That sounds like it's "Skippable" and I won't be missing anything of value.
Gundam Franchise Mega-Thread
- Thread starter KamenRiderBlade
- Start date
I just finished the series, and at this point I have to agree. The series is just total Zeon propaganda, if you told me that the Zeon actually existed and had made this as propaganda I'd believe you. It also seems to have a poor grasp on the One Year War, with the main woman accusing the Federation of starting it when it was the Zeon's who started it (Zeon's first action in the war was to massacre a bunch of neutral space colonies, they literally started the war with horrendous war crimes).
Honestly the last few episodes just really pissed me off, halfway decent CG action does not compensate for how garbage the story was, especially the ending
Even with the short length and decent CG action I really can't recommend this show, unless someone is really into Zeon apologist stuff I guess.
Honestly the last few episodes just really pissed me off, halfway decent CG action does not compensate for how garbage the story was, especially the ending
The main Zeon woman has learned nothing. Instead of going home to her kid she decides to double down on fighting so that "more kids don't have to fight", since the Gundam pilot who eventually got killed was a teen that she felt a bit of connection to at the end. Its just ridiculous
Even with the short length and decent CG action I really can't recommend this show, unless someone is really into Zeon apologist stuff I guess.
Lol at the Bootleg Model Kits back then.
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Apologies for the wait. Both my jobs ran me ragged. I'm ready to deliver my takes on the rest of the UC.
Part 2 of my Gundam watch recommendations.
Thinking about this section, it will have more exposition to explain why certain show didn't make it on my initial list.
Once again I will talk about the shows in timeline order, instead of release order. Helps make things simple.
UC 0068-0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2015-2018) - 6 Episode OVA: The name is a bit of a misnomer. The Origin is based off a manga series that ran from 2001 - 2011 of the same name. Using elements from the original show, notes of things that never made it into the show and new ideas that come naturally with the progression of time. The future looks a lot different in 2001. Compared to when show was first being written in 1978. And it certainly looks different when you compare 2001-2015.
The Origin manga does a full retelling of the show, Char and Sayla's backstories and the rise of the militant wing of Zeon to power. The latter two which weren't in the original show. The Origin OVA only covers Char and Sayla's backstories and the rise of the militant wing of Zeon. It's a good prequel, I just wouldn't recommend you watch it prior to the original MSG.
The Origin OVA is a love letter to MSG. So a lot of details that aren't going to matter until MSG, blink and you miss them cameos and a hyper-inflated emphasis on Char's importance fill the series' run time.
My advice is to watch MSG (either the series or the movie trilogy) first and then watch the Origin.
UC0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt (2015-2017)
Taking place during the last days of the One Year War, in the Thunderbolt section (Side 4) of the space. The Federation and Zeon wage a bitter war on a front that neither side really needs or cares about.
This series is a bit of an odd ball. It is based off of a manga series that started in 2012, is set during the original series main war, but is an alternative continuity to the main timeline events. The manga never strictly played the continuity straight. The author saying he wanted to draw things that looked cool. As opposed to keeping the mecha designs, newtype technology, and in-universe events in line with where the series was at the time he chose to set his story.
Depending on who you ask and what your priorities are, this is a polarizing series. The mech action and the animation of the battle is top-notch. It all looks really good. But the characters driving the narrative leave a lot to be desired. With the exception of one character from season 2. I found virtually the entire cast to be an unlikeable bunch.
Thunderbolt did get two seasons. Sneaking in during the resurgence of UC popularity in the mid 2010s. With Unicorn ending, Thunderbolt and The Origin starting around the same time. However, the series has been left to languish after it's second season. With each season being about four (20 minute) episodes long, and there are presently 24 volumes of the manga published right now. Bandai seemingly has lost interest in this series.
I wouldn't recommend it to a neophyte. However, the series is brief enough that you can clear it in 2 hours with no distractions.
UC 0088
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986-1987) - 47 Episode Series
ZZ pronounced as Double Zeta. This show has a reputation that proceeds it. It's preceding series, Zeta Gundam, was a dark war drama. Which, at the time wasn't fully appreciated it. It had good ratings, but they began to slide during the home stretch of episodes. With ZZ, the powers that be decided to go with a "lighter" Gundam to improve ratings. The effect of which was turning Gundam into a slapstick and gag comedy show. Where every character good or bad was a comic relief character, and nearly every scenario was a comedic scenario.
