@TetraVaal:
I had a feeling you'd reach that conclusion. I didn't dislike 00 S2 and Geass R2 as much as you did, to be perfectly honest, and would in fact argue they were both worth my time in spite of their real or debatable flaws...but if those caused problems for you it would certainly seem against the odds for Gundam SEED Destiny to end up in a better position.
Why? Simply because it suffers from some of the same issues (such as contrived events, problematic subplots and a lack of realism) and several more that are relatively unique (say, all the time wasted on clips and flashbacks, without going into any spoilers). In fact, you could even argue that Destiny was so disappointing that it preemptively affected popular perceptions about both 00 S2 and Geass R2.
Obviously, this isn't going to be your particular case and if the original SEED hooks you more than 00 or Geass did, it's entirely possible that you'll be more generous or understanding towards the sequel.
So it'll still be interesting, no doubt, to see if you end up thinking otherwise. I wouldn't say Destiny is the worst mecha show ever, that's perhaps an exaggeration, but I do agree with the general consensus that it's significantly more awful than either of the other two disappointing continuations.
That said, I also think you should check out the original SEED and make up your own mind about all this.
As for what I've actually watched myself...
Iczer Reborn / Iczer-3:
I wasn't a huge fan of Iczer-1, in all honesty, but at least it tried to do something relatively original for its time by mixing elements of mecha, horror and tokusatsu. While it was entertaining, the story didn't really impress me and all the lesbian overtones aren't exactly my cup of tea either. Still, I don't think it needed a sequel that removed most of the suspense and the plot turned out to be rather formulaic by more or less condensing the structure of, say, Sailor Moon or any other similar show. The new protagonist was also less sympathetic and her voice actress got on my nerves. At the very least though, there were some good action sequences from time to time and the music was cheesy but enjoyable. In short, fun but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.
What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
Soul Eater, the True Rune
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
@Wielder, I should probably state that I didn't despise the second season of Gundam 00, at least not to the extent of Code Geass' R2.
I'm actually looking forward to viewing both Seed and Seed Destiny, and I'll tell you one thing, I'll go into it with no preconceived notions, I'll watch both with an open mind and form my own opinion. But again, it will probably later on down the road when I watch those two series... I want to watch the more acclaimed series' first and see how I feel about em'.
back to Gundam X, I'm about to start episode 31 (I can now say that both episodes 29 and 30 are my favorite two of the series so far). I really, really adore the relationship between Garrod and Tiffa, I haven't been this immersed by a relationship like that since the Shinji/Rei interactions in Evangelion. I'm really diggin' this show, a lot actually... it sucks it was trimmed down to 39 episodes, but so far, even with the shortened schedule, there hasn't been a decrease in quality... yet.
I'm actually looking forward to viewing both Seed and Seed Destiny, and I'll tell you one thing, I'll go into it with no preconceived notions, I'll watch both with an open mind and form my own opinion. But again, it will probably later on down the road when I watch those two series... I want to watch the more acclaimed series' first and see how I feel about em'.
back to Gundam X, I'm about to start episode 31 (I can now say that both episodes 29 and 30 are my favorite two of the series so far). I really, really adore the relationship between Garrod and Tiffa, I haven't been this immersed by a relationship like that since the Shinji/Rei interactions in Evangelion. I'm really diggin' this show, a lot actually... it sucks it was trimmed down to 39 episodes, but so far, even with the shortened schedule, there hasn't been a decrease in quality... yet.
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
@TetraVaal:
I do think 00 S2 is better, mind you, but my opinion is that neither of them is truly horrible. Yet I guess saying this much is fair enough. Hopefully your future viewing experiences with be more suitable and/or fortunate.
Speaking of Gundam X...yeah, Garrod and Tiffa do have one of the better relationships in Gundam just by virtue of the fact that they have fairly good compatibility and aren't going for the usual doomed or dysfunctional couples seen in the Universal Century or in other Alternate Universe shows (I wasn't a Shinji/Rei guy in Eva though, but alas...). Glad to see you're liking X.
As for the unfortunate cancellation, there is a rush but it's mostly noticeable towards the very end.
I do think 00 S2 is better, mind you, but my opinion is that neither of them is truly horrible. Yet I guess saying this much is fair enough. Hopefully your future viewing experiences with be more suitable and/or fortunate.
Speaking of Gundam X...yeah, Garrod and Tiffa do have one of the better relationships in Gundam just by virtue of the fact that they have fairly good compatibility and aren't going for the usual doomed or dysfunctional couples seen in the Universal Century or in other Alternate Universe shows (I wasn't a Shinji/Rei guy in Eva though, but alas...). Glad to see you're liking X.
As for the unfortunate cancellation, there is a rush but it's mostly noticeable towards the very end.
