GWOtaku
07-26-2008, 01:29 PM
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History is much like an Endless Waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever. -Mariemaia
Most likely, very few will be surprised to see me say that I'm still a fan of Gundam Wing. Though it borrowed a great deal from its predecessors in the Gundam franchise, it still has elements that make it distinct. There was no clueless overwhelmed boy thrust into a war story. Instead we got the story of five youths that were sent to Earth to exact revenge and win freedom for their homes, only to set in course a series of events that would change the course of history in ways they could have never imagined. The constant realignment of military and political power crafted a dynamic narrative that left very few members of the series' considerable cast unchanged or at least unaffected. It’s not for nothing that the narrator at times called this period a "chaotic era."
And yet, in my view, the series was very fortunate to enjoy enough success for a sequel to be created. Of course I'm talking about Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, which was released in Japan in 1998 and marks its 10th anniversary this year. August 1st, in fact, is the 10th birthday of the movie edition.
Endless Waltz’s existence is very important because it is more than just one last hurrah for the Gundam boys. It completes the narrative, and most critically it both addresses and completes the ideology of the series. In my opinion, Endless Waltz is great because it completely succeeds as a sequel: you can’t imagine the story of the original being complete without it.
What did Endless Waltz do right? Read on.
Presentation
As even a casual fan knows, Endless Waltz offers new and highly stylized designs for the Gundams from Hajime Katoki. The most iconic change, of course, are the mechanical “angel wings” on the Wing Zero, but every Gundam looks dramatically different from before. The reaction to this change has always been mixed. Some like it, some approve of some changes and dislike others, and some hate the way the Gundams were remade to be “cool” and less like the machines of war that they are.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9456/sandrockcustomgx6.jpghttp://img120.imageshack.us/img120/664/zerocustom4io1.jpghttp://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7989/snapshot20080427191523uk2.jpg
I have the most sympathy for the latter point of view, but I find the changes palatable by looking at them in a different way. While they are machines of war, the Gundams were often talked about as symbols of rebellion, a rallying point for others who fought back against tyranny. That said, the Gundams were also often treated as partners by the Wing boys themselves. I like to think that Endless Waltz simply gives form to the concept of the Gundams being avatars for the Gundam pilots, after a fashion. It fits from a stylistic perspective—Sandrock’s cloak is fitting for a Warrior of the desert. Heavyarms’ half mask reflects the split between Trowa’s repressed emotions and his awakening as a person. Altron’s twin-headed dragon is the literal symbol of Wufei’s clan, most of which he has now lost.
Beyond that, if we want to get imaginative, the new designs are symbolic for the independence of the Wing boys. We learn through Endless Waltz that before the start of the TV series the Gundams weren’t just machines of war, but intended to be tools of massacre in Operation Meteor. Instead each Gundam pilot went rogue with a different machine, acting on their own. Beyond appearance, in Endless Waltz the Gundams are literally extensions of the personalities and will of the Gundam pilots.
In any case, whatever one thinks of the new designs, it can’t be denied that Endless Waltz’s animation stands the test of time. Movement is very fluid, detail is paid attention to, everyone and everything is looking their best. Though mecha warfare far from dominates Endless Waltz, what action there is looks fantastic.
Character Closure
For a 90 minute adventure, Endless Waltz surprisingly manages to involve most named characters still living from the TV series. Supporting friends or love interests, such as Hilde Schbeiker and Catherine Bloom, get a sliver of screen time. The weakest link is probably newcomer Mariemaia, who was a puppet for almost the whole movie and has more than a few similarities to a different character in another timeline. Lady Une, thankfully, is portrayed as a strong person, no longer plagued by her split personality or hung up over Treize Khushrenada. Even Dorothy, who mostly acted as an antagonist in the series, makes an appearance to incite the people out of passivity when it counts. Noin and Sally continue their partnership, working for a better world.
However, Endless Waltz really belongs to three people: Heero, Wufei, and Relena. The other Gundam pilots are a presence, but for the most part they are acting as themselves and their actions are no surprise at all to fans. On the other hand Wufei’s defection to Mariemaia’s forces is a great surprise at first, and his duel with Heero is possibly the climax of the movie in every way.
