T5W#172-Top 5 Gundam Ending Theme Songs

A couple weeks ago, we took a look at the tunes that were best suited to open an action packed episode of Gundam.  Today we look at the equally amazing sounds that close them out.  No need for more of an intro than that besides the reminder that im limiting one entry per series/movie like I did last week (and you can check out that list here if you missed it: http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2018/11/t5w169-top-5-gundam-opening-theme-songs.html)   So here we go, behold my Top 5 Gundam Ending Theme Songs.


#5-Beyond the Time (Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack)

Char’s Counterattack is the epic conclusion to the first era of Gundam (which began in Mobile Suit Gundam and ran through Zeta Gundam and Gundam ZZ).  Beyond the Time invokes memories of all of those stories in addition to the one just witnessed.  And even when the drums and main beats get going, the chorus never gets super bombastic or over the top.  It’s rather calming actually despite being action packed.  Given how Char’s Counterattack concludes, it feels like a needed theme in order to decompress.


#4-Evergreen (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)

This end theme holds a special place in my heart for a single moment in time: my first Otakon.  In 2010, one of the first things I did was visit an all day marathon screening of Gundam 0083 and caught the tail end of a random episode.  It was in the second half, so Evergreen was playing rather than Magic (the first end theme).  The combination of the rooms acoustics, the fact I was looking at Gundam on a big screen…and it being Gundam and my first convention combined nearly made me cry tears of joy.  Otherwise, it’s a very nice song, probably one 0083 doesn’t fully deserve but still fine nonetheless.


#3-Reason (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny)

For me, the only redeeming factor for the existence of Gundam Seed Destiny is the music.  Like it’s predecessor, Gundam Seed, Destiny is chalk full of catchy Jpop tunes, many of which come from both Lacus Clyne and Meer Campbell.  However, it’s the first end theme by Nami Tamaki, Reason, that always has a special place in my heart, it was one of my most listened to songs on my music library at one point if I read the stats correctly..  It’s an easily danceable tune that is full of action, nice vocals and is a good way to forget that you had to waste 22 minutes of crappy Anime to get to it.  Gundam Seed Destiny doesn’t deserve this kind of goodness. 


#2-Moons Cocoon (Turn A Gundam)

Moons Cocoon had the distinction of being Loran Cehack’s theme throughout much of Turn A Gundam before it was promoted to second end theme near the very end of the show.  It’s a shame they held off on that because I wouldn’t mind hearing this one at the end of every episode of Turn A Gundam.  It’s definitely the most beautiful of the end themes, with a soft female chorus soothing you in every moment.  But it cant all be calming as the drums march deliver an epic sense that this is just a temporary break and the journey is going to continue…and it’s going to be a great one.  Which is the kind of feels id expect from a song composed by the Anime Music Goddess herself, Yoko Kanno.


#1-Last Impression (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz-Special Edition)

Created for the feature film version of the Endless Waltz OVA, Last Impression feels like the absolute last word on Gundam Wing.  It starts off soft and quiet in the first half before it explodes in the second half, almost like activating a Gundam for battle after a long nap.  Last Impression is a long one, probably the longest end theme in the entire franchise.  But it’s worth listening to every single second to enjoy and reminisce about Wings awesomness and how it will never be forgotten.