Opinions of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED?

Lord_Satorious · 20-10-2002, 09:47 PM

Episode 3 of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED just came out in Japan today. I've already watched the first two episodes. Has anyone else been watching? If so, what do you think of the series so far?

If not, what do you think of the series based on what you have seen? Did you even know there was a new Gundam series airing right now in Japan?

Anyway, for those interested, I've updated my site (after a long time of zero updates) with a new Gundam SEED section. Hop on over from the link in my signature or follow this link:

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Informational Archive

Let me know what you think, about the new section and about what limited idea you can gather from what's available there on the new Gundam TV series.

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Lord_Satorious
Knight of Avalon
The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
"The Nu Gundam isn't just for show!" - Capt. Amuro Ray, UC 0093

DarkPrimus · 20-10-2002, 09:59 PM

I ain't seen it, but I'll check out that site...

It looks cool, though.

MauveVandal · 20-10-2002, 10:05 PM

Lord Satorious can I ask where you've been lately? lol Well anyways, I haven't seen any Seed but I've heard and read lots about it. Yeah your sites pretty awesome, and for opinions of Gundam Seed. I have high expectations for this series, hopefully its more than just flashy mechs and a re-animated OYW.

Lord_Satorious · 20-10-2002, 10:41 PM

Actually, Gundam SEED is turning out to be a re-animated One Year War with some 0083 plot thrown in and with Gundam W-type Gundams (i.e. invincible except to another Gundam). Do take note however that I'm only on episode 2, so things may change drastically.

Anyway, I've been around. It didn't help any that my internet connection died March 8th, and then my computer motherboard decided to crap out on me on May 13. That computer is still el-broken but I'm using one I borrowed from work. I still have time to get online and download anime which is my primary purpose for having any internet connection at all. I might be check here some more, but it seems chat is a lot slower than since when I was around.

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Lord_Satorious
Knight of Avalon
The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
"The Nu Gundam isn't just for show!" - Capt. Amuro Ray, UC 0093

MauveVandal · 20-10-2002, 11:31 PM

Where exactly can I see some episodes of Seed, I'd like to see for myself. One thing I can already tell I don't like a lot is all the male characters look so femme, and the way you're making it sound its OYW with the G-Boys and their Gundams.

I'm sorry for your situation, I can tell you though you were missed! We thought you dropped off the face of the Earth, the Gundam expert of this forum gone. It sounds like you're going through a lot, but yeah things haven't changed that much since you've been gone. Except BK's "Cheapness Effect" is gone, maybe for good, maybe for not. Eddy and me got the Gundam Honorary Awards Mk. II, you got it last year didn't you?

Lord_Satorious · 21-10-2002, 12:02 AM

Yes, I got the Honorary Gundam award last year. I can't believe it's been that long, but I nearly forgot all about that.

Anyway, Gundam SEED isn't quite G-boyish, although I will admit everyone is looking pretty, including the guys. I think Gundam SEED is trying to capture a larger audience than even Gundam W since they are many elements to the show.

Gundam SEED episodes? Try Kazaa lite (not Kazaa, that installs spyware on your system and you don't want that). mIRC is also good. Some people use WinMX, I personally don't like it. Episodes one and two have been released by at least four different groups. It will become relatively easy to find eventually one they start spreading around.

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Lord_Satorious
Knight of Avalon
The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
"The Nu Gundam isn't just for show!" - Capt. Amuro Ray, UC 0093

Westlo · 21-10-2002, 02:12 AM

Welcome back Lord_Satorious the gundam forum has missed your absence. It got so bad even I managed to get half a vote in the awards (thanks evafiend if your reading).

MauveVandal do you have a fast internet connection? If you do PM me and I'll help you out, one of the chans subbing SEED has a really really fast xddc server (which I can't use.......).

Anyway as for my thoughts on SEED they can be found in my SEED thread. But in short I'm really enjoying this series. The animation is top class, the music is great, the character designs are in the style of Infinite Ryvuis and Scryed which imo is really good.

