FIF#45-Mobile Fighter G Gundam

Future Century 60.  Every four years, the nations of the world, now housed in orbiting space colonies around the planet, send a specialized mobile fighter, a Gundam, to Earth.  The representative pilots from each nation engage in combat across the war torn planet for the prize of giving power to their nation to rule the planet for one year.  This year, however, the game is different for Japan’s Gundam Pilot Domon Kasshu.  This year, not only is he fighting to give power to Japan, but also to avenge the slaughter of his family at the hands of the ferocious Devil Gundam and it’s pilot…Kyoji, Domon’s brother.

Every Gundam was KUNG FU FIGHTING (dunnunnunnunununun…ok I don’t know if that’s all the beats but hey you try trying to type that all out).

So what happens when you take the original Gundam formula, including the Universal Century, Newtypes, The Earth Federation, Zeon and all out war?  Youre basically left with a boy and his giant robot.  Ok, what happens when you take that basic element and decide to do something radically different, anything at all, no matter how out there?  Well you do what any sane person who loves giant robots would do…you give them the moves of Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter and have them kick the crap out of each other.

In fact, that’s the best way to set up the premise of Mobile Fighter G Gundam-it’s Gundam meets Street Fighter.  One man and his various rivals travel the world, testing their strength for various goals with an overaching endgame drawing them all together.  This was the series that started the “Alternate Universe” Gundam trend that has continued til this very day.  It’s as far removed from a “traditional” Gundam as you could ever get.  Or is it?  Looking at the first episode, while there is plenty of Gundam throwdowns, there’s a few elements of classic Gundam storytelling that seep through.  This is mostly in regards to the status of the Earth.  It’s in pretty bad shape and the general concensus it that it’s from all of the Gundam Fight Tournaments from the last few decades.  With most of humanity moved into space, it’s all the remaining Earthdwellers can do to just survive, especially the kids that Domon and Rain encounter.  This series may be about Gundams trying to do a “Spinning Bird Kick” but it’s clearly not above showing that this fun and epic sport isn’t above reminding us of the horrors it can bring to the people of Earth.

 

Still, this is clearly a Shonen Tournament Style Anime.  That means despite the worlds concerns about the tournament itself, this show is going to be about Gundams beating the mess out of each other for 50 some episodes and the first episodes prove youre in for a treat there.  Each Earth nation has a Mobile Fighter to partake in this tournament.  This means that were gonna get to see a more diverse array of suits than before, and theyre all Gundams.  I will say that the bar is set pretty high by Domon Kasshu’s Shining Gundam, which looks pretty sweet and very Samurai, makes sense given it’s Neo Japan’s Gundam entry.  Said Gundam has been entrusted to the aforementioned Domon Kasshu, a man of few words unless in involves asking about “The Man in the Photo” or screaming his head off fighting in his Gundam.  The other main character introduced in the beginning is Rain, Domon’s sole support crew.  She’s incredibly cute with a pretty face and legs for days…and she probably hardly registers on Domons radar cause she’s a hot girl and not a Gundam whose ass needs to be kicked (come on guys, if you have a hot girl willing to travel the world with you and patch up your wounds, give her the recognition she deserves).  One thing that doesn’t make a ton of sense: why do the Gundam Fighters need to be dressed down in super tight latex to make their Mobile Trace Systems work and are we really going to get a Joel Schumacher style shot of Domon’s ass everytime he suits up?  It seems weird (and with the Schumacher reference, yes it does feel a bit Batman and Robin).

 

All in all, my first check out of G Gundam was interesting and fun, despite my distaste for main character.  This is a true “Rock Em Sock Em” Robots kind of Anime that Gundams seem to fit very well into.  The world is a playground (though not so much for the survivors living on war torn earth) and the opponents are numerous.  Traveling the globe looking for Gundams to punch and defeat while inching closer to a shadowy final boss?  Yep this is as close to a Street Fighter Mecha brawl as were probably going to get with this franchise.  It seems bizzare but sometimes Gundam needs to take a breath and relax for once.  I’m not saying it’s anti war message isn’t important (and isn’t absent from this entry either) but sometimes…you just gotta go have fun for fun sake.  G Gundam feels like that, if nothing else.  And if you need more convincing, just listen to the blood pumping opening theme “Fly the Sky” a couple of times.  Now that’s a Rocky Style theme you could get a good work out from.