Anime of the Month (October '06) - Gundam SEED Destiny

[JShaggy]

Ah, did you miss me? Well, I'm back.

This month, the fans have chosen Gundam SEED Destiny as Anime of the Month.

EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!!
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8435/gsdravekk4.gif

On a more serious note, here's a synopsis of Volume 1, which is available now:

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/releases.php?id=6021


(Courtesy of Anime News Network)
With both PLANT and Earth Forces entering a state of uneasy truce, the world has once again found itself at peace. Yet for some, the war has never ended. Shin Asuka, a coordinator who lost his entire family during the Battle of Orb, now fights with ZAFT in their newest prototype: the Impulse Gundam. When one of these machines is stolen by Federation forces, the world once again spirals towards chaos.

You may now discuss the series, keeping in mind that all potential spoilers be placed in spoiler tags. When you're done, be sure to rate the series.

[Will Sturnick]

Destiny gets off to a strong start. It has what, seems to be considered by most fans, the best first epsode of any Gundam series. It plants some interesting seeds (no pun intended) for future episodes. Whether those seedlings are well tended to or not is another matter entirely.


EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!!
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8435/gsdravekk4.gif


That is an awesome gif.

[Pepperidge]

While people have divided opinions on Destiny's merits, I still find it amazing that one series is able to ignite hatred in so many people for so many different reasons.

That being said, I can't wait until YTV gets it on the air.

[bigddan11]

The reason I love Destiny is because it returns us to the world of Gundam, a world which has been at peace for quiet some time, but when Athrun and Cagalli are visiting Plant for Orb on a piece mission, an unknown group launches attacks and steals three new Gundam weapons. In an attempt to save Cagalli, Athrun is forced back into a Gundam weapon, and his skills impress the Chairman enough to where he is offered a position with the new battleship Minerva and the young, arrogant Shinn Asuka, pilot of ZAFT's mewest Gundam weapon. Both old and new characters are a great story which anyone can enjoy, and I can gurantee that the twists and turns around every corner will shock you.

[Space Cadet]

The reason I love Destiny is because it returns us to the world of Gundam, a world which has been at peace for quiet some time, but when Athrun and Cagalli are visiting Plant for Orb on a piece mission, an unknown group launches attacks and steals three new Gundam weapons. In an attempt to save Cagalli, Athrun is forced back into a Gundam weapon, and his skills impress the Chairman enough to where he is offered a position with the new battleship Minerva and the young, arrogant Shinn Asuka, pilot of ZAFT's mewest Gundam weapon. Both old and new characters are a great story which anyone can enjoy, and I can gurantee that the twists and turns around every corner will shock you.

Have you seen the whole series or is this based off a couple of volumes?

[bigddan11]

Have you seen the whole series or is this based off a couple of volumes?

All that takes place on the first DVD, but I have seen the entire series.

[HellCat]

Don't want to turn this into a geeky thread that'll scare off those of casual interest, but....well, there's a reason I branded the show 'Gundam SEED Messtiny'. Destiny stands as a beacon of the current problem with Gundam. A messy clash of egos, rehash and merchandising. There's also some very sloppy attempts at speaking out on real world politics, which disturbingly seems to slide into statments promoting conservative views on inter-racial relationships.

[Duke]

Well, it's not like this is the first time real-world politics have made it into Gundam, just the first time the US has seen it as it was happening.

Anyway, for shame you not link my reviews for Volume 1 (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=9562) or 2 (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=11036) (Volume 3 to come...eventually).

Despite it's horrible, horrible ending, the first 40 episodes are enough to propel it to #3 on my All-Time Favorite Gundam list, with MSG being #1 and 08th MS Team being #2.

[HellCat]

Well, it's not like this is the first time real-world politics have made it into Gundam, just the first time the US has seen it as it was happening.

Anyway, for shame you not link my reviews for Volume 1 (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=9562) or 2 (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=11036) (Volume 3 to come...eventually).

