Misplaced Pages

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 136.158.30.250 (talk) at 02:08, 8 February 2023 (Anime: Removed unnecessary information). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 02:08, 8 February 2023 by 136.158.30.250 (talk) (Anime: Removed unnecessary information)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Japanese anime television series

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
File:The Witch from Mercury.jpgKey visual of the series
機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女
(Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Suisei no Majo)
Genre
Created by
Original net animation
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury – Prologue
Directed byHiroshi Kobayashi
Produced byNaohiro Ogata
Written byIchirō Ōkouchi
Music byTakashi Ohmama
StudioSunrise
ReleasedJuly 14, 2022
Runtime23 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by
  • Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Ryō Andō
Produced byNaohiro Ogata
Written byIchirō Ōkouchi
Music byTakashi Ohmama
StudioSunrise
Licensed bySunrise
Original network
Original run October 2, 2022 – present
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Manga
Written byKō Yoneyama
Illustrated byChika Tōjō
Published byKadokawa Shoten
MagazineGundam Ace
DemographicShōnen
Original runQ2 2023 – scheduled
icon Anime and manga portal

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (Japanese: 機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Suisei no Majo) is a Japanese mecha anime series and the fifteenth mainline entry in Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise. The series is directed by both Hiroshi Kobayashi and Ryō Andō and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi. It premiered in October 2022 on the JNN stations TBS and MBS.

The Witch from Mercury marks the first mainline Gundam TV anime production in seven years since Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans and the first TV series in the franchise to feature a female protagonist. The series revolves around themes of the dangers of emerging technologies alongside political corruption, capitalism, and revenge.

Plot

In the distant future, humanity has advanced into space and switched to the new calendar system of Ad Stella (AS). The solar system was split between the inhabitants of space colonies, also called "Spacians" and the Earth-born "Earthians", with a vast economic inequality between the two.

Vanadis Institute created an advanced man-machine system called GUND, which would enable humans to survive in the harsh environment of space, but the technology is later employed for military uses, leading to the creation of "Gundams", mobile suits who use the GUND Format to increase the performance of its pilots while risking their lives. Because of this defect, many pilots were crippled or killed using the GUND Format, and because the team responsible for its development was mostly composed of women, all females somehow involved with the GUND Format, whether researchers or pilots, became known as "witches".

In response, the Mobile Suit Development Council, led by the top mobile suit development companies, ordered a permanent ban on the GUND Format and all its applications, with council member Delling Rembran deploying the special forces team Dominicus to destroy the Vanadis research facility Fólkvangr, killing everyone aboard to erase all traces of the technology. Only two people narrowly survived: mobile suit test pilot Elnora Samaya and her four-year-old daughter Ericht Samaya.

In AS 122, 21 years after the Vanadis incident, Suletta Mercury transfers from Mercury to the Asticassia School of Technology, an academic institute run by the megacorporation Benerit Group. Upon arrival, she encounters a girl escaping the institute, Miorine Rembran, who wants to escape from the control of her father, Delling. As their paths cross in the academy with different ambitions and goals, Suletta will have to prove her worth as a pilot as she steps into the academy alongside the Gundam Aerial, a mobile suit built with the forbidden GUND Format technology.

Characters

Main characters

Suletta Mercury (スレッタ・マーキュリー, Suretta Mākyurī)
Voiced by: Kana Ichinose (Japanese); Jill Harris (English)
The series's main protagonist. Suletta, a 17-year-old female Spacian and a second-year student in the piloting department who transferred to the Asticassia School of Technology from Mercury. At Mercury, she was trained to be a mobile suit pilot from a young age and was later sent to the academy by her mother. She was shown to be a timid girl who has trouble communicating with people other than her mother. Despite being a Spacian, she becomes affiliated with the Earth House.
Suletta pilots the XVX-016 Gundam Aerial, a GUND-ARM mobile suit developed by the Shin Sei Development Corporation on Mercury whose main feature are the "Bit Staves", remote controlled drones that can be used both for offense and defense. It is later upgraded into the XVX-016RN Gundam Aerial Rebuild.
Miorine Rembran (ミオリネ・レンブラン, Miorine Renburan)
Voiced by: Lynn (Japanese); Natalie Van Sistine (English)
An attractive and academically distinguished second-year female Spacian student in the management strategy department. Miorine is the only daughter of Delling Rembran, the president of the Benerit Group and chairman of the school's board. Her late mother was a botanist, and Miorine kept a small greenhouse on school grounds in her memory. She has a strong rebellious feeling towards her father, who barely acknowledges her beyond her status as his family.

