Set two years after the original Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, the plot follows the new character Shinn Asuka, a soldier from the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty, or ZAFT, composed of humans born genetically enhanced labelled as Coordinators.

Gundam SEED Destiny became highly popular in Japan, having sold over one million DVD volumes and soundtracks topping charts.

However, Gundam SEED Destiny has often been compared with its predecessor for sharing similar situations with the director's cut OVA having helped to improve an ending that was felt to be weak.

Gundam SEED Destiny sets the story two years after the original series and it starts when the leader from Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha, reunites with the PLANTs' Supreme Council chairman Gilbert Durandal to discuss the construction of new mobile suits made for the military organization ZAFT.

[1] During the fight, ZAFT's battleship Minerva is ordered to destroy the ruins of a space colony to prevent it from crashing into Earth.

Athrun becomes disaffected after Gilbert Durandal orders the destruction of his friend Kira Yamato and the Archangel, deeming them as enemies.

The leader of Blue Cosmos, Lord Djibril, orders the super weapon Requiem to be fired which destroys several space colonies of PLANT, resulting in many deaths.

[2] Soon after Durandal's death, the Earth Alliance, ZAFT, and the Orb Union meet to end the war, with Lacus Clyne acting as the negotiator.

Earlier, voice actor Tomokazu Seki had stated he was working on a popular show with fans hinting it was related to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

[6] When the series was premiering in Japan, Fukuda stated that unlike Gundam SEED, the sequel would not focus on Kira's and Athrun's relationship, but on Shinn's involvement in the war.

His characterization was made to change briefly across the story as Kira faced Gilbert Durandal's ideals and became a person more compromised with war in contrast to his original pacifist persona after this incarnation was challenged by multiple other characters in regards to his actions on the battlefield.

[21] In July 2007, only episodes 1 to 22 have been aired and was thought to be discontinued on Comcast Cable; however, in September 2007, it has been made available again, this time with the English-dubbed version.

[22] Sunrise released the HD remaster of SEED Destiny in North America with a brand new English dub produced by NYAV Post on November 9, 2021.

[27] A film version of the TV series was released as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition, which retells the story in four 90 minute parts.

[30] Gundam SEED: Special Edition was licensed for North America by Bandai Entertainment and was released on bilingual DVDs between June 17, 2008, and January 13, 2009.

This film was first announced on May 6, 2006, at the Sony Music Anime Fes' 06 with a brief clip featuring the characters Shinn Asuka, Cagalli Yula Athha, Lacus Clyne, Kira Yamato, and Athrun Zala.

Lacus, Yzak Joule, and Dearka Elsman will return as members of the PLANT Supreme Council and Kira, Shinn, and Lunamaria Hawke will be part of the ZAFT military.

[36] In the April 2008 edition of the Animage magazine, writer Chiaki Morosawa explained that although she has managed to complete the outline for the plot, the requirement of continuous treatment for her illness has led to the indefinite postponement of the project.

[42][43] Chimaki Kuori also wrote Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge that tells the events of the anime from the viewpoint of Athrun Zala.

An orchestral album of selections from the series score, Kokyo Kumikyoku Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, was released on December 16, 2005, and featured performances by the London Symphony Orchestra.

[58] The selection of the previously unknown Takahashi mirrored that of Nami Tamaki, who was chosen to sing the third opening theme for the original Gundam SEED.

[62] A deluxe version of this same album which included a box and a DVD containing the opening and ending animation footage was also released.

[81][82][83] In the Recording Industry Association of Japan's awards, Gundam SEED Destiny was the winner in the category of animation album.

[86][87] The new cast of characters was well-received with the relationship between Rey Za Burrel and Neo Roanoke bringing speculations regarding their identities due to how it mirrored one from Gundam SEED.

[87][92] Chris Beveridge from Mania Entertainment further commented on this, stating that while it brings parallels other series, Gundam SEED Destiny's themes are "also done well enough that it stands firmly on its own.

It was also noted make a more satisfying ending, allowing to develop more of their characters with the emotional focus being more explored than in the television series' finale.

[88] The mobile suits' designs have been well-received despite the fact they transformed, something considered cheesy by Anime News Network's Paul Fargo.

[86] Fargo stated that composer Toshihiko Sahashi notably improved his scores from Gundam SEED, with artists' opening and ending themes also being entertaining.

[96][97] Nevertheless, Don Houston from DVD Talk advised viewers to listen to the English dub rather than the original Japanese version, having noticed that some sound effects were remixed and thus improved the audio.

[86] In July 2021, media reporting on the wake of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III noted that the song “Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru” from the Gundam Suit Destiny series as military honor guards escorted his urn to the front of the Ateneo de Manila University's Church of Gesu where his memorial service would be held.