The series took a long time to be released largely due to the sudden death of director Takeyuki Kanda in July 1996. GONZO's Umanosuke Iida took over production of the series until it ended. The first 11 episodes of The 08th MS Team were broadcast on Cartoon Network in 2001. "Last Resort" was never televised in North America. However, all twelve episodes are on the DVD release.
Shiro Amada
Lieutenant Shiro Amada is the newly appointed commander of the Earth Federation's 08th Mobile Suit Team stationed in Southeast Asia. Before he assumes this position, however, he befriends a Zeon pilot named Aina Sahalin up in space and unbeknownst to both of them their fates become intertwined. Shiro Amada is voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama in Japanese and Steve Staley in English.
Aina Sahalin
Aina Sahalin is the daughter of a noble family from the Principality of Zeon. While piloting her prototype Zaku amidst a debris field in space, she meets Shiro Amada and form a bond with him despite the fact that they are fighting on opposite sides. Although the two of them part ways, they are destined to meet again on Earth after Shiro takes command of the enemy's 08th Mobile Suit Team. Aina Sahalin is voiced by Kikuko Inoue in Japanese and Emilie Brown in English.
Eledore Massis
Petty Officer 3rd Class Eledore Massis is a veteran member of the 08th MS Team. He serves as operator of the team's support hovertruck. He's not very brave and openly admits he's not cut out to be a soldier. Despite this he doesn't hesitate to put himself in danger when he has to, especially when Karen is involved. Eledore Massis is voiced by Keiji Fujiwara in Japanese and Eddie Frierson in English.
Ginias Sahalin
Rear Admiral Lower Half Ginias Sahalin is a Zeon officer charged by the Sovereign Degwin Sodo Zabi to build a mobile weapon powerful enough to destroy the Earth Federation Forces military headquarters of Jaburo. He is also the older brother of Aina. Although Ginias is quite brilliant and a kind military superior, he also clearly suffers some kind of illness as revealed later in the course of the series. Ginias Sahalin is voiced by Sho Hayami in Japanese and Lex Lang in English.
Karen Joshua
Master Chief Petty Officer Karen Joshua is the 08th MS Team's tough, abrasive second-in-command and NCO. The team's longest-serving mobile suit pilot, Karen is initially underwhelmed by her new commanding officer Shiro Amada. As a former medical student, and the widow of a military doctor, Karen can double as a field medic in cases of emergency. Karen Joshua is voiced by Mami Koyama in Japanese and Debra Jean Rogers in English.
Kiki Rosita
Kiki is the daughter of the leader of an anti-Zeon guerrilla resistance. She encounters Shiro Amada just before he is taken captive by the guerrillas. When Shiro finally convinces them to assist the 08th MS Team Kiki follows him, coordinating support and providing communication between the MS unit and the resistance. Throughout all of this, she maintains a mild infatuation with Commander Shiro. Kiki Rosita is voiced by Chinami Nishimura in Japanese and Michelle Ruff in English.
Michel Ninorich
Corporal Michel Ninorich serves as navigator and gunner of the team's support hovertruck. Between battles, he writes letters to his girlfriend B.B., who still lives in the space colonies. Like Shiro, he was transferred to the Earth Federal Army and assigned to the 08th MS Team. Michel Ninorich is voiced by Hiro Yuuki in Japanese and Tony Ricci in English.
Norris Packard
Captain Norris Packard is an ace pilot originally sent to observe the Zeon Forces in Southeast Asia, but gets stationed at the hidden base where Ginias Sahalin is working on his Apsalus Project. There he observes Ginias' sister Aina Sahalin as she tests the three Apsalus Mobile Armors. Packard is like a surrogate father for Aina and is probably a family friend. Norris Packard is voiced by Osamu Ichikawa in Japanese and Michael McConnohie in English.
Terry Sanders Jr.
Chief Petty Officer Terry Sanders Jr. is another veteran member of the 08th MS Team. He has gained a reputation of being cursed due to several notorious strokes of bad luck: Every team he was assigned to would be completely annihilated on their third mission together, save for Sanders himself. This earned him the unfortunate nickname of "Shinigami Sanders", "Sanders the Reaper" in the English version. Terry Sanders Jr. is voiced by TesshÅ Genda in Japanese and Steve Kramer in English.
Yuri Kellarny
Rear Admiral Yuri Kellarny is the commander of a Zeon military division in Europe and an old acquaintance of the Sahalin siblings. Although he acts gruff and ill-mannered around the Sahalins, he is an honorable soldier who is dedicated to the well-being of the men under his command. After the Odessa base falls to the Federation, Yuri leads his fleeing soldiers east towards Ginias's development base, hoping to use it as an escape route back to space. Yuri Kellarny is voiced by Kyonosuke Kami in Japanese and Daran Norris in English.
Kojima
Kojima is the base commander of the 08th MS Team and their fellow units. Throughout most of the series, he is a typical by-the-book officer who does whatever he is told by his superiors. Towards the end, however, he is visibly shaken by the brutal tactics of Captain Isan Ryer and defies him, thinking that enough good people have already died. Yuri Kojima is voiced by Yuzuru Fujimoto in Japanese and Alfred Thor in English.