Soul Eater, the True Rune
- LightningCount
- Posts: 918
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:02 pm
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
@TetraVaal:
Ugh, I ended up writing too much again! Oh, well, hopefully my long-winded nature isn't bothering you:
So about recent episodes of X...That fight against the skinny white mobile suit with the beam knife with the African Front pilot is one of my favorite battles in Gundam X. It's very unique in all of Gundam, actually. I really liked the "Card Players" that were set up & toyed with by the Frost Brothers (which, again, made for some of the most iconic fights in the series). And the Estard arc, with its political subtexts, Roybea Roy's subplot with the local woman, and Witz's interactions with the doomed general who helped upgrade the Airmaster were very interesting I thought (and had more of a Wing-esque vibe IMO as far as scale). It's cool how the world opens up, the writers pulling the curtain back on the mechanisms that surrounded the Frosts and Aimzat the whole series. I just wish this could have been explored more, as it's a nice, dynamic contrast to the earlier ragtag Vulture chapters. I think the full run would have had the two coalesce more grandly, and involve certain parties more that I won't name for the sake of spoilers.
Really, the quality of art never particularly fades from the cut episodes (though one wonders if it could have had longer sequences with extra high-budget animation snippets like that seen in the OP). It's just that around this point the narrative speeds toward an ending, the arcs and certain characters getting less development, and certain new mobile suits are either relegated to production art or are teased but never used in battle. Also, some political developments are told in narration rather than shown. It still works in a rather satisfying way, but I was left with the impression that this series would have been more rounded and rich with the omitted material. In other words, while still a favorite, X could have trumped some of my other favorite Gundam series had it kept all its intended material.
Regarding Tifa and Garroad, it's definitely one of the best couples in all of Gundam. While UC has trouble developing compelling couples outside of its OVAs, there's at least one more TV Gundam couple that stacks up to them in the Alternate Universe...but I'll leave it at that. I will say that Gundam X's cast, from top to bottom, is one of the very best.
Now, when I said SEED was probably more satisfying than 00 S1 as a whole, I do mean "whole." There are certainly individual elements that are better in 00 than SEED, but I think SEED left me with a more complete story than 00 S1, which I thought had a lot of good ideas, but was too rushed in its pacing to develop the world and characters to the level I wanted (and then 00 Season 2 felt largely unrelated/untrue to the world, atmosphere, and characters of 00 S1).
Oh, it's interesting that Setsuna is your favorite pilot. Now I'm even more interested to hear your thoughts on Wing!
Lastly, I maybe haven't been as responsible as I should be with all this. I think it's probably important for you to know that almost every Gundam, at one point or another, borrows from a previous Gundam series--particularly Gundam 0079. Gundam X is no exception. Without spoiling anything, I'll say that one of the key characters in the Zonda Epta arc was based on an archetype developed in 0079 that has reappeared in other series, as well. HOWEVER, all that said, the different slants these characters and their situations take often make for material that is compelling irregardless.
I mean, I saw parts of 0079 via its first two compilation movies before I saw Wing, but it was Wing that hooked me. I used to hear grief from that, as people said stuff like, "You know Wing took xyz from 0079 or some other series, right?" But you know what, when I saw the series that were related, things often weren't as cut-and-dried as people made them out to be, and it often didn't hurt my opinion of one or the other.
SEED I sort of noted as an partial exception because rather than taking inspiration, it sometimes takes whole episode scripts and plops different characters in them, which can be distracting the first time watching if you've seen 0079 first. But even with SEED, I eventually realized that by just altering the characters, it had actually altered the destiny of the scripts it was based on.
It's a tricky thing with Gundam. Sometimes you do get upset when you see a trope one too many times, and sometimes people say that "Had you seen the trope in Series A before Series B, you wouldn't have liked Series B so much." In a sense, by each of us coming at the franchise from a different place, we subconsciously program certain expectations and preferences. But I think that if something grabs you, it grabs you. Sometimes just an alteration or different combination of older elements within a new framework can make something that much more impactful for one person versus another. The way Gundam reinvents itself again and again while still being "Gundam" is a strange and compelling phenomenon.
But you know, I have have felt more conflicted/torn about the last four Gundam TV series (SEED, Destiny, 00 S1, 00 S2) than any of the others I've seen because they give off the feeling of a lack of confidence in vision. For instance, Gundam X knows what it wants to do, and goes about doing it. These other series all have excellent material of their own, but they all seem especially fickle in their execution to some degree--as if the creators are under the microscope and afraid to stick with something that might be unpopular or different.
Not to say any real spoilers, but if Mobile Fighter G-Gundam had relied on the original mandate of the company to be a series of mindless robot tournament fights, and not the more nuanced, multifaceted, human tale that the director decided to go with, it wouldn't have been nearly as good. The director and crew stuck with the deeper tale they wanted to tell, but nowadays, they would have somehow been forced or inclined to switch up out of the blue to a simple tale of rock'em sock'em robots after x amount of episodes that seemed to be building up to something else altogether.
Okay, I've rambled enough here. I'll just finish by saying that I've seen episode 1 of Xam'd, which I liked (gave me that naturalistic vibe of RahXephon), and am now going to start watching the series' first 13-episode DVD collection in the next week or so. But I might catch up on Gundam Unicorn Episode 2 first via PSN.
