The Other Gundam Buzz: What Is “Shin First Gundam”?


In the last post, I talked about the televised version of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuuX.

This time I talk about the two key players from the pre-screening version!



The Other Gundam Buzz: What Is “Shin First Gundam”?

Shin means new. This is the naming found in the titles of Shin Godzilla or Shin Ultraman, and fans began calling it this because Hideaki Anno, the screenwriter of the current film, worked on these films.

While GQuuuuuuX is grabbing headlines, there’s another fascinating conversation heating up among Gundam fans in Japan. It’s something that feels both nostalgic and groundbreaking—an idea fans are calling:

“Shin First Gundam” — A New Interpretation Through Char and Challia



Who’s Char Aznable? The Red Comet, the Man Behind the Mask

Even if you’re not deep into Gundam, you’ve probably heard of Char Aznable—the iconic masked pilot known as the “Red Comet.” He’s the rival of Amuro Ray (the original Gundam pilot) and the kind of charismatic figure who makes fans argue endlessly: Was he a hero? A villain? A visionary?

But now, a new side of Char is emerging—one that’s less about the mask and more about the man underneath.



And Who Is Challia Bull? The One-Episode Legend

You might be thinking, “Challia who?”
Challia Bull is a lesser-known character from the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series. He only appeared in one episode. But that episode? It left a mark.

Challia is a Newtype, a kind of evolved human with heightened perception and empathy—able to sense others’ feelings, even across space. But his powers didn’t make him invincible. They made him vulnerable.

  • He feels others’ pain.

  • He questions the war he’s part of.

  • He’s strong in spirit, but quiet in action.

And it’s that quiet strength that’s captivating fans today.



Why Newcomers Should Care

If you’ve ever thought:

“Gundam looks cool, but it’s probably too complicated…”
“I can’t tell who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy…”

Now’s the perfect time to jump in.
Because these new stories are being told for you. They’re not asking you to memorize timelines or learn the difference between a Zaku and a Dom.
They’re asking you to feel, to think, and to wonder:

“What if people really could understand each other without fighting?”

 


Gundam Is Coming Full Circle

At its core, the original Mobile Suit Gundam asked a profound question:

“Is war the only way forward?”

Now, decades later, stories like GQuuuuuuX are asking it again—this time with the benefit of hindsight, and new characters like Challia offering a lens of empathy and vulnerability that feels refreshing and deeply needed.



There’s Never Been a Better Time to Start Gundam

You don’t need to know Char’s entire backstory. You don’t need to have seen every series.

Just start watching. Let yourself get pulled in by the emotion, the drama, the moral dilemmas.
And before long, you might just find yourself saying:

“Wait... Should I go back and watch the original Gundam too?”
“Who really was Char Aznable?”

And that’s when you’ll understand why fans are calling this moment in Gundam history something truly special.




If you are thinking about starting to watch the Gundam series and don't know where to start, please refer to my first post! ▶︎▶︎

Welcome to the world of Gundam!!!!



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