Asticassia School of Technology

Guel Jeturk (グエル・ジェターク, Gueru Jetāku)
Voiced by: Yōhei Azakami (Japanese); Bradley Gareth (English)
An heir to Jeturk Heavy Machinery, one of the group's three branches, and a third-year student in the piloting department. Guel has a rough temperament and is quick to anger. As the ace pilot of Jeturk House, he has absolute confidence in his own skills, including the rank of "Holder" to signify his status as the top duelist at the school, which makes him Miorine's fiancé, a position he loses to Suletta after he is defeated by her. After knowing more about Suletta, Guel becomes infatuated with her, to the point of asking her in marriage. Due to his repeated defeats, he was kicked out of the Jeturk House, now living solely away from the group.
Guel pilots the MD-0032G Guel's Dilanza, a heavily modified Dilanza developed by the Jeturk Heavy Machinery and used primarily for close combat. He later switches to the more powerful MD-0064 Darilbalde, also focusing on close combat.
Elan Ceres (エラン・ケレス, Eran Keresu)
Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (English)
The top pilot backed by Peil Technologies, one of the group's three branches and a third-year student in the piloting department. In truth, Elan's attendance in school and participation in duels is secretly performed by Enhanced Persons, unregistered body doubles created to handle the stresses of the GUND-Format technology. The first enhanced person, codenamed "Number 4" is a taciturn and solitary person, who does not open his heart to anyone in school. He has an interest in Suletta due to her relation to the GUND Format tech. After his defeat against her, he was disposed by Peil Technologies in preparation for the next Enhanced Person body double, who intends to seduce Suletta as part of Peil's plan to seize Aerial and its secrets.
As a Mobile Suit pilot, he pilots the FP/A-77 Gundam Pharact, a long-ranged sniper unit developed by Peil Technologies using the GUND-Format tech.
Shaddiq Zenelli (シャディク・ゼネリ, Shadiku Zeneri)
Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa (Japanese); Alejandro Saab (English)
An adopted child of the CEO of Grassley Defense Systems, one of the group's three branches. A third-year student in the piloting department who leads Grassley House. Although still a student, Shaddiq has shown his skill in business and is a candidate for next generation executive.
He pilots the CFK-029 Michaelis, a mobile suit developed by Grassley Defense Systems as a successor to the Beguir-Beu equipped with the Beam Bracer, which uses Non-Kinetic Effectors to disable GUND-Arm mobile suits.
Nika Nanaura (ニカ・ナナウラ)
Voiced by: Yume Miyamoto (episodes 1–9), Haruka Shiraishi (episode 10–present) (Japanese); Bryn Apprill (English)
An Earthian second year student in the Mechanics department who was born on Earth. She welcomes Suletta into the Earth House and convinces the other members to accept her, but also works in the shadows with Shaddiq under orders of an unknown party.
Chuatury Panlunch (チュアチュリー・パンランチ, Chuachurī Panranchi)
Voiced by: Miyu Tomita (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)
A first-year Earthian student representing Earth House, a group that represents Earthian workers. She has a gruff personality and reacts aggressively to Spacians who discriminate against Earthians, sometimes getting into physical fights.
She pilots the MSJ-105CC Demi Trainer Chuchu Custom as her main mobile suit, equipped with a sniper rifle for ranged combat.
Martin Upmont (マルタン・アップモント, Marutan Appumonto)
Voiced by: Junya Enoki
A third-year management strategy student and the leader of the Earth House.
Nuno Kargan (ヌーノ・カルガン, Nūno Karugan)
Voiced by: Tasuku Hatanaka (Japanese); Eric Vale (English)
A second-year mechanical department student belonging to the Earth House.
Ojelo Gabel (オジェロ・ギャベル, Ojero Gyaberu)
Voiced by: KENN
A second-year mechanical department student belonging to the Earth House.
Till Nys (ティル・ネイス, Tiru Neisu)
Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki
A third-year mechanical department student belonging to the Earth House.
Lilique Kadoka Lipati (リリッケ・カドカ・リパティ, Ririkke Kadoka Ripati)
Voiced by: Konomi Inagaki (Japanese); Sara Ragsdale (English)
A first-year management strategy student belonging to the Earth House. She is popular with the male students of Asticassia.
Aliya Mahvash (アリヤ・マフヴァーシュ, Ariya Mafuvāshu)
Voiced by: Miyuri Shimabukuro
A third-year mechanical department student belonging to the Earth House. She has an interest in divination.

Benerit Group

The Benerit Group (ベネリットグループ, Beneritto Gurūpu) is a major business conglomerate of 157 corporations in mobile suit manufacturing led by president Delling Rembran. They are the leader in mobile suit industry, making them the most powerful corporations throughout known space who also wields much authority on Earth. However, for much of that authority, they oppress Earthians, deploying their personal mobile suits to disrupt protests of said Earthians against exploitations by Spaciens.

Delling Rembran (デリング・レンブラン, Deringu Renburan)
Voiced by: Naoya Uchida (Japanese); Gabe Kunda (English)
A former military man who used his influence with Cathedra to plan and order a raid on the Fólkvangr lab where the "GUND Format" technology was being developed, to stop the research before it was finished and the Ochs Earth Corporation along with it. Many years later, Delling became the president of the Benerit Group. In addition, Delling created the Asticassia School of Technology, both to solidify his influence and train the next generation of elites. Delling's Darwinian philosophy that only the strong deserve to survive extends to the policies of his business, his school, and even his own daughter, declaring that only the strongest mobile suit pilot is worthy of marrying her. He is also the supervising representative of Cathedra.