Heero and Wufei were always the truest soldiers among the Gundam boys, and yet they have opposite reactions to the new era. Contrary to Wufei’s claim, they are definitely not the same. Wufei always acted as a crusader for justice, finding meaning in his quest to destroy evil. The peaceful era has taken that away. On top of that, to Wufei his duel with Treize reached an unacceptable conclusion. Treize essentially allowed his own death, conceding defeat and paving the way toward a better era that would be created without him. Wufei didn’t win through superior strength, causing him to doubt his own justice. Perhaps in the end he saw Treize as a better man than himself, and his inability to accept the era is basically his inability to accept Treize’s willing sacrifice for that era.
Given all of that, it’s perhaps natural that Wufei feels despair and frustration at the idea of soldiers not being needed and, in his view, abandoned by the times. Heero, on the other hand, is tired of it all. All his life he was taught only about fighting and following orders, and he was as active as anyone in the year of constant warfare. We also see that he’s tired of killing the emotion he feels over the destruction he’s caused, as we see with the flashback about the accident that killed that little girl and her dog. Heero clearly sees the tragedy of war for what it is, whereas Wufei is blinded by the meaning he found in it until his eyes are opened. The popular revolution against the Mariemaia Army at the end is the final push he needs, making him realize that sometimes “battles like these are not decided by the soldiers.”
And then, we have Relena. Her development is completely ideological, and is best discussed later.
The End of History? Guess Again
For many, Gundam Wing has a reputation of reckless idealism in large part thanks to the ending. How likely is it that Earth and the space colonies shake hands, decide to join together, and coexist in harmony with no problems? The pacifist ideal, once merely a value held onto by a few idealists in space colonies, was treated as a principle whose time had simply come after an era of perpetual turmoil.
While ideologies often matter more to Wing than real world political realities and the series demands some acceptance of idealism in order to be enjoyed, the ending is still not easy to accept at face value. It seems too easy a solution to the years of problems between Earth and outer space before After Colony 195, and it ignores human nature—problems are going to come up. For that matter, it contradicts Heero Yuy’s own observation that human nature is simply expanding to outer space.
Perhaps there was an age where people dreamed of the possibilities in the outer space, where they could start from scratch. However, it's unthinkable that the colonies or that humankind will ever forget the Earth.
What did technological development in the colonies bring to the Earth? The kind of technology the Earth wants most: military power. Destruction is a human nature that can never be gotten rid of; and now the colonies are developing a militaristic disposition. The colonies cannot forget the Earth.
The Earth has great beauty. The animals known as humans have acquired such strength that they even think about controlling this planet for themselves. From the point of view of a planet’s life the life of a living thing lasts no more than an instant. But in the end, it is only themselves that humans can think of. Nothing changes. The time spent by humans in outer space has been a complete waste. The ideal is just a dream.
-Heero Yuy, Gundam Wing Episode 18
Fortunately, Endless Waltz returns to reality right from the start: “After Colony 196. Battle weapons no longer exist in the Earth sphere. However, as long as mankind exists, there will always be battles.” It would be wrong to take Heero’s monologue at face value—it was said in light of the colonies militarizing with the help of OZ. Obviously things were looking hopeful by the time of Endless Waltz, but the central point is made. However far we go, people are people and we’ll have flaws and problems to deal with.
So what can be made of the idea that mobile suits are never seen again, as declared by the ending to Endless Waltz? Is this a return to the idea that everyone lives as a pacifist forever? No. I interpret the ending as a sign that humanity is returning to a more reasonable time, chastened by its recent experiences. It is a sign that while there may be strife and war in the future, humanity won’t allow itself to be destroyed by it. Long ago in the series, Treize Khushrenada once said that “I believe what mankind needs is not absolute victory, but a certain demeanor in fighting. An attitude toward fighting.” Later, toward the end of the series, he decries an era in history where wars were won and lost with the press of a button. “When wars are dehumanized, both victory and defeat become miserable, and God no longer lends a helping hand.” Thanks to Wing’s events, warfare actually scales back from battleships and automated soldiers (mobile dolls) to a time where even humanized machines become taboo and outdated. If humanity fights again it will be directly, on a more limited scale, and with more temperance and, with any luck, honor in mind.