I'm hanging for episode 3.

Your website had a great section on SEED, looking through the rest now.

MauveVandal · 21-10-2002, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Westlo
MauveVandal do you have a fast internet connection? If you do PM me and I'll help you out, one of the chans subbing SEED has a really really fast xddc server (which I can't use.......).

I've got DSL, thats about all I know when it comes to internet connections. lol I might know Gundam but when it comes to computers I know about as much a less than average joe.

DarkCode · 25-10-2002, 07:01 PM

Welcome back LS, anyways I have seen the first episode and I really like it, It was a lot better then I thought since earlier I heard reports that it was going to be aimed at younger audience and that kinda discourged me because what happened with Armada I didn't want seen done with Seed, but I'm quite happy with what I have seen with it so far.

I love the Strike Gundam's design.

I hope ZAFT gets the SHAFT! oh ho ho Im so clever!

Westlo · 20-11-2002, 10:08 AM

Lord_S can you expand on this post by you?

Tomino isn't one to break up his franchise into multiple little universes. He simply doesn't like the idea. Even with Gundam SEED on the air, Tomino declared this a prequel and directly tied into the Turn A Gundam era. Having just watched episode 5, I think (although I may be wrong, there is still a lot of episodes to go through)

Lord_Satorious · 20-11-2002, 11:14 AM

Taken from Newtype USA, Volume 1 Issue 1;

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"I'd like people to watch this with Gundam: Turn A in mind," said director Yoshiyuki Tomino to Fumikuni Furusawa, producer for the upcoming Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

"With Turn A, director Tomino set forth the concept of collecting all the Gundam apocrypha into one single story," Furusawa went on to say. "That being the case, our story becomes one more part of that apocrypha. What we have to do is plant the 'seed' of our story in the context of that history and have it grow into an excellent piece of work that won't soon be forgotten."

At the same time, Furusawa is quick to show his desire that Gundam SEED be the first Gundam of the 21st century. "That's why this outing using 'Mobile Suit' in the title. You should probably only add 'Mobile Suit' to the title if you're talking about Universal Century Gundam, but I was determined to have it in the title of our story."

The decision to enlist director Mitsuo Fukuda represents another part of this aspiration to make Gundam SEED another First Gundam. "Fukuda is another person who entered the trade as a fan of Gundam," Furusawa continued. "He said his aim was to make a program where the kids would be standing in line to buy plastic models for the series." (Note: Sounds like the perfect man for the job, i.e. he wants to make money for Bandai.)

Gundam SEED is indeed an ambitious undertaking--one with the goal of returning to the roots of the series while presenting a new beginning.

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I think by reading this; the people at Sunrise created another Gundam series for the primary reason of a) keeping the Gundam franchise alive and b) selling even more model kits and toys. With 5 main Gundams, 2 minor Gundams and variants of several of these within themselves; that's a lot of Bandai model kits for fans to buy. Gundam SEED was designed to sell and designed to sell big as well as appeal to the broadest range of Gundam fans possible, by including several bishounen Gundam boys and Gundam W-esque mecha designs (while staying faithful to the original series, of course) and includinhg new elements such as long-range combat. And don't forget the signature 'masked man' and the friends fighting on either side of the war and elements of UC with the 0083-like Gundam-jacking and the 0079-like civilian high school boys getting into the cockpit for the first time and proceeding to beat down the enemy.

I believe Gundam is all but done for Tomino. He's told his stories already, and the stories he wants to write he can't get funding for (his Turn A Space project will most likely never get off the ground). That director Mitsuo Fukuda seems like the perfect Bandai lackey, as he himself said he's interested in having kids line up to buy product. No wonder they hired him. Tomino stepped in and said a few words about Gundam SEED because I think he fears things getting out of control and away from the precedents he's set for the franchise he created. And what Tomino says gets done, especially when it applies to Gundam. Even Bandai wouldn't dare go against what Tomino had said publically, so by stating that Gundam SEED has elements of Turn A Gundam in it, SEED has effectively been tied in to the rest of the Gundam timeline, although producer Fumikuni Furusawa seems like the type who wants to capitalize by redoing what Tomino has already done, namely redoing the One Year War and "making Gundam SEED another First Gundam."