Jeturk Heavy Machinery

Jeturk Heavy Machinery (ジェターク・ヘビー・マシーナリー, Jetāku Hebī Mashīnarī) is a corporation and one of three branches of the Benerit Group led by Vim Jeturk.

Vim Jeturk (ヴィム・ジェターク, Vimu Jetāku)
Voiced by: Tetsuo Kanao (Japanese); Christopher Sabat (English)
The CEO of Jeturk Heavy Machinery, and father to Guel. He's an ambitious person who sees Delling as a thorn to his personal agenda, especially his philosophies.

Grassley Defense Systems

Grassley Defense Systems (グラスレー・ディフェンス・システムズ, Gurasurē Difensu Shisutemuzu) is a corporation and one of three branches of the Benerit Group led by Sarius Zenelli.

Sarius Zenelli (サリウス・ゼネリ, Sariusu Zeneri)
Voiced by: Atsushi Ono (Japanese); Mike Smith (English)
The CEO of Grassley Defense Systems, and Shaddiq's adoptive father.

Peil Technologies

Peil Technologies (ペイル・テクノロジーズ, Peiru Tekunorojīzu) is a corporation and one of three branches of the Benerit Group led by a team of four CEOs who manage the company via a parliamentary system.

Nugen (ニューゲン, Nyūgen)
Voiced by: Masako Katsuki
One of the four co-CEOs of Peil Technologies.
Kal (カル, Karu)
Voiced by: Kazue Komiya
One of the four co-CEOs of Peil Technologies.
Nevola (ネボラ, Nebora)
Voiced by: Yoko Soumi
One of the four co-CEOs of Peil Technologies.
Golneri (ゴルネリ, Goruneri)
Voiced by: Kimiko Saito
One of the four co-CEOs of Peil Technologies.
Belmeria Winston (ベルメリア・ウィンストン, Berumeria Uinsuton)
Voiced by: Ayumi Tsunematsu
An employee of Peil Technologies and a former member of Vanadis Institute. Belmeria was the handler of Elan Ceres. Following Elan's loss to Suletta, she pleaded with the Peil CEOs to spare him, to no avail.

Others

Kenanji Avery (ケナンジ・アベリー, Kenanji Aberī)
Voiced by: Yōji Ueda
A pilot stationed in the group's Dominicus special forces squad. He was among the soldiers who raided the Fólkvangr lab. 21 years after the Vanadis incident, he had become a ship captain at Dominicus.
Kenanji piloted the CEK-040 Beguir-Beu, a mobile suit developed by Grassley Defense Systems armed with remote-controlled pods which disable mobile suits using GUND Format systems.

Vanadis Institute / Ochs Earth

Elnora Samaya (エルノラ・サマヤ, Erunora Samaya) / Prospera Mercury (プロスぺラ・マーキュリー, Purosupera Mākyurī)
Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese); Elizabeth Maxwell (English)
Ericht's mother and a test pilot employed by Ochs Earth, a company that researched and developed the GUND-Format technology for use in Mobile Suits. In the past, she had a GUND right arm transplanted by Cardo in order to save her life. Following the Fólkvangr Incident, she escaped the destruction of the institute and went into hiding. Years after the incident, she joined Shin Sei Development Corporation on Mercury in order to continue development on the GUND-Format and was eventually appointed as their president. She also went under an alias as well, as she dons a mask to hide her true identity as Lady Prospera.
Elnora herself test piloted the XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith, a GUND-Format Mobile Suit developed by the institute. However, Elnora wasn't able to activate it until it's Permet Code was connected to Ericht.
Nadim Samaya (ナディム・サマヤ, Nadimu Samaya)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Tsuchida
Ericht's father who sacrificed himself to give Elnora and Ericht a chance to escape.
Cardo Nabo (カルド・ナボ, Karudo Nabo)
Voiced by: Miyuki Ichijou
The inventor of GUND Format technology, she was one of the biggest proponents of Gundam development to aid space exploration and developed the Gundam Lfrith. She is killed when Fólkvangr is raided by Cathedra.
Nyla Bertran (ナイラ・バートラン, Naira Bātoran)
Voiced by: Sachiko Kojima
Wendy Olent (ウェンディ・オレント, Uendi Orento)
Voiced by: Yō Taichi

Dawn of Fold

Sophie Pulone (ソフィ・プロネ, Sofi Purone)
Voiced by: Shiori Izawa
Norea Du Noc (ノレア・デュノク, Norea Deyunoku)
Voiced by: Aoi Yuuki
Naji Geor Hija (ナジ・ゲオル・ヒジャ, Naji Georu Hija)
Voiced by: Taiten Kusunoki

Production and release

The series was first revealed by Sunrise at the 2nd Gundam Conference held on September 15, 2021, under Bandai Namco Group's "Gundam Project". It is the first mainline series in 7 years since Iron Blooded Orphans with Bandai Namco Group cooperating with external partners called "G-PARTNER" to bring young people in their teens all over the world. A Teaser PV was released on March 29, 2022, revealing the main mecha and a female character alongside a prologue episode that premiered on July 14, 2022. On June 17, Sunrise revealed the series's main plot, characters, staff, and a confirmed air date alongside an overview for the Prologue Episode. The staff working in the series were composed by director Hiroshi Kobayashi, with Ryō Andō serving as co-director; Ichirō Ōkouchi overseeing and writing scripts; mogmo designing the characters; Marie Tagashira, Shuri Toida, and Hirotoshi Takaya adapting mogmo's designs for animation; JNTHED, Kanetake Ebikawa, Wataru Inada, Ippei Gyōbu, Kenji Teraoka, and Takayuki Yanase designing the mechs; Shinya Kusumegi, Kanta Suzuki, and Seizei Maeda animating the mechs. Producer Naohiro Ogata mentioned in an online press conference that the story will be set in an academy and that it will feature the first female main protagonist in the mainline series, and that he will create a work that is conscious of the increase in new fans. On July 14, information regarding the Prologue episode were revealed at "GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE -LINK THE UNIVERSE-", which was the first public event for "PROLOGUE".

The series' story and theme were all done by Ōkouchi, Kobayashi and Andō themselves, basing it on the tech companies competing for profits and control in the industry alongside elements from witch trials in the early modern period, reflecting the theme surrounding the GUND-Format technology and the people involved in its research, comparing it to a "curse" by the normal people. Ōkouchi made the decision to use a school setting, in order to broaden the appeal: "He was conscious of making it enjoyable for all ages by simultaneously drawing the main character of the story, the young generation's personalities, and the adult drama." However, Ōkouchi also made sure to feature "dark turning points and disturbing stories" that are emblematic of the Gundam series. Notably, The Witch from Mercury is the first Gundam TV series to feature a female protagonist and fourth in the franchise overall (after École du Ciel, SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer, and Twilight AXIS).

Media

Anime

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury officially premiered on all JNN stations in Japan, including MBS and TBS on October 2, 2022, with the Prologue episode premiering on July 14, 2022, four months before the series' airing. Yoasobi performed the series' opening theme "Shukufuku" (祝福, "The Blessing") while Shiyui and Ryo performed the ending theme "Kimi yo Kedakaku Are" (君よ 気高くあれ, "You Be Noble"). Takashi Ohmama composed the music for the series.

At the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that the series will be simulcast outside of Japan. Crunchyroll licensed the series through Sunrise. Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia and is streaming it on their Ani-One Asia YouTube channel, Netflix, and bilibili. It is also being streamed on GundamInfo YouTube channel on Asia and Oceania. An English dub of the prologue was released via Crunchyroll on January 30, 2023. This marks the first time the Gundam franchise that featured the Texas-based talent produced in what was Funimation, who acquired Crunchyroll via its parent Sony in 2021 and rebranded itself the following year.

