0 Gundam

Overview

The GN-000 0 Gundam (O Gundam) is a mobile suit appearing in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. As the first-generation machine developed by Celestial Being, it is the foundational prototype for all subsequent GN Drive-powered mobile suits, establishing the core technical framework of the organization's Gundams. Over the course of the story, it is piloted by Ribbons Almark and Lasse Aeon.

Appearance

The suit features a signature Gundam-style face sensor assembly and a V-fin antenna on its head. Its outer armor and inner structure are composed of E-carbon, which originally leaves the unit painted in a two-tone grey and white scheme. A large cone thruster unit is mounted on its back. When modified into its Actual Combat Deployment type, the paint scheme is updated to a classic tricolor pattern of red, blue, white, and yellow.

Abilities

Powered natively by an original GN Drive, its standard weaponry includes a handheld Beam Gun, a Beam Saber mounted on the right rear thruster latch, and a Gundam Shield on the left arm. It can deploy the GN Feather system, releasing large volumes of GN particles in a wing-like pattern from its thruster for defense, attitude control, and jamming. The Actual Combat Deployment variant utilizes a GN Condenser tank instead of the original drive, though the original GN Drive was later retrofitted using a borrowed thruster cone. An alternate proposal in Mobile Suit Variation, the Full Armor 0 Gundam, incorporates GN Composite Armor, a double beam gun, fixed beam bazooka, and head-mounted vulcans.

Background

In A.D. 2301, the 0 Gundam was deployed to the conflict between the Kingdom of Azadistan and the Republic of Krugis for combat performance testing. During this mission, pilot Ribbons Almark spared the young Setsuna F. Seiei instead of eliminating all witnesses. The data gathered was utilized to construct second- and third-generation Gundams, while its original GN Drive was assigned to the support team Fereshte before eventually powering the Double Oh Gundam. During the final battle against the Innovators, the suit was outfitted as the Actual Combat Deployment type using a particle tank. After being depleted and abandoned, Ribbons recovered the unit, reinstalled the original drive, and engaged Setsuna's Gundam Exia Repair II in a final duel.

Relationships

Ribbons Almark served as the original pilot and personally recommended Setsuna F. Seiei to become a Gundam Meister after sparing him. Lasse Aeon later piloted the suit's Actual Combat Deployment type to defend the Ptolemaios II. Technically and structurally, the 0 Gundam serves as the direct predecessor to subsequent mobile suits such as the Gundam Astraea and the Double Oh Gundam.

Trivia

Designed by Kunio Okawara, the unit's visual structure serves as an intentional homage to the classic RX-78-2 Gundam. The model number GN-000 and the designation '0' signify its status as the absolute origin of all GN Drive-equipped mobile suits.