Ugh, I ended up writing too much again! Oh, well, hopefully my long-winded nature isn't bothering you:
So about recent episodes of X...That fight against the skinny white mobile suit with the beam knife with the African Front pilot is one of my favorite battles in Gundam X. It's very unique in all of Gundam, actually. I really liked the "Card Players" that were set up & toyed with by the Frost Brothers (which, again, made for some of the most iconic fights in the series). And the Estard arc, with its political subtexts, Roybea Roy's subplot with the local woman, and Witz's interactions with the doomed general who helped upgrade the Airmaster were very interesting I thought (and had more of a Wing-esque vibe IMO as far as scale). It's cool how the world opens up, the writers pulling the curtain back on the mechanisms that surrounded the Frosts and Aimzat the whole series. I just wish this could have been explored more, as it's a nice, dynamic contrast to the earlier ragtag Vulture chapters. I think the full run would have had the two coalesce more grandly, and involve certain parties more that I won't name for the sake of spoilers.
Really, the quality of art never particularly fades from the cut episodes (though one wonders if it could have had longer sequences with extra high-budget animation snippets like that seen in the OP). It's just that around this point the narrative speeds toward an ending, the arcs and certain characters getting less development, and certain new mobile suits are either relegated to production art or are teased but never used in battle. Also, some political developments are told in narration rather than shown. It still works in a rather satisfying way, but I was left with the impression that this series would have been more rounded and rich with the omitted material. In other words, while still a favorite, X could have trumped some of my other favorite Gundam series had it kept all its intended material.
Regarding Tifa and Garroad, it's definitely one of the best couples in all of Gundam. While UC has trouble developing compelling couples outside of its OVAs, there's at least one more TV Gundam couple that stacks up to them in the Alternate Universe...but I'll leave it at that. I will say that Gundam X's cast, from top to bottom, is one of the very best.
Now, when I said SEED was probably more satisfying than 00 S1 as a whole, I do mean "whole." There are certainly individual elements that are better in 00 than SEED, but I think SEED left me with a more complete story than 00 S1, which I thought had a lot of good ideas, but was too rushed in its pacing to develop the world and characters to the level I wanted (and then 00 Season 2 felt largely unrelated/untrue to the world, atmosphere, and characters of 00 S1).
Oh, it's interesting that Setsuna is your favorite pilot. Now I'm even more interested to hear your thoughts on Wing!
Lastly, I maybe haven't been as responsible as I should be with all this. I think it's probably important for you to know that almost every Gundam, at one point or another, borrows from a previous Gundam series--particularly Gundam 0079. Gundam X is no exception. Without spoiling anything, I'll say that one of the key characters in the Zonda Epta arc was based on an archetype developed in 0079 that has reappeared in other series, as well. HOWEVER, all that said, the different slants these characters and their situations take often make for material that is compelling irregardless.
I mean, I saw parts of 0079 via its first two compilation movies before I saw Wing, but it was Wing that hooked me. I used to hear grief from that, as people said stuff like, "You know Wing took xyz from 0079 or some other series, right?" But you know what, when I saw the series that were related, things often weren't as cut-and-dried as people made them out to be, and it often didn't hurt my opinion of one or the other.
SEED I sort of noted as an partial exception because rather than taking inspiration, it sometimes takes whole episode scripts and plops different characters in them, which can be distracting the first time watching if you've seen 0079 first. But even with SEED, I eventually realized that by just altering the characters, it had actually altered the destiny of the scripts it was based on.
It's a tricky thing with Gundam. Sometimes you do get upset when you see a trope one too many times, and sometimes people say that "Had you seen the trope in Series A before Series B, you wouldn't have liked Series B so much." In a sense, by each of us coming at the franchise from a different place, we subconsciously program certain expectations and preferences. But I think that if something grabs you, it grabs you. Sometimes just an alteration or different combination of older elements within a new framework can make something that much more impactful for one person versus another. The way Gundam reinvents itself again and again while still being "Gundam" is a strange and compelling phenomenon.
But you know, I have have felt more conflicted/torn about the last four Gundam TV series (SEED, Destiny, 00 S1, 00 S2) than any of the others I've seen because they give off the feeling of a lack of confidence in vision. For instance, Gundam X knows what it wants to do, and goes about doing it. These other series all have excellent material of their own, but they all seem especially fickle in their execution to some degree--as if the creators are under the microscope and afraid to stick with something that might be unpopular or different.
Not to say any real spoilers, but if Mobile Fighter G-Gundam had relied on the original mandate of the company to be a series of mindless robot tournament fights, and not the more nuanced, multifaceted, human tale that the director decided to go with, it wouldn't have been nearly as good. The director and crew stuck with the deeper tale they wanted to tell, but nowadays, they would have somehow been forced or inclined to switch up out of the blue to a simple tale of rock'em sock'em robots after x amount of episodes that seemed to be building up to something else altogether.
