GN-001 Gundam Exia

The nihongo|GN-001 Gundam Exia|ガンダムエクシア|Gandamu Ekushia is a fictitious humanoid weapon, the protagonist mobile suit of the anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam 00". The name "Exia" is derived from "exousia", the biblical Greek for the "authorities".

Appearance on Bandai race-car

In the 2007 Super GT season, Gundam Exia's coloring scheme was used by Toyota Team Kraft's SC430 (#35, GT500 class), which Bandai is their main sponsor. The car is used as promotion of Gundam 00 since race 5 (about two months before the series airing). The colouring scheme is also designed by Kanetake Ebikawa, with both the Gundam 00 (printed on spoiler) and the Celestial Being (printed on top) logo are present.cite web|author=Super GT|url=http://ww2.supergt.net/gtcgi/prg/NList02.dll/Code?No=NS008654&List=15|title=No.35 SC430がRd.5より「BANDAI 00 DUNLOP SC430」に |date=2007-08-13|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Japanese] Bandai had produced its model kit in the end of the season.

Appearance in Second Season

In the first episode of the second season, the Exia is shown to still be in operation and piloted by Setsuna F. Seiei. It has only been partially repaired since its last battle with Graham Acre. The face is badly damaged and its entire left arm is missing. A cloak covers the left shoulder and the only armament is a broken Exia's GN Shield Sword/Beam rifle. After being damaged even further in a battle with A-LAWS Mobile Suits, losing both its right arm and what remains of its left shoulder, it is taken back to the Ptolemaios 2 by Tieria. Ian Vashti comments on the Exia's GN Drive being useable for the 00 Gundam. What will become of the body is unknown.

Design

The Exia's appearance is relatively unique for a Gundam unit within the overall metaseries, as it lacks a number of the key signature features. The head is (to some extent) spherical, deviating from the typical "boxy" style. As in the head design of the Victory Gundam line, the blades of the Exia's forehead Command Antenna do not join at any special protrusion. There is a dark green pentagonal "search eye" between the blades. Similar devices feature in a number of 90's mobile suit concepts -- notably, the Wing Gundam Zero, the Wing Gundam, and the Gundam X.

Model Kits

Bandai Co., Ltd. has released a series of Gunpla model kits for the Exia, listed as follows:cite web|url=http://bandai-hobby.net/gundam00/|title=機動戦士ガンダム00 ダブルオー ガンプラ総合サイト |date=2007-10-25|accessdate=2007-10-26|language=Japanese]
*1/144 HG
*1/144 FG
*GN Arms + Gundam Exia Trans-Am Mode HG 1/144
*1/100 HG (Standard Exia)
*1/100 HG (Avalanche Exia)
*1/100 HG (Trans-Am Exia)
*1/60 HG
*Gundam Collection
*Gundam Collection Complex
*1/200 HCM Pro
*1/200 HCM Pro SP
*SD

Armaments

The following is a list of the standard armaments equipped upon the Exia.cite web|author=Wikipedia|url=http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A9%9F%E5%8B%95%E6%88%A6%E5%A3%AB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%A000|title=機動戦士ガンダム00|date=2007-10-26|accessdate=2007-11-06|language=Japanese]

"Seven Swords System: GN Sword / Rifle"

A solid blade attached to a miniature forearm shield, which serves as the Exia's primary weapon -- the longest blade amongst the Seven Swords. The cutting edge is lined with GN particles, allowing it to easily split MS armor. The sword can be vertically folded along the forearm, exposing the muzzle of a short-range, high-speed beam rifle concealed behind the shield. A single shot can destroy a conventional enemy unit, though the rifle appears to be somewhat inaccurate.

The GN Sword is intentionally a solid blade due to the possibility of battles between GN Drive-equipped mobile suits. The GN Fields (particle barriers) that can be created from GN Drives can stop beam weapons, meaning that Exia was created as the trump card, able to pierce GN Fields.

