November 13, 2021

4.2: Inescapable Moebius Loop

3 hours 10 minutes

Show Notes

This week, we recap and discuss Mobile Suit Gundam Char's Counterattack (機動戦士ガンダム逆襲のシャア), while trying to avoid spoiling the discussions coming up in future episodes. Before we dig in to the movie itself, Thom presents research on how and why Char's Counterattack got made - background information on the production, tie-in novels, and other versions of the story. We also discuss how we'll be pronouncing a number of the names in the film.

The Other Counterattacks

Japanese-language Interviews with various staff for CCA, including producer Uchida Kenji.

Much of the information about the production timeline is based on information and images collected in this discussion on Twitter.

Japanese-language summary of Beltorchika's Children.

Different Japanese language blog entries with some details about Hi-Streamer and Beltorchika's Children including publication dates.

Translated version of the original Zeta proposal (but be warned that this incorporates antisemitic conspiracy theories).

Interviews with Nagano Mamoru and Izubuchi Yutaka, both touching on the behind-the-scenes of Char's Counterattack.

Japanese Wikipedia page on 'Gaia Gear' (aka Mobile Suit Gaia Gear: Char's Counterattack).

Japanese-language commentary on Beltorchika's Children.

And of course... Beltorchika's Children itself:

富野由悠季 (Tomino Yoshiyuki), 機動戦士ガンダム逆襲のシャア―ベルトーチカ・チルドレン (Beltorchika's Children). Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko (1988).

From the Talkback

Oshii Mamoru talks about Char's Counterattack (including the politically-charged language).

Japanese-language explanation of the Buddhist origins for the commonly used word 邪魔 (じゃま / jama).

The demon in question.

Japanese-language explanation of the differences between 粛清 (purge) and 粛正 (purge).

Music

"Dangerous Tonight" by VYVCH.

"Noise to Flange Tag" and "The Placing Rule," both by Small Colin and available here.

"Cold War Echo" and "November," by Kai Engel.

"Onistwave" by P C III.

"Immersive" by Sergey Cheremisinov.

"Garden of Untamed Roses (Act II)" by Lloyd Rodgers.

Mobile Suit Breakdown is written, recorded, and produced within Lenapehoking, the ancestral and unceded homeland of the Lenape, or Delaware, people. Before European settlers forced them to move west, the Lenape lived in New York City, New Jersey, and portions of New York State, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. Lenapehoking is still the homeland of the Lenape diaspora, which includes communities living in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Ontario.

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By Nina & Thom

4.9

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