Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance Part 1 Episodes 1-3

Universal Century 0079.  Eleven Months into the One Year War, the Red Wolves Mobile Suit Squadron is deployed to reinforce the Zeon defense of their European territories.  But the mission quickly turns into a nightmare as a new state of the art Federation Mobile Suit appears and begins to decimate the Zeon without mercy.  A small band of survivors led by Red Wolves leader Iria Solari flees but despite their best efforts cannot seem to escape from this new monster of war called “Gundam”.

I think it’s safe to say at this point I am a lifelong Gundam fan and anytime I hear a new entry is in the works, I get excited…except for Reqiuem for Vengeance.  Somethings always bothered me about 3DCG Anime projects, even the better ones helmed by Shinji Aramaki.  Call me old fashioned but I kind of prefer my Gundam Anime more Anime than computer Animated.  However, the few sneak peaks I did see did catch my interest and I’m happy to say that Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance has a very solid start that alone makes it a worthwhile entry into the franchise.  Not only is it taking us back to the war that started it all, it’s taking us back to the point when everything changed for the Principality of Zeon and it isnt pretty for them at all.
 
Honestly, the premiere had me from the very beginning.  We get to see Zeon at the height of their stranglehold on Earth thanks to the use of Mobile Suits.  The Red Wolves turning the tide of a battle in mere minutes is a good showcase of their skill and the impressiveness of the Zakus.  While we don’t get to spend too much time with the entire squad before things go to hell, I must say that Iria Solari is quickly becoming another amazing lady bad ass in the Gundam franchise and a very compelling one too.  She’s a good a soldier and great pilot as they come but she’s also trying to battle the enemy as well as not let the overwhelming losses she’s experienced during the war destroy her in the process.  Like Ramba Ral from the original series, you grow to like her even though she’s a pilot for the enemy team. 
 
While Iria is the lead protagonist, she’s definitely got an impressive co lead in the RX-78[G]E Gundam EX, or as I’ve come to call it, the Godzilla Gundam.  Much like how the Cucuruz Doan’s Island intro showed the Zaku at a terrifying war machine, Requiem for Vengeance has produced arguably the scariest Gundam in the One Year War.  It’s bare bones design echoes the Ez8 from 08^th MS Team and its clear this is another prototype like the one piloted by Amuro Ray.  But don’t let that fool you because everytime the EX is on screen, its not just a battle that ensues, it’s a hopeless slaughter.  The Zeon Zaku’s and even Goufs are totally outmatched by its armor and firepower, making the Gundam almost as unstoppable as the ones I first saw in Gundam Wing.  Not to mention, the way it stalks Iria and her dwindling band of survivors, its almost like Requiem is making the Gundam an actual Slasher Monster.  Those red eyes and when it rises up over a sea of fire and smoke, yeah there’s a reason this ONA was released on Netflix last October, it’s scary as hell).
 
This sudden change in the balance of power is animated spectacularly well…at least when it comes to the action.  This is the most “Real Robot” the Gundam franchise has felt since 08^th MS Team.  The CG Zaku’s look titanic and there’s a greater emphasis on movements down to the smallest gear.  I’m so used to seeing Mobile Suits move at near superhuman speeds, especially in space, that it’s easy to forget these things take actual effort to move and control.  Even the more agile and brutal EX has the same attention to detail, almost like you’re watching Mecha action inspired by Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim.  Anytime there’s an action scene, I got so excited I almost didn’t want to think about the character animations.  My biggest issue is the faces.  While Iria gets a lot of attention with her reactions to everything happening around her, even she cant escape the occasional uncanny valley blandness of some moments where faces are too stiff and lack proper emotion.  Poor mechanic Alfee might be the worst victim with his almost cartoonish expressions and big eyes, probably the most Anime of the bunch.  I’m also not big on some of the line deliveries in the dub.  Some definitely needed another take to nail an important moment and not just sound dull and kind of dumb.
 
Despite my reluctance to give it a shot, Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance is off to a solid start.  The quick turn around for the Zeons from victory to nightmarish defeat is well played and Iria is a nice audience surrogate for first hand experience.  While the character models and dialogue needed more polish, the rough and tumble action is so well done you can feel the punches, bullet impacts and saber collisions as they happen.  It’s a helluva surprise entry for Gundam’s 45^th Anniversary in 2024, I just hope it delivers as solid a conclusion as it did an intro. We’ll find out Next Monday with the second half of our two part look at Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.