Reviews for Turn A Gundam (7.77) 602t73

“OMG! What the hell is that?” This is my first reaction to the Turn A Gundam poster in 1999, and I pledge to myself that I will never watch this series. At 2005, I finally decided to give it a shot, and OMG! I am not disappointed. This has proved to be one of the best Gundam series ever, and I almost kick myself for not wanting to watch this series sooner.

Animation:

The overall animation in this series is quite good. As usual, the Gundam battles are smooth and well directed. However, unlike any Gundam series, the design work is significantly different. This is at first very difficult to accept, especially for Gundam veteran fans. The Gundam here has a Moustache that makes it look like a bush pig, and most other suits have weird body designs that… how should I put it, look more like some lame attempt to make the design works unconventional. This is the main reason why I was put off by the series at the first place. But once you actually watched the series and know the story, all of these become quite refreshing, as the storyline is fundamentally different to any previous Gundam, so the mobile suit design work fit quite nicely with the Pre WW1 American Plain backdrop.

Sound:

The OST is fantastic. But this is as expected since Yoko Kanno (from Cowboy Bebop) is the person in charge here. The light-hearted mood in most of the scores suited the mood of the series very nicely. Even during battles, the score have an element of fun to it, this is a significant change compare to previous Gundam as most music tend to be a bit darker. The voice over for all characters are well selected, especially in the case of Gym, where that overly loud and harsh voice suited Gym’s wacko-like character perfectly. Moving to OP, I like the first OP more than the second, the first OP tune is smoother even though the “Turn A Turn” is a bit corny, but the lyrics really tells you about the entire show of the Gundam history has been moved backward even though time is moving forward. The last EP (not the one in Ep50) is fantastic and is the strongest piece of music in the entire show, the melody is a bit more series and depressing, but yet it summed up the show in an elegant way that is hard to describe in words and pictures.

Story:

The story is again different to all previous Gundam series, it is based of the end of the UC series where continues wars have resulted in a period of the “Dark History”, and mankind on Earth have reduced to live off pre WW1 like technology and forgotten that they once conquered space itself, while people on the moon are waiting for Earth to be regenerate so they can migrate back to the blue planet. This storyline has created an extremely interesting setting and beautiful natural landscape for the show. There are few battles in the entire series, not to mention traditional big battles, it is almost like Tomino Yoshiyuki (the director of Gundam) is afraid to damage his trees and small country towns. With fewer battles, a lot of attentions are spent to develop the characters and storyline, so the series might feel to be moving very slowly. But on the plus side, it gives rise to interesting characters. Another unique thing about the story is that mobile suits are used in unconventional ways. I have never seen a Gundam being use for washing and drying clothes, or suits are used to hold up a tent to withstand thunderstorm.

Characters:

The characters, like the mobile suits design, take a fair bit of time to get use to. The design works on the characters are honestly not my taste, and the quality of the design work varied from character to character. Also, the character personality are a bit strange as well, this is especially true for most moon race characters such as Merrybell, Gym, and the Red Team. However, character developments are superb, you really get to know each and everyone of them and end up liking all of them at the end, even the psychotic enemy Gym have a soft side that is approachable (in my opinion). Also, there are surprising few number of main or cast being killed (come to think of it, only 4 /main cast were killed), I thought Merrybell is definitely a goner but she was taken in by Gary and have a relatively happy ending.

Enjoyment and Value:

I truly enjoyed Turn A Gundam. Its unique design might take a fair while to get use to, but this make the show extremely refreshing and entertaining to watch. The story is also fully developed and the characters are likable. Just like what MAHQ said (An excellent resource for Gundam) If Gundam Zeta represent a Tomino in depression, then Turn A represent a man who have come out of the depress state and find some new meanings in life. There are few directors or series can ever achieve this sort of personal development. In the end, I will give both enjoyment and value a 9, and say that Turn A Gundam, together with Gundam Zeta are the best Gundam series so far produced, and when compare to the later series such as Gundam Seed, Turn A Gundam is million times better.

