# Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER)

**Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer** (機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER) is a three-episode Japanese original net animation (ONA) produced by [Sunrise](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunrise-studio) in 2006, a side story set in the Cosmic Era timeline of *Mobile Suit Gundam SEED* alongside the events of *[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny](https://www.edgepedia.org/mobile-suit-gundam-seed-destiny)*.<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://gundam-official.com/seed/about/)</sup> It was the first Gundam work to premiere through on-demand internet streaming rather than broadcast or home video.<sup>[3](https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/ir/newsletter/pdf/bn_news4.pdf)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Original net animation, 3 episodes (STAGE-1 to STAGE-3), each about 15 minutes, roughly 45 minutes total<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://animeanime.jp/article/2026/04/16/97990.html)</sup> |
| Streaming run | July 14 to October 20, 2006, on Bandai Channel<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/work/news.php?id=1553)</sup> |
| Setting | Cosmic Era 73, in the aftermath of the "Break the World" incident, in which ZAFT terrorists dropped the Junius Seven colony onto Earth<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup> |
| Main characters | Selene McGriff, a DSSD engineer, and Sven Cal Bayang, pilot of the Strike Noir in the Earth Alliance's Phantom Pain unit<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup> |
| Title mobile suit | GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam, a non-combat planetary-exploration mobile suit with the Voiture Lumiere propulsion system<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup> |
| Director / script | Susumu Nishizawa (director), Shigeru Morita (screenplay), character design by Kenichi Ohnuki, music by Megumi Ohashi<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup> |
| Theme song | "STARGAZER ~Hoshi no Tobira~" (星の扉) by Satori Negishi<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup> |

## Spoilers

### Premise and story

The story opens in Cosmic Era 73, when the shockwave from ZAFT's dropping of the Junius Seven colony shatters cities, sweeps tsunami over fleeing populations, and leaves deep scars across Earth; in South America, the [Fortaleza](https://www.edgepedia.org/fortaleza) region suffers devastating urban damage.<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://gundam-official.com/news/i/special-series/gundam-works/special-series_gundam-works_20110128_520p)</sup> Amid the fear and confusion, a single white mobile suit waits for its launch: the Stargazer, developed by DSSD (Deep Space Survey and Development Organization, 深宇宙探査開発機構).<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup>

Two characters anchor the story. Selene McGriff, an engineer on DSSD's mobile suit development team, has staked her life on the Stargazer, which is intended to make exploration beyond Mars orbit possible.<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://gundam-official.com/news/i/special-series/gundam-works/special-series_gundam-works_20110128_520p)</sup> Sven Cal Bayang, a pilot of the Earth Alliance's irregular Phantom Pain unit and the Strike Noir, takes part in Coordinator (genetically engineered human subspecies in Gundam's Cosmic Era) extermination operations, killing civilians and losing comrades while continuing to carry out his missions.<sup>[7](https://gundam-official.com/news/i/special-series/gundam-works/special-series_gundam-works_20110128_520p)</sup> Sven's new orders are to seize the independent AI installed in the Stargazer, and the two meet under the stars as the black-and-white machines cross paths.<sup>[7](https://gundam-official.com/news/i/special-series/gundam-works/special-series_gundam-works_20110128_520p)</sup>

The third stage moves the conflict to space. At DSSD's Troya Station, far from the war between ZAFT and the Earth Alliance, preparations for the Stargazer's deep-space departure proceed steadily until the station's communications fail and an approaching mobile suit force is detected: Phantom Pain, targeting the autonomous AI. The Strike Noir and Verde Buster overwhelm DSSD's security forces, and the white machine rises again in response.<sup>[8](https://filmarks.com/animes/3001/3795)</sup>

## The Stargazer Gundam

The GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam is a non-combat mobile suit built by DSSD, an organization jointly funded by the PLANTs, the Earth Alliance, and neutral nations as the core of the "Stargazer Plan" for exploring space beyond Mars orbit.<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup> Because it was never designed for battle, it carries no dedicated weapons; when its propulsion system is deployed, the ring-shaped beam generated around the machine can be repurposed as a cutting weapon.<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup>

