The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has been running since 1978 in Japan, and can be divided into two categories: works that fit into their primary Universal Century chronology, and standalone alternate universe installments that require no prior investment.
The latest feature film in the series, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway, is definitely in the former category. It’s an adaptation of creator Yoshiyuki Tomino’s 1989 novel trilogy Hathaway’s Flash, itself a sequel to the 1988 movie Char’s Counterattack.
It’s safe to say Gundam novices might be a little lost coming into this movie. But then again, this Gundam veteran was also lost in a torrent of character introductions, shifting alliances and philosophical arguments.
Short version: Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway is a lot to take in.
But it’s also a lot of fun if you focus on the bravura animation and stylish direction and editing.
To explain the premise would verge upon an explanation of decades of continuity, but I’ll try to be brief.
A dozen years after perennial franchise anti-hero Char Aznable unsuccessfully tried to destroy Earth’s environment in order to drive humanity into space (and presumably died in the attempt), Hathaway Noa, the son of longtime Gundam mainstay Bright Noa, comes to Earth.
But Hathaway was radicalized by Char and his teachings, and now secretly leads a terrorist organization under the alias Mafty Navue Erin with the goal of assassinating corrupt Earth Federation officials and prompting humans to relocate to the stars lest they destroy the Earth.
Hathaway is drawn to a girl named Gigi Andalucia who seems to have the ability to know when people are lying, and forms a tentative bond with a Federation officer, Capt. Kenneth Sleg. But Gigi quickly figures out his secret identity, and Hathaway must figure out if she can be trusted, especially as Kenneth courts her.
The plot has a lot of wheels turning and little resolution, especially when you consider the movie is the first of a planned trilogy. Most of the story in Hathaway centers on establishing the strange not-quite-love triangle between the three leads, and their ideological differences with one another. All of that can get exhausting.
The good news is that the movie is flat-out gorgeous. Sunrise is at the top of its game, providing fluid, detailed animation.
Director Shuko Murase constructs immersive, hard-hitting action scenes, such as a mobile suit battle seen from the ground up, as Hathaway struggles to protect Gigi in the midst of the chaos. He and editor Daisuke Imai craft a briskly paced, exciting experience, even if the script is dense and difficult.
The movie doesn’t end on a cliffhanger – it just kind of stops. But on an aesthetic level, it earns your patience. The next installment is bound to explore the characters in greater depth, but as long as it looks as good as this one, I may not even care.
If you love animation, you’ll find something to enjoy in Hathaway.
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway is now streaming on Netflix
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Produced by Sunrise, Inc.
Screenplay by Yasuyuki Muto
Mobile Suit Gundam Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate
Directed by Shukou Murase
Featuring Kenshô Ono, Reina Ueda, Jun’ichi Suwabe, Sôma Saitô,
Kenjirô Tsuda, Yui Ishikawa, Fukushi Ochiai, Shunsuke Takeuchi,
Misato Matsuoka, Chiharu Sawashiro, Atsumi Tanezaki, Kôichi Yamadera
