Gundam Wing

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Fandom
Name: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing/Gundam Wing
(新機動戦記ガンダムＷ[ウィング]
shin kidou senki gandamu W [uingu])
Abbreviation(s): GW
Creator: Sunrise Inc.
Date(s): April 7, 1995 – March 29, 1996
Medium: anime
Country of Origin: Japan
External Links: Official Anime Website/JP
Gundam wing.jpg
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Gundam Wing is an anime about five young mecha pilots, and the bewildering web of alliances, betrayals, and battles they face over the course of the series.

The English language fandom is heavily centered around slash/yaoi pairings (the dominant pairing being Heero/Duo, or 1x2). Het and femslash pairings exist, but they are less common. The primary het pairing is Heero/Relena (or 1xR). Duo is the Little Black Dress of GW fandom.

Nomenclature

Most of the characters have names based on numbers:

  • Heero Yuy is 1
  • Duo Maxwell is 2
  • Trowa Barton is 3
  • Quatre Winner is 4
  • Chang Wufei is 5
  • Zechs Merquise/Milliardo Peacecraft is 6
  • Lucrezia Noin is 9
  • Lady Une is 11
  • Treize Khushrenada is 13

The result of this numbering system is that some fanfic headers look like complex mathematical equations to those unfamiliar with the fandom's naming conventions.

Generally, a multiplication sign (x) signifies a sexual relationship, whereas an addition sign (+) indicates friendship; focal pairings are listed first. For example, a header reading "1x2, 3x4, 5+R" would describe a story that centrally develops or includes a sexual relationship between Heero and Duo, develops or includes the same for Trowa and Quatre, and develops or includes close friendship between Wufei and Relena.

Pairings and Characters

Heero/Duo (1x2)

Trowa/Quatre (3x4)

Heero/Relena (1xR)

Other Characters & Pairings

The other characters tend to be listed in pairings by initial or by name. 6x9, 13x11, 13x6 and 13x5 are fairly popular, frequently occurring as a B-plot in 1x2 and/or 3x4 stories. Wufei often gets paired off with Sally Po or Relena in such stories. 5x2 and love triangle or OT3 stories involving Heero, Duo, and Wufei are also fairly common. 1x3, 1x4, 1x5 and 'pilot piles', including all five pilots in one relationship, are not common but do exist. 2x4 and 4x5 are for some reason very rare.

Relena Bashing

Relena is deeply intrigued by Heero, and develops strong feelings for him over the course of the series. Heero also cares for Relena (in his own unique way), although his interest in her can be read as either romantic or platonic. Because she is a potential threat to the Heero/Duo relationship, and is viewed as being useless and a "stalker," many fans dislike Relena.

Some of them dislike her strongly. Relena bashing was (and is?) common in the fandom. FanFiction.Net's search function finds several hundred stories based on the keywords "Relena bashing":

  • funny and lots of Relena bashing!!
  • RELENA BASHING TO THE EXTREME
  • Heero's favorite game!!Relena Bashing!!!
  • This is really funny!! Please read! Relena bashing....yay!!

While many fans dislike Relena, she also has passionate defenders. Some fans who initially disliked (and even bashed) Relena grew to appreciate her role in the series. Other fans were deeply impressed with the character from the beginning.

Relena's arc is one of the strongest character arcs in the series, and the fact that people dismiss her as a spoiled brat never fails to rankle me.[1]

Relena is awesome. She was one of the reasons I kept watching Wing back in the day. She truly is a strong woman, and neither rabid shippers nor people who think real women don't wear dresses/drive pink limos can stop that. [2]

Official Art

Gundam Wing official art from art books and other similar sources tends to be somewhat... different from that found in the series itself. Most notorious is the "Wild Turkey" drawing of Zechs, but group shots of the five main pilots in school uniforms or military uniforms not featured in the series or dressed as members of a boy band are also common.

1) Gundam Wing official art can be full of so much wtfuckery that I think Bandai must have had a room full of blow for the artists[3]

Fanart

Doujinshi

Once upon a time, Gundam Wing was quite a popular subject for doujinshi. Scans of many of these circulated in English-speaking fandom, sometimes in translated form.

