Gundam 00 - Mecha or Char Development?

[lubczyk]

This question is in regards to people's expectations of Mobile Suite Gundam 00.

Would you guys rather be more focused towards Mecha Action elements a la Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny with romance elements as a simple backdrop...

or

Would you rather have a Mecha action show with concurrent romance(s) going on a la Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team?



You see Fuduka established relationships between Kira/Lacus, Athrun/Cagari and Dearka/Miriallia but they were more often used to advance the story than be key elements to it.

In Destiny the Dearka/Miriallia relationship was abandoned.

The Kira/Lacus relationship was static and seemed to have been made for the sake of having a couple.

The Athrun/Cagari relationship was abandoned as well.

The Shinn/Stellar relationship seemed like nothing more than a plot device.


In the Seed Universe the most dynamic and interesting relationship was between Flay and Kira and it ws the most dynamic/evolving/interesting.


Personally I would like to have one or two dynamic relationships in Gundam 00 like that of Aina and Shiro in 08th MS Team.

I believe it’s the characters and the relationships that make or break a series.

I like Gundam but I don’t want it to be so contrived like both SEED series where the love interests are nothing more than a way for the character to get a new Mobile Suit.

I didn’t like most of the original UC Gundams, because I found the relationships nothing but methods of getting from one Mobile Suit fight to the next.

FYI – I watched the original UC Gundams 0079, 0080, 0083, Zeta, Double Zeta like 10 years ago as Hong Kong bootlegs and I really don’t remember any of the relationships being all that great.

So, what are other people expecting from the show. Are you expecting deep, interesting, romantic relationships with mobile suits and war politics as a backdrop or Mecha action as center stage of the show?

Personally, I’m hoping for the former rather than the latter.

[Nvis]

There will definitely be something between Setsuna & Marina, as the OP has painfully shown.

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Good gundam shows always come with both. I am more focused on the mecha part but mecha's related to pilot and pilots are related to other characters. So yeah in a sense mecha's also related to romance somehow, and somewhat. I don't mind a show with little of romance, but I don't like a show with doornob characters like heero.
In 00, the relationship is not going to be just for the sake of having one. Setsuna as I see it in ep2 is going down a spiral pretty much like what himura kenshin was going through in his hitokiri days. And Marina's role to setsuna is going to be very similar to tomoe's role to kenshin, imo. So through the romace hopefully setsuna's character can develop, and that alone with good mecha makes a complete show for me.

[thedonkiluminati]

There will definately be some form of relationship between Setsuna and Marina. But considering that he's 16 and she's 24, I don't see it being of romantic nature. I know there has been plenty of anime where age meant nothing but I don't expect this to be one of them.

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Originally Posted by thedonkiluminati

There will definately be some form of relationship between Setsuna and Marina. But considering that he's 16 and she's 24, I don't see it being of romantic nature. I know there has been plenty of anime where age meant nothing but I don't expect this to be one of them.

Age isn't so much of a factor anymore these days.

[lubczyk]

Originally Posted by Kazamachi Shogen

Age isn't so much of a factor anymore these days.

16 and 24 isn't really that much of a difference.

I know, I know, in the US, UK 18 is the age of consent, but in many countries 14 or 16 is the age of consent.

Even in Europe and many parts of Africa, North and South America and Asia.

Maybe Setsuna and Marina will have a mother/son type of relationship.

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Originally Posted by lubczyk

16 and 24 isn't really that much of a difference.

I know, I know, in the US, UK 18 is the age of consent, but in many countries 14 or 16 is the age of consent.

Even in Europe and many parts of Africa, North and South America and Asia.

Maybe Setsuna and Marina will have a mother/son type of relationship.

ATM I like my kenshin/tomoe prediction best =)

[lubczyk]

Originally Posted by thedonkiluminati

There will definately be some form of relationship between Setsuna and Marina. But considering that he's 16 and she's 24, I don't see it being of romantic nature. I know there has been plenty of anime where age meant nothing but I don't expect this to be one of them.

Are those their official ages?

Before Episode 2 came out I had found contradictory info such as Japan as part of the Union and North America as part of the Human Reform league and other contradictory information.

[lubczyk]

Originally Posted by Kazamachi Shogen

ATM I like my kenshin/tomoe prediction best =)

That's not a bad outcome, but to be truthful, I'm getting kind of tired of doomed Gundam love interests

I don't want her to die just to get the hero pissed off, which gives him the strength to defeat his Archenemy who wants to destroy all of mankind.

That would be just so cliche.

Regardless, I'll be cool as long as she doesn't sing pop songs.

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Originally Posted by lubczyk

Are those their official ages?

Before Episode 2 came out I had found contradictory info such as Japan as part of the Union and North America as part of the United Reform league and other contradictory information.

Yes they can be found at the official webpage

[brightman]

Originally Posted by lubczyk

Before Episode 2 came out I had found contradictory info such as Japan as part of the Union and North America as part of the United Reform league and other contradictory information.

But Japan IS part of the Union...

And what's the United Reform League?

[lubczyk]

Originally Posted by Kazamachi Shogen

Yes they can be found at the official webpage

Thanks for the info!!!

BTW, what does your sig mean in English?

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Originally Posted by brightman

But Japan IS part of the Union...

And what's the United Reform League?

Hmm sounds like the literal translation of 人類革新連盟

[lubczyk]

Originally Posted by brightman

But Japan IS part of the Union...

And what's the United Reform League?

Whoops!!! I meant Human Reform league. My bad.

[Cehack]

I would honestly rather have the characters come first and the mecha come second. I feel that Turn A Gundam did this, and it's my favourite in the franchise.

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Originally Posted by lubczyk

Thanks for the info!!!

BTW, what does your sig mean in English?

There are two groups who loathed each other. Their corpses rot in the fields. Their soul tainted with blood. Their bonds severed by blades. Consumed by the darkness, they cried out from the depths of their hearts "To my love ones: prepare to die!"

[lubczyk]

Originally Posted by brightman

But Japan IS part of the Union...

And what's the United Reform League?

I just rewatched the RAW.

Yeah, I noticed Japan is apart of the Union too.

Thanks for pointing that out for me.

[Tak]

I suppose, like most others, prefer a balanced progression of action and development.

Then again, isn't it a little too early to be discussing this?

- Tak

[Kazamachi Shogen]

Originally Posted by Tak

I suppose, like most others, prefer a balanced progression of action and development.

Then again, isn't it a little too early to be discussing this?

- Tak

It's what you are expecting, so not so early since the show's already giving out hints of things that is likely to come.

[ashlay]

I personally prefer character development over mecha action. It's a bore when a show becomes slave to the mecha elements and has to have akward character encounters between people in closed off cockpits who can't see each other.

I honestly want something like Geass, with unlikely encounters outside of the battlefield (even if they're only every once and awhile). But the recent AU shows haven't really done that to a level that pleases me, so I suppose I'm not hoping for much other than moderately well written mech battles.