Gundam F91: Review + All you Need to Know

Title	Mobile Suit Gundam F91
Director	Yoshiyuki Tomino
Runtime	115 minutes
Year	1991
Rating	★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

Gundam F91 is a movie that was released in Japan in 1991.

It is the second Gundam film to be set in the “Universal Century” timeline, after Char’s Counterattack.

The movie takes place in the year UC 0123, 27 years after the events of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series.

It is considered to be the first Late UC entry in the franchise.

Synopsis of Gundam F91

Read below to know a little more about this fantastic movie:

The story follows a young man named Seabook Arno. He is a talented engineer and a pilot, but he has no interest in the war that is raging between the Earth Federation and the Crossbone Vanguard. However, his life changes when he meets Cecily Fairchild, the daughter of the leader of the Crossbone Vanguard. They become friends, but their friendship is tested when the Crossbone Vanguard launches an attack on Frontier IV.

This is a very different entry in the franchise for me, and I’ll explain a little more why I like it so much.

Review of Gundam F91

Gundam F91 received mixed reviews from both critics and fans of the Gundam franchise. However, I’ll defend it.

Gundam F91 is a breathe of fresh air in the Gundam Universal century timeline. With a completely new cast, it shows yet again a war between the Federation forces and a rebel group (in this case, the Crossbone Vanguard). Some people feel it’s rushed, and I recognize it, but it focuses better in the world-building and action scenes, which are both perfect.

In general, some praised the animation and the action scenes, while others criticized the movie for its rushed pacing and lack of character development.

The movie has average ratings on both IMDb and MyAnimeList, with some reviewers calling it a “forgettable entry” in the Gundam franchise.

However, it’s a very solid entry and you should not skip it – especially if you saw the Early UC shows and want more!

• Story: very interesting, but it’s not that much different from the original show. 3/5.
• Characters: characters in the show are good, but only some of them have any development at all, since it’s a standalone movie. I’ll give it 3/5.
• Animation: the best aspect of this movie. I can’t give it such another rating: 5/5.
• Music: As always, perfect for everyone who hears it. 5/5.
• Overall: I love it and I think it’s a must watch for everyone who loves Gundam, but I know of its flaws. So 4/5 stars.

Characters of Gundam F91

There aren’t many characters who stand out in the movie, since it’s very short to really develop the personalities of vereyone. However, some of the main cast include:

Seabook Arno – The protagonist of the movie, Seabook is a skilled pilot and engineer who is forced to take part in the war between the Earth Federation and the Crossbone Vanguard.

Cecily Fairchild – The daughter of the leader of the Crossbone Vanguard, Cecily befriends Seabook and tries to convince him to join her cause.

Carozzo “Iron Mask” Ronah – The main antagonist of the movie, Carozzo is the leader of the Crossbone Vanguard and is determined to conquer the Earth Federation.

Trivia of Gundam F91

Here are some cool facts about the movie:

• Some of the music in the score is similar to the music in John Williams’ score for the Empire Strikes Back. For example, the beginning of the Crossbone Vanguard and Imperial March are almost the same, and the F91 battle theme is similar to the music when the characters escape from Bespin in Empire Strikes Back.
• At 11 minutes and 39 seconds into the movie, you can see a sign for “Amuro Bank.”
• The current home video release of the movie is a shorter version of the original, with some changes to the animation, so it matches the older version.
• In the “Miss Countryside” contest at the beginning of the movie, there’s a character in the background wearing a jacket that says “Beautiful Life Tomino,” which is a reference to Yoshiyuki Tomino, who helped create Gundam.

Positive Points of Gundam F91

Many people praise the movie for one thing in common: the quality animation.

One of the biggest strengths of Gundam F91 is its animation. The movie was produced by Sunrise, the same studio that has been responsible for the animation of most of the Gundam series, and the quality of the animation is top-notch. The action scenes are exciting to watch.

I also like that the anime is direct to the point. I wonder sometimes how it would be as a complete series, but I love it the way it is.

Negative Points of Gundam F91

The pacing is the main complaint about the movie. I’ll detail what seems to be the problem below.

One of the most significant issues with Gundam F91 is its pacing. The movie tries to fit too much into its runtime, resulting in a rushed narrative that doesn’t give enough time for the story or characters to develop fully.

As a result, some plot points and character motivations feel underdeveloped and unsatisfying.

However, it doesn’t make it a bad show. On the contraty, I think the lore is quite good – altought it’s not that detailed.

Viewers who are not familiar with the Universal Century timeline might find it challenging to understand the context and significance of some events and factions.

However, I’d say it doesn’t spoil the experience if it’s your first Gundam show. So give it a try!

Should you watch Gundam F91?

So, what about the vinal veredict? Here we go.

Gundam F91 is still worth watching for fans of the Gundam franchise and mecha anime in general. The movie features impressive and well-animated action sequences that showcase the franchise’s iconic mobile suits. It is also a good starting point for viewers who are new to the Gundam franchise, since it is as a standalone movie set in the UC.

The designs of the new mobile suits featured in the movie are also some of the most striking and memorable in the Gundam franchise, making them a treat for fans of mecha design.

Additionally, the movie’s themes of family, identity, and the cost of war are handled well and provide some emotional depth to the story.

Seabook’s struggles to reconcile his past and his present, as well as his relationships with his friends and family, are compelling and relatable.

As a standalone movie set in the Universal Century timeline, it requires no prior knowledge of the franchise’s lore and can serve as an introduction to the series’ themes and aesthetics.

Questions about Gundam F91

Here are the main questions about the show:

Is Gunam F91 Late UC?

Gundam F91 is the first entry in the Universal Century Gundam franchise to be considered “Late UC”, since it takes place a while after the events in Char’s Counterattack.

Is F91 a Gundam?

F91 is the name of the main Gundam model in the movie “Mobile Suit Gundam F91”.

Is Gundam F91 strong?

Gundam F91 is a strong mecha, but it’s debatable if it’s stronger than the Nu Gundam or the Unicorn Gundam. Some people think it’s stronger than both, some people don’t.

What year does Gundam F91 takes place?

Gundam F91 takes place in the year Universal Century 123.