Notable Circles

  • Ronno to Kallus - Bambi Takada (Heero/Relena)
    • Since Series (1-9)
  • Aqua - Kajika Ono (Heero/Relena)
  • Pastel Wing (Heero/Relena)
  • Meteor 18 (Heero/Relena)
    • Wolf x Bunny
    • Cinderella (Imitation Crime)
  • Plum Garden - Himi Kanzaki (Heero/Relena)
    • No Fortune Teller Series (1-4)
  • MTT Niigata (Heero/Relena)
  • Aiola Sisters (Heero/Relena)
    • Salve Regina Series (1-18)
  • Mustardberry (Heero/Relena)
  • Velvet Paw (Heero/Relena)
  • Tea Clipper (Heero/Relena)
  • Peter Jr (Heero/Relena)
  • REI (Heero/Relena)
  • English Cherries (Heero/Relena)
  • HotSlag (Heero/Relena)

Fanfiction

Fanon and Tropes

Fanon characterization was as important--and sometimes more important--to fans than the canon. Newer fanworks built upon pre-existing fanon. [4]

In canon, many of the primary characters don't meet until halfway through the series. Stories where the pilots all live together in a safehouse and work together frequently are common, as are AU fics where all five already work together as police, detectives, or other law enforcement/investigative personnel (especially stories where they have to go undercover at gay bars or BDSM clubs).[5] Highschool AUs are also very popular, although some of them aren't technically 'AU' (Heero and Duo did canonically go undercover at a highschool), and some are futurefic where they go to high school after the war.

The most stereotypical and oft-parodied variety of GW story features Duo being rejected by Heero (or dumped after a one night stand), going out to a bar, and being assaulted, causing Heero to realize that he really is in love with him after all. (Cue the magical healing cock!)

Notable Works

Archives

Smaller Shrines & Archives

Awards and Contests

Recommendations sites

Communities

Mailing Lists

Yahoo! Groups

The major fandom mailing list on Yahoo! Groups was gw-fan. A vast number of pairing-specific Yahoo! Groups also existed.

  • The Trowa and Quatre ML "The Trowa and Quatre ML". Archived from the original on 2002-02-02. Description: "This is a group for the fans of the yaoi couple Trowa and Quatre, from the series Gundam Wing. We're 3x4 and 4x3 friendly here, and open minded about all sorts of character interpretations. The stuff you can expect to see here: discussions, fanfiction, fanart, doujinshi scans, and anything else TQ related we can think of."
  • 1x2xR ML "1x2xR ML". Archived from the original on 2002-12-21. Description: "This is a Gundam Wing mailing list for the pairing of Heero, Duo and Relena. Any discussions, fics etc to do with 1x2xR, 1x2, 1xR and 2xR are most welcome."
  • SDDI (The Society for the Defence of Duo's Intelligence) "SDDI". Archived from the original on 2003-06-09. Description: "We're a group of people who don't believe that Duo is the stupid airhead that he's portrayed as most of the time. If you can promise to never portray Duo this way (except in parody) then please join us!!! The SDDI is yaoi, yuri, and het friendly, and we're really nice people! Please feel free to share your ideas (and fanfics and art) and come bask in Duo's intelligence with us. ^_~ Note: Mars is now approving all memberships to hopefully eliminate recent problems with spambots. No, it's not a scary thing. Just trying to make our members happier. ^_^ No one likes spam."
  • The Thirtyfive Club "The Thirtyfive Club". Archived from the original on 2003-10-29. Description: "Okay 3x5/5x3 people. We're rare, right? And we're special, right? So we need our own special group, right? Well... *drumroll* TADA!!!Here it is! ::cheers:: Thank You, glad you're glad I made it! Yes, well theres gotta be something for everybody! What thats? Stop being conceited and silly? I can fix the conceited part, but silly is here to stay, baby! Woo-hoo! Okay, anyway, whatever ya got, we take it! 3x5/5x3 fanfics, djs, and just about everything else GW, Trowa, Wufei, or both related. Just send it on in lovelies! [Admin] Okay, new change. The spam bots will never go away. In order to keep the listees happy, I'm keeping membership restricted in order to keep spammers from signing up. So, if you request membership and your username looks authentic, you've got no problems. If your username does look a bit iffy, send me an explaination email at [email protected] as my GW.org email is, as it looks, completely fried."
  • onetwentyfive "One Twenty Five". Archived from the original on 2005-05-15. Description: "A group for the 1x2x5 threesome from GW. Hi! ^_^ Join, we'd love to have you. Anyway, this group is dedicated to Heero, Duo, and Wufei as a group. We'll also accept 1x2, 2x5, or 1x5, but we definitely prefer 1x2x5. ^_^ So come and join us!"
  • Wufei ML (wuml) "Wufei ML". Archived from the original on 2005-02-15. Description: "If you are a fan of Chang Wufei from Gundam Wing, then this is the list for you! Come here for discussion, fanfics, fanart, contests, polls, and general fun in relation to the Great Balding One ^_- Both yaoi and non-yaoi welcome."
  • HeeroxWufeimL "Heerox Wufei ML". Archived from the original on 2005-03-30. Description: "HeeroxWufei/WufeixHeeromL. Hello and welcome to the original HeeroxWufei/WufeixHeero mailing list on the net! We support yaoi and 1x5/5x1 in all its glory. Join us and read fanfics, drool at the fanart and just have fun!^o^"
  • Lovin 3x2 "Lovin 3x2". Archived from the original on 2003-11-18. Description: "This is a list for those of us that have totally fallen in love with the Pairing of Trowa and Duo. (3x2, 3+2 That means YAOI!!! Male/Male relations) After meeting the two american voice actors Kirby Marrow and Scott McNeil (the voice of Trowa and Duo)this weekend at Animfest and hearing them do the voice's and act some things out. I totally fell in love with the pairing all over again. This list is for those of us who love the idea that Trowa and Duo love eachother. This list is ONLY for Trowa and Duo Fans. This must be the main pairing in all fanfics that are brought to the list. No exceptions made. They can start off with others, but at some point, they must find that they love eachother. Stories can be angsty, loving, romantic, dramatic, thrilling, adventurous, hurt and comfort, and even a little bit of humor (but keep it to a minimum) This is a 3x2 (3+2) list. That means That I prefer to keep the 2x3 (2+3) down to a minimum as well. (Yes! I'm saying that I prefer Trowa as the Seme in the relationship.) So please. If you think you could love Trowa and Duo as a couple. If you think that they could be wonderful together. Then by all means JOIN!!! Even if you're like me and love other GW pairings just as much. (I also have thing for 1x2) Just remember. This is for the LOVE of Trowa and Duo. [Rules will be sent out when you Join]"
  • GWing "GWing". Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Description: a " ist to talk about our favorite couple in GW, Heero and Duo. This list is open for the sharing of ideas, art work, fanfiction, anything about one hot couple. This list is Yaoi friendly. If you are not of the appropriate age in your area to be viewing/reading materials that deal with sexual relationships, please reconsider joining. Before registering with this group you *MUST* read the policies and be familiar with them."
  • GW Oz "GW Oz". Archived from the original on 2003-11-18. Description: "Gundam Wing - OZ and supporting cast mailing list. It's not that I dislike the G-boys or anything, but there are a lot of great supporting cast members that tend to get overlooked, so I made this place just for them. (And I'm a big fan of Zechs and Treize ^_~) Discussions, fanfics, fanart, just about anything goes. Non-yaoi is fine, but yaoi tends to dominate, so tolerance at least is expected. Um, can't think of anything else right now, except thanks to Kumi for the kawaii banner ^___^"
  • HeeronQuatresML "Heeron Quatres ML". Archived from the original on 2003-06-22. Description: "Konnichi-wa! My name is Mikata, and i am a Heerox Quatre supporter! join me and this funki (saseru) list! Konnichi-wa! this is a Heero x Quatre list! i will definatly accept any fanfiction, fanart... i will allow off topicness, and even *gasp* pairing other than 1x4 or 4x1! i just kinda' want people to join...so... come! we'll have fun! we can eat pocky and make our G-Boys do silly things!"

