T5W#307-Top 5 Gundam TV Series of the 1990s

With Darling in the Franxx wrapping up on Friday, we’re closing in on our annual Extended Summer Series Review.  It might feel a bit unnecessary to call it that now since ive reviewed much longer Anime in the last year and a half and most of those have been Gundam shows.  Still, tradition is tradition and as such, we’re in a year where it’s another Gundam series’ turn in the event.  Mobile Suit Victory Gundam was the last of the old school era of Gundam I’ve yet to watch, the batch I’d heard about from the 90’s after I got into Gundam through Gundam Wing.  The 90’s proved to be a pretty big and mostly successful decade for the Gundam franchise as it expanded into new Movies, OVAs and TV Shows that were either sequels or spin offs in a new direction.  I guess you could call todays Top 5 Wednesday kind of a filler week but still it’s a topic I’ve thought about addressing for a bit.  So today we’re taking a look at the Top 5 Gundam TV Series of the 1990s.  TO be clear, I’m ranking the 5 major TV Shows that aired from 1993-2000, which means Gundam F91, Gundam 0083, Gundam 08^th MS Team, and Gundam Wing Endless Waltz wont be on here save for a mention or two. 

Darling in the Franxx Part 5 Episodes 17-20

A month of peaceful tranquility for Hiro, Zero Two and Squad 13 is shattered when the Nines arrive to retrieve them by force.  APE’s final endgame against the Klaxosaurs approaches and the sins of the past come back to torment Doctor Franxx and the children he’s experimented on for years.  The greatest revelations await Hiro and Zero Two as they descend into the Gran Crevasse to confront Humanity’s final enemy.  But in the deepest depths of the Earth, they’ll learn the Klaxosaurs are not their greatest threat…but something far worse and far closer to home.  The final battle has begun.

So, let me get this straight: After 20 episodes of ZERO context; a ton of incomprehensible clues; an entire continent filled with mysteries about romance and emotions; AND spending a bunch of time with the most dysfunctional crew of young mecha pilots I will NEVER get back…the final endgame of Darling in the Franxx is a showdown between Prehistoric monsters living under the Earth…and Aliens…have I got that right?

Darling in the Franxx Part 4 Episodes 13-16

Many years ago, a young Parasite, Code 016, met a red girl with horns and teeth, codenamed 002.  Now, memories of that first encounter, long sealed away within Hiro and Zero Two, have been unearthed and the revelations will rock all of Squad 13 to the core.  With Humanity on the verge of its most important battle against the Klaxosaurs, tensions are high and Ichigo makes a bold decision that could tear apart not only Hiro and Zero Two, but Squad 13 as a whole.  What dangerous treasure lies sealed away within the Gran Crevasse, guarded by a neverending legion of Klaxosaurs?  If Hiro and Zero Two can mend their fractured friendship, Humanity might have a future to look forward to.

I’ll be damned.  Against all odds, I actually found more than a little bit to like about this set of episodes.  It doesn’t redeem Darling in the Franxx as a whole.  This series is still tremendously bad and all of the problems I have with the show were ever present and more annoying as always.  And yet, Franxx showed small but impressive glimpses of what it could be if it was better focused and better…well everything in general really.

T5W#306-Top 5 Godzilla Rivals (Written by JMT117)

All Hail the King (and cue the drum beat from Ali “THE CHAMP IS HERE”).  Godzilla is back.  Fresh off his successful face off with King Kong earlier this year, the Big G returns to the world of Anime with Godzilla: Singular Point this Friday.  While you can expect a First Impression later this summer (and hopefully it’s better than the atrocious Anime Film trilogy a couple of years back), I wanted to do another Godzilla Top 5 to celebrate…but about what?  Since 1954, Godzilla has reigned at the top of the Giant Monster genre, wrecking havoc and saving the world depending on the writer, director and continuity.  But a King only gets but so far on his own.  Godzilla has a rogue gallery as large as Superman and Batman and just as memorable.  But there’s one other little problem.  While my knowledge of Godzilla lore has increased a lot in the last few years, I have one person to thank for that and I’ve once again asked for that guys help in writing a Top 5.  So yeah, it’s been a while but I’d like to welcome back my good friend JMT117 to the Gundam Anime Corner.  He’ll be taking the reigns on todays Top 5 Wednesday, the Top 5 Godzilla Rivals.  Take it away brother.

(Special Bonus Intro from JMT117)

Gojira, better known to us as Godzilla, is the undisputed King of Monsters. Ever since he first graced our screens in 1954, Godzilla’s title as ‘King’ has been challenged by numerous foes, big and small. Among the many kaiju the Big-G has faced are mutated or lost dinosaurs, alien monsters, and creations of man, both mechanical and biological. Some of these foes didn’t offer a challenge to Godzilla, but a few stood out among the many. While not all of these foes have bested Godzilla in a fight, they’ve stood out in other ways and earned a place as some of Godzilla’s top foes.

Darling in the Franxx Part 3 Episodes 9-12

Squad 13 continues to excel, delivering victory after victory for their Plantation and the powers that be against the Klaxosaurs.  To the public, theyre superstars.  In private, adolescence is kicking in for Hiro and his friends and it’s starting to cause problems.  As emotions and feelings begin to spring up within each Franxx pairing, the inability to handle them might cost the team more than just their lives.  And when Zero Two finds herself reunited with her old team, memories of the past begin flooding back to Hiro…who doesn’t realize he might’ve already met the red horned temptress a very, very long time ago.

You know, when it comes to Neon Genesis Evangelion, everyone will agree it isn’t a straightforward or simple Anime.  It’s a complex, deep, insightful and challenging series about life, death, love, sacrifice, obsession and a host of other topics.  There are dozens of pieces to a very intricate puzzle throughout it’s 26 episode and 2 movie run and everyone can come up with their own interpretation of what it all means.  Everyones own unique take on the story is what’s made Neon Genesis Evangelion one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, mecha Anime of all time.  Darling in the Franxx…is not that show and it’s trying very, very, VERY hard to be when nearly none of the gratification Evangelion had received has been earned.

Darling in the Franxx Part 2 Episodes 5-8

In a world on the brink of collapse, pilot Hiro has finally attained his dream of becoming the pilot of a Franxx.  Alongside the beautiful and mysterious, Zero Two, Hiro quickly becomes the star of his very jealous squad.  When the need for fuel becomes dire, two Plantations join forces and two Franxx teams are deployed to engage the Klaxosaurs that stand in their way.  But Hiro isn’t in the best shape and suddenly, the rumors of Zero Two’s overwhelming abilities being capable of killing her partners start to feel very, very true.  Is this the end of this “unique” partnership before it even begins?

So we’re two part into Darling in the Franxx and I still don’t know what to make of this show.  Trying to figure that out becomes all the more difficult when the show decides to drop its super serious and at times depressing demeanor in order to lighten the mood…when this show has plenty to make fun of as is without it.  It’s like when the shows trying not to be funny, it’s hilarious.  But when it makes an actual attempt at comedy…it fails.  I don’t know, maybe it’s because I already had some shades of this with Vandread earlier this year and I wasn’t in the mood for another round.  Although, to give Vandread some credit: I cared far more about the crew of the Nirvana than I do anyone in Squad 13 other than Zero Two and occasionally Hiro…and even then, that’s because of Zero Two herself. 

T5W#305-Top 5 Anime Coming to Netflix Summer 2021

So yeah, it looks like its going to be a ridiculously good summer for one of the longest serving streaming services out there.  The other day I took a look at what’s coming to Netflix of the Anime variety this summer and, in terms of original material, it’s the strongest its been in a long time.  Some of these titles are still relatively fresh in release in Japan.  I can even see myself looking at one or even all of these shows or movies here on the blog and you can definitely expect them to be added to the list of brand new First Impression Fridays when they return in August.  So let’s go over stuff shall we?  These are the Top 5 Anime Coming to Netflix Summer 2021.  Side note: I’m not including Sailor Moon Eternal on here cause it’s already arrived.  Everything here is due out from this week going forward.

Darling in the Franxx Part 1 Episodes 1-4

In the distant future, the Earth has been ravaged by titanic monsters known as Klaxosaurs.  Humanity’s remnants have retreated into mobile fortresses called Plantations, in order to survive.  Within these cities, the next generation of defenders is bred and trained to face the Klaxosaurs in mecha known as Franxx.  The latest class of recruits is ready to graduate to pilot status.  All except for Hiro, who feels he’s lost his way following a disastrous accident.  But when a beautiful girl with horns falls into his life, Hiro finds his second chance at meaning.  Now he’ll get the chance to pilot a Franxx and prove his existence…if the wild child named Zero Two doesn’t get him killed first.

The Anime Genre has been home to some of the greatest Giant Robot sagas of all time: Mobile Suit Gundam, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, just to name some of the big ones from each decade between the 1970’s and 2000’s.  The 2010’s kind of lacked a game changing title such as these.  But in 2018 we got what has got to be one of the most bizarre Giant Robot tales of all time…and that’s both in a good but mostly jaw droppingly “HUH?” kind of way.  The time has come to take a look at this polarizing hit from that year.  From the studio whose forerunners brought us Gurren Lagaan comes Studio Tigger’s Darling in the Franxx.

Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 6 Episodes 22-25

The last vestiges of magic are almost gone.  Two countries are on the brink of war.  And the only person who could solve both problems, Akko Kagari, has just discovered the one person she’s always wanted to meet has been by her side the whole time and hasn’t said a word.  Devastated to learn the shocking truth behind Chariot and her magical origins, Akko begins to lose hope.  However, destiny cannot wait and it’ll be up to her closest friends to light Akko’s spark.  The end of the year has come and it’s time for Akko to put all she’s learned to the ultimate test.  It’s time to save Magic…and the World.

The original Little Witch Academia movie still holds up as one of the best 25 minutes of Anime I have ever seen in my life.  The emotional resonance, the animation, the sense of fun, excitement and imagination, it all comes together to form a rarely perfect Anime package.  I cant say that The Series completely replicated its success as it got a little lost in the middle.  But man did it pull off the ultimate magic trick in the end: recapturing that hopefully enthusiasm of the original film and giving us one of the most uplifting finales of the decade, proving that Little Witch Academia has always worked when it comes to being a feel good show.

T5W#304-Top 5 Same Sex Couples in Anime

June is Pride Month, the time when we celebrate all orientations and sexual preferences: gay, straight, lesbian, transgender etc.  To me, love is love no matter who you choose to spend it with.  If you feel it and its with that someone, and the feelings are mutual, don’t deny it, let it run and enjoy the ride.  Anime has never been one to shy away from putting two characters of the same sex into a room or adventure together and letting their feelings blossom naturally (in most cases, im sure there are a couple of duds).  Some of these couples have become some of the most iconic in the history of the medium.  So to celebrate the month of representation and acceptance, today’s Top 5 Wednesday looks at my choices for the Top 5 Same Sex Couples in Anime.  Remember: Love is love and be with who you want to be with. 

Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 5 Episodes 18-21

Since their first days at Luna Nova, Akko Kagari and Diana Cavandish have constantly butted heads…until now.  When Diana announces she is leaving Luna Nova and going home, it’s a shock that Akko cannot accept.  Following her, Akko discovers there’s more to Diana’s homecoming than she ever imagined.  Will these two rivals and occasional frenemies be able to put their differences aside to save the legacy of the Cavandish name?  Meanwhile, Chariot and Croix continue their secret war for the Grand Triskelion with the fate of Akko and the rest of the magical realm hanging in the balance.

Little Witch Academia has taken such a sharp turn into a more serious storyline that I feel like it’s like watching a whole other show.  Gone are the days when it was all about wacky and out of control adventures and now there are stakes and lives are on the line.  I’m not saying I don’t like this show, I really love it…it’s just I think I like the first half better than this second half.

Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 4 Episodes 14-17

A new Professor has come to Luna Nova.  Her name is Croix Meridies and claims to be bringing “The future of magic” with her.  With the power of magic continuing to fade, this new kind of technomagic takes Luna Nova by storm.  Even Akko finds herself drawn to Croix after learning she and Chariot were once classmates at Luna Nova.  But as Akko embarks on a new round of quests to unlock the power of the Shiny Rod with Lotte and Sucy, Croix’s true intentions slowly begin to make themselves known and only Ursula, secretly Akko’s beloved idol Shiny Chariot, might know what her endgame might be.

Well that was a shift in gears now wasn’t it?  Little Witch Academia returned to start the second half of its run with a decidedly more serious and definitely darker turn as a new character arrived on the scene, bringing with her the first real feeling of menace I didn’t think this should would attempt.  Then again, this is Trigger after all.  You couldn’t expect them to not give the heroine some big bad they’ll have to take on before the end of the show. 

T5W#303-Top 5 Things To Know Going into Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning

Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, the fifth film in the Live Action RuroKen Franchise, drops this Friday in Japanese Cinemas, after being delayed nearly a year due to the Pandemic.  This comes a couple short months after the release of the first part of this two part finale, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final.  While film chronologically concludes Kenshin’s saga, there’s still one more story to tell and it’ll take us back to…well to the beginning as the title implies.  Mind you, I don’t live in Japan so I haven’t seen The Final and don’t know how much set up they do to lead into The Beginning.  However, I am very familiar with the arc that movie will be covering.  So, just like I did for Rurouni Kenshin: The Final back in March (scope out that Top 5 right here: http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/t5w292-top-5-things-to-know-going-into.html), I shall do for the next (and possibly truly final) chapter.  These are the Top 5 Things To Know Going into Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning.