MOBILE SUIT MOON GUNDAM
DESTINATION OF THE NEWTYPE

Interview with Harutoshi Fukui

THE BIRTH OF DARK BROTHERS

――In Volume.12, the secrets of Moon Moon have been laid bare, casting light on the once mysterious key visual. I’m eager to delve into the dramatically changed circumstances surrounding Rinat and Agos.

Fukui: Both have really hit rock bottom. Note how they are each wearing masks covering different parts. Initially, it was a single mask that was combined. Based on the design, it was made by Moon Moon for Arzt to conceal their identity in public. Rinat and Agos, burdened with deep shame, have resorted to sharing this mask to hide their disgrace.

――Will they join forces?

Fukui: For now, Agos is under Neo Zeon’s control, so there’s no direct connection with Rinat. However, I foresee Reuss giving Neo Zeon’s military might to Rinat. Reuss finds Rinat, who’s fallen to the lowest depths, to be an intriguing subject. The reasons will be explored in time, but he ends up entrusting Agos to Rinat. Rinat, in turn, shares the mask with Agos, who’s also struggling just to exist. Agos undergoes reconditioning, his memory reset to zero, effectively making Rinat his ‘master.’ When a Cyber-Newtype undergoes reconditioning, it often involves implanting familial bonds, so they become sort of dark brothers, incarnations of darkness if you will (laughs).

——I’d like to hear about Reuss as well. What’s his endgame?

Fukui: That’s still not entirely clear. He claims he can lead Neo Zeon better than Char could, but what exactly he aims to achieve is still a mystery. Certainly not a revival of Zeon (laughs). He’s driven by a different philosophy from Char’s, filled with intense anger and seeking revenge for something. The specifics will gradually come to light.

——Is he planning something on the scale of Earth’s cooling?

Fukui: That’s the idea.

——Illia Pazom said that Medicine is not the same as Luio & Co., but are they actually different?

Fukui: Medicine, like Luio & Co., stems from an underworld, conglomerate-type organization. Luio & Co. dislikes Medicine, essentially because they’re rivals from the same underworld. With Moon Moon in its current state, Luio & Co. would like nothing more than to crush Medicine. After the Antarctic saga, Jutta finds himself without a place in either Neo Zeon or the Federation, leading to a sort of secret pact with Luio & Co.

——So, Medicine and Luio & Co. will be highlighted moving forward. I’m also curious about the mecha. The first volume introduced the Moon Gundam, and by the 12th, it seems its modifications are underway.

Fukui: The Moon Gundam will be upgraded to an enhanced model. This involves a minor change with an upsized generator. After the Antarctica arc, we might even see a change in the protagonist’s mecha, which would involve Luio & Co. Rinat and Agos each making their appearance with their own customized mobile suits.

IS JUTTA A NEWTYPE?

——In Antarctica, Jutta has plunged into profound despair upon learning the truth about himself, hasn’t he?

Fukui: Everyone’s a mess, barely holding together (laughs). He never really felt like a Newtype despite being told he was one, nor did he base his identity on that fact. However, being labeled a ‘fake’ Newtype by Char, as if the carrot he’d never desired to eat suddenly vanished from in front of him, left him questioning what to cling to for guidance. Though he thought being a Newtype wasn’t crucial to him, being called a fake made him wonder, “What? Do I even have the right to step out into the world?” This dilemma is tied to his grandfather’s dying words, “You are a Newtype…” (Volume 3). Jutta was told by his grandfather to see the world, to go out, to protect someone, and to learn to love, all predicated on him being a Newtype. Finding out he might just be fake strips him of any sense of purpose or right he thought he had.

His conviction to cherish and protect Mineva also wavers significantly. Such events manifest in his mental state, preventing any resonance with Mineva and leading their hearts to drift apart. He’s hit a real low, thinking he’s useless. Then there’s Char, saying, “You should be properly managed,” in that typical manner (laughs), suggesting Jutta should find himself again under his guidance. Jutta is put in a position similar to Angelo from Gundam UC.

——Yet Amuro and the others are attempting to rescue Jutta and Mineva?

Fukui: That’s where it gets interesting, as Jutta might end up confronting Amuro and the team. To the Earth Federation government advancing this operation, Jutta is expendable. Mineva is the key. Handing her over to Neo Zeon risks Moon Moon becoming a hostage and a leverage point, so they’re inclined to obliterate everything related to her by breaking the agreement with Char and launching a surprise attack on Antarctica to retrieve Mineva.

What matters now is whether Jutta can rediscover himself amidst this turmoil. It’s a situation where someone will inevitably be sacrificed. Jutta, caught in an identity crisis, must learn that his essence isn’t defined by others but is for him to decide, often at the cost of someone else’s life.

——What about Mineva during all this?

Fukui: Women tend to have thicker skin in times like these. Knowing that speaking to Jutta now is futile, she steps back. She also has the bad habit of pulling back just when she is about to take the next step, dictated by her position and the expectations placed upon her (in the sense of being defined by others rather than her true self). She and Jutta are in similar predicaments. So, at some point, she’ll probably tell him something like, “You don’t need to conform to what others dictate,” meaning they’re both not defined by others. I think that will be the starting point for his recovery. The Antarctic saga’s climax will probably involve sacrifices, leading them to overcome this monumental challenge and setting the stage for the next chapter.

THE MAN KNOWN AS CHAR

——I’d like to ask about Char as well. Given his fame and the upcoming era of Char’s Counterattack, there’s a certain fixed image of him, but looking back, what kind of person was Char during this period?

