[.ca] Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: DVD Operation 1 (Full Screen) (ISBN 6305821402)

Amazon.com essential video:
Gundam premiered on Japanese television in 1979 and redefined the "giant robot" genre. It's become one of the longest-running franchises in anime history, with more than a dozen broadcast, original animation video (OAV), and feature versions. The four episodes on Shooting Stars (the DVD contains a fifth episode) opened a 49-part broadcast series that aired in Japan in 1995 and 1996. After a war devastated the surface of the earth, many people left for the Space Colonies. The remaining inhabitants are governed by the United Earth Sphere Alliance, which has oppressed the Colonies. A group of rebels hope to win their freedom by attacking Earth with five teenage pilots in Gundam mobile suits (robotic rocket ships made from Gundanium alloy). Heero Yuy, the brash hero, immediately comes into conflict with the sinister Lieutenant Zechs and Colonel Treize, who are important officers in OZ, an elite mobile-suit unit trained and staffed by the powerful Romefeller Foundation. Heero also inadvertently wins the heart of Relena, the wealthy daughter of a cabinet minister. While Heero insults Relena and fights the forces of OZ, the other four Gundam pilots, Duo, Trowa, Quatra, and Chang (who, oddly, don't know each other) wreak havoc on Alliance factories and military bases. It's a classic confrontation between indestructible good guys with invincible weapons and bad guys who can't hit the broad side of a robot. The DVD contains the "unedited version" of the show that plays on the Cartoon Network. It contains no nudity or sex; the violence is largely restricted to machines attacking each other and is recommended for ages 7 and older. The VHS version has some language changes ("I will kill you" becomes "I will destroy you") and the blood has been removed when characters are injured. There is no difference in running time. --Charles Solomon

ok, but more coherent story necessary:
I apologize if this turns into a review of the series, but this is more a response to it currently being in the "Essential DVD" Anime section. Some good points of this series are its animation and general production quality, which both seem above par for a TV show. However, I never found that I could identify, or sympathize with any of the characters. I don't even like most of them. There seems to be no middle ground, either their too cruel or too nice, too aloof, or too outgoing. The plot is the same, convoluted to a point that if you miss an episode or two, whole groups of characters have changed sides and you will essentially have no idea what is going on. In all honesty, if you have the resources, see Gundam X which was released after GW in Japan(not yet released in US). Having seen the first twelve episodes, it has a plot that understands its limitations, and allows you to focus more on a few pilots and the main characters. Versus 5 pilots and who knows how many others in GW. Lots of characters and a complex plot are not bad, but I think GW is too confused in later episodes, trying too hard to impress the viewer, both with its outlandish plot and numerous upgrades to the mobile suits. Check out professional reviews of this show before you start buying this series. Basically, if the other 44 episodes aren't good enough, the first five shouldn't be "essential."

The Gundam Wing Saga Begins...:
The first volume of Gundam Wing starts by giving us a summary of the political situation between the Earth government and the Colonies of outer space. From there we are treated to the entry of the Gundam Pilots, who begin their all-out war against the Oz military oganization (which is hiding itself inside of the Earthsphere Alliance government). But since the Gundam pilots don't know each other, and a series of developments have arguably the best pilot (Heero Yuy) meet the daughter of the Vice Foreign Minister, and lose his Gundam to the enemy, let's just say that the first episode starts with a bang. From there the series continues to give us more info about the personality and fighting style of each of the pilots. We also continue to get to know ace Oz pilot Zechs Marquise (and some of the people he considers friends and enemies). The last episode of the DVD treats us to a major revelatoin about the past of Relena Peacecraft (the Foreign Minister's daughter), and shows beyond any doubt (just in case we had any), that Oz is in fact evil. From this first DVD you might get the impression that this show is going to fall into the old trap of having our heroes fight, get beat up, grow in resolve, and win. But giving up on this series after the first few epiodes would be a very big mistake indeed. In the next volume comes the first major plot twist. And let's just say that it can be mighty hard to figure out who your enemy is when the world situation keeps changing. This DVD is worth seeing for the end of the first episode alone (a true classic), but rest assured that this show gets much better later on. If you're a Gundam fan, definitely check this one out. If you're a Gundam Wing fan, what are you waiting for? Buy it now!