Perhaps, in the end, Treize was the real winner of the show.
Power to the People
The simple truth of it is that pacifist ideals get pushed aside in favor of the central message of Endless Waltz. Far from peace at any cost, Relena is forced to realize that if people want change for the better then they have to stand up for themselves and insist on that. She finally encounters a situation that she can’t talk her way out of. Just in case it wasn’t obvious enough for everybody, she comes out and says that “I’ve been running from the truth.”
I find this very satisfying. Not only does Relena finally take action over talk, but Endless Waltz makes a good message against apathy and for activism. In Wing, change was always forced on the people by an elite few. OZ, Romefeller, White Fang. They all changed the world dramatically while being heavily outnumbered by people who wanted differently. Yet with each shift of power, people either accepted the change or did nothing about it. It was left to a few determined rebels and individuals, along with the Gundam pilots, to bring things to an end. In contrast, by Endless Waltz the Earth Sphere has a democratically elected President—no more Romefeller aristocrats running the show, apparently. Also, the Gundams don’t solve the problem alone. Everything the Gundams did would have been meaningless without the people rejecting Mariemaia’s coup. The better era was won with the actions of a few, but the actions of the many kept it.
Though there isn't much focus given to it, Endless Waltz also downplays the supremacy of the Zero system. Heero remarks to Wufei that Zero has nothing to tell him about how long his fighting must go on. It’s a good reminder that the Zero system was simply a machine meant to enable absolute victory in battle. It is in every way a relic of the old age. It can predict probability, but it can’t offer the user truth or contentment.
The message is clear. Ultimately, we all have responsibility for ourselves. Don't leave it in the hands of elites. To paraphrase a line from the very end of Babylon 5, you either create the future or other people will create it for you.
Endless Waltz is to Gundam Wing what Char’s Counterattack was to classic Gundam. It truly completes the story, rendering itself the perfect complement to the TV series.
History is much like an Endless Waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever. -Mariemaia
Most likely, very few will be surprised to see me say that I'm still a fan of Gundam Wing. Though it borrowed a great deal from its predecessors in the Gundam franchise, it still has elements that make it distinct. There was no clueless overwhelmed boy thrust into a war story. Instead we got the story of five youths that were sent to Earth to exact revenge and win freedom for their homes, only to set in course a series of events that would change the course of history in ways they could have never imagined. The constant realignment of military and political power crafted a dynamic narrative that left very few members of the series' considerable cast unchanged or at least unaffected. It’s not for nothing that the narrator at times called this period a "chaotic era."
And yet, in my view, the series was very fortunate to enjoy enough success for a sequel to be created. Of course I'm talking about Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, which was released in Japan in 1998 and marks its 10th anniversary this year. August 1st, in fact, is the 10th birthday of the movie edition.
Endless Waltz’s existence is very important because it is more than just one last hurrah for the Gundam boys. It completes the narrative, and most critically it both addresses and completes the ideology of the series. In my opinion, Endless Waltz is great because it completely succeeds as a sequel: you can’t imagine the story of the original being complete without it.
What did Endless Waltz do right? Read on.
Presentation
As even a casual fan knows, Endless Waltz offers new and highly stylized designs for the Gundams from Hajime Katoki. The most iconic change, of course, are the mechanical “angel wings” on the Wing Zero, but every Gundam looks dramatically different from before. The reaction to this change has always been mixed. Some like it, some approve of some changes and dislike others, and some hate the way the Gundams were remade to be “cool” and less like the machines of war that they are.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9456/sandrockcustomgx6.jpghttp://img120.imageshack.us/img120/664/zerocustom4io1.jpghttp://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7989/snapshot20080427191523uk2.jpg
I have the most sympathy for the latter point of view, but I find the changes palatable by looking at them in a different way. While they are machines of war, the Gundams were often talked about as symbols of rebellion, a rallying point for others who fought back against tyranny. That said, the Gundams were also often treated as partners by the Wing boys themselves. I like to think that Endless Waltz simply gives form to the concept of the Gundams being avatars for the Gundam pilots, after a fashion. It fits from a stylistic perspective—Sandrock’s cloak is fitting for a Warrior of the desert. Heavyarms’ half mask reflects the split between Trowa’s repressed emotions and his awakening as a person. Altron’s twin-headed dragon is the literal symbol of Wufei’s clan, most of which he has now lost.
