SEED Destiny- First pics (OBVIOUS SPOILERS)

[HellCat]

Info and scans come from the ongoing Seed Netbare thread on 2ch.

C.E. 73. 2 years have gone by since the war ended. Gilbert Durandal leads ZAFT after the death of Patrick Zala. An Orb-born Coordinator, Shin Asuka, becomes the newest topgun of ZAFT after Athrun's departure. His eyes reflects sorrow perhaps because he is lonely and lost his family. He himself represents the "War's Tragedy". Why did he join ZAFT and participate in the battlefield? Revenge? A mission? No one knows. Meanwhile, Athrun is part of Orb and right beside Cagalli. He worries both about the heavy burden of protecting Cagalli and the feeling to do something about the world.

One who joined ZAFT and one who left. The story begins when the two cross.

Shin Asuka - Protagonist. A Coordinator born in Orb. After losing his parents and younger sister during the Orb invasion of C.E. 71, he moved to PLANT and enlisted in ZAFT. Durandal finds him and he becomes a pilot of the Impulse Gundam. Very talented 16-year-old pilot. Wears the red uniform meaning he belonged in the top class of his military cadet school.

Lunamaria Hawk - A crew member of the battleship Minerva, which becomes the mothership of the Impulse. Wears the red uniform, elite pilot uniform identical to Shin's.

Athrun Zala - Now 18-years-old. Retired from ZAFT and defected to Orb. Doesn't use his real name, going by a pseudonym instead and serves as Cagalli's personal bodyguard. He was able to make acquaintance with Shin and others when he attended the secret conference between Cagalli and Durandal at PLANT.

Gilbert Durandal - After signing the Treaty of Junius (the Armistice Treaty) as the successor of the Temporary Council, he becomes the Supreme Chairman of the Council. He pushes forward with Clyne's political ideals and is deeply trusted by the common people. Currently seeking reconciliation with the Naturals.

ZGMF-56S Impulse Gundam - ZAFT's newest Gundam. Relies on batteries instead of nuclear power. Since its energy can be replenished from a long distance by its mothership, the PS (Phase Shift) armor can operate a lot longer. The cockpit area can transformed into a fighter called the Core Splender. The Impulse can be broken up into 3 separate units. Like the Strike Gundam, the Impulse can be further equipped with 3 different packs (or mode). It is called the Force Impulse Gundam (ZGMF-X56/α) when it's in the aile-mode. Note: the inconsistency between the two model numbers (one with an X and one without) has been pointed out but these are what's being reported so far on Japanese sites and only one scan that provides a glimpse of a number at all has turned up. Until further info is revealed, assume the numbers aren't quite set in stone.

Finally, two final pics of a large 2-page shot: 1, 2 ¶ 5:41 AM

And thus we learn why some people shouldn't become character designers...Seems they're setting Athrun up to kinda be like Char/Quattro in Zeta.

Edit- replaced with the most latest version (thanks to Neo-Era for pointing it out )

[Sheamon]

Gotta love his method of character design; Design two faces, one for males, and one for females. Then simply switch the hairstyle and you can easily create all the characters for the show out of that simple template -_- Yes, the other animation is nice, but the character design in Seed sure is a killer

[Juu-kuchi]

Whee. Let's add some sunglasses to Athrun to go with his pseudonym.

Hisashi Hirai's character designs are decent, but some of them do look the same.

[HellCat]

I'm not really liking the Impulse Gundam either. It looks like a cross between Strike, Strike Dagger and V2 Gundam. Too gruntish for a main MS.

[Neo-Era]

Like it says, we'll be updating that story with more stuff in a minute. Apparently, it seems as though that line comparing Lunamaria to Flay may have been an observation by the person posting the info and not part of her official description. Didn't realize it while I was writing it up.

[Juu-kuchi]

Gotta love his method of character design; Design two faces, one for males, and one for females. Then simply switch the hairstyle and you can easily create all the characters for the show out of that simple template -_- Yes, the other animation is nice, but the character design in Seed sure is a killer

That and the Zaft uniforms look like a different variation of HOLY's standard uniform in Scryed. I can't wait to see Kira. I wonder how the two years have been after that final battle.

[Lord Dalek]

Coincedently, Kira's fighting in the Kabala with Hayato.

