Mind Game

Nishi is an aspiring Manga artist who is this close to losing the love of his life to another man.  Then, one night, he is killed in a hostage situation gone wrong.  What should be the end turns into a new beginning for Nishi when he meets God and gets a second chance at life.  What follows is a journey unlike any other as Nishi and three friends find themselves at first on the run and then lost in a world with no exit.  To find their way back home, these four wayward souls must face their own insecurities and let go of inhibition in order to survive.  Who knows, if they can survive this seemingly unbeatable Mind Game, they might just learn how to have some fun living life to the fullest.

There were multiple times where I was looking at the barrage of insane images brought to me by Mind Game and I wondered “What the heck am I looking at?”  The funny thing about that question was, under normal circumstances, it would mean I wasn’t enjoying the movie.  That was not the case with Mind Game, a trippy, down the Anime rabbit hole experience from the director of Devilman: Crybaby.  Does it rank up there with some of my all time favorite Anime film titles like Akira, Your Name or Ghost in the Shell 2?  Not quite but Mind Game is still an experience im glad I witnessed.

Mind Game is one of those Anime that dares to try asking thoughtful questions about how one approaches life, deals with personal insecurities and becomes a better person with a bit of clarity while also injecting a cocktail of rapid fire imagery that is all experimental and all as trippy as the craziest episode of Panty and Stocking.  If you come away remembering anything from Mind Game, it will be the animation, no ifs, ands or buts.  This is not your typical looking Anime.  If anything its style fits the same vein as say FLCL, though Mind Game is trying to be it’s overall own thing while FLCL was a massive love letter to the Anime medium.  The best way to describe Mind Game’s animation is unpredictable.  One of the most pivotal scenes of the film sees Nishi talking with God, a character who never looks the same for more than a couple of seconds.  If you think you know what might be coming next, I guarantee you, Mind Game will throw you a curveball of an animation trick that you never see coming.  Just be ready to sit back and enjoy (or try to survive) the onslaught of visual mayhem that this film achieves in spades.

Beyond the wall of randomly coated paint, there is a surprisingly sincere story to go with Mind Game.  As I said above, it is asking some good, facts of life type questions in the middle of all the crazy.  Nishi, Myon, Yan and the Old Man all have their own trials to overcome at the start of the film and are all given ample time to develop as characters…well almost everyone.  I feel like between the sad life story of Old Man and the blossoming romance between Nishi and Myon, Yan kind of becomes the odd girl out.  Sure she has some outrageous moments but I never felt like we learned quite what made her tick like the other three members of her party.  But everyone does get their moment to shine, especially Nishi, who not only talks with God and provides the film with an unwavering sense of childlike optimism…he’s also responsible for several of Mind Game’s best moments including one of the best gun sequences in all of Anime you’ll have to see to believe.  Overall though, everyone starts at a pretty low point in their lives and Mind Game gives you plenty of reason to cheer them on and hope that they’ll escape their personal and shared prisons.

I feel like Mind Game should be hailed as a perfect product of Anime genius for the animation alone.  However, I don’t think it’s without its flaws.  I’ve already discussed Yan’s lack of true character exploration.  I do think the erratic pacing and constantly changing animation does take a little bit to get used to and some of the timeline jumping kind of had me lost, though I’m sure that was intentional.  But most of me knows that this is both a thinking mans Anime and an Anime not meant to be analyzed too deeply.  Mind Game feels like a passion project that has a destination even if the map is all over the place.  The messages of never giving up even when life hits rock bottom are powerful and very heartfelt.  You do have to wade your way through some visuals that will leave you asking that same question I asked at the start of this review.  But, for me, Mind Game accomplishes a lot and I don’t think it’s a story that could be told in any other medium other than Anime (Ralph Bashki maybe?).  It’s not perfection but it is a fun experiment to check out at least once.  If nothing else…Mind Game is one helluva ride through the mad house of Anime…one you’ll never forget.

9/10

T5W#207-Top 5 Otakon 2019 Moments

In ways, it’s easy to think of Otakon 2019 as “just ok”.  Some panels weren’t so stellar (a couple were downright awful) and a few of the photoshoots lacked the magical punch they usually do despite a larger venue (albiet without the cool background view and light of the city).  And yet, there’s so much that went right when things went right.  In fact, I had a lot of trouble narrowing down 5 precise things because I easily came up with a much higher number when I started jotting down options.  From amazing roommates to panels that were actually fun and hilarious to some new kind of experiences in the game room, Otakon 2019 definitley left a smile on my face when it came time to part ways (though it still doesn’t match the dizzying heights of Katsucon 2018).  So, without further ado, I give you my Top 5 Otakon 2019 Moments.

#5-Date’s Yandere Panel/Craziest Anime Deaths

These two panels tied for the this spot because both of them saved me from a Friday night and early afternoon of subpar or boring panels.  My good friend and roommate DJ Date Masamune brought her ever awesome brand of harsh language education to the subject of Yanderes.  She touched on plenty of greatest hits psycho cuties from Code Geass to School Days to Higurashi.  Of course, clips of all three of those examples were shared, eliciting some great reactions from everyone present (pretty sure the room was packed to capacity).  I followed that up with Craziest Anime Deaths, which gave the people exactly what they wanted.  And they didn’t have to be extremely gory choices either.  Some went for style points like two perfect headshots…actually make that 3 cause we did get to see Char Aznable blow off Kycillia Zabi’s head with a rocket launcher.  But nothing and I mean NOTHING could prepare us for seeing a Polar Bear get into Mortal Kombat with a demon…and then crush it in half with the most epic bearhug…that’s what I did with my Friday night.

