Maria Kawamura Quietly Reprised her Quess Paraya Role for Hathaway’s Flash

The Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway’s Flash film opened to Japanese cinema last Friday on June 11, 2021 and has enjoyed rave reviews, early box office success and high Blu-ray sales.

Gundam Producer Naohiro Ogata took over the Hathaway’s Flash Twitter account to field questions from fans about the film. Fan @BATI_NIGHTCAP asked the producer clarity about the surreal “Do it! They’re fakes!” line by Gigi Andalucia in the Haunzen Flight 356 hijacking scene in the 1st Act, wondering about the different voice tracks used and if the other voice was Maria Kawamura. Producer Ogata confirmed the first voice was in fact Ms. Kawamura, while the subsequent voices were Gigi actress Reina Ueda and Kawamura together.

Kawamura makes another small cameo in the film’s 2nd Act after the Mafty vs Federation battle in Davao. Gigi runs to Kenneth and Hathaway has this dream-like flashback sequence of Quess running to Char Aznable in Mobile Suit Gundam Char’s Counterattack, with new animation. Maria Kawamura is featured in the end credits as Quess Paraya. Director Shukou Murase mentioned during the Marunouchi Piccadilly Dolby Cinema stage greeting last Friday that the Kenneth horse riding moment during this scene was also in reference to Char Aznable from the Char’s Counterattack film.

These stylistic choices from Shukou Murase adds more depth to Hathaway’s fated connection and interest in Gigi Andalucia, given the traumatic history of his lost love and catalyst for his ideals, Quess.

A frequent voice actress for Yoshiyuki Tomino, Maria Kawamura portrayed Quess Paraya in the 1988 Mobile Suit Gundam Char’s Counterattack film, as well as Beltorchika Irma in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam in 1985. Kawamura also starred in Tomino’s non-Gundam works such as Heavy Metal L-Gaim(1984) as Gaw Ha Leccee and Lillith Fuau, and Aura Battler Dunbine(1983) as Cham Fau.