Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis

Universal Century 0096.  The asteroid Axis, which served as a homefront for the displaced survivors of Zeon, floats far from the Earth following the Second Neo Zeon War.  A small research team heads out to the dormant base on a special mission.  With them are Arlette Almage and Danton Hyleg, a mechanic/pilot team who once worked closely with Char Aznable himself.  They have more at stake in this trip than anyone else.  However, when the expedition is attacked by an unidentified Gundam Mobile Suit, the search for answers becomes a fight for survival.

When it comes to telling even the most basic of stories, there are six main questions you must adhere to at all times. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?  Even if your story turns to crap because you cant explain a plot point or explore a character arc properly, if you make an attempt to answer all of those questions, you’ll be fine.  So why does Twilight Axis seem incapable of following even those most basic storytelling steps?  What should have been a great tale to add to the Universal Century saga turned into a poorly made stew of random scenes cobbled together by someone trying to make their first AMV more than an actual project for a long running franchise.

After War Gundam X Part 8 Episodes 36-39

After War 0015.  Despite the best efforts of many to prevent it, the 8^th Space War between the New United Nations Earth and the Space Revolutionary Army has begun.  Both sides have been manipulated by the Frost Brothers, who will kill anyone in the way of their own quest for ultimate power.  Standing in their way, Garrod Ran, Tiffa Adill and the crew of the Freeden, who return to space to settle the conflict once and for all.  On the surface of the Moon, the identity of the mysterious D.O.M.E. is revealed.  The future of Mankind and Newtypes rests on the battle to end all battles.  Can Garrod and Tiffa’s love prevail over the ambitions of Shagia and Olba Frost?  The future of the After War era begins now.

So before we begin this review properly, let’s talk about the black mark on Gundam X.  The show debuted following the conclusion of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and went on to become the first Gundam series since the original 1979 series to be cancelled before the end of it’s planned 49 episode run.  There’s no single concrete reason for this, there are quite a few actually.  Some say that Japan had begun to experience a bit of franchise fatigue with Gundam.  Gundam X was the 4^th consecutive show to air on Japanese airwaves in 4 years after 1993’s Mobile Suit Victory Gundam; 1994’s Mobile Fighter G Gundam; and 1995’s aforementioned Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.  Others would claim that X lacked the same massive appeal that Wing had in the past.  Then there’s the possible poor Gunpla sales (not surprising since the mecha weren’t all that great in this show).  But most notably, the poor ratings of Gundam X had it moved to a dead of night time slot that all but sealed its fate.  And…that’s kind of a shame.  If Gundam X had those other 10 episodes, the second half could have been much smoother and fleshed out instead of the rushed finale that we got.  The finale wasn’t terrible but the force of behind the scenes drama could be felt in spades.  What we have, is what we have.  So did Gundam X end on a decent note at least?

T5W#281-Top 5 Best Titles Ive Reviewed in 2020

Well it has been a year, hasn’t it?  It’s been tough for everyone, myself included.  But throughout out the pandemics and losses, I’ve stayed committed to this blog to lift everyones spirits and my own and I’m thankful ive had the Anime Corner to work on for all this time.  Much of 2021 is in the books and ready for posting and I’ll talk more of that in my New Years Day post soon.  Looking back on 2020 though, I’m amazed I got to watch and review as much as I did.  Thankfully, not everything was as bad as Gundam Seed Destiny or Gundam AGE.  We’ve had some winners and as tradition dictates, this, the last Wednesday of the year, is when I give those titles their proper due.  So I present to you my Top 5 Best Titles Ive Reviewed in 2020, may we remember them more fondly than most other things that have happened in this God awful year. 

After War Gundam X Part 7 Episodes 31-35

Tiffa is captured by SRA spies and brought to their home colony of Cloud 9.  Desperate to get her back, Garrod heads into space with the Double X.  Once there, Garrod learns that the troubles on Earth are just as bad in space as an ancient faction seeks to begin war anew.  Teaming up with a beautiful space resistance fighter, Garrod begins his mission to save the girl he loves.  Meanwhile, the UNE and SRA prepare for their final showdown, unveiling new weapons and new agendas.  The 8^th Space War that many have tried to prevent…now seems poised to begin.

When it comes to Gundam, I’ve always enjoyed seeing Mobile Suits in space.  There’s just something grand about it and it’s giant robots battling in the sea of stars…it doesn’t get more scifi than that to me.  So it’s about time we managed to get there, even if, just like Turn A Gundam, it might’ve been a super brief stay.

After War Gundam X Part 6 Episodes 26-30

The New United Nations Earth seeks to bring the whole of planet Earth under its control.  Resistance stirs and open conflict breaks out all across the planet.  The crew of the Freeden find themselves aiding the country of Estrado against the Frost Brothers and the New UNE.  But there are those like Roabea who feel like this is not their fight and begin to question whether they should stay on the Freeden.  As the conflict begins to take its toll, even Garrod and Tiffa begin to feel its effects on their growing feelings for one another.  Can the Freeden crew conquer their fears and uncertainties before a new tragedy befalls the planet?

Between being dragged into a war for the future of a country and the abduction of their most precious crew member, Garrod and the gang are not getting any post Christmas breaks and it looks like things are actually going to get a lot worse before Gundam X reaches it's conclusion…it’s kind of exciting too in many ways.

After War Gundam X Part 5 Episodes 21-25

Fifteen years ago, the Seventh Space War between the United Nations Earth and the Space Revolutionary Army devastated the planet Earth.  While the survivors carry on in the new world, these former super powers have been lying dormant, rebuilding their arsenals to finish a war never properly concluded.  The United Nations Earth now has a weapon that could tip the balance of power in their favor…and Garrod and the Freeden Crew are about to encounter it.  What awaits them on the island of Zonda Epta is a defeat unlike any other, and their first meeting with the UNE’s ultimate weapon…the Gundam Double X.

