Search DVJ 2.0

Pull Quote:

These episodes also introduce the beginnings of the incredible soap opera that is Gundam Wing.

DVJ Photo

Adverts

Gundam Wing

Operation 1

Review by Matthew Anderson

49 Episode TV Series

Company: Bandai Entertainment

Running Time: 125 minutes

Region: 1

Rated: PG (Violence and mild language)

EXTERNAL EXAM

It is the year After Colony 195.

The United Earth Sphere Alliance consists of the rich elite on Terra, with the poorer, second class citizens living in space on cramped colonies. The Earth Sphere's control over space is maintained by the Mobil suit. Fast, maneuverable, and capable of working in any environment, it is the Earth Sphere's key to their totalitarian rule.

To counter the Earth Sphere, scientists on the spacecolonies create 5 super powered Mobil suits called Gundams. The Gundams, piloted by 5 young men trained in various forms of combat, attack the Earth Sphere special forces group called Oz. The leaders of Oz are the aristocratic Romerfeller Foundation, a group of bored aristocrats who want to rule the solar system their way.

Heero Yui is a Gundam pilot. His arrival is noticed by Zechs Marquies, an Oz Mobil suit pilot. Knowing that his mission has been compromised, he attempts to destroy his Gundam Unfortunately, his plan fails and Heero inadvertently meets Relena Dorlan, the daughter of an Earth Sphere ambassador. Now with another loose end to take care of, Heero not only has to destroy his Mobil suit, but kill her as well. However, young Duo Maxwell, another Gundam pilot, has a few things to say about that.

DVD VISION TEST

VIDEO: Good video quality for this premiere release. Looking much better than their Japanese LD release, the colors are richer and fuller. The animation itself looks more professional than the broadcast version. In fact, the video is so good, that you can see the difference between in-between animation and key cell.

AUDIO: Both tracks are great, with good mixture on both. Decent directionality, but not a fantastic surround sound mix. The Japanese tack sounds a little more muffled.

EDITS: Clean open and close animation are used, with English credits. With this DVD, footage excised when the series was broadcast on Cartoon Network has been replaced. The omitted"harsh" language has been restored as well.

EXTRAS: Typical for Bandai releases, a few character and mecha bios. Nothing else.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: One of the "Neo Gundam" stories, and perhaps the most popular of all the Gundam series. Hajime Yatate (Gasaraki creator) has given us a complex robot opera. Like many American Soap Opera's, characters switch sides, fight each other, and have almost no strong relationships. While the scripts are appealing and

interesting, Gundam Wing can get a little dull at times.

ACTING: A bit of a disappointment, compared to Bandai's "Cowboy Bebop" release. Most of the American voice actors seem to deliver their lines a bit on the flat side. Not a lot of emotional range. On the Japanese side, excellent. Great depth and range. Their battle cries are fantastic.

FAN SERVICE: None. This is perhaps one of the most chaste anime ever to be produced. No bouncing breasts, no panty shots, no sex. If you are looking for dirty old men anime, don't look here.

FINAL EXAM

Gundam Wing truly became a breakout series in both Japan and the US. With an OVA, Movie, and tons of manga (both legit and beshonen-ai) to its name, this is the closest that any Gundam series (with the exception of Gundam Seed) has come to the popularity of the original Gundam

The first five episodes are introductory episodes. We meet the majority of the characters in the series, with the focus mostly on Gundam pilots Heero and Duo and Oz Mobil Suit ace Zechs. We discover that none of the Gundam pilots knew of the other existence. We also see the political machinations of Oz leader Treise Kushranada, who is working on destabilizing the tenuous hold the Earth Sphere has on the known universe.

These episodes also introduce the beginnings of the incredible soap opera that is Gundam Wing. Much like American soaps, there are chaste romances, surprise relationship twists, and plenty of under handed tricks.

Lastly, while you do get to see some neat mecha battles, they really only serve as plot contrivances to have the 5 Gundam pilots meet. While it does give us a high action count, more fighting, less talking would have been better.

As much as I enjoy Gundam Wing, it is not the best Gundam series. There are two reasons for this: the English acting, and the soap opera theatrics.

The English acting is not the best. There is little or no emotion in the actors portrayal, even in intense scenes. The yells of anger seem forced, and one wonder what kind of passion lives in Zechs, because lord know his voice gives no clue.

I like drama, but Gundam Wing tries too hard to be soap opera. The true relationship between Relena and her father is so cliques, I was surprised anyone fell for it. With the characters being good for a few episodes, then they turn bad, then they switch sides, then repent, it gets confusing, and even annoying.

In conclusion, while Gundam Wing is far superior to the original Gundam TV series, it is not necessarily the best of the "Gundam Universe". However, there is no denying that Gundam Wing will remain the most popular of the Gundam series, on both sides of the Pacific.

Return to Top

Back to the DVD Review Page