At the "GUNDAM CONFERENCE SPRING 2026" event last Friday (May 15), the "Gundam 50th Anniversary Project" officially kicked off, paving the way for the legendary Mobile Suit Gundam franchise's half-century milestone in 2029.
To get the party started, a new video titled "Boy and Gundam | Mobile Suit Gundam 50th Anniversary -Road to 50- Prologue" was released, featuring a montage of protagonists and their mobile suits from across the series' long history. But the epic reunion has sparked a hilarious debate among fans, who quickly pointed out that a surprising number of these heroes could be classified as terrorists or anti-government operatives.
The "Boy and Gundam" prologue video weaves together the history of the Mobile Suit Gundam anime, creating a powerful visual narrative of how memories and emotions have been passed down through generations.
The video was directed by Hayakawa Tsukuro (@HayakTSUkuro) and features a team of creators who have worked on various Gundam projects over the years. The theme song is a new track, "Pyramid," by the band PEOPLE 1.
While the video is a nostalgic trip through the franchise's legacy, Japanese fans couldn't help but notice the résumés of the assembled protagonists. Many pointed out that a significant number of them start their journeys as anti-government figures or outright terrorists, leading to some wild online discussions about the diverse—and often rebellious—backgrounds of Gundam's leading pilots.
According to a fan breakdown, the protagonists featured in the video can be roughly sorted into three categories: civilians, soldiers, and terrorists. And surprisingly, very few of them start out as official military personnel.
Here's the fan-made classification of the pilots shown in the video:
【Civilians】
Amuro Ray
Kamille Bidan
Judau Ashta
Seabook Arno
Garrod Ran
Kira Yamato
Banagher Links
【Soldiers】
Domon Kasshu
Loran Cehack
Bellri Zenam
【Terrorists】
Üso Ewin
Heero Yuy
Setsuna F. Seiei
Mikazuki Augus
Hathaway Noa / Mafty Navue Erin
Suletta Mercury
Yuzuriha Amate (Makiu)
The list has led many fans to joke that being a terrorist seems to give you a higher chance of becoming a Gundam protagonist.
Of course, other fans chimed in with more nuanced takes. Some argued that many non-Universal Century series naturally revolve around anti-government factions, making the "terrorist" label more common. The most clear-cut cases in the UC timeline are arguably Üso Ewin from Mobile Suit Victory Gundam and Hathaway Noa from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash.
The classification of Suletta Mercury from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury has been particularly contentious. Many viewers argue that Suletta herself isn't a terrorist, as she never truly committed anti-government acts and was largely manipulated by her mother, Prospera.
Ultimately, the lively debate just goes to show the incredible depth and diversity of the Gundam universe, which has been built up over countless series. Whether these pilots are heroes or terrorists is, as always, up for interpretation.