AICN-Anime: Ghost in the Shell 2; Gundam; Spriggan; Ceres; Dragon Ball; Mahoromatic; Cyborg; Matrix

Father Geek here this Wednesday with Scott Green's AICN Anime column for this week... But first this bit of non-anime animation news...

Seems like WB is up to it's old trick again on DVD "Family" movies. They think everyone want Pan&Scan. First it was Willy Wonka, then Cat's and Dogs, now it's the new release of LOTR on DVD. The link below is a petition site to just say no the P&S and get a WideScreen release. They listened for Wonka, and are now releasing a WS version later in the year. More names on the LOTR petition would help. Write by clicking here

Thanks... AkiraZen

Father Geek back with this bit that crossed my desk this morning...

I've seen all of Cowboy Bebop a long time ago, and I know Spriggan will be released soon in theatres. Thanks to the joys of fansubs I know this is also up next to be one of the anime Great Ones. Before them came the cult classics, Akira and Ghost in a Shell. Next up, I'd like to submit a review and hope it's worthy of gettnig posted up on your site, and if nothing else, so that you check it out yourselves.

BERSERK

Posted up the review at the CNX Message Board. If you have the time, please take a look... By Clicking Here

Thank you for your time.

Regards, Keith Hayward ; "JohnCrichton" of the CNX Message Board

Der Pater Geek back one more time with this interesting stuff...

Anyway, quick bit of news you might be interested in that I haven't seen any where else. Former Marvel Comics editor and freelance writer (notably on Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira as published by Marvel late 80s) was interviewed on Newsarama at http://www.comicon.com/newsarama/. Interestingly, she dropped a hint about Ottomo's new project Steam Boy. Heard anything else about it?

NEWSARAMA: Jo, first of all, can you catch readers up with what you've been up to professionally the last few years? What was your last comics project and/or regular series, and what have you been keeping busy with since?

Jo Duffy: "Lessee...My last regular series for Glory, for Rob Liefeld. Plus just abut any crossover, special, one-shot, or mini-series people could think of putting Glory in. I was also doing a fun little book for Rob called Bloodpool, much less high-profile, but really delightful to work on, that wrapped up at about the same time... Lately, I've been doing all kinds of odd and interesting things and having a great time. I've done a number of stories for Claypool's delightfully wacky Elvira: Mistress of the Dark monthly, with a whole bunch of interesting and wonderful artists. There has been some movie-related work it would be premature to talk about, some prose fiction, ditto. I did the final English language rewrite - the same kind of work I did on Akira - for Katsuhiro Otomo's next animated film, Steam Boy, at the storyboard stage. Some choose-your-own adventures for an internet company. And just last month, helped put together an in-house original super-hero comic that turned an insurance company's top sales force members into superheroes for one double-sized issue.

A new project by the legend that created Akira has got to be something to shout about!

Till the next time... Sweet Dick Willie

Now here's Scott's report...

Ghost in the Shell 2 Information

Kodan Club reports that Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow has said about the sequel to Ghost in the Shell "I'm currently making plans for my next work. I've heard that Mamoru Oshii, the director of the animated movie, "GHOST IN THE SHELL" is planning on doing a "GHOST IN THE SHELL 2." It will be about the 9th Division again and not "MANMACHINE INTERFACE."

The tone of Ghost in the Shell: Man Machine interface will be sufficiently different that Shirow is calling it "not a true sequel". Motoko Kusinagi will not be working for the Section 9 police force, instead the new Motoko will be working for a huge cooperation floating in the Pacific:

Also of note from Shirow: "Yes. I'm making non-Japanese versions of "MANMACHINE INTERFACE" right now. I'm afraid I've had to rewrite the balloons and sound effects and reverse the work from left to right. So like "GHOST IN THE SHELL" sometimes right arms become left arms for example. But there's not much that can be done about it. Ideally, I wanted to publish them at the same time as the Japanese version but it just wasn't possible. Sorry. Please wait a little longer. I would also like to thank the people, who have waited for 10 years. Thank you so much. Foreign editions will be out soon."

Disney Reluctant to Release New Miyazaki

Though an agreement with Japan's Studio Ghibli Dinsey purchased the rights to Ghibli's films by renowned director Hayao Miyzaki, whose works include Princess Mononoke, and Kiki's Delivery service. According to an Inside.com article;. After the release of Princess Mononoke Disney has take a new, more cautious stance to releasing Miyazaki's movies in North America. The likelihood that new movies will be released by Disney, or that Laputa: Castle in the Sky, which has been dubbed and shown seems geatly diminished.

Disney had hoped to us Miyazaki's Working with Studio Ghibli as a source for new material, but were taken unaware then the found out the director who typical produced children and family films had produced the dark and adult Princess Mononoke. Couple with the movie's poor box office returns, which Disney found embarrassing they are now gun shy about Miyazaki's works. David Jessen, vice president of acquisitions at Disney's Buena Vista, says he has seen the film and that he likes it, but that other Disney executives have not. Disney currently has no official plans to release any more of Miyazaki's films in America, he says, adding "we are strategizing now worldwide." A subtitled version of Miyazaki's new movie Spirited Away was prepared for Disney. Despite the movie's phenomenal theatrical success in Japan, which many expect to surpass Titanic's record, reaction among Disney executives to the movie has been mixed.

Next Ghibli Title Announced?

The home page of British fantasy author Diane Wynne reports that her novel "Howl's Moving Castle" will be adapted to an animated feature by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki in 2003. The statement that Miyazaki will be directing the film conflicts Miyazaki's recent retirement announcement. Amazon UK gives the following synopsis of the book "In the land of Ingary, where seven league boots and cloaks of invisibility do exist, Sophie Hatter catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell."

Monkey Punch Shorts

Monkey Punch, creator of Lupin III is making a series of short comedic animated films about a hapless samurai for his webpage. Two seem to be finished so far, with 4 more in the works. You can see those films at here

Matrix Anime Items

According to Cinescape "In addition, word has it that MATRIX helmers, Andy and Larry Wachowski, have put out the word to unspecified anime directors to create episodes inspired by the original film. MATRIX ANIME, which is the name the project is currently going by, is being planned for late 2002 or early 2003 video release, just prior to RELOADED hitting theater screens." Tokyo Pop Title Dates

The second four episodes volumes of Saint Tail, and Vampire Princess Miyu will be released by Tokyo Pop on 10/13/01. Saint Tail Vol. #2 and Vampire Princess Miyu TV Vol. #2 are both due on 10/23/2001. Runtimes are now 100 minutes each (4 episodes) and price remains the same.

New Anime This October in Japan

The first volume of the X OAV (direct to video release) was released on August 25th. The new television series is set to start on September3rd. The production team on the OAV is : [Original Story] CLAMP [Director] Yoshiaki Kawajiri [Chara-Design] Yoshinori Kanemori [Art director] Yuji Ikeda [Music] Naoki Sato [Animation] Madhouse [Production] Kadokawa Shoten / Bandai Visual

On October fourth Kokoro toshokan (Heart Library), and Otogi Story Tenshi no Shippo (Angel Tail) will start airing on Japanese TV. Both appear to be cute romantic series.

Vandread, Second Stage, and NAJICA Dengeki Sakusen (NAJICA Blitz Tactics) will start October 5th.

Gekito! CRASH GEAR T ,TURBO (Fierce Fight ! CRASH GEAR T ,TURBO), produced by Sunrise (known for producing some Gundam and Escflowne) , will start October 7th. Hikaru no Go and Tennis no Ohjisama (The Prince of Tennis) will start October 10th.

Hellsing is set to start October 13th,. The series is a dark and bloody horror series about set in an English empire with a strong state religion. A policing unit is set to destroy the monsters and vampires plaguing the empire. The tone of the series seems to resemble a Go Nagai work (ie Devilman).

Cyborg 009 starts October 14th.

Other series that will be starting in October do not have a set start date yet. This titles include: Babel II; Shin-Chokyoryo (THE LEGEND OF CONDOR HERO); The lengthy soccer epic, Captain Tsubasa, which has appeared in appeared in anime series since 1983 will continue in Captain Tsubasa Road to 2002.; Chit-cha na yukitsukai SUGAR (Small snow fairy SUGAR), a cute , children's series ;

Full Metal Panic!

Hoshi no Kirby (Kirby The Crystal Shards), featuring Nintendo's pink, marshmallow hero.

Gonzo's lastest project is I wish you were here referred to online as "Poject I". Gonzo is known for their CGI animation on works such as Blue Sub No 6, and Gate Keepers.

