Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
File:Ms unicorn logo.png
機動戦士ガンダムUC(ユニコーン) (Kidō Senshi Gundam UC (Unicorn))
Genre	Mecha, Action, Military
Light novel
Written by	Harutoshi Fukui
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Magazine	Gundam Ace
Demographic	Male
Original run	December 26, 2006 – June 26, 2009
Volumes	10
Original video animation
Directed by	Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Written by	Yasuyuki Muto
Studio	Sunrise
Released	February 20, 2010 – present
Episodes	6

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (機動戦士ガンダムUC(ユニコーン), Kidō Senshi Gandamu Yunikōn) is a light novel series by popular Japanese author Harutoshi Fukui (Shūsen no Lorelei, Bōkoku no Aegis). The novel takes place in Gundam's Universal Century timeline. Character and mechanical designs are provided by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and Hajime Katoki, respectively. An anime adaptation of the novels premiered on Sony's PlayStation Network Japan from February 20, 2010, and the first episode had a simultaneous worldwide DVD and Blu-Ray Disc release on March 12, 2010.

Setting

The novel begins in U.C. 0001, at the very beginning of human space colonization, with the Laplace Incident, a major event that influences the course of human history forever. The main story takes place in U.C. 0096, three years after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack.

Characters

Civilian

Banagher Links (バナージ・リンクス, Banāji Rinkusu)

Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama (Japanese); Steve Staley (English)

A boy who is a student at Anaheim Industry Technical School in the colony "Industrial 7". He is described as seeing war as something akin to fiction, as he was born after the One Year War ended and did not experience the more isolated wars that followed it. However, upon meeting Audrey, he is drawn into a new conflict. He does a part-time job clearing space debris with a miniature MS. He has been trusted with the Gundam Unicorn with his father's last breath.

Audrey Burne (オードリー・バーン, Ōdorī Bān)

Voiced by: Ayumi Fujimura (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)

A girl from a noble family, whose life changes after she meets Banagher. Her name appears to be derived from famed actress Audrey Hepburn. She is actually Mineva Lao Zabi under a pseudonym.

Takuya Irei (タクヤ・イレイ)

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese); Robby Sharpe (English)

Another student of Anaheim Industry Technical School and also Banagher's roommate. He wishes to become a test pilot for Anaheim Electronics and he knows a lot about mobile suits.

Micott Bartsch (ミコット・バーチ, Mikotto Bāchi)

Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu (Japanese); Rachael Lillis (English)

A girl who commutes to a high school adjacent the Anaheim Industry Technical School. Her father is the plant manager of Industrial 7. In the OVA, to save time, Micott is shown to actually go to the Anaheim Industry Technical School.

Syam Vist (サイアム・ビスト, Saiamu Bisuto)

Voiced by: Ichiro Nagai (Japanese); Troy Baker (English)

A boy born in a small country located in Western South Asia. He became a terrorist because of the twisted society and tough life. During the terrorist activity at the official residence "Laplace" he came into possession of a strange object (U.C.001). Through underworld connections he married into the Vist family and became the head of the influential Vist Foundation. He is still alive in U.C.0096 as he used cryonics.

Cardeas Vist (カーディアス・ビスト, Kādiasu Bisuto)

Voiced by: Takayuki Sugo (Japanese); Steve Mann (English)

Grandchild of Syam Vist, second generation head of the Vist family. Was a helicopter pilot in the Earth Federation when he was young. He is the real father of the protagonist, Banagher Links. With his dying breath, he entrusted the Unicorn Gundam to Banagher.

Alberto Vist (アルベルト・ビスト, Aruberuto Bisuto)

Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); Johnny Yong Bosch (English)

A staff of Anaheim Electronics who board the Nahal Argama to stop the opening of the "Laplace's box". Shows attachment to the "Unicorn". Alberto is Cardeas' legitimate son, and Alberto actually fired the shot that ended up killing his father.

