It’s kind of funny how I started Year 8 of the Gundam Anime Corner with the first alternate universe Gundam series, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and now we’re going back to the end of the era before it (well in a sorts). Welcome to our Extended Summer Series (which given how ive reviewed G Gundam and Macross is this even a thing anymore? Oh well): Mobile Suit Victory Gundam. As I said, this was the end of an era for the Gundam franchise: the last full length TV Series to be set in the Universal Century. After the theatrical failure of Mobile Suit Gundam F91, director Yoshiyuki Tomino decided to start fresh with a brand new series set even further in the future of the UC than F91. Does a clear board with little ties to the lore before it grant Victory Gundam a good running start?
The answer is…eh, kind of, sort of? This might be one of the most uneven premieres for any Gundam series I have ever looked at. Usually that means its destined to be kind of bad like Gundam AGE or Gundam Seed Destiny. But I’m not going to that level of terror just yet. Victory Gundam’s premiere is uneven for a few reasons. There’s the very first episode itself, which kicks off in the middle of an already ongoing story. From what I’ve learned, this was originally meant to be the 4th episode but Tomino was forced to make it the 1st because, well the Victory Gundam itself doesn’t appear in full until close to the end of the 4th episode. I would find problems with that, as you normally see the titular Gundam or at least a Gundam in the beginning of a series. Victory has much more going for it in its favor though. So yeah, seems foolish to throw us into the fray without any context (even if there are still some blanks to be filled even as we flashback to the beginning).
I will say this this is easily one of the darkest premieres in all of Gundam. We don’t know the full motivations of the Zanscare Empire just yet. It’s likely this is just a swift power grab since the Earth Federation isn’t as active as it was (and by this point in the UC timeline it was probably on its last legs). But they’re making their penchant for devastation known. The destruction of the city of Woowig is one of the most violent and chaotic battles ive ever seen in the franchise. Civilians and freedom fighters are all caught in the crossfire with Zanscare Mobile Suits and the carnage is just horrifying to see. You feel for Uso watching it all unfold from the cockpit of the suit he stole before the battle began. It’s something no one should have to see in their lifetime, let alone a kid. Unlike Zeon, right now, it doesn’t seem like Zanscare has any pilots or commanders who are kind enough to limit casualties to just the opposition. If you’re out there on the battlefield, you will be shot down. It’s pretty heartless and very fitting of Gundams “War is Hell” motif.
Let’s talk about the cast. Like any Gundam series, it’s big right off the bat with over a dozen faces and names to commit to memory. I’ll cover the important ones, starting with Uso, who is the youngest protagonist in the Universal Century timeline so far, 13 years old as opposed to 15-16 years for Amuro Ray, Kamille Bidan or Judau Ashita. Being so young, Uso is clearly being torn up inside by all the battle he's had to endure and I’m glad the there are characters taking note of this. As a main lead, Uso has potential. He’s got the skills of a pilot thanks to some old tech his parents kept around. He’s not taking the job of piloting lightly…mostly. There were a couple of questionable moments: one was in the first episode when he seemed to cheer that he came back alive in the Gundam after defeating his Zanscare enemies. The other is when he first meets the Char Clone of the series, Cronicle Asher, engaging in a very Looney Tunes style theft of his Mobile Suit that feels more in line with the beginning of Gundam ZZ (and trust me we’ll be getting to why that’s not a good thing when we get to ZZ this Christmas). Uso’s arc as a Gundam Pilot does get darker and thus more interesting. His very first appearance though doesn’t gel with the rest of the feel of this series.
Supporting cast includes: Shakti, Uso’s childhood friend who has a dog, Flanders, and finds herself taking care of a lost baby named Karl; Marbet, one of the League Militaire’s best pilots who becomes Uso’s mentor after she’s injured and unable to pilot the Gundam; Katejina, a rich girl from Woowig who Uso has a crush on; and the aforementioned Cronicle, who is our Mask Sporting Char Type of Victory Gundam. There are others but these four will likely have the biggest impact on Uso and the story. Shakti, Marbet and Katejina all care about the young Gundam pilot in their own way. Shakti and Katejina both want Uso to not pilot, Katejina’s a bit more cynical about it though (Let the grown ups kill each other). Marbet doesn’t want Uso to pilot but knows options are limited. Somehow I doubt Marbet will just take over as the Victory Gundams pilot once she’s able to move again. As for Cronicle, it is kind of embarrassing of him to lose his Mobile Suit to a kid. He does seem a bit more honorable than most Zanscare folk and even saves Shakti during an attack of the League Militaire base he’s infiltrated. How he stacks up against other Char types remains to be seen.
I do wanna touch on the Mobile Suits which are a bit on the lackluster side. The designs defintiley stand out for the Zanscare suits. We’re long away from the days of Zeon Zakus and the Mobile Suits of the Crossbone Vanguard. Still, flying by propellers that act as arm shields? Feels like something out of Transformers more than Gundam. Speaking of Transformers, is every Mobile Suit meant to be broken down into multiple pieces? It is a staple for a Gundam, yes. The Victory Gundams assembly does take inspiration from the Gundam ZZ and surely inspired the Impulse Gundam in Gundam Seed Destiny. The Zanscare’s though? Do their bottom halves just float around until their summoned to unite? They don’t even have a second pilot like the ZZ’s multiple sections (granted they had Core Fighters attached as they could function as a separate support squadron…all this talk about ZZ makes me think I should have just reviewed all of these shows and movies in chronological order…getting off topic). Plus, the whole propellers thing, yeah that comes from the Zanscare upper halves being able to change into attack helicopters. I don’t know why but that’s just weird to me. The Victory Gundam itself doesn’t look as impressive as other starter Gundam Mobile Suits. It’s kind of meh to be honest, as on par as the AGE-1 from Gundam AGE or the GP01 from Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. Hopefully it gets some new additions ASAP to really stand out.
Think that covers everything…oh and for whatever reason besides he’s the Sunrise and Gundam Mascot, HARO’S HERE and it’s always good to see him bouncing around. Mobile Suit Victory Gundam had a more shaky start than most Gundam entries but it was steadily getting better after the story was allowed to be told properly. Now if only we could get some more insight to the motivations of the Zanscare Empire and just what the League Militaire plans to do about their conquest of the Earth. The next battle has begun. See you back here Friday for more Mobile Suit Victory Gundam right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.
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