Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A+
Jeez, I'm just throwing the A's around here aren't I.
The original MSG was good, Zeta takes a good thing and makes a good sequel out of it. By introducing us to new characters who echo the conflicts of the original story and expand on the characters, now eight years older, Zeta Gundam is a masterpiece of pathos, loss, emotion, romance and the truth of war.
The series is not for the faint of heart, it is truly one of the colder and more brutal war stories out there, one of the ones that earned Yoshiyuki Tomino his reputation for killing beloved characters (Think George R. R. Martin, if you're familiar with the Song of Ice and Fire). I find it to be a truly brilliant continuation of Amuro and Char's rivalry and destinies, as well as the excellent new story of Kamille Bidan, a troubled but brilliant young man, whose story is supported by those of the main characters of MSG, rather than overshadowed by them.
If you liked the original Gundam, especially the harshness of the war portrayed there, Zeta Gundam will appeal to you. If tragedy isn't your cup of tea, you should probably stay away. I also wouldn't recommend seeing it without at least watching the Gundam movie version.
For the record, I won't be reviewing Gundam ZZ, I got about halfway through it, but given how much I loved Gundam and Zeta for the realism and harshness of war, the levity and silliness of ZZ just rings hollow for me, and it feels very disconnected from the overall events of the world which the first two series focus on, making it pretty uninspiring.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Mobile Suit Gundam (Movie Trilogy)
Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy: A
A piece of anime history, right here.
While I'm often fond of calling Neon Genesis Evangelion the most influential series of all time, I must acknowledge that MSG is certainly in the running for that title, and for good reason, it is not only classic, it is an excellent war story: full of horror, loss, pathos and passion.
A great secret of the Gundam franchise that I was unaware of until I watched the original movie series, is that the Gundam Series are, in point of fact, not at all about the robots: the Gundam itself is a machine, a symbol, not a character: Amuro Ray, its pilot, his nemesis/rival, Char Aznable, and the One Year War, in which they are both soldiers, are the true foci of the story.
The only criticism I can honestly give of it is that the animation and music are now over thirty years old, and show their age.
If you were ever curious where the idea of giant robot soldiers began, or simply wanted to watch a good war story that happens to involve weapons shaped like walking humans, the original Mobile Suit Gundam's movie version (condensed to about 6 hours from the original series' 14 hours) is totally worth your time.
A piece of anime history, right here.
While I'm often fond of calling Neon Genesis Evangelion the most influential series of all time, I must acknowledge that MSG is certainly in the running for that title, and for good reason, it is not only classic, it is an excellent war story: full of horror, loss, pathos and passion.
A great secret of the Gundam franchise that I was unaware of until I watched the original movie series, is that the Gundam Series are, in point of fact, not at all about the robots: the Gundam itself is a machine, a symbol, not a character: Amuro Ray, its pilot, his nemesis/rival, Char Aznable, and the One Year War, in which they are both soldiers, are the true foci of the story.
The only criticism I can honestly give of it is that the animation and music are now over thirty years old, and show their age.
If you were ever curious where the idea of giant robot soldiers began, or simply wanted to watch a good war story that happens to involve weapons shaped like walking humans, the original Mobile Suit Gundam's movie version (condensed to about 6 hours from the original series' 14 hours) is totally worth your time.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's: A
Goodness I've been away for a while. Sorry about that, folks.
A while back I mentioned in my Nanoha StrikerS review about how the first season is okay and the second season is amazing. Rewatching it has not changed my opinion.
Nanoha, as a franchise, is about magical girls that fight like giant robots. It is also an eminently positive series, though often bittersweet. A's in particular pulls at the heartstrings without feeling like it's trying too hard, and has no true villains, it is the situation which is wrong, and it is fixed through the application of love and superior firepower.
Like many series I love, I find it difficult to talk about A's. It's extremely well-told and well-paced. It expands on the characters we know and gives us plenty of time to get to know the new ones. Perhaps the only negative thing I can say about Nanoha A's is that you need to watch the first season for it to make full sense. I recommend the movie version ("Nanoha the Movie 1st"), which is considerably faster-paced and better animated than the original series, also shorter.
If the premise of 'magical girls fight like giant robots' appeals to you, you will love this show. If that part doesn't appeal to you, but you want to see how to write a story with no evil characters in it, you should also watch this show.
Goodness I've been away for a while. Sorry about that, folks.
A while back I mentioned in my Nanoha StrikerS review about how the first season is okay and the second season is amazing. Rewatching it has not changed my opinion.
Nanoha, as a franchise, is about magical girls that fight like giant robots. It is also an eminently positive series, though often bittersweet. A's in particular pulls at the heartstrings without feeling like it's trying too hard, and has no true villains, it is the situation which is wrong, and it is fixed through the application of love and superior firepower.
Like many series I love, I find it difficult to talk about A's. It's extremely well-told and well-paced. It expands on the characters we know and gives us plenty of time to get to know the new ones. Perhaps the only negative thing I can say about Nanoha A's is that you need to watch the first season for it to make full sense. I recommend the movie version ("Nanoha the Movie 1st"), which is considerably faster-paced and better animated than the original series, also shorter.
If the premise of 'magical girls fight like giant robots' appeals to you, you will love this show. If that part doesn't appeal to you, but you want to see how to write a story with no evil characters in it, you should also watch this show.
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