This went about as well as you imagine it would. Ratings didn't improve and people openly hated the show. The show is 47 episodes, and the plot doesn't start to form until episode 17. The unfunny comedy doesn't get adjusted way, way down until episode 25 - 37. This is where people will tell you that ZZ turns it around. And it certainly is not an exaggeration. This stretch of episodes is the show it should've been from the start. However, ZZ backslides into unfunny comedy with plots reminiscent of the early half of ZZ with episodes 38-41. With the final stretch of episodes limping along to an unsatisfying finale.
ZZ is a bit of an oddity. It had a lot riding on it, by being the next chapter of Zeta's story. But it drops all of those ideas and goes it's own way. The biggest loss of ZZ is that it doesn't advance Char's story. Char had reformed in Zeta Gundam and became a good guy. He loses his friends and faith at the end of Zeta, but he's still on the side of right. ZZ was supposed to include the battle within for Char's soul. As Char would slowly desire to wrestle control of Zeon away from the pretender to the throne, Haman Karn. Without that, the next chapter in the UC timeline (Char's Counterattack 1988), is missing context.
Char's Counterattack still works but what could have been will always linger.
I've tried to get several people to give ZZ a chance. But they all give up 10 episodes in. I won't burden anyone with trying to complete ZZ.
UC 0096
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010-2015) - 7 Episode OVA
Taking place 3 years (in universe) after the movie Char's Counterattack (1988), but 18 years after CCA in reality. Gundam Unicorn serves as a closing chapter to the first act of the UC. Unicorn was a series of light novels published in 2006-2009. The best way to describe Unicorn is as a love letter to the UC, that includes a fetch quest, wrapped in a mystery box.
Things that have nothing to do with Unicorn and more so to do with Bandai. The UC had not had an entry into it's timeline for 15 years (08th MS Team from 1995), before Unicorn got it's anime adaptation in 2010. Unicorn contains six one hour episodes and a 90 minute finale. And it takes it's sweet time to relish every minute of being back in the main timeline after a series of alternate universe Gundam spin-offs.
Personally, I don't think Unicorn uses all of it's time constructively. The fetch quest for the maguffin they are searching for is mentioned in episode 1, but all parties (good and bad) don't start looking for it until episode 6. When the mystery box is revealed in episode 7. The journey leaves a lot to be desired. I won't spoil. But it certainly seems like the audience was supposed to be enamored with the idea of what Unicorn's mystery was and the promise the future Unicorn says is possible.
Yeah... that's all well and good sir, but the next chapter in the Gundam timeline was written way back in 1989 (Hathaway's Flash). With chapters that would follow after that as well; F91, Crossbone and Victory.
I digress. For a neophyte, I wouldn't recommend Unicorn. Mainly because a lot of it is coda to Char's Counterattack. However, Unicorn is not a bad time and is totally worthy of a watch if you are inclined to get a full story experience.
UC 0105
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathway (2021- ) - Planned Movie Trilogy
An adaptation of the 1989 light novel, Hathaway's Flash. Written by series creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino. Gundam Hathaway is a smaller story about a recurring supporting character. Not a lot to say about this series right now. As only one of the movies of the planned three has been released so far.
I wouldn't recommend it to a newcomer. As you have to do research (watch a previous title) to understand this one. You really only need to watch Char's Counterattack. However, it's best to wait for Bandai to release Part 2 and 3 before rendering a judgement.
UC 0123
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991) - Theatrical Movie
Now we are getting into late UC. First thing you will notice is the date this series takes place in, UC 0123. In-universe this is 30 years after the finale Char's Counterattack (UC 0093) brought to the franchise. Like so many other long running franchises (Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Mega Man, Star Trek) Gundam would employ time skips to free up continuity and give the creative teams ideas of where to take the franchise going forward. That's always the intention, but results are mixed.