Other Mailing Groups

  • Fluffy Tales "Fluffy Tales". Archived from the original on 2003-11-29. Description: "This ml is dedicated to the traditional yaoi pairings of Gundam Wing, 1x2x1 and 3x4x3 as well as a mix of 6x5x6, 13x5x13, 13x6x13. If you are tired of bastardized or feminized characters, deathfics and angst written just for the shock value of it then you'll find a happy home here. The purpose of this ml is to celebrate their love and not to destroy it. The homepage pictures are by Stacy, one of our own GWbish members. Thanks to Bnitid for creating our website archive."
  • GPAML "GPAML". Archived from the original on 2003-06-22. Description: predominantly for the yaoi fanfiction and fanart of Jessie Shockey, along with update alerts for the Gundam Pilot Academy and Blue Roses (the 13x4 shrine)

Meta

Notes

  1. ^ deconcentrate on Halfamoon's Unpopular Woman Love Post. (Accessed April 19, 2009).
  2. ^ sabordefresa on Halfamoon's Unpopular Woman Love Post. (Accessed April 19, 2009).
  3. ^ ironpuncher2 on fanfic rants. (Accessed May 22, 2009).
  4. ^ Fandom and the (de)centrality of the text, by Branch. (Accessed April 19, 2009)
  5. ^ gundam wing fandom, why do you hurt me? at the fanficrants livejournal community has some discussion of official art, AUs, and fanon, particularly in the comments section (Accessed May 22, 2009)
  6. ^ Gundam Wing Addiction
  7. ^ The Shipper's Manifesto, archived 16 January 2007 by the Wayback Machine.
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