Gundam Reconguista in G

Gundam Reconguista in G
Cover for the First DVD Volume
ガンダム Gのレコンギスタ (Gandamu G no Rekongisuta)
Genre	Mecha, Science Fiction
Anime television series
Directed by	Yoshiyuki Tomino
Written by	Yoshiyuki Tomino
Music by	Yugo Kanno
Studio	Sunrise
Licensed by	‹See Tfd› AUS Madman Entertainment NA Sunrise UK Anime Limited
Network	MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS
Original run	October 2, 2014 – March 26, 2015
Episodes	26[1]
Manga
Written by	Tamon Ōta
Published by	Kadokawa
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Gundam Ace
Original run	October 2014 – present

Gundam Reconguista in G (Japanese: ガンダム Gのレコンギスタ, Hepburn: Gandamu G no Rekongisuta), also referred to as G-Reco (Gレコ), is a 2014 Japanese science fiction anime television series and the thirteenth installment in Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise. Created for the Gundam 35th Anniversary celebration, it is the first Gundam TV series to be written and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino since Turn A Gundam in 1999 and features character designs by Kenichi Yoshida of Overman King Gainer & Eureka Seven fame.^[2] Airing in the MBS/TBS networks' Animeism block starting in October 2014, it is the first traditional Gundam TV series to be initially released as a late night anime.

Plot summary

In Regild Century 1014, 1,014 years after the end of the Universal Century,^[3][4] a young member of the Capital Guard named Bellri Zenam (ベルリ・ゼナム, Beruri Zenamu), charged with protecting the orbital elevator Capital Tower,^[2] encounters and helps capture a highly advanced mobile suit, the G-Self and its pilot, Aida Surgan (アイーダ・スルガン, Aida Surugan), while defending the tower from space pirates called the Pirate Corps. Feeling a connection with both the G-Self and its pilot, Bellri is able to control the mobile suit, operable only by a select few, subsequently becoming involved in a plot with consequences for the Regild Century.^[5][6]

Characters

Capital Army / Capital Guard / Capital Territory

Bellri Zenam (ベルリ・ゼナム, Beruri Zenamu)

Voiced by: Mark Ishii

Noredo Nug (ノレド・ナグ, Noredo Nagu)

Voiced by: Minako Kotobuki

Nobell

Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki

Raraiya Monday (ラライヤ・マンディ, Raraiya Mandy)

Voiced by: Yukari Fukui

Luin Lee / Mask (ルイン・リー ／ マスク, Ruin Rī / Masuku)

Voiced by: Takuya Satō

Manny Ambassada (マニィ・アンバサダ, Manyi Anbasada)

Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki

Dellensen Samatar (デレンセン・サマター, Derensen Samatā)

Voiced by: Tsuyoshi Koyama

Kerbes Yoh (ケルベス・ヨー, Kerubesu Yō)

Voiced by: Yusuke Suda

Wilmit Zenam (ウィルミット・ゼナム, Uirumitto Zenamu)

Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka

Becker Shadam (ベッカー・シャダム, Bekkā Shadamu)

Voiced by: Keiji Himeno

Cumpa Rusita (クンパ・ルシータ, Kunpa rushīta)

Voiced by: Akio Hirose

Barara Peor (バララ・ペオール, Barara Peōru)

Voiced by: Mai Nakahara

Gel Trimedestus Nug (ゲル・トリメデストス・ナグ, Geru Torimedesutosu Nagu)

Voiced by: Shinshū Fuji

Jugan Meinstron (ジュガン・マインストロン, Jugan Mainsutoron)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

Birgiz Shiba (ビルギーズ・シバ, Birugīzu Shiba)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Naka

Amerian Army / Pirate Corps

Aida Surugan (アイーダ・スルガン, Aīda Surugan)

Voiced by: Yu Shimamura

Gusion Surugan (グシオン・スルガン, Gushion Surugan)

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Kinoshita

Cahill Saint (カーヒル・セイント, Kāhiru Seinto)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa

Klimton Nicchini / Klim Nick (クリムトン・ニッキーニ / クリム・ニック, Kurimuton Nikkīni / Kurimu Nikku)

Voiced by: Ryota Ohsaka

Donyell Tos (ドニエル・トス, Donieru Tosu)

Voiced by: Shinpachi Tsuji

Mick Jack (ミック・ジャック, Mikku Jakku)

Voiced by: Michiko Kaiden

Happa (ハッパ, Happa)