Wait a minute....

[HellCat]

After seeing that 2-page spread and reading someone's suggestion that this maybe the CE equivalent of the Gundam Mk II, I think I might be warming up to the Impulse design.

Though Shin looks like a male Natarle...Hopefully he's not as much of an airhead pretty boy as these early images imply.

[Will Sturnick]

I'm gonna bet that the plot is going to be developed a lot more because the premise given sounds more like a movie. But anyway, it sounds like Kira is going to have a limited role in Destiny, which is nice, for me atleast, because I don't think much more can/should be done with his character. Is it just me or does Lunamaria look like a more feminine Athrun? I wonder what the EA will be up to, hopefully not making more Shani's, Orga's and Croat's. I'll also be curious to see what the SEED Survivors are up to. I wonder if this Minerva will resemble the Argama. In any case, I look forward to learning more about Destiny, and well watching it.

[Juu-kuchi]

Though Shin looks like a male Natarle...Hopefully he's not as much of an airhead pretty boy as these early images imply.

Airheaded pretty boy he may not be because those kinds don't have that kind of backstory given to them with parents being killed and all that.

Core Splender?

I hope Toshihiko Sahashi is returning to conduct the musical score.

[Keiichi]

I was hopeing

Spoiler:

Andrew Barfield

would return to be the Qurattro of the series but Athruns just as good. The Impulse Gundam looks alright nothing really attention getting.

[HellCat]

I was hopeing

Spoiler:

Andrew Barfield

would return to be the Qurattro of the series but Athruns just as good. The Impulse Gundam looks alright nothing really attention getting.

Maybe it's for the best that he doesn't. Him pulling a Heero Yuy was a bit of a copout in the first place. Hopefully Destiny will be more thought out in advanced to avoid such incidents.

[Keiichi]

Some more info I found on anouther MB.

The truce only existed for a moment. In the end, the people of space and Earth couldn't do nothing but desist each other. A new MS with the name of G is built as if as a battle flag while destiny
turns towards the dawn [of war?].

With tears in his eyes, Kira Yamato disappeared a long time ago and Asuran Zara and Kagari Yura are
wasting time caught up in politics.

Thus, Shin Asuka comes to bear the new age of Zaft. But, he won't necessarily become the maiden of light bringing happiness, but rather rise as a crimson archer embracing hatred and blind obidience
within himself and become.

And so the new story also becomes a story of war. A story of fighting the enemy, of people themselves becoming a bullets shooting towards the enemy without hesitation, a story of red-hot will of gunfire.

Is a new future waiting beoynd that battle, or is it the demise of humanity? No one knows that yet.

Destinys sounding pretty dark so far.

[HellCat]

Some more info I found on anouther MB.

Destinys sounding pretty dark so far.

Hmm...from the sounds of that, I'm guessing the early part of the story will have Cagalli and Athrun trying to help in the peace negotiations, but it goes pear shaped anyway and war breaks out. However, ZAFT and Orb (at least Cagalli's part of it) form an alliance, the main weapon of which is the new Gundam. Athrun becomes a mentor to Shin, though the relationship is rocky since both have split from the faction the other sees as the better to join what they see as the weaker.

[Juu-kuchi]

Maybe this is what the some of the staff or Sunrise reps said about the next Gundam series being dark and back to the UC-style.

I wonder what will happen to Lacus though if Kira is going to disappear. I like how they're probably going to make Kira shell of his former self. Maybe they'll make a disgruntled Kira the head of some major organization in the end of the series, wrought with guilt and lamenting behind a slogan of him being the true Coordinator. This is all speculation however.

[HellCat]

Maybe this is what the some of the staff or Sunrise reps said about the next Gundam series being dark and back to the UC-style.

I wonder what will happen to Lacus though if Kira is going to disappear. I like how they're probably going to make Kira shell of his former self. Maybe they'll make a disgruntled Kira the head of some major organization in the end of the series, wrought with guilt and lamenting behind a slogan of him being the true Coordinator. This is all speculation however.

That kinda reminds me of how Akito was handled in the Nadesico movie...Kira may be off moaping like Amuro in Zeta. Since he was studying robotics, maybe he'll design his own Gundam and show up later in the show.

