanese), Brendan Van Wijk (English)
• Patrick Zala - Kinryu Arimoto (Japanese), Andrew Kavadas (English), Bernie Malejana (Tagalog)
• Miriallia Haw - Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese), Anna Cummer (English)
• Sai Argyle - Tetsu Shiratori (Japanese), Bill Switzer (English), Jefferson Utanes (Tagalog)
• Eileen Canaver - Lisa Ann Beley (English)
• Uzumi Nara Athha - John Novak (English)
• Siegel Clyne - Don Brown (English)
• Reverend Malchio - Brian Drummond (English)
• Birdy (Torii),- Tabitha St. Germain (English)
• Koopman - Scott McNeil (English)
• Gerard Garcia - Scott McNeil (English)
• Yuri Amalfi - Ted Cole (English)
• Dalida Lolaha Chandra II - Simon Hayama (English)
• Kojiro Murdoch - Ward Perry (English)
• Erica Simmons - Sharon Alexander (English)
• Mayura Labatt - Rebecca Shoichet (English)
• Aisha - Saffron Henderson (English)
• Asagi Caldwell - Jocelyne Loewen (English)
• Capt. Fredrik Ades - Michael Dobson (English)
• Col. William Sutherland - Ron Halder (English)
• George Allster - Tohishiko Seki (Japanese)
• Ahmed el Hosn - Yusuke Numata (Japanese)
• Lacus' singing voice - Jillian Michaels (English)
• Music Composer - Toshihiko Sahashi

Soundtrack

Openings

• INVOKE by T.M.Revolution (ep. 1-13) (Toonami Broadcast: episode 1-26), (YTV Broadcast: 1-50)
• Moment by Vivian or Kazuma (ep. 14-26)
• Believe by Nami Tamaki (ep. 27-40)
• Realize by Nami Tamaki (ep. 41-50)

Endings

• Anna ni Issho Datta no ni (あんなに一緒だったのに; We were so together, but) by See-Saw (ep. 1-26)
• RIVER by Tatsuya Ishii (ep. 27-39)
• FIND THE WAY by Mika Nakashima (ep. 40-50) (HD remaster ep. 45, insert) (HD remaster ep. 48)
• Distance by FictionJunction (HD remaster ep. 27?-47)

Insert Songs

• Akatsuki no Kuruma (暁の車; Wheels of Dawn) by FictionJunction YUUKA (ep. 24, 32, 40) (HD remaster ep. 38 ending)
• Anna ni Issho Datta no ni (We were so together, but) by See-Saw (episode 28)
• Meteor by T.M. Revolution (ep. 26, 29, 35, 47)
• Mizu no Akashi (水の証; Token of Water) by Rie Tanaka (English version Jillian Michaels) (ep. 36 & 41)
• Shizuka na Yoru ni (静かな夜に; In the Quiet Night) by Rie Tanaka (English version Jillian Michaels) (episodes 7-9, 14, 20)
• FIND THE WAY by Mika Nakashima (ep. 46)

Phases

Episodes in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED are called "Phases"
Comprehensive Listing of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Phases

#	Phase Title	Japanese Airdate	English Airdate
1	False Peace	5 October 2002	17 April 2004
2	Its Name: Gundam	12 October 2002	24 April 2004
3	Collapsing Land	19 October 2002	1 May 2004
4	Silent Run	26 October 2002	8 May 2004
5	Phase Shift Down	2 November 2002	15 May 2004
6	The Vanishing Gundam	9 November 2002	22 May 2004
7	The Scar of Space	16 November 2002	29 May 2004
8	The Songstress of The Enemy Forces	23 November 2002	5 June 2004
9	The Fading Light	30 November 2002	12 June 2004
10	Crossroads	7 December 2002	19 June 2004
11	The Awakening Sword	14 December 2002	26 June 2004
12	Flay's Decision	21 December 2002	3 July 2004
13	Stars Falling in Space	28 December 2002	10 July 2004
14	Within Endless Time	4 January 2003	17 July 2004
15	The Respective Solitudes	11 January 2003	24 July 2004
16	Burning Sandstorm	18 January 2003	31 July 2004
17	Cagalli Returns	25 January 2003	7 August 2004
18	Payback	1 February 2003	14 August 2004
19	Fangs of the Enemy	8 February 2003	21 August 2004
20	On a Calm Day	15 February 2003	28 August 2004
21	Beyond the Clouds of Sand	22 February 2003	4 September 2004
22	The Sea Dyed Red	1 March 2003	11 September 2004
23	Fateful Encounter	8 March 2003	18 September 2004
24	War for Two	15 March 2003	2 October 2004
25	The Land of Peace	22 March 2003	9 October 2004
26	Moment	29 March 2003	16 October 2004
27	Endless Rondo	12 April 2003	23 October 2004
28	Kira	19 April 2003	30 October 2004
29	The Turning Point	26 April 2003	6 November 2004
30	Flashing Blades	3 May 2003	13 November 2004
31	Grieving Skies	10 May 2003	20 November 2004
32	In the Promised Land	17 May 2003	27 November 2004
33	Gathering Darkness	24 May 2003	4 December 2004
34	Seen and Unseen	31 May 2003	11 December 2004
35	The Descending Sword	7 June 2003	18 December 2004
36	In the Name of Justice	14 June 2003	7 January 2005
37	Divine Thunder	21 June 2003	14 January 2005
38	Decisive Fire	28 June 2003	21 January 2005
39	Athrun	5 July 2003	28 January 2005
40	Into the Dawn Skies	12 July 2003	4 February 2005
41	Trembling World	19 July 2003	11 February 2005
42	Lacus Strikes	26 July 2003	18 February 2005
43	What Stands in the Way	2 August 2003	25 February 2005
44	Spiral of Encounters	9 August 2003	4 March 2005
45	The Opening Door	16 August 2003	11 March 2005
46	A Place for the Soul	30 August 2003	18 March 2005
47	The Nightmare Reborn	6 September 2003	25 March 2005
48	Day of Wrath	13 September 2003	1 April 2005
49	The Final Light	20 September 2003	8 April 2005
50	To a Future that Never Ends	27 September 2003	15 April 2005

