DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 March) — The anime film Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway features an unexpected setting: Davao City. Originally released in 2021, the film has recently gained attention in local online spaces due to its depiction of the city in international media.
The story is set in a future where Earth is controlled by a powerful federation, and much of humanity has migrated to space. The protagonist, Hathaway Noa, leads an underground movement against the ruling powers while posing as a civilian. The plot begins with a hijacked space shuttle forced to land in Davao City, bringing the conflict to the ground.
Visually, Davao is portrayed as a futuristic metropolis with high-rise buildings, tropical greenery, and coastal views. Scenes include familiar local elements like a Jollibee branch and street-level activity resembling Agdao. However, much of the story unfolds in controlled spaces—hotels, military bases, and secured routes—where surveillance and political tension dominate.
The city becomes a battleground where state forces and insurgents clash, contrasting its polished exterior with underlying unrest. The film reimagines Davao not as a distant, secure city but as a strategic location drawn into global conflict, where war disrupts its perceived safety.
Ultimately, Hathaway presents Davao as a microcosm of militarization—any city, no matter how orderly, can become a site of violence when power shifts. The film blends futuristic aesthetics with a sobering message about control and vulnerability. (Bea Gatmaytan / MindaNews)
