Mobile Suit Gundam : The Movies Box Set.

K

Kaede

Adventurer
So, having given up on the awful mess that is Neon Genesis Evangelion, I stuck on the first disc of my Gundam Movies box set and I was not disappointed.

Gundam is fantastic.

This is what anime should be about: Reluctant hero, pilots awesome giant robot with a frickin' laser sword and smashes up bad guys left right and centre, all topped off with crazy 1970's designs and haircuts. It's basicly Star Wars, but with 50ft mobile suits.

The jittery hand drawn animation is just something you don't see any more and those early computerised sound effects really date the film, but in a good way. Also, it seems to me, in certain shots which were technically too difficult to animate, they just used static pictures or even switched to what look like quickly coloured storyboards to complete the scene. Having only seen the more polished anime of the 90's and 00's I was totally unprepared for this, but I loved it.

I'll work my way through the following two volumes next week but after that I know I'm gonna need me some more Gundam. What box set do I go for next? Do the subsequent series follow the same general formula?

Regards
K
 
In a sense most of the other series do follow the same formula, in fact in some of the more recent shows (i.e. SEED) they rip it off entirely. Glad you enjoyed it though :) I remember the first time i sat and watched them, i spent a whole day going through the set.

As to what set to get next...if we're talking strictly region 2 releases then i would say try to get ahold of the other two gundam films that Beez released, Char's Counterattack (ties up the Amuro and Char rivalry) and then F91 Gundam (is the future of that timeline pretty much, especially as far as what we've got released over here is concerned). Of course if you rather try a series then look towards either Gundam Wing or Gundam 00...I simply can't recommend SEED. On the other hand if you want to read some gundam based manga then i say track down the Gundam SEED Astray releases by Tokyopop a really good mini series.

If you have access to region 1 discs though i say import the Zeta Gundam sets from america, then watch them straight away. Zeta Gundam is the series that followed on from the first three films in japan and while it has a new lead, most of the old cast appear in it, some take more forward roles, others are just sideline roles.
 
So you've seen the first movie? The second is generally considered a dip, but stick it out for the third, which is the best (and also the most retooled from the original series, which was never that great).

No two ways about it, you need a Region 1 player. Region 2 series are: Gundam 00 (Eh) Gundam Seed / Destiny (Meh) and Gundam Wing (Bleh). These have nothing to do with Gundam 0079, aside from the way the recycle it and each other. We also have the movies Char's Counterattack (actually makes less sense once you've seen the series it's a sequel to), Gundam F91 (legendarily terrible, unfinished, nonsensical) and Gundam 0083: Afterglow of Zeon (butchered version of the larger series.)

Branching out into Region 1 gets you:
- The direct TV sequel series Zeta Gundam (if you like 0079, you'll like this).
- The inter-quel OVAs Gundam 0080 (probably one of the best shows in mecha anime), Gundam 08th MS Team (Until Unicorn hits this winter, the most recent attempt at an original continuity traditional animation show, pretty good) and Gundam 0083 (Makes a few crazy retcons that upset the hardcore, fairly good). Also MS Igloo (3D animated series, immediately forgetable)
- First unrelated Alternate Universe series G Gundam (err...) kiddie anime SD Gundam Force (umm...)

Stuff not officially in English: ZZ Gundam (direct sequel to Zeta Gundam. Bizarre tonal shift, silly, mostly lame), Victory Gundam (Kind of like ZZ done right, then done a little like a new type of wrong), Gundam X (largely un-notable Alternate Universe) and Turn-A Gundam (mixes the formula up whilst vaguely referencing the original series. Sort of an alternate universe. Imperfect but fun).

Also, Unicorn Gundam soon as six fifty minute episodes (so kind of like another Gundam trilogy).
 
I myself believe that once the 0079 trilogy reaches its peak, it is at very least on a par with anything SDF Macross brings. Symbolic and ambivalently calming imagery peppers one of the final battles in the former, something I certainly wouldn't have expected. (As a mild disclaimer, I say this without having seen DYRL.)

Zeta's length, combined with issues concerning Bandai's R1 release, deter me from watching it. 0083 is something I retain a mild interest in however- if I see it bearing an encouraging price tag, I might add it to my collection.
Mixed things are written of Char's Counterattack. I'd love to see how the initial rivalry of 0079 is finally put to an end, but I fear I wouldn't be able to appreciate the main characters if I missed out on the significant part of their development which Zeta constitutes.
 
Zin5ki said:
if I see it bearing an encouraging price tag, I might add it to my collection.
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Anime legends version is just over £20 on Amazon Marketplace. I wouldn't expect to see it for much less.
Zin5ki said:
Mixed things are written of Char's Counterattack. I'd love to see how the initial rivalry of 0079 is finally put to an end, but I fear I wouldn't be able to appreciate the main characters if I missed out on the significant part of their development which Zeta constitutes.
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Char's motivations are either adaptable or ridiculously flippant, depending on your views. I've always felt that Zeta makes him too much of a good guy for Char's Counterattack to make a lot of sense. Amuro isn't really a main character in Zeta, and him and Char remain pretty wary of each other for the most part. Also, Quess and Hathaway take a lot of screentime away from the Char and Amuro rivalry.

Regarding Zeta's length, have you ever tracked down the compilation movies? They break the continuity with ZZ and CC, but they're a little more watertight than the compilation movies tend to be, even if the flip between contemporary and 80s animation is a little odd sometimes. Also; no official release in English (outside chance for first UC property on Western Blu-Ray?)
 
kupocake, sorry for the late reply as I've been away. Thanks very much for the info.

Gundam seems to be one of the most confusing franchises in anime. I'll go with your recomendations and pick up the subsequent Zeta Gundam and Gundam 0080 once I get myself a region free DVD player.

Cheers,
K
 
Kaede said:
So, having given up on the awful mess that is Neon Genesis Evangelion
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You go to hell. You go to hell and you die!

Never been able to get into gundam. I watched afew gundam wing episodes and endless waltz. Just couldnt get into it. Only one mecha show has ever taken my interest... ahem
 
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