Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans-Wedge of the Interlude

Tekkadan has done the impossible.  Once seen as expendable trash, they managed to strike a major blow to Gjallahorn’s rule and become a feared group of Mars based Mercenaries.  For now, the struggle has ended but life goes on and yet begins to change for the iron blooded orphans.  For Orga Itsuka, he must begin to master the new responsibilities of leading Tekkadan through business means.  For Mikazuki Argus, he must accept that in order to continue fighting, he must rely on others in his new state.  Thus begins the next chapter of the journey of two friends and their fearsome fighting force into a bold new era.

Wedge of the Interlude is a 15-20minute short film included as a bonus feature with Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans-Urdr Hunt: Path of the Little Challenger.  And given how horendeous that Compilation disaster turned out to be, I wouldn’t be surprised if you missed it by leaving the theater as soon as Urd Hunt was done.  If you didn’t then I’m not sure if saying sitting through Urdr Hunt is worth it but dammit, it’s terrible quality makes Wedge of the Interlude all the more amazing because it is so good to be back in proper Iron Blooded Orphans territory with the characters we know and love in a period of their lives we never saw much of in the TV Series.  In short: it’s good to be back with Tekkadan again, if only for a criminally short while. 
 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans-Urdr Hunt: Path of the Little Challenger

For Wistario Afam, the restoration and prospertity of his home colony, the Venus based Radonitsa, has been his life long dream.  When he finds himself a sudden participant in the Urdr Hunt, Wistario potentially has the means to make this dream a reality.  Going up against Pirates, Vagabonds, Warriors and Mercenaries, Wistario will have to fight tooth and nail to achieve the ultimate prize.  He is unaware, however, that his actions will have serious consequences for Radonitsa should he fail as the world of the Post Disaster Era continues to change in the wake of Tekkadan’s revolution.

Released as part of the 10^th Anniversary of Iron Blooded Orphans, Path of the Little Challenger is a Compilation Film comprised of the Anime segments of a now defunct Mobile Game: Iron Blooded Orphans G.  It’s the first bit of brand new Gundam storytelling from the Post Disaster Era since IBO’s conclusion in 2017 and while not exactly held in as high regard as Gundam Wing or The Witch from Mercury, Iron Blooded Orphans is still considered a solid entry in the Gundam franchise.  You wouldn’t know that from watching the Urdr Hunt movie though.  While it does boast some of the brutal close quarters combat action that helped define the parent series, Path of the Little Challenger is still a short and fast compilation film that lacks any of what made IBO so great in the first place.
 

T5W#550-Top 5 WTF Moments in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans

Save for a fun Monty Python influenced Top 5 on the matter (see here: https://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/t5w508-top-5-gundam-iron-blooded.html) I never thought to do some kind of celebratory Top 5 for the 10^th Anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans last year.  Granted 2025 was mostly spent celebrating the 30^th Birthday of Gundam Wing but that also feels a little unfair to the boys of Tekkadan and their bad ass Mobile Suits.  To say IBO is one of the hardest hitting entries in the Gundam franchise is kind of an understatement.  It’s hits are as emotionally charged as the giant hammers that get whammied into Mobile Suits on an episodic basis.  There are also some truly F’ed up moments that are both shocking and awe inducing.  Since we’ll be covering the 10^th Anniversary Double Feature Special This Friday, on todays Top 5 Wednesday I’ll be counting down my picks for the Top 5 WTF Moments in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans.

T5W#549-Top 5 Romantic Partners in Persona 5

Back around Christmas, I finally decided to give Persona 5 a proper chance after two false starts.  Well, just like Jujutsu Kaisen, third times proven to be the charm as I’ve been sinking a couple hours a night into this game since the start of 2026. TBH, it does start a bit slow but once you get going and are allowed to level up, gear up and have an active social life, Persona 5 really does live up to its rep as one of the best JRPGs out there.  And one area it defintiley excels at is the plethora of romantic options.  Basically almost every female supporting character is romanceable from your teammates to Teachers moonlighthing as Maids to a Gothic Doctor with a penchant for using you to test medicine.  To my shock, there are options to romance more than one girl (and there’s a hilarious outcome if you somehow achieve the “Harem Route”).  Tempting as that is, it’s a game in and of itself choosing who you want to dedicate your heart before the end of the game and definitely is a draw for multiple playthroughs to see how each play out.  So, while I know I’m well past Valentines Day, I’ve been pushing to try and beat this game before my vacation this weekend (and the inevitable purchase of Resident Evil Requiem that will take up a ton of time once I’m back).  Ergo, today’s Top 5 Wednesday shines the spotlight down on 5 particular beauties who are the Top 5 Romantic Partners in Persona 5. 