Production

The director of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is Mitsuo Fukuda, an animator who had worked under Masami Obari for Sunrise's Brave Series. Fukuda's previous directing work included Sunrises's car racing anime, Future GPX Cyber Formula. Despite Fukuda only being the director Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, a lot of frames of animation in the series are reminiscent of previous anime he had worked on; be it animator as with Brave, or director as with Future GPX Cyber Formula. This is because a usual colleague of Fukuda is animator Shigeta Satoshi, who, like Fukuda, worked with and learned from Obari. Satoshi is noted for the sparks and flame embers in beam saber clashes and beam rifle hits during Mobile Suits Battles, which he originally developed as erupting from engines when animating Future GPX Cyber Formula.

The lead writer for the series is the late Chiaki Morosawa, Fukuda's wife who died on February 2016.

Themes & Reactions

The series was widely acclaimed upon release, and has left a great legacy upon the otaku community of Japan and abroad. Some of the major characters were Top 10 favorite character lists of Newtype magazine 12 years after the initial run, and the merchandise sold in the millions.

The series was intended to be the 21st Century Gundam updated for a new generation of fans, with other elements from previous series added into the mix. The similarities between the original Mobile Suit Gundam and this series are by far the most numerous. To fit the tastes of 21st century viewers, themes based on the elements surrounding present day situations were incorporated namely the 9/11 attacks, Fukuda speaks of an unbroken cycle of hatred since Christ's death with justice on both sides (Muslim and non-Muslim). The series primarily focused on the interpersonal relationships between the characters, resulting in many layered romantic friendships. The series is guided by the traumatic friendship between pilots Kira Yamato and Athrun Zala.

The inclusion of issues such as racism, with desires of genocide, further updated the series and provided food for thought as well as social commentary. The genetically altered Coordinators provide a vision for the future in a world fraught with talk of GM food and cloning.

Release

The series is licensed by Bandai Entertainment, and was released on DVD in North America in uncut bilingual format. An edited version of the English dub premiered during the Toonami block at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday nights, it was pushed back to 1:00 am on Friday nights starting with Phase 27 due to below average ratings.^{[citation needed]}

The majority of the series was aired with a TV-Y7, apparently, at the insistence of Bandai who were desperately trying to push the new Gundam SEED toy line. However, since most retailers had stopped carrying the Gundam line due to over-saturation from the G Gundam series, this soon became a lost cause. Only the final episode was given the TV-PG-SV rating rather than the usual TV-Y7 rating.

Things that were edited out on Cartoon Network include mature content (ex. most references to the sexual relationship between Kira and Flay—though the initial scene presenting this was left partially intact); scenes of intense combat violence (ex. almost all shots of pilots, including main characters, in their cockpits before having their machines destroyed); cold-blooded or brutal murders that are non-mobile suit related (ex. Siegel Clyne getting shot by ZAFT soldiers loyal to Rau Le Creuset and Patrick Zala); all references to the fact that the Living CPUs need to take performance enhancing drugs; and most notoriously, handguns being sloppily and inconsistently transformed into neon-colored lasers, dubbed "Disco Guns" by fans, for the majority of the show's run. Also, there was little to no use of the words "kill" or "die" in the middle of the series airing. Since most of the series had been edited by Williams Street before broadcast, Cartoon Network changed very little in terms of content allowance. However, the airings of the final two episodes were left mostly unedited, with only a few elements being affected—namely the guns used by Azrael, Patrick Zala, and one of the ZAFT soldiers (which was given neon-colored lights in certain but not all of the image frames), airbrushing the naked Flay's body in the final episode to avoid showing her cleavage, reducing the amount of blood shown, editing the character's lines; to remove either inappropriate language or controversial lines, and the removal or altering of flashbacks of graphic assassinations. The Canadian version debuted on YTV's Bionix block in September 2004 at 9:30 p.m. where it got a better reception and aired comparatively uncut, with almost all of the material listed above intact.