Tomino has nothing to do with Gundam SEED, other than the fact he's the creator of Gundam. I think Tomino is so distressed by his sponsors and those who fund him who want to make even more profit by the sale of merchandise that they're creating another multi-Gundam Gundam series, that Tomino said to 'hell with it', laid down the rules and then went off and started directing his own series, Overman King Gainer. Gundam has always been designed to sell product, but now, that product has taken a front seat to the creation of the series itself and the story it has to tell. Tomino realizes SEED's just another Bandai money-maker, and he wants nothing to do with this corporate scheming.

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Lord_Satorious
Knight of Avalon
The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
"The Nu Gundam isn't just for show!" - Capt. Amuro Ray, UC 0093

Lt Amada · 20-11-2002, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lord_Satorious
Gundam has always been designed to sell product, but now, that product has taken a front seat to the creation of the series itself and the story it has to tell. Tomino realizes SEED's just another Bandai money-maker, and he wants nothing to do with this corporate scheming.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't BanDai do the same thing with G Gundam and Gundam W?

Lord_Satorious · 20-11-2002, 05:31 PM

Well, G Gundam was the first "alternate universe," so that set the standard for mecha design for the next two Gundam series, (W & X). G Gundam had to be as outrageous as possible, so fans would know this "alternate universe project" wouldn't be like Gundam series in the past. G Gundam model kits were some of the worst Bandai ever produced, but I can't say if they sold well or not. Gundam W was the first Gundam series to appeal to the female anime crowd, and not surprisingly, Gundam W model kits were the worst model kits ever made besides the ones from G. However, I believe Gundam W model kits sold pretty well. Then came Gundam X, which failed in ratings but the model kits weren't too bade either. Turn A Gundam did very well in ratings (probably because Tomino returned to direct it), but it spawned few model kits, and they weren't even labelled with "High Grade" or not for some of the larger scales.

Gundam SEED has more toys, figures, model kits and diecast pieces than you can shake a beam saber at. It's all a little too much, even when some of the cheaper kits costs only 300 yen! Besides that, and you have more than just the 5 Gundams. Gundam SEED could possibly sell;

Strike GUNDAM
-Aile Striker
-Sword Striker
-Launcher Striker
Duel GUNDAM
-Duel GUNDAM w/ assault armor
Blitz GUNDAM
Buster GUNDAM
Aegis GUNDAM
Gundam Astray (red frame)
Gundam Astray (blue frame)

All those, and the 5 main GUNDAMs could come in the dull grey colors AND the regular colors (which is with Phase Shift armor on), and combine this with 1/144th scale "quick models," standard 1/144th scale LG, 1/100th scale HG, 1/60th scale HG, the MSiAs and the chogokin toys... that's too much Gundam even more me.

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Lord_Satorious
Knight of Avalon
The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
"The Nu Gundam isn't just for show!" - Capt. Amuro Ray, UC 0093

Lt Amada · 21-11-2002, 04:44 PM

OMG, and I thought that G Gundam was made for profit...... I just hope future Gundam series aren't such blatantly obvious marketing fronts as SEED seems to be..........

jennwenn · 21-11-2002, 05:16 PM

That is why I was hesitant to watch Gundam SEED and get into the whole "Gundam" universe in the first place. I didn't want to be inundated with utter crap churned out purely as a marketing front. However, watching SEED I felt there was at least a semblance of a plot and character development. (And I love the character designer so I'm biased.)

All in all, I don't think the series has any less "substance" than all the other series out this season. But then considering the quality of most new anime, this isn't exactly a compliment either...Well my point is, SEED my be relatively horrible Gundam (I don't know, I'm not familiar with the Gundam world) but it is still the same quality as most new anime, so its at least average. (which is still a low standard anyway)

I think I'll just watch a few more episodes though to get more of an idea of whether I like it or not.