【ターンエー∀ガンダム】名作劇場 ジブリ風？ガンダム！？

A Heartwarming Gundam Tale?

Turn A Gundam lacks the typical prefixes or subtitles like “Mobile Suit” or “Mobile New Century.”

It features Gundams, Zaku (Boljarnon), and battleships like the Argama.

However, it stands apart from series like Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, or Unicorn Gundam.

To be frank, if director Tomino had created a film for Studio Ghibli, it might have resembled something like this.

The main plot of Turn A revolves around the Moonrace, lunar settlers who wish to colonize Earth’s Ameria continent.

Earth forms the militia “Militia” in response to this request, fearing the Moonrace’s intentions.

Their fears are validated when the Moonrace forms the Queen Dianna Counter military force and launches attacks on Earth to conquer it.

The story then takes a typical Gundam turn when the protagonist unexpectedly finds himself piloting a Gundam. In this era, Gundams are revered as White Dolls, akin to the “White Devil” of the Universal Century.

The events of the Universal Century, including the presence of Amuro and Char, are considered taboo, ancient history, or “black history.”

The narrative revolves around the identical appearances of Queen Dianna Sorrel of the Moon and the Earth heroine Kihel Heim, who exploit their resemblance to swap places and become involved in the conflict between Earth and the Dianna Counter.

This central plot point is further complicated by the fact that both characters are voiced by the same voice actor, adding to the confusion.

An interesting aspect is the excavation of Mobile Suits and battleships from the Universal Century era, such as the Zaku (Boljarnon), which is understandable, but the selection of units like the Kapool from Double Zeta or the Gallop commanded by Lalah Sune seems rather peculiar.

In addition to Turn X, the rival Mobile Suit of Turn A, several Mobile Suits from this era make appearances.

As Tomino himself has stated, the series focuses more on pastoral and tranquil scenes rather than intense combat.

The battles between Mobile Suits and ships may leave viewers disappointed if they’re expecting the usual exhilarating Gundam combat.

The Beam Field is depicted as a dazzling beam shield akin to the fluttering of butterfly wings.

The final showdown between Turn A and Turn X is astonishing, resulting in a mutual destruction that leaves both units encased in giant cocoons, turning into objects.

Even the brief 10-minute epilogue after the war ends adopts a gentle, Ghibli-esque tone.

Turn A Gundam is an unusual entry in the Gundam franchise in every aspect.

Compared to Turn A, G-Reco offers a more thrilling experience with its multitude of Mobile Suit types and combat scenarios involving both allies and enemies.

Turn A Gundam, the first and last Gundam series to air on Fuji TV, surprisingly doesn’t feel out of place with its unique elements, even with Turn A’s mustache being likened to a beard.