One of the most prominent changes from the original Gundam UC: Phoenix Hunt novella to Gundam NT is the expanded role of Zeon. While the Neo-Zeon remnant group “The Sleeves” play a role in the climax of Phoenix Hunt, there are no named or perspective characters present. Gundam NT, on the other hand, introduces Lt. Zoltan Akkanen of the Republic of Zeon’s armed forces, a Cyber Newtype that was another attempt to create a “second coming of Char” like Full Frontal of The Sleeves. Zoltan pilots a version of one of the most prominent UC-MSV: the Sinanju Stein.

Zoltan Akkanen

Zoltan and his Sinanju Stein fit into Sunrise’s strategy of not overstuffing the anime UC continuity similar to how the Narrative Gundam does (as discussed in the previous installment). To reiterate, instead of creating a new super prototype mobile suit (such as a Gundam), one is introduced that is effectively a derivative or retooled version of one that already existed. This extends to characters as well; Full Frontal, “the second coming of Char,” for example, introduced an almost literal version of the “Char clone” trope used in most prominent derivative Gundam works.

Once again, the more recent Gundam: Twilight Axis is illustrative of this not just in regards to MS but also characters. While the terse ONA adaptation offered very little in the way of background information or exposition about its own plot, the original novel readily offered them up. Danton Hyleg, one of the main characters and a longtime (though previously unknown) ally of Char Aznable, was handpicked by Char to test his own personal mobile suits due to his nearly identical piloting style. When the Gundam Tristan attacks during the investigation of the ruins of Axis, he discovers and pilots a red Zaku III Custom originally intended for Char Aznable by Haman Karn. In this way, Danton functions as a Char stand-in due to his closeness with the original Char over his career, his piloting ability, and his mobile suit choice.

Zoltan appears to be continuing this trend. Full Frontal’s origin was never explained in the Gundam UC anime like it was in the novels, so the inclusion of Zoltan as another attempt to recreate Char may be an avenue to explain that in the first place. Zoltan is conceptually a watered down version of Full Frontal that pilots an incomplete version of his signature mobile suit, though in exactly what way he was made as another second coming of Char outside of ability remains to be seen.

MSN-06S Sinanju Stein & Unit 2