Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 10 Episodes 46-50

The Coup d’etat has failed and now Tekkadan and McGillis have been forced back to Mars with a price on their heads.  For years, Orga has worked hard and sacrificed much to deliver on a promise he made to Mikazuki.  With the full might of Gjallarhorn bearing down upon them, it seems like this is the end of the road for Mika, Orga and what’s left of their rag tag soldiers of fortune.  But Tekkadan hasn’t built their legend on being weak.  If this is to be their end…they aren’t going to make it easy and no mattern what, they’ll make sure it costs Gjallarhorn dearly.

As I headed into the final five episodes of Iron Blooded Orphans, I prepared myself for the worst.  All the odds had been stacked against Tekkadan and the many mistakes Orga and McGillis had made along the way were finally coming back to bite everyone in the ass.  From a certain point of view, I was fully expecting an End of Evangelion level slaughter of the main cast at the hands of Gjallarhorn and fully expected the antagonists to triumph (not using Villains and I’ll explain why later).  Well, I was only a little right.  The losses Tekkadan suffered in the final battle were big, even if it did end up being a few members in the end.  But it wasn’t the ending I expected.  Inspite of the hardships and loss, Tekkadan still achived their main goal.  So yeah, not quite the total downer ending that Zeta Gundam was.  Let’s start wrapping this one up.
 

T5W#359-Top 5 Gundam Characters I Absolutely Hate (Part 4)

As we close in on the end of Gundam Month Mark VI-The Undiscovered Country, I’ve finally reached a point more than 20 years in the making: covering a massive bulk of the entire Gundam franchise (9 of which I’ve spent looking at on this blog).  Having bounced back and forth between several different timelines, I’ve seen legends rise and fall, characters who have defined the Gundam franchise for me, true heroes and even some stand out villains.  However, I predicted last Christmas I’d reach a point where I would type up another Top 5 Gundam Characters I Absolutely Hate list…and now that Iron Blooded Orphans is almost in the bag, we’ve reached that point.  Behold, another five Gundam characters who made my viewing experiences (even the good ones) a pain in the ass.  Oh and if you’ve missed out on any of the other lists in this little recurring T5W series, you can check them out below before you check out the Top 5 Gundam Characters I Absolutely Hate (Part 4).

 
T5W#46-Top 5 Gundam Characters I Absolutely Hate
http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/t5w46-top-5-gundam-characters-i.html
 
T5W#295-Top 5 Gundam Characters I Absolutely Hate (Part 2)
http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/t5w295-top-5-gundam-characters-i.html
 
T5W#332-Top 5 Gundam Characters I Absolutely Hate (Part 3)
http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2021/12/t5w332-top-5-gundam-characters-i.html

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 9 Episodes 41-45

The time of revolution is at hand.  As Tekkadan seeks revenge against the man who crushed Naze and the Turbines, McGillis finally enacts his Coup d’etat on Earth against Gjallarhorn and the Seven Stars.  With all ties to Teiwaz cut, Orga goes all in to assist McGillis, who seems so assured of his victory.  However, that’s when an old friend returns to challenge McGillis’ claim and reveal his crimes to the world.  The tide is changing and with it comes a storm even Orga, Mikazuki and Tekkadan cant stand against.  Is this the beginning of the end?

 
So…yeah…Tekkadan’s in trouble, like big trouble…like come the finale we’re looking at a Zeta or Victory Gundam level body count for the central cast.  Everything I kind of predicted for this pivotal set came to pass.  While I’m glad the boys did get revenge for Naze, Amida and Lafter, they’re still in way too deep thanks to Orga blindly thinking McGillis could make good on any of his lofty promises.  Actually, if it weren’t for the fact that we have five episodes left to go, the end of this set couldve been the end of the series.  Makes me wonder if an even crueler fate awaits Orga, Mika and the others once they get their asses back to Mars.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 8 Episodes 36-40

A dangerous relic from the Calamity War has been unearthed: The Mobile Armor Hashmal.  Too late, it’s revealed why this dangerous weapon should have been left deactivated and now Mars will feel its wrath.  In the wake of this disaster, Tekkadan finds itself on even shakier ground with Teiwaz, and Jasley Donomikols finally uses the instability to make his move to eliminate Tekkadan and the Turbins all at once.  With Naze forced to make a critical decision regarding his beloved group, will Orga be forced to watch his “brother” die to ensure Tekkadans future is still a possibility?