While Yoshiyuki Tomino's popular greatest achievement will forever be the creation of the original Gundam and it's impact on almost all mecha series since it's inception, even to this day, for me Turn A Gundam is his strongest work and the series that best displayed his growth as a creator, writer and director. It is a work with unforgettable characters and themes, a work that will stay with you after having watched it. It's Tomino's greatest achievement as a continuously growing artist and a work that most can only wish to match.

Animation:
Dating back to 2000, the animation of Turn A Gundam isn't exactly the greatest, but as a whole it is extremely consistent. The level of art never drops and always remains excellent. Akira Yasuda's character designs are simple yet elegant (in the same fashion as Hiroki kanno's adaptation of Akihiro Yamada's designs for Rahxephon). A various mix of ethnicites and cultures make the show all the more relateable. Fashion and architecture is similar to early 1900s America and overall extremely well thought out. The mecha designs, perhaps the most polarizing aspect of the series are very original and unique, The titular gundam, the Turn A might make viewers a bit apprehensive at first but they will adapt to it and appreciate it as they discover what it is capable of. The designs also serve as a reminder that this isn't the Gundam that people expect, but a work that deserves to stand on it's own.

Sound:
Yoko Kanno. What more needs to be said? The music carries enormous emotional weight when it needs to, the music used during action intensive moments are epic and heavily use chorals. If you are familiar with Kanno's work, this stands as one of her best compostions, and she hasn't topped it since then. My only complaint with the music in the series is that despite there being a wide selection, it felt like they reused the same themes way too often, especially in action sequences. The opening and ending songs are enjoyable, but the most stand out track is the 2nd ending "Tsuki No Mayu" which also serves as the backdrop to the finale. An absolutely beautiful and haunting piece that stands as on of my favorites in all anime. The Voice acting is extremely good, featuring Paku Romi as main character Loran and on of my personal favorites, Akino Murata as Sochie, whose voice is so full of energy and distinguishable I wish she did voice work more often.

Story and Characters:
Normally I'd seperate these two categories, but Turn A Gundam, above all else is a story of people, a story on the effects of war on the characters and their internal struggles. The story is essentially focused on the ambition of the Moon Race people to descend and once again inhabit the earth. Conflicts erupt over the situation and the leaders on both sides try to figure out how to remedy the situation as they learn more about each other's cultures. Some will change for the better, some will take directions that will shock you. Yet at the same time it will remain logical. Yoshiyuki Tomino has been known for his uneven writing and very schizophrenic style of storytelling, but here it seems he's finally settled down and figured how to weave a proper and cohesive story from beginning to end. Which brings us to the characters.

As for his plots, Tomino's characters have also been plagued with uneven writing. Illogical romance, illogical motivations, you name it, it's plagued his stories since the beginning of his career. But Turn A Gundam finally puts an end to that, which helps make this human story all the more powerful. Romance is developped naturally, you can see how characters feel toward another and how they developped that feeling. You can understand why certain characters take the sides they do as they witness firsthand the situations. Some moments hold enormous emotional power and truly elevate this story over many, many others. Loran Cehack, the main character, is a young boy who truly appreciates life and fights for the well being of not only everyone who is dear for him but for both races, Moon and Earth, he isn't person with enormous emotional baggage, but simply a young man fighting for a better future. However the true stars of the series are the almost twin like Dianna Soreil and Kihel Heim. Dianna the queen of the moon race and Kihel the daughter of Loran's employer. Their adventure and development is the core of the story and it's unfolding. The fashion in which they both learn about each others cultures is remarkable and the way they become attached to people on the opposite side is fantastically done and written. Far and away the greatest female protagonists in Gundam History. And of course Sochie Heim, Kihel's sister. She's a spoiled child, very proud and intent on fighting for the earth, yet her feelings are developped througout and you can truly understand how she feels, she is the emotional crux of the series climax. The ending benefits from placing more emphasis on the characters rather than simply ending at the end of a conflict. An honestly beautiful ending that stands as the most emotional and powerful of all Gundam series.