Fukui: First, I’d like you to notice his hairstyle. It’s not yet fully slicked back; there’s a looseness to it, reflecting his unsettled mind. By the time of Char’s Counterattack, his hair is slicked back, symbolizing a resolve that’s currently wavering. While he’s preparing for the Earth cooling operation, he’s intrigued by new possibilities in individuals like Jutta, assessing their potential. Though Jutta might be under the influence of drugs, Char recognizes that might not entirely be the case. He’s claimed it’s all due to drugs, but there’s no guarantee of that truth. If drugs were solely responsible, all of Moon Moon’s residents would be super soldiers by now. The drugs might be a catalyst, but Jutta’s innate qualities could play a role. Char’s harsh treatment, pushing Jutta to rock bottom, is a test: if Jutta can climb back up, there’s hope. So, Char keeps him close, adopting a wait-and-see approach.

Jutta shows glimpses of Newtype abilities in the Antarctic saga, alongside a staunch resolve to protect Mineva. Such fixations, however, are contrary to what a Newtype should embody. Attachment is seen as a limitation for Newtypes, who are ideally liberated, almost Buddha-like. Jutta’s strong attachments could make him a formidable adversary to Char. Witnessing these developments, Char likely reaffirms that humanity isn’t easily transformed; realizing the necessity of time, he decides to proceed with the Earth cooling operation as planned.

THE PATH FOLLOWED BY NEWTYPES

——The Antarctic saga is indeed a historical turning point.

Fukui: Char’s assessment of Jutta will likely settle on the notion that while Jutta has shown glimpses of potential, he ultimately does not qualify as a Newtype. This judgment will prove prophetic, forcing Jutta to confront and accept this harsh assessment. The question then becomes what he does next. Historically, Gundam pilots, after losing someone significant — Amuro with Lalah, Kamille with Four — fully embrace their Newtype destinies, acting upon a ‘divine mandate’ to do what must be done in the world. Jutta might reach this state as well. Both Amuro and Kamille experienced this phase.

After Lalah’s death, Amuro claims the real enemy isn’t present, which is curious, considering Lalah accused him of lacking something to protect. If one has something to protect, there must be an enemy threatening it. So, what enemy is Amuro referring to? He fixates on the Zabi family, never having met them, driven by a belief they are the root cause of the ongoing war, a notion not his own but perceived as part of a larger, collective will. Although Amuro couldn’t fulfill this destiny himself, his actions set in motion the events leading to Char eliminating the last of the Zabi lineage, thereby completing his role and freeing him to live as a normal person.

This raises the question of whether pilots like Amuro retain any memories of being possessed by this ‘greater will,’ suggesting why Amuro later fears space — possibly fearing loss of self-control to such a compelling force again. Post this phase, Amuro’s actions up to Char’s Counterattack seem more like playing out the string, with his true Newtype abilities manifesting only during the Axis Shock, a collective human will moment. It’s posited that humans are granted a divine mission only once, and Amuro fulfilled his with the First Gundam, rendering subsequent actions somewhat moot. I get that sense watching Char’s Counterattack.

——What about Kamille?

Fukui: Kamille ends up virtually absent in spirit, his consciousness having moved on, leaving only his body behind in the physical world. Judau, having completed his divine mission by killing Haman, likely sees no further need to involve himself in the world, choosing instead to distance himself — perhaps the wisest choice among them. So, Jutta, too, faces the inevitability of fulfilling a divine mission, leaving us to wonder what becomes of him afterward (laughs).

TWO SINGULARITIES

――When we talk about Amuro and Kamille, it sets the stage to discuss where Moon Gundam fits within the overarching narrative of Newtypes, stretching from the original Mobile Suit Gundam to Gundam NT.

Fukui: At first glance, Moon Gundam seems like a light-hearted entry in the saga, but in essence, it’s akin to Zeta Gundam if Gundam UC represented the original series. It’s a tale deeply rooted in the harsh realities of its universe. The story reaffirms the inevitable destiny that all Gundam pilots, including Jutta, must face — even someone from an outlier like Moon Moon, once exposed to the wider world, cannot escape this fate.

――There are scenes of playing in the forest and Jutta jumping around, giving off a cheerful vibe at the start…

Fukui: There’s an adventurous spirit, yes, but fundamentally, it’s a narrative about the transient nature of existence. Despite the changes and growth the characters experience, the larger tapestry of the Universal Century remains unaltered. Yet, it’s crucial that their stories don’t simply end in tragedy; such an outcome would signify a defeat for the narrative itself. Z Gundam was a story that embraced defeat as a theme, but we don’t need to repeat that.

In this context, Jutta’s journey is arguably the most challenging compared to characters like Banagher or Jona.

―― Will this intensity increase after the Antarctic arc?

Fukui: Yes. Jutta and Mineva become singularities. The concept of Newtypes involves a complete merging with another, creating a new persona. True Newtypes connect not just with living beings but with all souls, stretching back millions of years. While Jutta and Mineva may not fit the traditional Newtype definition, their union — their resonance — unleashes extraordinary power and insights, the likes of which are not typical for their age. This is not merely additive; it’s multiplicative, suggesting that when human experiences are squared, they transcend ordinary limitations. Normally, this level of connection is triggered by death, and the soul of the deceased temporarily connects to the Newtype’s world. This was seen with characters like Lalah, Four, and Ple Two. However, Jutta and Mineva’s live state of resonance presents an unprecedented scenario, potentially making them akin to superweapons. They represent an anomaly, a deviation from historical norms. But either they will perish, or they must lose that power; that’s how it’s fated to be. So, the question becomes, what fate awaits them when they “lose” that power?

―― There were scenes in the conversation between Char and Mineva where deceased individuals appeared. There seem to be more significant scenes if you look closely.

Fukui: In crafting this story, I’ve ensured nothing is without purpose. Every element present has significance, and I’ve never left a thread dangling without intention. Rest assured, well, you might still be surprised, as in this case (laughs), but I hope you’ll stick with us until the end.