Up until now, Gundam X has been a bit about a group of humans eeking out a living in a post apocalyptic Earth while trying to find other Newtypes who may or may not need their help.  All of that has changed now.  The second half of the series kicks off by sending the Freeden and her crew in a new direction, one that will see them at the forefront of a conflict I’m sure they hoped would never come again.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Retrospective-Christmas Day Special

It is a legend of Anime, a mecha title with few equals, if any.  You know its name.  And you know the kind of endless debates, discussions and college level lectures it’s capable of producing.  It’s been 25 years since Hideaki Anno unleashed his magnum opus that changed the face of the Anime industry forever.  The actual anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion was back in October, October 4^th to be more precise.  I didn’t hop on some kind of special then but I still wanted to do something to commemorate the historic occasion.  So, I threw this little retrospective together thinking I’d release it in several parts like my Gundam Wing: Glory of the Losers or Final Fantasy Retrospective’s earlier this year.  But hey, it’s been a crappy year worthy of Third Impact…and it’s also Christmas.  So today, Dear Readers, you’re getting my complete Neon Genesis Evangelion Retrospective in one epic sitting.  I’ll be covering all three main eras of the Anime here: The TV Series, The Movies and the Rebuild of Evangelion Films.  Might not be the most comprehensive of guides.  But if you’re new to Eva or a long time fan, I hope you find something to enjoy.  Now, let’s get Shinji in the damn robot and take a look back at one of the most epic stories of all time.  Welcome to the Gundam Anime Corner’s Neon Genesis Evangelion Retrospective. 

After War Gundam X Part 4 Episodes 16-20

A new vision from Tiffa leads the crew of the Freeden into the open sea.  There a voice calls out to both the crews young Newtype and Jamil himself, begging for help.  To reach to this voice, Garrod and his fellow Gundam pilots must battle an army of sea pirates hell bent on claiming their Mobile Suits and some of the most powerful relics of the last war sitting at the bottom of the Ocean.  At last, Garrod encounters a force more powerful than anything he’s ever faced, one that signals that the old war that nearly destroyed the Earth…might be just about ready to begin anew.

Before we begin properly, Merry Christmas everyone from the Gundam Anime Corner.

It can be hard for a series with a near 50 episode count to maintain good momentum all the way from beginning to end.  There are rare exceptions to this rule like Fullmetal Alchemist (the 2003 series or Brotherhood) and even the original Mobile Suit Gundam had a pretty solid run (save for one episode so infamously bad that Tomino refuses to let it see a US release).  But filler is an eventuality.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t…and sometimes you get a storyline where Tiffa helps Echo the Dolphin save his family from pirates…NANI!!!!????

After War Gundam X Part 3 Episodes 11-15

In the frozen territory of Fort Sevren, Garrod suffers a crushing defeat at the hands of a powerful Newtype adversary.  Tiffa surrenders herself rather than see Garrod and his Gundam destroyed.  Brought to Fort Sevren, Tiffa finds that things are not what they seem and even her Newtype captor, Carrius, might be the pawn of a larger game.  But Garrod isn’t sitting the fight out for long, neither is the crew of the Freeden.  The battle to save Tiffa begins anew with Garrod taking flight in a newly upgraded Gundam X Divider.  But will it be enough to defeat Carrius and other adversaries looking for revenge in the frozen tundra?

When Gundams battle in the frozen tundra, they know how to heat it up fast.  While I’m still not sure where this overall ride is heading, Gundam X’s latest episodes benefited from a good look at a new supporting character while doing further wonders for Garrod’s character and Mobile Suit piloting skill. 

T5W#280-Top 10 Gundam Nods in Gundam AGE

While Gundam AGE is (thankfully) out of the way, I have to bring up one thing I only talked about every once in a while during its review: it borrows rather heavily from every single Gundam show that came before it.  Most of the times, it’s not even done in a respectful way but rather a, “hey this worked before let’s make it work again but with less effort and heart.”  Granted not all the nods and references were terrible.  Some were actually surprising to see and others…well any show that invokes Gundam Seed Destiny should be ashamed of itself.  While choosing 5 of these examples would be a mercy for me, I think there’s more than enough that a special Top 10 is in order, 2020’s almost done anyway.  So enjoy our official (hopefully) last look at the dreaded Advanced Generation Era with the Top 10 Gundam Nods in Gundam AGE.

After War Gundam X Part 2 Episodes 6-10

Armed with the powerful Mobile Suit Gundam X, Garrod Ran joins the Vulture crew of the Freeden.  Being a loner all his life, adjustment is difficult and it’s not long before Garrod is questioning his new lifes direction.  But there are those looking to take advantage of that weakness.  New enemies looking to steal or destroy his prized Gundam emerge, testing Garrod’s resolve.  But the real prize is Tiffa Adill, a beautiful young Newtype trying to regain her lost humanity.  In a world gone to hell, the growing love between Garrod and Tiffa might be the spark the Earth needs to begin life anew.

Jeez that was a doozy of a cliffhanger to end things on.  I know I’m jumping ahead but wow, I did not expect Gundam X to go that far by pushing Garrod and his trusty weapon of mass destruction into a hopeless defeat 10 episodes in.  Could we be looking at the eventual Double X upgrade next time?  Wait, wait, it’s like I’m closing out the review before it’s begun.  Let’s take it back.

