Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXIS

Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXIS (機動戦士ガンダム Twilight AXIS) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kōjirō Nakamura and illustrated by ARK Performance, released by Sunrise under the Yatate Bunko imprint. It is the second Gundam media to feature a main female protagonist after Mobile Suit Gundam École du Ciel. Set after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn and before the events of Mobile Suit Gundam F91, in which it focuses on two former Zeon remnants as they were hired to investigate the remains of the asteroid base Axis. The novel is loosely based on Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde.

An original net animation series was released by Sunrise from 23 June 2017 to 1 September 2017. A theatrical compilation of the ONA series was released in theaters on 18 November 2017.

Story
Set months after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, the story focuses on two former Principality of Zeon Remnants, former weapons developer Arlette Almage and former test pilot Danton Hyleg. Both of them are hired by the Earth Federation Forces research team to investigate the remains of the asteroid base Axis. But upon their arrival, they encounter a Cyber Newtype, Quentin Fermo, who pilots the mysterious mobile suit, the RX-78AN-01 Gundam Tristan. Tristan attacks them for unknown reasons.

==Characters ==
 * Arlette Almage (アルレット・アルマージュ)

A former Zeon mechanic who worked closely with Char Aznable. She was also a suspected Newtype, and was regularly tested by the Flanagan Institute. She moved with Danton to Side 6, and agreed to join Mastema's expedition in order to find out what happened to Char. Pilots the AMA-X4 Ahava Azieru.


 * Danton Hyleg (ダントン・ハイレッグ)

A former Zeon test pilot. Despite his incredible skills, he was unable to take a life, forcing him into a testing role. After the Second Neo Zeon War, he left for Side 6 with Arlette. He and Arlette are later recruited by Mastema to investigate the ruins of Axis. Pilots the AMX-011S Zaku III Custom and AMX-104 R-Jarja.


 * Mehmet Merca (メーメット・メルカ)

The leader of the Mastema special forces unit. He leads an expedition to Axis to find a rumored Psycoframe research facility.


 * Quentin Fermo (クァンタン・フェルモ)

A Cyber Newtype who works for the Buch Junk Company. He is sent to investigate Axis after the Laplace Incident, but encounters Danton, Arlette, and the forces of Mastema. Pilots the RX-78AN-01 Gundam Tristan and RX-78KU-01 Kurwenal.

The brother of Quentin Fermo, working with the Buch Junk Company. Pilots the RX-160G Byarlant Isolde.
 * Walter Fermo (ヴァルター・フェルモ)

Light novel
Sunrise officially launched their own light novel publication arm Yatate Bunko as a way to expand the stories of their previous franchises such as Gundam, Armored Trooper Votoms, King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final and Matchless Raijin-Oh through monthly light novel series. The Twilight Axis light novel was written by Kōjirō Nakamura and illustrated by ARK Performance, the creative duo behind Arpeggio of Blue Steel. The first chapter was published in Yatate Bunko on 7 November 2016. Twenty chapters were published, with the last on 28 December 2017.

Anime
An original net animation series based on the novel was released by Sunrise on 23 June 2017 and ended on 1 September 2017, exclusively for Gundam Fan Club members in Japan It will be directed by Se Jun Kim with mecha designs from Shingo Abe and music by Takashi Ohmama. A theatrical compilation of the ONA episodes, titled Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXIS Red Trace (機動戦士ガンダム Twilight AXIS 赤き残影) was released in theaters in Japan on 18 November 2017.

Manga
A manga adaptation of the novel by Azusa Maxima was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine between 20 October 2017 and 20 March 2019 and collected into three volumes.

Merchandise
Similar to previous Gundam series, merchandise for Twilight AXIS will be released under the High Grade Universal Century 1/144 Gunpla line. Bandai announced a HGUC 1/144 scale model of the RX-78AN-01 Gundam AN-01 Tristan for a June 2017 release to coincide with the anime's release. An exclusive P-Bandai HGUC 1/144 Zaku III Custom was also announced.