Its defining feature is the Voiture Lumiere, a propulsion system that receives solar wind through a ring-shaped (torus) unit on the back and converts it into thrust energy, giving the machine effectively semi-perpetual acceleration.<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup> The torus unit also functions as movable thrusters that can split and redirect their thrust axes, giving mobility beyond ordinary mobile suits.<sup>[9](https://gundam.wiki.cre.jp/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC)</sup> The suit carries a self-interactive distributed-processing AI unit and self-repairing micromachinery for automatic maintenance, so unmanned operation was anticipated.<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup> Its humanoid form was chosen because surface exploration was also envisioned, with deployable thrusters in the shoulders and legs and wire anchors built into the side skirts.<sup>[10](https://srw.wingzero.tw/ja/works/126/mecha)</sup>

When Phantom Pain attacked Troya Station, Selene McGriff and Sol Ryuune L'ange boarded the Stargazer themselves to intercept the enemy.<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup> Selene is a Coordinator engineer and a central figure of the Stargazer Plan, calm in manner but driven to the point of losing sight of everything else in pursuit of space development; Sol, the suit's test pilot, lost his parents young, was raised by his uncle Edmond Duclos, and shares a sibling-like bond with Selene, who also lost her parents.<sup>[6](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)</sup>

## Production and release

The project began as a store promotional video before becoming a streaming work; as a result, the only entirely new mecha design is the title Stargazer Gundam, with the other machines derived from units that appeared in the main *SEED* series.<sup>[11](https://srw.wiki.cre.jp/wiki/%E6%A9%9F%E5%8B%95%E6%88%A6%E5%A3%AB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%A0SEED_C.E.73_STARGAZER)</sup> The Phantom Pain machines, the Strike Noir, Blu Duel, and Verde Buster, are upgraded and modified versions of the Strike, Duel, and Buster Gundams adapted to their pilots' combat preferences.<sup>[12](https://linux-gal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tropea.pdf)</sup> The Strike Noir is specialized for close combat but carries the Noir Striker, a large sword and railgun combination that allows both melee and gunfire.<sup>[7](https://gundam-official.com/news/i/special-series/gundam-works/special-series_gundam-works_20110128_520p)</sup>

**Streaming first.** Bandai Namco's announcement described Stargazer as the first Gundam work to premiere through on-demand distribution, with Bandai Channel releasing three parts of about 15 minutes each, one per month, from July 2006.<sup>[3](https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/ir/newsletter/pdf/bn_news4.pdf)</sup> Each part was priced at 105 yen including tax, with STAGE-1 running July 14 to August 18, STAGE-2 August 18 to September 22, and STAGE-3 from September 22.<sup>[13](https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/releases/images/3/31718.pdf)</sup> The internet distribution ended on October 20, 2006, and a DVD collecting all three stages, with newly added ending footage and video extras, went on sale from [Bandai Visual](https://www.edgepedia.org/bandai-visual) on November 24, 2006 at 6,300 yen including tax.<sup>[5](https://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/work/news.php?id=1553)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/work/news.php?id=1536)</sup> A Blu-ray edition has since been released.<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup>

The main staff carried over from the *SEED* television series: director Susumu Nishizawa, who had worked on storyboards for the TV series; screenwriter Shigeru Morita; mechanical design credits of Kunio Okawara, Kazutaka Miyatake's studio BEECRAFT, and Kenji Teraoka's collaborator Kimitoshi Yamane, listed with Fujioka Kenki; character design by Kenichi Ohnuki; and music by Megumi Ohashi.<sup>[1](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/releases/images/3/31718.pdf)</sup> The voice cast includes Sayaka Ohara as Selene McGriff, Daisuke Ono as Sven Cal Bayang, Jun Fukuyama as Sol Ryuune L'ange, Joji Nakata as Edmond Duclos, and [Mamoru Miyano](https://www.edgepedia.org/mamoru-miyano) as Shams Couza.<sup>[15](https://filmarks.com/animes/3001/3795?vod=3)</sup>

## Reception and availability

On IMDb the work holds a rating of 6.7 out of 10 from 178 user ratings.<sup>[16](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0856795/ratings/)</sup> On the Japanese review site Filmarks it averages 3.5 out of 5 across more than 850 reviews, with 59 percent of reviewers giving it between 3.1 and 4.0.<sup>[15](https://filmarks.com/animes/3001/3795?vod=3)</sup> Recurring viewer comments note that the roughly 45-minute runtime leaves the story feeling rushed and gives the supporting cast little room.<sup>[4](https://animeanime.jp/article/2026/04/16/97990.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[17](https://xenodude.com/2025/03/12/mobile-suit-gundam-seed-c-e-73-stargazer-review/)</sup>

The series remains available in Japan: as of the official streaming listings it is offered on U-NEXT, Anime Houdai, DMM TV, Prime Video, and the Gundam Fan Club.<sup>[18](https://gundam-official.com/seed/onair/)</sup> Because it assumes familiarity with Cosmic Era terminology such as Naturals and Coordinators, reviewers suggest watching the main *SEED* titles first.<sup>[17](https://xenodude.com/2025/03/12/mobile-suit-gundam-seed-c-e-73-stargazer-review/)</sup>

## References

1. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 -STARGAZER- | 機動戦士ガンダムSEEDシリーズ公式サイト](https://gundam-official.com/seed/stargazer/)
2. [機動戦士ガンダムSEEDシリーズとは | 機動戦士ガンダムSEEDシリーズ公式サイト](https://gundam-official.com/seed/about/)
3. [バンダイナムコグループ IRニュースレター (2006)](https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/ir/newsletter/pdf/bn_news4.pdf)
4. [「機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER」の配信はどこで見れる？ | アニメ！アニメ！](https://animeanime.jp/article/2026/04/16/97990.html)
5. [STARGAZER インターネット配信終了のお知らせ | サンライズ](https://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/work/news.php?id=1553)
6. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 -STARGAZER-｜SDガンダム ジージェネレーション エターナル｜バンダイナムコエンターテインメント](https://gget.ggame.jp/jp/titles/detail.php?t=r02s427f)
7. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER | GUNDAM Official Website](https://gundam-official.com/news/i/special-series/gundam-works/special-series_gundam-works_20110128_520p)
8. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER - アニメ情報・レビュー・評価・あらすじ・動画配信 | Filmarksアニメ](https://filmarks.com/animes/3001/3795)
9. [スターゲイザー - ガンダムWiki](https://gundam.wiki.cre.jp/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC)
10. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER 機体リスト | RoboInfo](https://srw.wingzero.tw/ja/works/126/mecha)
11. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER - スーパーロボット大戦Wiki](https://srw.wiki.cre.jp/wiki/%E6%A9%9F%E5%8B%95%E6%88%A6%E5%A3%AB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%A0SEED_C.E.73_STARGAZER)
12. [Mobile Suit Gundam Seed CE 73 Stargazer mecha notes](https://linux-gal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tropea.pdf)
13. [060710 STARGAZER配信開始リリース (Bandai Namco)](https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/releases/images/3/31718.pdf)
14. [STARGAZER DVD発売情報 | サンライズ](https://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/work/news.php?id=1536)
15. [機動戦士ガンダムSEED C.E.73 STARGAZER | Filmarksアニメ](https://filmarks.com/animes/3001/3795?vod=3)
16. [Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (2006) - Ratings - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0856795/ratings/)
17. [Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E.73: Stargazer – Review – Xenodude Scribbles](https://xenodude.com/2025/03/12/mobile-suit-gundam-seed-c-e-73-stargazer-review/)
18. [配信情報 | 機動戦士ガンダムSEEDシリーズ公式サイト](https://gundam-official.com/seed/onair/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Anime and manga › Anime series, episodes, and franchises › OVAs, ONAs, and streaming-original anime*

*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license