In Japan, it occupied the Saturday 6 p.m. timeslot on MBS and TBS, widely considered a prime timeslot; the anime and its subsequent successor to the timeslot (Full Metal Alchemist) went on to do very well.

In the Philippines, the show was aired on ABS-CBN last December 20, 2004. First shown on the 6 pm primetime block on Weekdays (Mondays-Fridays), it was later moved to the 5:30 pm slot on the same day frame until it's End last March 4, 2005. Currently, it airs on ABS-CBN's Cable Anime Channel, Hero TV every Friday at 10:30 am, 5:30 pm and 11:30 pm, and in Cartoon Network Philippines every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 pm (double episodes) (all times in Philippine Standard Time [GMT+8])

In the United Kingdom, the dub aired on the now defunct Anime Central satellite television channel.

HD Remaster

On December 23, 2011, the HD Remaster premiered on Bandai Channel and began airing every Friday at 11:00 JST (02:00 GMT) and was simulcasted on the GundamInfo YouTube Channel with English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese subtitles allowing foreign viewers to watch it for free, although the 1080p Full HD resolution was converted to 480p. In Japan it also premiered on on BS11: 1/1/2012 (airing on Sundays - 19:30) and Tokyo MX: 1/3/2012 (airing on Tuesdays - 22:29). The HD Remaster has not received an English version during it's release until NYAV Post reports that they will provide a new English dub for the HD Remaster..

Free streaming on YouTube was made available again for a limited time from, April 4, 2017. Crunchyroll has provided 1080p streaming of the HD Remaster since May 24, 2017.

Adaptations, Spin-offs & Sequels

A three-part compilation of the TV series has been released as Gundam SEED: Special Edition. The English manga, authored by Masatsugu Iwase, is published in North America by Del Rey Manga and in Singapore by Chuang Yi, while Gundam SEED Astray, a spin-off of Gundam SEED, is published in North America by Tokyopop.

An adaptation of the TV series, authored by Mizuho Takayama, was originally as supplement of Comic BomBom. This version comes with folding color posters of the Mobile Suits, and a bonus Gundam SEED Destiny episode 0 comic. The stories were eventually published into 2 volumes by Kodansha. The 2-volume version is available in Chinese, published by Rightman Publishing Ltd. in Hong Kong.

The TV series was also turned into a series of novels by Riu Koto, published by Kadokawa Shoten.

Also running with the series was a series of manga called Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray that told a side-story to the anime series. This proved popular enough to generate two more side-stories: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray R and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray.

On July 6, 2004 the sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, was announced after over a month of rumors. It started airing in Japan on October 2004 on the network Mainichi Broadcasting System and ran until October 1, 2005. A third Gundam SEED production, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73:STARGAZER, an ONA side-story to Destiny, is currently being streamed on Bandai Channel. A film was recently announced to complete the trilogy.

SEED was rereleased during the HD remastering project for its 10th anniversary: While most scenes were reused for the Special Edition release, some scenes are redrawn, effects such as beam weapon shots were touched up for larger TV's (bars of solid color now have extra fine details and graduated color changes across the beam), some scenes are cropped for widescreen while others (like computer console displays of text or graphics) have extra detail added to the sides (such as the edges of the console itself) to make them into widescreen aspect without the console content loss which would occur from cropping. New mobile suits were also added such as the Perfect Strike.

