Kidô Butôden Jî Gandamu

G Gundam is a rapid departure from the previous series(and even those that followed it) making it truely unique as far as Gundam series go. Instead of being secret weapons or prototypes embroiled in battles between the Earth and the space colonies, the Gundams are fighters embroiled in a tournament. This makes for truely bizzare Gundam designs, such as a Gundam that transforms into a windmill, a female Gundam, and a fish Gundam. However, don't be fooled by the campiness-"G Gundam" hides a lot of complexity underneath it's gaudy look.

This series is obviously the commercial wing of the Gundam saga. Though it does have some character development and such, it pales in comparison to the other Gundam series. Besides, this show betrays the idea of a united humanity that is present in all the other series (no country is mentioned by name in any of the series except for geographical reference). The gundam for every country idea is easily marketed, easily seen at the local toy store, where G Gundam action figures heavily outnumber other Gundam models or figures. In short, mainly a trailer for the toy, like so many other cartoon shows these days. See Gundam Wing, 0080, 0083, Mobile Suit Gundam, or 08th MS Team for a much better taste of the Gundam saga.

Personally I find that G Gundam is the best of the Gundam Saga. My reasons are as follows:

The Message: All gundam shows were designed to portray the image that "war is heck" however they do so with a war. So much that it almost blocks out the mesage. G Gundam shows us a different way of keeping order: a tournament. It also shows us how war is bad throughthe idea of the Chaos war that took place before the show began in FC 02. (This is something only a true fan knows)

The plot: Okay, I must admit that the breakup of time is shaky, Ep 1=January Ep 6=June Ep 12=October Ep 18-24= November then the last episodes take place in December or so I figure it. Other than that it takes you through building friedshps, relationships, tough desicions, awesome mech battles, and a few shot of women's unmentionables or women bathing in episode 19 (Thank you for that moment of perversion, Sai Saici)

The Mech design: Alot more thought goes into these mechs, the researchers found out the history and present of each nation and put one important aspect into the Gundam. e.x. the reason the Nobel Gundam looks like a woman is bcause there are more females than males in swedens current populaton

The characters: Where else are you going to see an American boxer, a perverted Chinese midget teenage martial artist, A Russian convict, a French nobleman and a Japanese dude with major tude problems working together to save the world with giant robots? Included in the cast are several Japanese officials (Or rather Neo-Japanese as the story goes). A Neo-Japanese doctor, a crazy Neo Hong Kong martial artist with a bad cough, 4 annoying Neo-American women, A really creepy Neo-Italian MAFIA boss, a Neo-Swedish orphan and more!

Like all entries in the Gundam universe, this is set far in the future with people living on earth and in space colonies.The story goes that earth has been rather messed up by pollution and so each country makes itself a colony in space(which look like floating islands).To determine who will rule the earth the gundam fight is held.So each country sends a gundam that is repesentitive of itself and a style of fighting unique to itself to be entered in this tournament.The mech designs were pretty cool although a few of them seemed somewhat stereotypical like Neo Spain's Matador Gundam.The show offers some relatively decent charecter developments but not all that much intricate plot.This should please gundam fans and some non gundam fans since its not that hard to follow and can simply be watched just for the heck of it.

Mobile Fighter G Gundam. One of my personal favorites (and believe me, I have seen every Gundam series around. Blarg to Victory Gundam! Blarg, I say!) Anyway. This anime is often overlooked for it's rather flashy, and cheesy setting and mechs. And I agree, it has it's bad points, often in a little bit of plot inconsistancy. (Neo England's fighter goes evil? What?) However, it's other features save it. The Gundams and the fighters themselves are incredibly diverse and interesting. You've got a boxer wanting to live out the American Dream, a Russian space pirate fighting for his comrades, a French knight... not to mention a German ninja! Other than the few holes, the plot is very interesting, and can get rather emotional at times. Mecha designs are so diverse, you never get the same thing twice, save when the Shining becomes the God Gundam. You've got a bit of symbolism, in God Gundam vs. Devil Gundam, and it's interesting to note that the Shuffle Alliance is almost exactly the UN Security Council. I must say, though, the worst thing about this anime is it's dub. It makes me want to cry. They rename things for no reason. Some I can understand, but still think should be unchanged. (God Gundam, Devil Gundam, possibly Tequila Gundam) Others are changed for absolutely no reason. Lumber Gundam, based around a lumberjack, uses axes for weapons, etc., changed to the Grizzly Gundam. Gundam Spiegel, Neo-Germany's Gundam, is changed to the Shadow Gundam. Oh no! They might not understand that the German Gundam's name is in German! Better change it! The voice actors themselves seem un-emotional, and speak halting-ly. If you have the option, never watch it. Watch it subbed instead. Though I do admit the ending is uber-cheesy. LOVE LOVE TENKYOKEN!