Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE

Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE
Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE (機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女「PROLOGUE」)
Companies
Production	Sunrise
Planning	Sunrise
Distribution	Gundam Factory Yokohama The Gundam Base Tokyo The Gundam Base Shanghai The Gundam Base Fukuoka Parco Comic-Con International
Broadcaster	Mainichi Broadcasting System Tokyo Broadcasting System
Streaming	Gundam.Info Crunchyroll Ani-One Asia
Staff
Director	Hiroshi Kobayashi
Co-Director	Ryo Ando
Story & Script	Ichiro Okouchi
Character Design	Mogumo (Original) Marie Tagashira Juri Toida Hirotoshi Takaya
Mechanical Design	JNTHED Kanetake Ebikawa Wataru Inata Ippei Gyobu Kenji Teraoka Takayuki Yanase
Chief Mechanical Animator	Shinya Kusumegi Kanta Suzuki Seimei Maeda
Setting Researcher	Seiichi Shirato
Sci-Fi Researcher	Yuya Takashima
Mechanical Coordinator	Ryoji Sekinishi
Setting Cooperation	HISADAKE
Prop Design	E wo kaku Peter esuthio
Concept Art	Lin Junbun
Technical Director	Yohei Miyahara
Art Designer	Tomoaki Okada Kenichi Morioka Kazushige Kanehira Junichiro Tamamori Yasuyoshi Uetsu
Art Director	Ayumi Sato
Color Setting	Kazuko Kikuchi
Director of Photography	Shota Kodera
CG Director	Shinichi Miyakaze
Monitor Geaphics Design	Kaori Seki
Editor	Kengo Shigemura
Sound Director	Jin Aketagawa
Music	Takashi Ohmama
Release
Japanese	2022-07-14
English	2023-01-29
Runtime	24:39
Relations
Adapted into	Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury (novel)
Cut into	Their Choice

Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE (機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女「PROLOGUE」, Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE^?) is an anime released on July 14, 2022 . It is a prequel to Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury .

Synopsis

At Fólkvangr, a front constructed inside an asteroid, the Gundam Lfrith is undergoing operating tests in the Vanadis Institute's laboratory. The Lfrith has not yet managed to meet the conditions imposed by the council, and test pilot Elnora Samaya is growing impatient. That same day, her daughter is celebrating her fourth birthday...

Plot

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

• Cardo ends the Permet link connection test.
• Elnora holding Eri.
• The Lfrith is still sleeping.
• Wide shot of the Vanadis Institute's laboratory.
• Eri says she is four years old.
• Fólkvangr

1/6

In the Vanadis Institute's laboratory at Fólkvangr, Elnora Samaya is in the cockpit of the Gundam Lfrith (LF-03) undergoing a Permet link connection test. As no abnormalities were detected in the GUND Format, she manages all the way to layer 32. She fails to call layer 33 and Dr. Cardo Nabo (Thrall) denies Elnora's requests to increase the GUND Format score as it is contrary to their test objective. Elnora grows impatient but Cardo ends the test despite her claims that she is not yet in a dangerous range. While other staff at the laboratory begin analysis of Permet influx values, Dr. Cardo tells Elnora to not get so worked up . Ericht Samaya, Elnora's daughter, comes floating towards her mother who leaves the cockpit to catch her, and they chat about the Lfrith—considered the child of all the staff members. Eri concludes she is the Lfrith's big sister. When asked her age by Nyla Bertran, Eri answers that she is four.

• As of the 20th, the Front 3rd Autonomous Sector has approved a budget to purchase Gundam-type mobile suits manufactured by Ochs Earth.
• Ochs Earth's weapon system has raised major concerns regarding bioethical issues for its pilots, and the accountability of the company as well as the Mobile Suit Development Council has been called into question.
• Originally, the GUND Format was a medical technology
• meant to assist with physical dysfunctions caused by the space environment.
• The GUND Format was repurposed for military mobile suits.
• The recent mobile suit buildup may provide Earth with an excuse to expand its military
• Eri returns home for her birthday party.

1/7

Eri's father, Nadim Samaya watches a news story by the Interplanetary News Network featuring Gundam Lfrith Pre-Production Models. The Front 3rd Autonomous Sector has approved a budget to purchase Gundam-type mobile suits manufactured by Ochs Earth, his employer. Both their accountability and that of the Mobile Suit Development Council have been called into question . With their products facing much criticism, he turns off the broadcast just before Elnora and Eri return home to celebrate Eri's fourth birthday—Eri had helped to decorate. While Eri goes and gets her birthday hat, Nadim infers Elnora failed to call layer 33 again and blames the higher-ups for being in a rush to roll out the Lfrith.

• Nyla promises to treat Wendy to something after she helps her move cargo.
• Wendy complains about tariff increases and the Spacians' monopolization of transport.