Value and Enjoyement:
If you are fan of mecha animation, or simply just want to see a well told drama with excellent characters, I can't reccomend Turn A Gundam enough. Watching the story unfold and the characters change and adapt to it, you truly get attached to this series. Turn A Gundam stands as the crowning achievement in Tomino's career. Characters crafted with care, a relevant story of acceptance and love. It's the epitome of what can be done with the Gundam name, that it isn't necessarily just another toy commercial, but an honest portrayal of human will, war and it's effects. And for the first time, Tomino's ambitions are matched by the quality of the writing, making this a truly remarkable work. There are moments in an artist's career where they create something of such quality that eventually anything they do afterwards is almost irrelevant and you honestly wonder to yourself "how can they possibly top this?" Well, in my mind, Turn A Gundam was such a work.

The best description for TurnAGundam is that it is a very beautiful piece of work. That in itself is a testament to how different it is from other gundams. In contrast to the usual action/political-stuggles that characterize most gundam series, TurnAGundam by far and away the most dedicated to its characters.

When I watch a gundam series, I usually look for the mecha, the action, the adventure or the storyline to keep me entertained. Thus, this was quite a different experience for me. Was I disappointed? No, I might have been somewhat disconcerted initially given the unfamiliar territory, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. While the animation and the unorthodox style gave me a scare at first sight, the characters certainly made up for it. Indeed, I have never grown to love gundam characters as much as I did for TurnAGundam. For a series that usually prides itself on action and storyline, this change of pace is quite refreshing.

Animation

The animation is average, even by 1999 standards. If my memory serves me right, I think Gundam Wing had better animation, even though it is older. While this may have damaged the overall experience had the focus been on action and mecha, fortunately this is not the case. Really, even though I enjoy watching well animated shows, I believe a good storyline or a good cast of characters brings much more to the quality of the series.

Sound

The voices of the characters were very nice, and suited them perfectly. They brought out the emotions of the characters very effectively, and that in itself deserves a 10. However, the music isn't too shabby either.

Characters

Despite my raves about the quality of the characters in TurnAGundam, I really have trouble finding the right words to describe just how much I liked them. The characters aren't incredibly cool, nor cute, nor hot, nor evil, etc. What makes them stand out though, is how refreshing they were. The decisions they made, the actions they took, the way they talk, is just like you and me. Indeed, the fact that they are so 'normal' is what draws you into the series, and makes you believe that you are truly there, with them.

Does 'normal' mean bland? No, they are very deep characters, they falter, they evolve, they fall in love; but all of that contributes to the realism of the characters. They are vulnerable, they do not feel unreachable like many typical anime characters. And thus, you feel as if you could be them, that you could be there, with them, and experiencing all that they are experiencing. When they cry, you feel the sadness. When they are separated, you long for their reunion. When they fight against each other, you wish they could both win. TurnAGundam's characters are very unique, and I enjoyed watching them evolve throughout the series.


Value and Enjoyment

As with most gundam series, if you aren't a hardcore fan, then its rewatchability of somewhat low. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile show to check out, because it is a very enjoyable ride. The ending somewhat hard to describe: it is mostly a happy ending, but it also leaves a tiny bittersweet taste in your mouth afterwards. I am also quite sad that the series is over, because the characters really did grow on me.

While many gundam fans prefer action/story driven series, I believe that a character centered one like TurnAGundam can be quite refreshing. I also think that TurnAGundam is the last 'classic' series: Gundam Seed and Gundam 00 are simply too commercially driven to be considered as successors to the original gundam storyline. They cater to a much younger audience, whereas the 'classic' series are more enjoyable to older viewers. I am confident that older viewers will find TurnAGundam to be quite enjoyable.[/U]

In the semi-esoteric world of miniature wargamming, there is a term known as Fluffing.

It is generally used to describe when every single dice in a throw shows up precisely the results needed, until the roll that decides what those numbers actually result in. Naturally, this roll will be a handful of 1s.

This describes Turn A Gundam so well its painful.

As an animation, it is good to the point of sweet. Even when considering it's age. The blesséd machines have variety, look like they move naturally (for the purpose of the story) and have fairly interesting designs from a technical standpoint. Human character designs are different to say the least, and they too have been done with a master's touch, if not his full attention/sobriety.