F91 wasn't supposed to be a movie. It was originally planned as a show. However, the creative teams, including series creator Tomino himself. Had trouble nailing down the story and the direction for this new show. They wanted it to be different (no Zeon/nazi archetypes villains) but familiar (ragtag band of ordinary people thrust into a larger than life adventure, with a one of a kind weapon on their side). However, doing the latter was easy, but they strolled right into doing the former. They did try to make the villains different by calling them the Crossbone Vanguard. Setting them up "outwardly" as space pirates. But internally and to the audience. They were another Zeon/band of space Nazis.
As the story goes, the creative team had roughly 13-14 episodes worth of material to work with. They needed to put something out in order to maintain interest and so Sunrise could see a return on their investment. So, they decided to cobble together what they had into a 2 hour theatrical movie and release it in theaters. The thinking was that the audience would be so engaged by F91's story, that they would demand more. Allowing the creative team more time to come up with a better story for a full series.
This didn't happen. F91 didn't light the world on fire. Being charitable; anyone could tell after watching it, that the movie/story is lopsided. F91 would be released in theaters in March of 1991. Two months later in May 1991, Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory would release on TV for free. People don't say this anymore, but I think 0083 stole all of F91's thunder.
I don't hate F91, just like I don't hate ZZ. However, it not something I would recommend to a newcomer. It is good enough for one watch however, if you are curious and so inclined. It's not a bad time, it's just not a good time.
UC 0153
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993-1994) - 51 Episode Series
Last one. I'll make this brief. Like F91 above, Victory Gundam was another attempt of jumping ahead in the timeline to free up continuity and allow for new ideas. On the surface, Victory looks and feels like F91 2.0. Gundam reuses a lot of ideas in general, but this one feels a lot closer to what a fully realized F91 would have looked like, had that show gotten a full season.
Victory is infamous for a lot of reasons however. Chief among them is how Tomino, series creator tried to kill the franchise with this show. Before production on the show began, Bandai (the company that makes toys for Gundam, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Super Sentai/Power Rangers and other brands) bought Sunrise Studios. Bandai had been making the toys for Gundam for more than a decade at this point. Now they owned it and wanted a say on how the show would progress and what toys they wanted pushed in the production.
An early example of this was the episode order of Victory. Bandai wanted the new Gundam to debut in the first episode, but Tomino wanted it to debut in episode 4. Tomino was overruled. So the first 4 episodes are told in flashback, to make up for the order being screwed up. Later, Bandai wanted motorcycle mobile suits and giant motorcycle machines in the show. The toy guys thought this was a cool design for the future of space combat. So, Tomino had to again acquiesce to the boss' demands.
Tomino, who was fighting depression at the time and the studio. Took his frustration out on the show. Victory is a dark series with how violent the action is and the high body count. Zeta Gundam has this too, but Victory is mean about it. I really do think Tomino was trying to make the brand as toxic as possible so Bandai couldn't do anything with it going forward.
While Bandai does release DVDs and Blu-rays of Victory occasionally. Along with all their other shows. They do seem to have a grudge against Victory. It's not popular, it doesn't get many model kits released for it, in games there are at most two characters from the entire show included. If any are included at all. During the PS2 era, Gundam games would go up to F91, but omit Victory.
Because of Victory's performance and Tomino's disdain for Bandai. Victory would be the last full series Gundam show in the UC timeline. From then on, every new entry into the UC would be a short OVA series or movie; 08th MS Team, Unicorn, Origin, Hathaway, Narrative etc. While all new full length series would be alternate universes; G, Wing, X, Turn A (which Tomino returned for and tried to end the series with good intentions), Seed, 00, etc.
I can't recommend Victory to a new fan. There are way better Gundam's out there deserve your attention. However, if you are a long term Gundam fan and haven't seen Victory. I say give it a once over. To know is to understand. Victory Gundam is something you have to watch to understand the behind the scenes power struggle that occurred between Tomino, Bandai and Sunrise.
Well, that took forever. I will return again to deliver a part 3. I quite like a lot of the AU Gundam shows. I'll share my thought with you all again.
Part 2 of my Gundam watch recommendations.
Thinking about this section, it will have more exposition to explain why certain show didn't make it on my initial list.