Episode list

No.TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboarded byOriginal release date 
0"Prologue"
(Japanese: 機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女「PROLOGUE」)
Teruo SatoIchirō ŌkouchiHiroshi KobayashiJuly 14, 2022 (2022-07-14)
In the far future, humanity develops GUND technology, which allows humans to directly connect their brains to machines to control them, revolutionizing prosthetics. However, GUND technology is also weaponized and installed in special mobile suits called GUND-ARMs, or "Gundams", which is a controversial move since humans have trouble handling the mental strain of controlling them, resulting in crippling injuries and even death. The company Ochs Earth is secretly commissioned to build Gundam Lfrith in a project led by Dr. Cardo Nabo, who believes Lfrith will be the next step in GUND development that will allow humanity to expand into space. However, Lfrith's test pilot, Elnora Samaya, has so far been unable to activate Lfrith. Meanwhile, Ochs Earth's sponsor, the Mobile Suit Development Council, decides to pull their support for the project and instead forms a regulatory body called Cathedra to suppress Gundam development. Cathedra's leader, Delling Rembran, authorizes a military assault on the Ochs Earth research station holding Lfrith. Nabo and most of the staff are killed in the fighting, while Elnora and her daughter Ericht take shelter in Lfrith. Elnora is shocked when Lfrith activates in response to Ericht's biosigns, and the infant Ericht unknowingly commands Lfrith to destroy several Cathedra mobile suits. Ericht's father Nadim then sacrifices himself to give Elnora and Ericht time to escape the area while Rembran declares in a speech that Cathedra will destroy all Gundams.
1"The Witch and the Bride"
Transliteration: "Majo to Hanayome" (Japanese: 魔女と花嫁)
Ryō AndōIchirō ŌkouchiHiroshi KobayashiOctober 2, 2022 (2022-10-02)
Suletta Mercury is in transit to the Asticassia School of Technology when she notices a stranded astronaut and takes off in her Gundam Aerial to rescue them. However, the astronaut headbutts her in the cockpit, claiming she was trying to escape. Suletta finally arrives at the school to discover the girl she rescued was Miorine Rembran. She later discovers Miorine's reason for escaping, that the right to her hand in marriage was given to a popular yet ill-tempered duelist named Guel Jeturk. Miorine's father, Delling Rembran, is the head of the Benerit Group that created the school and holds influence over the most powerful companies throughout space. Furthermore, he designed the school policies so that anything can be settled via mobile suit duels, from simple apologies to his own daughter's hand in marriage. When Guel shows up to destroy Miorine's greenhouse and force her to live with him, Suletta slaps him and accepts his duel challenge. As Guel prepares to duel Suletta, his father Vim plants a bomb on Delling's shuttle and plans to assassinate him to solidify Guel's status as the heir to Delling's corporate empire. Guel is surprised to discover that Miorine stole the Aerial to challenge him herself, but fights her anyway. Despite Miorine's conviction, she is not used to Aerial's controls, and quickly falls, until Suletta speeds onto the scene on a hoverbike and forcibly takes the cockpit herself, unlocking the core features of Aerial and cutting Guel's Dilanza into several pieces. Vim calls off the assassination plot shortly after hearing news that Guel lost in the duel. Under the school rules, not only does Suletta win Guel's Holder emblem and uniform, but also becomes Miorine's fiance.
2"Cursed Mobile Suit"
Transliteration: "Noroi no Mobiru Sūtsu" (Japanese: 呪いのモビルスーツ)
Tatsuma MinamikawaIchirō ŌkouchiTomoki KyodaOctober 9, 2022 (2022-10-09)
Following the duel, Suletta is arrested under suspicion of using a Gundam. Ceres House head Elan Ceres grows interested in Suletta and visits her in confinement, though he is adamant about it being nothing romantic. Taking charge of the investigation, Delling launches an inquiry into Aerial's manufacturer, the Shin Sei Development Corporation. Meanwhile, feeling conflicted over Suletta's arrest, Miorine is informed that her father has decided to transfer her out of Asticassia. Furious, she runs into the smugglers she previously hired to help her escape and has them take her to her father. At the hearing, Shin Sei's CEO, Suletta's mother Prospera Mercury, defends the company, stating that Aerial was built with drone technology and is not a Gundam. However, Delling remains unconvinced just as Miorine intrudes. Angry at her father controlling her life, she challenges him to a duel: if her side wins Suletta's charges will be dropped; if Delling wins Miorine will follow his wishes. Vim, having been blackmailed by Prospera with proof of his previous assassination plot, then causes a split amongst the Benerit Group, forcing Delling to agree. Afterward, Miorine informs Suletta that she will have to win the duel lest she will be expelled.
3"Guel's Pride"
Transliteration: "Gueru no Puraido" (Japanese: グエルのプライド)
Ryō Andō
Shinnosuke Itō
Ichirō ŌkouchiRyō AndōOctober 16, 2022 (2022-10-16)
Suletta is reinstated as a student for the upcoming duel, which will be a rematch against Guel. To ensure his victory, Vim gives Guel a new mobile suit with an auto-pilot, the Darilbalde, ignoring his son's desire to win on his own. Meanwhile, Grassley Defense Systems CEO Sarius Zenelli grows suspicious of Prospera and orders his son, Shaddiq, to investigate Suletta. As the duel commences, the arena's fire suppression systems suddenly activate, neutralizing the Aerial's beam weaponry. Realizing that Vim hacked the fire suppression system, Miorine hijacks a mobile frame and disables the system. With her weapons operational again, Suletta turns the tide. However, not wanting an AI to fight for him, Guel takes back control and fights back with all of his strength, with Suletta narrowly prevailing over him. Afterward, Suletta shows respect for Guel's piloting skill, causing him to become infatuated with her and confess on the spot; much to her shock.