6 wounds on 4+! that many invulnerable saves thank you! o wait, you don't have any

Sound is a personal point of contention, mainly because of the lack in variety/excellence of BGM. Opening and ending annoyed me slightly too, but they are fairly well put together from an objective stand point. The wide cast of characters had proper voice peoples to make them real. Conveying background, upbringing and lack of engrish adds even more depth to people who were done right.

Why, I do believe you're running!

The writery bits behind said characters are supremely well done too. As is fitting for any gundam series (Of the old school), everyone who is well drawn has a story or two in them. A nice number of unexpected twists comes along to wrong foot anyone who isn't used to this sort of thing.

Battle cannon to the face you say? ha!

The story is bombastically convoluted. It is a long and very hard slog uphill to understand whats going on unless you have a slim grasp of a previous Gundam series, and preferably the ones it is "based" off. The 52 episodes spin a fascinating tale of misunderstanding and hidden revelations, with a selection of both necessary and unnecessary side plots. Add a couple spontaneous constructions, and you have a recipe that hooks you until it all makes sense. And it does, the who where when and whyfores get resolved as necessary until...

massed rapid fire you say? i'll my 18 2+ armour saves thank you

... were it not implausible, I would say that the production staff was replaced with Naruto writers.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY 215 PT CHARACTER JUST GOT KILLED BY A 1 PT BOLT PISTOL!?

Suddenly, the very definition of cloned animoo drama is injected with very limited lead in. And then it all ends.

While the following conclusion is fairly well salvaged, the sudden shock of a desire to fast forward at the post almost entirely nullifies the good work that went into this.

As such the 23~ hours you just spent watching this well crafted exercise in futility become painfully evident. Good animoo should never bring about the effect of wondering what you could have been doing that was more productive in the time you spent watching it.

Not that the rest of the story was bad. The interesting civilized contradictions between the societies that have been formed for the purpose are excellent. Setting the context in a world of zeppelins and biplanes was a stroke of genius on the part of the creative department, as the fury of the Most Holy Machines can be brought about with the right degree of spectacularity. Even the progressive development of the casts technological understanding is well paced so as not to provoke yawns.

Really, my only bone of contention with turn A is what they did at the end, because much about it demands community recognition. Sadly, this is not going to be rewatched. While rewatching Gundams seems like sheer foolishness, there are the odd examples that justify it, and this, though it really tries hard, is not it.

But I did enjoy. This was the second series for which I got into the habit of getting up at 5 AM so I could watch a couple of episodes before going to the realm of edumacation.

What would make it Worth Buyingand/or Re-Watching, would be the revelation that the alternate ending was shown.

VALUE & ENJOYMENT SECTIONS: 9/10 (although much less, if you are not a seasoned Gundam fan)

This is another alternative timeline of the Gundam series and historically its third spin-off. But it can easily “fit in” the normal one, as it occurs 2.000 years in the future, and any deviations from its normal narrative form are easily justified (the world changed a lot).

I must warn you NOT to watch this series if you are not a seasoned Gundam fan. It is very different from the more famous Gundam titles (the original, Wing, Seed) and may feel alienated if you expect to see something similar to the aforementioned ones. I, myself, gave up pretty soon on it, the first time I tried to watch it years ago. But after watching several other Gundam spin-offs and mecha-related series since then, I can say with certainty that Turn-A is the best non-canon Gundam title in of atmosphere. It lacks the perplexity, seriousness and epic warfare of the original Gundam but makes up for most of the damage with a lot more character-focused story and several dramatic/comical scenes.

The series is mostly drama and comedy, rather sci-fi and action. It can easily disappoint those of you who care a lot about graphics and epic space battles, as there are only skirmishes with mostly low-teck mecha in it. But for those who care about emotional characters and an easy-going plot, it will not disappoint them.

