Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam/Trivia

• Executive Meddling: The original opening and ending themes couldn't be used for foreign versions because composer Neil Sedaka retains a copyright for them.
• Fan Nickname: The O suddenly is "Patrick" after SD Gundam Online was released.
• Follow the Leader: The emphasis on Transforming Mecha makes sense when you consider what came out between the original series and Zeta Gundam: specifically, Super Dimension Fortress Macross and Transformers (along with its predecessor lines Diaclone and Microman). This posed a problem with the model kits for years as some of the mecha designs were nearly impossible to translate to toy form. Zeta's transformation was a particular problem since it involves the abdomen scrunching together and the arms folding in, a feat that was unable to be pulled off reliably until the Master Grade Zeta 2.0 released in 2004. If anything, the Zeta Gundam designs forced model technology to advance rapidly.
• Hey, It's That Voice!:
  • Emma Sheen is Maya Okamoto's debut role.
  • Jamitov Hymen voiced by Tomomichi "M. Bison" Nishimura, anyone?
  • Sarah Zabiarov is Yuko Mizutani's debut.
• Milestone Celebration: 2004's Zeta Gundam movie trilogy was released to celebrate both the 20th anniversary of the show, and the 25th anniversary of the Gundam franchise.
• The Other Darrin:
  • In the English dub, a voice actors' strike happening at the time meant that none of the returning characters from the original Mobile Suit Gundam had their original voices.
  • Many of the female characters had their Japanese voice cast replaced for the Compilation Movie.
• Reality Subtext: According to backstage rumor, Reccoa and Scirocco were at least partly based on seiyuu Maria Kawamura and character and mecha designer extraordinaire Mamoru Nagano, who were the other two thirds of a Love Triangle Tomino was involved in during production. They got married, actually, and still are.
  • Zeta Gundam seems to be a veritable lightning rod for backstage drama. There's also the infamous recasting of Four in the compilation movies, allegedly due to a Casting Couch arrangement between Yukana and the director, as well as Rosamia's much reduced role as a result of the casting director having been married to her original seiyuu and then divorcing, resulting in her being replaced by a less experienced actress.
• Troubled Production: Like WOAH! Just look at the Reality Subtext entry above.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Originally, Gates was supposed to die together with Rosamia. And then he was going to survive and reappear in ZZ Gundam (which would have presumably involved a great deal of Talking to Yourself). He never appears in ZZ Gundam, but his final fate is left ambiguous.
  • In an abandoned draft of Chars Counterattack, Jerid Messa was meant to survive and become Amuro's wingman... Then ZZ Gundam came in the way.
  • Speaking of Jerid, there were plans at one point during Zeta Gundam's production to have him turned into a cyborg by Haman.
  • Emma Sheen was supposedly slated to return in ZZ Gundam as well.