4"Unseen Trap"
Transliteration: "Mienai Jirai" (Japanese: みえない地雷)
Shouji IkenoIchirō ŌkouchiSusumu NishizawaOctober 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)
Everybody is shocked by Guel's proposal, including Suletta who rejects him. On the next day, however, Guel denies holding any attraction to Suletta. Later, a mobile suit exam is held but Suletta instantly fails due to her lacking a support crew. Another student, Chuatury "ChuChu" Panlunch also attempts it but fails as well due to her mobile suit's camera having been sprayed over by bullies, blinding her. It is revealed ChuChu resents Spacians due to the discrimination Earthians like her suffer. As a result, when Suletta asks the students of Earth House to assist her, ChuChu chases her off. Miorine agrees to assist her, prompting Suletta to confide in her about her dream of founding her own school on Mercury. The next day, Suletta and ChuChu take the makeup test. However, the same bullies have now blinded Suletta's mobile suit, and the proctors refuse to let Miorine remove the paint. After numerous failed retries, Suletta breaks down from the pressure, causing ChuChu to assault the two bullies on her behalf and resulting in a fight that forces the makeup test to be rescheduled. Afterward, with ChuChu's begrudging acceptance, Suletta is welcomed into the Earth House.
5"Reflection in an Icy Eye"
Transliteration: "Kōri no Hitomi ni Utsuru no wa" (Japanese: 氷の瞳に映るのは)
Kiyoshi EgamiIchirō ŌkouchiHiroshi Kobayashi
Shinya Watada
Kiyoshi Egami
October 30, 2022 (2022-10-30)
Suletta and Earth House witness Elan win a duel against three opponents. During a meeting between the Peil Technologies leaders, it is revealed that Elan is actually a genetically modified human designed to pilot Gundams. Elan is ordered by his superiors to investigate Suletta, and he accepts since he believes she is an artificial human like him. Elan then invites Suletta to spend time with him on their day off, which many students interpret as a date. Elan asks Suletta about Aerial, and she explains that she considers Aerial part of her family. He then convinces Suletta to let him pilot Aerial and he tests its control systems and realizes it is in fact a Gundam, but also realizes it doesn't create data storms like other Gundams, meaning Suletta is not enhanced like he is. Elan loses interest in her and coldly rejects any friendship, breaking Suletta's heart. Guel witnesses this and challenges Elan to a duel, to which he readily agrees. Guel fields his Dilanza against Elan's new Pharact, but Elan reveals the Pharact is a Gundam and easily defeats Guel. Elan then challenges Suletta for possession of Aerial.
6"A Gloomy Song"
Transliteration: "Uttōshii Uta" (Japanese: 鬱陶しい歌)
Akihiro SaitōIchirō ŌkouchiAkihiro SaitōNovember 6, 2022 (2022-11-06)
Prospera meets the Peil Technologies scientist responsible for Elan, Belmeria Winston, who was also a Vanadis member. Belmeria admits that she was forced to work for Peil and asks why Prospera is still seeking revenge for what happened 21 years ago, while Prospera counters by asking how many test subjects preceded Elan. Meanwhile, Guel is disowned by his father and kicked out of the Jeturk house for his loss against Elan. The Earth House helps build a maneuvering thruster pack for the Aerial to aid Suletta in the upcoming duel. During a checkup, it's revealed that the current Elan Ceres is actually a body double for the real Elan, surgically altered to look like him, and that the current Elan's body can only survive the strain of one more battle. Wanting to connect with Elan, Suletta sings a birthday song for him over the Peil House PA. On the day of the duel, Suletta states that if she wins, Elan must tell her more about himself. The duel then commences, with both pilots being forced to push their mobile suits to their limits. Elan seemingly ensures his victory when he destroys Aerial's thruster pack, but the Aerial's GUND-BITs release an energy pulse that disables the Pharact, causing Elan to see the GUND-BITs as ghostly images of children. Suletta comes out the victor, and Elan opens up by admitting he just remembered someone who once celebrated his birthday, with Suletta ensuring him that she and many others will do so as well. The next day, Suletta waits to meet up with Elan, but unbeknownst to her, Peil Technologies is preparing to dispose of Elan due to his failure, planning on replacing him with another surgically-altered double.
7"Shall We Gundam?"
Transliteration: "Sharu Ui Gandamu?" (Japanese: シャル・ウィ・ガンダム?)
Shunichi YoshizawaKō YoneyamaMasahiko ŌkuraNovember 20, 2022 (2022-11-20)
Still worried about Elan, Suletta is invited to the "Incubation Party", an annual meeting for startups held by the Benerit Group and she decides to attend in order to meet him again. During the party, Suletta meets the original Elan, passing as the Elan she knew, who deceives her into believing that he is fine. The CEOs of Peil Technologies take both Elan and Suletta to the stage, where they confirm that Pharact is a Gundam, who reacted to Aerial during their fight, proving that it is a Gundam too, and while admitting that they also built a Gundam against the law, demands that Aerial must be scrapped. To protect Aerial, Miorine announces that she will start a new company called Gund-Arm Inc. to research safe applications for the Gund-Arm technology. She fails to get any investment at first but manages to fund the company after earning her father's approval. Afterwards, Prospera reveals to Suletta the truth about Aerial, that it is actually a Gundam.
8"Their Choice"
Transliteration: "Karera no Saitaku" (Japanese: 彼らの採択)
Yoshio Suzuki
Masakazu Sunazawa
Shouji Ikeno
Ryō Andō
Yasuhiro NakanishiHiromitsu KanazawaNovember 27, 2022 (2022-11-27)