Plus, there are several Easter Eggs that only those who have seen all previous series (like me) will recognize. The series is brimming with references to previous Gundam titles, even those of different alternative timelines (without story continuity). Some I still are:
- The cannon the Moon-race possesses is the same as the one in Gundam Victory.
- The Turn-X mecha uses several Gundam G special attacks.
- Records left from the Dark History show footage of the colony dropping from the beginning of the original Gundam, Gundam X unfolding its wings and the 5 mecha of Gundam Wing fighting.
All these are just Tributes (no impact in the story) but increase the interest for all those who recognize them by waiting for the next reference to pop-up at anytime.

ART SECTION: 7/10

At first, the graphics may seem crude. The character figures are simplistic and with wide outlines. The explosions are very fake most of the time. The mecha designs are bulky and don’t do much. The motion fluidity suffers realism. There is even plenty of stale imaging in the background. BUT!…

If you carefully watch WHAT the characters and the mecha do, and not HOW WELL THE THING THEY ARE DOING IS DEPICTED, you will be amazed at the variety, originality and smartness of their actions. From the way they stroke their hair, to the way they look around, move around, express emotions, plan their next move, it is amongst the most realistic I have ever seen.

The mecha designs may look stupid at first but in fact are very well thought of. They clearly represent the technological level of the civilization that made them (the world is like in the beginning of the 20th century) and are filled with gadgets, pipes, and other extras, that are clearly there for a reason (part of how they operate, fight, move, etc.).

The world in the series is also well depicted. Everything has a retro feeling of the Renaissance and the Steam Age. Several depictions of really old versions of today’s everyday appliances give a big boost in realism and atmosphere. And all countries have altered names of today’s countries (Ameria instead of America, Inglesia instead of England, Kabaria instead of Caribbean) so you can easily compare them with the normal ones.

Also, you will notice that there is a lot of nude in the series, something that all Gundam series generally avoid. Most episodes feature a pretty lady undressing or the camera zooming in her juicy parts. These scenes are not sleazy enough to turn the series into “ecchi” but sure keep your eyes open through the slow-pace story.

SOUND SECTION: 7/10

Voice acting and sound effects were ok, but they could sure do a better job. Most characters’ voices don’t have a variety in speech volume (they talk in the same way, no matter the situation) and the music themes were repeating too often.

But the music themes themselves… wow! At first they sounded like a bunch of pop nonsense (catchy phrases are LALALU, NANANA, MILLENNIUM COLOR) but they slowly become very likable. They are a weird mix of Indian, African, Midi, Opera and who knows what else. So strange words and so deep meanings, easily gave a magical/elegiac atmosphere to the series. You feel really nostalgic when hearing them.

STORY SECTION: 8/10

The extremely high-teck Universal Century Era ended with a great war that wiped out all technology and civilizations. Humanity on Earth reverted back to the Stone Age. The colonies around the Earth were all destroyed but the people on the moon retained some technology.

2.000 years and the events before the war were forgotten and are now referred only as Dark History. Mankind on Earth (referred to as Earth race) reached an early 20th century technological level, while mankind on the moon (referred to as Moon-race) was several centuries more advanced. Once again, overpopulation on the moon leads to immediate migration to Earth. The Earth-race sees that as invasion and refuses to accept them. Skirmishes break up, with the Moon-race seemingly winning, thanks to their use of mecha.

The protagonist is Loran, a young Moon-race member who was secretly sent with others as pioneers and spies on Earth. During a skirmish, he (as it always happens in Gundam!) accidentally finds a Gundam unit inside a stone statue and fights his own people in order to protect the defenseless Earth citizens he became friends with. The story is mainly about learning to fight better and helping in the negotiations for peace.

The story is very slow-paced but it has no fillers and every episode has at least one worthy scene. Just as in all Gundam series, we have all the main story elements present:

- Unlike having a typical “Aliens/monsters vs Humans” story, Gundam has a “Humans vs Humans” story. So, we feel sad even when the bad guys lose, because they are not heartless/bizarre aliens/monsters, bound to destroy Earth. They are mistreated people with feelings and hopes for the future, like the good guys.