Okay, I've rambled enough here. I'll just finish by saying that I've seen episode 1 of Xam'd, which I liked (gave me that naturalistic vibe of RahXephon), and am now going to start watching the series' first 13-episode DVD collection in the next week or so. But I might catch up on Gundam Unicorn Episode 2 first via PSN.
My Mecha/Scifi Novels: https://www.goodreads.com/series/168677 ... -war-arm-x
"May you rest in peace, the betrayed and outraged Milliardo Peacecraft."
Most-Wanted Gundam Anime: Episode Zero, Blue Destiny, Rise from the Ashes, Crossbone
"May you rest in peace, the betrayed and outraged Milliardo Peacecraft."
Most-Wanted Gundam Anime: Episode Zero, Blue Destiny, Rise from the Ashes, Crossbone
- ydawg314
- Posts: 825
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:00 pm
- Location: in your fridge behind the apple juice
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
I definitely agree with you especially with the G gundam bit. This is why it has always been my favorite gundam show. I really cared about the characters. Often I find myself hoping that other gundam series that I haven't seen did this as well but none of them ever do as nice a job.
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
@Lightning, your long-winded posts are fine, man. I actually appreciate all of the insight, as a bit of history (for lack of a better word) into the backgrounds of all of these shows, can at least help me notice the minor similarities/borrowings from each show (as you mentioned with the Zonda Epta plot). I have a feeling I will actually revisit those posts of yours once I get into the original Mobile Suit Gundam, as well as the early work of Gundam overall. Oh, and by the way... even though I'm new to the Gundam franchise and not as knowledgeable, be ready to enjoy the second OAV for Gundam Unicorn... I am VERY induldged in that series so far and the second volume was nothing short of amazing.
I'm through 37 episodes of Gundam X... I think I'm gonna go for the finish tonight (and if I can't do it, I'll definitely finish it by tomorrow evening). I can see where some things have been rushed, mainly the on-coming war, but I still don't feel jarred from the original intentions. Perhaps I'm just not good enough to see this, or it's just not significant enough to ruin the overall quality of the show. All I know is, I love the characters in this show from top to bottom, and I really like the relationships between all of them, it feels genuine. I can already tell that this will be a series I'm going to revisit over and over again as time goes on.
I'm through 37 episodes of Gundam X... I think I'm gonna go for the finish tonight (and if I can't do it, I'll definitely finish it by tomorrow evening). I can see where some things have been rushed, mainly the on-coming war, but I still don't feel jarred from the original intentions. Perhaps I'm just not good enough to see this, or it's just not significant enough to ruin the overall quality of the show. All I know is, I love the characters in this show from top to bottom, and I really like the relationships between all of them, it feels genuine. I can already tell that this will be a series I'm going to revisit over and over again as time goes on.
- Mu La Flaga
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:06 am
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
Ok so pretty much the latest thing I have watched was Char's CounterAttack.
I liked the movie alot,.
But damn do I HATE Quess Paraya, she was the source of so many problems in that movie at times.
Also Amuro was a pretty solid pilot in that movie.
I liked the movie alot,.
But damn do I HATE Quess Paraya, she was the source of so many problems in that movie at times.
Also Amuro was a pretty solid pilot in that movie.
- Koshernova
- Posts: 375
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:30 am
- Location: Glasgow (the city, not the Knightmare Frame)
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
After my big epic summer with Legend of the Galactic Heroes, I've taken an anime break, peppered of course with watcing Unicorn episode 2 (amazing!).
Right now, because Unicorn has reignited my Gundam thirst, I think I'll go back to try and finish Gundam X. I somehow never managed to get past the first few episodes, but I have enough recommendations (Gundamn and this thread included) to really want to see how it plays out.
But talking about current stuff I'm watching, like, presently, the only thing is Card Captor Sakura! I'm seeing a person and a while ago I was telling her a bit about anime (I don't really hang with anime fans normally) and she was like oh yeah, there was this Cardcaptors show... It's been a lovely show to rediscover with a new person, since I last saw it before I emigrated from Argentina in 2001, and it was a big thing to watch with my friends there.
And also, you know what? I know I'm a bit of a big CLAMP fan but damn, Sakura is a bloody terrific show. The music is by Yoko Kanno! Animation by Madhouse! The script is simply awesome with perfect comedic timing, brilliant character development, and fun adventures. And before anyone says anything, no, I'm not a bit fan of moe, nor do I like that whole vapid trend. I just like solid shows that are fun, that don't insult my intelligence, are well written, and oh yeah, feature gay characters that aren't evil/dead/doomed.
Right now, because Unicorn has reignited my Gundam thirst, I think I'll go back to try and finish Gundam X. I somehow never managed to get past the first few episodes, but I have enough recommendations (Gundamn and this thread included) to really want to see how it plays out.
But talking about current stuff I'm watching, like, presently, the only thing is Card Captor Sakura! I'm seeing a person and a while ago I was telling her a bit about anime (I don't really hang with anime fans normally) and she was like oh yeah, there was this Cardcaptors show... It's been a lovely show to rediscover with a new person, since I last saw it before I emigrated from Argentina in 2001, and it was a big thing to watch with my friends there.
