by An adaptation of the original story that “repaints” the Christmas tragedy
While “faithful to the original” anime adaptations are the norm these days, “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway’s Flash” and “My Favorite Child” are rare titles, with voices calling for significant changes to the original work.
The second part of the “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway’s Flash” trilogy, “Circe’s Witch,” is scheduled for release in January 2026. The first part, released in 2021, was a faithful adaptation of the original novel of the same name by Yoshiyuki Tomino, published in 1989. As a result, fans who know the story’s “ending” have been asking to have the original work altered. Similar voices are being heard for “My Favorite Child,” whose third TV anime season is scheduled to air in January 2026.
The ending of the original manga of the same title (written by Akasaka Aka and illustrated by Yokoyari Mengo), which concluded in November 2024, generated considerable buzz. While it generated buzz, adverse reactions outweighed the positive ones, and many expressed hope for changes in the anime.
The first and second seasons of the anime were faithful to the original, and even featured an episode specifically themed around “changing the original.” For this reason, future developments in anime are attracting attention. However, is it really possible to change the original as fans desire? It seems possible.
A precedent would be the novelization of the OVA “Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.” In this case, the OVA is considered the “original work.” The following contains spoilers for both the OVA and the novel version of “Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.” As you know, the OVA “Mobile Suit Gundam 0080” is a tear-jerker with its heartbreaking ending.
Because the story is set during the Christmas season, it’s a hot topic on social media every December. While I won’t go into detail, one of the main characters, Bernard Wiseman (aka “Bernie”), was depicted as having died in the OVA. A few months after the OVA’s release, a novelization of the same name (by Kyosuke Yuki) was released by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. While the content is largely faithful to the original, the aforementioned death of Bernie was altered, with Bernie miraculously surviving. Author Kyosuke Yuki acknowledged this change in his afterword, stating that he had intentionally made it.
However, some say the “extraneous addition” saved the day. On the other hand, some feel that it detracted from the OVA’s polished impact, leading to divided opinions on the issue. Whether it’s “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway” or “My Favorite Child,” no matter how many people call for changes to the original work, if the ending is altered, opinions will inevitably be divided. However, it’s a natural desire for fans to want to see a different ending. Future developments for these two popular works will be closely watched.