 

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School Part 4 Episodes 11-13

The Daimon High School Festival is almost here and the entire school is stoked and ready for some fun.  But the main event, the School Play, is missing it’s star: Ryoko Mitsurugi, who is nursing a broken heart and broken spirit.  The might Samurai Girl will have to pull herself together quickly because dark forces are hovering over her beloved school and the battle she’s fought on behalf of the mystical world of Solvania are coming to Earth.  Standing alongside Shizuma, Ryoko prepares for one final showdown with everyone and everything on the line.

 
Well, that could have gone better?  Who am I kidding.  Given how much BS Real Bout High School has thrown into this Anime adaptation, there’s no way the Series Finale was going to end on a high note.  But wow, they just decided to ignore the fences and swing for anything in sight.  It’s honestly even hard to think of a good defense for the finale.  Even in my Pros and Cons notes I usually take watching a show or movie I was hard pressed to write something other than “Nothing” in the Positive Column.  I’m not even sure I can properly sum up all the nonsense but hell, here goes nothing.
 

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School Part 3 Episodes 8-10

The tumultuous times of Ryoko Mitsurugi continue and this time she’s going up against her toughest opponent yet: unrequited love.  But before she can even think about confessing her feelings for her Senpai, Tatsuya, she’s got a mystery to solve on a haunted island before leading a band of Magical Girls (and Shizuma) to rescue a pair of young corporate Heirs.  Ryoko might be up to all challenges but there’s one even she might be unprepared for: her own broken heart.

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School isnt a good show but I have been pretty lenient on it due to my love for the Manga.  I like the characters a lot and the initial concept of the K-Fight System is great.  However, both of those can only get you so far and in this penultimate set of episodes, the cracks are starting to show.  What’s even more worrisome is that we barely had any Magical Solvania stuff today outside of one bad dream sequence.  So normally taking that out of the equation would be cause for celebration.  It's too bad then that two of the three episodes are still not great and a third is doing the one thing I’ve been wondering if the show would from the get go: just rehash an entire arc from the Manga almost beat for beat.
 

FIF#255-Galaxy Express 999: The Series

In a future where trains deliver all species across the cosmos, young Tetsuro wishes to travel aboard the legendary Galaxy Express 999, to attain a body that can never die.  Through twist of fate, he gains an unlikely ally in the beautiful and mysterious Maetel, who offers him the chance of a lifetime to travel with her aboard the 999 itself.  It’s the beginning of a journey that spans the stars and beyond with dangers and wonders alike awaiting Tetsuro in his galactic quest.

 
The Galaxy Express 999 film from 1979 is one of my favorite Anime films of all time.  It’s a gorgeous space age fairy tale filled with wonder, excitement, terror and endless possibilities.  I’ve always known there was a TV version but there was so much I didn’t know going in to the first episode.  For starters, I didn’t know the movie came out during the TV Series, nor that the show wouldn’t wrap for another couple of years, and probably led into the theatrical sequel Adieu Galaxy Express 999 in 1981.  Not to mention, the TV Series is pretty long, clocking in at more than 100 episodes.  Does the Premiere inspire the urge to board that old space age steam locomotive once more?
 

FIF#254-Those Who Hunt Elves

Junpei, Airi and Ritsuko are Japanese citizens from different walks of life, mysteriously transported to a Fantasy world.  In an attempt to send them home, High Elven Priestess Celcia fumbles the spell and sends five spell fragments across the land.  The only way to complete the spell is to track down the fragments…which are now tattooed on the skin of beautiful Elven maidens.  It doesn’t matter if it’s wrong or not.  To get back home, Those Who Hunt Elves will strip as many Elves as it takes. 