And also, you know what? I know I'm a bit of a big CLAMP fan but damn, Sakura is a bloody terrific show. The music is by Yoko Kanno! Animation by Madhouse! The script is simply awesome with perfect comedic timing, brilliant character development, and fun adventures. And before anyone says anything, no, I'm not a bit fan of moe, nor do I like that whole vapid trend. I just like solid shows that are fun, that don't insult my intelligence, are well written, and oh yeah, feature gay characters that aren't evil/dead/doomed.
"There's always hope tomorrow will be taco night."
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
I finished Gundam X a few nights ago and I can see where some componets were rushed (it seems to go for quick explanations the minute Garrod hits space), but aside from the rushed bits, I thought the actual ending to the series was fantastic. I liked how they basically give a minor run down of all the characters involved and shows you what their future beholds, that is something that seems to be lacking in current anime shows these days. So, despite the rushed subplots, I still feel this is a very strong series and its certainly one I'll be revisiting again in the near future.
I started up Gunslinger Girl on Christmas night, I'm three episodes in and I'm enjoying it so far. I just really hope they explore the cybernetic aspects of the girls, as well as dive into some of the sci-fi bits that I was hoping this show would provide. Overall, it seems to have a bit of a "noir" feel, but I really love the character exposition so far.
Also, I have a question about the Mobile Suit Gundam movies, that cover the 79 Gundam series... are those worth checking out? I can't find the original MSG series anywhere, and I'd really like to watch that show.
I started up Gunslinger Girl on Christmas night, I'm three episodes in and I'm enjoying it so far. I just really hope they explore the cybernetic aspects of the girls, as well as dive into some of the sci-fi bits that I was hoping this show would provide. Overall, it seems to have a bit of a "noir" feel, but I really love the character exposition so far.
Also, I have a question about the Mobile Suit Gundam movies, that cover the 79 Gundam series... are those worth checking out? I can't find the original MSG series anywhere, and I'd really like to watch that show.
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
Very much so to the point where they are often recommended over the TV series for fans new to the franchise in order to get them the main story that the entire UC is build on in only 6 1/2 hours.TetraVaal wrote:Also, I have a question about the Mobile Suit Gundam movies, that cover the 79 Gundam series... are those worth checking out? I can't find the original MSG series anywhere, and I'd really like to watch that show.
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
There's not a significant loss of battles or storytelling in comparison, though, is there? If not, I may just go with these 3 movies.Wingnut wrote:Very much so to the point where they are often recommended over the TV series for fans new to the franchise in order to get them the main story that the entire UC is build on in only 6 1/2 hours.TetraVaal wrote:Also, I have a question about the Mobile Suit Gundam movies, that cover the 79 Gundam series... are those worth checking out? I can't find the original MSG series anywhere, and I'd really like to watch that show.
- ShadowCell
- Moderator
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Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
You miss out on a lot of side adventures, like Cucuruz Doan (if you can find that episode; it was cut out entirely from the English releases) and the Gyan and the Braw Bro, stuff that fleshes out the world in which the story takes place but aren't exactly crucial to the plot. On the other hand, you won't get any of the improved animation from the movies, and the TV series does have some pretty super-robot-ish stuff, like the G-Fighter and Zeon's pile of ass-ugly mobile armors, and some pretty hilariously awesome stuff, like the Guntank fighting in space. There are some minor story differences between the movies and the series as well.
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
now I don't know what to do, I found the MSG in pretty great quality (picture wise, anyway), but I hate American dubs. Usually I'm pretty strict when it comes to animation itself, and I'm not partial to super-robot stuff, at least when a series is being billed as "real robot"... so would you say it's best if I just went with the three part movie series? I sort of feel that the super robot stuff may ruin the overall series for me. I like those types of shows and all, but it's really not what I'm looking for when it comes to Gundam.
- TakaTahuNuva
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:35 pm
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
Definitely watch the MSG compilation movies first, and if you like what you see, check out the series afterwards. Like ShadowCell said, the only parts that are left out are the more filler-ish episodes, and some semi-important battles are cut, but you won't be missing much.
This isn't the case with all Gundam compilation movies though. The Zeta trilogy, for example, cuts out a ton of character interaction, and fast-forwards through entire major plot arcs as if they weren't important at all.
This isn't the case with all Gundam compilation movies though. The Zeta trilogy, for example, cuts out a ton of character interaction, and fast-forwards through entire major plot arcs as if they weren't important at all.
ohhhh snap
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
alright, I'll go with the movies first... thanks for the help, everyone, much appreciated.
as for Zeta Gundam, I plan on watching that series in its entirety, as it comes off as the darkest Gundam series of all the trailers I've seen so far. I really can't wait to watch that one.
as for Zeta Gundam, I plan on watching that series in its entirety, as it comes off as the darkest Gundam series of all the trailers I've seen so far. I really can't wait to watch that one.