#4-Manly Battleships Game Show

Unfortunately, the ultimate comedians/deep analyzers of Anime and Fandom, Manly Battleships, didn’t get an 18+ Panel this year.  Confusing as this was, Panda and his team still had a great panel for Saturday night, a game show that was all about gaming.  Contestants were given random challenges to complete in random games…all from the beginning of the earliest days of console gaming: Atari 2600, 7200 and NES.  This also meant taking on some of the hardest video games of all time: Silver Surfer, Ninja Turtles, Ninja Gaiden, Contra, Donkey Kong and that’s only the NES titles.  The end result was a great time where the audience cheering on (or ridiculing) some of the most epic attempts at gaming ever.  Whether you supported them or playfully Booed them, the people who took to the stage were brave souls for even attempting these battles of the ages (thank God no one picked Battletoads, that would have been a nightmare).

#3-Ninja: PS4 Wand Edition

So just to clarify…I have no idea what the heck this game was called and I never bothered to ask.  Ive never really had a full blown night of fun in the Otakon Game Room, mostly cause I was having fun in other places.  This little experience, however, more than matched some of the best nights ive had in the Katsucon Game Room with Just Dance.  The game involved keeping your wand from turning red from too much movement.  This meant moving in tandem with awesome music and trying to avoid getting bumped into or slapped by opposing players (up to 7 could play at a time).  Yours truly sucked at it but the regularly rotating roster of players for the hour I played were all great sports and anyone was welcome from seasoned veterans to massive giants to even some ever eager kids.  We all laughed and had a blast…oh and Rock Band was playing Fat Bottom Girls not far from us and that Queen song is one of my favs, so I was happy.

#2-Dejavudea Reunion

It wouldn’t be an Otakon Top 5 list or Otakon in general without an appearance from one of my favorite vloggers, Dejavudea.  She’s been pretty quiet on the vlog and social media front for reasons that at hers to explain alone.  I will say that when I heard about them, I message a promise of one thing: it didn’t matter if we got to chat and see each other super long, all I wanted to do was give her a hug and I made good on that promise.  Running into her on route to the Dealers Room, the tired Dejavudea smiled as always and we had a hug that lasted about 10 seconds (maybe 15?).  We of course said hi but very little was said and nothing really had to be said.  This girl is such an awesome part of my con going experience that just getting one of her amazing smiles is more than enough.  Running into her also clued me into a Final Fantasy XIV shoot the next day that was pretty fun too.  In small doses or at large events, Dejavudea is always one of the brightest stars of my Anime universe.

#1-Sarah Comes to Otakon

I am forever greatful for the friends ive made at Otakon and Katsucon.  Many of them I see as dearest family and have told them as such.  However, for years ive tried (and only succeeded once) to get some of my non Anime friends to attend Otakon with me and for the better part of a decade I’ve failed…until this year.  Sarah is one of my best and closest friends from Baltimore, now living in DC, and she is a fun nerd who has influenced many things ive gotten into over the last few years.  When I confirmed for her that Otakon was doing day passes and she said she’d like to attend on Saturday, it was something more than a triumph.   Got to show one of my best friends a world I only get to visit once or twice a year, a place where I am at my truest, happiest self.  And the best part?  Sarah was always interested in what to check out next as I gave her the tour.  She even took lead when we got to the Dealer’s Room, giving me a more in depth look at the new kingdom better than ever before.  She might’ve bought me a Kakegurui shirt as a gift…but the true gift was Sarah being there, def making those few hours of Otakon a landmark event.

T5W#206-Top 5 Kyoto Animation Productions

It’s been a week since the devastating Kyoto Animation arson attack and I’m sure many of us are still trying to process the event.  All of our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in the incident and pray for the recovery of the survivors.  Its saddening that this event will be marked as part of KyoAnim’s amazing legacy…because it still stands as one of the greatest Anime studios in existence.  Each production paints us a surprisingly beautiful portrait of the real world, pretty much how we all wish we could see things through Anime lenses…sans mecha, dragons and other fantastical elements.  The works of KyoAni touch the soul, hype the heart, and will no doubt leave you with waterfalls of tears gushing from your eyes.  I was going to make todays Top 5 Wednesday a special Otakon themed one (since it starts tomorrow).  But I wanted to do my part for Kyoto Animation, even if it’s coming in a week late.  These are my Top 5 Kyoto Animation Productions, titles that hold a special place in my heart and ones that id highly recommend checking out, it’s a small but important way to continue supporting the studio forever and always.

#5-Violet Evergarden

I’ll admit, I never finished this.  However, the early episodes I did watch, I believe a called it during it’s First Impression Friday feature, Anime’s answer to Downton Abbey.  The classic England country side ranks as one of the best settings KyoAnim has ever set its creative talents to and it perfectly compliments the beautiful story of an ex-child soldier trying to decipher the meaning of her commanding officers final words “I love you.”  From what I hear, the series only gets better and the special episode following the series is absolutely amazing.  This is a must see if youre a fan of period dramas.

#4-Free: Eternal Summer

I never thought an Anime about a boys swim team would get me so invested but Free defied the odds and Eternal Summer (the second season) stands as one of the greatest sequels to any Anime ever made.  Not only do we got more of what made season one great (the races, the bonds of brotherhood and the awesome soundtrack) we great new characters and throw the returning main cast into life changing scenarios.  The episode where Rin takes Haru to Australia and we get the full details of Rin’s time there as a kid ranks as one of the greatest episodes of Anime I have ever seen in my life.  Free continues to soar in Season Three and beyond, but Eternal Summer is the season that will sell you if youre still skeptical.

#3-Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu

The first season of Full Metal Panic had a problem balancing the humorous classroom mishaps with the more mature military plot threads.  While The Second Raid (Season Three, also done by KyoAni) found a better way to accomplish this flawlessly, Fumoffu ditched the military seriousness and went all out on the comedy with stellar results.  Bonta Kun, Sousuke battling ghosts and super powered martial artists and the ultimate hotsprings experience are only a few of the timeless short stories from this unexpectedly good sequel.  Also, this one ranks so high because it is the source of a fun in joke between me and my sister that has lasted a very long time.  FUMOFFU!!!

#2-K On

If Kyoto Animation is good at anything, it’s getting you to care about a premise you normally wouldn’t bite into.  Free is one example, K-On is another.  Five girls form a band and get into various adventures.  They rarely practice but when theyre on stage together: Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Mugi and Azusa are unbelievable.  Their tunes give K-On one the hardest jamming OSTs ever created.  Not to be outdone by just the music, K-On gives plenty of time to it’s female quintet and allows viewers to watch them grow into the tight knit band of sisters that can make even chilling out in a clubroom seem like the best time ever.  Come for the J Rock, stay for the memories you’ll never forget.

#1-The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

This Anime was my Top Reviewed Title of 2018 and man…I didn’t see that coming.  While my reception to the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya TV Series was mixed (but mostly positive), my reaction to the movie left me speechless.  One little change to the Haruhi Universe alters the fates of its entire cast and its up to Kyon to set things right…but should he?  Is the new world he’s living in, without Haruhi, better for everyone, himself included?  It’s a pretty heavy movie that still retains a sense of fun mystery and thought provoking character study.  In short, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is exactly what Haruhi Suzumiya should have been from day one and stands as one of the greatest Anime films I have ever seen…it really is Kyoto Animation at its finest and is a must see, even if you’ve never seen a single second of the Haruhi TV Series.

Turn A Gundam Part 11-Earth Light & Moonlight Butterfly

Correct Century 2345.  Millenia have passed since a devastating war wracked the planet, forcing some of Earth population to migrate to the Moon.  These “Moonrace” have been though lost to the ages and become myth…until now.  With the planet restoring itself, these long lost humans have come back to reclaim their homeland.  As a technologically outclassed society prepares for war, the salvation of both sides lies in the hands of a young Moonrace spy named Loran Cehack.  For he has just discovered an ancient relic of the past, a Mobile Suit that brings both hope and fear to whoever encounters it.  Once again, in a new era, the fate of mankind will be determined by one name…Gundam.

Compilations movies are nothing new for the Gundam franchise.  Obviously there was the film trilogy for the original series that helped popularize Gundam before Zeta Gundam in the 80’s.  But it seems like once a series concludes, compilation movies or OVAs cant be far behind, just look at Wing, Zeta, Seed and 00 for proof.  That said, I don’t get why Turn A Gundam needed the same treatment.  The 50 episode series was event enough for the franchise, nevermind it being the 20^th Anniversary series already.  It felt like one large, long and very well put together passion project by Yoshiyuki Tomino.  Why try to potentially ruin a good thing?  Well since I reviewed the original Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy earlier this year, I figured id see if the success of those films would rub off on it’s 20^th Anniversary celebration brethren…sadly it didn’t.

Earth Light sets the pace and stage for the combined four hour trim down to come and it plays out much like you’d expect if you’ve seen your fair share of compilation films.  The pacing is pretty much lighting speed, sometimes even sporadic, and it carries on throughout both films.  Yes, things are going to have to be cut for time but there’s a problem with that.  Out of 50 episodes, I think Turn A Gundam had less than 10 that were filler or could have been removed without consequence.  That’s still leaves a large chunk of story that one would have a hard time picking apart to fill a two hour feature.  I will say though that thankfully, one of my least favorite mini arcs, the Adesan arc, is included in the omissions.  Yet, the breakneck pace of Earth Light doesn’t give anyone time to really take in the situation as we rush from one plot point to the next and sometimes even skipping some very important, series defining moments like the Fall of Nocis.  Characters are introduced just as rapidly and much of their big character development moments are nowhere to be seen as well.  In effect: Sochie remains the same annoying brat from beginning to end and we never see the full extent of Dianna’s experiences on Earth that steel her to become the woman she is by series end.  Oh and Gavane’s fate is intact…and I still don’t feel bad for the stupid decision he makes that gets him offed.

What’s even more puzzling is that after the nicely done cliffhanger ending of Earth Light, Moonlight Butterfly skips ahead to the space episodes without any explanation as to how the Willghem even got off of the Earth’s surface.  At that point, however, Moonlight Butterfly becomes more concerned with being an action heavy feature, whereas Earth Light seemed to keep the action not quite to a minimum but all of them were pretty brief.  So it tries to compensate but it doesn’t change the fact that something is missing overall.  It does make one wonder why Turn A Gundam only got two compilation movies instead of three like most Gundam series in the past, and since, have (hell Gundam Seed Destiny got four, FOUR!!!).  Needless to say, viewers will either be scratching their heads in confusion if theyre coming in fresh, or shaking their heads in disappointment at all the character defining moments that are absent.  I’d say it’s almost a miracle that the big Dark History sequence on the moon, featuring cameo moments from the first 20 years of Gundam, still made it into the final product and if im honest I was afraid it would’ve been cast aside just as haphazardly as other moments.

I was really hoping that after watching the work of brilliance that was the TV Series that the Turn A Gundam movies could improve on the project and even fix a couple of the series problems.  Unfortunately, not only are key moments omitted, everything else is pretty much copy and paste from the original story without any true changes.  This goes double for the finale, which still has the same uneven 2D/3D animation clash that kept me from giving the series a perfect rating.  Speaking of the animation, I’ll admit, the series looked like a movie for the bulk of its run, it was pretty much perfect.  So I guess it didn’t matter if the footage wasn’t touched up much for a feature film edition…but still a little extra effort would have been nice?  I take that back, there is some extra “umph” put into a couple of the big action scenes including The Battle of the Willghem and the Dianna Counter’s first big battle with the Ghingham Fleet, those both looked spectacular. 

Those aforementioned action sequences aside, was there anything I liked about this double feature?  Not much, ill admit.  It was good to be back in this new favorite Gundam universe of mine and I do enjoy Loran, Kihel, Dianna and Harry’s characters in particular.  The music still remains one of Gundam’s best OST’s, courtesy of Yoko Kanno and the majesty she brings to every score she works on.  And again, Earth Light actually keeps one very important series moment intact and once I realized that was going to be the bookmark, I was alright with that.  It still carries dramatic weight and is one of the few moments Im glad wasn’t messed with during this patch job of a two part film.

I had high hopes for Earth Light and Moonlight Butterfly and part of me thought they could make an already great Gundam project better.  But both films play out like a very, very, very cliffnotes edition with a few minor animation tweeks and the omission of important character arcs and series events.  Things play out so quickly, I guess it’s kind of a relief theyre both kind of over before you know it.  Moonlight Butterfly might be the slightly better of the two films because of the action scenes but its hardly enough to give both movies a pass.  Turn A Gundam had so much time to explore and flesh out a new world for the Gundam mythos and you can tell it’s a labor of love, even at 50 episodes long.  The movies are…well if they make you want to watch the extended version of the story then more power to them.  Otherwise, if youre doing the opposite, once you finish the TV Series, no need to bother with either film at all.  All of the good stuff is in the original Turn A Gundam show and very little of it can be found here.

Turn A Gundam: The Movie-Earth Light gets a 4/10

Turn A Gundam: The Movie II-Moonlight Butterfly gets a 5.5/10

And with that, it’s time for Otakon 2019.  You’ll have a new Top 5 next Wednesday and maybe something special next Friday.  But new reviews will resume in two weeks with the beginning of Street Fighter II V.  Thanks for sticking around with all of my Turn A Gundam reviewing.  Now I gotta decide what next years Extended Summer Series Review will be (and I think I’m gonna call this event that from now on).  Catch you all later.

Turn A Gundam Part 10 Episodes 46-50

The Moonrace Invasion Force, spearheaded by the Ghingham Fleet, descends upon an outmatched planet Earth.  With two Gundams at his disposal Gym is unstoppable and even the traitorous Guin is unable to keep him in line.  Knowing the full destructive secret weapons hidden in both the Turn A and Turn X, Loran and whats left of his Militia allies gamble one last desperate plan to retrieve the Turn A and defeat Gym once and for all.  In the end, the yearning hearts of three youths: Loran Cehack, Dianna Soriel and Kihel Heim, will determine if humanity is doomed to repeat the Dark History or forge a golden path to the future.

In the wide world of Gundam, finales tend to be a go big or go home challenge.  Many series and films in the past have sent their Gundam tales out with a huge bang, whether they were good or terrible in the end is a matter of perspective.  So, does Turn A Gundam live up to the lofty expectations set by amazing Gundam finales like The Original Series, Char’s Counterattack or 0083? (that last one had serious spectacle it was almost enough to forgive the poor character writing).  Well…yes and no but I don’t think no in a totally negative light.

We picked things up right where we left off heading into the last set.  Did we really have time to watch the Moonrace come to Dianna’s aid and paint a spaceship for half an hour (with a little action thrown in for good measure)?  Probably not but this wasn’t the first or last time this set that we saw Dianna’s power of love for her people inspire such fierce and immedieate loyalty.  It was enough to quell the riots on the Moon, it was enough to bring Phil and Miran back to her good graces, it was enough to make the entire Dianna Counter risk their lives to stop another Dark History Armaggedon.  It even attracted the welcome return of Corin Nander, who ended up sacrificing his life to stop the Moonlight Butterfly given off by the Turn A and Turn X (that made me sad, I was actually glad to see him again).  Dianna has often blamed herself for the calamity that’s befallen Earth since the Moonrace’s return and she was determined to right that at any cost.  Clearly her time on Earth with Loran has toughened her up and made Dianna one of the Gundam franchises most enduring lead heroines.

The Ghingnham Fleet invasion was as terrifying as expected to be when bloodthirsty maniacs with giant robots descend from space.  Their all out assault pretty much made anything the Dianna Counter did in the beginning of the series look like a nice picnic by comparison.  Several cities were set ablaze and places considered harbors of peace and safety weren’t spared, like poor Keith’s bakery.  And, of course, Guin saw very little wrong with all of this, or at least he thought he could keep things tidy just like Agrippa did when Gym was let off the leash.  It surprises me that Guin survived to the end of the series, even if he was basically cast out by his ex soldiers and his biggest groupie (Lilly).  Sure he got insulted and his dream of becoming the most powerful man of a Moon tech based industrial age was torn apart, but I still think Guin got off a bit easier than he deserved. 

Another character who I feel got off a bit light was Joseph, former assistant to tech wizard Sid, who basically stole the Turn A when he got a chance and refused to give it back to Loran cause…of an inferiority complex?  Yeah that’s something that had been kind of brought up in the past, though Joseph’s initial disdain for Loran was because the kid was from the Moon.  But here it was just another delay to get things to the end of the road and Joseph nearly died trying to be the hero he wasn’t meant to be.  The only reason he gets a pass is because Fran wasn’t going to raise that baby of theirs alone and it looked like Joseph was doing a good job of that in the final montage (more on that in a bit).

And what of my main man, Loran?  Well quick factoid first:  Loran and I share the same birthday, November 2 (granted his is 2328)…no wonder ive always liked him.  Loran stayed solid throughout this whole finale.  He lost his Gundam and remained chill.  He confronted Guin and laid out just how insane anyone is to follow that man in any plan.  And when it came time to confront Gym, Loran never stopped believing in the peaceful possibilities of the human heart, contrasting to insane Gym’s rageful claims that battle is all he and mankind are good for and he’d revel in destroying the world to start anew.  It’s all very familiar ideological battles between main series rivals (a la Amuro and Char).  And it even came with its own Char’s Counterattack esque ambiguous ending as the Turn A, Turn X and Gym were enveloped in an energy cocoon created by their combined Moonlight Butterfly effects.  What does it mean?  I have no clue but it was pretty.

Which brings us to the final moments of the series.  Kind of like Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, we got an epilogue montage showing the fates of the main cast.  Dianna and Kihel swap places again, with Kihel going to the Moon with Harry to rule the Moonrace while Dianna stays on Earth to live out her days with Loran (however long she has left).  Sochie, who for whatever reason gets a kiss from Loran (sorry, I know they have a connection but im Loran and Dianna all the way) stays behind to become the future head of the Heim household.  Lilly begins joint Earth and Moonrace operations to rebuild their homelands and much of the Militia begins building a life of peace on Earth with the Dark History tech they found while Guin slinks off with no role to play in this new age.  This all felt pretty rushed and I wouldntve minded a couple of points explained (or an extra episode actually), most importantly Dianna and Loran’s log cabin arrangement.  Was Dianna too drained by the barrier she put up to protect everyone from the Moonlight Butterfly?  Are she and Loran officially a couple?  I suppose, like the Dark History itself, the true meaning of this ending is up to the viewer.  Me, I would’ve liked a more clear cut answer.

There were a couple of stumbles to the finish line.  Ive talked about the unnecessary delays on the Moon and Joseph’s ridiculous macho attitude.  But the animation, which had been pretty solid all throughout the series, took a couple of creative risks that didn’t pay off.  There was a sudden influx of mixing 2D and cel shaded animation styles, especially during the final battle between Loran and Gym.  It’s not the first time we’ve seen the cel shaded style in the series and  I wont say it was Silent Mobius terrible, far from it.  But it was very distracting and it stood out like a sore thumb.  The final battle could’ve benefitted from being done in the same hand drawn artstyle as the bulk of the series.  Ugh, part of me hates typing that just now cause I wonder if it should affect my final grading on a series that ive really, really enjoyed.

Guess there’s no better segue into it.  What are my final thoughts on Turn A Gundam?  “Wow” would be the first word that comes to mind.  You’ve got the most unique (and beautiful) setting for a Gundam series.  Many of the Gundam Universes tropes are either removed or converted into Easter eggs while not sacrificing the central messages Gundam always conveys (though I feel “War is Hell” is only illustrated more in such a beautiful countryside setting it might as well be Eden).  Loran Cehack feels like the embodiment of every Gundam protagonist from the first 20 years, like an ultimate evolution of Amuro Ray.  Even when he was doing things that were silly and made calls that were questionable, I never disliked Loran for a second, he’s definitely one of my favorite protagonists in the franchise.  Kihel and Dianna were an awesome pair and they made the identity swapping storyline work better than you’d think.  Both grew stronger and found their own rewards for their journeys: Dianna got to live the life of an Earther and Kihel found true love with Harry Ord.  I can see why future female Gundam heroines like Lacus Clyne from Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and Kudelia Aina Bernstein from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans might’ve drawn some inspiration from these two.  The rest of the cast is memorable for their own reasons, good and bad: From Char level bad ass Harry Ord to the irritating Sochie Heim.  The animation, save for the finale, is some of the best in all of 90’s anime and one of the best looking entries in the Gundam franchise, if not the best one hands down.  It was good to have Yoshiyuki Tomino write a more optimistic story for a change and shy away from his “Kill em all” heyday that was a staple of Gundam shows he’d manned in the past.  And yet, the urgency and intensity you always find with Gundam is still intact and, save for a couple of unnecessary stand alone detours, ran at a rapid pace that always kept me wanting to see more of this story and where it was all headed.  Yoko Kanno…my God can that woman do no wrong when it comes to music.  It was all the operatic genius of Escaflowne sent in Gundam’s direction and it paid off beautifully.  Yoko Kanno with any series is a blessing but Yoko Kanno and Gundam are a match made in heaven. 

If the finale had been a bit stronger, id actually be THIIIIIIS close to giving Turn A Gundam a perfect score of 10/10.  However my final score for Turn A Gundam is a very, very strong 9/10.  This really is an entry I think every Gundam fan needs to see, whether you’re a long time viewer or have only seen a couple of entries.  Seeing as how this was made to celebrate the first 20 years of Mobile Suit Gundam, Turn A Gundam was able to shake up the formula and deliver an amazing project while staying true to Gundams roots and messages.  It’s a celebration and a loving homage to one of the greatest Anime sagas of all time.  And I cant wait to revisit the series one day down the line…what a rush.

BUT we’re not done just yet.  There’s still one more day before Otakon, so im going to kind of break a rule of mine….again  I’m going to close out my Turn A Gundam coverage with a double feature review on Wednesday as we take a look at the feature film compilation movies: Earth Light and Moonlight Butterfly.  Will trimming this 13 hour saga to about 4 hours make a difference and push their score to a 10?  You’ll have to come back Wednesday to find out, see ya then.

Turn A Gundam Part 9 Episodes 41-45

Loran and Diana finally return home to the Moon only to find nothing but chaos waiting for them.  Dianna is powerless to stop the military factions left behind from seizing total control and Loran is outmatched by the Turn A’s brother Gundam, Gym Ghingnham’s Turn X.  All signs point to an inevitable, all out invasion of the Earth surface, with Gym leading the charge.  To save his own legacy and the planet, will Guin Lineford betray the Militia?  And, at long last, the terrible truth of the Dark History and the Turn A Gundam come to light as two Gundams clash on the surface of the Moon.

Well…to quote a smiling Dale Cooper from the first episode of Twin Peaks, “Sheriff, we’ve got a lot to talk about.”  Now I could start off from the very beginning, like how im happy Moon’s Cocoon, aka Loran’s Theme, has become the new end theme for the series (it’s much better than the new opening).  I could continue with meeting the rather disappointing Agrippa or discuss Guin finally becoming the punk traitor he was probably always going to be and I will get to that and more…

BUT HOLY CRAP MY GUNDAM FANBOY MIND EXPLODED!!! I had always heard that Turn A Gundam was hinted to be some giant connector piece to the whole of the Gundam Multiverse…but I never expected to see what I saw.  When Dianna, Loran and Gym all activated the Dark History archives, at first I just saw the footage from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, a full run down of the One Year War.  But then things kept going.  We saw Zeta, ZZ, Char’s Counterattack, F91, 0083, Victory…THEN we saw G, Wing, X.  So if im reading things right, and im probably not but let me fanboy here, the Universal Century (Mobile Suit Gundam-Victory Gundam), Future Century (from G Gundam), After Colony Era (Gundam Wing) and After War Era (Gundam X) can all be viewed as one giant timeline spanning the better part of millenia.  In a way this revelation and theory seems reasonable.  I just recently did a binge watch of the legendary Babylon 5 TV Series and they had an episode that featured multiple flash forwards from 100 to 1million years into mankinds future, each showing that things tended to hardly stay the same.  It makes sense to me that humanity might advance its technology, only to bomb itself back to the stone age and then have to start over.  Given the cataclysmic events of the Universal Century and especially the After War Era (the period itself almost an alternate version of the former with dozens of colonies dropped onto Earth instead of one), it makes sense to me.  Still the thought of the first 20 years of Mobile Suit Gundam somehow being united under this one series was a moment that invoked Keanu in The Matrix…whoa.  This lingered in my mind well after the end of the episode in which this all played out.  Oh im still a little sad we’re leaving the Moon so soon but this info dumb of fun fan theory made everything up til now worth it all…not that Turn A Gundam hasn’t been great until now but…ok let me simmer for a sec and then I can continue.

Ok, back to the events on the Moon that weren’t about uniting the Multiverse.  We finally got to meet the often mentioned Agrippa and…man what a disappointment.  How the hell could a wuss of a politician with no spine possibly be starting all of this crap on the Moon?  I feel like he could’ve been overthrown in five minutes (and he kind of was, im surprised he was shot and killed so easily and no one cared).  I just makes all the hype around his character kind of a huge letdown.  Still, Agrippa’s motivations for wanting Dianna killed were his little saving grace.  He blamed her desire to return to Earth for reawakening the violent warrior spirit of some of the Moonrace, i.e. Gym and his forces.  And Agrippa didn’t just want Dianna out of the way, he wanted to get Gym and his men to go to Earth to get their war on and leave the Moon alone in general, thus ensuring an everlasting peace.  I don’t think Dianna should kick herself for wanting to return to Earth and bring those who wish to go back as well.  I do think the planning should have been carried out a lot more thoroughly…cause clearly it wasn’t a perfect plan when you leave a sissy politician and a sword wielding maniac back home to watch farm and not think they’ll mess up that simple task.  It feels fitting that the minute the people found out Agrippa was keeping the truth about the Dark History and the Dianna Coutner’s war with the Earth secret, theyd riot and want his head on a spike…and this guy thought he could rule, ha, ha, ha.

Well with Agrippa gone, Gym Ghingham can take his rightful place as the true villain of Turn A Gundam.  He’s itching for conquest and now he has the allies and the weapons to make it happen.  The Turn X’s arrival was a haunting event.  One glance at it and I knew Loran trying to take it on wouldn’t be so easy.  And it wasn’t.  To say Loran got an ass kicking is a bit of an understatement.  The Turn X is a freaking monster of a Gundam (and looking as different from the norm as the Turn A itself).  Seeing Loran forced to abandon the Turn A to save himself was a gut punch and a good setup for the grand finale next week.  This does, however, leave two weapons of literal mass destruction in the hands of Gym and…ugh Guin.  I guess it makes sense that with barely anything going his way this entire show, Guin would throw his lot in with Gym.  He says he’s doing this to preserve the Earth with Dark History tech.  But its’ Guin, he’s been a selfish ass from day one, the second he first called Loran “Laura” actually.  He’s not in it for the planet, he’s in it for his own power.  It only sucks more that some of the Militia actually agree with him and its selfish thinking like that which makes me hope they all get whats coming to them next week (except Bruno and Jacop, they were kind of in an impossible situation being forced to pilot the Willghem back to Earth for the traitors on their ship).  Of course this leaves Loran without a Gundam and his friends without a way back home…kind of, it’s the Moonrace, I’m sure they have a ship they can spare.

I couldn’t close out this review without giving a shoutout to some of the other stand out characters in this set.  Seeing Dianna and Kihel unite against Agrippa (and try to kill him together) was all the F Yeah you really needed in this series.  Their separate journeys have strengthen both women.  I’d say they’re unstoppable together but then Gym is still an issue but im sure they’ll find a way to stop him next week.  And Harry…HOLY CRAP HE IS CHAR INCARNATE!!! Ladies man (not using underage girls for his own means…or at least Kihel consented to playing Dianna decoy again), Best commanding officer ever and ARMY OF ONE!!!  Harry managed to take on Gym’s bloodthirsty Mahiroo squadron single handedly, especially after they ticked him off and called Dianna an ass.  Harry Ord mows down armies, slaps traitors into oblivion with his Mobile Suit and still has time to let Kihel into his love life…swag.

Whew, does that cover everything?  Oh Chei Min (the daughter of Bright Noa and Mirai Yashima from the original series) was name dropped, having been in cryo stasis for who knows how long…man I could do a whole other article on connecting the dots of the Gundam Multiverse.  BUT there’s the present to look to.  We’ve got Loran without a Gundam (and the tragic image of the Turn A reaching for him while the Turn X stands triumphantly over its fallen form).  We’ve got Dianna, Kihel, Sochie and those not on the Willghem stuck on the Moon.  And Guin is leading Gym back to Earth…im pretty sure fires are going to spread the second they land.  Oh and there’s that bit I didn’t go into full detail on about the Turn A and Turn X both containing a nano cloud weapon that the Turn A apparently used to wipe out all life on Earth more than 2000 years ago…and theyre both in Gym Gingnham’s hands.  This is great setup for the biggest Gundam finale in a while for me.  Alright Turn A Gundam…you’ve impressed me so far, flaws and all. Let’s see how you wrap it all up.  See ya next week for the series finale of Turn A Gundam.

T5W#205-Top 5 Photoshoots I Try to Attend at Any Convention

An attack plan is always a must when it comes to attending a convention.  Me personally, three things are most important: hanging out with friends, going to the Dealers Room…and photoshoots, lots of photoshoots.  Each time I come home from a convention, I usually have a good couple thousand (yes thousand) photos from the weekend and most of those come from the half dozen or so photoshoots I attend.  I could explain the method to my madness of so many photos but that’s not the reason for this weeks Top 5.  In looking at some of the recently announced photoshoot gathering events for Otakon, I noticed that I tend to gravitate towards and attend the same photoshoots at every convention, I make as much time for them as I do a screening or panel.  And I think I’ve narrowed down five of those…well really there are three primary ones in particular but I could come up with 5 for the sake of this feature anyway.  So here we go, as part of my “Countdown to Otakon 2019”, I present my Top 5 Photoshoots I Try to Attend at Any Convention.

#5-My Hero Academia

Anime’s biggest juggernaut continues to thrive in the cosplay community and the more new characters and costumes you see on the show, the greater the chance you’ll see them at a convention.  Hero Aca’s photoshoots can rival a combined DC and Marvel photoshoot in their attendance.  Dozens of cosplayers are aching at the chance to show off their genderbent Deku or Bakugo or the cutest Tsuyu or Uraraka.  There are even a few All Mights and older heroes like Mt. Lady and Midnight.  The only reason im putting this at the bottom of the list is because I make time for most Hero Aca shoots but it’s still new to the community, kind of like our next entry but ive been to more of Pick #4 than My Hero Academia, that could always change though, I actually don’t keep score.

#4-Overwatch

Though still relatively young compared to most titles on this list, Overwatch can still draw in one helluva crowd for an official photoshoot.  At Katsucon 2018, the ground was so large that the whole of the fountain area had to be utilized to accommodate both photographers and cosplayers.  Everyone wants to show off their own official or personal skin for their favorite characters like Tracer, D.va or Mercy.  Someone wants to attempt a heavy duty build of Reinhardt or Pharah.  Some individuals characters need to have multiple groups just to get through them all.  It’s insane just how crazy Overwatch photoshoots can get and it is glorious.

#3-Disney Universe

A long time ago, someone saw my collection of Otakon photos and seemed ignorant of the fact that just because it’s an Anime convention, that means all of the cosplay is Anime exclusive.  NOT TRUE!!!  Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Steven Universe, you name it, it’s there (Hell there was a Les Miserables photoshoot at Otakon 2013 and it was great).  But the one character every girl (or sometimes guy) wants to be outside of Sailor Moon is a Disney Princess.  The Disney Universe photoshoots are a marvel (no pun intended) not just because of the craft everyone puts into their cosplays but how deep everyone digs into the Disney play box.  Naturally you have your Princesses like Aurora, Cinderella, Mulan and Elsa to name a few.  But then you also have Prince Eric and Phillip, Tarzan, and even some newly aquired characters like Indiana Jones (Lucasfilm) and the occasional Marvel hero (though they usually have their own separate shoot.  Point is, come to a Disney Universe not just for the pretty cosplays but for the excellent look back at over a century of imagination on display.

#2-Fate/Stay Night

If you ever wondered just how enormous the multiverse of Fate/Stay Night (or Type Moon) in general is, look no further than a photoshoot event.  Katsucon 2019 single handidly delivered the biggest one yet with literally HUNDREDS of cosplayers from more than 10 plus titles in the Fate franchise.  Ive been going to Fate/Stay photoshoots since Otakon 2015 and between there and Katsucon, theyre usually run by the same pair of event runners and they often prove why their continually chosen as hosts.  Beyond that, everyones got their favorite Saber, various servant, drop dead gorgeous Rin Tohsaka that they’ve been working tirelessly on bringing to life and they want to be seen with hundreds of peers who appreciate this multiverse far more than I do.  BTW that same 2019 Katsucon Photoshoot?  Normally most photo events begin with a mass pic of all the gathered cosplayers…they had to break it down into 4 separate photos just so everyone could get into at least one group photo…damn.

#1-Sailor Moon

This is never in question, this is always a priority.  Sailor Moon photoshoot events are some of the happiest places you’ll ever visit at a Convention.  There’s so much joy and welcoming vibes and everyone is included no matter the level of craft.  If you’re into Sailor Moon, you will be welcome with open arms and urged to join in the fun with every group set.  Little tykes dressed as Chibi Moon always steal the show and most event hosts are pros at handling large crowds and injecting them with tons of energy (Rizuki looking right at you Senshi Commander).  Sailor Moon is the one photoshoot I have attended since my first Otakon and ive seen so much amazing cosplay and displays of world peace at every one.  The Katsucon 2015, 2018 and 2019 (both of them) will always stand out when it comes to exemplifying their pure magic.  And you better believe this is one photoshoot tradition not dying out anytime soon.

Turn A Gundam Part 8 Episodes 36-40

The battlefield has changed.  Though Dianna Soriel and Loran Cehack aim to return home to negotiate peace, other forces plan for war.  At long last, those on the Moon who have their own plans for the conquest of the Earth reveal themselves, men more dangerous than anything Loran and the Militia have faced yet.  Waiting for Loran at the end of this long journey is Gym Ghingnham, commander of the Moonrace military, who also pilots his own Gundam, the Turn X, a deadlier enemy than even the Turn A itself.

I really hope we’re sticking around the Moon for a bit.  It took us more than half the series to get up here and now we get to explore this new uncharted territory.  Just the glimpses we got of what’s basically the surface is promising…including the galaxys largest indoor pool…with Whales…yes you read that correctly, freaking Whales.  It wasn’t the smoothest road to get here but Turn A continues to surprise when I think its hit a roadblock in its storytelling.  One thing I will say I don’t think is as good as it could be is the new second theme that kicked in around Episode 37.  “Century Color” feels like a normal Gundam theme compared to the unique vibe that “Turn A Turn” had.  Also, kind of like Gundam Wing, why wait so far in before changing songs?  I could rant about this for a bit, let’s get back to the actual story, shall we?

Indeed, it was still quite a bit before we actually reached the Moon.  In a sense, I feel like the series entered a bit of a final holding pattern with the plot.  Stuff happened sure but the momentum didn’t feel as rapid fire as it has been.  I attributed a lot of this to moving more characters into certain positions before the story was allowed to get going proper again.  I make it sound like we got a bunch of standalones in this set.  Actually we only got one and it could be hit or miss depending on how easily your entertained.  I for one actually was surprised how much I liked the Militia men suffering from “Space Madness” (that thing Steve Buschemi’s character was “suffering from” in Armageddon).  It’s a scary thing to lose ones mind in the strangest of new environments.  But the episode played it mostly for harmless laughs with several men pilling into a Mobile Suit just to try and reach Earth and one character even tries to float back to Earth in a wooden barrel…it goes about as well as you’d expect but he does survive.  If anything, this was a nice little breather and probably the last bit of true levity Turn A Gundam can afford before things undoubtedly get serious in its final act.

As part of these aforementied setups, we got Kihel abducted by Harry so she could play Dianna’s double (again).  This time, she was brought before Gym Ghingnham (definitely one of the odder names in Gundam).  Now this is a guy who could be a real problem for the Militia and Loran.  We’ve been dealing with paranoid Moonrace authority figures on Earth all series long.  Gym, however, is a whole other beast.  He’s anxious to cut loose, along with his men, and has every intention of going to war when he gets his chance.  What’s interesting about Gym and his men is the fact that this is their very first war.  Multiple times in battle his men commented on how different things were from the simulators, especially since they had no intel on the Militia or the Willghem.  Gym, additionally, seems to have knowledge of the Turn A because of his possession of the Turn X (though we only saw its head).  It furthers my excitement to keep things in space for now because we might get a lot of answers to the Dark History and the overall situation in space.

Speaking of, it was kind of shocking for Loran to learn that those on the Moon don’t even know there’s a war going on with the Earthers.  With Dianna gone, this Agrippa guy we’ve heard mentioned forever (and still haven’t seen yet) and Gym seem to be dividing up the powers spoils of the homeland.  And things seem to be bleak because of it (big shock there).  Though the Seaside Town looked cozy, the people still had a lot to complain about in terms of good and media restrictions.  But learning about this now, this far in, it almost makes me wonder if we should have had a side story focusing on the Moon setting and the aftermath of the Dianna Counters departure for Earth, maybe focusing on Lorans two friends (especially the cute Donna) who were introduced in this set of episodes.  I feel like we’re going to get a pretty intense cram session with only ten episodes left when there was some time from the Earth storyline that could have been given to this potential plotline.  It’s one of the few real gripes I have to give Turn A Gundam (besides a few characters like Guin and the ever annoying Lily (seriously, why is she along for the ride again when she isn’t doing squat besides trying to look pretty, superior and untouchable?)).  That said, with ten episodes to go, all of the Moon stuff really needs to deliver a homerun to make all this waiting and missed opportunity worth it.

But like I said above, everything is off to a promising start.  We got some great action in space (and Yoko Kanno’s music invoking bombastic action and a mythical 2001: A Space Odyssey feel for the softer moments).  Even though it was brief, I liked seeing a Gundam battle Zaku’s again and some of the maneuvers by the old Zeon suits against Loran felt like callbacks to the original Mobile Suit Gundam when Amuro fought the Zeon outside of Side 7.  Side note: we did get another similar callback when Loran had to save Sochie and Kihel from a faulty shower system much like Amuro had to help Mirai with her shower on White Base…though this had far more nudity.  Speaking of Kihel, her abduction by Harry isn’t all terrible.  She’s got a plan: kill Agrippa, take back power in the name of Dianna…and maybe hook up with Harry while she’s at it…not a bad list.  I’m not sure how Dianna would feel about this.  But with both doubles headed for the Capital, we’ll see who gets to act out a plan of attack or negotiation first when they get there.  Also, I was going to give Loran so much crap if we’d reached the Moon and he STILL hadn’t gotten rid of those two nukes he’s been carrying for God knows how long.  Space is pretty big, he could dump them anywhere and be rid of them.  But he ended up putting them to good use blowing up an asteroid that would have impacted a city on the Moon (Von City, any relation to Von Braun City from the Universal Century I wonder?)  Then the was the seaside town that was Loran’s home on the Moon.  Barely two minutes in and I loved anything about this place more than anything in the time waster that was the Adesan Arc.  It blows my mind the Moon has this kind of setup, along with the Marine life and an old school fishing village to go along with it.  If this is just the first level, I cant wait to see the rest.  And yes, I wasn’t kidding about the Whales (and the Dolphins).  Where’d they get them, how do they live so long on the Moon in an airtight dome?  I don’t know, I don’t a care, I freaking love it, let’s wrap this set up.

Well, we’re on the Moon and headed into the final stretch, only 10 episodes left of this wonderful Alternate Universe Gundam.  Loran, Dianna and Sochie even have Whales accompanying them to the Capital…yeah, it’s typing those strange sentences (and smiling as I do) that make me realize no matter the stalls or the lulls in momentum, or how irritating some of the cast can be, Turn A Gundam is a special series and im confident it can close itself out as strong as it began.  The beginning of the end gets going on Friday.  See ya then.