FIF#72-Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

UC 0087.  Seven years have passed since the end of the One Year War and the scene both on Earth and in space has changed drastically.  The Earth Federation’s newest task force, the Titans, is a ruthless force to be reckoned with, using any means necessary to eliminate threats to the Earth Sphere.  With the Federation now an enemy, rebel Federation forces and their former Zeon enemies join together to form the AEUG and strike back against the Titans.  Two generations of heroes head into battle, with new vicious weapons, including the powerful Zeta Gundam, prepped to start a bloody tragedy that may put the One Year War to shame.

I guess we’ve been doing some backtracking during GundamCember 2.  First we started off in the present, 2018, with Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative.  Then we followed that up with 2011’s Mobile Suit Gundam AGE and have slowly worked our way back through Gundam history with 2002’s Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and 1993’s Mobile Suit Victory Gundam.  Since it’s one of the few earlier Gundam series I haven’t covered yet, it only feels right that we end this little mini First Impression Friday feature with a look at the show that solidified Gundam’s status as legend: 1985’s Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

When it comes to making a sequel, there are certain rules most Hollywood blockbuster feel must be adhered to: bigger, louder, more action, more sex, more drama, higher stakes etc.  The start of Zeta Gundam might not have all of these but it definitely establishes it isn’t out to tell the same story as its predecessor (1979’s Mobile Suit Gundam).  This is a different Earth Sphere than the One Year War.  The atmosphere is different all over the place and, in most sequel rules, it feels a lot darker…a lot.  So much so that even the debut appearance of the Gundam Mark II features a grimmer Gundam with an all black paint job…it’s kind of scary.  This Gundam doesn’t seem like the type to want to save humanity.  I do think it’s funny that the Mark II is called such.  Yeah, yeah, I know that Gundam 0080, 0083 and 08^th MS Team came out much later but theyre proof that more than just the single RX-78-2 Gundam have existed til now.  Either way, the Mark IIs design is pretty cool and I cant wait to see how it performs with the paintjob it has in the opening credits.

Speaking of darker and edgier, there’s Kamille, who feels like the perfect foe for the series villains, the Titans.  Kamille such as hell aint no Amuro Ray as he’s trying to out brood and out brat the legendary Gundam hero in every moment he’s on screen.  He’s antisocial (even with a cute girl trying to get his attention) and calling him a girl because of his name immediately nets you a punch to the face, like triggering that “red vision” and the siren sound Uma Thurman gets in Kill Bill.  Kamille certainly isn’t one to hold back his feelings but its hard to root for him too, even when the Titans deserve any kind of hit one can get in.  Forget Zeon, these arrogant peacekeepers have no charm to speak of and have no qualms about beating up anyone simply for stepping in their way.  Speaking of Zeon, Char’s around too…ok he’s taken on a surname but he isn’t fooling anyone.  Even without his infamous mask, the greatest Gundam antagonist of all time still rocks and im glad he’ll be taking on a central role once again.

In short, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is off to a great start in my eyes.  Beyond the new cast and darker story, the music and animation are a blast of 80s nostalgia and Zeta Gundam still looks pretty good for its age.  For many, Zeta is the series that put Gundam back on the map and has kept itself as a strong contender for greatest Gundam series ever made for more than 30 years.  If this really is the Gundam that must be seen, then as a Gundam fan I feel obliged to take on that challenge…eventually.

And that brings us to the end of GundamCember 2.  I honestly don’t know if there are 4 more shows to cover again for next year but who knows what might happen.  What WILL happen is more Gundam coverage in 2019, to make up for the fact that I didn’t really review any Gundam in 2018 (so weird).  Im happy to announce that ill be taking a look at 2 classic Gundam series next year.  In the Summer (hopefully before Otakon), I’ll be looking at the 20^th Anniversary spectacle, Turn A Gundam, as well as it’s two compilation films (Earth Light and Moonlight Butterfly) (kind of breaking a “wont cover compilation movies” rule).  Maybe a little more importantly, considering next April marks Gundam’s 40^th Birthday, it’s long overdue to review the show that started it all.  That’s right, April 2019, the month that kicks off the 6^th Year of the Gundam Anime Corner…I will be reviewing MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM and it’s compilation trilogy (The Movie, Soldiers of Sorrow and Encounters in Space).  WHEW it feels good to finally reveal that and the Gundam fan in me could not be more excited to review these legends.  Thanks for joining me for First Impression Friday: GundamCember 2 and ill see you all again soon.

P.S.-First Impression Fridays will return in January 2019.