- LightningCount
- Posts: 918
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:02 pm
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
My two cents: The Gundam 0079 movies are more concise, have some increased animation/altered or new fights in spots, and probably have an overall more realistic feeling (just slightly). However, it lacks some really iconic battles and character development pieces that the series had (that I miss a lot). Also, the 2000s English dub for the Gundam 0079 series is really very good, and featured remastered footage. In the end, they both tell you what you need to know going forward in UC. The movies just do it faster and go in tight on the camera focus, leaving out the broader stuff (which can be rather interesting at times).TetraVaal wrote:now I don't know what to do, I found the MSG in pretty great quality (picture wise, anyway), but I hate American dubs. Usually I'm pretty strict when it comes to animation itself, and I'm not partial to super-robot stuff, at least when a series is being billed as "real robot"... so would you say it's best if I just went with the three part movie series? I sort of feel that the super robot stuff may ruin the overall series for me. I like those types of shows and all, but it's really not what I'm looking for when it comes to Gundam.
...Does this mean you're bailing on Gundam Wing?
...And I don't remember how deep/specific Gunslinger Girl Season 1 goes into the sci-fi elements. If I recall, it focuses much more on the social and human elements. (I never bothered with Season 2, but I heard it was a lot worse).
PS: Based on some research and deduction, I wrote a while back on what the extra/lost episodes of Gundam X might have loosely covered. I'll paste it here, as I think you'll find it interesting:
"***...the New United Nations had been hinted at through the Frosts, Aimzat, and others up to this point, so it was great to see it moving to the fore of the story. And the Estard Arc woke up the Freeden and Garroad to the realities of the changing world. Unfortunately, I think the whole payoff of this was cheated by the episodes being cut down. I think around the Estard Arc is when the series got cut down, because there have been notes (even supposed design specs like this one http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/ ... ansaMS.jpg) of Ennil getting an Esperanza-upgraded Gundam, and after Estard, with the New Federation advancing its forces, we have her combating them with a blue Jenice on Saints Island (conveniently timed and placed instead of the would-be blue-accented Esperanza II Gundam).
I have a feeling the global skirmishes with the New Federation were meant to be played out in more episodes, with Carris' new Vulture Resistance group and (perhaps Estard's Prince Willis?) coming to play larger roles as the Space Revolutionary Army made landings and grabs for power, as well: SEE MAHQ's Episode 30 Review: ("In Europe, Bloodman decides to make public the news that the SRA forces still exist. He doesn't want the SRA forces to land in North America and team up with Vultures, so he believes announcing this news will show the people they still have an enemy in space and that the old war isn't over.") WOW! (And in episode 35, Carris confirms that something along these lines has been developing off-camera). ...And speaking of that off-camera "Vulture coalition," if it included Carris' Fort Severn forces, it'd also make total sense to bring back the surviving Vultures who helped Jamil in the Alternative Arc, especially Roso Intenso, since she seemed to have a thing for Jamil. Really bring things full circle).
In all honesty, the writers condensed things so tightly in the last quarter of the series due to episode constraints, that it's hard to know where exactly new episodes would fit. However, it could only have improved upon the very exciting developments that were going on with the politics of the UN and Space Revolutionary Army. (And there'd probably be some better animation moments, too). If I were to hazard my best guess, I'd say the story between episodes 29 and 36 would have been altered to highlight more dramatically the SRA's coming to Earth and include the "North American opposition forces" noted by Carris in episode 35, as well as more time with Satellicon and the colony situation in space (maybe 4 to 5 more episodes there?). Then, the rest of the episodes would be piled on toward the end, between episodes 36 and 39, to flesh out the transition to, and execution of, the story/battle of the DOME arc. In these episodes, also, I'd imagine there'd be more use/development of Paula, Lancerow, Nichola, and Ennil, as well as the other G-Falcon combos only teased at in episode 36 ("Kid shows Pala a computer illustration showing that the G-Falcon can combine with all the Old UNE's Gundam types. It can combine with the Airmaster Burst for high mobility, or it can combine with the Leopard Destroy to make it capable of flight."--GX MAHQ Review). Moreover, the Double-X model kit comes with an assortment of weapons never used in the series that likely would have gotten some air time. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10020408a/20/1 (notice the ball-and-chain hammer, spear, the double-sided beam saber, and some sort of new launcher weapon).
Regardless, with what's in Gundam X as it was, I still think it's really enjoyable and memorable. I think it was really ingenious and ambitious to try to start with a story where a world has no rules, and build toward one where order returns by force and people have to struggle to figure out what the right new world setup should be. You really have to give it credit for it being cut short so late in the game, yet the creators managing to pull together a coherent ending.***"
Last edited by LightningCount on Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My Mecha/Scifi Novels: https://www.goodreads.com/series/168677 ... -war-arm-x
"May you rest in peace, the betrayed and outraged Milliardo Peacecraft."
Most-Wanted Gundam Anime: Episode Zero, Blue Destiny, Rise from the Ashes, Crossbone
"May you rest in peace, the betrayed and outraged Milliardo Peacecraft."