After War Gundam X Part 1 Episodes 1-5

The year is After War 0015.  Fifteen years have passed since a bloody war between the Earth and the Space Colonies ended with the near total destruction of the Earth. The survivors and descandants of that event try to eek out a living in a world without law or order.  Garrod Ran is one of those scavangers trying to make it in a dangerous world.  A recent job to rescue a beautiful young girl brings him into the crosshairs of several scavenger groups-The Vultures.  Garrod soon finds himself at the doorstep of destiny with the fate of a potential Newtype in his hands…as well as the ancient weapon that calls to her: The Gundam X.

Happy Holidays dear readers and welcome back to this special GundamCember (sans First Impression Friday).  Now that Gundam AGE is thankfully out of our way, the second half of December belongs to a potential hidden gem within the franchise: After War Gundam X.  This is the series which succeeded Gundam Wing in Japan in 1996 and only saw a US release in 2016.  Gundam X is notable for a couple of reasons going in.  However, one of those more infamous reasons, it’s unfortunate early cancellation, is something I’ll get into closer to the end of my review of the series.  For now, let’s start off at the very beginning and man, what a beginning it is.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE-Memory of Eden

Advanced Generation 140.  The decades long war between the Earth Federation and the long lost Humans sent to Mars, the Vagan, rages on.  As the Vagan begin the next stage of their long planned mission to claim Earth as their new “Eden”, two young men will cross paths.  One is Asemu Asuno, son of Flit Asuno, the creator of the weapon that turned the tide of the war: The Gundam.  The other is Zeheart Gallette, chosen by Vagan leader Fezarl Ezelcant, to lead this assault on the Earth Sphere and begin the reclamation of Earth.  They will meet as friends and become sworn enemies.  But Asemu and Zeheart share the same destiny and the fate of Eden lies in their shared hands.

As of writing this review, Memory of Eden is the absolute last note on the Advanced Generation created for Mobile Suit Gundam AGE.  Which, believe it or not is a shame.  Gundam AGE is a show chalk full of mistakes from bad pacing to bad writing to bad planning of a multigenerational storyline.  Memory of Eden attempts to show us what this series could have been if it had maybe stuck to one single Asuno, in this case Asemu.  The results are surprisingly pretty good despite the usual issues that plague a lot of Compilation projects.  

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 10 Episodes 45-49

The war against the Vagans has lasted the better part of a century.  After decades of their own battles, three generations of Asuno: Flit Asuno, Asemu Asuno and Kio Asuno, unite along with the Gundams for the coming final battle.  Each man has found their own reason to fight: Vengeance, Protecting those they love, Peace.  Now, the fate of two worlds lies in the hands of these three men and their Mobile Suits that have changed the course of history.  Will the Asuno Family and their Gundams bring reunite Humanity or ensure its final downfall?

The title of Gundam AGE’s final episode couldn’t be more fitting.  This really was The End of a Long Journey across more than half a century of conflict, terrible character writing and some of the stupidest moments in the entire franchise and no amount of nods or omages to past Gundam tropes could save it.  This finale was an infuriating mess.  It had one maybe two moments that were partly decent but for the most part, this series started unsure of how it was going to handle itself and it ended as one giant cluster cuss of a Gundam show.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 9 Episodes 40-44

For the first time ever, Kio, Flit and Asemu Asuno come together after enduring the most turbulent battles in the Earths war against the Vagans.  Kio’s outlook on the war has changed.  While his father, Asemu, might share his sentiments, Flit is still determined to see his decades long mission of revenge through to the end.  With three Gundam pilots on their side, the Earth Federation prepares to launch a counteroffensive by first retaking their lost Lunar Base from the Vagan.  The curtain rises on the final act of the greatest war of the Advanced Generation.

When I first started Gundam AGE I knew the show had a bad rep amongst the community.  And yet my continued interest in the kind of story it was trying to tell always kept it in view (that and its my destiny to watch and review all the main Gundam entries in some way).  I know it sounds like im starting Final Thoughts one part too soon.  But I can say this without hesitation or any chance of my mind being changed…I hate Gundam AGE and I think after this set it has more than earned the dishonorable distinction of fighting Gundam Seed Destiny for the throne of Worst Gundam Series of All Time.

T5W#279-Top 5 Times the Earth Federation were the Bad Guys (or just complete idiots) in Gundam

During the One Year War in Mobile Suit Gundam, the Principality of Zeon is the villainous side that needs to be stopped.  And for good reason too: they dropped a colony onto Earth and are led by a fascist regime in the Zabi Family.  No Ifs Ands or Buts about it, Zeon shouldnt win the One Year War.  However, as Gundam is so fond of doing, there are heroes on both sides of the war and villains and the Earth Federation is no different.  Just because heroes like Amuro Ray and Bright Noa fight on their behalf doesn’t mean the EF is a bunch of full on saints.  Across different Gundam realities, they can be even worse villains than the ones theyre supposed to be fighting.  So on today’s Top 5 Wednesday, I’m taking a look at the Top 5 Times the Earth Federation were clearly the Bad Guys in Gundam.  To be clear, I’m not just looking at the Universal Century timeline.  Any era where the Earth Federation (or Alliance) was a major power in a conflict is fair game. 

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 8 Episodes 34-39

Fleeing the Vagan forces on Earth, the Diva runs right into a group of Space Pirates under the command of the long lost Asemu Asuno himself.  Meanwhile, Kio is captured by the Vagans and brought to meet their supreme leader, Fezarl Ezelcant.  As Flit and Asemu plan a rescue, Kio learns the full extent of the plights Ezelcants people have endured and the true nature of the long planned “Project Eden”.  With this new knowledge in mind, how will it affect Kio’s resolve to fight?

