The October issue of Newtype from 1987 reveals a little more information about the mobile suits that will be featured in the film, and announces a contest for readers regarding the voices of the new characters.
The universe is torn apart!!
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
Production on Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack is progressing smoothly. Director Yoshiyuki Tomino completed the storyboards at the end of August. It is planned to be a blockbuster film that will last around 1 hour and 55 minutes in total. In addition, advance ticket sales and trailers that fans are looking forward to are set for early November! You’ll be able to hear the sound that makes you feel the Newtype universe!
The universe trembles with the clash between two men, Amuro and Char
It has been decided that advance tickets for “Char’s Counterattack” will go on sale in early November. Around this time, a trailer featuring the music from the movie will be played at Shochiku theaters, and the mood for “Gundam” will instantly rise.
As for the latest movie-related information, Bandai has decided to release six plastic models of the latest mobile suits from the movie. v Gundam, Sazabi, and the others introduced on page 6 will be available at the end of the year. Another release from Bandai is “SD Gundam”, featuring Gundam characters three heads tall, will be released as an OVA at the end of the year. Mecha characters will be designed by Toriyama Otoru, and human characters will be designed by Satō Gen. This parody version of the Gundam world will unfold in three 10-minute episodes.
The scent of space. This is reflected in the concept art drawn by Hiroyuki Hataike posted here. This was drawn by Hataike-san in accordance with Director Tomino’s storyboards. This illustration could be called a “reverse concept art”, so to speak, drawn using a process that is the opposite of that of concept art. This art depicts the sortie scene of Amuro’s v Gundam and Char’s MS Sazabi, and is finished enough to give you a sense of the intensity of the main story.
Look forward to the Newtype future!
Amuro Ray, v Gundam, launching!
Char Aznable, heading out!!
New mobile suits ready for sortie!
We ask designer Yutaka Izubuchi about top secret information about the performance and power of the 5th generation mobile suits!
The person in charge of mobile suit design this time is Yutaka Izubuchi, who is well-known to NT.
“We looked at the MS as giant infantry, and taking that idea to the extreme, we designed them in a way as if humans could actually wear them. In fact, the work was closer to character design. In particular, the head of the Zeon MS has a helmet-like feel. I think everyone has noticed that the Geara Doga’s is a German military helmet, but Sazabi’s head is actually inspired by Char’s helmet from the first series. Actually, I wanted to make the face like Hyaku-shiki and the body like a Dom (laughs).”
Yoshinori Sayama, who will be in charge of the MS clean-up this time, said, “This is the first time that a scene of the Gundam being constructed will be depicted. I was in charge of the internal mechanics, so I planned to make the joints and shafts look like they actually move. What’s interesting is the dummy MS that each MS fires. They’re used to divert enemy attacks in space, so it looks like there are many times as many MS.”
LOND BELL TEAM
The Federation’s mobile suits emphasize mobility
The Federation fights back against the Neo Zeon Army with their special forces, the Londo Bell Corps. Bright Noa, who previously served as White Base and Argama captain, becomes fleet commander. The Federation Forces’ traditional mobile suit tactics of dividing the enemy’s fleet by launching large numbers of MS into combat airspace, combined with the use of high-performance Gundam-type MS given to elite pilots to destroy each main enemy force, will be carried forward this time as well. The highlight is the performance of Re-GZ, who gains high speed by equipping a booster pack and specializes in hit-and-run tactics. Also, keep an eye out for v Gundam’s new equipment (top secret)!!
Re-GZ
Federation Forces improved Zeta Gundam anti-ship combat MS.
Re-GZ <RGZ-91>
Power generator output 2550 KW. Movement thrust 142000×2, 11000×4, 8600×2. 20 verniers for attitude control. Sensor effective radius 18900m. Armor composed of Gundarium alloy. Can be docked with giant booster pack
Jegan
Federation Forces mass-produced MS.
JEGAN <RGM-89>
Power generator output 1870KW. Movement thrust 12700×1, 9200×4, 8800×2. Equipped with 12 verniers for attitude control. Sensor effective radius 142000m. Armor composed of titanium alloy ceramic composite. Armed with: beam rifle, beam saber, grenade. This is a GM-type mobile suit that was officially adopted in Universal Century 0089, and the Federation Forces deploy this type in large numbers to the battle front.
v Gundam
Earth Federation Forces Amuro Ray’s mobile suit
GUNDAM <RX-93>
Power generator output 2980KW. Movement thrust 18300×4, 12300×2. 26 verniers for attitude control. Sensor effective radius 21300m. Armor composed of Gundarium alloy. Armaments: beam rifle, beam saber, beam cannon, missile, vulcan cannon, new hyper bazooka. A prototype designed by the full manpower of Anaheim Electronics for Amuro in order to compete with Char of Neo Zeon’s MS Sazabi in Universal Century 0093. The first Gundam type to be equipped with Psycommu.
NEO ZION
Neo Zeon army’s heavyweight design philosophy
Let’s introduce the mobile suits of the Neo Zeon army led by Char Aznable. The story is set in Universal Century 0093. The engineering team at the space fortress Axis, Neo Zeon’s headquarters, reflected on the increasing complexity of the control systems of their mobile suits, which had evolved into dinosaur-like designs during the ZZ Gundam era (U.C.0088). The high versatility of the Zaku, the origin of mobile infantry, has been reevaluated. This Doga-type MS was born by incorporating a high-output generator into a simple Zaku-type unit. Geara Doga is for regular soldiers, and Jagd Doga is for Newtypes and Cyber Newtypes. It can be seen that the weight of the units has increased significantly due to their heavy armor.
Geara Doga
GEARA DOGA <MS-16>
Neo Zeon Army mass-produced MS. 1 crew member. Power generator output 2160KW. Movement thrust 14200×2, 13000×2. 15 verniers for attitude control. Sensor effective radius 16400m. Armor composed of titanium alloy ceramic composite. Hand-held beam machine gun.
↑Rear view of Geara Doga. The beautiful form of a Zaku-type
Sazabi
Model number MSN-04.
A super heavy mobile suit for Char of the Neo Zeon Army. Power generator output 3960KW. Movement thrust 13300×2, 14000×2, 9800×8. 28 verniers for attitude control. Sensor effective radius 22600m. Armor composed of Gundarium alloy. Armed with: beam shot rifle, beam tomahawk, missiles, funnels (6 mounted in pods on the back). A little bigger than other MS.
Jagd Doga
JAGD DOGA <MSN-03>
Power generator output 3340KW. Movement thrust 17000×2, 13000×2, 11000×2. 17 verniers for attitude control. Sensor effective radius 20500m. Armor composed of Gundarium alloy. MS exclusively for Newtypes of the Neo Zeon Army. Equipped with 6 funnels.
↑Armed with beam assault rifle, beam saber, and missiles
Who is Quess’s VA!?
Many new characters will appear in Char’s Counterattack. What we’re curious about is which voice actors will portray them. Therefore, we have decided to ask all you Newtypes to audition the VAs [voice actors] of the seven characters introduced here in the magazine. Read the captions, think about each of their personalities and roles, and write the actors you think are the best fit for the cast on an official postcard (one VA for each character, please write names for all seven). Please send it to the “VA Section” of the Asuka Building Newtype Editorial Department, 2-3-2 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102. Postmark must be 10/8. 10 winners will receive an autographed sign board from Yoshiyuki Tomino, Yutaka Izubuchi, Hiroyuki Kitazume, and Hidetoshi Omori (write the name of the recipient), and 30 winners will receive a movie poster.
Quess Paraya
Beloved daughter of Federation government official Adenauer Paraya. 13 years old. A Newtype girl with extremely sensitive sensibilities who runs to the enemy general, Char. Her personality is more eccentric than Kumiko Goto.
[Translator’s Note: Kumiko Goto is a Japanese actress, model, and singer who was active in the 1980s]
Nanai Miguel
Neo Zeon military officer. She plays a mature role as Char’s capable right-hand man and also his “sex friend”.
Gyunei Guss
Cyber Newtype in the Neo Zeon military. Pilot of a MS Jagd Doga. He is bitter about Quess’ love for Char.
Rezin Schnyder
Neo Zeon military pilot. The Geara Doga’s standard color is Olive Drab, but only her unit is purple.
Chan Agi
A female mechanic in the Federation Forces. She has a crush on Amuro. Despite her beautiful face, her personality is surprisingly easy-going. She sleeps anywhere!?
Kayra Su
Londo Bell Corps pilot. She is a kind-looking young woman. She pilots an MS Jegan and helps Amuro.
Hathaway Noa
Bright’s eldest son. He lives in Tibet, deep in the Indian subcontinent on Earth, with his mother Mirai. He plays an important role in falling in love with Quess.