Gundam Seed

Last night I sat down and watched the last volume of Gundam Seed. My first viewing of Gundam Seed was over two years ago, sometime in 2003, which was the first 13 episodes, so this series is one that I've been watching for a while.

Gundam is one of those classic Japanese animes that gets reintroduced every couple of years to a new generation of kids (who then go out and buy the plastic models of the latest series). Gundam in the United States is relatively unknown (though gaining popularly due to exposure on Cartoon Network). Their toys and models, once limited to Japanese specialty stores can now be found at almost any major retail store with a toy section.

Gundam Seed is the most recent incarnation of Gundam, and keeps the themes from the classic series while changing the characters and setting. The character design is more shojo than shonen, which can be off-putting to some, and the show does have a habit of recycling battle animation sequences. The technical issues aside, the story is interesting and addictive. It's the best rehash of the Gundam series yet, and the art style is contemporary enough to introduce young fans who may be put off by the original series' dated look.

In the Cosmic Era 71, a war is underway between the genetically modified residents of space, and the natural born humans of Earth. The Earth Alliance has been developing secret weapons on a neutral space colony, which have been discovered and stolen by the ZAFT. A young man named Kira Yamato is forced to become a Gundam pilot in order to protect his friends in the war.

Verdict: Highly Recommended