The first of three new Gundam films is full of Pinoy scenes
Images courtesy of Netflix, Sunrise
Set 12 years after the events featured in the 1988 Gundam film “Char’s Counterattack,” “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway” is the first of the newest movie trilogy in the much-loved anime franchise.
Filipino Gundam fans are celebrating today, July 1, 2021, as the film premiered on streaming platform Netflix, but also because it is full of very Pinoy scenes. As teased in the trailer of “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway,” a good portion of the film will be set in a fictional, futuristic version of Davao City.
Be happy? Jollibee scenes from ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway’
That box of ChickenJoy though, and that’s got to be the orange bee at the back, right?
Yet, although it is fiction, there’s a ton of very Pinoy scenes that make this version of Davao closer to home. From local fauna and familiar market scenes to fast food favorite Jollibee, where Hathaway Noa, the film’s main character, is seen chatting with associates while eating some good’ol one-piece ChickenJoy with rice, as well as a very recongnizable mineral water bottle. The Pinoy fastfood bee also makes an appearance—you definitely won’t miss him.
Directed by Shukou Murase, “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway” is the first in a trilogy of novels from Gundam series creator Yoshiyuki Tomino to be adapted into a Netflix original anime film. We’re looking forward to the next two.