New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop (2010 Novel)

[Tendou Souji]

Just what we needed. More Heero and Relena art. That is probably one of my biggest complaints with this novel. Heero and Relena are being pushed as this amazing couple who are so in loveand everything Heero does ties into Relena. In Gundam Wing this couple was not pushed so hard and happened naturally. Same for EW. They are giving me Kira and Lacus vibes and it is making me gag.

[Admiral Larsen]

Originally Posted by Tendou Souji

Just what we needed. More Heero and Relena art. That is probably one of my biggest complaints with this novel. Heero and Relena are being pushed as this amazing couple who are so in loveand everything Heero does ties into Relena. In Gundam Wing this couple was not pushed so hard and happened naturally. Same for EW. They are giving me Kira and Lacus vibes and it is making me gag.

I agree with you there. With this novel, the writer is wrecking all that made Gundam Wing good and flushing it down the toilet.

And the fact that as you said that the recent new images have given a Kira/Lacus vibe makes me feel sick even more.

[Rising Dragon]

Are you really that surprised? Really? This guy was kicked off of the writing team for Gundam Wing. I daresay we have a good idea as to why.

[Purdys99]

I swear Sumizawa is like the M Night Shymalan/George Lucas of anime right now @_@. He use to know what he was doing but then fell off the wagon, knocked his head, and has never quite recovered. Yet ppl are still giving him stuff to do...whhhhyyyy?

Also, I'm as obsessed and nostalgic for any crazy fangirl for 1xR shipping but that picture is freaking ridiculous @_@. Sailor Moon fodder has more dignity and subtlety.

[FalsePrime]

Not surprised by the Relena and Heero picture.

Even though it wasn't as heavy handed in TV proper, there have been other additions that pushed Heero/Relena pretty hard. This is also coming from one of the writers that has flat admitted to being an avid Relena/Heero fan and even went so far as to have Duo call it out in EW.

Given all that has happened in Frozen and the parallels between Heero (Pol) and Relena's grandparents the pushing of Heero/Relena just seems like a natrual extension to me.

[Washu-Chan]

Aren't Heero/Relena supported in Blind Target and Battlefield of Pacifists, as well as the manga version of Endless Waltz?

In the original TV series, isn't Heero/Relena just subtle?

[FalsePrime]

Originally Posted by Washu-Chan

Aren't Heero/Relena supported in Blind Target and Battlefield of Pacifists, as well as the manga version of Endless Waltz?

In the original TV series, isn't Heero/Relena just subtle?

Heero and Relena have a relationship in the Anime that can't really be defined. It is a very important thing for both of their lives that changes them, but it doesn't go so far as to say they are lovers or non lovers in the future.

Some of the Manga's, EW, and EW's Novel/Manga push this aspect alot harder. Given Sumizawa is responsible for alot of this, it comes as zero shock that this is ingrained so deeply into Frozen Teardrop.

Also Sumizawa was a noteable Heero/Relena pusher long before Lacus/Kira ever existed, so I don't agree with those that say they get Kira/Lacus vibes from FT. In fact I'd argue that Kira/Lacus is alot more subtle then EW/FT Heero/Relena, as beyond looks and hand holding we don't see Kira/Lacus do anything in Destiny despite being lovers.

Also, lastly Kira takes on a Role in almost the exact same manner that Heero does for Relena in the EW Manga at the end of Destiny, so if either couple would be mirroring the other, it would Kira mirroring Heero.

[Washu-Chan]

Originally Posted by FalsePrime

Heero and Relena have a relationship in the Anime that can't really be defined. It is a very important thing for both of their lives that changes them, but it doesn't go so far as to say they are lovers or non lovers in the future.

Some of the Manga's, EW, and EW's Novel/Manga push this aspect alot harder. Given Sumizawa is responsible for alot of this, it comes as zero shock that this is ingrained so deeply into Frozen Teardrop.

Also Sumizawa was a noteable Heero/Relena pusher long before Lacus/Kira ever existed, so I don't agree with those that say they get Kira/Lacus vibes from FT. In fact I'd argue that Kira/Lacus is alot more subtle then EW/FT Heero/Relena, as beyond looks and hand holding we don't see Kira/Lacus do anything in Destiny despite being lovers.

Also, lastly Kira takes on a Role in almost the exact same manner that Heero does for Relena in the EW Manga at the end of Destiny, so if either couple would be mirroring the other, it would Kira mirroring Heero.

I thought that Kira's romance arc between Lacus and Fllay was supposed to emulate Loran's arc between Dianna and Sochie.

