Wing Gundam

XXXG-01W Wing Gundam (also referred to as Gundam Zero-One) is one of the five fictional Gundam mobile suits appearing in the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime series. It is one of the five Gundam mobile suits derived from the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero, with both suits created by Doctor J. Wing Gundam is capable of flight; transforming into fighter aircraft mode (or "bird mode").

The original Wing Gundam was designed in 1995 by Kunio Okawara, along with many of the other mobile suits in the anime. The five 'second-stage' Gundams were later redesigned by Hajime Katoki for the 1997 OVA Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. As the new designs became canonical, Katoki also created retcon designs for the original five Gundams, which were published in Newtype magazine.^[1]

Role in plot

Wing Gundam is one of the five mobile suits sent to Earth as part of Operation Meteor; a plan whereby rebels would be able to weaken the controlling influence the United Earth Sphere Alliance and the Organization of the Zodiac held over the orbital colonies. Wing Gundam was launched from the cluster of orbital colonies located at the L1 Lagrange point, and was piloted by Heero Yuy. Wing Gundam was originally the main mobile suit of the series, being piloted by the main character and sharing its name with the series' title, however it was eventually replaced by its ancestor, Wing Zero, which Heero would end up piloting. Wing Gundam is heavily damaged multiple times, as well as actually being destroyed twice, in the anime series. First, it is crash landed on earth in Episode 1 after battle in the atmosphere with a Leo and two Aries mobile suits. Heero eventually repairs his gundam with parts from the Gundam Deathscythe. Next it is self detonated in Episode 10 and is rebuilt by Zechs Merquise. It is later damaged in the right knee area in episode 33, following a heavy battle with OZ's new Virgo mobile suits. OZ recovers the suit and has it repaired, and Lady Une uses it to save Treize Khushrenada in episode 46 where it is destroyed for the second time from Battleship Libra's main cannon fire.

Weapons

The Wing Gundam's main armaments include a beam rifle capable of firing very powerful shots. The drawback is that the ammunition of this weapon is limited to three shots. Next is the shield mounted on the left hand. Though not a weapon it has been shown to be able to cut through a Leo mobile suit's armor plating. There are also machine guns placed on the head and shoulders of the gundam. Finally the Wing Gundam also has a beam saber stored in a recharge area in its shield.

Appearances outside Gundam Wing

Wing Gundam and its pilot, Heero Yuy, along with five other notable mecha and pilots from the various Gundam series, were recognized in the second set of "Anime Heroes and Heroines" stamps, released in Japan in 2005.^[2] Gundam was the second of only four franchises to be given the honor; the others were Pocket Monsters, Galaxy Express 999, and Detective Conan. Wing Gundam was first seen on-screen not in its titular show, but in G-Gundam, being one of many mobile suits that appeared as cameo appearances in the final battle against the Devil Gundam Colony.

References

• GundamOfficial.com - Wing Gundam. SOTSU AGENCY - SUNRISE / BANDAI. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.