After War Gundam X

After War Gundam X
Promotional image of the main protagonists and mobile suit Gundam X
機動新世紀ガンダムX (Kidō Shin Seiki Gandamu Ekkusu)
Genre	Military science fiction, Mecha
Anime television series
Directed by	Shinji Takamatsu
Written by	Hiroyuki Kawasaki
Music by	Yasuo Higuchi
Studio	Sunrise
Licensed by	‹See Tfd› ^NA Sunrise
Network	TV Asahi
Original run	April 5, 1996 – December 28, 1996
Episodes	39
Manga
Written by	Kōichi Tokita
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Comic Bom Bom
Original run	April 1996 – March 1997
Volumes	3
Manga
After War Gundam X: Under the Moonlight
Written by	Chitose Oojima
Illustrated by	Yutaka Akatsu
Published by	Kadokawa
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Gundam Ace
Original run	October 26, 2004 – September 26, 2006
Volumes	4

After War Gundam X (Japanese: 機動新世紀ガンダムX Hepburn: Kidō Shin Seiki Gandamu Ekkusu, lit. Mobile New Century Gundam X), is an 1996 Japanese anime television series and the seventh installment in the long running Gundam franchise that started in 1979, but takes place in an alternate timeline called After War (A.W.; アフターウォー or 戦後 Sengo). The series has 39 episodes, aired in Japan from April 5, 1996 to December 28, 1996 across TV Asahi's ANN stations. It was directed by Sunrise veteran Shinji Takamatsu (Mobile Suit SD Gundam, The Brave of Gold Goldran, School Rumble), and the screenplay was written by Hiroyuki Kawasaki.

Plot

The year is A.W. 15. 15 years after the end of the 7th Space War led to the catastrophic destruction of much of the world, the surviving residents of Earth try to make a living as best they can in the post-apocalyptic landscape. Mobile Suits and weapons left over from the war fall into the hands of civilians as well as other organizations on the planet. In an effort to keep the past from repeating itself, Jamil Neate brings together a crew of Vultures to search for Newtypes and protect them from being exploited. As they try to carry out this task, an old government rises from the ashes to try and unify the Earth as other forces slowly fan the flames of war once more between the newly formed New United Nations Earth and the Space Revolutionary Army. Now the crew of the Freeden face a multitude of enemies as they try to prevent another catastrophic war.

Related media

Anime

Manga adaptation

An adaptation of the anime was released on Comic Bom Bom. The manga was by Koichi Tokita and ran from April 1996 to March 1997, outlasting the anime by three months.

Sequel

After War Gundam X: Under The Moonlight, also known as New Mobile Century Gundam X: Under the Moonlight, is the sequel manga to the After War Gundam X anime and was released in 2004. The manga takes place seven years after the final episode in the series. The four-volume series stars a new cast of characters different from those in the anime, but includes the same designs and mechanical drawings of the ships and mobile suits featured in the anime. The series focuses on Rick Aller, and a Newtype pilot from the 7th Space War named Kai, as well as a mysterious organization that has rebuilt D.O.M.E. after its destruction at the end of the After War Gundam X anime.

This series is written by Chitose Oojima, with artwork by Yutaka Akatsu, and design cooperation from Takyuki Yanase. Originally planned as only a short series in Gundam Ace, the popularity of it caused it to be expanded and compiled into a four-volume manga series published by Kadokawa Shoten.

Reception

According to Japan's Weekly The Television magazine, the series' terrestrial broadcast ratings peaked at 6.2% with the first episode, then declined drastically over the first ten episodes, and averaged 4.3% during the first two quarters.^[1] A decision was made to cut the series short from the planned full year run to the final 39-episodes.^[2] In the key Kanto region, the show was moved in its TV Asahi broadcast from a Friday afternoon 5:00 PM timeslot to a Saturday morning 6:00 AM timeslot starting with episode 27.

References

1. All Gundam TV series ratings, Gunota
2. Oppliger, John (February 14, 2002). "Ask John: What's the Worst Anime Ever Made?". AnimeNation. Retrieved March 15, 2015.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• After War Gundam X (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia