Top 5 ‘What the hell were these characters doing?’ in Gundam

#5 - Wang Liu Mei (Gundam 00): Wang Liu Mei and her bodyguard/brother Hong Long are introduced early on in the first season of Gundam 00 with the implication that they will be important to the grander plot. They seem to be something of investors in the idea that Celestial Being can in fact succeed with their goal of eradicating war from the world. Which, admirable an ideal as it is, is in fact not the only deck Wang Liu Mei has her money bet on. As we find out in season two, she’s investing in the Innovators as well, presumably because she’s just that greedy and has a desire to come out of this conflict a winner. Except, apparently she didn’t make much of a plan for the event that she might not live to the end of the whole ordeal to actually see a return on her investments. Considering that Wang Liu Mei and her brother come from a rich and influential family line, one would assume they’d have put precautions in place in the event that things went belly-up. And when they do meet their untimely ends, it has zero impact on either Celestial Being or the Innovators.

#4 - Lupe Cineau (Victory Gundam) – Lupe Cineau has a few appearances over the course of Victory Gundam, and is shown to be a capable fighter in close quarters as well as in the cockpit of one of the Zansacre Empire’s robot-riding-inside-of-a-giant-tire Gedlav mobile suits. Around the midway point of the series, she manages to capture Uso with the help of Katejina Loos. And how does Cineau opt to interrogate the League Militaire’s ace pilot? By stripping down and taking a bath with the teenage boy. Granted, she intends to torture him by dunking him under and nearly drowning him, but why bother having both of them naked? There’s some very strange sexual tension brought on by this, while Uso is both confused and opposed to the situation. While I understand Cineau’s desire to keep Uso alive in order to try and pry information from him, this seems like the most half-baked torture method she could have devised, and considering how much her men seem to be incredibly loyal and intimidated by her, one would think she might seek out a plan that better expressed her finesse and power during the decent chunks of time where she is absent.

#3 - The other Zabi brother (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin) – The Zabi family served as the main antagonists in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and helped fuel Char’s convictions and ideals as son of Zeon Zum Deikun. They are gradually taken out one by one as the Federation forces gain a foothold in colony space and Char goes about exacting his revenge upon those who twisted the vision of spacenoid independence his father had in mind. Garma, Gihren, Dozle, and Kycilia all carry out important roles in the One Year War, and go out in (generally) spectacular fashion. But there is one Zabi family member who never showed up in the original series. Cicero Zabi (otherwise known as Sasro) was a sibling of the other, more well-recognized Zabi children, but died before the One Year War even began. The cause of his death? Assassination at the hands of loyalists to the ideals of Zeon Zum Deikun, many of whom believed Deikun’s death was caused by Cicero’s father. Apparently Cicero was so unmemorable (even to his own family members) that he was never mentioned again, only seeing a brief inclusion in the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin manga.

#2 - Lord Djibril (SEED Destiny) – Opposite to Durandal, Lord Djibril is in charge of all the operations carried out by Logos. He appears to indulge in a rich and lavish lifestyle, owning a mansion and sipping red wines while watching over the mobile suit battles he helped to orchestrate from his high-tech bunker full of monitors. And… that’s basically it. Whereas Durandal is shown travelling from place to place, meeting with ZAFT’s mobile suit pilots, and helping to boost his own political image to gain support from the masses, Djibril just sits in his comfy chair for nearly the entirety of the series like Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget until he is eventually killed.

#1 - Wufei (Gundam Wing) – Only a handful of Gundam series over the years have dared try and divvy up the spotlight between multiple lead protagonists, and while some might roll their eyes at Gundam Wing’s reliance on five pretty boys to try and boost the show’s viewership, one of my biggest problems with it lies in the fact that not all of the lead pilots see equal screen time. Wufei receives the least by far, and frankly I wonder if the writers had much of a story in mind for him due to how uninvolved he is for the vast majority of the anime. Sure, Heero and Duo receive lots of screen time early on, and Quatre sees a decent degree of character exploration. But Trowa probably received the second least screen time behind Wufei, and he managed to temporarily lose his memory, join the circus, and team up with Heero to infiltrate the ranks of Oz. Wufei, on the other hand, spent his days meditating with Shenlong by a waterfall, and had one sword fight with Treize before receiving one of the antagonist’s many famous monologues, leading Wufei to yell in frustration. He does show up conveniently at the end of the series and plays a notably more important role in Endless Waltz. But really, if you’re going to write in five characters to share the lead role, you ought to have a game plan in mind for all of them and not forget one until the series is practically over.

Top 5 Alternate Universe Gundam series

As I'm sure many of you are well aware, I am a huge fan of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. I began watching 08th MS Team and G Gundam during Toonami's heyday, and jumped back in with 0083: Stardust Memory when I resumed watching anime on a regular basis a few years ago. Generally speaking, I am partial to the Universal Century series. I've found that - while not all are created equal - they do tend to trump the alternate universe series in terms of consistent plot development and likeable characters. However, I have viewed all of the alternate universe anime, save for Gundam AGE, and found a few series that really stood out to me as being impeccably well done and especially entertaining.

#5 - Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz: I should preface this by stating that I do not care much for the Gundam Wing series. The characters were so bland and one-dimensional and the plot ran in circles for nearly the entire run. Endless Waltz managed to turn all of that around to create a follow-up story that was not just stomachable, it was downright awesome. I find it curious that one hour and a half film did more to make me feel for and care about a small cast of characters than an entire forty-nine episode series did, and I wonder how much different Gundam Wing would have been had they cut out all the monologuing, emo Heero moments, and declarations of "it's a Gundam!" to focus instead on balancing the action and fun factor as well as Endless Waltz managed to.

#4 - Gundam 00: The second-most recent alternate universe series, Gundam 00 break from the military strategies so prominent in the Universal Century, but does not force ridiculous mobile suit designs on viewers. Instead, Gundam 00 presents a perfect balance between the stylized and realistic sensibilities, and is host to some of the most creative yet practical mobile suit designs to date. Giant robots aside, the concept of a unified world that is so frequently visited between the two seasons is very probable, considering the chronology of the series. While each season has its up and downs, the element of mystery surrounding the Gundam Meisters, Veda, and the Innovators keeps the experience interesting, and the fact that the plot allows characters to develop through both successes and failures adds a human level to the story.

#3 - After War Gundam X: To be completely honest, the execution of Gundam 00's story is probably done with fewer flaws. But Gundam X is such a bold and different Gundam series that I can't help but place it near the top of the stack. The ravaged Earth that resulted from a series of colony drops presents an incredibly cool setting that shapes the characters, forcing them to adapt to a wasteland of a planet. Garrod Ran is not only one of the youngest lead pilots to date, he's also one of the funniest. His relationship with Tifa Adil makes for one of the cutest and endearing romantic subplots in all of Gundam. Gundam X presents a perfect balance of fun action scenes and serious plot, with a younger cast trying to learn from the mistakes of the previous generation.

#2 - Gundam SEED Stargazer: A spinoff that deserves recognition as its own sequel series in the Gundam SEED storyline, this three episode OVA accomplishes so much in so little time. It chronicles the events that follow the Break the World Incident from SEED Destiny. Earth is subjected to both social and environmental chaos, and the DSSD races against time to complete their deep-space exploration Gundam, the Stargazer, before the forces of Phantom Pain find and destroy it. It's a unique series in the SEED universe, not only because of its notably darker tone, but because neither side is explicitly stated to be 'good' or 'bad'. The events that unfold are left entirely up to viewer discretion.

#1 - Turn A Gundam: The most daring Gundam series of them all, Turn A takes place in a retro-future where technology has reverted to roughly the same level as it was during World War I. Biplanes fly alongside mobile suits as the Moonrace humans return to Earth in hopes of claiming a territory for their own settlement. Unfortunately, not all of the Moonrace believe in the same strategy, and it quickly becomes apparent that a number of individuals share a stake in how this landmark meeting of Moonrace and Earth dwellers will ultimately play out. The rich culture cultivated in the anime, combined with the multiple layers that drive the primary conflict makes for a genuinely excellent story. But what really tops it all off is the brilliant cast of incredibly diverse characters - lead pilot Loran Cehack among the best of the best. Loran wishes that the Moonrace and Earth dwellers could all live in peace, but he also realizes that sometimes difficult decisions must be made in order to come to a peaceful resolution. He is perhaps the most believably human lead character in any Gundam series to date, and - gorgeous animation and breathtaking soundtrack aside - makes the entire experience of viewing Turn A Gundam so wondrous and memorable.

2011 Year in Review: Anime

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: A step up from its predecessor, SEED Destiny spotlights a new lead character, Shinn Asuka, who alongside Athrun Zala, delivers a far more interesting narrative than Kira Yamato ever did in Gundam SEED. SEED Destiny evokes a more genuine sense of the difficulties in alliance and war, by painting the picture with the ambitions of all the major players, and spinning a much more intricate web of politics and deceit. The later episodes get bogged down by the same clichés that burdened Gundam SEED, but as a whole this sequel is a significant improvement. My rating: 8.25

Full Metal Alchemist (season two): Building upon the revelations from season one, this second half takes a darker path, exploring the origins of each Homunculus and the trials the Elric brothers face from the many factions they cross paths with. Although the series deviates from the manga at points - some ways more distinctly so than others - the story remains focused on the aspects of growing up and familial responsibility conveyed through Edward and Alphonse. The added backstories of Lust and Greed provide extra fuel to the emotional drive. Despite a few episodes that feel out of place, season two of FMA provides a fitting second half to the contemporary classic that is the story of the brothers Elric. My rating: 9.5

Rating for series as a whole: 10

Azumanga Daioh: Part slice-of-life, part comedy, Azumanga Daioh follows a group of awkward and zany girls through their high school years. Whether it's over-analyzing social customs, obsessions with cats, or avoiding one particularly weird teacher, the girls always have an opinion to share. The art style and soundtrack take a minimalist approach, which is appropriate given the nature of this hybrid series. My rating: 8.75

Mushi-Shi: A string of largely unrelated tales fuels work for Ginko, a Mushi Master - one of a rare few who can see and interact with semi-sentient entities that influence the unseen world around humans. The series blends fantasy and ancient Japanese folklore to deliver both a fantastic narrative and genuine sense of wonder. Though many characters only appear for single episodes, they are so memorable and well-developed that it is of no consequence if Ginko decides to take on a secondary role for an episode or two. My rating: 9.5

Eden of the East: A man without any idea of who he is or was, Akira Takizawa returns to Japan to find he is a contender in a national game of sorts, with a vast amount of money and seemingly limitless resources at his disposal. Along with his newfound friend Saki Morimi and faceless voice receiving his calls known as Juiz, Takizawa must figure out who the other contenders are and use the means he has been allotted to 'save Japan', whatever that might mean. The story is told in chunks that reveal enough information to keep the story interesting, but also perpetuate the suspenseful and action-driven parts. My rating: 8.5

Summer Wars: A bit of an awkward high schooler, Kenji jumps at the opportunity of spending time with Natsuki at her grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. Once he gets there, though, Natsuki reveals that she wants Kenji to play the part of her boyfriend to impress the family. Though he is uneasy about it, Kenji decides to stay. One night, he receives a text on his phone containing a complex math equation, which he solves, not knowing it is part of the security code to the digital realm of Oz. A virus known as Love Machine then makes its way into Oz, and Kenji recruits the help of Natsuki's cousin Kazuma in hopes of stopping Love Machine from unleashing all forms of chaos on the real world. The focus on family helps push the film along at a steady pace, though the shift in who assumes the role of the main character late in the film leads to a somewhat awkward conclusion. My rating: 8.5

Full Metal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa: A follow-up to the wildly popular series, Conqueror of Shamballa displays the most creative liberties taken with the series (which is to say, the film is not grounded in the manga in any way, save for characters and locations). While Al regained his body, Ed was sent to the other side of the gate, to our world, just prior to the Nazi regime's rise. The few Homunculi are dealt with in a fitting manner, while Eckhart fills the role of a relatively appropriate yet typical villain. The story is in keeping with the darker tone of the second season, though bits of humor retain the FMA charm. My rating: 9.25

Devil May Cry: Unlike the games, this series focuses on Dante's smaller missions as he faces demons that are generally on a smaller-scale. His life among everyday humans is explored, and his relationship with young Patty provides both comedic moments and a more genuine human element. The art design and soundtrack are both killer, all of which makes the licensed anime series a standout for its kind. My rating: 8.75

Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt: A very raunchy comedy from Gainax, the series takes a while to define itself. It delivers crude sex and bathroom humor in a style not unlike the earliest episodes of South Park, but sneaks in a number of pop-culture references and parodies of shows like Transformers, which may fly over the heads of viewers not so familiar with these other works. Save for the last episode's uncalled-for curveball, the series does a good job of sticking to what it does best - delivering laughs. My rating: 7.25

Halo Legends: A series of shorts set in the Halo universe, Legends covers not only the famed SPARTANs, but the Covenant, Forerunners, and ODSTs as well. A few of the tales come across as a bit too forced, most notably a feudal Japanese duel between two Elites. While anyone familiar with the main Halo trilogy will understand each story well enough, those familiar with the novels and side games will get the most out of this anime collection. My rating: 8

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children: Two years after the conclusion of the classic PS1 game, Cloud Strife finds himself lost in this new peaceful world - that is, until a trio of Sephiroth-lookalikes show up, informing him of their intent to find "mother". Sensing trouble, Cloud and company join forces once more to stop the trio from bringing about a return of Sephiroth and subsequent destruction of their world. This is one beautifully animated film (no surprise, since it is a work by Square Enix). But only a handful of characters deliver any genuine emotions or feel necessary to the plot. My rating: 7.75

Darker Than Black: A reality where superhumans known as contractors live among regular people, hidden in the shadows, Darker Than Black places emphasis on the different organizations invested in the powers the Contractors wield as well as Heaven's Gate, the origin of all Contractors. The bulk of the story is told through Hei, a Contractor known by many as the infamous Black Reaper. On the other side of things is Misaki Kirihara, a security officer who knows each contractor not by name, but rather by their messier codes that are associated with each star in a new night sky. Stellar soundtrack and curious art style aside, Darker Than Black brings into question the concept of what it means to be human, and if Contractors are capable of such emotions. My rating: 9.5

Gundam 00: Awakening of the Trailblazer: Following the success of the series, this film explores a world headed toward absolute peace, and the uncertainties that come along with the revelations of the recently-discovered Innovators and Innovades. However, everything is turned on its head when the ELS, metallic shapeshifting extraterrestrials, make their way to Earth, drawn by the quantum brainwaves of the Innovators. While the same characters return and the story's pacing is managed well, the story is a bit off-key when compared to the constant human-centric story maintained through the two seasons of the 00 series. My rating: 8.25

Anime review: Gundam 00: Awakening of the Trailblazer

Picking up two years after the end of the show's second season, Awakening of the Trailblazer paints a picture of a world on the way to global peace. The Gundam Meisters have nearly disappeared from the public eye, though rumors of their actions against A-Laws still remain. New mobile suits are still being produced for Celestial Being, but any intervention on their part is kept in the shadows, only providing assistance when absolutely necessary - for example, Lockon's preventing an assassination attempt on Princess Marina.

There are a few points, primarily regarding the Innovators and Innovades, that see quick but satisfying wrap-ups that were not covered in the series. The Jupiter Incident, which was briefly explored in the show, takes on a significant role, as the long-forgotten research ship makes a return to Earth seemingly by itself. Though the Earth forces are able to destroy the vessel, some pieces fall through the atmosphere and attach themselves to trucks, trains, and even humans. As it turns out, the ship had been assimilated into the consciousness of the ELS, a collective of metallic shapeshifting aliens.

The Gundam Meisters head to Earth hoping find out what the ELS want, and quickly discover they are drawn to the quantum brainwaves of Innovators and supersoldiers like Allelujah. While Setsuna is still wrestling with the semi-recent discovery of his identity as an Innovator, he also finds his thoughts and reactions on the battlefield hindered by the ELS. This new threat to the Earth sphere - something predicted by Aeolia Schenberg, but not expected for many more years - prompts Tieria to assume the body of an Innovade and join his comrades to fight once more.

The film is very well-paced, allotting the better part of the first hour as setup for what is to come. Aside from Celestial Being and the military forces, the story also revisits Saji and Louise, both of whom serve dual roles - examples of what happens to those with Innovator qualities in this new world, and some of the first to experience the psychological blocks brought on by ELS presence. Even the inclusion of Kati Mannequin is merited as she fronts the defense against the ELS, though her husband Patrick Colasour is still as obnoxious, incompetent, and stupid as ever.

Some of the action scenes drag on a bit longer than necessary, and evoke some cheesy dialogue from the main characters. This is something the series did well to avoid, and it's disappointing to see the film lean toward that predictable territory. On the other hand, the non-combat scenarios are greatly executed, portraying the uncertainty with what will become of humanity in the future, as well as the personal relationships between characters like Allelujah and Marie or Setsuna and Feldt.

The animation still retains the same style as in the 00 series, though there are some notable improvements in the attention to finer details. The occasional 3D models are incorporated seamlessly in the midst of battle sequences. The soundtrack is largely the same as in the show, with a few new variations here and there.

Gundam 00: Awakening of the Trailblazer takes a lot of risks as a Gundam property. While the Innovators and Gundam Meisters tie it back to the plot of the series, the ELS carry it into brave new territory. The film has some hit-or-miss segments, though many of these are grounded more in execution than the actual plot. It may not be as perfected a formula as seen in the show, but Bandai and Sunrise should at least be commended for their first inclusion of extraterrestrial life in the long-running franchise.

My rating: 8.25 (out of 10)