Most-Wanted Gundam Anime: Episode Zero, Blue Destiny, Rise from the Ashes, Crossbone
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
oh, by no means am I giving up on Gundam Wing... I just decided that instead of watching these series in a disjointed format, I'll start from the very beginning and work my way to Gundam Wing (I plan on sitting through everything Gundam from start to finish as soon as I conclude Gunslinger Girl). Believe me, I'm still very enthused about watching Wing.
I'll have to read up on what you typed up for Gundam X later tonight, currently a bit preoccupied... but I did see the bit where you stated that there may have been upgrades to Enil's mobile suit, as well as others mechas in the show as well. I'm lookin' forward to reading up about what you felt the un-aired episodes could have covered... maybe it will help bring a better sense of closure to the plot points that had a rushed conclusion.
I really, REALLY loved Gundam X, though... I'm so happy I've decided to get into the Gundam universe... I now find myself wanting to buy collectibles and all this other fanboy stuff as well. I love it.
I'll have to read up on what you typed up for Gundam X later tonight, currently a bit preoccupied... but I did see the bit where you stated that there may have been upgrades to Enil's mobile suit, as well as others mechas in the show as well. I'm lookin' forward to reading up about what you felt the un-aired episodes could have covered... maybe it will help bring a better sense of closure to the plot points that had a rushed conclusion.
I really, REALLY loved Gundam X, though... I'm so happy I've decided to get into the Gundam universe... I now find myself wanting to buy collectibles and all this other fanboy stuff as well. I love it.
- Mu La Flaga
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:06 am
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
So watched first disk of 10 of Eureka Seven.
Be interesting to see how this series goes over time, epiosde 5 was rather fun/fanservicy/silly all in all.
Can see Eureka and Renton growing a little already, as well as Talho and Holland.
Be interesting to see how this series goes over time, epiosde 5 was rather fun/fanservicy/silly all in all.
Can see Eureka and Renton growing a little already, as well as Talho and Holland.
- LightningCount
- Posts: 918
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:02 pm
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
All right. That'll certainly give you a broader perspective off the bat than I had going in. It'll be interesting to see how that affects your view of future shows. Well, on the plus side, not that 0079 isn't good, but you'll get to the outstanding 0080 pretty soon, since though it's a side-story OVA, it takes place right after 0079 (you already saw 08th MS Team and that takes place during 0079 after episode 10 or so).TetraVaal wrote:oh, by no means am I giving up on Gundam Wing... I just decided that instead of watching these series in a disjointed format, I'll start from the very beginning and work my way to Gundam Wing (I plan on sitting through everything Gundam from start to finish as soon as I conclude Gunslinger Girl). Believe me, I'm still very enthused about watching Wing.
Me, I saw portions of 0079, 0080, and 0083, then all of Wing, all of 0079, all of 08th Team, all of 0080, all of 0083, all of G-Gundam, Char's Counterattack (movie), all of SEED, Gundam F-91 (movie), all of SEED Destiny, all of SEED Stargazer, all of X, and all of 00 S1 & 2, and one episode of Unicorn. I have only seen a little over half of Zeta (but know most of its remaining plot points, and haven't been totally compelled by it contrary to popular opinion), have not seen ZZ (and don't have much interest in it), have seen a few episodes of Victory (which does seem rather good so far), and have yet to see Turn-A (which also looks interesting).
It might be a good idea what you're doing, as the broader North American fanbase kind of crumbled after going from Wing to 0079 in the early 2000s. (though, it's probably not as big of a deal today). Back before SEED or 00, and when it aired in NA, there wasn't anything remotely "high-octane" as Wing as far as pacing, action, intensity of characters, and its self-containment of a large & involved political story, and people had trouble transitioning to earlier Gundam stories. (Many contend that if Gundam X had come over right after Wing, the transition and retainment of NA viewers/fans would have been smoother, since those two series are kind of like cousins). But now, I think that Gundam has gotten more diverse. With the presentation aspect in Unicorn and the dynamic strength and speed of the Gundams in SEED and 00, the franchise is probably more balanced and accessible as a whole for people coming in. What I mean by that is you can choose your style of Gundam and have more chances to transition to its various forms less jarringly, since, by and large, the contrast isn't totally night and day as it once was, but rather shades of night and day. Then again, maybe I'm wrong, as with more series, it is harder to know where to start.
...Anyway, in case you need to know the timelines:
Universal Century: 0079, 08th MS Team, 0080: War in the Pocket, 0083: Stardust Memory, Zeta, ZZ, Char's Counterattack, Unicorn, F-91 (intended as a series but cut into a movie instead), Victory, G-Saviour (98% horrible live-action movie; rumor has it it was struck from the canon).
Future Century: Mobile Fighter: G-Gundam
After Colony: New Mobile Report: Gundam Wing (aka Mobile Suit Gundam Wing), Endless Waltz (two different versions, OVA & Movie).
