Turn A Gundam Staff, Production, and Episode Analyses – Episode #15 “Fleeting Memories”

Turn A Gundam‘s fifteenth episode was broadcast on Fuji TV on July 16, 1999. This episode’s scenario is by Tetsuko Takahashi, Turn A Gundam‘s literary coordinator and a Tomino family friend who had previously worked with him on Brain Powerd.

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Sochie returns to the Militia camp in the White Doll, while Loran makes his way back to Kingsley Valley to help with the excavation of the spaceship. Together with Sid and a group of Inglessan Militia members, they continue to further clean and dust off the ship’s exterior. Meanwhile, Will Game’s taken in by the Soleil (and Teteth scurries off somewhere…) and he’s brought to Kihel’s (as “Dianna”) attention. He tells them about the spaceship that’s been excavated and then questions if Kihel really is “Dianna Soreil”, because she doesn’t seem to recognize the story of his ancestor while a certain “Kihel Heim” did. Kihel & Harry ask him where said “Kihel” is but he refuses to answer unless he knows he can book a trip to the Moon. They place him under Lt. Phil’s command.

Keith and Verlaine (that’s the name of the baker’s daughter) run into Lily Borjarno, who’s stranded because her car’s stuck in a ditch. They help her recover the vehicle and notice an ill Guin Lineford in the backseat. As Verlaine tends to him, Keith scoffs at the idea of Guin attempting to make a comeback; in his mind, Nocis fell due to his incompetency. According to Lily, Guin plans to continue the fight against the Dianna Counter. They make way to a villa for Guin to further recover. Meanwhile, Phil orders Poe and Will Game to sortie to stop the Militia from acquiring the spaceship.

The mobile suit Will Game excavated last episode is called the SPA-51 Cannon Illefuto, designed by Junya Ishigaki. He’s a mechanical designer who has worked on numerous Gundam series and was also involved in video games such as Xenogears and Xenosaga (an intersection that pleases me, given that I’m a big Xeno fan). The Cannon Illefuto bares resemblance to the GMs of Mobile Suit Gundam and Universal Century fame, particularly the RGC-80 GM Cannon variant. With the Kapool, Borjanon, and now the Cannon Illefuto all being based off of mobile suits from the U.C. timeline, there’s clearly a running theme with the remnants of the “Dark History”.

Loran goes to pick up Dianna, who’s making one last stop at the former Will Game’s estate to put her memories to rest. There’s an awkward scene where he just kind of spies on her as she cries and shatters a memorabilia photograph. Don’t be so shy, ask her what’s wrong! Anyhow, back at the Militia camp, Keith and Lily are paying a visit; Keith attempts to sell bread and Lily is curious about the White Doll and its maneuverability. They then visit Colonel Michael to deliver a message from Guin Lineford—he suggests that the Militia should recruit Moonrace engineers, since some Moonrace returnees simply want to live in peace and make an earning. Lily agrees with the proposition and thinks the Militia should use every tool at their disposal in the fight against the Dianna Counter. Sirens alarm, because Will Game’s mobile suit has been spotted and is headed towards Kingsley Valley (where the spaceship is). Militia members head out in response, including Sochie and Gavane Gooney’s “Suicide Squad”.

As Loran and Dianna leave the estate, they notice Militia suits headed towards Kingsley Valley and chase after them. A fight breaks out between the Moonrace and Militia, as Kapools & Borjarnons duke it out against WaDs and Will’s Canon Illefuto. Chaos and mayhem ensue and mobile suits are torn apart. Sochie enters the fray in the White Doll and throws some missiles to fend off the WaDs who retreat in terror. In the aftermath of the battle, Will’s mobile suit stands motionless with its torso missing and it’s pilot’s arms can be seen hanging from the cockpit. Loran stops a disbelieving Sochie from attempting to enquire further, and Dianna stands there in shock—she repeatedly calls for Loran’s name, wondering if Will is still alive or not. It’s a harrowing scene and really speaks to Tomino’s directing & storyboarding prowess. Thus ends the tale of the Will Game family line.

This marks the end of the arc and a turning point in the show, or as Tomino would have it, the curtains fall as the theatrical play ends. Episode 16 is a recap; I’ll still be covering it but it’ll be a much shorter blog post than usual.

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