Voiced by: Chihiro Suzuki

Steer (ステア, Sutea)

Voiced by: Michelle Yumiko Payne

Executive Officer (副長, Fukuchō)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

Gisela (ギゼラ, Gizera)

Voiced by: Kairi Satake

Adams Smith (アダム・スミス, Adamu Sumisu)

Voiced by: Mitsuaki Kanuka

Clem Moa (クレン・モア, Kuren Moa)

Voiced by: Itaru Yamamoto

Maki Sole (マキ・ソール, Maki Sōru)

Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa

Jama Delia (ジャマ・デリア, Jama Deria)

Voiced by: Tomohiro Fujitaka

Ressel Blanc (レッセル・ブラン, Resseru Buran)

Voiced by: Taishi Murata

Annette Sora (アネッテ・ソラ, Anette Sora)

Voiced by: Miyuki Satō

Medi Susun (メディー・ススン, Medī Susun)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

Kiran Kim (キラン・キム, Kiran Kimu)

Voiced by: Mīna Obata

Luan (ルアン, Ruan)

Voiced by: Yoshiaki Hasegawa

Oliver (オリバー, Oribā)

Voiced by: Takuya Masumoto

Zuchini Nicchini (ズッキーニ・ニッキーニ, Zukkīni Nikkīni)

Voiced by: Toshihiko Kojima

Towasanga

Noutu Dorette (ノウトゥ・ドレット, Nouto~u Doretto)

Voiced by: Ryūji Mizuno

Raraiya Akuparl (ラライヤ・アクパール, Raraiya Akuparu)

Voiced by: Fukui Yukari

Mashner Hume (マッシュナー・ヒューム, Masshunā Hyūmu)

Voiced by: Chiaki Takahashi

Turbo Brockin (ターボ・ブロッキン, Tābo Burokkin)

Voiced by: Satoshi Taki

Rockpie Getty (ロックパイ・ゲティ, Rokkupai Geti)

Voiced by: Junya Hirano

Ringo Lon Giamanotta (リンゴ・ロン・ジャマノッタ, Ringo Ron Jamanotta)

Voiced by: Shintaro Asanuma

Gavan Magdala (ガヴァン・マグダラ, Gavu~an Magudara)

Voiced by: Tetsu Inada

Flaminia Kalle (フラミニア・カッレ, Furaminia Karre)

Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa

Lorucca Biskes (ロルッカ・ビスケス, Rorukka Bisukesu)

Voiced by: Atsuki Tani

Miraji Barbaros (ミラジ・バルバロス, Miraji Barubarosu)

Voiced by: Hideyuki Umezu

Jean Byeon Hazm (ジャン・ビョン・ハザム, Jan Byon Hazamu)

Voiced by: Itaru Yamamoto

Venus Globe

La Gu (ラ・グー, Ra Gū)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu

Elle Kind (エル・カインド, Eru Kaindo)

Voiced by: Yutaka Nakano

G-IT Laboratory

Kia Mbeki (キア・ムベッキ, Kia Mubekki)

Voiced by: Nakai Kazuya

Chickara Dual (チッカラ・デュアル, Chikkara De~yuaru)

Voiced by: Keiko Sugiura

Kun Soon (クン・スーン, Kun Sūn)

Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu

Rosenthal Kobashi (ローゼンタール・コバシ, Rōzentāru Kobashi)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

Flaminia Kalle (フラミニア・カッレ, Furaminia Karre)

Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa

Yaan Zishar (ヤーン・ジシャール, Yān Jishāru)

Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma

Production

Background

The series began development prior to 2009, when Yoshiyuki Tomino approached character designer Kenichi Yoshida to perform preliminary design work.^[1]

The announcement was first publicized in September 2011 under the codename G-Reco.^[7] Previously, in November 2010, Tomino had previewed an unfinished novel in the 100th issue of Gundam Ace called Hajimetai Capital G no Monogatari (はじめたいキャピタルGの物語), which revolved around a space elevator with similar characters and settings.^[7] The scenario for the show was completed and the anime began full production in 2012.^[8]

Reconguista in G was officially unveiled at the Gundam 35th Anniversary event on March 20, 2014.^[2] During the unveiling, Tomino explained the "G" stands for "Gundam", but primarily means "ground". He also explained the word "reconguista" is based on the Spanish word reconquista; however, the Japanese audience prefers a voiced "g" in the title which necessitated the change.^[9]

In an official livestream occurred after the anime's airing, Tomino stated that the timeline of the series is set 500 years after the events of Turn A Gundam (while confirming that it takes place 1,000 years after UC), to the surprise of producer Naohiro Ogata and others who were with him at the time. This directly contradicted what most published material claim, as Turn A Gundam had been said to take place thousands of years after UC, and not 500 years. The presence of the Moonlight Butterfly in was cited by Tomino as evidence of the revised timeline.^[4]

Staff

Gundam Reconguista in G is Yoshiyuki Tomino's first major original animated work since The Wings of Rean in 2004, though he had directed a CGI short for Gundam's 30th anniversary in 2009 called Ring of Gundam. The character designs of the series are by Kenichi Yoshida, who had his first character designs credit in Tomino's Overman King Gainer. The mechanical designs are by Akira Yasuda, who previously worked with Tomino as character designer in Turn A Gundam and mecha designer in Overman King Gainer, Kimitoshi Yamane, who also worked with Tomino in Overman King Gainer, and Ippei Gyōbu, an advertising illustrator who was working on his first mechanical designs.^[1] Yuugo Kanno is the composer of the music.^[6]

Short film

A short film with 3D CGI mecha scenes was released on May 21, 2015, featuring a battle between G-Self and G-Arcane, and the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. The film was released at Gundam Front Tokyo's Wall-G Theater in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan.

Release

The first three episodes were compiled for preview screenings in limited Japanese theaters starting August 23, 2014. This film was made available on the Japanese streaming website Docomo Anime Store in September 2014. The series started broadcast in the Animeism block on October 2, 2014 with a one-hour special of the first two episodes.^[6]

Sunrise will be releasing the series on home video (via Right Stuf Inc.) in 2016^[10] while Anime Limited acquired the rights to release the series in Europe.^[11]

Music

The first opening theme is "BLAZING" by Garnidelia, and the first ending theme is "G no Senkō" by Daisuke Hasegawa.

The second opening theme is "Magic of Futari (ふたりのまほう)" by May J. While the ending theme remains the same.

Related media

Manga adaptation

A manga adaptation of the show by Tamon Ōta is serialized in Gundam Ace magazine.

Video games

In Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Force PlayStation Vita game, the G-Self is a playable unit.^[12] The Mack Knife was later included as DLC.^[13] Both of the units also appear on the Arcade Game Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON.

Reception

The reaction to the series was mixed. Toshio Okada, a co-founder and former president of Gainax, has voiced concerns regarding the show's comprehensibility. He stated that "Ordinary people watch this and don't know what's happening," and "It's fine to make it for today's kids, but who does he think kids today are? Who does he think the kids that watch Yo-kai Watch are?"^[14] Lauren Orsini of Anime News Network criticized it in her review of the Gundam series as a whole. Stating "The storytelling is so confusing, it may take the entire series for you to figure out what's going" she recommended against watching it entirely.^[15] Meanwhile, Japanese social critic and editor-in-chief of the PLANETS magazine, Uno Tsunehiro, gave it a highly positive critical response, stating that "[It is] in my humble opinion, this disorientation is somewhat intended... What we see here may be an intense message that goes against the times." He went on to state that it reflects the dilemmas that humanity faced in the 20th century, and how technology and digital age culture has made us lose our ability to perceive and understand these detached realities.^[16] Likewise, writer Gen Urobuchi wrote a highly positive critical response to it, stating "If there are infinite possibilities in writing, is it possible to write a story about the potential danger of stories? A story that renounces stories? Yes it is. Reconguista of G did it", and "When I saw the end credits I was just moved, and exlaimed " they did it!". I had been worried about the limits of storytelling, and was just thankful for this slap from a veteran creator to me. Reconguista of G made me genki." ^[17]

In April 2015, Tomino responding to criticisms offered an apology to those who did not comprehend the story, stating "If I was told that it wasn't understandable because I was bad, all I could say is, 'I'm sorry,'".^[18]

Commercially the series was a success. The limited edition Blu-ray debuted 15th on the Oricon chart, with 3,864 units sold during the first week.^[19] The second volume of the Blu-ray debuted 4th on the Oricon chart, with 7,322 units sold in the first week.^[20] According to the Oricon chart, Gundam Reconguista in G ranked as the 22nd best selling anime of 2015 with 76,419 units sold in total.^[21]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Gundam Reconguista in G

• Official G-Reco website (Japanese)
• Gundam Reconguista in G (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Preceded by Mobile Suit Gundam-san	Gundam metaseries (production order) 2014-2015	Succeeded by Gundam Build Fighters Try