Once again I will talk about the shows in timeline order, instead of release order. Helps make things simple.
UC 0068-0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2015-2018) - 6 Episode OVA: The name is a bit of a misnomer. The Origin is based off a manga series that ran from 2001 - 2011 of the same name. Using elements from the original show, notes of things that never made it into the show and new ideas that come naturally with the progression of time. The future looks a lot different in 2001. Compared to when show was first being written in 1978. And it certainly looks different when you compare 2001-2015.
The Origin manga does a full retelling of the show, Char and Sayla's backstories and the rise of the militant wing of Zeon to power. The latter two which weren't in the original show. The Origin OVA only covers Char and Sayla's backstories and the rise of the militant wing of Zeon. It's a good prequel, I just wouldn't recommend you watch it prior to the original MSG.
The Origin OVA is a love letter to MSG. So a lot of details that aren't going to matter until MSG, blink and you miss them cameos and a hyper-inflated emphasis on Char's importance fill the series' run time.
My advice is to watch MSG (either the series or the movie trilogy) first and then watch the Origin.
UC0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt (2015-2017)
Taking place during the last days of the One Year War, in the Thunderbolt section (Side 4) of the space. The Federation and Zeon wage a bitter war on a front that neither side really needs or cares about.
This series is a bit of an odd ball. It is based off of a manga series that started in 2012, is set during the original series main war, but is an alternative continuity to the main timeline events. The manga never strictly played the continuity straight. The author saying he wanted to draw things that looked cool. As opposed to keeping the mecha designs, newtype technology, and in-universe events in line with where the series was at the time he chose to set his story.
Depending on who you ask and what your priorities are, this is a polarizing series. The mech action and the animation of the battle is top-notch. It all looks really good. But the characters driving the narrative leave a lot to be desired. With the exception of one character from season 2. I found virtually the entire cast to be an unlikeable bunch.
Thunderbolt did get two seasons. Sneaking in during the resurgence of UC popularity in the mid 2010s. With Unicorn ending, Thunderbolt and The Origin starting around the same time. However, the series has been left to languish after it's second season. With each season being about four (20 minute) episodes long, and there are presently 24 volumes of the manga published right now. Bandai seemingly has lost interest in this series.
I wouldn't recommend it to a neophyte. However, the series is brief enough that you can clear it in 2 hours with no distractions.
UC 0088
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986-1987) - 47 Episode Series
ZZ pronounced as Double Zeta. This show has a reputation that proceeds it. It's preceding series, Zeta Gundam, was a dark war drama. Which, at the time wasn't fully appreciated it. It had good ratings, but they began to slide during the home stretch of episodes. With ZZ, the powers that be decided to go with a "lighter" Gundam to improve ratings. The effect of which was turning Gundam into a slapstick and gag comedy show. Where every character good or bad was a comic relief character, and nearly every scenario was a comedic scenario.
This went about as well as you imagine it would. Ratings didn't improve and people openly hated the show. The show is 47 episodes, and the plot doesn't start to form until episode 17. The unfunny comedy doesn't get adjusted way, way down until episode 25 - 37. This is where people will tell you that ZZ turns it around. And it certainly is not an exaggeration. This stretch of episodes is the show it should've been from the start. However, ZZ backslides into unfunny comedy with plots reminiscent of the early half of ZZ with episodes 38-41. With the final stretch of episodes limping along to an unsatisfying finale.
ZZ is a bit of an oddity. It had a lot riding on it, by being the next chapter of Zeta's story. But it drops all of those ideas and goes it's own way. The biggest loss of ZZ is that it doesn't advance Char's story. Char had reformed in Zeta Gundam and became a good guy. He loses his friends and faith at the end of Zeta, but he's still on the side of right. ZZ was supposed to include the battle within for Char's soul. As Char would slowly desire to wrestle control of Zeon away from the pretender to the throne, Haman Karn. Without that, the next chapter in the UC timeline (Char's Counterattack 1988), is missing context.
Char's Counterattack still works but what could have been will always linger.
I've tried to get several people to give ZZ a chance. But they all give up 10 episodes in. I won't burden anyone with trying to complete ZZ.
