Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash (機動戦士ガンダム 閃光のハサウェイ, Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Senkō no Hasauei), also known as Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway, is a series of novels created and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Officially part of the Gundam metaseries, it was first published by Kadokawa Shoten under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko label from February 1, 1989 to April 1, 1990 with a total of three volumes. The story revolves around Hathaway Noa, who now goes by the name Mufti Nabiyy Erin, as he starts a terrorist group to stop the abuses of the Earth Federation. The novel is notable for being the only semi-canonical Gundam work by Tomino. A three-part theatrical film adaptation was formally announced by Sunrise as part of the "UC NexT 0100" project.[1] with the first film was originally scheduled to released on July 23, 2020,[2] but it was delayed to May 7, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash
Cover of the first novel.
機動戦士ガンダム 閃光のハサウェイ (Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Senkō no Hasauei)
Genre	Mecha, military science fiction
Light novel
Written by	Yoshiyuki Tomino
Illustrated by	Haruhiko Mikimoto, Moriki Yasuhiro
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Imprint	Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko
Demographic	Male
Original run	February 1, 1989 – April 1, 1990
Volumes	3
Anime film series
Directed by	Shūkō Murase
Written by	Yasuyuki Muto
Music by	Hiroyuki Sawano
Studio	Sunrise
Licensed by	^NA Sunrise
Released	May 7, 2021 – scheduled

Plot

U.C.105, Twelve years after the Second Neo Zeon War,[note 1] the Earth Federation accepts the Republic of Zeon back in the fold. However, over the next few years, the Federation's greed and distrust of spacenoids leads them to form "Man Hunter" units to forcefully deport underprivileged or undesirable civilians around the world to the space colonies. A terrorist organization called Mafty is led by Bright Noah's son Hathaway Noa. Hathaway, who now goes by the name Mafty Navue Erin, is still haunted by his past actions regarding the death of Quess Paraya and reflecting upon the actions and beliefs of Char and Amuro. He started his terrorist actions against the Federation and its high officials as an act of revenge, using the new prototype unit, the RX-105 Ξ Gundam. In response, Kenneth Sleg of the Earth Federation Space Forces assembles the Circe Unit, led by Lane Aim piloting the RX-104FF Penelope in order to stop Mafty.

Characters

Main characters

Hathaway Noa (Mafty Navue Erin) (ハサウェイ・ノア（マフティー・ナビーユ・エリン）, Hasawei Noa (Mafutī Nabīyu Erin))

Voiced by: Kensho Ono[5]

Gigi Andalucia (ギギ・アンダルシア, Gigi Andarushia)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda[5]

Kenneth Sleg (ケネス・スレッグ, Kenesu Sureggu)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe[5]

Lane Aim (レーン・エイム, Rēn Eimu)

Voiced by: Soma Saito[6]

Media

Novel

Hathaway's Flash was first conceived by Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1988 following the production of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack film. However, the novel is meant more as a sequel to the novel Beltorchika's Children, the second/third novel version of Char's Counterattack. Moriki Yasuhiro provided the mobile suit designs while character illustrator Haruhiko Mikimoto joined the project as character designer. The first novel of the series was released on February 1, 1989, the second on March 1, 1990 and the third and final one released on April 1, 1990. All three novels were released under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko label.

No.	Japanese release date	Japanese ISBN
1	February 1, 1989	4-04-410131-0
2	March 1, 1990	4-04-410132-9
3	April 1, 1990	4-04-410133-7

Films

A 3-part film adaptation by Sunrise was first teased back in April 2018 upon the unveiling of Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative.[7] The film was later formally announced during the Gundam 40th Anniversary press conference in November of the same year.[8][9][10][11] The first film was originally scheduled to released on July 23, 2020,[12] but it was delayed to May 7, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4] The films will be directed by Shūkō Murase, with Yasuyuki Mutou writing scripts. Hiroyuki Sawano will compose the music for all 3 movies.[13]

Yoshiyuki Tomino stated on interview that "30 years after I wrote those novels, they are finally being adapted into film. As the author, I am so happy". He also noted that "The real world hasn't progressed, and may even have regressed. Because of all the Gundam fans who gave this story the chance to reemerge, its themes can pierce through society today."[14]

Video games

Hathaway's Flash first appeared in the SD Gundam G Generation series of games by Bandai starting with SD Gundam G Generation F. The series later made its Super Robot Wars debut in Super Robot Wars V in 2017.

Merchandise

The titular character mecha (Ξ Gundam) was released as part of Bandai's Gundam Fix Figuration line of toys starting in 2005. The title later got its own Gunpla debut, with the BB Seishi No.386 Ξ Gundam in December 2013, the High Grade Universal Century Gustav Karl in February 2019, which were released under the Gundam Unicorn line, the High Grade Universal Century Penelope, released in November 2019, the High Grade Universal Century Messer Type F01, released in July 2020 and the High Grade Universal Century Ξ Gundam, due for release in April 2021.

Notes

1. Nine and eight years respectively after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn and Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative in the theatrical film adaptation

References

1. "40th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam". GIGAZINE. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
2. "Gundam Hathaway". Retrieved 2019-08-11.
3. "Gundam: Hathaway Anime Film Delayed Due to COVID-19". Anime News Network. June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
4. "Gundam: Hathaway Film Rescheduled for May 7 After COVID-19 Delay". Anime News Network. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
5. "Gundam: Hathaway Anime Film Casts Kensho Ono, Rena Ueda, Junichi Suwabe". Anime News Network. March 24, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
6. "Gundam: Hathaway Film's 1st Full Trailer Unveils More Cast, 4D & Dolby Cinema Screenings". Anime News Network. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
7. "Gundam: Hathaway Film Trilogy, Overseas Gundam UC2 Drama Teased".
8. "「機動戦士ガンダム40周年プロジェクト」始動！5作品の展開決定＆LUNA SEAによるテーマ曲発表！". GUNDAM.INFO. 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
9. "Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Film Trilogy Slated to Start 'Next Winter'".
10. "'Gundam' Teases Release Window For New Movie Trilogy".
11. "Teaser Site for Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Trilogy Film Announces "Next Winter" Release".
12. "Gundam: Hathaway Anime Film Project's English-Subtitled Teaser Reveals July 23 Opening".
13. "Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Anime Film Trilogy's Trailer Reveals Staff".
14. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-01-24/gundam-creator-yoshiyuki-tomino-comments-on-upcoming-gundam-hathaway-flash-film-trilogy/.142455

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)