Mahoromatic AbenoBashi Mahou Shoutengai (Abeno-bridge magical shopping street) Mahoromatic, is based on a manga series from Comic-Gum and is produced by Gainax-Shaft the anime will be directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga, director and scriptwriter of "Ouritsu Uchugun - Oanemisu no Tsubasa"

The story revolves around the female-type combat android V1046-R Vesper Hyper Soldier Mahoro. In the early 1980's these androids were produced to save the Earth from alien invasion. Without any humans noticing these Vesper Hyper soldiers fought off the alien attack. Mahoro, the strongest fighter, fought for 9 years and was on the verge of termination. As a reward for her fighting she is allowed to live a free life, but after her weapons are removed she'll only function for another 398 days.

Mahoro changes her name to Mahoro Ando and decides that she'll spend her remaining time taking care of Suguru, a second year Junior High School student. Suguru is the son of Commander Misato, who Mahoro witnessed dying on the battlefield.

She changes her name to and becomes a maid, concealing the fact that she is an android.

RAVE, which starts October 13th, seems to be a comedy version of the familiar story of a boy who must stop the rebirth of a demonic force. The boy, named Haru(maybe Hull), in this case lives on an island with a a mysterious girl seeking lost memories, a woman chasing thief, and a very odd dog creature that with a spherical head and a pointed sea shell like nose. A preview can be seen at here

Other upcoming and recent Japanese anime releases include: Series :

Sabaku no Kaizoku! Captain Kuppa ("The Desert Pirate! Captain Kuppa") NHK satelite 2 August 13th, 6 p.m. Produced by Be Train

Movies:

Slayers Premium Released in December with Sakura Taisen Produced by Halfilm Maker

Gekijoban Tottoko Hamutaro Hamuhamuland Daiboken (Tottoko Hamutaro The Movie : Hamhamland Great Adventures) Released: December 15th Directed by DEZAKI Osamu

Shenmu The Movie This is a 3D CGI animation film Released: September 6th

OAV:

Tokyo Jussho Den Fuma Gogyo Densho Sono Ichi ("The Legend of Ten Warriors Episode One") Released: August 24th Prosuced by: Pionerr LDC

Rurouni Kenshin Meiji Kenkyaku Roman Tan Seiso-Hen Jokan ("Rurouni Kenshin : The Story of Swordsmen in Meiji Era The First Volume") Released on December 19th by SME and Visualworks Produced by Studio Deen

Marvel to Use Manga to Appeal to Girl

Marvel Comics president Bill Jemas said in an inteview with Newsarama that next year he will begin a line of Japanese-style comics to appeal to the most elusive audience - teenage girls.

The comic-book market is traditionally supported by males, but Jemas said young girls would be just as interested in comics if they appealed to them. "It's a major trend, girls around 13 and 14 years old are reading these romantic manga comics from Japan," he said. "They walk right past our comics to get them. I have people exploring this right now. We will bring high-quality, Japanese-style comics to Marvel."

The Japanese comics feature simple, stylized art with compelling stories about relationships.

New Information on English Newtype Magazine

The release of the English version of popular Japanese anime magazine Newtype is now schedule to begin in early Spring 2002. The extended preparation time is being credited to boost the feature and accessories in the magazine. Earlier it was stated that the magazine would largely cover Japanese news, but in what may be a minor priority shift, more recent press releases are stating the show will focus on shows that are popular outside Japan.

The web site associated with Newtype Akadot will cut its content by ¾, but will use Akadot's forum to gage fan feedback about the magazine.

Synch Point

According to Synch Point has updated their release schedule on their upcoming titles. Look to see DVDs for I'm Gonna Be an Angel and FLCL (Furi Kuri) Late 2001. No word on if there will be VHS releases for FLCL. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is currently slated to begin VHS/DVD release Early 2002. FLCL (pronounced Furi Kuri) is a humorous sci-fi OAV about a boy, the flirtatious girlfriend of his brother who is abroad, and a crazy girl on a motor scooter, from Gainax, who is best known for Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Production I.G. The official Gainax site can be found at http://www.gainax.co.jp/flcl (its in Japanese, but you can get some of the series' flavor from the character art).

The JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime adapts part of the third of six series, in a title that has run since 1987, and over 60 volumes of 184 pages. The genre of the title differed from series to series. The hird started off as horror, but took on an merican superhero comics eel. The second OAV series takes place chronologically fter the first eries, so the first OAV series will be released first in US. "Jo o" refers to the names of members of a family that the title follows. In he case of the third series, and OAVs Jo Jo is Jotaro Kujo, a violent juvenile delinquent who finds out that what he believed was an evil spirit trying to posses him is a Stand, a tarot-card like incarnation that gives him super powers. The OAVs are known for their slick violence, comic-book atmosphere, and interesting uses of super powers.