UC 0096
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010-2015) - 7 Episode OVA
Taking place 3 years (in universe) after the movie Char's Counterattack (1988), but 18 years after CCA in reality. Gundam Unicorn serves as a closing chapter to the first act of the UC. Unicorn was a series of light novels published in 2006-2009. The best way to describe Unicorn is as a love letter to the UC, that includes a fetch quest, wrapped in a mystery box.
Things that have nothing to do with Unicorn and more so to do with Bandai. The UC had not had an entry into it's timeline for 15 years (08th MS Team from 1995), before Unicorn got it's anime adaptation in 2010. Unicorn contains six one hour episodes and a 90 minute finale. And it takes it's sweet time to relish every minute of being back in the main timeline after a series of alternate universe Gundam spin-offs.
Personally, I don't think Unicorn uses all of it's time constructively. The fetch quest for the maguffin they are searching for is mentioned in episode 1, but all parties (good and bad) don't start looking for it until episode 6. When the mystery box is revealed in episode 7. The journey leaves a lot to be desired. I won't spoil. But it certainly seems like the audience was supposed to be enamored with the idea of what Unicorn's mystery was and the promise the future Unicorn says is possible.
Yeah... that's all well and good sir, but the next chapter in the Gundam timeline was written way back in 1989 (Hathaway's Flash). With chapters that would follow after that as well; F91, Crossbone and Victory.
I digress. For a neophyte, I wouldn't recommend Unicorn. Mainly because a lot of it is coda to Char's Counterattack. However, Unicorn is not a bad time and is totally worthy of a watch if you are inclined to get a full story experience.
UC 0105
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathway (2021- ) - Planned Movie Trilogy
An adaptation of the 1989 light novel, Hathaway's Flash. Written by series creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino. Gundam Hathaway is a smaller story about a recurring supporting character. Not a lot to say about this series right now. As only one of the movies of the planned three has been released so far.
I wouldn't recommend it to a newcomer. As you have to do research (watch a previous title) to understand this one. You really only need to watch Char's Counterattack. However, it's best to wait for Bandai to release Part 2 and 3 before rendering a judgement.
UC 0123
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991) - Theatrical Movie
Now we are getting into late UC. First thing you will notice is the date this series takes place in, UC 0123. In-universe this is 30 years after the finale Char's Counterattack (UC 0093) brought to the franchise. Like so many other long running franchises (Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Mega Man, Star Trek) Gundam would employ time skips to free up continuity and give the creative teams ideas of where to take the franchise going forward. That's always the intention, but results are mixed.
F91 wasn't supposed to be a movie. It was originally planned as a show. However, the creative teams, including series creator Tomino himself. Had trouble nailing down the story and the direction for this new show. They wanted it to be different (no Zeon/nazi archetypes villains) but familiar (ragtag band of ordinary people thrust into a larger than life adventure, with a one of a kind weapon on their side). However, doing the latter was easy, but they strolled right into doing the former. They did try to make the villains different by calling them the Crossbone Vanguard. Setting them up "outwardly" as space pirates. But internally and to the audience. They were another Zeon/band of space Nazis.
As the story goes, the creative team had roughly 13-14 episodes worth of material to work with. They needed to put something out in order to maintain interest and so Sunrise could see a return on their investment. So, they decided to cobble together what they had into a 2 hour theatrical movie and release it in theaters. The thinking was that the audience would be so engaged by F91's story, that they would demand more. Allowing the creative team more time to come up with a better story for a full series.
This didn't happen. F91 didn't light the world on fire. Being charitable; anyone could tell after watching it, that the movie/story is lopsided. F91 would be released in theaters in March of 1991. Two months later in May 1991, Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory would release on TV for free. People don't say this anymore, but I think 0083 stole all of F91's thunder.
I don't hate F91, just like I don't hate ZZ. However, it not something I would recommend to a newcomer. It is good enough for one watch however, if you are curious and so inclined. It's not a bad time, it's just not a good time.
UC 0153
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993-1994) - 51 Episode Series
Last one. I'll make this brief. Like F91 above, Victory Gundam was another attempt of jumping ahead in the timeline to free up continuity and allow for new ideas. On the surface, Victory looks and feels like F91 2.0. Gundam reuses a lot of ideas in general, but this one feels a lot closer to what a fully realized F91 would have looked like, had that show gotten a full season.