1/8

At a different asteroid, members of the council meet in the dark in preparation for a press conference scheduled in an hour. Vim Jeturk and the CEO of Jeturk Heavy Machinery are in attendance, as are Grassley Defense Systems' Sarius Zenelli and Delling Rembran. Elnora attempts to place a candle on Eri's birthday cake but her GUND stops working, so she changes the batteries in her right forearm prosthetic. She is grateful to the technology and her teacher, Dr. Cardo, for saving her life. The party is interrupted as Nadim has to take a call from Yamaoka, upsetting Eri. Yamaoka informs Nadim of the council meeting before the deadline; it was the doing of Delling, an ex-military member. A traffic controller at Control 173 directs the transport ship Begavent to Gate 3. On the surface of the asteroid, a person in a normal suit hacks into Fólkvangr's systems. Nyla comes to get Wendy Olent, who is by the Lfrith Pre-Production Models, to help her move cargo.

• The Lfrith will still not awaken.
• The Lfrith is an important "child" to Cardo.

1/2

While Nadim was busy, Elnora had been searching and had found Eri's fork. Eri, however, has since gone back to the laboratory to wake the Lfrith up, as she feels her parents care more about it than her, even on her birthday. Cardo, who is in the cockpit, overhears and apologises. Cardo explains the importance of the Lfrith in allowing humanity to live in space. Cardo brings her to the cockpit and registers her with the Lfrith by placing her hand on a panel. While Ericht vocally inputs her personal data into the Lfrith, Cardo is notified that the council's press conference—which Ochs Earth has been left out of—is about to start.

• Dorsal view of the Ulysses.
• Bridge of the Ulysses.
• Heingra launching from the port side of the Ulysses.
• Pilot of the Heingra.

1/4

Under orders from Delling, Dominicus have deployed the Ulysses to raid Fólkvangr. At the conference, Sarius announces the council's decision to freeze all development of Gundam-type mobile suits and the seizure of Ochs Earth. Cardo arrives to watch the broadcast with her colleagues. She realises that the ship that had just entered port is a trap. Troops from Cathedra disembark from the Begavent and kill two employees. Meanwhile, Sarius announces their establishment as an auditing organization to the public, introducing Delling as their supervising representative. Yamaoka is suddenly cut off from his video call with Nadim, who discovers that his wife and daughter are not home. Heingra mobile suits launch from the port side of the Ulysses as HQ orders all Dominicus units to seal off Fólkvangr and its surrounding space. Nyla notices smoke grenades in the hallways but is shot dead by Cathedra shortly after warning Wendy to run.

• LF-01 reaches Permet score two.
• Beguir-Beu on the port side of the Ulysses.
• Kenanji in the Beguir-Beu cockpit.

1/3

As the alarm rings, Nadim meets with Elnora and tells her that the council has crossed the line, urging her to find Eri while he goes out in the Lfrith . Manager Nadim Samaya launches in Lfrith Pre-Production Model LF-01. At Permet score two, he dodges all beams fired from the Heingras. He then launches GUND-BITs at a Heingra, moving to Permet score three, destroying the suit and its pilot. Thus, the remaining Heingra pilots are ordered not to engage one-on-one due to these "unfamiliar swarm weapons". Wendy, who pilots the other Lfrith Pre-Production model to avenge Nyla, destroys a Heingra with a beam. The Ulysses detects the second Gundam-type mobile suit to the port side in their travel direction, apparently confirming how many machines existed at Fólkvangr. Kenanji Avery then deploys in the CEK-040 Beguir-Beu.

• Wendy's Gundam launching GUND-BITs at the Heingras.
• Wendy's deactivates the launchers as the side-effects of GUND take hold.
• Beguir-Beu, about to grab Wendy's Gundam by the beam rifle.
• Cathedra in Cardo's office.

1/4

While the battle rages on, Delling makes a speech . Wendy engages two Heingras, launching GUND-BITs which destroys one. The other fires beams back at her which she evades. She deactivates the launchers as the side-effects of GUND take hold such as markings on her face and rapid breathing. She has raised her score to dangerous levels but is still no match for the Beguir-Beu which uses Non-Kinetic Pods to disable the GUND-BITs she has launched. With the GUND Format link suppressed, Wendy cannot move her Gundam. Kenanji secures his Beguir-Beu by grabbing Wendy's beam rifle with his right Foot Unit and stabbing his left bayonet's Sword Unit into the torso of the Gundam, firing the Double Beam Gun twice. Sarius is informed of the operation while Delling continues his speech. In her office, Dr. Cardo Nabo reaches for a firearm in her desk drawers when the assault unit commander of Cathedra enters to execute her. Surrounded by images of what the GUND Format has done for medicine, she declares GUND a necessity for humanity to go out into space. Cathedra considers her words an excuse, to which she aims her pistol at them.

