Kidô senshi Gundam Suisei no majo

Sapphic gundam is enough to get me to watch gundam. And it was pretty good. It still has anime things that have been so ingrained in the format you can't help but try to find something eye roll worthy endearing, and sometimes I can do that. Sometimes though, stuff does not make sense because the priority is to surprise the viewer. So, watch this when you're in the mood to allow a lot of hand waves and want The Mood. You won't be sorry.

If you've heard that this is written excellence though, unfortunately this is not that. It's really fun and actually has some amount of queer rep though. And war is bad. Capitalism is bad. I can get on board with that.

Wanting for a new Gundam series to take the concept of "newtypes" in the right direction, to introduce new technologies and to elevate the stories that have been told for generations!

But it feels like this series wrote itself into a "hole" it can't wait to get out of.. imagined after properties that wished had the word "Gundam" in their name.. Taking the concept of puppeteers to the extreme, with parents playing chess with their kids in a nonsensical and unsatisfiable manner. With a plot of teenage-brides, a supposed-school where studying is not the focus and rushed settings that ultimately holds back what would be a meaningful entry. Seeing the things I'd be more interested in buried in a deeper layer and relegated to background ideas.. such as agitators and revolts, effects of technology, humanity, military issues, space politics and more! What dissatisfies me the most, is that it pretends to have some sort of Gundam-related Biotechnology (similar to newtypes), but it is just a thin-veiled power-up with no explanation.. not that something so cheap could be any interesting, anyway.

For what it is (another generic "quality anime drama" with robots, instead of filling the role of "space opera").. it is decent enough. Episodes could be watched out of order (from 5 to 9, unknowingly, in my case) and nothing felt out of place immediately.. make of that what you will. The writing, for the genre and the target audience, is okay. And the characterization and personalities are also well done. No one is particularly annoying for trope's sake, with decent action and technology.

It's just too bland for my taste to recommend.

There's only been like 4 episodes released so review is based on those.

It's not like typical Gundam series.

The animation is beautiful, the story is okay, but the main character Suletta is extremely silly. Many anime have silly moments and childish characters but Suletta is on another level. She has the mannerisms of a 5 year old child. Hiding behind people because she's too shy, crying like a toddler, which makes it even more weird that they're dueling over marriages.

They've basically made what would normally be the comic relief character the main character of the show. This makes it harder to take her seriously as a pilot when you see how she acts, it's hard to believe that she has the constitution to go into space and pilot a mobile suit. It's similar as to how in season 2 of Gundam00 the guy's ditzy girlfriend had become an elite mobile suit pilot. It just didn't fit.

They've shown little so far as per the normal themes of Gundam, but Im hoping it will get better. Even the Gundam has a more round cutesy face than normal, because the pilot is female, and females cute, shy and innocent, right?

I really hope it get's more serious later on.

So firstly let me say the good stuffs. The art and music in this anime is done pretty well.

That's it for the good stuffs so let the bad ones roll.

1. Plot. The whole plot is full of plot holes and a lot of the direction of how the story progress is due to chance/fate? Its completely random and I think I would shoot myself in the head if I am the author of the story.

2. Main character. Suletta is not an interesting person at all. They tried to make her likeable, but she is not cute or interesting, or relatable. I understand that there might be due to further character development, but I don't see anything interesting until the last episode where we finally see something going on but its too little and too late.

3. Other characters: The is no one that is particularly charismatic or interesting. Miorine is too much of a princess. Guel is too arrogant, Elan and Shaddiq are both too pretentious.

In my humble opinion, just skip this for now. If season 2 does pick up, then maybe can consider to watch this. I've regretted spending like 6 hours on it...

Looking at these reviews, most of the comments are regarding the initial episodes giving negative comments after watching a boring overutilized plot. This Gundam plot isn't it. The first couple of episodes start off cute with a non-death-related duel between characters. It starts off cute and innocent with a peaceful storyline with some episodes showing dark symbolisms of the Gundam we are used to. The character development in the show plays extremely well, and there aren't any useless/annoying or rushed characters like how several gundam anime will include: Katz. The finale really takes a huge leap into the territory of gundam throwing off viewers as what we thought was an innocent gundam builders plot was secretly a gundam masterpiece.

I really can't wait for the next season. Artwork/animation/plot has all been incredible. Also make sure to wait for the end credits on the final episode. Extremely important for the next season.