Ranking Gundam Part 2

Welcome back to Ranking Gundam, our month long revisit of all the Gundam titles that have been covered over the last ten years over at the Gundam Anime Corner.  We started at the bottom of the pyramid with the titles that should be buried deep within.  If we’re continuing with the metaphor, this next set is a bit stronger than the last, at least it starts that way before moving into considerably much better status (for the most part anyway.)  Suit up Dear Readers and lets get back into it.

 
Turn A Gundam: The Movie II-Moonlight Butterfly (5/10)

The only reason this movie is rated a bit higher than Part One is because the action scenes feel hardly touched.  It still doesn’t change the fact that this Compilation Duology does nothing to make Turn A better than it already is, even if it does omit one of the shows worst mini arcs.  Unlike the original Gundam Movie Trilogy, the better viewing experience is watching all 50 episodes of Turn A Gundam. And honestly, the only reason I broke my own “no looking at Compilation Films” rule for this was because I had to fill out a review slot before Otakon. 

 
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (5/10)

I know this is gonna rub some people the wrong way cause this is a pretty popular title within the fanbase.  For me though, Hathaway’s problems are two fold. First, I don’t like Hathaway and the fact that he’s wagging a war because of a girl who didn’t care about him is infuriating.  Second, this first of a planned trilogy is just that, Part One of Three.  The final act has the best moments including some good dynamics between Hathaway and his resistance group I want to see explored further in the other films. The action is well done and the Mecha designs have grown on me over time.  Still, the biggest hurdle for this movie is if the other two entries can build and improve on this so-so foundation.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (5/10)

It’s funny that while it’s not even barely the length of Gundam Seed Destiny, Stargazer is still a superior project altogether…and it isnt even perfect.  Still, the ONA builds on Seed Destiny’s premise in a far better fashion and presents us with a pair of engaging characters with actual depth and moral complexity compared to always angry Shinn Asuka. Of course, it’s only three episodes and barely scratches the surface of its true potential and I want to see more of it.  It cant be denied though, this was still a better viewing experience overall than Seed Destiny, even if it does feel incomplete.
 

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation II-Lovers (6.5/10)

While it does end things on a really good cliffhanger, just like the first chapter of this Remastered Compilation Trilogy, Lovers biggest failure is not being able to do one of Gundam’s most tragic love stories proper justice.  The movies name even implies Kamille and Four will be more at the forefront.  However, they’re not and their stuff only last for about the first opening quarter of the film.  Still, the switch back between 80s and 2000’s animation gets easier on the eyes and again, those movie knew how to leave viewers hanging and waiting for the next part.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower (6.5/10)

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower is an ultimately disappointing follow up to one of Gundams most intense entries.  It’s always good to see more grounded combat with Mobile Suits and the jungle setting is always a welcome sight.  But there’s a massive lack of the darkness and unrelenting reality that made December Sky so memorable.  And as much as I hate to rag on it, reintroducing Newtypes into the mix might not be the best move for Thunderbolt to make, especially for a more realistic feeling Gundam series.  Plus there’s no sign of the Anime continuing in any format any time soon, so whether the misteps of this follow up can be salvaged remain to be seen.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam 00: The Movie-A Wakening of the Trailblazer (7/10)

So, it’s not like Gundam 00 wasn’t hiding the fact that it was building up to First Contact between Humanity and an Alien species.  So in that respect, the 00 Movie delivers what was promised and it goes big, really big with creative and scary aliens and a bunch of very busy new Gundam designs.  The movie does bring Setsuna’s story arc to a proper conclusion, even if he’s kind of underutilized throughout (along with his slick new Gundam).  Bringing Aliens into the Gundam franchise is pretty devisive…but it’s a helluva lot better than Gundam Build Divers: Re Rise.
 