Miorine recruits the members of Earth House for the new company and makes it their base of operations. To learn more about the GUND format technology, she consults with both Prospera and Belmeria for information but both she and the rest of her companions are at doubt about working in a company that sells weapons. Meanwhile, Shaddiq makes repeated offers to buy out Gund-Arm since he believes Gundams are the future of the Benerit Group, but Miorine refuses. However, upon learning more about Cardo Nabo and her intentions, Miorine decides that the focus of her company will be improving the GUND format for medical applications which was its original purpose. Having convinced the others about her vision, Miorine prepares to launch her company, until she learns that Shaddiq had the school regulations altered to prevent that, intending to seize Aerial and all technology related to it for himself.
9"If I Could Take One More Step Toward You"
Transliteration: "Ato Ippo, Kimi ni Fumidaseta nara" (Japanese: あと一歩、キミに踏み出せたなら)
Akira Toba
Shinya Watada
Yasuhiro NakanishiHiroshi Kobayashi
Shinya Watada
Susumu Nishizawa
December 4, 2022 (2022-12-04)
Shaddiq attempts to convince Miorine to sign Gund-Arm over to him under the guise of saving the company. However, she deduces that he changed the rules himself to force the situation and challenges him to a team match between Earth House and Grassley House; if Miorine wins, the change to the school regulations will be reverted while Shaddiq will gain control of Gund-Arm if he wins. Suletta also tries asking Guel for help, but he reveals that he has been forbidden from dueling, and he is later withdrawn from school by his father. As the duel begins, most of Earth House is quickly defeated while Grassley House attempts to shut down the Aerial, only for the machine to reveal that it is immune to anti-Gundam weaponry. While Suletta singlehandedly takes out the rest of Grassley House, Shaddiq is able to catch her by surprise and corner her only to then be sniped by ChuChu, ending the duel in Earth House's victory. Afterward, Shaddiq asks Miorine if things would have been different if he had made more effort to win her affection, to which she just bitterly remarks that his regret is "too little, too late".
10"Circling Thoughts"
Transliteration: "Meguru Omoi" (Japanese: 巡る想い)
Seung-hui Son
Kōtarō Matsunaga
Ryō Andō
Ichirō ŌkouchiTomoki KyodaDecember 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)
Two months after forming Gund-Arm, Miorine has been promoting the company while Suletta and Earth House developed a set of prosthetic legs. Miorine also purchases a ship and hires her smuggler acquaintances as a crew, who admit that they are actually Space Assembly League agents sent to observe Gund-Arm. However, all of this causes Miorine to grow distanced from Suletta, causing the latter to question if they were ever truly friends. At the same time, Peil Technologies introduces a new body double of Elan to seduce Suletta into giving out the Aerial's secrets, though she senses something is amiss and rejects his advances. Elsewhere, tired of Delling's tyrannical leadership, Vim and Sarius plan to assassinate him during an upcoming meeting with Prospera at Plant Quetta. Shaddiq volunteers to do the deed and uses Nika's connections to hire the Earth-based mercenary group Dawn of Fold. Meanwhile, Guel ran away from home and joined a space transport crew. However, the ship is hijacked by Dawn of Fold en route to Plant Quetta while Shaddiq reveals to his comrades that he plans to use the situation to break up the Benerit Group entirely.
11"The Witches from Earth"
Transliteration: "Chikyū no Majo" (Japanese: 地球の魔女)
Kōhei Kuratomi
Shinya Watada
Ichirō ŌkouchiHiromitsu Kanazawa
Shinya Watada
Hiroshi Kobayashi
December 25, 2022 (2022-12-25)
Earth House arrives at Plant Quetta to pick up Aerial, though Suletta becomes increasingly insecure as she starts to believe that not only Miorine, but all of her friends in Earth House intend to discard her. Meanwhile, Prospera meets with Delling and reveals her true identity as Elnora Samaya, admitting she came to Plant Quetta to observe Delling's secret "Quiet Zero" project. In space, the Dawn of Fold use their hijacked ship to smuggle their mobile suits into Plant Quetta, with Guel being outraged that they have somehow obtained Jeturk mobile suits. Nika warns Miorine that she should pay more attention to Suletta's feelings, and Miorine overhears Suletta confiding her insecurities to Elnora. Miorine angrily confronts Suletta and tells her to be more honest about her feelings, admitting that meeting Suletta has greatly improved her life. Suletta and Miorine reconcile just as the Dawn of Fold attack Plant Quetta. Led by the young pilots Sophie and Norea, the Dawn of Fold forces forcibly separate part of Plant Quetta from the main station, isolating Delling as well as Suletta and Miorine. Suletta is separated from Miorine and finds herself at the mercy of Sophie, who recognizes her and reveals that she is a witch from Earth.
12"Keep Marching On Instead of Running Off"
Transliteration: "Nigedasu Yori mo Susumu Koto wo" (Japanese: 逃げ出すよりも進むことを)
Shinnosuke Itō
Akihiro Saitō
Akira Toba
Ryō Andō
Ichirō ŌkouchiTomoki Kyoda
Ryō Andō
Hiroshi Kobayashi
January 8, 2023 (2023-01-08)
Dawn of Fold continues their attack on Plant Quetta, swiftly eliminating the local garrison and landing troops inside the station to search for Delling. Nika is barely able to signal her comrades not to attack the Earth House ship, but House member Martin witnesses her act. Meanwhile, Miorine meets up with her father but he gets badly wounded whilst protecting her, prompting her to hastily administer first aid. Elsewhere, Guel escapes his captors and steals a Dawn of Fold mobile suit, only to be attacked by Vim piloting his personal Dilanza. Guel is forced to defend himself and kills Vim, discovering his identity too late. Back with Suletta, she is able to make her way to Aerial's hangar where she meets up with Elnora, who tells her that, to protect Miorine, she must be willing to kill. Mobilizing the newly upgraded Aerial, she easily overwhelms Sophie and Norea just as reinforcements arrive, forcing Dawn of Fold to retreat. Suletta then tracks down Miorine and uses Aerial to crush a stray Dawn of Fold soldier threatening her, leaving Miorine in shock at how Suletta could so casually kill a person.