[Keiichi]

You have to wonder if Kira ever got over Flay. Or will he be forever hung up on her like Amuro was on Lah Lah. This Luminare girl looks alot like her it'll be interesting how Kira will react upon meeting her (if he dose). Also I wonder who will develope the new horse type battle ship.

[Duke]

OK, I clicked on the link...where do I go? The closest thing I can find is ASCII pictures...

[HellCat]

OK, I clicked on the link...where do I go? The closest thing I can find is ASCII pictures...

The links to the pics are further into the report I quoted. You're best just ignoring the link to where Gunota got them.

[GWOtaku]

posted by Monkey D. Luffy:

Destinys sounding pretty dark so far.

Yes...possibly moreso then the end of SEED (the last 15 episodes or so), and that'd be something to see. Its a good thing; if they're taking after the pace and atmosphere of the second half of the show then we're in for a really good series.

I'm loving the very premise of the show. After a frenzied hardliner like Zala ZAFT has moderated with this Gilbert Durandal fellow (wonder if he has a SEED cameo? I'll have to pay closer attention), which only makes sense. Athrun is on Earth with Cagalli, which again makes total sense due to what happened at the end of the show and preceding events.

In short, there's complete CONTINUITY, and I love it. This has to be the first Gundam sequel with a main protagonist going on to remain a primary character (based on summaries I've read, Amuro Ray in Zeta doesn't count), and they didn't skip a generation but rather just a few years so there'll be inevitable connections to SEED's events. The setup is everything I could've hoped for. Now all that's left is the execution.

Things I expect/want to see from SEED Destiny:

1. Athurn, and lots of him. Even though SEED was sort of about them both, Kira without a doubt got a huge share of attention. More of a focus on Athrun will be great, and it'll be interesting to see how SEED's events have changed him and where he goes from here.

2. Lots of Athurn/Shin Asuka conflict. These two characters can easily develop each other. Shin Asuka, to put it simply, is Athrun the way he used to be--he's distraught over the death of his family, and wants justice--Athurn joined ZAFT for the same reason due to losing his mother at the Bloody Valentine incident. Athurn's now older and wiser, Shin is young and bitter. Hopefully the meeting mentioned in the write-up is just the first of many.

3. Don't forget Kira, Lacus, and Cagalli! They don't need to be main characters this time aorund, but they shouldn't be neglected in Destiny.

Cagalli I'm almost certain we'll see, you can't have Athurn in Orb without Cagalli being around. I just hope she has a fairly important role, which I think she does--if Athurn is her bodyguard she probably has a ruling position in Orb now.

As for Kira, where Athurn is you know long-time friend Kira is going to show up sooner or later and do something--or rather, at least he should. And then there's the little fact

Spoiler:

that he's the "supreme coordinator" according to Creuset

I think it would be horrible to take Kira and go "yeah, he got depressed and was never heard from again," that's just a waste. I want to see him as a supporting character, preferably with a MS of his own.

There are two ways Lacus could be important. She should (a) be with Kira or (b) be back in space, playing the role of the voice for peace with her influence. If she returns we'd probably see her the least of the four (in theory, anyway), but she's important enough to space in SEED that I don't think she can just be left out either.

4. Deakka and Yzak. Believe it or not, they got kinda cool before it was all over. They deserve at least a cameo in a given episode. Oh, and they need to explain what happened to Duel and Buster.

5. More background info on the following things:

-Earth's poliitcal makeup (just how much does Blue Cosmos control now?)
-An explantion for "SEED mode" if there is such a thing and its not merely metaphorical
-The fallout from proliferation. Both sides

Spoiler:

used nuclear technology by the end of the series

. I'm a little surprised Impulse Gundam is run on battery power, since due to events it should be possible to get around N-Jammer technology by now. Perhaps nuclear tech was rebanned as a condition for peace in Treaty of Junius. Still, I'd like it to be explained.

6. More Gundams. Orb, ZAFT, and the Earth military should all be smart enough to have developed at least one Gundam for themselves. I doubt that's what they're doing, but they shouldn't give Shin the only Gundam. Athurn at least needs one so the two can fight each other; those two are just begging to be rivals.

Oh, and Orb should have

Spoiler:

a better version of the M1 Astray

by now, if they have any smarts at all.

Can't wait to see what the new show has in store!

Any word on an air date?