10 Things You Need To Know From Zeta Gundam Before Watching Char’s Counterattack

Some of the most important Gundam media was recently made available on Netflix for the first time: the original compilation film trilogy retelling the events of the first 1979 anime, and the climactic final film for that saga: Char’s Counterattack. Although it’s possible to move directly to Char’s Counterattack from the original trilogy, doing so will leave out some important context.

Notably missing from Netflix’s Gundam lineup is Zeta Gundam, the sequel series set seven years after the original Gundam, which provides essential characterization to the conflict in Char’s Counterattack. Char’s Counterattack can make even veteran fans feel a little lost, so it’s important to have at least some context going in.

10 Who Were The Titans?

The political aftershocks of the apocalyptic One Year War, one of the best wars seen in anime, were not kind to the Earth Federation. The disastrous events of the war inspired a deep-seated distrust of Newtypes, and by extension all Spacenoids, in the Earth Federation government. Originally established to hunt down and eliminate Zeon remnants, the Titans were a Federation special forces unit that became emblematic of Federation anti-Spacenoid sentiment.

With the Federation unwilling or unable to reign in this ascendant fascist military faction, the Titans perpetuated a number of atrocities, including the use of weapons of mass destruction against civilians, which went entirely unpunished by Earth.

9 What Was The A.E.U.G.?

With the Earth Federation inwardly occupied and derelict in its duty to protect colonists from the renegade Titans, a group of insurgents staffed by former Federation and Zeon soldiers called the AEUG (Anti-Earth Union Group) was established to destroy the Titans and to fight against the Federation government for Spacenoid self-determination.

Ideologically speaking, the AUEG espoused a broader pro-Spacenoid politics similar to Deikun’s original theories about mankind’s future in space. The idea that humanity will eventually need to leave the cradle of Earth to take its next evolutionary steps in space was especially important to Char Aznable, who occupied a prominent leadership role in the organization.

8 What Was The Gryps Conflict?

The Gryps Conflict is the second major military confrontation in the Earth Sphere after the first war in the Gundam watch order, The One Year War. It started out as a low-intensity conflict between AEUG insurgents and the militant Earth nativist faction, the Titans.. The early stages of the conflict saw AEUG strikes on major Federation infrastructure such as their former headquarters at Jaburo, and the Federation Assembly at Dakar.

The conflict would become more complicated when a third player, Zeon remnants in the asteroid base Axis, joined the fray on behalf of the Titans. After further decisive battles, the AEUG would eventually emerge victoriously, but not without great cost to their own organization.

7 What Was Axis Zeon?

After the One Year War, the surviving members of the Principality of Zeon retreated to the asteroid base Axis. In the seven years after the war, Axis Zeon built an impressive network of economic and political connections, biding their time outside of the Earth Sphere and gathering strength for their eventual return.

Axis Zeon eventually made their return, lead by the enigmatic Haman Karn, during the closing stages of the Gryps Conflict. With the Federation embroiled in civil war, Axis was able to become a key player in that conflict, courting both the Titans and AEUG as potential allies. Axis would eventually fall during the Second Neo-Zeon War during Gundam ZZ, leaving a power vacuum that Char Aznable would exploit.

6 What Is Londo Bell?

The Federation special forces unit featured prominently in Char’s Counterattack, Londo Bell, might be unfamiliar to viewers who choose to skip directly to the film from the original Gundam trilogy. Although the unit is most prominently featured in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, its formation has more to do chronologically with Zeta.

After the events of the First Neo Zeon War that ended in the fall of the Titans, the Federation’s need to root out anti-government action and Zeonic sentiment did not disappear. Londo Bell was created to address this need, and although it was afforded a smaller degree of operational freedom than the Titans were, it was staffed by many former AEUG members such as Amuro Ray and Bright Noa.

5 Char Was A Temporary Ally

Although Char remains thoroughly antagonistic in the old 1979 anime, which still stands the test of time, his role is reversed in Zeta Gundam. This time around, he’s an ally to his old enemies, fighting alongside even his old nemesis Amuro Ray.

During his time with the AEUG, Char adopted the alias Quatro Bajeena seemingly as a mechanism to product his identity within the organization, and to absolve himself of his personal responsibilities towards leadership. His alliance with those former rivals was short-lived, though, as he returns to a more antagonistic stance in Char’s Counterattack.

4 What’s Amuro Been Up To?

Shortly after the One Year War, Amuro was placed under semi-involuntary house arrest by the Federation government. Although his PTSD, as well as guilt over the death of Lalah Sune, made him reluctant to return to space, it was the Federation’s suspicion of Newtypes that formally confined him on Earth.

This state of affairs persisted for nearly 7 years, until, at the urging of his former allies, he joined the AEUG in their battle against the Titans. After participating in a number of the Gryps Conflict’s decisive battles on behalf of the AEUG, he joined the Federation’s Londo Bell special forces unit in the run-up to the Second Neo Zeon War, and the events of Char’s Counterattack.

3 What’s Anaheim Electronics?

Although Anaheim Electronics is mentioned in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, having helped to produce the RX-78-2 under Tem Ray’s supervision, they don’t play a very active role in the conflict. This changes in Zeta and by extension in Char’s Counterattack.

During the Gryps Conflict, Anaheim began to adopt a policy of manufacturing weapons, specifically mobile suits, for any faction willing to pay. This was exemplified by the fact that prominent figures in the corporation were some of the AEUG’s most important sponsors, while at the same time supplying advanced mobile suits to the Titans and Axis. This habit of playing every side at once will end up becoming an important plot point in Char’s Counterattack.

2 Char’s Status As A Spacenoid Hero

During the events of the One Year War, Char was venerated in the ranks of the Zeon’s military on account of his exceptional skills as a pilot, but rarely for his status as a political figurehead for some broader Spacenoid liberation movement. Char’s transformation from revenge-bent rival to Amuro to the embodiment of Spacenoid grievance towards Earth takes place during Zeta, in large part.

One key moment in this transition occurs during the AEUG’s attack on the Federation Assembly at Dakar. Seizing the podium, Char delivered a speech that was broadcast live around the Earth Sphere, speaking to its residents: “From the dawn of history, mankind has played in this cradle called Earth. But now, humanity must leave the nursery behind! Our infancy has come to an end!” This is an essential piece of Char’s characterization that fans might miss if they only watch Netflix’s Gundam selection.

1 What Is A Cyber Newtype?

Newtypes are individuals seen as undergoing humanity’s next evolutionary stage in space, developing a heightened awareness, empathy, and even psychic-like abilities. Although in some respects they represent a hopeful future for humanity in space, their latent abilities also make them exceptional pilots, and therefore valuable as human weapons.

The military value of Newtypes led to the eventual creation of “cyber” Newtypes, those being Newtypes that were created, rather than born. Cyber Newtypes typically underwent extensive chemical and cybernetic modification, as well as intense hypnotic conditioning.

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