US Distributor: Right Stuf
Production Studio: Sunrise
Was this provided by the publisher? Yes
More Info: Anime News Network
Note: This review may contain spoilers, reader discretion is advised.
In the Universal Century, humanity has found a new home in the cosmos. Most of humanity lives in space colonies surrounding Earth, with most serving under the control of the ruling Earth Federation government. The farthest of the space colonies, Side 3, saw a different destiny for itself.
Naming itself the Principality of Zeon, engaged in a war of independence against the Earth Federation. While vastly smaller than the Earth Federation, the Zeon troops gain an advantage in the war due to the development of large humanoid fighting machines known as Mobile Suits. With this edge, the Zeon forces manage to quickly gain control of most of the Earth and the Earth Sphere within the conflict’s first month.
Amuro Ray, a civilian living a peaceful life in Side 7, soon finds himself pulled in the war when the Zeon forces attack the colony. Fate has great things planned for Ray, who’s stationed aboard the Federation’s newest ship, the White Base. There, he earns the right to pilot the Gundam: the Federation’s prototype Mobile Suit. Can White Base and the Gundam change the tide of the war for the Federation, or will Zeon stand victorious when the dust clears?
The Gundam franchise is one the most important franchises in the anime world. In its thirty-seven year history, Gundam has seen dozens of TV series, movies, OVA’s, video games, and manga titles, along with countless action figures and Gundam model kits (which are affectionately called “Gunpla”).
Short answer: Yes!
Mobile Suit Gundam was a true pioneer in the mecha genre, being the first show in the “real robot” sub-genre. One of the key staples of “real robot” shows is its grounding in reality. These titles rely on more mature themes, which aren’t commonly found in Super Robot shows. At the heart of Mobile Suit Gundam is an anti-war message, which confronts the viewer with powerful depictions of the horrors of combat. There’s no sugar-coating on the matter.
The first two episodes, which cover the attack on Side 7, continue to present the message by showing both military personnel and civilians dispatched in the assault. All of this isn’t done simply for shock value, it is all done to drive the message of the awfulness of war to the viewers.
At the same time, though, Mobile Suit Gundam is quick to point out that the conflict, like many wars, is more than a simple matter of good versus evil. Both Zeon and the Earth Federation have committed atrocities, especially in the early stages of the conflict. Colony drops, which literally use space colonies as weaponry, hammer Zeon and Earth Federation alike, while nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons are unleashed on military and civilian targets alike.
But, as any expert will tell you, wars aren’t only fought on the front lines. There are numerous forces constantly in flux, as decisions are made in darkened offices and far from the public eye as political forces jockey for power and glory. Mobile Suit Gundam excels in depicting this sordid world. Federation commander General Revil, for example, does his best to provide assistance to the White Base. All the while, though, he’s are hampered by the Federation Command from getting the base the help it needs. On the Zeon side, the internal politics is depicted as the struggles within the ruling Zabi family. For instance, Captain M’Quve, who serves under Rear Admiral Kycilia Zabi, refuses to offer assistance to Lieutenant Ral due to this family feud. Because Lieutenant Ral serves under Vice Admiral Dozle Zabi, Captain M’Quve is adamant in his refusal to offer his aid.
Gundam’s story is greatly helped by its realistic portrayal of characters. Amuro starts off as a reluctant pilot. He doesn’t want to fight, but he doesn’t have a choice since he is the only one who can pilot the Gundam. He also quickly gains an inflated ego, since, again, he is the only one who can pilot the Gundam. As the war progresses, Amuro experiences combat fatigue and PTSD as he transitions from civilian to soldier.
Another example is Bright, the new Captain of the White Base. Being one of the few officers left, he is granted a ship full of civilians whom he must lead into battle as he struggles with the heavy responsibility. His expectations of the crew initially do not meet what a gaggle of civilians are able to accomplish.
Even one-off characters are charmingly sympathetic. It is easy to get attached to the plight of Lieutenant Ral, even as he fights with the White Base. He’s an old soldier, for sure, but he also cares deeply for the men under his command.
If there is any flaw to Mobile Suit Gundam’s story, it would be the pacing in the show’s second half. The show was originally supposed to have fifty-two episodes but, due to poor ratings, the show was cut down to thirty-nine. Through no small miracle, the staff was able to get the show’s run extended to forty-three episodes. The episode limit becomes painfully clear at episode thirty-one, as the pace starts to pick up and the White Base returns to space. While it does allow the episodes to move quickly, the increased pace takes away from some of the impacts of what occurs in each episode. This is particularly noticeable in episodes thirty-five and thirty-six, which deal with the Battle of Solomon. Episodes forty and forty-one, which deal with Amuro and Lalah engaging in combat, also feel the pain as the show rushes toward its conclusion.
Produced by Sunrise in 1979, Mobile Suit Gundam’s animation is extremely dated by today’s standards. Heavy pencil lines are a constant throughout the show, as is a heavy use of bank shots like the Gundam launching from the White Base. Furthermore, countless animation mistakes litter each episode. Some of the more noticeable mistakes include Mobile Suits having different proportions from scene to scene, coloring mistakes for mobile suits and uniforms, and characters having incorrect rank insignia.
There is no denying that the original Mobile Suit Gundam has had an enormous impact on the anime industry as we know it. It created a juggernaut franchise that still exists to this day, and made a significant impact on the mecha genre as a whole. While the dated animation is going to be the biggest barrier to entry, those who can look past these blemishes are in a for a satisfying old school classic.