Despite it's horrible, horrible ending, the first 40 episodes are enough to propel it to #3 on my All-Time Favorite Gundam list, with MSG being #1 and 08th MS Team being #2.

I'm very jaded on directors trying to make statments in shows like this, especially when Destiny essentially tries to say "The West sucks, all hail glorious Japan!". The relationship commentaries are far worse to me though. Destiny basically spits in the face of any Natural/Coordinator relationships, instead putting Naturals with Naturals and Coordinators with Coordinators. Morosawa must be one twisted old conservative cow.

[Juu-kuchi]

While it is nice to see this series, it's one of those few series that I like but was greatly disappointed with. Duke and HC summarized some feelings I have for the show, but then again, I may bring up some of my own views. But later.

The show convinced me to buy an MG Freedom Gundam though. So I guess that could be considered a good thing.

[NickWhiz1]

The series definitely had a ****load of potential, but it pretty much falls apart around episode 39 or so.

In fact, some believe it started to go downhill from around episode 14 or so, if only because of the reintroduction of Kira and Lacus as major players.

Episode 34, however, is one of the best 1-on-1 fights in all of Gundam. At least stick around until then.

The series overall gets a 7/10 from me. 9/10 for the first 38 episodes, 3/10 (and that might be generous) for the last 12 episodes.

[InfinityBlade]

I personally really liked Destiny overall, and the problems I had were outweighed by what I liked. My main problem with the last ten or so episodes wasn't really the plot, but some of the execution could have used a little work. Plus, as opposed to the rest of the series, it felt like the show was dragging its feet until Episode 50.

But, I liked it. Just wish it was coming out on DVD at a better pace.

[GWOtaku]

Hmm a review that doesn't give away the show...I can do that.

While it fell short of being as great as it could have been and there are certain key things that I would've liked done differently, this series rocks in a lot of ways. For the most part they managed to create better drama, a more engaging plot than a variation of MSG's story up to a point (i.e. what SEED did), and a much better quality of action. The majority of the series plays like Gundam SEED 2.0, its that good. And I liked SEED.

Destiny also wins big respect from me for the way it began things. The main character Shin isn't a typical youth that gets pushed into piloting a Gundam when he'd rather not, he's a kid that gets kicked in the face by tragedy and takes up the sword of his own free will, with some good qualities and a whole lot of issues along for the ride. This is a drastic change of pace, and while some people hate the direction this went I think they showed some guts by breaking the stereotype. To an extent its hated because its not what longtime fans expect and are used to, and in my opinion Gundam needs a lot more of this.

Even more dramatic is a certain tragedy very early on in the show (fans know what I'm talking about). Take one of the terrible what-if Gundam disasters that were successfully avoided by the end and plug it into the first 10 episodes of this show, and you might have an idea.

If I could change one thing about how the show works (not plot related), I wish they'd commit more money to animation. While a hell of a lot better than SEED on this score, some mechs do suffer from reused animation. This is no object with the Impulse Gundam, but as the show drags on a careful viewer will notice some cutting of corners. For some people this is offset by the outstanding voice acting talent (for the Japanese track, the dub isn't bad either) and the extremely memorable music. SEED had a great soundtrack and Destiny more than carries on in that tradition.

A few issues hold this back from true greatness, but personally I feel there's more than enough good to make rewatching very much desirable. Lets say maybe 8 out of 10.

[purplehairedwonder]

As a fan of SEED, I was excited for the release of Destiny and four volumes in, I'm more than hooked. I've heard terrible things about the endings, but thus far I'm loving it.

When Kira was first reintroduced it felt like Shinn wasn't getting enough development to be a true main character, but the last few episodes I've seen have changed my mind in that department.

I'm in love with the soundtrack, too. I loved the first ED so much I played it through every episode, which I never do.

Through 18 episodes, I'd give it a 9/10.

[Duke]

I'm in love with the soundtrack, too. I loved the first ED so much I played it through every episode, which I never do.
Yes, "Reason" does indeed rock the hizzouse.

