Mobile Suit Gundam Returns to Its Retro Roots at Last In This Viral Anime Short: Watch Now

2025 is set to go down in history as a landmark year for the mecha anime franchise Mobile Suit Gundam. Just a few months into the new year, interest and fan activity surrounding the long-running series have reached new heights. Much of this excitement stems from the recently released hit film Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- and the anticipation surrounding the Gundam GQuuuuuuX TV anime series, set to premiere in April. Now, one fan in Japan is taking their love for Gundam to an entirely new level.

A non-professional animator named Space Boy recently shared an impressive short clip on his X account, showcasing his original depiction of Messer-type mobile suits in action. The animation, rendered in a retro anime art style, was inspired by the original 1989–1990 novel version of Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway, which was made available on Netflix in 2021. Space Boy’s short, titled Hathaway 90’s style, presents the Messer mobile suits as they appeared in the novels, giving fans a taste of what might have been had the story been animated decades earlier.

From Page to Screen: The Story of Hathaway’s Flash

A Rebel’s Fight Against the Federation

The original novel Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash was written by Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino. The story follows Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa, as he takes on the identity of Mafty Navue Erin, leading an anti-Federation resistance group. Set 12 years after the Char’s Counterattack movie, Hathaway fights against the corrupt Earth Federation using guerrilla tactics and powerful mobile suits, including the RX-105 Xi Gundam. However, his ideals are tested when he encounters Federation officer Kenneth Sleg and a mysterious woman named Gigi Andalucia.

As the conflict escalates, Hathaway struggles with the weight of his actions, blurring the line between hero and terrorist in a world where justice isn’t so black and white. The 2021 Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway anime was a hit with Gundam fans, who admired its faithfulness to the original novel and the striking new animation from Sunrise. Planned as a trilogy of films, it was recently revealed that the second movie is now in production.

The Success of the Hathaway’s Flash Anime

Fan Creativity Keeps Gundam Evolving

Space Boy’s anime short offers fans a unique glimpse into an alternate vision of Hathaway’s Flash—one that captures the essence of the past while sparking new conversations about the future of the Gundam universe. As anticipation builds for the next chapter in Hathaway’s Flash, Space Boy’s animation reminds us that Gundam’s legacy is not just about its official works but also the passion of its fans.

Source: Space Boy on X