Gallery

Notes & Trivia

• In episode 16 ("The Burning Desert Sands"), it is made very clear that the main character Kira Yamato and his love interest Flay Allster had sex sometime between episodes 15 and 16. This scene gave parents in Japan a scare and caused a good deal of controversy at the time. The directors were punished for this scene. However, when the Gundam SEED Special Edition (& the HD Remastered release) was released, it was revealed that the two indeed had sex.
• Cagalli, Flay and Lacus, the three female leads of the series, only ever exchange 1 line of dialogue to each of the other two throughout the series' 50-episode run.
• In episodes 19 or 20 when Cagalli finished the flight simulator the screen read "Lanking" and "Kagali"
• In episode 32 ("In the Promised Land"), the investigation report Captain Sutherland holds in his hands at JOSH-A, Alaska shows Kira to hold the rank of Lieutenant, he actually holds the rank of Ensign. The discharge paper given to Kira, which he tears up, identifies his rank as "Second Lieutenant", which is equivalent to "Ensign".
• The word 'Gundam' is only used by four characters over the course of the entire series: Kira Yamato, who just uses the acronym for Strike Gundam's OS, Kuzzey Buskirk shortly after Kira's initial sortie in the Strike, when he says "This 'Gundam' thing is awesome" Murrue Ramius and Lacus Clyne, the latter of whom only uses it twice: When Kira sees the Freedom, he mutters "Gundam...", in response to which Lacus explains that "actually, it's the ZGMF-X10A Freedom. But I like the 'Gundam'. It sounds strong." and later she says it to Athrun when he receives the Justice. Mu La Flaga also used the word once, when asking Kojiro Murdoch why Kira called it that.
• Many Mobile Suits in the Cosmic Era timeline (especially Ace-Suits) have the small 'V' on their frame. Mobile Suits developed by the Earth Alliance have the 'V' in the same location as the RX-78-2 Gundam, the crotch, while ZAFT Mobile Suits tend to have it on the torso instead. The 'V' is a direct reference to the UC Timeline, where all Mobile Suits based on Gundam have the 'V'-shaped crest (up until Char's Counterattack, at least).
• Along with its sequel, Gundam SEED Destiny, Gundam SEED is the Gundam series that scored the most brilliant achievements in Animage's Anime Grand Prix. It won the 1st place in 2002, 2004 and 2005, and selected as the runner up in 2003 and 2006. Other Gundam series that come up to Gundam SEED's achievements are the original Mobile Suit Gundam (won the 1st place twice), followed by Zeta Gundam, Gundam ZZ, Gundam Wing and Gundam 00 (each won the second place once).
• Gundam SEED, as well as its sequel and expanded universe, shows many references and nods to another popular sci-fi series, Star Trek. The show itself can be compared to the classic Star Trek episode Space Seed, as well as its follow up movie Wrath of Khan. Both series' central themes revolve around the creation of a genetically altered and superior race of humans. This "superiority" of the new race of humans causes fear and misunderstanding amongst normal humans. In both series, this friction ends with the banishment of the new humans to outer space. Also, both the followers of Khan, and the Coordinator's ultimate weapon were called Genesis.
  • The relationship between Mu La Flaga, Murrue Ramius, and Natarle Badgiruel is much like the relationship of Star Trek's Power Trio of Captain Tiberius Kirk, Dr. Leonard McCoy, and Spock, respectively. Rau Le Crueset can also be compared to that of Khan.
• There are also parallels to Star Wars, for example, protagonist Kira Yamato was raised by his aunt and uncle whereas his secret twin sister, Cagalli, was adopted by politicians and ends up falling in love with Kira's best friend, Athrun Zala who fills the role of Han Solo. The final battle involves them destroying a ZAFT superweapon similar to the Death Star (albeit on a smaller scale). In an interview in 2003, creator Fukuda revealed himself to be a fan of Star Wars,
• Gundam SEED is actually quite infamous concerning its roles in the various Super Robot Wars games. Its first appearance, in Super Robot Wars Alpha 3, was known for the fact that it was forced to be put in by Bandai, apparently scuttling plans for Gundam Sentinel to be used. Super Robot Wars W is also known for the fact that, by playing the game the right way, the players can actually save almost everyone who should have died in the original series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is the first television series to not be named for one of the Gundams shown in it, as no Gundam named SEED appears. Instead, the series is named after the SEED factor.
• Gundam SEED is the first Gundam series to have four different title sequences instead of two.  Every subsequent series until Gundam Build Fighters would do this as well.
• A college student in China, Yao Lijin, won a National Essay Writing contest in 2014 for an essay comparing Gundam SEED to the Sino-Japan relations, how it opened young eyes to thinking about the meaning of war, and hopes for an eternal peace ending the strained relations.
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is the first Gundam TV series to be animated digitally.

Chronology

Preceded by: ∀ Gundam

Production order 2002 – 2003

Succeeded by: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny

See also

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (Takayama Manga)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (Manga)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (Novel)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Re:
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Special Edition
• Gundam Seed Character Theater
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED featuring SUIT CD

Games

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (WonderSwan Color)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2003 video game)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Never Ending Tomorrow
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Assault
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Tomo to Kimi to koko de
• Battle Assault 3 featuring Gundam SEED

External links

• MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Mobile Suit Gundam SEED on Gundam Info
• GUNDAM SEED WEB Official Website (Japanese)
• "X"Plosion Gundam SEED Portal