Victory is infamous for a lot of reasons however. Chief among them is how Tomino, series creator tried to kill the franchise with this show. Before production on the show began, Bandai (the company that makes toys for Gundam, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Super Sentai/Power Rangers and other brands) bought Sunrise Studios. Bandai had been making the toys for Gundam for more than a decade at this point. Now they owned it and wanted a say on how the show would progress and what toys they wanted pushed in the production.
An early example of this was the episode order of Victory. Bandai wanted the new Gundam to debut in the first episode, but Tomino wanted it to debut in episode 4. Tomino was overruled. So the first 4 episodes are told in flashback, to make up for the order being screwed up. Later, Bandai wanted motorcycle mobile suits and giant motorcycle machines in the show. The toy guys thought this was a cool design for the future of space combat. So, Tomino had to again acquiesce to the boss' demands.
Tomino, who was fighting depression at the time and the studio. Took his frustration out on the show. Victory is a dark series with how violent the action is and the high body count. Zeta Gundam has this too, but Victory is mean about it. I really do think Tomino was trying to make the brand as toxic as possible so Bandai couldn't do anything with it going forward.
While Bandai does release DVDs and Blu-rays of Victory occasionally. Along with all their other shows. They do seem to have a grudge against Victory. It's not popular, it doesn't get many model kits released for it, in games there are at most two characters from the entire show included. If any are included at all. During the PS2 era, Gundam games would go up to F91, but omit Victory.
Because of Victory's performance and Tomino's disdain for Bandai. Victory would be the last full series Gundam show in the UC timeline. From then on, every new entry into the UC would be a short OVA series or movie; 08th MS Team, Unicorn, Origin, Hathaway, Narrative etc. While all new full length series would be alternate universes; G, Wing, X, Turn A (which Tomino returned for and tried to end the series with good intentions), Seed, 00, etc.
I can't recommend Victory to a new fan. There are way better Gundam's out there deserve your attention. However, if you are a long term Gundam fan and haven't seen Victory. I say give it a once over. To know is to understand. Victory Gundam is something you have to watch to understand the behind the scenes power struggle that occurred between Tomino, Bandai and Sunrise.
Well, that took forever. I will return again to deliver a part 3. I quite like a lot of the AU Gundam shows. I'll share my thought with you all again.
Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO Revealed as New Prequel Project
The Gundam SEED series is getting ready to continue, this time with the announcement of a followup to Gundam SEED FREEDOM.
otakuusamagazine.com
Apparently there will be a prequell (probably film) to Gundam Seed Freedom since it will take place in the time between the end of Gundam Seed Destiny TV series and the Gundam Seed Freedom movie.
Not a shock it got greenlit because apparently Gundam Seed Freedom even adjusted for inflation has become the highest grossing Gundam movie ever.
I'm not really thrilled with prequels though.
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Well, you convinced me to finally start Victory Gundam. I'm only four episodes in and the "tell the story in partial flashback so the main guy can pilot a mobile suit in episode 1" thing has definitely jumbled up the beginning and made it a bit of a mess. But I do like how much it feels like a UC show, and Uso is much more tolerable at the beginning then Amuro Ray or Kamille were when they started (although both of them grew on me a lot as time went on, especially Kamille).
At the bare minimum, even if this show has problems I can already tell its going to be better then what I could tolerate of ZZ, which Tomino screwed up without any help from higher ups.
Yes, I find it all vaguely absurd. They are literally the invaders here. They know full well that Zeon brought down a colony and caused the largest single massacre in history. The justifications are always very vague: "The Federation is corrupt." Yes, but what does that actually mean?!? Zeon is effectively an autonomous and independent power. What do the soldiers think they are getting by invading Earth?
I have confidence that you’ll be able to finish Victory. I’m curious to hear your thoughts about it.
I had high hopes for the Netflix Gundam show, but more Zeon apologist propaganda? Wow. They are committed to whataboutism. The Feddies were the outright bad guys in Zeta. Isn’t that enough for people?