Manga

A side-story manga adaptation written by Kō Yoneyama and illustrated by Chika Tōjō, with original character designs by mogmo and planning cooperation by Hisadake, will begin serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Gundam Ace magazine in Q2 2023. The manga is set years after the Vanadis incident and focuses on a witch named Vilda Miren.

Merchandise

Alongside other merchandise releases, the series was given a line of Gunpla model kits as 1/144 High Grade models. An HG and SDEX model of the Gundam Aerial have been released, and a 1/100 scale Full Mechanics kit is set to release in 2023. Also, both Robot Spirits and Chogokin figure versions of the Gundam Aerial were also announced.

Shortly after the release of the series, Sunrise partnered with Yamazaki Baking for a cross-promotion following a string of Internet memes stemming from the Bic Camera branch in Akihabara stocking empty shelves of the Gundam Aerial model kit with YBC Aerial corn chips.

Notes

  1. The series premiered on MBS and TBS on October 2, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. JST.

References

  1. "Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site". Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site. Page: "Words" Section: "Spacian and Earthian". Retrieved December 10, 2022. The inhabitants of space are called 'Spacians,' and the inhabitants of Earth are called 'Earthians.' The economic disparity between these two camps has widened with the growth of space industry and the decay of Earth's environment, producing division and strife between Spacians and Earthians.
  2. "Shall We Gundam?". Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Episode 7. November 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 17, 2022). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Reveals Staff, Story, Characters, Mecha". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  4. ^ Mateo, Alex (July 14, 2022). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Unveils Cast, Visuals, Promo Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  5. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 1, 2023). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Reveals English Dub's Cast, February 5 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  6. "Suletta Mercury|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 4, 2022). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Reveals 2nd Promo Video, Main Cast, October 2 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  8. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 29, 2022). "Haruka Shiraishi Replaces Yume Miyamoto as Nika Nanaura in Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Dempsey, Liam (October 23, 2022). "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Anime Enrolls 6 Additional Cast Members". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  10. "Martin Upmont|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  11. "Nuno Kargan|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  12. "Ojelo Gabel|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  13. "Till Nys|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  14. "Lilique Kadoka Lipati|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  15. "Aliya Mahvash|Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site".
  16. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 15, 2021). "Sunrise Reveals Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, 1st New Gundam TV Anime in 7 Years". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  17. "「第2回ガンダムカンファレンス」開催 ガンダムを通じて社会問題を考えるサステナブルプロジェクト「GUDA」よりガンダムエデュケーショナルプログラム始動" (Press release). Bandai Namco Entertainment. September 15, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  18. ^ Mateo, Alex (January 28, 2022). "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Premieres in October". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  19. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 29, 2022). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Reveals Franchise's 1st 'Female Hero' in Main Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  20. GA-11 2022, pp. 6–9, 『機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女』岡本拓也インタビュー harvnb error: no target: CITEREFGA-112022 (help)
  21. "機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女:女性主人公 学園を舞台にした理由 "新しいガンダム"の挑戦". Mantanweb. October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  22. 岡本拓也 (October 9, 2022). "「ガンダムは僕らに向けたものじゃない」10代のリアルな言葉に衝撃を受けて──『機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女』岡本拓也プロデューサーインタビュー前編". アキバ総研 (Interview). Kakaku.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  23. Dempsey, Liam (September 4, 2022). "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Anime Sets October 2 Launch with New Visual, Trailer". Crunchyroll. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  24. Lacerna, Michael (July 21, 2022). "Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Confirms Worldwide Streaming Premiere". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  25. Mateo, Alex (September 21, 2022). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Fall 2022 Anime Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  26. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 26, 2022). "Ani-One Asia Streams Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, My Master Has no Tail, Blue Lock Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  27. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury HD | bilibili, retrieved October 11, 2022
  28. "3. Blue Lock. 4. Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch From Mercury. Dua-duanya tayang tiap hari Minggu. (@NetflixID)". Twitter. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  29. "Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site (On Demand)". Mobile Suit Gundam THE WITCH FROM MERCURY Official Site. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  30. Whitbrook, James (January 30, 2023). "Gundam With From Mercury English Dub Now Streaming". Gizmodo. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  31. Mateo, Alex (August 9, 2021). "Sony's Funimation Global Group Completes Acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  32. Cayanan, Joanna (January 30, 2023). "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Side Story Manga Launches in Spring". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  33. Morrissy, Kim (October 17, 2022). "Aerial Snack Brand's Association with Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Is Now Official". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 23, 2022.

External links

Preceded byMobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island Gundam metaseries (production order)
2022–ongoing
Succeeded byN/A
Gundam
TV series
Main series
Build series
Other spin-offs
Films
OVA/ONA
Print
Manga
Novels
Music
Albums
Singles
Characters
Technology
Related
Category
Sunrise television series
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Category
Categories: