Mobile Suit Gundam (1979): Review + All you need to know

Title	Mobile Suit Gundam
Director	Yoshiyuki Tomino
Year	1979
Episodes	43 (or 3 movies)
Rating	★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) is undoubtedly one of the greatest classics in mecha history – perhaps the greatest classic of them all!

It was one of the first Mecha anime I saw, and today I want to bring the main information to you, who want to watch it!

Synopsis

Mobile Suit Gundam is a Japanese science fiction anime series produced by Sunrise.

The series takes place in a universe in which humanity’s growing population has led to a shortage of habitable land, resulting in a collapse of the social order. This leads to the formation of the Principality of Zeon, a monocracy that seeks to separate itself from the Earth Federation. The conflict between these two factions forms the backdrop to the story, in which the young protagonist, Amuro Ray, becomes involved in the war after the military vehicle he travels in is attacked by a Zeon mobile suit.

The story follows Amuro as he pilots the Gundam, an advanced mobile suit, and becomes embroiled in the conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.

It’s an anime with a very large focus on history and worth watching while paying attention to!

Review

I will divide the review in topics:

Story

The story is the strong point of the anime. It’s a political plot like you rarely see, even with so many anime coming out afterwards. We are thrown into the middle of the war with only an initial context to see it unfolding and taking incredible directions.

Rating: 5/5

Characters

Another strong point, there are several charismatic characters, both from Earth Federation and Zeon. Particularly, the rivalry between Amuro and Char stands out, but there are great supporting characters, such as Bright, Ramba Ral, members of the Zabi Family, Lalah and others.

Rating: 5/5

Animation

Unfortunately, it’s the anime’s weakest point. While it was a great animation for its time, it hasn’t aged well. So I’m going to take some points away, but it’s nothing that prevents you from seeing this Gundam.

Rating: 3/5

Soundtrack

Very good, both in the background music and in the opening and, in particular, the ending. I wont give it a perfect score just because there are other Gundams with much better soundtracks.

Rating: 4/5

Overall

Despite having one or another point of imperfection, I can’t give a rating other than 5 stars for Mobile Suit Gundam. It is one of the greatest anime classics of all time and marked a new direction for the industry.

Rating: 5/5

Positive Points

Some of the positive points of the series include:

1. Well-developed characters

Gundam 0079 features a wide range of complex, well-developed characters, each with their own motivations, goals, and flaws.

2. Realistic portrayal of war

The series presents a realistic portrayal of war, including the consequences of violence and the psychological toll it takes on soldiers.

3. Iconic mecha designs

The series features iconic and memorable mecha designs that have had a lasting impact on the mecha genre.

4. thought-provoking themes

The series explores several thought-provoking themes, including the horrors of war, the consequences of technological advancement and the nature of humanity.

5. Influential in the development of the mecha genre

Mobile Suit Gundam is credited with popularizing the “real robot” subgenre of mecha anime, which focuses on real-world physics and technology rather than fantastical elements. The series had a significant influence on the development of the mecha genre as a whole.

Negative points

While Mobile Suit Gundam is generally well regarded and considered a classic of the mecha anime genre, it does have its critics. Some potential downsides to the series include:

1. Slow pace

Some viewers may find the pace of the series slow, particularly in the first half of the series.

2. Dated animation

The series’ animation, which were cutting-edge at the time of its release, may seem dated to some modern viewers.

3. Complex political plot

The series features a complex political plot with multiple factions and alliances, which can be confusing or difficult for some viewers to understand.

4. Graphic violence

The series includes graphic violence and intense battle scenes, which may be disturbing to some viewers.

5. Limited character development

While the series’ main characters are well-developed, some of the secondary characters may not get as much attention or character development.

TV Series vs Movie Trilogy

The original TV series, which consists of 43 episodes, is the first and best-known adaptation of the series. The film trilogy, consisting of three films released in 1981, is a condensed version of the TV series, with some plot elements and characters being cut or changed.

One of the main differences between the TV series and the film trilogy is the level of detail and character development. The TV series is more detailed and explores the characters and their motivations in more depth, while the film trilogy is more action-focused and condensed narrative. The TV series is also more faithful to the original story, while the film trilogy makes some changes to the plot and characterizations.

Another difference is the pacing of the story. The TV series is slower paced, with more time devoted to character development and world building, while the film trilogy is faster paced and more action focused. The TV series also has more episodes, which allows for a more expansive and overarching story.

Overall, both the TV series and film trilogy are popular and well-regarded adaptations of Mobile Suit Gundam.

The final verdict depends on which one you prefer may depend on your personal preferences and whether you prefer a more detailed, character-driven story or a more action-packed one. oriented and condensed narrative.

Characters

Some of the main characters in the series include:

Amuro Ray

The protagonist of the series. Amuro is a teenager who becomes the pilot of the experimental mobile suit, the RX-78-2 Gundam.

Char Aznable

A skilled Zeon pilot who becomes Amuro’s main rival and acts as the main antagonist of the series. He is also known as the “Red Comet” due to his red jumpsuit and distinctive helmet.

Bright Noah

The captain of the Earth Federation warship, the White Base, and a mentor figure to Amuro and the other crew members.