- There are essentially no good guys and bad guys. The apparent good Earth-race of the planet’s surface is a bunch of ignorant stuck-ups and xenophobes. The apparent evil Moon-race of the moon cause mass destruction and murder because the Earth-race didn’t allow their vital migration through peaceful means.

- Many events are reminiscent of real-life historical events (same as those in my Kidou Senshi Gundam review).

- Other issues of great importance are also discussed in the series (same as those in my Kidou Senshi Gundam review).

- Gundam is also a sci-fi war drama. There is angst before the tragedy of war and sorrow for the dead in the battles. No one is treated just as a faceless drone.

So, the story is great but because it tends to move very slow (50 episodes) and without much action (only skirmishes), it loses two points.

WARNING! The final episode has a frenzied pace. Too many things happen in only 20 minutes. Plus, it is VERY SAD. Almost Saikano sad! Be emotionally prepared for not another “and lived happily ever after” ending (which is a good thing, for this kind of story).

CHARACTER SECTION: 8/10

At first, the characters seem like wimps. They mostly act childishly and superficially. But this is done intentionally as all their silliness leads to realistic reactions, such as misunderstandment, conflict and mistrust. This is the driving force that moves the story forward or causes funny and tragic events to occur. By being problematic as characters, the story becomes more perplex and unexpected and themselves more “real”, since all normal people have their share of flaws.

So, Loran is a spineless dork when it comes to women, his main female friend attacks and hits without thinking, the rival woman officer wants to kill him by disobeying orders, the Earth representative is willing to betray his country in order to become great, the enemy leader wants to destroy the Earth just to give humanity history through wars and so on, and so on. Their un-colored voices and rather weak presence damage their appeal but they are otherwise GREAT!

And with such a sad ending, you actually get to like them even more for their tragic conclusion. So, enjoy! A lot!

VERDICT: 8/10
The accused is found … NOT GUILTY! … He doesn’t dress in a trendy way, but he thinks a lot more mature than most.

SUGGESTION LIST
Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Also a war drama. No mecka but story and characters put Gundam to shame.

I gont intrigued by this serie, loving the whole "retro look of it".

I wont do the classic review, since everything about animation, sound, etc. has already been said.

BUT i have something to say about the chars. I dont get how they managed to get those kind of votes. Yep, i didnt like them. Kinda obvious, since i gave em a nice 1. Why is that ?


BECAUSE THEY ARE MORONS.
They set a new standard of stupidity. They're irrational, dumb ( oh god they are so DUMB ), idiotic, and act randomly.
Really, cmon people. They dont even deserve a 1. Lets put on some examples:
1) Giant robots start to walk around in a world war 1 environment and no one is scared. Hell yeah, If i see a 100 meters high robot walking by my street i simply go to work. Or maybe i trow him a stone, that would help.
2) The "aliens" announced many times they would come to earth. Now, i would understand if people didnt know what civilization and technology are.
But they got cars, cannons, airplanes, trains, the stuff. A RACE with a tecnology so advanced that allows them to travel in space tells you that is coming (well, the authority knew) and first thing you do is try to fight with your pathetic weapons ? CMON. First, try to talk with em, RETARD. And since you know there is going to be a HELL of technology gap, why the hell you even start firing ?

3)After half a city gets LEVELED with a SINGLE shot from one of theyre robots, you still see SOLDIERS (mind it, not ignorant farmers) charge in with country trucks and firing with rifles. Screaming "dont let em ruin our fields". Priceless. People dont abbandon towns. NOT EVEN the one that got raped. Actually, no one is even scared. Wait a moment.ROBOTS FROM SPACE WITH THE POWER OF ARMAGEDDON FOR GOD SAKE ! Show me some fear people ! Run ! Cower in terror goddamnit !
Lucky for them, these visitors are as idiotic as they are, so even if it's sad it kinda balances it out. Two majestic colossus of retardness clashing in a mighty dumbageddon.
These are just some blunt examples, but for the whole serie you see tons of people doing stupid, random things. Reacting in irrational ways, saying irrational stuff.
A true masterpiece, indeed. It's like everyone got lobotomized for free. BARGAIN.