Martha Vist Carbine (マーサ・ビスト・カーバイン, Māsa Bisuto Kābain)

Cardeas' younger sister. She married into the Carbine family which established Anaheim Electronics. Through the Carbine family she has connections with the higher ups of the Earth Federation. Concerning the treatment of the "box" she oppose her father and brother. The attack of Industrial 7 is seen to be in line with her intention.

Neo Zeon

Full Frontal (フル・フロンタル, Furu Furontaru)

Voiced by: Shuichi Ikeda

• Age: Unknown

The mysterious leader of the Neo Zeon remnant forces who is described as the "2nd coming of Char". Like Char Aznable, he is a blonde man whose face is hidden behind a mask, and he wears a red uniform and pilots a red mobile suit. Similar to Char, he holds the Neo Zeon remnants together with his high charisma. Whether the name is an alias is unspecified. On the contrary, his name holds the meaning of "stark naked"(or fully exposed) although it could easily be reference to a full frontal assault. He plays around Banagher and the others with his puzzling speech and behaviour. He is fighting against the Earth Federation for "the secret" of the foundation of the Universal Century.

His face and tone closely resemble Char's. Nahel Argama's captain Otto, who watched Char's archived recordings, remarked that the voice is just like it. He is later revealed to be a cyber Newtype who was genetically altered to resemble the missing-in-action Char Aznable. His memories were then implanted from the psycho frame of one of the Mobile suits previously piloted by Char (probably Sazabi, if so, confirming Char's death).

Suberoa Zinnerman (スベロア・ジンネマン, Suberoa Jinneman)

Voiced by: Hideaki Tezuka (Japanese); Michael Alston Baley (English)

Captain of "Garancieres", the ship of "The Sleeves" which is disguised as a cargo ship.

Marida Cruz (マリーダ・クルス, Marīda Kurusu)

Voiced by: Yuko Kaida (Japanese); Tara Platt (English)

A female pilot of the MS "Kshatriya" on board the Garancieres. A capable pilot and artificial Newtype. She refers to captain Suberoa as "Master" and loyally carry out his orders. Originally known as "Puru Twelve", she is actually a clone of Elpeo Puru. She was awakened by Glemy Toto and fought with her sisters during the first Neo Zeon movement. After the fight with Chara Soon in U.C.0089.1.17, one of the clones survived and was retrieved by an MS pod. She was then sold into sex slavery, and from then on she worked as a prostitute. Before coming under the protection of Suberoa, she experienced countless pregnancies and abortions and her body is scarred by the abuse of her customers. During an examination on board Nahal Argama when she was captured, it was ascertained that she cannot bear children anymore.

Angelo Sauper (アンジェロ・ザウパー, Anjero Zaupā)

Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara

A MS pilot of "The Sleeves". Team leader of the Frontal bodyguards. He adores Full Frontal. Pilots a purple Geara Zulu.

Flaste Schole (フラスト・スコール, Furasuto Sukōru)

Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (Japanese); Sean Schemmel (English)

Earth Federation

Riddhe Marcenas (リディ・マーセナス, Ridi Māsenasu)

Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa

MS pilot of Earth Federation's Londo Bell team. Son from a family of politicians. He entered the army opposing his family wishes for him to be a politician. He wants to make a name on his own and became a pilot. Originally pilots the mass-produced RGZ-95 ReZEL, a successor to the RGZ-91 ReGZ (Refined Gundam Zeta), eventually becomes the pilot of the RX-0 Gundam Unicorn Unit-2 "Banshee".

Ronan Marcenas (ローナン・マーセナス, Rōnan Māsenasu)

Riddhe's father, an important member of the Earth Federation Central Council.

Ricardo Marcenas (リカルド・マーセナス, Rikarudo Māsenasu)

Supported by the liberal group, he became the first prime minister of the Federal Government. Born in America but he is raised in the midst of travelling to different countries. He died in the Laplace terror incident in U.C.0001.