Sayla Mass

A White Base crew member and the younger sister of Char Aznable, who is unaware of her true identity for much of the series.

Lalah Sune

A mysterious woman who approaches Amuro and becomes a rival for his affection.

Garma Zabi

The youngest son of the leader of the Principality of Zeon and one of Char’s closest allies.

Dozle Zabi

The eldest son of the leader of the Principality of Zeon and one of the main antagonists of the series.

Ramba Ral

A Zeon ace pilot who becomes some kind of a rival/mentor for Amuro – as weird as it sounds like.

These are just some of the characters: there are many more people on the White Base and among the Zeon frames!

Cultural impact

Mobile Suit Gundam, which first aired in 1979, has had a significant cultural impact in Japan and internationally. Some of the ways the series has had an impact include:

1. Created a successful franchise

Mobile Suit Gundam has spawned numerous sequels, spin-offs, and remakes, including multiple TV series, movies, and manga.

2. Influenced the mecha genre

Mobile Suit Gundam is credited with popularizing the “real robot” subgenre of mecha anime, which focuses on real-world physics and technology rather than fantastical elements. The series had a significant influence on the development of the mecha genre as a whole.

3. Popularized anime and manga in the west

Mobile Suit Gundam was one of the first anime series to be widely released in the United States and helped to popularize anime and manga in the West.

4. Influenced Japanese popular culture

The series had a lasting impact on Japanese popular culture and inspired countless other works of fiction, including anime, manga, and video games.

5. Generated merchandise

Gundam 0079 spawned a wide range of merchandise, including model kits, toys, and other collectibles, which are popular with fans of the series.

Main Mechas

In Mobile Suit Gundam, the mechas are known as “mobile suits”. The series’ main Mobile Suits include:

RX-78-2 Gundam

The main protagonist’s Mobile Suit, the RX-78-2 Gundam is a prototype Assault Suit developed by the Earth Federation. It is equipped with a beam rifle and a beam saber and is known for its speed and agility.

Guntank

It’s a mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation, and it is a combination of a tank and a humanoid robot. It is equipped with a pair of machine guns and a pair of vulcan guns, and is designed for close-range combat.

RGM-79 GM

It’s equipped with a beam rifle, a beam saber, and a pair of vulcan guns. It is designed for general-purpose combat and is known for its versatility and reliability. The RGM-79 GM is a relatively simple and inexpensive mobile suit, and it is often used as a training unit or as a support unit.

MS-06 Zaku II

The main mobile suit of the Principality of Zeon, the MS-06 Zaku II is a mass-produced suit that is used by Zeon’s ground forces. It is equipped with a machine gun and heat hawk and is known for its sturdiness and durability.

MS-09 Dom

A heavy assault mobile suit developed by Zeon, the MS-09 Dom is equipped with a powerful beam bazooka and a heat sword. It is known for its high firepower and strong armor.

MS-14A Gelgoog

A high-performance mobile suit developed by Zeon, the MS-14A Gelgoog is equipped with a beam rifle and beam saber. It is known for its speed and agility.

MS-06R-1A Zaku II

A custom mobile suit designed by ace Zeon pilot Char Aznable, the MS-06R-1A Zaku II is equipped with a beam rifle and heat hawk. It is known for its high performance and distinctive red color scheme.

Curiosities

Mobile Suit Gundam is a classic and influential anime series with a long history, and as such there are many interesting facts and trivia surrounding it. Here are some:

1. Mobile Suit Gundam was originally planned as a trilogy, but the success of the first season led to the production of additional seasons.
2. Despite its widespread popularity, Mobile Suit Gundam was a commercial failure upon its initial release, with low ratings and poor merchandise sales.
3. The series was responsible for the creation of the “Plastic Model Gundam” or “Gunpla”, which became a popular pastime among Japanese children and continues to be popular to this day.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam has been remade and retold many times in various media, including TV series, movies, manga, and video games.
5. Mobile Suit Gundam has been dubbed into multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, and Italian, and has been released in multiple countries around the world.
6. The series was influenced by the Vietnam War and the political and social climate of Japan in the 1970s.
7. The series’ main character, Amuro Ray, was originally intended to be older, but the decision was made to make him a teenager to appeal to a younger audience.
8. The series features realistic physics, with Mobile Suits subject to the same laws of motion as real-world objects.
9. Mobile Suit Gundam was the first anime series to be broadcast on British television and helped to popularize anime in the UK.
10. Mobile Suit Gundam has a loyal and passionate fan base, with numerous fan clubs and conventions dedicated to the series.
11. It is part of the main chronology in the series, Universal Century (UC). Series that happens in alternate realities are called Alternate Universe (AU).

Should you watch Mobile Suit Gundam?

Here’s the final verdict. Is it worth it or not to see this classic?

Mobile Suit Gundam is a classic and influential anime series, well regarded by many fans of the genre. If you like mecha anime, science fiction, or complex, well-developed characters, you might enjoy watching Mobile Suit Gundam. If you’re not sure if the series will appeal to you, consider watching a few episodes to see if you like it.

However, it’s worth noting that the series might not suit everyone, as it features a complex political plot and includes graphic violence and intense battle scenes.

Additionally, some viewers may find the series’ pacing slow and the special effects may seem dated to some modern viewers.