After War: After War: Gundam X
Correct Century: Turn-A Gundam
Cosmic Era: Gundam SEED, SEED Destiny, SEED Stargazer
Anno Domini: Gundam 00 S1, S2, A Wakening of the Trailblazer
By the way, how do you compare Gundam 00 with 08th MS Team, Unicorn, and Gundam X? Just curious given that you're just coming into the franchise.
I'll just add that I still need to get to Episode 2 of Unicorn, which I've heard good things about. But based on Episode 1, I liked the animation, music, the MS, and the villains, and found its story somewhat interesting. But on the other hand, it was largely too similar to older UC series and/or, in scenes, shows like SDF Macross/Robotech in its setup; it lost some good characters really fast to death; and I'm concerned that it will bog itself down by becoming obsessed with the "Red Comet" rather than treading new ground. Time will tell.
I never did finish Eureka 7. I got to the last quarter of the series, though. (ep 42 or so?) While some of its gimmicks/goofiness bothered me, it had an interesting story in theory, stretches of great writing, and excellent animation. I think my biggest complaint is its length. I think if it was shorter, it would have been a better series; it meanders too much and loses its rhythm and emotional punch, making it less memorable. Renton and Eureka were too close to pairs I had seen in the past for my taste, like in Zoids: Chaotic Century/Guardian Force and Gundam X, and a lot less likable than those ones, IMO. E7 has fantastic OP and ED music, however. I do contend that this series was a catalyst for egging Gainax on to do Gurren Lagan. Somehow I feel these two series are connected, despite their vast differences. Not totally sure why, but when I saw Gurren, I thought, "This is Gainax's response to Eureka 7." (Now that I think of it, I dropped off on Gurren in the last quarter too...Huh).Mu La Flaga wrote:So watched first disk of 10 of Eureka Seven.
Be interesting to see how this series goes over time...
My Mecha/Scifi Novels: https://www.goodreads.com/series/168677 ... -war-arm-x
"May you rest in peace, the betrayed and outraged Milliardo Peacecraft."
Most-Wanted Gundam Anime: Episode Zero, Blue Destiny, Rise from the Ashes, Crossbone
"May you rest in peace, the betrayed and outraged Milliardo Peacecraft."
Most-Wanted Gundam Anime: Episode Zero, Blue Destiny, Rise from the Ashes, Crossbone
Re: What's Your Current Anime? Mk II
I definitely plan on going in a specific order now, I'll be sure to even include stuff like Gundam F-91 as well, but there's no way in hell I'm wasting my time on G-Saviour. I'm just going to pretend that doesn't even exist.
I'm also interested in seeing how my views come along once I conclude the original Gundam shows and compare em' with the more modern versions. As for preference, I definitely love the more agile/speed oriented Gundams, but it seems like virtually EVERY Gundam has above average mobility, so I doubt that preference will really weigh any merit towards how I feel about the mechs themselves. All I want is, compelling storytelling and interesting characters... and so far, I feel like I've gotten that out of every Gundam show/OAV I've watched so far (with the exception of season 2 for Gundam 00). I will also say that I prefer a show with darker/gritty landscapes and subject matter, which I hear Zeta Gundam provides a significant amount of, so I can't wait for that show.
Also, thanks for breaking down the timelines. I already have the Universal Century and After War timelines figured out, but its nice to now know every show's mythology and background information, much appreciated.
as for how I compare Gundam 00, Unicorn, 08th MS Team, and Gundam X... well, I definitely put Gundam 08th MS Team as the best of those so far, with Gundam X following that, and then Gundam Unicorn being right there with Gundam X so far. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of Gundam 00, especially the story arc for Setsuna... who is just incredible, IMO. There's just something about his character being so unapologetic and straightforward that makes him so cool. But yeah, Gundam 00 collectively is just slightly above mediocre, as the second season doesn't come close to being as compelling as the first season.
I'm also interested in seeing how my views come along once I conclude the original Gundam shows and compare em' with the more modern versions. As for preference, I definitely love the more agile/speed oriented Gundams, but it seems like virtually EVERY Gundam has above average mobility, so I doubt that preference will really weigh any merit towards how I feel about the mechs themselves. All I want is, compelling storytelling and interesting characters... and so far, I feel like I've gotten that out of every Gundam show/OAV I've watched so far (with the exception of season 2 for Gundam 00). I will also say that I prefer a show with darker/gritty landscapes and subject matter, which I hear Zeta Gundam provides a significant amount of, so I can't wait for that show.
Also, thanks for breaking down the timelines. I already have the Universal Century and After War timelines figured out, but its nice to now know every show's mythology and background information, much appreciated.
as for how I compare Gundam 00, Unicorn, 08th MS Team, and Gundam X... well, I definitely put Gundam 08th MS Team as the best of those so far, with Gundam X following that, and then Gundam Unicorn being right there with Gundam X so far. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of Gundam 00, especially the story arc for Setsuna... who is just incredible, IMO. There's just something about his character being so unapologetic and straightforward that makes him so cool. But yeah, Gundam 00 collectively is just slightly above mediocre, as the second season doesn't come close to being as compelling as the first season.