T5W#301-Top 5 Gundam AND Macross Pilots Most Qualified for Top Gun

This year marks the 35^th Anniversary of one of my all time favorite movies: Top Gun.  Ok is it Casablanca or The Godfather?  No but Top Gun is an extremely fun action classic from the 1980s filled with well shot action, memorable characters, arguably one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and its easily one of the most quotable films of all time too.  What’s kind of surprising is that, originally I wanted to do a Top 5 dedicated to Anime inspired by Top Gun…but there aren’t that many, at least that I’ve seen.  And the two closest results you get are either Macross Plus (long advertised as the “Top Gun” of Anime) and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.  Still I wanted to carry on with a Top Gun dedicated Top 5 and flipped a coin between the two titles.  Both Gundam and Macross have a plethora of pilots who would fit perfectly into the school dedicated to training the best of the best when it comes to fighter pilots.  Now that I think about it, how about we do some cross pollinating eh?  Today’s Top 5 Wednesday is about the boys (and girls) who showcase the greatest need for speed.  These are the Top 5 Gundam AND Macross Pilots Most Qualified for Top Gun.

#5-Anavel Gato (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)

No way I could a Top Gun Top 5 and not pick a character from Gundam 0083.  However, I’m not going to select the extremely weak and downright lucky Kou Uraki.  No, I choose his “SEMPAI!!!!” Anavel Gato.  I’d gladly watch a prequel about his exploits during the One Year War rather than any continuing story with the eternal Gundam Whinner that is Kou.  Gato is more than just a kick ass pilot, he’s actually a competent and compassionate leader.  Were he a teacher at Top Gun, I’m sure Gato could teach classes in leadership and squadron based tactics.  Would this make him the Viper or Jester of this dream school?

 

#4-Roux Louka (Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ)

Piloting giant robots has never just been a boys game.  With the forthcoming Top Gun sequel showing there are female pilots in the mix, only best to shine the spotlight on one of the few ladies lucky enough to sit in the pilots seat of a Gundam.  I’ve talked plenty about my eternal fav Chris Mackenzie from Gundam 0080, so Roux Louka gets the spot this time.  Roux is a natural behind the controls of the Zeta, able to make it dance just as well as Kamille Bidan.  I’ll admit, I also like her brand of seductive confidence that can get her out of scrapes too.  Combine all of that and Roux is a femme fatale Top Gun would never expect to succeed…but she could.

 

#3-Roy Focker (Super Dimension Fortress Macross)

Roy Focker is, imply put, too cool for school.  If he were a character in Top Gun, he’d probably be Maverick…or Iceman really, he could go either way, could be a fusion.  Roy is one of the best of the best and he knows it AND he can back that up in spades.  In the skies, Roy is virtually untouchable.  Outside of the cockpit, Roy is very much the big brother mentor to his squadron and his little brother Hikaru Ichigo.  Like Gato, Roy is a natural born leader filled with charisma and talent that few in Macross can match…save maybe for one person.

 

#2-Maximilien Jenius (Super Dimension Fortress Macross)

Max is arguably the best pilot in all of Macross period, across the entire franchise.  Many would underestimate him because he’s a blue haired bespectacled pretty boy.  But Max is a Genius for a reason.  He flies on more than just instinct.  The way that he can map out a situation is almost super human.  Max might as well be a living super computer in a Valkyrie, able to pull off maneuvers few can only dream of.  If anyones got a strong shot of getting a Top Gun trophy, it would be Max.  There’s a reason this guys been fan favorite of Macross since the minute he showed up. 

 

#1-Duo Maxwell (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)

Part of the reason I love Gundam Wing as much as I do has to do with this loveable joker.  Duo’s standing amongst the five main Gundam pilots of the show (Heero, Duo, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei), can be debated but I think he deserves a shot at Top Gun more than anyone.  Duo’s the most likeable guy you’ll ever meet and the right person you’d want having your back in any situation.  Then there’s his skill in the Gundam Deathsythe which is lethal to say the least.  Duo can switch between loveable life of the party to pure danger in no time flat.  That’s right ladies…and gents…he is dangerous (wow I went this whole Top 5 and only made 2 Top Gun reference quotes).