Gaia Gear
A non-canonical Gundam novel series by Yoshiyuki Tomino.
Gaia Gear is a series of novels created and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino, part of the Gundam metaseries but not part of the canonical Gundam storyline. It was later adapted into a 26-episode radio drama. The work is notable for its legal and copyright issues, as Tomino used the settings and world of Mobile Suit Gundam without owning the rights to produce new Gundam works.
- creator
- Yoshiyuki Tomino
- character_designer
- Hiroyuki Kitazume
- mechanical_designer
- Mamoru Ito (Yoshinori Sayama only for the pre-renovation Zorin Soul)
- media_type
- Novels, radio drama
- setting
- Universal Century 0200s, about 110 years after Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
- protagonist
- Affranchi Char
Lore & Background
Gaia Gear is set in the 0200s of the Universal Century, about 110 years after Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack. Most people live on space colonies; Earth is officially uninhabitable except for federal government employees, though illegal residents and industrial bases exist. The Earth Federation's secret police, the MHA (Man Hunting Agency), suppresses anti-Federation ideas. The anti-Federation group Metatron (Zee Zeon Organization) consists of supporters of Char Aznable; they create a memory clone named Affranchi Char, who inherits Char's memories, and welcome him as their leader. The main weapons are humanoid mobile weapons called Man Machines.
Reader's Guide
Gaia Gear holds significance as a non-canonical Gundam work that sparked copyright disputes. Tomino created it using Gundam settings without Sunrise's permission, as he had sold his original author rights to Sunrise when the first Mobile Suit Gundam was produced. Initially tolerated, Sunrise tightened control after the success of other Gundam OVAs and films. The title changed multiple times during serialization, and the work is now out of print. Tomino refused reissue permission due to the work's quality. The copyright situation reflects the complex ownership of the Gundam franchise, which later saw Sotsu acquired by Bandai Namco Holdings and Sunrise consolidated into Bandai Namco Filmworks.
Did You Know?
- The protagonist Affranchi Char is a memory clone of Char Aznable, with a cell chip containing Char's memories implanted in his brain.
- The word 'affranchi' means 'freed slave' in French.
- The radio drama was released on CD with two copyright credits: one for Tomino and Kadokawa Shoten, and one for Sotsu Agency and Sunrise.
- Hideaki Anno and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto from GAINAX participated in the frontispiece drawing of the pocket books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the author of Gaia Gear?
Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the original Mobile Suit Gundam, wrote the Gaia Gear novels. Hiroyuki Kitazume handled character design, while Mamoru Ito was responsible for the mechanical designs, with Yoshinori Sayama contributing only to the pre-renovation version of the Zorin Soul.
Is Gaia Gear canon in the Gundam timeline?
No. Although it is set in the Universal Century 0200s—roughly 110 years after Char's Counterattack—it exists outside the official Gundam storyline. Tomino did not hold the rights to produce new Gundam works, so the series is considered a non-canonical spin-off.
Who is the protagonist of Gaia Gear?
The story follows Affranchi Char as its main character, navigating the conflicts of the UC 0200s era.
What formats has Gaia Gear been released in?
It was originally published as a series of novels and later adapted into a 26-episode radio drama.
Why is Gaia Gear a point of contention among Gundam fans?
The series sparked legal and copyright disputes because Tomino built the story on the Gundam universe's established setting without possessing the rights to create new Gundam content. This has made its status within the franchise a persistent source of debate in the fandom.
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