• Elnora overhears an enemy message upon booting up the Lfrith.
• Gundam Lfrith with its shell unit radiating light.

1/2

With Wendy killed in action, the Beguir-Beu chases Nadim's remaining Gundam around the asteroid. Inside the laboratory, flames begin to engulf the Lfrith that Eri is still inside of. Fortunately, her mother finds her and closes the cockpit hatch. Upon booting up the Lfrith, it intercepts a message that the enemy have successfully neutralized the lives of Cardo Nabo and all key members, and that they are to retreat as soon as preparations to blow up the front are complete. Elnora is saddened by the death of her teacher. The Lfrith has a successful callback from layer 33, much to Elnora's shock, it is Ericht Samaya's name on the monitor. The Ulysses detects the unregistered Permet identification code as strong electromagnetic waves from within Fólkvangr; realising there was a third machine they weren't aware of. The last Gundam Lfrith launches into space and deploys Bit Staves which combine into the Compo GUND-BIT Shield. Eri touches three targets on the monitor whilst her normal suit is connected to the port for her mother's prosthetic arm. The shield separates into Bit Staves, destroying two of the Heingras that Eri had locked onto. A surviving Heingra briefly wields a beam saber but a Bit Stave quickly docks into the Lfrith's Receiver Gun, forming the GUND-BIT Rifle, destroying the Heingra in a single shot. Elnora watches on in horror whereas Eri compares the three explosions to candles.

• The Compo GUND-BIT Shield blocking incoming beams from the Beguir-Beu.
• The Gundam Lfrith's Beam Blade clashes with the Beguir-Beu's Sword Unit.

1/2

The Compo GUND-BIT Shield forms again to block incoming beams from the Beguir-Beu. The Receiver Gun becomes the Beam Blade as the Beguir-Beu faces the Lfrith head-on with its bayonet's Sword Units. Kenanji compliments the Gundam and deploys his Non-Kinetic Pods to disable it, but one is destroyed when Nadim enters firing Beam Vulcans. Nadim rams his Gundam into the Beguir-Beu. Holding onto the Beguir-Beu, Nadim tells Elnora to escape and live on with Ericht. Elnora declares her love for Nadim and complies with his request to flee as the Ulysses fires beams at them. Nadim reciprocates and levels up to Permet score four. Rapidly breathing, he whites out and reminisces about the birthday party earlier . Still holding the Beguir-Beu, he sings Happy Birthday to Ericht until his last breath. The Beguir-Beu pushes away the motionless Lfrith Pre-Production Model and retreats. Ericht finishes the song alone as her father's Gundam explodes .

Back at the conference, Delling finishes his speech, declaring that Cathedra shall deny all Gundams.

Characters

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

• Overview
• Appearances
• Cast

Ochs Earth Corporation

• Ochs Earth Corporation Executive Officer
• Yamaoka
• Nadim Samaya

Vanadis Institute

• Elnora Samaya
• Ericht Samaya
• Cardo Nabo
• Nyla Bertran
• Wendy Olent
• Traffic Controller

Grassley Defense Systems

• Sarius Zenelli
• Delling Rembran

Jeturk Heavy Machinery

• Jeturk Heavy Machinery CEO
• Vim Jeturk

Dominicus

• Rajan Zahi
• Kenanji Avery
• Pilot

Cathedra

• Assault Unit Commander

Interplanetary News Network

• Announcer
• Commentator

Front 3rd Autonomous Sector

• Front 3rd Autonomous Sector Leader

Name	Timestamp
Commentator
Ochs Earth Corporation Executive Officer
Elnora Samaya	00:15
Cardo Nabo	01:45
Ericht Samaya	02:19
Nyla Bertran	02:49
Wendy Olent	02:49
Front 3rd Autonomous Sector Leader	03:43
Announcer	04:25
Nadim Samaya	04:38
Vim Jeturk	05:36
Delling Rembran	05:39
Sarius Zenelli	05:39
Jeturk Heavy Machinery CEO	05:39
Yamaoka	07:26
Traffic Controller	07:46
Assault Unit Commander	10:45
Rajan Zahi	10:48
Pilot	13:50
Kenanji Avery	14:52

Character	Japanese Voice	English Voice
Ericht Samaya	Kana Ichinose	Sarah Wiedenheft
Elnora Samaya	Mamiko Noto	Elizabeth Maxwell
Nadim Samaya	Hiroshi Tsuchida	Chris Guerrero
Cardo Nabo	Miyuki Ichijo	Laurie Steele
Nyla Bertran	Sachiko Kojima	Nazia Chaudhry
Wendy Olent	You Taichi	Krystal LaPorte
Delling Rembran	Naoya Uchida	Gabe Kunda
Sarius Zenelli	Atsushi Ono	Mike Smith
Vim Jeturk	Tetsuo Kanao	Christopher R. Sabat
Rajan Zahi	Eiji Hanawa	Ian Sinclair
Kenanji Avery	Yoji Ueda	Brandon Acosta
Jeturk Heavy Machinery CEO	Ryō Sugisaki
Yamaoka	Junichi Yanagita	Alex Hom
Ochs Earth Corporation Executive Officer	Hiroki Maeda
Assault Unit Commander	Taro Kiuchi
Announcer	Yoshito Sasaki
Commentator	Shunichi Maki
Traffic Controller	Kenta Sabun
Pilot	Kaneto Shiraishi