The GN Sword is shown to have sustained severe damage, to the point of the blade being cracked in half, some time after the final battle against the Alvatore.

"Seven Swords System: GN Long Blade & Short Blade"

A pair of solid blades differing in length, securable when not in use to rotatable, cylindrical docks that extend from either hip joint of the Exia -- the Long Blade goes on the left. Blade bodies are lined with GN particles to increase the effectiveness of armor-cutting, and appear to possess sonic functionality. Normally used in dual wield. Ian Vasty claims that the blades can slice through 3 meters of E-Carbon without any problem.

"Seven Swords System: GN Beam Saber & Beam Dagger"

The Exia has a total of four beam sabers: two of standard length, mounted behind either shoulder; and two beam daggers, mounted upon docks behind the waist that can be rotated upwards and outwards.

"GN Vulcan Cannon"

A small beam-based vulcan cannon, built into the Exia's forearm. As all of its capabilities are inferior to that of the GN Sword - Rifle Mode, it is used primarily for threatening and limiting enemy movement.

"GN Shield"

Defensive equipment composed of durable E-Carbon, superior to the armor class of conventional mobile weapons and extremely difficult to destroy. As the Exia is designed for close-quarters combat, the shield it's equipped with is relatively small and light-weight. Both ends of the shield are bladed and of sufficient consistency to be used as a piercing weapon; normally docked to a socket in the left forearm.

"Trans-Am System"

A system that releases the full power of the GN Drive. The GN Drive is normally kept operating within a preset boundary, due to a lack of need for the higher output potential; however, when the Trans-Am System is activated, the full power of the GN Drive is utilized to saturate Exia with compressed GN particles. The concentration of energies turn Exia's mobile suit frame pink/red and boosts Exia's specs to 300%. Exia's acceleration causes afterimages to appear. The trade-off, however, is that due to the release of the particles, Exia must recharge after using the Trans-Am System, lowering specs drastically during this time period. The system activated upon Aeolia Schenberg's death, entrusting his legacy and ideals to the Gundam Meisters. In the model kits it is represented by red data lines along certain parts of the gundam, primarily on the black parts of the mobile suit, while the light grey places on the arms and legs become red.

"GN Arms Type E"

An attachment for the Exia capable of being used separately. It is equipped with 2 GN Cannons and 4 GN Beam Rifles as well as two extremely long GN Swords, 2 GN Claws and a GN Barrier. It is able to boost Exia's speed tremendously. Piloted by Lasse Aion.

"Assault Container"

Personal transport for the Exia and its GN Arms. Can be piloted from the GN Arms. Equipped with 2 GN Cannons and 2 GN Rifles and 8 GN Rapid Missile Launchers and a GN Barrier. Piloted by Lasse Aion. It also has the capability of launching into space from Earth by itself.

Variants

GN-001/hs-A01 Gundam Avalanche-Exia

Appears in the sidestory Mobile Suit Gundam 00V. The GN-001 Gundam Exia can be equipped with the optional high-mobility equipment hs-A01 Avalanche. Though the GN particle propulsion system native to the Exia allows for relatively high speed and acceleration, the unit is actually incapable of matching or exceeding certain aircraft and spacecraft in flight. The Avalanche was developed for the purpose of eliminating this issue.

The optional equipment consists of a series of large-capacity GN particle condenser attachments, which act to store the particle production of the GN Drive for release in a single 10-minute burst of ultra-high speed. Higher output is possible, but the strain it places on the body of the pilot becomes severe. As the condensers require a full hour to charge, repeated use of the burst function is impossible. The standard Seven Swords armaments can be mounted behind the Avalanche equipment, and quickly deployed for use.

"Avalanche" is so named because its power supposedly engulf everything completely in its path, like a real avalanche. The "hs" stands for "high speed," and "A01" stands for "Avalanche Unit-01."

ee also

* List of Anno Domini mobile units

References