A New Gundam Series? Gundam Age - September

[Bells]

Whaaaaaaaa?

I heard some rumors, but i thought the annoucement was going to be around th 13th, not today! Damn, just as i was starting to round up and close my collection they come around with new designs, that will lead to new models!!]

But first...

The series is Called Gundam Age. The name comes because this time around the series will be told over the span of 100 years with 3 main characters ( Father, Son and Descendant) all sharing the same Gundam with the Age System (a Self Adapting Computer that "evolves" as it learns in the battlefield).

Now, for those of you who aren't all that versed on Giant Robot backstory, let me give you the quick crash course.

This is going to be a Kid-Oriented Gundam. Why? 2 Reasons. Unicorn Gundam and 00 Gundam. Both are geared towards Teens and older, and are fairly new (Unicorn is only Half Way done right now...), So it makes sense on that regard. Also, japan is not doing all that well right now, so i guess it makes sense for an more Upbeat show, instead of the more Darker edgy ones...

Sadly before even a trailer is out, Gundam AGE is already being bashed to death. As with many many franchises, Gundam suffers online with an insufferable fanbase filed with crybabies. One of the main reasons why i don't go to any Gundam-centric forums. Don't even go to a Gundam Forum and say you enjoyed 00 Gundam...

As for me, I really liked 00 Gundam for it's story and Mech Designs, even loved the move. It's message was pretty clear... Peace Through War only brings pain, we can never evolve and achieve peace without understanding ourselves and one another. That's the message in that series, and i enjoy that. the whole "in the battlefield, if you could see your opponent's emotions and thoughts, both would lower their arms" rings well with me.

And Unicorn is just superb all around, but both are quite "mature" in their themes.

For every few "Hardcore Sci-fi" mature Gundam shows, comes a few Oddballs that try new things. That's how we got G Gundam with it's martial arts Dragonaball-esque scenarios, And Turn A Gundam with it's Hyper Futuristic "end of Ages" plot. And Beginning Gundam (more later) with it's Arcade-Model-Kit-Championship format.

So, this show makes sense as it is right now, and it's kid oriented, but it still fits in the main gundam unniverse.

I Say this to contrast with 2 things: One, the other main show with Young Gundam Pilots was Victory Gundam... which was the Darkest and Broodiest of all (also highest Bodycount of named characters in Gundam History) . And Because the other Kid Oriented Gundam series of recent times was Beggining Gundam. A Short (and a bit stale) 3 Ova series.

So, Here is the poster for Gundam AGE:



It just screams "Digimon" right?

Now, for me, i'm looking forward to the Model kits... and... i'm not very excited.

I was a bit Excited with the Beginning Gundam, i mean, it holds 3 Sabers in one Hand, how awesome is this?



But it has a vert "toy-like" look, too many colors and triangles everywhere, so it trned me off... also, it's final Version is the Beginning 30 Gundam



I don't even know what the hell...



Now these new ones from AGE come around... the main Gundam can change into 2 Modes a Speed One and a Power One... none of them look too hot for me. Too much "megaman-ish"

The designs take a lot of Cues from Beginning and 00 (very Slim, Thin Waist, Looks more like a Framework that aims for Mobility) and they push real hard for the "toy" look... so, i'm not overly excited. Too bad, cause i was looking forward to a new Gundam series, and now i guess the next one will take a couple of years... unless they make me a happy camper and give me the Gundam Katana OVA... cause, i really want that Striker Custom

[phil_]

I've been looking at that picture all day (the first image in your post) and thinking, "Oh, another Gundam I won't watch," but then you describe it as a story over 100 years with a family Gundam? Is it not tied to any other Gundam series? 'Cause a kid-friendly Gundam that takes place over three generations sounds like the right mix of action and plot for a guy reeling from Fist of the North Star withdrawal as long as I don't have to know about other Gundam shows.

So, yeah, I might watch this. Thanks for making me give it a second look.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

As always my response to a new gundam show is always mature and calm.

I eagerly await this one's release. I will not miss out on this like I did gundam 00 and Unicorn.

4Kids, stay the fuck away from this. I mean it, just back the FUCK away from this. Don't even dream about dubbing this cause it's a kids show. Same goes to you too Cartoon Network.

[Bells]

Originally Posted by phil_

I've been looking at that picture all day (the first image in your post) and thinking, "Oh, another Gundam I won't watch," but then you describe it as a story over 100 years with a family Gundam? Is it not tied to any other Gundam series? 'Cause a kid-friendly Gundam that takes place over three generations sounds like the right mix of action and plot for a guy reeling from Fist of the North Star withdrawal as long as I don't have to know about other Gundam shows.

So, yeah, I might watch this. Thanks for making me give it a second look.

yes, it's not connected to any storyline. With what i saw of it i would bet it's more like a "Mock up" of gundam history. It plays over the "100 year War" which is directly related to the "1 year war" that is the main event in the First Gundam Storyline. So, since this gundam has 3 versions per generation, i'm guessing that by the ned of Gen3 Story Arc, they will refer, point to and make analogies to many other gundam shows

So, it should be more in the same line as what G Gundam was. Basically, just don't expect blood and death front and center in the screen.

PS: This also means at least about 15 new model kits coming... FUCK!, my wallet!!!

[The Sevenshot Kid]

I haven't watched any Gundamn shows after seeing G because I'm worried that nothing will live up to the greatness that was G Gundam. This seems interesting so I'll give it a look when it rolls around.

[Bells]

Early First Trailer

Japanese kids gets the Awesomest toys that older man want real bad, holy crap...

[Sage Harpuia]

As a gundam fan, albeit a grudgingly bias fan of the UC continuity, this is definitely a curious juxtaposition I will keep a eye on. I just hope it's as or better than G Gundam.

[Red Fighter 1073]

As a guy who really got introduced to Gundam through SD Gundam Force when I was a kid, I really wouldn't mind another Gundam series mostly aimed at kids. Gundam 00 was alright, but I stopped watching near the end of the first season.

[Bells]

Always keep in mind that a Gundam series aimed at Kids only means you are likely to not see Blood on the screen and stuff like people pressing guns on Kid's heads (looking at you Unicorn.... ). That's the only real difference... Point in question, on the very first trailer they already make a case of showing the main characters mom buried alive in burning debris...

As for the Age, the main character in this series is 14. That's Young. But Crossbone Gundam (a beloved series from the Hardcore fanbase) had a 13 year old protagonist. And if i recall correctly, Uso Erwin from Victory Gundam was either 12 or 13 when he first piloted his gundam, and V Gundam has the bloodiest and largest body count of all Gundam Series to date...

If it's "For Kids" Like Digimon Tamers was "For Kids" sign me the hell up right now