With Kira and Lacus, I suspect that it may be due to the vocal Kira/Lacus fanbase. They're the Luke and Laura of the CE timeline, and possibly of the Gundam franchise.

[FalsePrime]

It's most certainly because of the Fanbase.

Kira and Lacus are both pushed fairly hard in Destiny, however the Romance angle isn't actually that big of an issue. Most of the romance between them is just assumed by the viewer, and it's their personalities and feelings on the world that are pushed during the run time of Destiny.

[Tendou Souji]

Kira abd Lacus are forced.They are show floating naked together in every single opening from both shows but never are intimate in any way on screen except for like 2 hugs. Their relationship is presented as too pure. They don't sleep together, they never kiss, they rarely hold hands and only hug like twice. They are in tons of official art together gazing into each others eyes or floating around naked. It's really really annoying. Athrun and all of his relationships are out in the open. Shinn and Luna kissed on screen. Talia and Durandal had sex. Kira and Fllay had sex. Kira and Lacus though? Despite being the main couple they are treated as this holy duo that our eyes aren't worthy of seeing intimate. Even Yzak was shocked when they hugged.

I just don't want Heero and Relena to ge this route. Their relationship was never defined but you understood it. It wasn't treated as something we weren't allowed to see or acknowledge. It was perfectly in line with the show and the characters. Seed has no problem showing shower scenes, sex, the aftermath of sex, nipples, kisses, upskirts, bouncing breasts, bare butts etc. Yet Kira and Lacus, the main couple get 2 or 3 hugs? Yet they are pushed in every aspect? Games, official art, the openings and endings and everything else inbetween. It just comes off as cheesy and forced.

Then there are the comments from the director or writer saying that Kira and Lacus are beyond love and it is obvious that they represent Fukuda and Morosawa.

Can't stand that couple.

[Deacon Blues]

Hokay. So how many GOL am I behind? Three? 0_o;

Errors galore in the compilation volume (#5) hah

[Washu-Chan]

Originally Posted by Purdys99

I swear Sumizawa is like the M Night Shymalan/George Lucas of anime right now @_@. He use to know what he was doing but then fell off the wagon, knocked his head, and has never quite recovered. Yet ppl are still giving him stuff to do...whhhhyyyy?

Gundam already has a George Lucas, and his name is Mitsuo Fukuda, who said that Star Wars was his favorite film series.

[Eeni]

So I was looking up Sumizawa's actual hand in writing the series and found that he was only responsible for the scripts of 3 episodes. And I think we've all come to accept that he is the "creator" of Ep.0 (or at least it was his brain child).

Is this right? Does he only have the credit for 3 episodes out of the 49? I thought he would have had more. Can anyone help me with this?

[FalsePrime]

Originally Posted by Eeni

So I was looking up Sumizawa's actual hand in writing the series and found that he was only responsible for the scripts of 3 episodes. And I think we've all come to accept that he is the "creator" of Ep.0 (or at least it was his brain child).

Is this right? Does he only have the credit for 3 episodes out of the 49? I thought he would have had more. Can anyone help me with this?

It depends on what you go by.

For example, in a some of the follow up Wing materials, and EW (Both Lead up and post release) in particular Sumizawa and a few others talk about the lead up to the Wing series. Alot of it both himself and others in the materials credit him for alot of it.

There was even a qoute from one of them that said how it felt like Sumizawa had fused 0079, Zeta, and G Gundam when he was looking over the lay out for Wing. This is also the time when we got information on Wing wasn't originally Wing but Gundam Meteor. So even if he only wrote 3 scripts, his hand in shapping the majority of the series is very in depth. Also we know he influenced the Episodes up until the half way point even if he wasn't the main credit on the writing team, and it wasn't until then (and Episode Zero being ripped out) that he left the team.

However I believe alot of it comes back to EW. As it stand Wing did alright, but it wasn't until Endless Waltz that Wing seemed to gain the majority of it's popularity, and given it was Sumizawa that was brought back, and the leader behind Endless Waltz we are at the point we are. Had Gundam Wing TV been a smash, and EW the one that did ok, but not amazing we would likely have someone else in charge of Wing.

[gordol]

Funny the pic drama hasn't been leaked yet.

They either have already shown all the pics in the magazine promos or there's nothing interesting at all

[FalsePrime]

I would put money on the idea that we have just seen them all. Even if they where completely uninteresting we would have seen them if they where new content.