I also enjoy hearing that they are unable to sanitize the worst aspects of Zeon.
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Gundam Seed Freedom Zero first trailer.
Still going through Victory Gundam. Its pacing is absolutely terrible, I'm 15 episodes in and they could have easily done these 15 episodes in 5. The characters are also all over the place, and I just don't understand the villains. Why did the Federation allow another evil empire to form? Why are people scared of a Guillotine, when if they wanted to rebel they'd out number the Zanscare empire anyway? Does Shakti have mental issues, because half the time she seems to be totally unaware of the world around her, which is annoying because she's also a useless side character that gets too much screen time.
Also, what are anybody's goals? Uso wants to find his family, but why is their a "Rebellion" against the Zanscare and not a full on war between zanscare and the federation? why is the earth Federation allowing Zeon 3.0 to run wild? Instead of answering any of these questions we get glacial progress towards boring goals (who gives a crap about Uso's parents? They're inevitably going to either already be dead or die shortly after he finds them), and an enemy that doesn't make much sense. Also for some reason the villains know about Uso and care more about him then they should.
So yeah this show is getting rough. Still better then ZZ, but then anything is better then MSG ZZ.
Also, what are anybody's goals? Uso wants to find his family, but why is their a "Rebellion" against the Zanscare and not a full on war between zanscare and the federation? why is the earth Federation allowing Zeon 3.0 to run wild? Instead of answering any of these questions we get glacial progress towards boring goals (who gives a crap about Uso's parents? They're inevitably going to either already be dead or die shortly after he finds them), and an enemy that doesn't make much sense. Also for some reason the villains know about Uso and care more about him then they should.
So yeah this show is getting rough. Still better then ZZ, but then anything is better then MSG ZZ.
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I had to drop Victory Gundam. 22 Episodes with about 6 episodes of plot movement and almost no character development, and with the annoying characters (like Shakti) getting more and more screen time doing pointless things. Seriously, there is a lot of (average to pretty good) action scenes, but nothing holding them together. Its just episode after episode of people slowly going somewhere unimportant while constantly running into enemies that have nothing much going on for them, either. It was just so boring, with brief moments of being extremely annoying, I couldn't stand it. The semi frequent "shock" deaths did nothing to keep my attention. I think I know why Tomino has disowned it.
But, on a more positive note, I decided to finally get to a Gundam SEED rewatch. It was the first Gundam show I ever watched, and its probably been over 12 years since I saw it. I never ended up watching SEED Destiny, and there was a new SEED movie just this year, so I'm going through the whole thing, starting with a SEED rewatch because I can't remember much about the show except that I liked it. One episode in and its off to a good start, I forgot how "2000s Anime" the character designs are, its very much a contrast visually to other Gundam shows. I'm excited to re-experience the show.
But, on a more positive note, I decided to finally get to a Gundam SEED rewatch. It was the first Gundam show I ever watched, and its probably been over 12 years since I saw it. I never ended up watching SEED Destiny, and there was a new SEED movie just this year, so I'm going through the whole thing, starting with a SEED rewatch because I can't remember much about the show except that I liked it. One episode in and its off to a good start, I forgot how "2000s Anime" the character designs are, its very much a contrast visually to other Gundam shows. I'm excited to re-experience the show.
Are you watching the Gundam Seed HD "ReMastered" version?
I'm watching the version that is on an (seemingly) official Gundam Channel on youtube, which says its remastered. So it looks good but its Sub only so I won't be able to compare the two dubs voice actors. Like I said its been over a decade since I watched it so I won't be able to tell really any other differences between the original and HD remaster at this point.
Don’t blame you on Victory. At its core, it is a paint-by-numbers UC show. That is remembered more for being unremarkable and Tomino’s attempts to kill the show. Than any content found in or about the show’s story.
You may find this amusing. The only thing other Gundam shows took from Victory was the Shakti character type. See Relena from Wing, Lacus and Kagalli from the Seed trilogy. That one obnoxious character is always talking pacifism and love. While the men in their lives are waging war with no sympathy.
I need to schedule my own Seed rewatch myself. I haven’t seen the Seed Freedom movie from this year either.