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation III-Love is the Pulse of the Stars (7/10)

If you’ve been fine watching the other two movies, then this finale is worth the journey.  Arguably the most interesting part is the brand new ending, which completely overwrites the legendary apocalyptic finale of Zeta. Still, the end of the New Translation trilogy omits a lot of major events from the TV Series in favor of tightening the focus on the three major factions fighting in space.  The end result might not match the majesty of the original Gundam Movie Trilogy but it’s a fitting ending to a strange but enjoyable Gundam experience.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (7/10)

Were it not for the back half of this series, ZZ would sit near the bottom of the Gundam rankings along with Seed Destiny and Reconguista in G.  The humor isnt just an insult to the serious setting of the Universal Century, it isnt even funny on its own.  Thankfully, the second half pumps the breaks on in bad taste humor and dials up the drama, action and proper character development to deliver a worthy sequel to Zeta Gundam.  This could quite possibly be the best comeback story for any Gundam project ever made.  If only the first 25 episodes had been good, ZZ could have been an 8 or a 9.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (7/10)

I was excited to hear about a sequel to Gundam Unicorn.  I wanted to see how the big revelations from that OVA changed things in the Universal Century’s Earth Sphere.  Sadly, this gorgeous movie doesn’t deliver on everything I wanted but still offers a neat story: focusing on three childhood friends who bore witness to one of the UCs most tragic events and are now locked in a three way struggle for a long lost Unicorn-Type Gundam.  Narrative has all of the production magic of Unicorn but still doesn’t quite live up to its potential as one of the few original Gundam movies in the entire franchise.

 

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed (7/10)

A decent entry point into the entire franchise, Gundam Seed brought Gundam beam spamming into the new millennium.  The original 0079 story is given a face lift and changed enough to fit a new setting with new factions and new social issues to analyze.  The digi paint animated style that dominated the early 2000’s is hit or miss but the story more than makes up for whatever shortcomings it produces.  The action is intense, the characters are compelling and I love the Jpop music (even if it is a sore spot with some fans).  As far as a good starting point for Gundam goes, you can do worse.
 

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (7/10)

Possibly the best looking Gundam work of the 90s (maybe 2^nd after Turn A), Stardust Memory is a perfect showcase of how big a Gundam series can go.  The scale of many of the major battles are a franchise benchmark, THIS is what an all out war looks like.  Not to mention the Mecha are some of the sleekest and best designed thanks to assistance from Shoji Kawamori of Macross fame.  However, all the gorgeous animation and action cant deflect from the hard to follow story and the main characters who are some of the worst in all of Gundam.  Thank God for Anavel Gato though, this really should have been his series.  I mean, Zeon with a Gundam at their disposal?  That hasn’t really happened before or since now that I think about it.

 

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (7/10)

This is another controversial one I’m sure cause I know people love this one.  I love the story and the mystery traversing the whole of the Universal Century (not to mention the big reveal of the contents of Laplaces Box).  I think the animation is stellar and the mecha are pretty awesome too with the Unicorn being my all time favorite Gundam.  My problem is the characters.  I don’t like Banagher, he’s too whiny.  I don’t like Full Frontal, he’s a poser.  I don’t like Riddhe because he exists.  Only Mineva Zabi earns any and all respect because she’s such a boss and the most competent protagonist of the bunch.  The supporting cast is good too, especially a welcome return from legend Bright Noa.

 
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (7/10)

Contrary to popular belief from Tomino himself, Victory Gundam isnt unwatchable.  In fact, it’s one of the darkest entries in the franchise, maybe even darker than Zeta Gundam, and it stays its course from beginning to end.    It has some challenging and heavy emotional moments for the youngest lead protagonist in the franchise, Uso, though the Mecha designs are odd and some just very stupid looking and some of the supporting cast is so irritating I wonder why they didn’t get bumped off when Tomino is in full “Kill Em All” mode.  Still as the current last era explored in the Universal Century (not counting G Saviour), Victory Gundam is probably the unsung hero of Gundam’s flagship timeline.
 
Whew, another 13 titles down.  Next week we get into some beloved fan favorites and some titles get some serious do-overs that turn out better than before.  See you Next Thursday for Part 3 of Ranking Gundam right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.