I'm one of, like, three people who like it more than "Life Goes On."

[purplehairedwonder]

Yes, "Reason" does indeed rock the hizzouse.

I'm one of, like, three people who like it more than "Life Goes On."
I like "Reason" maybe half a point more than "Life Goes On."

[NickWhiz1]

I am morally obligated to share the opinions of the above three posters in regards to "Reason". It's not Nami's best work, but it's still awesome.

[rubberchicken]

I thought Destiny started off great at the time. A different main character, well-choreographed (and *gasp* original) action sequences, the promise of seeing the SEED cast vs. a Mu clone... etc. etc. etc.

Then it went downhill. Although I don't think the show was doomed the moment Kira and Lacus reappeared, Fukuda began to go back to his old SEED tricks when the episodes were still in the twenties - episodes that were nothing but clip shows, episodes that seemed like they relied on flashbacks to fill half of their running time, fights that relied on looping stock footage, fights and confrontations that turned into "We are Kira and Lacus! All bow before our one ship, two Gundams, and reality-warping powers!", the cheap destruction of a very promising character after he had zero screentime, the Mu clone turning out to be... not, etc.

Destiny looked set to blow me away after the boredom that was SEED. Then it disappointed me. If I rated the show solely based on its early promise, it'd probably get an 8 or 9 out of 10. Looking at the series as a whole... maybe a 3.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Destiny started out great. The opening 7 episodes are probably the best in any Gundam series ever. It struggles a bit in the mid-teens (Mobile Armor of the week for the lose), but from about Episode 19 to 38, it is nothing short of excellent.

Unfortunately, from Episode 39 on, the show becomes extremely weak and cluttered, with every person working on the show trying to take in a different direction.

But at its best, Destiny is second only to Zeta in my opinion. Overall, I'd rank it below MSG as well(and 0080 and Char's Counterattack if you include non-TV shows).

[J'onn J'onzz]

I've only seen the first 18 episodes, but my opinion is kind of the opposite of KtM's. I didn't really like the first six or so episodes, but it got better after that, and has stayed good up 'til where I am right now on it.

[Ragebot]

I've only seen the first 18 episodes, but my opinion is kind of the opposite of KtM's. I didn't really like the first six or so episodes, but it got better after that, and has stayed good up 'til where I am right now on it.

Oh, I'm sure many people would agree that the show hits it stride at episode seven.

The show really fires on all cylinders during the third quarter, notably at episodes 30 to 34. Unfortunately, the fourth quarter squanders all that potential.

[Will Sturnick]

Oh, I'm sure many people would agree that the show hits it stride at episode seven.

The show really fires on all cylinders during the third quarter, notably at episodes 30 to 34. Unfortunately, the fourth quarter squanders all that potential.

Yeah, it's like it burned up its creative energy after the mid 30's.

[G1Ravage]

I've been enjoying collecting all of the DVD volumes thus far, but now I'm pre-emptively concerned about the ending because of all the complaining around here.

Is it worse than InuYasha's ending?

[Space Cadet]

I've been enjoying collecting all of the DVD volumes thus far, but now I'm pre-emptively concerned about the ending because of all the complaining around here.

Is it worse than InuYasha's ending?

No, but it's pretty bad. Bad enough that the producers had to make an extended episode 50 in order to finish up the story.

[HellCat]

I've been enjoying collecting all of the DVD volumes thus far, but now I'm pre-emptively concerned about the ending because of all the complaining around here.

Is it worse than InuYasha's ending?

An awful case of too many cooks, basically. It seems that the head writer, the director's wife, had her own ideas for the story and damned be anyone else involved who could see how bad they were. Without giving away too much, the finale is basically a poorly done super robot show with lukewarm political/philosophical elements and relationship 'resolutions' only a teenybopper could love. As much as it supposedly champions it, Destiny isn't a show for those with free thought.