Beyond that, if we want to get imaginative, the new designs are symbolic for the independence of the Wing boys. We learn through Endless Waltz that before the start of the TV series the Gundams weren’t just machines of war, but intended to be tools of massacre in Operation Meteor. Instead each Gundam pilot went rogue with a different machine, acting on their own. Beyond appearance, in Endless Waltz the Gundams are literally extensions of the personalities and will of the Gundam pilots.
In any case, whatever one thinks of the new designs, it can’t be denied that Endless Waltz’s animation stands the test of time. Movement is very fluid, detail is paid attention to, everyone and everything is looking their best. Though mecha warfare far from dominates Endless Waltz, what action there is looks fantastic.
Character Closure
For a 90 minute adventure, Endless Waltz surprisingly manages to involve most named characters still living from the TV series. Supporting friends or love interests, such as Hilde Schbeiker and Catherine Bloom, get a sliver of screen time. The weakest link is probably newcomer Mariemaia, who was a puppet for almost the whole movie and has more than a few similarities to a different character in another timeline. Lady Une, thankfully, is portrayed as a strong person, no longer plagued by her split personality or hung up over Treize Khushrenada. Even Dorothy, who mostly acted as an antagonist in the series, makes an appearance to incite the people out of passivity when it counts. Noin and Sally continue their partnership, working for a better world.
However, Endless Waltz really belongs to three people: Heero, Wufei, and Relena. The other Gundam pilots are a presence, but for the most part they are acting as themselves and their actions are no surprise at all to fans. On the other hand Wufei’s defection to Mariemaia’s forces is a great surprise at first, and his duel with Heero is possibly the climax of the movie in every way.
Heero and Wufei were always the truest soldiers among the Gundam boys, and yet they have opposite reactions to the new era. Contrary to Wufei’s claim, they are definitely not the same. Wufei always acted as a crusader for justice, finding meaning in his quest to destroy evil. The peaceful era has taken that away. On top of that, to Wufei his duel with Treize reached an unacceptable conclusion. Treize essentially allowed his own death, conceding defeat and paving the way toward a better era that would be created without him. Wufei didn’t win through superior strength, causing him to doubt his own justice. Perhaps in the end he saw Treize as a better man than himself, and his inability to accept the era is basically his inability to accept Treize’s willing sacrifice for that era.
Given all of that, it’s perhaps natural that Wufei feels despair and frustration at the idea of soldiers not being needed and, in his view, abandoned by the times. Heero, on the other hand, is tired of it all. All his life he was taught only about fighting and following orders, and he was as active as anyone in the year of constant warfare. We also see that he’s tired of killing the emotion he feels over the destruction he’s caused, as we see with the flashback about the accident that killed that little girl and her dog. Heero clearly sees the tragedy of war for what it is, whereas Wufei is blinded by the meaning he found in it until his eyes are opened. The popular revolution against the Mariemaia Army at the end is the final push he needs, making him realize that sometimes “battles like these are not decided by the soldiers.”
And then, we have Relena. Her development is completely ideological, and is best discussed later.
The End of History? Guess Again
For many, Gundam Wing has a reputation of reckless idealism in large part thanks to the ending. How likely is it that Earth and the space colonies shake hands, decide to join together, and coexist in harmony with no problems? The pacifist ideal, once merely a value held onto by a few idealists in space colonies, was treated as a principle whose time had simply come after an era of perpetual turmoil.
While ideologies often matter more to Wing than real world political realities and the series demands some acceptance of idealism in order to be enjoyed, the ending is still not easy to accept at face value. It seems too easy a solution to the years of problems between Earth and outer space before After Colony 195, and it ignores human nature—problems are going to come up. For that matter, it contradicts Heero Yuy’s own observation that human nature is simply expanding to outer space.
