Gundam Archives

The Visionary Behind the Gundam: Tem Ray

Tem Ray, a brilliant mind and chief engineer of the Earth Federation’s Project V, played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the One Year War. As the father of mobile suit pilot Amuro Ray, Tem’s legacy extends beyond his remarkable contributions to the field of mobile suit development.

A Life of Innovation

Born on Earth, Tem Ray lived with his wife Kamaria and their son Amuro. Before the outbreak of the One Year War, he was recruited by the Earth Federation to lead weapons research under the guise of colony construction. This marked the beginning of his journey as a pioneer in mobile suit technology.

The Birth of Project V

As chief engineer of Project V, Tem oversaw the design, construction, and transport of the Federation’s first prototype mobile suits to Earth. His vision was to create machines that would revolutionize warfare and give the Federation a decisive edge over its enemies.

A Fateful Encounter

However, the Principality of Zeon discovered the mobile suits within Side 7, a space colony, and sent a team to destroy them. In the ensuing chaos, Tem’s son Amuro commandeered the second Gundam unit and fought against the Zeon’s Zakus. The resulting explosion caused by one of the Zakus’ reactors being destroyed blew a large hole in the body of the colony, and Tem, unequipped for extended time in outer space, was sucked out into the vacuum.

A Miraculous Survival

Against all odds, Tem managed to survive the accident and was taken to the neutral colony of Side 6, where he took up residence in a junkyard. However, the extended period of time he spent in space led to oxygen deprivation, resulting in brain damage and leaving him delusional and prone to mood swings.

A Bittersweet Reunion

When Amuro met his father on Side 6, Tem congratulated his son on a job well done and gave him a piece of circuitry that he claimed would drastically increase the Gundam’s performance. However, Amuro recognized it as nothing more than a useless piece of junk.

A Legacy of Innovation

Tem’s final fate remains ambiguous, with different accounts of his ultimate demise. Nevertheless, his contributions to the world of mobile suit technology continue to inspire generations of engineers and scientists. His legacy serves as a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the boundless potential of the human mind.

Trivia and Appearances

Tem Ray has made appearances in various games and media, often playing on his helplessness in the field of science and mobile suit development since his mental deterioration. In some instances, his creations have even been portrayed as defective or useless, adding a touch of humor to his character.

In Gihren’s Ambition: The Menace of Axis V, Tem establishes his own faction, composed entirely of engineers and scientists, which is able to build every single mobile suit in the game, including a unique unit, the Gundam Tem Ray Custom.

In Super Robot Wars Alpha and other strategy-type Gundam games, the piece of junk he built appears as an item that can be equipped by mobile suits, often with negative effects. However, in Super Robot Wars 30, the item is reimagined as a powerful upgrade.

In Dynasty Warriors Gundam, Tem Ray is one of the scientists who can give the player upgrades for his/her unit, although his upgrades are often minimal and humorous.

In SD Gundam: Scad Hammers, Tem is obsessed with the Gundam Hammer and ignores every other weapon when developing the RX-78-2 Gundam, resulting in a comical portrayal of his relationship with Amuro.

Tem Ray’s character has been likened to Kentaro Goh, both in appearance and storyline, highlighting the complexities and nuances of his personality.