Otto Midas (オットー・ミタス, Ottō Midasu)

The captain of the Londo Bell ship "Nahel Argama".

Daguza Mackle (ダグザ・マックール, Daguza Makkūru)

Voiced by: Hiroki Touchi

The commander of ECOAS.

Mihiro Oiwakken (ミヒロ・オイワッケン)

Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi

A newly appointed female officer onboard the Nahel Argama.

Mobile Weapons & Ships

Earth Federation

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam

A pure white MS produced by the "UC Project," part of the Federation Space Force's reorganization plan. The entire movable frame of this experimental machine forms a psycoframe, and its responsiveness is extremely high. It also incorporates a special "Laplace Program" OS and a system known as "NT-D (Newtype Drive, called Newtype Destroyer System by Full Frontal)." When NT-D is activated, the internal frame expands and the entire figure is transformed. In the process, the armor separates along its seams, and slides are released. A red glow can be seen where the internal frame is exposed by the gaps in the armor, and this is believed to be a psycoframe luminescence phenomenon. The machine's performance, in particular its mobility, is dramatically increased when NT-D is active. In its normal mode, it sports a head resembling that of mass-produced MS like the GM. Equiped with beam magnum, hyper bazooka, NT-D type shield, four beam saber and beam gatling gun as an option.

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam (Destroy Mode)

The Unicorn's appearance when the 'NT-D' system is activated. In this form, the psycoframe built into the entire body's movable frame reads the pilot's thoughts (psycowaves) and directly influences the unit's movements. In other words, the MS can ultimately be controlled by thought alone. However, when compared to one's idea of how a human body works, the stress of gravity on a 20 meter MS (more than 10 times the size) is extraordinary, before entrusting the Unicorn to Banagher, Cardeas says he would 'need the resolve to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders'. Aided by the psycommu, the pilot's mind can only endure about five minutes of operation, after which a limiter is believed to activate, returning the MS to normal Unicorn form. Furthermore, the system activates not according to the pilot's discretion, but automatically when certain conditions are met, usually when the pilot encounters a Newtype adversary. In this mode, the mobile suit becomes taller and its head transforms to one having standard Gundam features.

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 "Banshee"

The second Unicorn Gundam code name "Banshee". While the Banshee belongs to the Unicorn Gundam line-up, it resembles a lion, especially when the NT-D system is activated. Not much is known about the Banshee, everything about it is a mystery at the moment. The only thing known now is that it is stronger than the Unicorn Gundam. It is initially piloted by Marida Cruz, and later by Riddhe Marcenas.

RGZ-95 ReZEL (Refined Zeta Gundam Escort Leader)

A Londo Bell mobile suit intended as another attempt to mass-produces the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, after the failure of the RGZ-91 ReGZ. It uses the basic frame of the RGM-89 Jegan, and has a transformation system similar to the MSA-005 Methuss instead of the Back Weapons System (BWS). It is armed with a beam rifle and beam shield, and piloted by Riddhe Marcenas. Equiped with hyper beam rifle, beam rifle and shield.

D-50C Loto

A transformable tank mobile suit used by ECOAS. It is a predecessor of the F-50D/RXR-44 Guntank R-44. Armed with beam burner, machine gun, 120mm cannon x2, Gatling gun. Loto also appeared in U.C. 0123 as SNRI's defense squad (MS Gundam F91).

MSN-001A1 Delta Plus

A variable mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics and supplied to the Nahal Argama after the loss of most of its MS complement in combat against the Kshatriya. An all-purpose attack mobile suit that can re-enter the atmosphere unassisted and is also capable of atmospheric flight. Because it is a non-standard prototype, it is difficult to place in a regular military unit, so it was sent to the Nahal Argama, which has numerous such unusual machines.

