Aliens in the Gundam Franchise
 

The purpose of this thread is to discuss the impact of introducing aliens to the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, and the possibilities of aliens in future Gundam works.

This discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• The origin of the ELS.
• Their biology.
• Their powers and limitations.
• Plot-related involvement of the ELS.
• Future appearances of alien races.
• Impact of aliens on the franchise.

For their biology, I always expected them to be nano-beings. Little micro-organisms that stick to each other which is how they can shape shift because all they do is rearrange their group structure. These nanites probably communicate to each other at a frequency similar to the QBW (the way they communicate is probably similar to a brain, just think of them as a giant brain that shape shifts) which is why they can sense QBW, but it is different enough for them to be surprised by Innovators.

Origin? No idea, didn't they say it was born within a star? I don't know how that's possible, but since all we know are carbon based life forms on Earth...and since the galaxy is so large...and since we have MANY galaxies....I'm sure there are other forms of life out there that we never expect to have happened.

Since ELS is a hivemind, I'm assuming some kind of virus that can spread quickly within them would do the trick. Something that they just assimilate without knowing and breaks them apart from within.

As for the franchise itself I doubt they would go deeper into the alien territory with other universes such as UC. They already created the 00 universe which is literally an entire set up for humanity to unite as one to meet aliens. So if they want to go further down the alien route they'd do it with future 00 installments (even though they have space whales in CE...). There's plenty of room for that as well as plenty of possibilities for future MORE advanced Mobile Suits in 00. Like I mentioned in the other thread, they can build a new Gundam with ELS organics incorporated into it. So it can do some shape-shifting as well as controlled through QBW communications with the alien. The story can also focus on the relationship between the human pilots and the ELS Mobile Suits, how they slowly get along with each other. Since the Sumeragi left Earth, there are plenty of more worlds they can explore. They can even expand on the understanding theme. Sometimes when you understand each other you still can't coexist.

IIRC, they weren't born in a star, they were born on/in the core of their home planet, which was a gas giant like Jupiter.

Gundam is going Macross by adding aliens. No longer Gundam as it began, ie humans vs humans.

But then again there are no Macross projects in anime form in the nearest future so who minds?

Macross could be facing big trouble lol now that Gundam is crossing the line :heh: (They had songstress in seed and now they have alien in 00...it's getting there :D)

I think adding alien is a welcome change for the Gundam Franchise....Lately, Gundam has been either "one against the world" (W, X, 00) or "wrestling between 2 major sides" (seed, and seed destiny)...(haven't seen Turn A so I can't comment on that one)...it's time for a change before seeing Gundam get into a decline...

You might wanna take a step back and try to get a little grip on reality there chief just because they made one Gundam movie that included an alien lifeform in one of the 7 timelines that exist so far doesn't mean human vs aliens is going to become the new status quo. Especialy since it's alternate timeline that from what I heard the movie is it as far as anime production goes some more manga and variants for models but the main story is done. Also I'm not thrilled with this whole aliens in Gundam thing either but then this isn't the first Gundam timeline that was a bit off Mobile Fighter G Gundam with it's super robot themed Gundams comes to mind.

Turn-A is just really fucking weird.

I'll always remember Loran chainsawing through a sword.

IIRC, wasn't the Turn X still built by humans? It was created from the Turn A, and built outside the solar system, but I've heard nothing that say aliens or non-humans built it.

The 30th anniversary of Macross is closing in, so i'm sure we'll have something new then.

I'm in the camp that isn't that pleased with Aliens in my Gundam, though saying that it doesn't mean i'm not willing to give the idea a try. I'll see how i feel when i eventually get to see the 00 film.

I think the presence of aliens has the potential to be a welcome change but I hope aliens don't make an appearance in every Gundam series from here on out.

Didn't SEED feature a fossil of a space whale? What was its purpose, other than the fact that it was discovered by George Glenn?

IMO the significance of adding aliens in Gundam is overblown. We already had a martial arts tournament featuring super kung fu fighters in tights yelling out attacks and punching each other out in their super robot windmill and schoolgirl Gundams 15 years ago. Nothing will ever beat that in outlandishness.

It was a symbol of Coordinators' achievements.

I am one with the element of aliens in Gundam. However, I'm not too sure if any more Gundam series might take it into consideration. I can already see the future flame wars of people saying "It's ripping of Gundam 00, OMG FAIL". I look forward as to how it'll impact Gundam's future.

After thinking about it some more, it really doesn't matter whether you're fighting humans or aliens. It's really just an extension of the Earth vs space colony conflict. Now you could have space colony vs aliens.

Having aliens doesn't make it a macross series. And I think the gundam franchise still have rooms to grow. Especially since it has the advantage of having different independent series. So one or more series with aliens doesn't affect other series. How about female-piloted mobile suits with human female-shaped breasts?*
I forgot if G had that. If not, an alien (perhaps semi-organic) mobile suits could have that.

*(Watching the new SRW OG anime reminds me why sometimes I hate super robot mecha designs. :twitch::eyebrow::frustrated:)

What I like about the ELS is that they're not a traditional alien form that you would see in a Gundam series. They're living animals that evolved in a gas giant, I honestly expected something like the Reapers from Mass Effect or The Empire from Star Wars in 00.

They're the only aliens that's been prominently featured in a gundam series. So I don't know what traditional gundam series alien form are you talking about here.

Right. The people on Earth only thought it was extraterrestrial when they found it.

If you read the rest of post, you'll see what I expected.

The Turn X was built by Newtypes, that left the solar system to colonize the universe, outside the solar system, and designed as a weapon for interstellar war.

It was discovered drifting toward the Solar System IIRC. And Turn A was created from reverse engineering its technology, to counter the revealed potential extraterrestrial menace.

I don't recall if its torso was female shaped, but yeah G-Gundam had the Nobel Gundam, which featured a female figure clad in a sailor fuku, and displaying long blond hair.

The rest of your post has nothing to do with "traditional alien form that you would see in a Gundam series" either. Mass Effect and Star Wars are not gundam series.

Perhaps you meant to say "traditional alien form that you would see in Mass Effect or Star Wars." I checked and Nobel Gundam has a regular torso.