 
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans is a show that isn’t holding back when it comes to Gundam’s core message, “War is Hell.”  Whether its against a mammoth and cool looking Mobile Armor or against the unrelenting might of Gjallarhorn’s twisted subordinates, the good guys took some major loses in this set.  One of these loses was so impactful that I did something I haven’t done with a Gundam story in a long, long time…I cried.  Yeah, I joined the Turbines and Tekkadan in shedding some tears for some good friends.  For a show that I think has been a little unfocused at times, or took its time figuring out what it wanted to aim for as a story goal, that’s amazing.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 7 Episodes 31-35

An act of terrorism leads to war between two of Earth’s factions: Arbrau and the Strategic Alliance Union (SAU).  With Chad and Makinai both in intensive care, Takaki is left in charge of Tekkadan’s Earth branch and must lead his young recruits team into battle on Arbrau’s behalf.  Little do they know, Takaki and his men are merely puppets being guided by unseen forces that seek to undo all the work Tekkadan and McGillis Fareed have accomplished up to this point.  And while he rushes to save his friends on Earth, Orga learns that there are even those within Teiwaz itself whose jealousy could mean the end of Tekkadan’s status as a prominent force on Mars.

While this set of episodes felt like a step from the last, I have to say, I’m a little worried about Iron Blooded Orphans.  By the end of this set, the endgame might very well be mapped out for both Tekkadan and McGillis main goals, where they both wish to be when all is said and done.  And yet, for all the good character works that’s done with the supporting cast, I cant help but feel Orga and McGillis are being blinded by foolish ambitions.  This goes double for Orga because if he’s gung ho about McGillis’ offer, Mika and the others are going to follow him without question, not knowing what kind of a hell storm they’ve just walked into.  I wonder if this could have been avoided if Biscuit was still around. 
 

FIF#164-Shenmue: The Animation

Martial Arts prodigy Ryo Hazuki has a promising future in sight.  But everything comes to a halt when Ryo witness the murder of his father at the hands of a powerful crime boss with ties to the Chinese Mafia.  With revenge set in his heart, Ryo begins a journey that will take him across two continents and into the dark underbelly of the criminal underworld.  Along the way, Ryo will continue to hone his skills and increase his strength, all the while finding answers as to why his father was killed…and what secrets he might’ve been keeping.

 
When it comes to Anime based on Video Games, Shenmue is a curious title to select.  The original game was released on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999 but received poor sales despite critical praise.  The same fate would fall upon it’s sequel two years later, this time on the original Xbox.  We eventually got a Shenmue III after almost two decades of waiting and yet even that didn’t provide a satisfactory conclusion to the main story, instead leaving things on another unresolved cliffhanger.  Whether or not Shenmue’s video game saga will ever be resolved is a debatable question.  The same can be said of it’s Anime adaptation…or rather, why are we getting a Shenume Anime so long after the games prime back in the late 90s/early 2000s?  Do we need it and is its first episode at least any good.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 6 Episodes 26-30

It’s a brand new world but the fight for a better tomorrow rages on.  In the wake of the Battle of Edmonton, Tekkadan has established itself as a force to be reckoned with.  But the revolution they and Kudelia enacted has come at a cost.  With Gjallarhorn weakened by McGillis’ secret plans, chaos rains across the stars.  A powerful Pirate Fleet, the Dawn Horizon Corps, has risen to the challenge of filling this power vacuum and even has Tekkadan and Kudelia in their sights.  To meet this threat head on, Orga enters a deal with McGillis for a joint operation with Tekkadan leading the fight. 