Ladies and Gentlemen…I didn’t think we could hit a new level of low for Gundam AGE after the Arc 3 premiere.  I was wrong, I was so, so wrong.  I now find it a bit ironic I’m reviewing this series a few months after I reviewed my eternal nemesis: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny.  Because now Gundam AGE has started teetering into that low.  I’m sure I’ve talked a little bit about all the tropes and character beats AGE has been borrowing from all across the Gundam pantheon.  But why OH WHY…did it have to borrow from Seed Destiny amongst everything else?   

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 7 Episodes 29-33

AG 164.  Kio Asuno is a boy burdened by legacy.  He is the grandson of Flit Asuno, savior of the Federation, and son of Asemu Asuno, the Super Pilot who has been missing and presumed dead for most of his life.  When the Vagan’s launch their biggest attack yet and successfully reach Earth, Kio must answer the call to arms just as his father and grandfather did before him.  Even armed with the newly finished Gundam AGE-3, is it too late for Kio to make a difference against a foe that seems undefeatable?  The battle for a new Eden begins.

Well…here we go again.  And I’m not gonna sugar coat it people: I think this is where Gundam AGE is going to start getting really, really bad.  We’ve reset the board and jumped another 25 years into the future for what should be the beginning of the end.  Unfortunately, Arc 3 is off to a pretty terrible start for a number of reasons, the chief of which is the premise of AGE has kind of worn out its welcome.  This might not have been the case if this new opening had been stronger…but it’s by far the weakest beginning, even more so than the classic Gundam opener formula we saw in Arc 1.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 6 Episodes 25-28

Desperate to see his plans through, Zehart orders an all out assault on the space colony Nortram, hoping to use its resources to begin the attack on Earth.  Asemu begins using untested and dangerous tech that could put him on more even ground with Zehart.  As the Battle of Nortram begins, friendships are tested, rivalries reach a vicious end and Asemu makes one last, desperate plea to the young man he still sees as a friend.  Another chapter in the century long saga of the Asuno family is about to come to a somber and tragic end.

Throughout Gundam AGE thus far, my interest has been waining a bit.  This series is rushing through its main story arcs so fast it isn’t allowing time for emotions to set in or major developments to be properly digested.  I suppose that was always going to be a curse of this rather unorthodox way of telling a Gundam story as massive as this.  However, I can say that unlike the finale of Arc 1, I enjoyed the finale of Arc 2 a lot more.  We got some of the best battles in the show, unexpected payoffs and even more unexpected moving sendoffs.  And the future of Asemu Asuno looks far more promising than that of his father…who may have just started down the path Harvey Dent was so fond of describing, “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” 

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 5 Episodes 21-24

Following defeat at the hands of his former friend, Zehart Galette, Asemu Asuno begins training to get stronger for the battles ahead.  One of those battles is fast approaching as Zeheart’s Vagan forces plot a massive strike against the Federations Big Ring base.  Should Big Ring fall, the Vagan will have a straight shot at Earth itself.  Flit Asuno himself returns to battle to settle an old score with a demented Vagan rival.  Meanwhile, a former friend contacts Flit with information that could change the war forever…information worth dying to protect.

The second saga of the Asuno family is running at a break neck pace right now.  We kind of breezed through Asemu and Zeheart beginning and unfortunate end of their friendship and jumped right to their new responsibilities with their respective forces.  Now we get one major confrontation between the Earth Federation and Vagans along with a few extra surprises and a heaping helping of family drama now that Flit is taking a more active role in the saga.  There’s definitely stuff to like but there’s no denying that Gundam AGE is moving too fast for its own good just to get its mini arcs all crammed in and that double edged sword is really showing now.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 4 Episodes 16-20

AG 140.  Twenty five years have passed since the Battle of Ambat.  Flit Asuno continues to fight the Vagans as a prominent Commander in the Earth Federation Forces.  The battle now falls into the hands of a new generation on both sides of the conflict.  Asemu Asuno, Flit’s son, inherits control of the Gundam from his father.  Meanwhile, Zehart Galette, a Vagan spy, infiltrates Asemu’s school searching for the Gundam.  A genuine friendship forms between the two young men…forming the beginning of a new chapter in a long war that’s only about to get more heated.

The next chapter begins.  If yesterdays set of episodes had to prove Gundam AGE could end one of these mini arcs properly, todays set had to prove it could open them just as well and maybe even iron out some things going forward.  Thankfully, the beginning of Asemu’s tale wasn’t as cut and paste as expected but there was one major problem that kept it from being more than it could be. 

T5W#278-Top 5 Char Clones in Gundam

Char Aznable.  The Man.  The Myth.  The Legend.  He’s one of the greatest Anime villains of all time, loved and adored even when he’s on the wrong side of justice.  Char is a man so incredible that he has become a core element of the Gundam franchise.  Hence why we always see a random masked guy pop up in every other Gundam series across the multiverse.  They pretend to be the most mysterious characters in the show, least of all including sporting a face covering of some sort, though none have matched Char’s Darth Vader inspired helmet.  Well, enough of giving Char all the love, this week it’s about the guys who carry the title of “Char Clone” proudly.  These are the Top 5 Char Clones in Gundam.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 3 Episodes 11-15

With the Earth Federation determined to capture him for mutiny, Captain Grodeck and the crew of the Diva rally what help they can for an all out assault on the UE’s hidden Space Fortress Ambat.  It is here that the deciding battle between Humanity and their mysterious foes will begin.  At the heart of it all, Flit Asuno pilots the Gundam, now deemed Humanity’s last hope.  As chaos rages and friends are lost, Flit discovers the true identity of the Unknown Enemy…a truth that will haunt generations of the Asuno family for decades to come.