Mechanics

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

• Overview
• Appearances

Ochs Earth Corporation

• XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith
• XGF-01 Gundam Lfrith Pre-Production Model

Dominicus

• CEK-040 Beguir-Beu
• CCP-068 Heingra
• Ulysses

Cathedra

• Begavent

Name	Timestamp
XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith	01:55
XGF-01 Gundam Lfrith Pre-Production Model	03:37
Begavent	07:38
Ulysses	10:37
CCP-068 Heingra	12:21
CEK-040 Beguir-Beu	14:49

Factions

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

Name	Timestamp
Vanadis Institute	00:15
Interplanetary News Network	03:37
Front 3rd Autonomous Sector	03:38
Ochs Earth Corporation	03:43
Mobile Suit Development Council	03:53
Jeturk Heavy Machinery	05:36
Grassley Defense Systems	05:39
Cathedra	07:38
Dominicus	10:37

Locations

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

Name	Timestamp
Fólkvangr	03:23
Mobile Suit Development Council Front	05:33

Conflicts

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

Name	Timestamp
Vanadis Incident	07:38

Technology

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

Name	Timestamp
GUND	00:46
GUND Format	00:46
Mobile Suit	01:55
GUND-BIT	03:37
Beam Weaponry	13:03
GUND-ARM	13:04

Terminology

This section was compiled by watching the primary source available at .

Name	Timestamp
Permet	00:28
Front	03:23
Spacian	04:38
Earthian	04:38
Witch	06:22

Music

This section was compiled by listening to the primary source available at .

Title	Timestamp
Happy Birthday to You	21:09

Production

The prologue was announced at the 3rd Gundam Conference on March 29, 2022. Bandai Namco described the prequel as a full-fledged project that will feature its own story and mobile suits, including the Gundam Lfrith and Beguir-Beu .

Release

The prologue premiered as part of the Gundam Next Future event where screenings were held simultaneously at the Link the Universe venues from July 14 to July 15, 2022; the life-size moving RX-78F00 Gundam statue in Yokohama, the life-size Gundam Unicorn statue in Tokyo, the life-size Freedom Gundam statue in Shanghai, the life-size RX-93ff ν Gundam statue in Fukuoka, and the Gundam Base Virtual World .

The first screening of the prologue outside of East Asia was at San Diego Comic-Con as part of the Gundam: The Witch from Mercury panel on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm Pacific Time. Attendees had a first look in the U.S. at the upcoming series directed by Hiroshi Kobayashi. Panelists included VampyBitMe (Linda Le) along with members from Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America featuring David Edmundson (marketing director), Justin Cavender (senior marketing manager), AJ Velasco (marketing specialist), and David Clarke (brand manager) .

On July 14, Gundam.Info affirmed the July 21 premiere at San Diego Comic-Con and stated it would also be available on Gundam.Info .

After being premiered at Link the Universe venues, screenings were held at each Base Series venue (pop-ups at Parco department stores across Japan). With the exception of Yokohama Base, these screenings will be in August and September. Visitors could receive an online premier ticket where they could watch the prologue during the event period .

Gundam.Info uploaded the prologue to their YouTube channel with multilanguage subtitles on September 1 00:00 JST (August 31 15:00 UTC) .

28 MBS/TBS stations in Japan broadcasted the prologue on Sunday September 25 at 5 PM , a week before their airing of the television series. This version is available on Crunchyroll and Ani-One Asia as "Episode 0" of the series .

Notes & Trivia

Differences Between Versions

• Nyla's death:
  • The Gundam Next Future version only showed the fired shot from the smoke, without blood over Wendy Olent's shocked reaction.
  • The GundamInfo version only shows the close-up of the blood spilled from Nyla's head being shot .
  • The MBS/TBS broadcast and episode 0 version replaces the close-up with a full depiction of Nyla dying .

Gundam Next Future stream version.

GundamInfo version.

TV version.

• Ending sequence:
  • The Gundam Next Future, GundamInfo and episode 0 versions feature a black background for the end credits .
  • The MBS/TBS broadcast version features the end credits overlaid on a panning shot of Dr. Cardo Nabo's office where various images of the GUND Format adorn wall panels.

External Links

• Prologue on official website (Japanese)
• Prologue on Gundam.Info subsite (English)

This article is part of Project: G-Witch

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