While I’ve said that it’s (currently) the last of the more traditional length Gundam series (47-50 episodes), Iron Blood Orphans was aired in two separate 25 episode seasons, similar to Gundam 00.  That said, while 00’s First Season ended on a pretty intense cliffhanger, IBO’s First Season wrapped surprisingly neat, completing the story of Tekkadan’s journey from Mars to Earth to help Kudelia accomplish her mission of seeking independence for Mars.  Now, as we enter Season Two, we see that the status quo has changed a bit and some of it is a bit hard to follow, I’ll be honest.  Power has shifted and new players have entered the fray.  This latest set of IBO episodes is all about establishing the new world order but does that enhance or take away from IBO’s enjoyment?
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 5 Episodes 21-25

Tekkadan finally arrived on Earth but their job is far from finished.  With their destination set by Kudellia, the group readies itself to face the brunt of Gjallarhorn’s Earth based forces.  The battles that lie ahead will cost Tekkadan more than Orga ever dreamed but will he give in to the losses or use them as fuel for Tekkadan’s fire?  Meanwhile, Kudelia prepares to take centerstage to plea her case to Earth while McGillis enacts his own plans, putting those who trust him the most in inescapable danger.  Will Tekkadan be able to see its first big job to completion and, if so, how will it change the fates of both Earth and Mars?

 
While watching this mid series set, I was thinking about a unused quote from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, well one that was in the trailer but didn’t end up in the final film, “What will you do if they catch you?  What will you do if they break you?  If you continue to fight…what will you become?”  Mika, Orga, Kudelia, McGillis, the whole of Tekkadan, Gaelio, Ein.  This quote could be applied to just about everyone in Iron Blooded Orphans and it served as a good driving point for the end of the journey everyone has been on since Mars.  A new battle is sure to begin next time but for now, let’s focus on how this first half of Iron Blooded Orphans wrapped up in a pretty epic and bloody fashion.
 

T5W#358-Top 10 Gundam Fantasy Duels I’d Like to See

For over 43 years, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has given us some of the most iconic and talented pilots to ever sit in the cockpit of a Giant Robot.  Each new series either creates a whole new universal sandbox to play in or expands on a previous one with both heroes and villains getting to show off how bad ass they can be when given the power of a Gundam.  But there’s one thing that’s always been in my mind when it comes to Gundam, something I’m surprised I haven’t thought about for more than 350 Top 5 Lists…who would win in a fight?  Well for the next two weeks of Top 5 Wednesdays, I’m gonna answer my own question.  And considering I haven’t been keeping up with my “Gundam Exclusive” Month of T5W’s (one for a good reason), I’m making it up to you today with a special TOP 10 List.  That’s right, it’s my Top 10 Gundam Fantasy Duels I’d Like to See
 
Couple of ground rules before we get started.  First I’m trying to keep this to one pilot per series and I’m choosing their Gundams based on how well they’d be matched against one another, trying not to make one more OP than the other.  Other than that, show down gentlemen.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 4 Episodes 16-20

What was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration becomes tragedy when Dort 3 becomes the center of a bloody massacare by Gjallarhorn.  Caught in the middle, Mika, Orga, and the others try to stay alive and witness the atrocities of Gjallarhorn first hand.  Spurred on by what she’s seen and what she’s lost, Kudelia takes a stand and renews her faith in her mission to reach Earth with Tekkadan’s help.  Blasting their way out of Dort 3, Tekkadan takes a stand against Gjallarhorn, with the planet Earth just barely out of reach.

 
While Iron Blooded Orphans had my curiosity up until now, this is the set of episodes where it has my attention.  I’ve been making a bunch of connections between IBO and past Gundam entries and they’ve been helping me to understand just how this world works and where certain characters might be heading with their arcs.  Best of all, it’s exciting, it’s tragic, it’s hopeful and at times, Iron Blooded Orphans can just be a flat out fun series.  Any gripes I’ve had til now, which seem minimal in retrospect, definitely weren’t bothering me the more I got into this set.  Characters are moving beyond growth and into actual change.  The political landscape is poised for a shake up and the action is both exciting and ferocious.  In short, Iron Blooded Orphans was on freaking fire and I hope this will carry on into the midseries finale next time.  For now, onto where we left off.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 3 Episodes 11-15

Now allied with Teiwaz, Tekkadan continues its journey to Earth with added protection.  The deeper ahead they forge, the greater the trials become.  A band of vicious Space Pirates using Human Debris Children for their attack forces challenges the young men from Mars, among them Akihiro’s long lost brother.  After the dust settles and the dead are buried, it’s time for a visit to the Colonies…where Tekkadan finds itself in the middle of an uprising and Biscuit finds himself betrayed by a close friend.  Luck has gotten Tekkadan this far but can it get them past this dangerous battle…and eventually get them to Earth?

I’m starting to see why this kind of a Gundam series hasn’t been seen in so long.  A 50 episode series might have room to breathe but unless it gets rolling fast and moves fast, it’s not gonna make a lot of headway in the new day and age of Seasonal Anime.  And yeah, Iron Blooded Orphans was aired as two separate seasons but I still feel like it’s proceeding like every Gundam series before it when it comes to pacing.  I think IBO should be a lot further along than it is, heck I think Tekkadan should certainly be to Earthy by now.  But those thoughts and complaints are also balanced out by the good amount of character work and world building going on in this set of episodes.  Betrayals, funerals, and even a little romance but IBO was definitely not skimping on the chaos, the carnage or the death.  If Reconguista in G was Gundam playing it uncharactarisically safe, then IBO is the exact opposite, going back to the series roots and not treating war with kid gloves.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 2 Episodes 6-10

After a successful revolt, the former young fighters of CGS rebrand themselves Tekkadan and vow to deliver Kudelia safely to Earth to speak on the behalf of Mars.  Even with powerful fighters like Mikazui and the even more powerful Gundam Barbatos in their possession, Tekkadan is still woefully short on supplies and support.  Orga seeks assistance from the Teiwaz group but soon Tekkadan finds themselves locked in a battle to prove they deserve to act as their own independent force.  If they can broker a deal with Teiwaz, the journey to Earth can finally begin.

As I continue to delve into Iron Blooded Orphans, I can see that is has a lot of elements common in the franchise but premise wise, it’s a bit of a slow burn.  Rather than already being in the middle of an ongoing war, IBO feels closer to After War Gundam X with its proceedings.  Right now it’s focusing on its core cast and establishing their motivations and goals before the real fighting begins.  And to it’s credit, after the shaky, morally grey introduction given to Orga and Mika, I’m glad Part 2 stepped back and gave us a better, more sympathetic look at the guys we’re supposed to root for.  Part 2 showed me that they aren’t just thugs out for revenge against their former masters, there’s a lot more to Tekkadan than the first glance we got in the premiere.
 

FIF#163-Tokyo Revengers

Takemichi Hanagaki is crushed to learn that his Middle School girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, has been murdered by the Tokyo Manji Gang.  When it seems like his dead end life cant get any worse, Takemichi finds himself shot twelve years into the past.  Now back in Middle School, Takemichi makes a radical decision that changes the course of not just his life, but others as well.  Soon, Takemichi realizes the gift he has been given and decides, against all odds, to change the past to save Hinata and ensure he has a more promising future. 

 
Tokyo Revengers is a title I’ve heard thrown around for a while…in fact I thought it had come out well before 2021.  I didn’t even know what the story was about.  Sometimes, going into a title that way yields the best experience, like how it was for me with Your Name (didn’t know anything about it going in and came out having seen one of the greatest Anime films id ever seen in my life).  Did the same thing come out of my going in blind approach to the first episode of Tokyo Revengers?  Well…it might not be a priority title for me in the end but I’ve gotta give it props, I certainly didn’t expect what I saw.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans Part 1 Episodes 1-5

Post Disaster 323.  Over 300 years have passed since the Calamity War.  The planet of Mars has been settled but those living there seek independence from the Earth Government.  The beautiful Kudelia Aina Bernstein seeks to travel to Earth to speak on behalf of the Martian People, protected by the Private Security Company CGS.  However, the Earth Peacekeeping force Gjallarhorn seeks to crush the independence movement and attempts to kill Kudelia before she leaves.  When her protectors flee, the contingent of Child Soldiers they left behind step up, ready to liberate themselves from their oppressors.  A new legend begins as Orga Itsuka and MIkazuki Augus lead the charge…with Mika piloting a long dormant Mobile Suit into battle: The Gundam Barbatos.

As I was grumbling and fuming my way through Gundam: Reconguista in G, I always knew that, with luck, I’d be moving onto better things for the second half of Gundam Month Mark VI: The Undiscovered Country.  Dear Readers, I’m happy to report that we have indeed arrived at something better and a lot more challenging and far more bad ass…aka what Gundam should always be.  Welcome…to Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans.  I should point out right now, at least for this review, I’m gonna be making some callbacks to G Reco if only because after the Hell I went through with it, it feels only right to point out what IBO does so differently and correctly from the outset…I think I’ve earned that, hence why I’m kicking off this ten day review set on the same day G Reco is over and done with.
 

Gundam: Reconguista in G Part 5 Episodes 21-26

The Megafauna’s arrival at the Venus Globe triggers a plan decades in the making as a group of psychotic Towasangans prepare to enact Operation Reconguista: The operation to retake the Earth for all Spacenoids.  Chasing them back to Earth, Bellri and the others find the assembled armies of three nations ready for the war to end all wars.  Destiny calls upon Bellri and Aida to head into the fire to find a speedy solution and bring about the true golden age of Earth and Spacenoids.  The future of the Reguild Century begins here.

Well, it’s done and what more can I say that I haven’t said repeatedly already?  This was a really, really, really bad show from start to finish and even Tomino’s penchant for apocalyptic level finales wasn’t even on full display here.  The final act of Gundam: Reconguista in G continued the shows never ending string of poorly explained plot elements that went absolutely nowhere, battles filled with loud and obnoxious children with toys trying to kill each other for petty reasons, and a bunch of characters that I could really care a lot more than less about.  Eventually, the show kind of just…ended.  Yeah, even at the end, G Reco’s finale didn’t feel like a true ending but rather a “Ok we’ve done enough, let’s stop.”  I’d call that a mercy for a show that never worked.  But before I give the score I’ve hinted all along was coming, I should talk about the finale a little bit.
 

T5W#357-Top 5 Characters Voiced by Billy Kametz

I’m once again pausing my month of exclusive Gundam themed Top 5s once again but this time for an unhappy occasion.  Last week, beloved Voice Actor Billy Kametz passed away and it was a loss that rocked the Anime Community pretty hard.  While he had a criminally short career, Kametz brought to life dozens of amazing characters across dozens of Anime TV Series and Movies and his is a talent that can never be replaced.  I know a lot of friends who were deeply saddened by this loss, so I wanted to dig a bit deeper into his resume and see if I could spot the roles I knew him from.  Sure enough, there were more than a few, plenty for a Top 5.  So, today’s Top 5 Wednesday is dedicated to the memory of Billy Kametz, Rest in Peace good sir. These are my Top 5 Characters Voiced by Billy Kametz.

Gundam: Reconguista in G Part 4 Episodes 16-20

The Megafauna arrives at Towasanga, where a life changing revelation is waiting for Bellri and Aida.  But theyre not the only new arrivals.  Envoys from the Capital Army and Ameria are close behind, both looking to curry favor with Towasanga.  A new discovery points to the mysterious Hermes Foundation and Aida is determined to face them in person.  However, one critical problem emerges, an ultimatum from Towansanga: whoever brings them Bellri and the G-Self will gain their full support.  Soon an all out war is on with Bellri and the G-Self as the ultimate prize.

Throughout my life, especially in the last few years, I’ve come to appreciate the 1980’s classic hit “Land of Confusion” by Genesis the more I listen to it.  Not only is it a freaking awesome song but the lyrics feel pretty timeless.  When the world starts acting less than sane or some catastrophe happens, I turn to this particular part before the main lyrics, “There’s too many men, too many people making too many problems.  And not much love to go around, tell me why this is a land of confusion.”  This quote alone sums up everything about Reconguista in G.  Nothing makes sense and everything is just loud noise and a ton of posturing.  In short, it’s a land of confusion and we’re at the penultimate chapter of this cluster cuss of an Anime…it hasn’t gotten better since the beginning and it probably wont as we near the end. 
 

FIF#162-Captain Harlock: Arcadia of my Youth-Endless Orbit SSX

In a distant corner of the galaxy, the Illumidas rule over Human Colonies with an iron fist.  But one man has broken the bonds that held him and risen to become a legend.  That man is Captain Harlock.  Aboard his vessel, the Arcadia, Harlock and his comrades traverse the stars operating as Pirates, striking and plundering Illumidas held worlds across the cosmos, hoping to liberate Humanity from their grip.  It wont be an easy journey as the Illumidas are so desperate to stop Harlock that they’ll offer the greatest reward for his capture.  Driven by the promise of freedom, Harlock wont let any threat stand in his way.

 
Ah, Captain Harlock.  Even though he only pops through the Anime Corner every once in a while, I’m always excited to look at one of this adventures, for a review or a First Impression.  The guy is practically Anime royalty because of his look, his bad ass way of doing things, his ship, heck Harlock is a staple of an age of Anime long since gone and yet people are still wondering who he is and why he’s such a big deal.  Me, I’m just happy to give him some spotlighting when I can.  Which brings us to todays FIF, our look at the TV Series sequel to one of my favorite Harlock stories, Arcadia of my Youth.  So how does this new adventure begin and might I be continuing it down the line?
 

Gundam: Reconguista in G Part 3 Episodes 11-15

The Capital Army and Ameria head into space for long anticipated showdown.  As Klim leads Ameria forces to quietly seize Sankt Porto, the top of the Capital Tower and its most holy landmark, a new force enters the fray.  True to Ameria’s predictions, Towasanga has come to pass judgement upon the people of Earth who have used technology to nearly bring back the dark days of the Universal Century.  In the midst of negotiations, Bellri, Aida and the Megafauna head for Towasanga itself…where they hope to find some answer to this conflict and the origins of Raraiya and the G-Self.

 
Usually, when a Gundam series heads for space, it’s cause for excitement.  Space has always been my favorite setting in this series because watching Mobile Suits duke it out in an nearly unlimited scale environment means they can cut loose and show off like nothing on Earth.  Also, large scales battle with armies ranging from dozens to hundreds of Mobile Suits is always such a sight, Gundam does draw a lot of inspiration from Star Wars after all.  So why am I so surprised that G Reco, which hasn’t managed to do anything right by Gundam, also manages to somehow make Space Battles so damn boring?  Looks like my ranting is about to continue though I might actually have some nice things to say before reviews end.
 

T5W#356-Top 5 Thoughts on the Resident Evil 4 Remake Reveal Trailer

I know I said that this would be a month of exclusively Gundam Top 5’s to coincide with Gundam Month Mark VI-The Undiscovered Country…but I’m sorry, I cant pass this up because HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP ITS REAL!!! ITS REAL AND ITS COMING NEXT MARCH!!!!!  Ahem…ok so that was my initial reaction and that continued on for some time.  At Sony’s State of Play Event last week, the announcement everyone had waited for three years was given to the world: Resident Evil 4 Remake is happening and it is coming to next gen consoles on March 24, 2023.  We didn’t just get a release date with the confirmation but a full reveal trailer and man it looks like theyre going all out to give us both an updated and yet brand new experience when it comes to one of the best Resident Evil games ever made.  And I’m here to break down what I think of what lies ahead.  These are my Top 5 Thoughts on the Resident Evil 4 Remake Reveal Trailer.

Gundam: Reconguista in G Part 2 Episodes 6-10

Stuck onboard the Megafauna with the G-Self still in Pirate hands, Bellri continues to assist the crew in operations, even if it places himself in direct conflict with his comrades in the Capital Army.  Disillusioned and confused by the build up of Military power within the Capital Army, Bellri’s mother, Operations Director Wilmit, engages in a risky operation to find her lost son.  All paths lead back to the Capital Tower and a revelation that changes everything.  So far signs have told Bellri and Aida that the Capital Tower and Ameria have been preparing for war with each other.  Only now do they realize…both are preparing for something far worse, something buried deep on the surface of the Moon.

Gundam: Reconguista in G is not making itself easy to watch.  Even when it’s trying to double down on the Mobile Suit action to compensate for the lack of a clear story and good characters, it’s failing pretty damn hard.  It did try to distract me with a quick visit to the lower atmosphere for a brief space battle, where Gundam usually shines the best.  But it’s not enough when you compare that to a main character who quickly brushes off killing a mentor before whining about not being able to pilot his Gundam and other character who are equally obnoxious.  Plus, even with a clear destination in mind, the story is still hidden deep beneath random bouts of dialogue.  I think Tomino was given too much free reign here cause there’s no way a Gundam series, especially a celebratory title, should’ve launched in this bad shape and somehow be getting worse.
 

FIF#161-Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island

Universal Century 0079.  After a slew of victories across the planet, the Earth Federation now feels it’s ready to take the fight to Zeon as they prepare for Operation Odessa.  To assist with the prep, the White Base is assigned to mop up various Zeon outposts along the route to Odessa.  Their primary target is “The Island of No Return”.  Gundam Pilot Amuro Ray encounters a lone, powerful Zaku and becomes trapped on the Island, where he finds a group of war orphans and a guilt ridden Zeon pilot looking for atonement.  Prepare to witness one of the long lost missing chapters of the One Year War in this return to the original Mobile Suit Gundam series that started it all.

 
Welcome to a very special First Impression Friday.  Not only is this coming out right at the start of Gundam Month Mark VI-The Undiscovered Country, but today we’ve got a rare opportunity to look at one of the most highly anticipated Gundam projects to come out in the last few years.  Last Friday, Sunrise released the first 10 minutes of the new Cucuruz Doan’s Island movie only (sort of like what they did for Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative a few years back).  That’s plenty of time to write a quick First Impression.  Only major hurdle is, unlike the Gundam Narrative preview, this didn’t come with English Subtitles and this is a dialogue heavy preview.  Still, I think I can share a couple of initial thoughts on this very curious Gundam project.  So for those who aren’t aware, Cucuruz Doan’s Island is based on a Gundam episode that has rarely seen the light of day and has never had an official US release in any Gundam collection due to Yoshiyuki Tomino himself despising the episode that much.  When I first heard a new project was being built around it, I assumed this would be a short OVA special with new animation.  Nope, this is a full length Anime feature film, stretching out a 22 minute episode into an almost 2 hour movie.  After this 10 minute sneak peak, do I still think this is a good idea?
 

Gundam: Reconguista in G Part 1 Episodes 1-5

It is the year 1014 of the Reguild Century.  Over a thousand years have passed since the end of the Universal Century and mankind hopes that the darkness of war from that era is long behind them.  However, during a training exercise along the Capital Tower, trainee Bellri Zenam is involved in defending the tower from a Pirate attack.  Among the attackers is a never before seen Mobile Suit, the G-Self.  Unbeknownst to Bellri, he has a mysterious connection to this Mobile Suit modeled after a legendary relic of the past.  This connection will draw Bellri into the heart of a conflict he never knew existed and will cause him to question his cause and who he fights for.

Welcome, Dear Readers, to a special Gundam Anime Corner event: Gundam Month Mark VI-The Undiscovered Country (please don’t mind me on borrowing the Star Trek VI title, I just really like it).  This month, I’ll be looking at the, as of right now, last two major Gundam TV Series in the traditional sense (that theyre not Build Fighters or Build Divers spinoffs): Gundam: Reconguista in G and Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans.  G Reco is up first with IBO getting a special ten day, two week long accelerated review following.  And man, oh man, I cannot wait to get to Iron Blooded Orphans after sitting through the first five episodes of G Reco.  While this show was meant to celebrate the 35^th Anniversary of Gundam in 2014, with Yoshiyuki Tomino returning for the first time since the Zeta Gundam New Translation Trilogy in 2005, many regard G Reco as one of the weakest entries in the franchise and easily the worst offering from Tomino himself.  Five episodes in, I can see why and I’m not even saying this because I’ve heard how bad G Reco is going in.  This beginning is freaking terrible and I don’t even know where to begin cause, honestly, neither does G Reco.
 

T5W#355-Top 5 Gundam Teams

What’s better than having one Gundam in your squad?  Several Gundams that’s what.  While most Gundam shows start with the titular Mobile Suit as a solo act, several over the years have featured multiple Gundams assigned to specialized teams.  And with this being the first Wednesday as part of Gundam Month Mark VI-The Undiscovered Country (which technically starts Friday), todays Top 5 Wednesday is a shoutout to those amazing teams of bad asses ever to step onto the battlefield and put the fear of God into their enemies.  These are my Top 5 Gundam Teams.