If there was ever a time when the pressure was on for Gundam AGE, it was now.  This set of episodes had a big task ahead of it and its success or failure would set the benchmark for how this multi arc story would be handled across the remainder of its episodes.  Could AGE close out Flit Asuno’s saga while laying the groundwork for his son to take over?  The answers kind of vary but the end result was…ok.  The Battle of Ambat could have been bigger and better but the fallout might just be enough to keep the series going into the next era.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 2 Episodes 6-10

Flit Asuno has long prepared for the day he would face the UE in the Gundam he built with his own hands.  But that fight has cost him another home colony and now it has spread to Fardain, a colony with problems of its own.  With the UE wrecking havoc within the colony, Flit must somehow find a way to unite Fardain’s two warring factions to counterattack.  Meanwhile, the crew of the Diva discovers a startling secret within Fardain’s walls and Captain Grodeck reveals his plan to potentially strike a fatal blow to the UE forces…if they can escape Fardain that is.

After Monday’s kind of disappointing premiere, im surprised Gundam AGE managed to steady itself a bit this time around.  Between some epic battles and some decent world building, the show seems to be making strides to be more than just another basic Gundam imitator.  Not all the rough edges we’re smoothed out.  But this second set of episodes was a definite improvement over the first for sure.

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Part 1 Episodes 1-5

In the 101^st year of the Advanced Generation, Mankind was attacked by an unknown force, simply now referred to as the UE (Unknown Enemy).  It is now the year AG 115.  After losing his mother during a UE attack, Flit Asuno has dedicated his life to constructing a weapon capable of handling the enemy on their own terms.  When his home colony is attacked once more, Flit stands ready to fight, taking control of the Mobile Suit he built based on a legend.  Now begins the war that will span a century and see more than one Asuno take up the pilot seat of Humanity’s last hope…The Gundam.

Happy Holidays dear readers.  Well since I’ve run out of Gundam shows to do a First Impression on, GundamCember wont be seeing a 4^th installment this year.  However, given how some forced time off has allowed me to check out more shows, I’ve decided to give everyone a special treat for the holidays.  So this December, we’ll be looking at not one but TWO Gundam series.  I’m not gonna call it Gundam Month Mark V, I’m saving that for something hopefully in 2021.  I guess I could still call this GundamCember, just without the First Impression Friday banner…anyway…

T5W#277-Top 5 Reasons Why Yashahime Isnt Living Up to the Hype

As of last week, we’re about nine episodes into the much anticipated sequel to Inuyasha, Yashahime: Princess Half Demon.  And as much as it pains me to say it, the show is kind of a mess.  As I told a friend who’s the biggest Inuyasha fan I know, it’s a bit early to say I hate this show…but I am disappointed.  There was such a degree of hype to Yashahime considering Inuyasha is one of the major megahit anime from around the world, remember when it and Cowboy Bebop were two of the most beloved Anime on Adult Swim?  But each week brings some excitement that’s met with a new level of disappointing groans.  What’s brought this about and how could it be fixed?  Well today I’m gonna take a look at the Top 5 Reasons Why Yashahime Isnt Living Up to the Hype and see what can be done going forward. 

Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again Part 2 Episodes 4-6

Hibiki and Ishtar find themselves held captive by the Marduk.  With an army of brainwashed Zentradi powered by the song of death, the Marduk press on to Earth, annihilating the UN Spacey forces.  As Humanity faces a grim defeat, the bonds of love and song bring Hibiki, Ishtar and Silvie to the one last hope to win the fight: the Super Dimensional Fortress Macross.  Once again, the mighty fortress rises, this time not to fight a war, but to end it once and for all.

Well, that was certainly better.  I don’t think Macross II will go down as one of my all time favorite Macross entries.  However, I do think the second half of the OVA managed to turn things around a bit and provide at least a very entertaining conclusion that’s certainly in the spirit of Macross.

FIF#130-Tower of God

The Tower.  If you reach the top, everything you can imagine awaits you.  Any wish you desire can be granted, from simple matters to the greatest temptation to attaining Godhood.  A young girl named Rachel entered The Tower wishing to see the stars.  Her cost of doing so meant leaving behind a boy who needed her more than anything.  Now, that boy, Bam, is determined to follow Rachel and face whatever challenges The Tower holds for him.  Sometimes the simplest of wishes begin the greatest of journeys.

Tower of God might just be one of the most anticipated titles of 2020.  It’s an Anime based on a Korean Web Comic that is co produced by Crunchyroll themselves (even has the brand spanking new “Crunchyroll Original” label on it).  There’s a strange amount of pressure on this one, beyond the likes of recent Anime like Fire Force or even Demon Slayer.  Based on the premise, Tower of God could be one of the longest investments you could make in a new Anime…like One Piece levels of time investment.  Even if that’s the case, the beginning is interesting. 

T5W#276-Top 5 Kirby Morrow Anime Roles

Normally around this time, the day before Thanksgiving, I usually do a Top 5 list of the things related to Anime that I’m most thankful for. Last week, however, the Anime community received sad news of the passing of one of the most celebrated voice actors in the Anime industry.  Kirby Morrow is a name that has resonated with fans for decades thanks to the roles he took in the early 2000’s, some of who were our first Heroes of Anime.  I for one am thankful I was able to recognize his voice, his talent and the characters he brought into my life.  And for that alone, the man deserves a Top 5 list today.  We’ll miss you Kirby…always…here are my Top 5 Kirby Morrow Anime Roles.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again Part 1 Episodes 1-3

2092 AD.  It’s been 80 years since the end of the Zentradi war and now humanity lives in peace with many members of its former sworn enemy.  That peace is threatened when an Alien attack force believed to be rogue Zentradi appear near Jupiter.  Their threat grows more dangerous when even Earth’s best weapon, the Minmei Defense, is ineffective against them.  In the middle of the chaos, reporter Hibiki Kanzaki steals a beautiful girl named Ishtar from an Alien vessel and brings her to Earth.  As he tries to show her Earth’s vast culture and learn more about her Identity, Ishtar cannot help but be drawn to the long dormant Super Dimension Fortress Macross, whose reactivation might be Mankinds only hope to survive destruction once again.

Much like Mobile Suit Gundam, Super Dimension Fortress Macross was a pioneering scifi/mecha title for Anime in the 80s.  The slick and fast paced action combined with a masterfully done love story and gorgeous soundtrack has made it an endearing legend that has spawned its own successful franchise.  Over the years we’ve seen several success stories like Macross: Do You Remember Love, Macross 7, Macross Zero and, my personal favorite, Macross Plus, just to name a few.  So why don’t we hear much about the title meant to celebrate Macross’ 10^th Anniversary?  Well over the next two weeks were gonna find out why that might be as we take a look at Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again.

FIF#129-Space Pirate Captain Harlock

2977 AD.  Mankind has reached the stars, leaving their beloved Earth behind.  Those who remain find themselves falling into complacency and depression as machines become the new workforce who services them.  Most are unaware that forces from beyond the stars have their sights set on Earth itself.  One isn’t so naieve, the man who left Earth long ago to stand against its oppressive government.  He is a man who flies the stars in a ship modeled after the Pirates of old, even bearing a skull and crossbones flag.  He is a man who’s name reverberates throughout the galaxy, who is both savior and terror.  And this man, Space Pirate Captain Harlock, is the only one capable of stopping an ominous threat looming near Planet Earth.

After putting up with the sheer amount of boredom produced by Harlock Saga (incase you already forgot, it’s joined the 0/10 club here at the Gundam Anime Corner), you’d think I’d be ready to put the MatsumotoVerse in my rear view.  Well while Harlock Saga is a pretty big blotch on the good captain’s record, it’s not enough to make me dislike the character or the other features hes been in.  So I stumbled across his very first Anime introduction, 1974’s Space Pirate Captain Harlock, and decided to just check out the first episode.

T5W#275-Top 5 Games I’m Considering for my Twitch Channel (ArschelGundam87)

Back in September I began experimenting with Twitch streaming on my Xbox.  What began as another late night insomnia project has become kind of an extension of the Gundam Anime Corner…kind of.  I’ve finally settled on a name for this Twitch page-ArschelGundam: Games and Winging It…cause I really have no idea what the heck I’m really doing besides yammering while playing video games.  Still, it’s an interesting enough experience I’m gonna keep it going.  So, I’ll need some games to play, the more Anime related the better but I wont be picky.  One thing I have come to learn is that some games cant be broadcasted on Twitch for whatever reason.  Hence my plan to stream the Zone of the Enders HD Collection got ruined pretty quickly.  Still, there are thousands of other choices to choose and experiment with so why not list a few ideas ive had.  These are the Top 5 Games I’m Considering for my Twitch Channel (ArschelGundam87).  These games will more than likely be longer projects and separate from my regular Friday streams where I try something either A. Simple or B. Multiplayer heavy like Overwatch.

Harlock Saga Part 2 Episodes 4-6

With the Rhine Gold now in the hands of a vengeful Alberich, the Gods of Valhalla slumbering at the center of the universe find themselves desperate to stop him and preserve their power.  Drawn into a conflict spanning millions of years, Captain Harlock and the crew of the Arcadia step up to defend a dear friend caught up in this mess.  The whole of the universe is at stake if this war cannot be stopped.  Once more, Captain Harlock enters the fray, not to save the Gods, but to save all life in the universe itself from certain destruction.

Thank freaking God that’s over and done with.  And I dare say that it only got worse as it went on.  Harlock Saga proved it was so unworthy of bearing the name of the famous Anime Space Pirate by being the most dull, boring, and incredibly unimpressive tale I’ve seen featuring the character to date.  This is just…this is just bad, it’s a whole laundry list of bad.

FIF#128-Cosmo Warrior Zero

Mankinds war with the Machines is now over but the cost has left the Earth and its people devastated.  Captain Warius Zero knows the pain of this bitter victory all to well, having lost his wife and daughter to the war.  Yet he continues to serve as a member of the Earth Fleet, now working hand in hand with their former enemies.  But now, Zero has been given a mission most would deem impossible.  Determined to see it through, Zero commands his crew of both Man and Machine to venture into the galaxy to complete their task: the capture of the infamous Space Pirate Captain Harlock. 

Well now, this is an interesting spin on things.  I’ll admit, when I saw the initial promo image for this series, I wondered if it was going to be another randomized spin on the legend of Captain Harlock.  Turns out, I might be half right.  Not only does the Harlock character get a twinge of a new spin, we’re also looking at the crew sent to capture the legendary pirate himself.  That’s not a bad hook for a show.

T5W#274-Top 5 Abridged Series that Ended Too Soon

Team Four Star, the kings of Abridging, have been busy this year.  Over the last couple of months, Takahata101, Lanipator and KaiserNeko have hosted two marathons of their best works: The Dragon Ball Z Abridged Movies and Specials and the complete run of Hellsing Ultimate Abridged.  These shows and movies are still a blast to watch even today, especially today.  But, while DBZA and Hellsing Ultimate Abridged both got proper conclusions (Yes, if it isn’t clear by now DBZA’s finale is final unless TFS ever says otherwise), there have been a fair share of amazing Abridged series that never got the same treatment.  This could be for a number of reasons and while they should be respected above all else, it still sucks that these parodies will never get their true endings.  So on today’s Top 5 Wednesday, I’m counting down the Top 5 Abridged Series that Ended Too Soon.  To qualify, all of these shows must either have had no new episodes for a pretty long time or have been confirmed defunct by their creators, for reasons that will be explained if I know of them. 

Harlock Saga Part 1 Episodes 1-3

The Rhine Gold.  It is said to be the very center of the Universe itself, containing power beyond comprehension.  Guarded for millenia, it has now been stolen by ruthless bandits.  Their leader fashions the gold into a ring and declares he will conquer the Gods of Valhalla.  One voice cries out for a savior and the one who answers is a man whose name is feared across the universe.  He is the one who will challenge anyone who crosses his path and eliminate all who prey on the helpless.  He is the Pirate who flies the spaceship Arcadia with a Skull and Crossbones flag…Space Pirate Captain Harlock.  Once again, the fate of the universe is in his hands.

Captain Harlock is a name that’s come up a few times here at the Gundam Anime Corner.  Not only did he have a central role in the Galaxy Express 999 movies, we also looked at his origin story, Arcadia of my Youth, last year.  While the universe made by Leiji Matsumoto isn’t as prevalent as it was in the late 70’s and early 80’s, occasional titles featuring his characters and world pop up from time to time (Space Battleship Yamato just had a new iteration last year).  In the late 90’s we got Harlock Saga and the trailer for this one looked promising.  Sporting a very haunting music track, it looked like we were gonna get another epic adventure worthy of Anime’s greatest space pirate.  Annnnd I’m still waiting for something notable to happen that isn’t an act of stupidity, another variation of the same doomed prophecy, or  a random planet blowing up (and you know you’ve done wrong when that cant get you excited).

FIF#127-Drifting Dragons

High above the skies, Dragons roam free, unchecked and unchallenged.  To combat their increasing numbers, aerial crews are sent across the land to battle the Dragons.  The mission is simple: Kill them, then get ready to sell them for profit to a hungry populace.  The Quinn Zaza is one of the few remaining ships left in this business and her crew is second to none.  Among them is Mika, a man fascinated with defeating Dragons so he can cook them and eat to his hearts content.  In a business where failure means death, that kind of crazy might be the key to survival.

Drifting Dragons is…an interesting one.  I wasn’t sure what to gleam of it from the preview images beyond it being 3DCG characters on blimps battling Dragons in the sky, which sounds pretty cool (except for the 3DCG stuff, seriously Netflix stop trying to help make this a thing in Anime).  I didn’t expect the show to turn into How to Eat Your Dragon…cause that’s essentially what the premiere episode boiled down to.

T5W#274-Top 5 Reasons I’m Taking a Break from RWBY (more than usual)

It’s been a little bit since I’ve said anything about Rooster Teeth’s RWBY and there’s been multiple reasons for that.  At least twice now this year, I’ve slotted the 7^th Volume into the review rotation.  And at least twice, I haven’t followed through on that.  Incase anyone was curious as to why this has become a thing, today’s Top 5 Wednesday is here to address this little decision of mine.  Now, I’m not saying I wont pick back up on RWBY, it’s just not as high a priority on my list as it has been in the past.  How can this be?  Am I calling it quits on an almost annual tradition (considering I review seasons once theyre completely uploaded to either Rooster Teeths main page or Crunchyroll)?  Well, I’ve held off on talking about this for a couple of months now so let’s not waste anymore time.  These are my Top 5 Reasons I’m Taking a Break from RWBY (more than usual).

Psycho Pass 3: First Inspector

For months, CID Unit One has been pursuing the elusive cabal known as Bifrost and their devilish “First Inspector” Koichi Azusawa.  Now the fight has come directly to their doorstep.  Azusawa and his deadly associates launch an unexpected sneak attack on the Public Safety Bureau HQ, trapping everyone inside and separating Arata and Kei from their team and each other.  As the scattered members work to regroup and defend their base, the true intentions of Azusawa’s long game become clear.  Final judgement has come and Unit One must not only contend with vicious opponents…but the heartbreaking betrayal of one of their own.

Psycho Pass 3 ended on a pretty big cliffhanger with Kei Ignatov being coerced into siding with the enemy and the fate of series favorite Yayoi Kunizuka left in jeopardy.  Thankfully, unlike most long running Anime franchises (cough cough Full Metal Panic cough) we didn’t have to wait forever for a continuation.  What’s surprising is that this isn’t a fourth season we’re getting, but a movie, Psycho Pass 3: First Inspector, to wrap up most of the dangling plot threads and give Season 3 a proper conclusion.  It’s also worth noting that I’m reviewing this after watching it on Amazon Prime, where First Inspector has been chopped into 3 45min long episodes.  Which begs the question: As good as First Inspector is, why couldn’t we have gotten just a big 3 episode finale back in December 2019 when Season 3 was almost done?

Twitch News-ArschelGundam: Games and Winging It-November Plans

Hey everyone,

It’s a new month and the newest Gundam Anime Corner experiment continues.  All last month over on my Twitch page: www.twitch.com/arschelgundam87 I was running through a marathon of Resident Evil games for the Halloween season. I tackled Resident Evil 2&3 Remake, Resident Evil 5 and even experienced my very first playthrough of Resident Evil: Revelations.  Well, Resident Evil is an easy game to schedule for October cause it’s the month of scares…but what does that mean for November?

Ninja Scroll

Jubei Kibagami is a Samurai for Hire.  He is a swordsman with no equal and will take any job no matter the price.  His carefree travels come to a screeching halt when Jubei stumbles upon the lone survivor of a team of massacared Ninjas.  Together with the beautiful Ninja, Kagero, Jubei is pulled into a mission to save the Shogunate from the Eight Devils of Kimon: a legion of demonically powered warriors led by a man Jubei personally killed a long time ago.  When Humans face off against Demons from Hell in the ultimate battle of Good versus Evil, only those with the strongest killer instinct will survive.

The 1990’s was the decade where Anime began to cement itself as “Not for Kids”.  In the wake of Akira, the more action/adult side of the genre was embraced and a whole new breed of entertainment was unleashed upon the world.  Ninja Scroll is one of the greatest offspring of that era and, in my honest opinion, also one of the greatest Anime ever made PERIOD.  This is a movie from the glory days of ultra violent Anime and it is a helluva lot of fun to watch.

FIF#126-Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls

Ten years have passed since the war between the Koga and Iga clans ended.  An uneasy truce has been reached but tensions between the two eternal rivals remain as high as ever.  As both clans look to two new heirs and their budding romance as a way to end the hostilities forever, a new challenge and a new darkness threaten to begin the battle anew.  A new generation of Ninja take center stage, each armed with their own mysterious powers and talents, and the deathmatch once thought concluded 10 years ago, stands poised to tear both sides apart for good.

How do you do a sequel to Romeo and Juliet?  I mean…theoretically you could look at what became of their two families in the wake of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic demise.  Otherwise, it’s a timeless tale that is best left alone, a flawless masterpiece.  So, ahem, why the heck would you even try to do that with Basilisk?  I knew of The Ouka Ninja Scrolls sequel as I was doing my recent watch through and was wondering how a follow up could be done.  The answer from the first episode is…it’s not a good idea.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

It has been ten years since the destruction of Racoon City.  The T-Virus has ravaged the Earth and Humanity is down to its last days.  As the end looms, a single hope emerges: an airborne Anti-Virus that could cure the entire infection.  The catch: it’s buried within The Hive, back where the nightmare began beneath Racoon City.  Once again, the fate of mankind lies in the hands of Alice, the former Umbrella Agent who has been fighting a neverending war against her former employers and the Undead.  Welcome to the Final Chapter of the End of the World.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is a film that, for all intents and purposes, goes all in on it’s far from Video Game roots premise as possible.  It is a film that tries to go out with the loudest bang with the biggest set pieces and a few last minute revelations to shake things up.  It’s also the most chaotically edited, boring entry of the franchise.  Even if one were to give the first five films the status of “guilty pleasure,” when the same cant be said of the big finish, something has been done very wrong…more so than what’s already been done wrong with this mess of a film franchise already.

Resident Evil: Retribution

Following a surprise attack, Alice, former agent of the Umbrella Corporation, finds herself captured in a facility where illusion is the greatest weapon and history is being predicted.  Tasked with an impossible mission, Alice teams up with a host of new allies but finds herself face to face with familiar friends, resurrected by Umbrella with the sole purpose of ending her existence.  As the war against Umbrella reaches a fever pitch, Alice must find new resolve to finish the fight that began so long ago.

I cant believe it.  They’ve actually gotten worse since Resident Evil: Extinction.  That third film was, and probably is, the last film to have any high marks for this terrible movie franchise.  As if it wasn’t possible at all, Resident Evil: Retribution turns out to be even worse than Resident Evil: Afterlife.  Not only is it more removed from the Resident Evil name, it feels insulting to slap it on this wreck…but it is beyond dull and that’s talking about a movie chalk full of cute girls shooting up Zombies and other bioweapons.

T5W#272-Top 5 Katsucon 2020 Cosplays (Part 2)

During any normal year, I attend anywhere from 2-4 conventions.  There’s always Otakon and Katsucon and a couple of smaller cons too if I can squeeze them in.  Usually, I try to save all the cosplay themed Top 5 lists for October because it’s the universal month for costumes and what not.  However, this is not a normal year by any means.  So four straight weeks of cosplay themed Top 5s is kind of impossible…well maybe not, I just wasn’t thinking much about it considering what kind of a year its been.  Still, there’s no reason I cant do another look at the only con I got to go to this year, Katsucon (that’s a lie, I went Animore too).  Considering I see hundreds of cosplays everytime I go to Katsu, I could do like a Top 20 if I wanted.  Anyway, rambling, how about we check out some more Katsucon Cosplays.  These are my Top 5 Katsucon 2020 Cosplays (Part 2).  Oh and if you’re interested in Part 1 from a few months back, feel free to take a look at it right here: http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2020/04/t5w242-top-5-katsucon-2020-cosplays.html

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Former Umbrella agent Alice continues her search for life in a world gone to Hell.  The discovery of a mysterious signal leads her to the ruins of Los Angeles, where a small band of survivors hopes salvation lies at the signals source.  To get there, Alice must navigate a prison of terror, as newer and deadlier menaces produced by the T-Virus emerge.  At the end of this journey lies an old enemy, hellbent of capturing Alice for their own ends.  The time has finally come to take the fight to the enemy that started this nightmare: the Umbrella Corporation.

Four films into an eventual six film series, Resident Evil the Movies have strayed so far from their source material that theyre simply borrowing random elements from the games just for the sake of keeping things looking cool.  That can only get you so far and it hasn’t gotten this movie franchise far at all.  And then they went to the literal apocalypse and it feels like Resident Evil has been trying to justify its existence when really, this should have been named something original altogether.  If it feels like I’m rambling, that’s because it’s really hard to open this review with anything positive about Resident Evil: Afterlife.  I mean, if you though Apocalypse botched promise, Afterlife might actually be worse for a whole slew of reasons…and for once Alice might be the least of those reasons, though she continues to be pretty high on the list.