Gundam School Part 26

"What is 'Gundam', anyway?" This simple (?) question is answered in our twenty-sixth casual weekly column just for new fans!


　A new super-simple intro column for new Gundam fans comes rolling in! We're back with Part 26 of what makes Gundam Gundam.

　 You can see our previous coverage of what makes Gundam Gundam here,and this week we're back with another Gundam standard!

One thing you really can't ignore about Gundam is some of the unforgettable (!?) dialogue.
In part 26, "Famous Gundam Lines (Part 1: Mobile Suit Gundam)", we'll look at a few of the best lines from the original series Mobile Suit Gundam!


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[Part 1]
Gundam's famous lines show off a character's personality!

"You've got no right! Not even my own father hit me before!" (Amuro Ray/Mobile Suit Gundam)
　We start off with a line from Mobile Suit Gundam protagonist Amuro Ray (episode 9, "Fly, Gundam!")

　 Amuro, a civilian, was caught up in an enemy raid and ended up in the cockpit of an experimental mobile suit (the RX-78-2 Gundam) developed by his father (a Federation technical officer.) Due to his inborn potential as a Newtype, he was able to easily (!?) control the machine, and was slowly eased into a position as a Federation pilot aboard the White Base space carrier.

　However, while Amuro took quickly to the controls of the Gundam, his psychological state took longer to catch up—exhausted by combat, he was racked with doubts and fears (basically, a lot of stress?) over his role in battle. When Bright Noa, captain of the White Base, demands an explanation for Amuro's refusal to sortie, Amuro turns it around and asks Bright what he's fighting for. A snarky "If you're so eager to send Gundam into battle again, why don't you pilot it yourself!?" earns him a smack from Bright. (← Brightslap #1) Their war of words continues, with a second slap coming soon!

　Amuro's shocked "Not even my own father hit me before!" and Bright's exasperated "I've got no more time for you!" Amuro's shock turns to rage and a declaration that "[he]'ll never get in the Gundam ever again!", but... After two slaps from Bright and a dressing-down by his girlfriend Fraw Bow (← wow, he's really taking it on the chin), Amuro eventually gets himself together and sorties on his first aerial combat mission!

　While Bright's sincere conviction that the ability to use the power of the Gundam in battle should must be paired with consciousness of one's duty doesn't quite make it through to the introverted young boy Amuro, this interaction was still a key driver of his psychological maturation and growing independence.

"Because he was a spoiled brat." (Char Aznable/Mobile Suit Gundam)
　Next we come to a line from Char Aznable, one of Gundam's bad boys in more ways than one (episode 12, "The Threat of Zeon")
　The ultimate goal of Char, who has a complex family history, is revenge against the Zabi family which rules the Principality of Zeon. This urge burns constantly, quietly but forcefully, inside his heart.

　 The fourth Zabi son Garma Zabi seeks a glorious victory over the White Base to justify marriage to his fiancée, but instead meets a tragic end due to a naïve belief in false information relayed by Char, who he had considered his friend since their days at military academy. Up to the very end, Garma didn't realize his betrayal.

　Char, dismissed from his post for failing to protect Garma, is drinking in a run-down bar when he hears a speech by Garma's elder brother Gihren Zabi. "My beloved brother Garma Zabi was sacrificed! Why?" Char's response, whispered into the glass of whisky he's swirling in one hand: "Because he was a spoiled brat."

　 This sarcasm by Char, looking back on Garma's years as a golden boy compared to his own misfortunate and secretive past, show a side of Char that isn't just ice-cold, but more than a little hollow.
　In his willingness to throw away even his friends without a second thought in pursuit of his goals, Char's cool-headed and severe judgment shine through.


"You were hiding out, but you could have been helping people!" (Sayla Mass/Mobile Suit Gundam)
　 A line spoken by Sayla Mass, Gundam's "big sister" figure whether on the bridge of White Base or as a pilot in her own right ( Mobile Suit Gundam episode 2, "Destroy Gundam!") While she finds herself fighting for the Federation, she's really the antagonist Char's younger sister (her real name is Artesia Som Deikun.)

　A medical student, Sayla first appears an an evacuee. Her irritation at Kai Shiden (also later to become White Base crew) as he cynically attempts to weasel out of helping other evacuees leads her to deliver this line along with a slap (← and it looked painful!)
This doesn't do much but drive up Kai's urge to delinquency, and prompts the response "Who died and made you Princess?" More accurate than he could have known, of course, but still met with a cool-headed "How dare you!" that shows her determination (and gave many in the audience a bit of a tingle, I'm sure.)

　An impactful encounter and dialogue like this would really drive home Sayla's self-confidence and determination, even if it wasn't her introduction.

"You need to do some growing up fast if you wanna survive this thing!" (Bright Noa /Mobile Suit Gundam)
　A line from Bright Noa, captain of the Federation carrier White Base on which Amuro and the Gundam are stationed (episode 9, "Fly, Gundam!")
　It comes from the conversation following Amuro's "Not even my own father hit me before!" from earlier, but I just couldn't resist because of how much brattiness I've heard out of Amuro putting this together.

　 Amuro (a Newtype) is the only one who can pilot the Gundam, and everyone is relying on him, but his fear of combat and self-doubt make him resist. Bright may be frustrated enough with Amuro to try corporal punishment, but this line following immediately after does a lot to show that it's because of how deeply he's worried about the boy. It might be just because I've experienced it myself, but it's the kind of line that really brings out how Bright shows his feelings toward Amuro, as an adult and as an elder brother figure, through occasional scoldings and strictness.

"It sounds sad, but this is a war." (Sleggar Law/Mobile Suit Gundam)
　Last but not least, we've got a line from Federation Lieutenant Sleggar Law ( Mobile Suit Gundam episode 35, "Big Zam's Last Stand")
　Lt. Sleggar, with his Italian good looks, may seem like nothing but a playboy along to mack on Sayla and even " White Base mom" Mirai Yashima, but he doesn't let that get in he way of his duties.

　Compared to late bloomer (?) Bright and childish Amuro, this manly man has to be one of the top three hunks of First Gundam! (← well, at least in my mind.)

　After an unexpected (?) scolding of Mirai for turning down an offer of help from her fiancé, the jaunty but firm and direct Sleggar soon begins to grow deeper feelings for her.

　 When Dozle Zabi (commander of Zeon's Space Attack Force) takes to the controls of the experimental mobile armor Big Zam, Sleggar, who pilots the G-Armor (a heavy fighter designed by the Federation to act as a carrier for the Gundam,) delivers this line to a stunned Amuro after suggesting a suicide attack on the Big Zam. However, not long earlier, he had already given the ring that was a memento of his mother to Mirai, already raising what we now call a "death flag," (!?) and now, in the depths of space... His combination of such a poignant line with his usual insouciant manner make him extremely hard to forget. If he had made it back alive, perhaps Mirai's husband after the war would have been Sleggar rather than Bright?

And, that's our first look at famous Gundam lines!

Oh, isn't Gundam just so fascinating?

Well, well, well, well well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, that's it for this week. Next week we'll be taking another laid-back look at what makes Gundam Gundam!