The latest film in the animated film series "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash" (directed by Murase Shukou), "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash 's Flash: The Witch of Circe," will be released in 365 theaters nationwide on January 30, 2026. "Hathaway 'Hathaway's Flash" is set in the Universal Century, and the protagonist, Hathaway Noah, is the eldest son of Bright Noah and Mirai Yashima, who met in "Mobile Suit Gundam," the first Gundam series that began airing in 1979. In this first installment of a series explaining "Hathaway's Flash," we explore the relationship between Hathaway and Universal Century works.
◇Hathaway was a child in "Z Gundam"!
In the year 0079 of the Universal Century (UC), the Principality of Zeon declared war on the Earth Federation government, starting the One Year War. Mobile Suit Gundam depicts this One Year War. Bright Noa, an officer candidate in the Earth Federation Forces, is appointed captain of the White Base due to a manpower shortage. Civilians, including Amuro Ray, who becomes the pilot of the Gundam, end up fighting, and Mirai, who later becomes Bright's wife, is one of them, serving as the helmsman of the White Base.
Bright had feelings for Mirai, but Mirai, also known as the "mother of the White Base," was actually very popular with men. His fiance, Camlan Bloom, appeared, and Mirai was in love with Sleggar Law, so Bright's love life was not straightforward. However, after the One Year War ended in UC0080, Bright and Mirai got married and Hathaway was born.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, broadcast in 1985, depicts the Gryps Conflict that took place in UC0087, seven years after the One Year War. Starting with an internal conflict between the Earth Federation military organizations, the Titans and AEUG, the conflict becomes increasingly chaotic as Paptimus Scirocco of the Jupiter Fleet, who controls the Titans, and Haman Karn's Axis, who is plotting the revival of Zeon, join the fray.
Hathaway first appeared in the anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Bright joined AEUG and became the captain of the Argama. Mirai left the military and fled to Hong Kong with Hathaway and her eldest daughter, Chae Min. The three were kidnapped and held hostage by the Titans, but were rescued by Amuro, Hayato Kobayashi, and Kamille Bidan.
At the time of its broadcast, many people probably never imagined that "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash " would be produced, with Hathaway as the main character. Incidentally, Satomi Arai , who played Fa Yuiry and Chae Min in " Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation," will play Mirai in " Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island."
Hathaway does not appear in the First Neo Zeon War in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, which aired in 1986, but his father, Bright, who remained with AEUG after the Gryps War, served as captain of the Argama and had a period when he was popular with women, including receiving an ardent advances from Emmaly Once, acting captain of the dock ship La Vie en Rose.However, due to his love for Mirai and his children, he maintained his composure and did not enter into an affair.
◇ "Char's Counterattack" greatly changed Hathaway's life
Hathaway appears as a 13-year-old in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, released in 1988. In UC0093, during the Second Neo Zeon War, the newly reborn Neo Zeon, led by Char Aznable, clashes with Londo Bell, led by Amuro and Bright. Mirai had planned to take Hathaway and Chaemin into space to reunite with Bright, but was interrupted by Adenauer Paraya, a high-ranking federal government official, and gave up on the plan, sending only Hathaway into space.
Hathaway meets Adenauer's daughter, Quess, and falls in love with her, but Quess is attracted to Char and becomes a Neo Zeon pilot. Hathaway stows away on the Ra Cailum, commanded by Bright, and takes off without permission in a Jegan to rescue Quess.
Hathaway witnesses Quess's death in battle and the Axis Shock caused by Amuro's Nu Gundam, and his life changes dramatically thereafter.
Mufti Hathaway tries to change the world
"Hathaway's Flash" is an anime adaptation of a novel published in 1989-90 by director Yoshiyuki Tomino, known as the creator of the Gundam series. The story is set in UC0105, 12 years after "Char's Counterattack." The corruption of the Earth Federation government has accelerated the contamination of the Earth and has even implemented the inhumane policy of "human hunting," forcibly taking civilians into space. The anti-Earth Federation government movement, Mufti, begins its resistance with the brutal act of assassinating high-ranking federal government officials. The leader's name is Mufti Navue Erin, and her true identity is Hathaway.
Following "Char's Counterattack," Hathaway returns to Earth after a brief military service and is training as a plant surveillance officer under Professor Amada Manthan. Inspired by the ideals, ideals, and will of Amuro and Char, Hathaway seeks to change the world. He prepares to attack the Adelaide Conference, a meeting of Federal Cabinet ministers, and pilots the cutting-edge mobile suit, the XI Gundam.
On his way back from the colony's agricultural block, Hathaway encounters a hijacker calling himself Mufti on Haunzen Flight 356. He repels the hijacker with his military-trained physical abilities, and is praised by many cabinet ministers. There, he meets Federation Colonel Kenneth Sleg and a mysterious beautiful girl, Gigi Andalusia, who will greatly change his fate. Gigi realizes Hathaway's true identity, and Hathaway sees Gigi as Quess, the man he once had feelings for. Kenneth, a former mobile suit pilot who also participated in the "Char's Rebellion" in "Char's Counterattack," feels a connection between Gigi and Hathaway.
In "Char's Counterattack," Hathaway was deeply influenced by Char, who despaired at the corruption of the Earth Federation government and rose up to purge those bound by Earth's gravity, and Amuro, who believed in the potential of humanity and hope for the future until the very end, and rose up in rebellion against the Earth Federation government in order to "change the world." This is part of the grand story that continues from "Mobile Suit Gundam." Tracing the Universal Century, including "Char's Counterattack," one can sense the world that Hathaway has witnessed since childhood, and the conflicts and thoughts he has faced as he now takes on the responsibilities of being the Mufti.
A "flash" is a momentary, strong light, but what kind of light will Hathaway emit in "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash - The Witch of Circe"? (Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB)