Finally, for all those of you who have been following their production on the Di Gi Charat commercial it will begin airing in the Los Angeles area around Sept 2001.

Dragon Ball Movie News

FUNimation has picked working titles for both their upcoming DBZ Movies. Their announcement makes references to toys for both Movie 5: Cooler's Revenge and Movie 6: Return of Cooler. The movies will be released direct to video. FUNimation had at one time considered a theatrical release for the movies.

Ceres, Celestial Legend Delays

Viz had modified its ambiguous release schedule for Ceres, Celestial Legend as follows:

• Ceres, Celestial Legend 4: Resolve - 11/13/01
• Ceres, Celestial Legend 5: The Progenitor - 12/11/01
• Ceres, Celestial Legend 6: Double - 1/22/02
• Ceres, Celestial Legend 7: Requiem - 2/26/02
• Ceres, Celestial Legend 8: Denouement - 3/26/02

Toonami News

According to Anime News Network's conversation with Cartoon Network MS Gundam is achieving solid rating, especially conserinh is age. 08th MS Team will eventually air in the afternoon time slot.

"Toonami programming generally skews male, 6-24. Gundam does tend" to skew a bit older than the other shows on Toonami, probably because of its serious tone.

Having Cowboy Bebop on Cartoon Network is almost like a dream come true for a lot of it's fans. I say almost because there are a lot of fans who are worried that extensive edits will ruin the adult-nature of the show, and make it into a pale shadow of what it truly is. Do the fans have to worry much?

"The fans shouldn't have to worry much. Cowboy Bebop will be edited for a TV-14 rating. That being said, certain swear words (one in particular), scenes involving a great deal of blood, and any nudity will be edited. All three of which would not make it on any TV-14 drama in primetime. Anything we are allowed to leave in, we will."

"We are deep in the editing process right now. Doing it unobtrusively and with care towards the storyline is a very time consuming and delicate process. We have the utmost respect for Bebop as a show and hate to edit it at all, but at the same time, we want it to reach as wide an audience as possible- and if that means leaving out some gratuitous violence or profanity, we think that's an even trade."

See the complete article at here

The midnight run of Gundam: 08th MS Team is doing a lot better in ratings than the afternoon original MS Gundam on Toonami, but ratings for the original series MS Gundam do seem to be steadily increasing. 8th MS Team will be moving to the afternoon Toonami block on October 1st, when Dragon Ball Z begins on Night Run.

TOONAMI: Afternoon Line-Up

05:00 PM Gundam: 8th MS Team - (eps.= War For Two)

05:30 PM Dragonball - (eps.= The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi)

06:00 PM Dragonball Z - (eps.= The World Tournament)

06:30 PM Batman Beyond - (eps.= Batman Beyond)

TOONAMI: Midnight Run Line-Up

12:00 PM Dragonball Z - (eps.= War For Two)

12:30 PM Outlaw Star - (eps.= Cats and Girls and Spaceships)

See Toonami Schedile

Saiyan Z Rage, which just came back online interview a Cartoon Network representative about the upcoming Adult Swim.

Question #1 -

** Sam: Recent schedule grids (like TVGuide.com, and cartoon networks official schedule grid) and many others, are just listing the 10pm to 1am block as "Home Videos" or "Adult Swim" with out any names of the "individual shows" inside the "Adult Swim" block. Why is that?

** Cartoon Network: The reason many of the TV Listings resources are not listing the individual shows for "Adult Swim" is that the line-up will change somewhat from week to week. Also, there are 15 minute shows included within the franchise, and listings sources are not able to recognize these programs.

Question #2 -

** Sam: Can make us a small "Adult Swim" schedule line-up, that tells us what specific air-times those "individual shows" will air during the "Adult Swim" block?

