Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island

Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island is a 2022 anime film directed by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, which reimagines the 15th episode from the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series. The film expands on the original story, enhancing both the narrative and animation. Set during the One Year War in UC 0079, the plot follows Amuro Ray, pilot of the RX-78-02 Gundam, as he embarks on a mission with the White Base crew to investigate a remote island known as the “Island of No Return.”

Upon arriving, Amuro discovers a group of orphaned children and a rogue Zaku II mobile suit piloted by Cucuruz Doan, a former Zeon ace who deserted to protect the children from the horrors of war. As Amuro searches for his lost Gundam, he uncovers the island’s secrets, leading to a confrontation with Doan and his troubled past. The film explores themes of war, morality, and the consequences of conflict on innocent lives, focusing on the personal struggles of both Amuro and Doan. With modern animation techniques and a poignant story, Cucuruz Doan’s Island offers a fresh perspective on a previously lesser-known chapter in the Gundam saga.