One of the best anime series of recent years:
INTRODUCTION: Ever since the late seventies, the Gundam series has been one of the most successful and widely-loved anime series in the world. It has become a favorite of many over the years. There have been several different sub-series over the years, and one of the most popular ones of which is the Wing series, released in the mid-nineties. This is a DVD featuring episodes fromt that series. Read on for my review. BASIC PLOT: The Gundam Wing series follows the exploits of five young men who pilot mobile suits against the forces of an organization seeking world domination. There's Heero (the main man), Duo (the cool guy), Trowa (the quiet guy), Quatre (the peace-lover), and Wufei (the overconfident hothead.) The battle rages on for forty-nine episodes, and as the series progresses, a number of plot twists keep things interesting. This is a rare example of a series where the characters aren't paper thin - they continue to evolve as the series progresses. This is one of the best anime series out there, as one of the best mecha series. SERIES OPINIONS: To put it simply, this is an excellent series. Many fans of the Gundam series call this the best sub-series of all, and honestly, who can blame them? The storyline is great, the animation is great, the characters are great - everything about this series is great. It's good to see the series get a long overdue DVD release in America. DVD: These DVDs are good, because they contain several uncut episodes, but they're bad in that they don't contain any special features (that is, other than the very basic DVD stuff.) The series is one of the greatest anime series out there, but don't expect any bonus material. OVERALL: Overall this is an excellent anime series, and I recommend it to any anime or mecha fan. If you like either one, this series will not disappoint.

Oh man... even one star is too much:
I am aghast at all of the good reviews this series has received, therefore I felt the need to post my own opinion. And worry not, Wingers, it shall be short. Basically all that I am going to say is that I ordered volume 8 of Mobile Suit Gundam from Amazon.com for $12 and they sent me the entire Gundam Wing DVD boxset instead. And you know what I did? I sent the boxset back because I wanted that darn MSG tape. Don't think for a second that this is what Gundam is all about. Gundam is not babbling, superficial politics, overpowered Gundams, mindless killing that shows no human side of the soldiers, nonsensical "philosophy," and bishounen with ambiguous sexual orientation. Real Gundam shows what war is all about, it shows you the politics rather than have one character ramble on about them for one hour. It has real characters to whom you can relate and more emotion in one episode than in all 49 episodes of Wing. Can you tell me the name of any of the OZ grunts that died at the hands of your beloved heroes, except for maybe Hilde's friend? I thought not. Go watch 0080 or Mobile Suit Gundam. Heck, even 08th MS Team is better than this tripe. (By the way, God of Death was originally used in G Gundam in reference to the character Kieral. It's also used in 08th MS Team. So it is not hypocritical for a Wing-hater to use it.)

Gundam is good:
For all you GW haters out there, you need to cool off! I've seen the original series, 008, 0083, 8th MS team, and Seed. I enjoy Gundam Seed the most. GW is a close second. You can complain that the story was too complicated, or too unrealistic, but look...Gundam design has changed since 0083. Gundams are more bad ass than ever. You want to bitch about the past, fine, you do that. Your kinda like someone that thinks DOS is great, and won't switch to Windows cause you say "look at all the cool thing I can do with DOS." The original series sucked! The White Base looked like a retarted floating box. I'll stick with the newer age Gundam thank you! I recomend 0083, 8th MS, GW, and Seed. GW has it all. Cool charaters. The best mecha design out of all the series besdies Seed! GW was a bold experiment for the Gundam series and it succeded much to the Relic's (old Gundam fans) dismay!