It is based on the MSN-001 Delta Gundam, a transformable MS designed during the Gryps Conflict that, because of problems with insufficient frame strength, was completed as the non-transforming MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki. CG models of the Delta Gundam exist on the net, though it was never built. While Anaheim Electronics was trying various approaches to develop a production model of the Zeta series as a transformable MS, it also simultaneously conducted a reinvestigation of the shelved Delta plan and created the MSN-001A1 Delta Plus as a result. It is said that a few units of the Delta Plus were produced as a mass production prototype. Equiped with beam rifle, beam saber, vulcan gun and shield.

RGM-89 Jegan

The mass produced mobile suit which, since U.C. 0089, replaced the old GM series. Jegans have better manoeuvrability in space than GMs and are equipped with Vulcan guns, beam sabers, a beam rifle, 3 grenades, a shield and dual missile launchers.

RGM-89S Stark Jegan

An advanced version of the Jegan developed by the Earth Federation in U.C. 0093. It's used as an anti-ship assault type mobile suit. It has additional armour, boosters and weapons such as missile pods mounted on its shoulders, a hyper bazooka, the same type of beam rifle as used by the Jegan, optional tactical nuclear warheads and dual 30mm machine guns.

RGM-96X Jesta

A mass production mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics. The successor to the RGM-89 Jegan, this MS has a dark blue color scheme reminiscent of the RGM-79Q GM Quell. A handful of Jestas are assigned to the Nahel Argama in order to offset the Unicorn Gundam's vulnerability after it uses its Destroy Mode.

Clop class Carotte

The main space cruiser model used by the Earth Federation Army.

Nahel Argama

The space cruiser of Londo Bell. It served during the first Neo Zeon movement and has undergone a refit to make it compatible with spare parts of current time. The most prominent change is that the rear thrusters block has been changed to that of a Clop class and MS hanger has been expanded.

Ra Cailum

Magallanica

A huge spaceship used in the building of space colonies. It is categorized as a "colony builder". Its shape resembles that of a snail. It is used in the construction of Industrial 7.

Salamis class Space patrol cruiser
Alaska

The name of a resupply ship, a Colombus class. It resupplied the Nahel Argama.

Irish class battleship

Name not known. Provides support for the resupply ship Alaska.

Neo Zeon

AMS-129 Geara Zulu

A Neo Zeon mass-production mobile suit. It is the successor to the AMS-119 Geara Doga. Equipped with beam machine gun (with grenade launcher), hand grenade, rocket launcher, beam axe and shield. Additional Rangebruno cannon (kind of long range beam machine gun) for Angelo Sauper's unit.

NZ-666 Kshatriya

A green mobile suit fielded by Neo Zeon, it is very similar in appearance to the NZ-000 Quin Mantha, though much smaller. It is armed with a total of twelve megaparticle cannons, two beam sabers, and twenty-four funnels (six in each binder). The pattern on its arms led to the Neo Zeon remnants being called "The Sleeves". Its pilot's name is Marida Cruz.

MSN-06S Sinanju

Personal machine of Full Frontal, it strongly resembles the late Char Aznable's MSN-04 Sazabi. Developed by Anaheim Electronics, it equips a psycoframe and served as a testbed for the NT-D System. The resulting data was used by Anaheim to complete the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, and the Sinanju was subsequently stolen by Neo Zeon in U.C. 0094.

AMS-129M Zee Zulu

A mobile suit developed by Neo Zeon as marine type mobile suit for high maneuverability and close combat in space. It has the same frame as Geara Zulu and equipped with ballast tank, hydro jet, fin, heat knife and claw.

RMS-192M Marine Zaku

Mass production mobile suit developed by Neo Zeon using the outdated Zaku from One Year War as the base. It has better maneuverability in space than Zaku.

AMX-101K Gallus K

Neo Zeon's Mass Production Mobile suit successor to Gallus J from Axis Fleet. Equipped with finger missile and beam cannon.

RMS-119 EWAC Zack

Recon type of Hi Zack, a rotor dome radar is mounted on its back.