** Cartoon Netwrok: Ok, following are the listing of the first four weekends of "Adult Swim."

Sunday, Sept. 2

• 10:00p Home Movies
• 10:30p The Brak Show
• 10:45p The Brak Show
• 11:00p Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
• 11:15p Sealab 2021
• 11:30p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 11:45p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 12:00a Cowboy Bebop
• 12:30a Cowboy Bebop

Sunday, Sept. 9

• 10:00p Home Movies
• 10:30p The Brak Show
• 10:45p The Brak Show
• 11:00p Aqua Teen Hunger Force
• 11:15p Sealab 2021
• 11:30p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 11:45p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 12:00a Cowboy Bebop
• 12:30a Cowboy Bebop

Sunday, Sept. 16

• 10:00p Home Movies
• 10:30p The Brak Show
• 10:45p The Brak Show
• 11:00p Aqua Teen Hunger Force
• 11:15p Sealab 2021
• 11:30p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 11:45p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 12:00a Cowboy Bebop
• 12:30a Cowboy Bebop

Sunday, Sept. 23

• 10:00p Home Movies
• 10:30p The Brak Show
• 10:45p The Brak Show
• 11:00p Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
• 11:15p Sealab 2021
• 11:30p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 11:45p Space Ghost Coast to Coast
• 12:00a Cowboy Bebop
• 12:30a Cowboy Bebop

Question #2 -

** Sam: Would you like to convey any message to young Toonami adults out there?

** Cartoon Network: I hope you'll plan to tune-in to "Adult Swim" when it premieres over Labor Day weekend. Thank you again for letting us know that our programming matters to you.

Kids'WB will be promoted on The Cartoon Network in a weekly half-hour preview at 7:30 p.m. (ET) "EVERY" Fridays, starting August 31st. The Official schedule pages has updated with the following..

Cartoon Network's Friday 7:30 p.m. Line-Up

• Fridays, August 31st - X-Men - Grim Reminder
• Fridays, September 7th - Pokemon - The Fortune Hunters
• Fridays, September 14th - Jackie Chan - The Dog & Piggy Show
• Fridays, September 21st - The Mummy - The Summoning
• Fridays, September 28th - Yu-Gi-Oh - Yu-Gi-Oh (I might watch this one)

Also, The WB is airing the Cartoon Network's "Samurai Jack" in its Kids'WB Saturday morning schedule

According to the schedule posted on Toonzone, five Sailor Moon S episodes will be airing on the KidsWB. Monday through Friday at 3pm, only for the week of September 3rd. In keeping with WB tradition, these will be not be chronologically continuous episodes, but random ones.

Medabots TV Promo Online (2001-08-25 06:48:29)

Nelvana has posted a Medabots TV Promo (2.5mb MPEG) to their website hereMedabots begins airing on Fox Kids this September.

Spriggan Theatrical Release

An ADV representative confirmed with Anime News Network today that Spriggan "will be opening Oct. 12th in New York City at the Village East.". Additional venues are to be announced soon. Also, the Official Spriggan Homepage will be updated shortly with new information about the theatrical release.

Music Video Interviews

Cartoon Network has interview Daft Punk and Leiji Matsumoto about their anime music videos.

Gainax Sequel 40. SF Con Announcements

According to Anime News Service Gainax was a big presence at the 40. SF Con in Japan. They talked about their new TV series Mahoro Matic the soundtrack is scheduled for 11/22; directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga; Hideaki Anno storyboarded the show´s opening)Abeno-basi Mahou Shoutengai (TV release in spring 2002; also directed by Yamaga).

Gainax did not officially announce the following titles, spoke about plans for them. "Gunbuster - Top o narea! 2" will be directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki (FLCL, Nadia, EVA) and feature character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Evnagelion, Nadia).

Princess Maker, based on GAINAX´s famous simulation game is also in the works. Blue Uru, Hiroyuki Yamaga´s follow-up to his masterpiece "Wings of the Honneamise" may finally be animated after 8 years in limbo.

Gunbuster: Aim for the Top, a girl with extraordinary powers trained to pilot a mech, is a Gainax series that is very much the precursor to Evangelions. It features some very interesting drama, science fiction and the "Gainax bounce".

Bandai also announced that an anime series based on Chouhei Kambayashi´s famous SF-novel series "Yukikaze" will be adapted into a 5-parts OVA-series boasting a big budget provided by Bandai Visual and state-of-the-arts animation by Studio Gonzo. The first volume will hit the Japanese stores in spring 2002. The producers hope to conclude the series within one year. The staff will be made up of director Masahiko Okuma, character-designer Yumi Tada, sound supervisor Yota Tsuruoka and 3D supervisor Atsushi Takeuchi. Since "Yukikaze" will feature a lot of air combat the production team has visited the Komatsu base this summer for an extensive technical and design study (just like the case of Macross Plus). The 3-minute trailer shown seems to have indicate that this will be a series to look forward to.