Perhaps there was an age where people dreamed of the possibilities in the outer space, where they could start from scratch. However, it's unthinkable that the colonies or that humankind will ever forget the Earth.
What did technological development in the colonies bring to the Earth? The kind of technology the Earth wants most: military power. Destruction is a human nature that can never be gotten rid of; and now the colonies are developing a militaristic disposition. The colonies cannot forget the Earth.
The Earth has great beauty. The animals known as humans have acquired such strength that they even think about controlling this planet for themselves. From the point of view of a planet’s life the life of a living thing lasts no more than an instant. But in the end, it is only themselves that humans can think of. Nothing changes. The time spent by humans in outer space has been a complete waste. The ideal is just a dream.
-Heero Yuy, Gundam Wing Episode 18
Fortunately, Endless Waltz returns to reality right from the start: “After Colony 196. Battle weapons no longer exist in the Earth sphere. However, as long as mankind exists, there will always be battles.” It would be wrong to take Heero’s monologue at face value—it was said in light of the colonies militarizing with the help of OZ. Obviously things were looking hopeful by the time of Endless Waltz, but the central point is made. However far we go, people are people and we’ll have flaws and problems to deal with.
So what can be made of the idea that mobile suits are never seen again, as declared by the ending to Endless Waltz? Is this a return to the idea that everyone lives as a pacifist forever? No. I interpret the ending as a sign that humanity is returning to a more reasonable time, chastened by its recent experiences. It is a sign that while there may be strife and war in the future, humanity won’t allow itself to be destroyed by it. Long ago in the series, Treize Khushrenada once said that “I believe what mankind needs is not absolute victory, but a certain demeanor in fighting. An attitude toward fighting.” Later, toward the end of the series, he decries an era in history where wars were won and lost with the press of a button. “When wars are dehumanized, both victory and defeat become miserable, and God no longer lends a helping hand.” Thanks to Wing’s events, warfare actually scales back from battleships and automated soldiers (mobile dolls) to a time where even humanized machines become taboo and outdated. If humanity fights again it will be directly, on a more limited scale, and with more temperance and, with any luck, honor in mind.
Perhaps, in the end, Treize was the real winner of the show.
Power to the People
The simple truth of it is that pacifist ideals get pushed aside in favor of the central message of Endless Waltz. Far from peace at any cost, Relena is forced to realize that if people want change for the better then they have to stand up for themselves and insist on that. She finally encounters a situation that she can’t talk her way out of. Just in case it wasn’t obvious enough for everybody, she comes out and says that “I’ve been running from the truth.”
I find this very satisfying. Not only does Relena finally take action over talk, but Endless Waltz makes a good message against apathy and for activism. In Wing, change was always forced on the people by an elite few. OZ, Romefeller, White Fang. They all changed the world dramatically while being heavily outnumbered by people who wanted differently. Yet with each shift of power, people either accepted the change or did nothing about it. It was left to a few determined rebels and individuals, along with the Gundam pilots, to bring things to an end. In contrast, by Endless Waltz the Earth Sphere has a democratically elected President—no more Romefeller aristocrats running the show, apparently. Also, the Gundams don’t solve the problem alone. Everything the Gundams did would have been meaningless without the people rejecting Mariemaia’s coup. The better era was won with the actions of a few, but the actions of the many kept it.
Though there isn't much focus given to it, Endless Waltz also downplays the supremacy of the Zero system. Heero remarks to Wufei that Zero has nothing to tell him about how long his fighting must go on. It’s a good reminder that the Zero system was simply a machine meant to enable absolute victory in battle. It is in every way a relic of the old age. It can predict probability, but it can’t offer the user truth or contentment.
The message is clear. Ultimately, we all have responsibility for ourselves. Don't leave it in the hands of elites. To paraphrase a line from the very end of Babylon 5, you either create the future or other people will create it for you.
Endless Waltz is to Gundam Wing what Char’s Counterattack was to classic Gundam. It truly completes the story, rendering itself the perfect complement to the TV series.