Anime Rebirth

Review - Kidou Senshi Gundam

Review by Roriconfan

Value: 10
This is the very first Gundam series, ever made. It established an entire new approach to sci-fi and war dramas with realistically operating mechas and a detailed evolving scenario. Many tried to copy it, very few succeeded. One of the most renowned, well planed and non-stop expanding anime titles ever, it definitely deserves a 10 for being the first that started it all.

Note: Don’t trust the ratings the series made wherever it aired. The original Gundam hardly got the tv ratings it deserved because it was low on action and serious on story. Most kids wanted brainless action and simply changed the channel to Voltron, or something like that. Ratings rarely corresponded to a series’ true value.

Animation & Sound: 6
Less than medium by today’s standards. This is a major turn off for all those accustomed with recent mecha series, like Zegapain and Gundam 00. But what the series loses in graphics, it gains it in quality.

-Gundam’s mecha, weapons and spaceships are functioning with a theoretical reasonable explanation. Typical mecka series feature special attacks like rocket punches and chest beams without any reasoning (how they work, what fuel they use, how they are installed, how much energy they use up, etc.). Also, most accessories on them have a reason for being there (oxygen tanks, fuel reservoirs, radar censors).

-Gundam’s mecha, weapons and spaceships have great variety. Typical mecha series have only a couple ones in every category and most of them are used only in one episode (referred to as enemy of the week, one-time weapon use, or last resort techniques). In Gundam, everything comes in a vast assembly line and with a huge customization that can generate thousands of different combinations (plamo fans, rejoice!).

-Gundam had the best graphics of its time. This tradition continued to every new installment thereafter.

-The human figures in Gundam may not have any great detail but keep their form intact throughout the series. They don’t deform or get simplistic in funny situations.

In the sound department, the series has mediocre music themes and realistic voice and dialogue acting. It would be a lot more interesting if more diversity and sound coloring was given here, but being a serious series, it decided to remain plain and simple (perhaps for the best).

I must mention the fact that the opening theme is a ballad, typical of all mecha series of the 70’s (J-pop and J-rock began in the 80’s). It sounds really awful at first, especially if you have heard openings of other old mecha series (Getta 3 and Voltes 5 have really cool openings). But, given a few chances, it becomes really good. Plain, simple, direct, without screaming battle-boiling phrases like “fight for justice” and “don’t give up” crap. If you have been fed up with brainless action and bullshit patriotic phrases, this is going to sound really good!

Story: 9
In the future, overpopulation leads to the creation of space colonies around Earth. The exploitation of the colonists and the creation of a psionic race of humans, begin a catastrophic war, centered on colony independence from Earth control.

The protagonist is Amuro, a civilian piloting (by need rather than choice) a Mobile Suit Gundam (huge mecha, boosted by mind waves) in order to protect his colony from other revolting Spacenoids (people living in space). Although he is a Newtype (human with advanced psionic powers, trait of many spacenoids), he fights along the Federation’s side, which is composed of Oldtypes (normal people). He just wants to end the terrible war, as soon as possible. He doesn’t care which side wins as long as peace returns.

The main rival is Char, a Zeon Newtype official, with ambitions that include both the dominance of Newtypes in space and the assassination of the radical Zeon royal family.

The story is very realistic and well planed:

-Unlike having a typical “Aliens/monsters vs Humans” story, Gundam has a “Humans vs Humans” story. So, we feel sad even when the bad guys lose, because they are not heartless/bizarre aliens/monsters, bound to destroy Earth. They are mistreated people with feelings and hopes for the future, like the good guys.

-There are essentially no good guys and bad guys. The apparent good Earth Federation of the planet’s surface promotes law and peace through tyrannical means. The apparent evil Zeon Principality of the revolting colonies cause mass destruction and murder because the Federation didn’t allow freedom through peaceful means.

-Many events are reminiscent of real-life historical events:
a) French Revolution: The mistreated peasants (Zeon) revolt against the uncaring aristocrats (Federation).
b) World War Two: The exploited German people (Zeon) turn to fascism in order to revenge Europe’s (Federation) snubbing restrains (Zeon uniforms resemble those of Nazis).
c) Afghanistan War: Terrorists (Zeon) destroy the Two Towers (major cities) by ramming airplanes on them (descending colonies), in order to resist America’s (Federation) forceful control over their country.

-Other issues of great importance are also discussed in the series:
a) Humanity’s uncontrollable expanding populace is constantly increasing demands in food and water and exhausts Earth’s natural resources. This gives an ecological theme to the story.
b) Humanity’s overpopulation leads to non-stop wars for control of the world’s natural resources. This leads to further destruction of the planet’s fragile balance. A solution proposed in the series is birth control and population stability.
c) There is great racism between Oldtypes and Newtypes. The first believe to have more rights and the second believe to be genetically superior. This gives the series a message about human rights and equality before law.
d) Zeon leaders want to eradicate most of humanity and maintain a small, genetically improved populace that can easily be controlled. This gives the series a message about humanity, power mongering and elitism.

-Gundam is also a sci-fi war drama. There is angst before the tragedy of war and sorrow for the dead in the battles. No one is treated just as a faceless drone (the insane Zeon leaders do, which has a reverse result on us).

So, the story is great but because it tends to move rather slow (50 episodes) and too straight forward (few plot twists), it loses one point.

Characters: 7
Amuro and Char are memorable, since they reappear in later series as allies and rivals again. They have a decent strong personality and character development. As it usually goes with most bad guys, Char is a far more interesting character than the too-goody protagonist, Amuro. His childhood past and the loss of many loved ones changed him several times. He originally seeks to help humanity live permanently in space, then to destroy it, then to defeat Amuro, then to avenge the Zeon leaders, then to lay low until he can be ready to strike anew, and so on, and so on… Poor Amuro hardly affects the story as Char does.

All the characters in general are well made and act quite realistically. But they lack the multi-layered personality of those found in many good recent series and usually think only two-dimensionally. That takes some points off.

Enjoyment: 6
Great scenario, medium characters and poor sound and graphics result in a medium mark. But that doesn’t make it less important. I suggest this to everyone, no matter his or her taste in genre, for it has a bit of everything.

Verdict
The accused is found … NOT GUILTY! … He is old and frail but has more guts than most youngsters.