Final Fantasy TV Series

Studio Gonzo and anime producer Yoshikazu Miyao (Macross Dynamite 7, Blue Sub, Vandread, Turn A Gundam) announced at The August 17th, Avex´ anime rave festival 2001 that they would be working on a new Final Fantasy TV series. The "Final Fantasy" movie is due out in Japan in September

CN Anime Report

Saiyan Z Rage has posted a report of the CN Anime convention at here

Spotlight: Mobil Suit Gundam: The Battle Begins (DVD)

Episodes 1-5 English dubbed

Gundam continues to be a huge phenomenon in Japan. When Japanese anime fans are polled for on who their favorite characters are the list is consistently comprised of characters from the newest titles, Amuro Ray and Char Aznable, the protagonist and antagonist of the first Gundam series. Bandai was not able to obtain the rights to the Japanese language track to the series from its creator Sunrise for fear that it eat into sales of a Japanese release.

Gundam is a science fiction or space opera fan's dream... a very lengthy series with by all accounts interesting characters and situations that successfully carries itself over a great deal of works. As the series opens humans have colonized space in orbiting slides. One of these colonies has declared itself the independent Principality of Zeon. They have waged a costly war with the Earth Federation through the use of the mobile suits called zakus, green armors that look like a bulky man in a gas mask with spike shoulder plates, and one glowing eye. After months of stalemate the federation have developed their own mobile suits, the Guncannon, the Guntank, and the Gundam, a versatile suit with a head like a helmeted samurai, equipped with experimental new weapons and an adaptive learning computer.

When the advanced battleship White Base lands on Side 7 to pick up the mobile suits, a small group of Zakus under the command of Zeon's ace pilot Char Aznable attack the colony. During the one sided battle White Base's senior officers and the Gundam's engineers are killed or badly wounded. During the battle Amuro Ray, a young boy more interested in tinkering with gadgets than people, takes command of the Gundam and battles off the Zaku. In the aftermath of the battle the population of the severely damaged colony are evacuated on board the White Base. The wounded captain is replaced by Noa Bright, a young cadet who is forced to use civilians from Side 7 to man the ship. "The Battle Begins" continues to detail the battle between the new crew of the White Base and Char's Zeon forces as the White Bases travels to Earth.

The series is a war story that will be following the White Bases young crew as they shaped by the crucible of the war. The characters' youth is both strength and a determent to the series. It characters have been given room to grow. They many are impetuous or cowardly, or bull headed. At times this makes the characters annoying. Amuro talks too much, and at times when you would like a person would be too consumed by busy try to survive to start philosophizing. After being informed of Char's lethal potential he sees the man charging at him charging in a red Zaku. As Amuro levels his gun at the rapidly approaching opponent he deliberately states over the channel to White Base" "I keep on thinking about the humans inside these machines, but I know I can handle this." After Char performs a blinding flanking maneuver and hits Amuro's Gundam "I see this. this is what war is."

The strength of the Zeon characters adds dimension to the series. The Zeon are handled better than the antagonists of many series. They are not unthinking drones. They are cautious of which battles they engage in, and how to maximize their force. They are careful not to throw away lives or machinery. Five episodes into the series the viewer does not know the politics behind the war. The Federation are shown to endanger civilians several times, and act with a heavy hand against the series' protagonists in the series' early episodes. Coupled with youthful flaws of the series' protagonists, the level headed Char, and his soldiers make the Zeon appear sympathetic in these early episodes.

During these early episodes, the series' best selling point seems to be its battle scenes, which are complex and interesting. Great attention is paid to details and strategy. The viewer is introduced to the capabilities of the Gundam, and Zaku as well as their support vehicles and weapons, then introduces a situation and shows how strategy and skill resolve the situations. New elements are constantly being produced, but nothing is pulled out of a hat.

The animation is dated, but it's serviceable. The character designs, and series' opening and ending employee styles appear dated, but the quality of animation is not distracting. Short cuts are made, but details are not skipped.

Bandai has been producing consistently producing enjoyable English dubs. The voices all fit the characters, the level of emotion emoted suit the characters and suitations, and the flow of speech and conversation is natural. There are not voices that make the viewer groan or grimace, even among the incidentals. It is difficult not to miss a Japanese language track, but it doesn't seem like a dimension to the story is lost without the inclusion of Japanese language track. If the trade off is to go without the series, or so without the Japanese language track, the Japanese language tracks seems to be a fair tradeoff.