Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ, Kidō Senshi Gandamu Daburu Zēta?, Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta) is a TV series aired on Japanese TV from 1986–1987, was the third Gundam series, and a direct follow up to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Director Yoshiyuki Tomino returned to lead the series, and he assembled a new team consisting of character designer Hiroyuki Kitazume, who had been one of Zeta Gundam's animation directors, and mechanical designers Makoto Kobayashi, Yutaka Izubuchi and Mika Akitaka. The series was later aired by the anime satellite television network, Animax, across Japan and later its respective networks worldwide, including Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, South Asia, and other regions, but is one of the few Gundam series which has never been brought to the United States.

Overview
Gundam ZZ was conceived of as a sequel to Zeta Gundam, featuring a mostly all-new cast. Tomino originally wanted to make Char the main character[citation needed] before receiving the "okay" on Char's Counterattack. Its broadcast immediately followed that of Zeta Gundam and continues to follow a major plotline from Zeta involving Haman Karn, regent to Mineva Lao Zabi, and also continues to follow Captain Bright Noa and the ship, Argama, as well as introducing the new characters led by Judau Ashta.

This sequel to Zeta Gundam sometimes struck a much lighter, often comical, tone, in contrast to its predecessor's brooding melodrama. For example, in the second episode, the protagonist Judau Ashta attempts to help Yazan Gable by throwing oranges at the Argama. This is contrasted in the same episode however when Yazan kills the technician Saegusa, and Judau then attempts to pilot the Zeta Gundam to go after Yazan but is incredibly poor at combat in his first battle. The whimsical first opening theme song Anime Ja Nai (lit. "It's Not Anime") set the tone for the first half of the series. The second half of the series sports a more somber opening theme song. Silent Voice.

The show scored high ratings with the younger, more casual audiences, and the show's first opening theme Anime Ja Nai became extremely popular[citation needed] and is sometimes mentioned as one of the most memorable anime songs of all time. Although previously frowned upon by many fans of Zeta Gundam, with recent exposure through various media, Double Zeta has begun to receive better reception from the fan base than before

Plot summary

As the continuation of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, this series once again follows the story of the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) battleship Argama after Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam's final episode. To fight off the Axis Zeon, now called the Neo Zeon, Captain Bright Noa recruits a group of teenage junk collectors led by the loudmouthed but powerful Newtype Judau Ashta to pilot the Argama's mobile suits. Now sporting a line-up of the behemoth ZZ Gundam and the returning Zeta Gundam, Gundam Mk-II and the Hyaku Shiki, the gup is nicknamed the Gundam Team. As such, this became the first of a number of Gundam series where a team of Gundam mobile suits fight alongside each other regularly. The climax takes place at Side 3 in the Battle of Axis.

Out of the major Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam characters, Captain Bright Noa and Axis leader Haman Karn are featured prominently in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ; Hayato Kobayashi, Kamille Bidan, Fa Yuiry, Wong Lee, Yazan Gable, Mineva Lao Zabi, and the children Shinta and Qum are featured in various episodes as well; Sayla Mass, who had appeared in the first series but had no speaking role in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, also appeared in several episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ; Char Aznable's planned appearance was canceled when Tomino was given the go-ahead to do the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack movie. Yoshiyuki Tomino's original plan for the show which involved Char's return was never revealed though Glemy's sudden change in motivation seems to give a hint that he fills in for him at the end, nor does Tomino himself remember it. Also, aside from the openings and story recap/preview episode, Amuro Ray does not make an appearance in the series either.

Openings and endings
Openings:
- "Anime Ja Nai ~Yume o Wasureta Furui Chikyūjin yo~" (アニメじゃない〜夢を忘れた古い地球人よ〜?, "It's Not Anime (Forgotten Dreams of the Old Earthlings")) by Masato Arai (episodes 1–25)
- "Silent Voice" (サイレントヴォイス, Sairento Voisu?) by Jun Hiroe (episodes 26–47)
Endings:
- "Jidai ga Naiteiru" (時代が泣いている?, "The Era is Crying") by Masato Arai (episodes 1–25)
- "Issenman-Nen Ginga" (一千万年銀河?, "Ten Million Years Galaxy") by Jun Hiroe (episodes 26–47)