"Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of Zeon" is a 13-episode OVA series set in the Universal Century timeline, taking place three years after the One Year War. The story revolves around the theft of a prototype Gundam unit, the RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis," by remnants of the Principality of Zeon. The Gundam is equipped with a nuclear warhead, and its theft is part of a larger plan by the Zeon remnants to reignite conflict with the Earth Federation. The Federation assigns rookie pilot Kou Uraki to pilot the RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes" and recover the stolen unit.

The narrative begins at the Federation's Torrington Base in Australia, where the Gundam units are being tested. An elite Zeon ace, Anavel Gato, infiltrates the base and successfully steals the GP02A. Kou, along with his comrades, pursues Gato into space, where the conflict escalates. The Zeon remnants, led by Gato and supported by the Delaz Fleet, aim to use the stolen Gundam to deliver a crippling blow to the Federation by targeting their naval review at the Konpei Island naval base. The Federation, meanwhile, struggles to contain the situation while dealing with internal political tensions and the growing influence of the Titans, a militaristic faction within their ranks.

Kou's journey is marked by his growth as a pilot and his evolving relationships with key characters, including Nina Purpleton, a Federation engineer and his love interest, and Keith, his mentor and fellow pilot. The series also explores the ideological clash between the Federation and Zeon, with Gato embodying the unwavering loyalty to Zeon's ideals, contrasting with Kou's more pragmatic and evolving perspective. The climax of the series centers on the Battle of Solomon, where the Zeon remnants launch their final assault, leading to a dramatic confrontation between Kou and Gato.

The series concludes with the Federation's victory, but at a significant cost, as the conflict exposes the fractures within their leadership and sets the stage for the rise of the Titans. "Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of Zeon" is notable for its detailed mecha designs, intense space battles, and exploration of the moral ambiguities of war, serving as a bridge between the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Zeta Gundam."