Garancieres

A space cargo ship. The ship can operate both in space and in earth's atmosphere. It can also capable of atmospheric exit and re-entry. On the outside it is a cargo ship of the civilian company "Libacorner Delivery" but it is actually the ship of "The Sleeves". It has the MS "Kshatriya" and "Geara Zulu" onboard.

Rewloola

The flagship of the new Neo Zeon.

The ship is colored red as it was the ship of the previous commander, Char. The ship carries 10 Geara Zulu as its main attack force.

Organizations

Londo Bell

ECOAS

Earth Federation Space Forces Special Task Group. A newly put together group that is in charge of hunting down the Neo Zeon remnants. Known as the Manhunter unit.

"The Sleeves"

This is the name the Neo Zeon remnants are known as. After the second Neo Zeon movement, the remaining Neo Zeon troops are gathered by Full Frontal at the ruins of a resource asteroid.

Vist Foundation

Anaheim Electronics

Media

Light novel

No.	Title	Release date	ISBN
01	"Day of the Unicorn (Part 1)" Yunikōn no Hi (Ue) ("ユニコーンの日(上)")	September 26, 2007	978-4-04-713969-5
02	"Day of the Unicorn (Part 2)" Yunikōn no Hi (Ge) ("ユニコーンの日(下) ")	September 26, 2007	978-4-04-713970-1
03	"The Red Comet" Akai Suisei ("赤い彗星")	December 26, 2007	978-4-04-715003-4
04	"Palau Capture Battle" Parao Kouryaku Sen ("パラオ攻略戦")	April 26, 2008	978-4-04-715060-7
05	"Specter of Laplace" Rapurasu no Bourei ("ラプラスの亡霊")	July 26, 2008	978-4-04-715084-3
06	"In the Depths of a Gravity Well" Juuryoku no Ido no Soko de ("重力の井戸の底で")	October 25, 2008	978-4-04-715112-3
07	"Black Unicorn" Kuroi Yunikōn ("黒いユニコーン")	December 26, 2008	978-4-04-715143-7
08	"The Sky and the Stars" Sora to Hoshi to ("宇宙と惑星と")	April 25, 2009	978-4-04-715229-8
09	"Over the Rainbow (Part 1)" Niji no Kanata ni (Ue) ("虹の彼方に(上)")	August 26, 2009	978-4-04-715286-1
10	"Over the Rainbow (Part 2)" Niji no Kanata ni (Ge) ("虹の彼方に(下)")	August 26, 2009	978-4-04-715287-8

Anime

In the June 2009 issue of the Japanese monthly manga magazine, Gundam Ace, it was announced that an anime adaptation for Gundam Unicorn has been green-lit for late 2009, but was moved to spring 2010. It will be directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and will feature screenplays written by Yasuyuki Muto. Hajime Katoki, who was the mechanical designer for the novel, will also work on the anime alongside veteran designers Junya Ishigaki and Mika Akitaka, and newcomer Nobuhiko Genba. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's character designs will be adapted for animation by Kumiko Takahashi, and the music will be composed by Hiroyuki Sawano. It is planned to be six 50 minute episodes and Sunrise has announced its plan to release the anime worldwide. The series premiered on PlayStation Network Japan for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable systems from February 20, 2010. The Blu-Ray Disc edition was released simultaneously worldwide on March 12, 2010, featuring both Japanese and English audio and subtitles in five languages (Japanese, English, French, Spanish and Chinese).

Episode List

#	Title	Original airdate	English airdate

Videogames

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam is one of the playable secret mobile suits in the game Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next, come along with a new Route H. For the Playstation Portable port Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next Plus, the Unicorn is joined by NZ-666 Kshatriya.

Source

• Official Websites: Novel, Anime (Japanese), Anime (English)
• Gunota Headlines
• Gundam Unicorn novel with anime advertisement
• June 2009 Newtype cover