*Note: This isnt the official start of Season 11 of First Impression Friday.  This is just a special treat for the Katsucon weekend.  So you’re getting two episodes today.  The new season of FIF officially kicks off either in April or May depending on when I get off my butt to work on it.  Anyway, enjoy the new FIF’s and have fun if you’re at Katsu this weekend.* 

Those Who Hunt Elves is another Anime title from way back when I first started getting into the genre that I only knew through word of mouth.  Though I never got a chance to see it then, I always heard the same major detail: this was not a kid friendly Anime.  Heck the way the show was talked about, this was about as raunchy a mainstream Anime as you could get at the time, far from the more age appropriate Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z.  Well since I’ve seen many a naughty Anime (that aren’t Hentai), I’d say that Those Who Hunt Elves has some lofty claims to live up to.  So does the Premiere of this little legend live up to the “not for kids” hype?  Or is its legend way overblown.
 

T5W#548-Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Skipping Katsucon in 2026 (and Maybe 2027 too)

I’ve been going to Katsucon since 2015.  In the 10 years I’ve been attending, I’ve only missed 2: 2021 was cancelled by the Pandemic and I skipped 2022 cause I was still being cautious about attending a full weekend con even with lifted restrictions (Otakon 2022, no way I wasn’t missing that).  As much as I do enjoy the location and the nightlife of the con in particular, Katsu’s felt kind of different for me since coming back in 2023.  It’s hard to describe but it’s not the same winter con I started going to back in 2015 and I’m not the only one to share those sentiments.  I was actually thinking about skipping Katsu 2025 but ended up going cause it was the 10^th Anniversary of my first one and it was ok, still had its problems but it was ok.  But yeah, I wont be attending Katsucon 2026 and might even be giving the con a longer break even past that.  Why?  Well on todays Top 5 Wednesday I’m sharing my Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Skipping Katsucon in 2026 (and Maybe 2027 too).

 

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School Part 2 Episodes 5-7

Ryoko Mitsurugi cant seem to catch a break can she?  Not only is she the most popular student in school thanks to her being a K-Fight Champion, she’s also become the Chosen One to save another reality called Solvania.  What’s worse, now even her friends are being pulled into the battle as well.  Between deadly gangs, giant gangs and a cooking competition, Ryoko continues to be put to the test but this beautiful Samurai Girl is always ready for a fight.

I’ll say this for Real Bout High School.  Theres a lot about the Anime I do not like at all and I’m sad to say the show doesn’t look to be getting rid of those negative parts any time soon.  However, when the show is focused on the original premise of the Manga and sticking to high school antics, I freaking love it.  Yes the animation isnt the greatest and some of the fights leave a lot to be desired but dammit, I still love this world and it’s characters and want to see more of it.  It just sucks it has to include a No Rules Isekai component that sticks out like a sore thumb.
 

T5W#547-Top 5 Thoughts on the Teaser Trailer for The Ghost in the Shell

It’s been forever since we got any kind of substantial update on the next Anime iteration of Ghost in the Shell.  All we’ve known up until now is the Studio taking charge, Science Saru (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Star Wars Visions 3) and that it might be going back to the very beginning with the source material.  Well, low and behold, a kick ass teaser dropped not too long ago and I am more pumped than I already was.  The teaser trailer doesn’t offer much outside of a few shots, staff announcements and a banging track playing over the visuals.  Oh I guess it does give us an actual release window of July 2026, so only a few months remain until the return of Major Motoko Kusinagi and Section 9.  With that in mind, my Ghost is whispering me to share on today’s Top 5 Wednesday my Top 5 Thoughts on the Teaser Trailer for The Ghost in the Shell.

 

Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School Part 1 Episodes 1-4

In the illustrious halls of Daimon High School, disputes are settled through the K-Fight System: where students can settle their differences in one on one battles.  The greatest champion of the system is Ryoko Mitsurugi, a beautiful Samurai obsessed girl whose skills are second to none.  But Ryoko’s life is about to get more hectic than constant K-Fight challenges when she discovers a pendant that transports her to an alternate reality where Monsters roam and she’s the only one who can stop them. 

So this is an interesting case: this isnt an out of the blue random title for me.  I read the Real Bout High School Manga back in high school and I really loved it…ok the first half more than the second half but maybe I’ll touch on that later.  I knew there was an Anime sequel but never got around to watching it cause it was really hard to find and I hadn’t heard great things about it.  Well I came into possession of the entire series recently and for the month of Romance and Love, we’re gonna spend it with cute high school girls who love to pick fights in school hallways.  Though there might be a little bit more going on alongside that, which could hamper the experience.