Either way I will know tomorrow, my copy should arrive early in the morning. If there is anything even remotely new, I will take some pics and load up em up for everyone.

[gordol]

Originally Posted by FalsePrime

I would put money on the idea that we have just seen them all. Even if they where completely uninteresting we would have seen them if they where new content.

Either way I will no tomorrow, my copy should arrive early in the morning. If there is anything even remotely new, I will take some pics and load up em up for everyone.

thanks bro!

[Washu-Chan]

Originally Posted by Eeni

So I was looking up Sumizawa's actual hand in writing the series and found that he was only responsible for the scripts of 3 episodes. And I think we've all come to accept that he is the "creator" of Ep.0 (or at least it was his brain child).

Is this right? Does he only have the credit for 3 episodes out of the 49? I thought he would have had more. Can anyone help me with this?

I'm guessing that Sumizawa played a role similar to Morosawa's in Seed and Destiny, in which is he is Wing's head writer, and had a writing staff on board. Sumizawa also had the final say on everything.

[FalsePrime]

Originally Posted by gordol

thanks bro!

Alright, Box Set II arrived and I have watched the entirety of the Picture Drama and it has some serious good points and some bad, I will just do a bullet point review for those interested.

First off the art work is beautiful, they took the time to make it fit 16x9 and they did an amazing job, it doesn't look stretched or anything, just gorgeous. Relena has never looked better then she does in this.

2. They use music from Wing TV music, and while it came with Wing TV the series, the fact it is an Endless Watlz production left me wondering which they would go with. It was amazing choice, they do an amazing job using icon tracks from the show, and almost all of them fit.

3. The most important thing, it's siginifcantly better then the Novels. Granted the content isn't new, but they do three things to improve what has been a train wreck thus far.

3.1 - First and most importantly ALL backstory and flash backs have been completely cut. This is all Mars century, the cast, the story and the suits.

3.2 - The keep the pace going, something Sumizawa has zero ability to do. The length is pretty much exactly 1 Wing Episode long (another great thing, they even do the mid episode cut with the characters flashing, and include the track that accompanies it) so it doesn't over stay it's welcome and allows the the story to go from point a ->b and maintain flow.

3.3 The soundtrack and introductions. The music is nearly perfectly timed, with each having a unique piece of music fitting the character or the suit.

4. It's definitly set up to have a follow up, it only goes to about the halfway point of where we are. In fact the ending is right after Heero and Relena talk over the comms while Heero is in Snow White.

5. There are a few new added pieces of art, but they are very minor, the most noticable is a new side shot of Epyon from it's side as well as it launching from a hanger. To go along with this though, they did added very small animations, like beam effects actually glowing and having Energy look as if it's emminating from the weapon.

6. Heero and Relena's VA's. I along with a few others aren't exactly up on the Heero/Relena angle that gets pushed, but now more then ever it really felt like the two really felt like the got their characters and made the scene between them work. The back and forth just felt right.

Lastly for positives, the characters never felt like clones when watching it. The main two featured are Fenrir (Duo Jr.) and Duo Sr. They had their own unique feel and Duo does 100% come across as Duo, the VA combined with how the scenes made him feel like himself and not someone going by the name.

Down points? There are some I have to admit.

Most of the art is recyclyed. Also while they do add some nice effects and the music do alot to hide it, you can feel that they where limited in what they could show simply because there has been so little art to come out of Novel series.

Another thing that was a double edged sword was it really excelles where the Novel fails, Pacing, feel, mood, but it also is let down by the fact they had 20 minutes to work with and it leaves things cloudy and you really needing more to get into it.

Side notes.

I didn't notice it until I had it in Full HD and infront of me but some small details.

First - Snow White's Head Jewel and Goate are Violet and NOT red. Also Snow White's eyes are not Wing Green, but Blue/Turquoise. Also they give a pretty good discription of Snow White's buster rifle, and even the way they carry on, it makes it really stand out how you don't want to fuck with this machine.

Last - The ending is Sleeping Beauty and the Prince Charming capsules floating next to each other (another Relena/Heero shout out), it's kinda animated with several of each floating around.

The worst part of this is none of it is physical. I had hoped that the book would contain physical picutres of the Drama, but that isn't the case. You get some bio's on OZ suits and pilots. There is one interesting picture from Okawara of a beta version of Epyon that is quite different then the finished product.

The only Frozen Teardrop art that comes with the set is in fact that Relena/Heero picture that annoyed fans.

[gordol]

Nice, do the Epyon new cuts show its dragon fang?