Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans – Season 1 [Blu-ray]

This is my first Gundam series to watch and so far it’s pretty good. The strongest parts are the story and action. At first things are hard to get a hold of because there’s so many company names and people that you can’t remember and you can’t tell who is who, but as you get used to everything it becomes easier. As much as I’m typically not a fan of “kid heroes” because I feel it is a little ridiculous, with this one specifically, it works given the lives they’ve lived and the things and situations they’ve been faced with. These aren’t you average kids, they are young people that were forced to grow up and were never actually “kids”. The background animation is very well done, and the animation as a whole is great with one exception and it’s probably my person biggest issue. The character animation just looks weird to me, mainly certain characters hair. Orga, Mikazuki, Kudelia the three biggest characters all have the most notable examples. Mikazuki with his sharp point, Orga with a similar sharp point both of which just look weird and then Kudelia has just has (and they all have this but it’s most noticeable on her) very stiff hair with no movement. I don’t mind the “crazy anime hair” to an extent, for instance Eugene and Akihiro look ok. Anyway other than the character animation which wasn’t a huge thing it was fine. The characters are mostly good with the weakest being the central figure Mikazuki. He just has a dull personality, and he isn’t very interesting. I love Eugene(and his Eren Jeager, Kirito voice by Bryce Papenbrook), Akihiro, Orga, Shino, Buscuit, Ride, Lafter, Naze, and Atra. Atra’s voice actor Cassandra Lee Morris fits her really well. She does great with the cute, sweet, kind girls like Atra as well as K-On Ritsu, but not as good with mean spirited characters like Taiga from Toradora. I wasn’t a huge fan of Kudelia either, but I’m not exactly sure why. I am surprised they they gave this a “Ma” rating because it’s really just has mild language that isn’t too strong or frequent and the violence isn’t that strong either compared to other anime I’ve seen that gets TV14. So this one seems like a TV14 to me.

First, the physical blu-ray. The series comes in a standard blu-ray case with each disc having its own disc-holder (see pictures). When played, you're met with a crisp and clean picture and solid smooth animation. In fact, I'd say Gundam has some of the best animations I've seen in a show for a while now. See the pictures for glimpses of the playback, there might be some odd coloration but that's due to my camera and not the actual picture.Now for the series itself. This is a 'darker' anime that still manages to retain its heart. It follows a group of child soldiers on their mission to help a political activist in their mission to reach Earth. We see bits of a fully colonized Mars (where most of our characters are from) in open revolt, along with space pirates and other space colonies along the way to Earth and its four economic blocks. The series touches on some surprisingly adult themes of child labor, slavery, soldiers for hire, the lack of law inside fringe spaces, government espionage, and a truly Machiavellian plot worth of Littlefinger. Throughout it all is the bond and relationship between Mikazuki and Orga. Both of whom had very hard lives in the poverty-ridden lands of Mars. We see Orga grow into a leader at such a young age and all that it comes with. We see Mikazuki as the 'cold-blooded' child soldier, a surprisingly nuanced character who grows throughout the series in subtle ways.The show doesn't shy away from death and the cost of war. As well as its effects on the young. All in all, a series worth the money and a great starting point for any new Gundam fans out there.

good

Well-made animevery well-made

(very slight spoilers for episode 1, and I guess for Gundam shows from the 80s. I am trying to be oblique)TL;DR - I am currently excited and hopeful. They brought back UC themes, gave us a compelling MC, have a great art style, and some really cool action.With only the first episode out, first three episodes out if you count the movie, it is hard to tell if my excitement is justified. But so far I am having a great time.Machu, our MC, is a "Gundam Boy" in the vane of my favorite classic protagonist Judau Ashta. She sees a thing she needs to do and does it, consequences be damned. Machu fortunately does not share in Judau's stupidity. Her frantic energy as she decides to participate in other long standing traditions in Gundam, Steal the Gundam and fight the cops, is a refreshing rework of old UC themes. The 3D CGI they are using is not distracting and makes for some killer action scenes. The way the background gets destroyed is also top notch.To the mixed category.I do like the new art direction for the characters and the Zaku. I am still feeling out the Kwucks, it's name as strange and gross as it's body. Perhaps it will grow on me when it is more of a character later.I am reading Machu's hanging 'right-side-down' as her NT moment. Hopefully it is not pandering but, you know... Gundam.While I am glad to see Haro is still a 'person,' I am confused by the lock (Did Amuro's haro survive and become a NT sensor?).I am glad they Char continues to be the shadiest man to ever live, but am unsure how I feel about the plot revolving around the RG.I did enjoy all of the NT nostalgia, but I don't know if they can clarify the metaphor enough to make any coherent themes out of it.

Gundam Gquuuuuux has some really nice aesthetics!The fights look so smooth. The character designs are top notch! The Gundams have got that Evangelion vibe going for them too!This series is gonna clap cheeks. Trust.Gundam is back baby! Also, HARO has some serious drip in this series!Real recognize real!

Sick! Good story, Mech fights, great animation and soundtrack!