No reruns for Mobile Suit Gundam...

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

As expected, CN is pulling MSG after its initial run, if I have understood correctly from a recent press release. Ratings are predictably down from when DBZ was occupying this slot. So those out there planning on watching the show in reruns--forget it! Finish it now, or just get the 3 movies for a truncated version (the movies are better in the respect that they cut out most of the useless filler battles crap and go straight to the main battles, plot and characters).

[killercroc]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo
As expected, CN is pulling MSG after its initial run

DAMN!

[Flying Grayson]

THis sucks, and I have missed several episodes. I know why DBZ's ratings are down... they keep showing reruns. Keep Moblie suit Gundam and Put Gundam wing back on too. With DB and DBZ on as well, this would be a good toonami run, but they never listen to common sense.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Flying Grayson
THis sucks, and I have missed several episodes. I know why DBZ's ratings are down... they keep showing reruns. Keep Moblie suit Gundam and Put Gundam wing back on too. With DB and DBZ on as well, this would be a good toonami run, but they never listen to common sense.

Actually, I said that the ratings were higher when DBZ occupied this slot. It kinda illustrates the kind of audience Toonami actually has. They like flash, they like action and anything without either sucks to them. MSG has a lot of action, but it's not what I would call "eye-candy" and it has a fairly complex plot and fairly complex characters. Also, the animation looks really crusty to the mainstream viewer.

[Vigo Sprax]

Oh well, I could care less as long as they continue to release the series on DVD.

Actually, this could be bad for future Gundam shows coming over..anyone know how 08th MS Team is doing?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

08th MS Team is on in the night, so ratings should naturally be lower, but it should be doing well. It has flash, it has a fast-moving plot, and the characters are quite accessible. Shiro is pretty much someone many males can relate to (i.e. Is a competent fighter who goes soft on any enemies who have a v*gina...)

The 08th MS Team DVDs are great! Bandai is doing good with it...

What worries me is some of the 80s Gundam releases, and how Bandai will handle them. I say skip them on TV and just release them on DVD. I also hope a Japanese track for Mobile Suit Gundam sees the light of day here, as the current MSG DVDs are dub only because of negotiation problems.

[batboy2001]

DAMN!

My sentiments exactly, don't feel to bad Flying Grayson I missed some episodes to. This was the first anime I ever really really liked. So Leaping when is it over?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by batboy2001
My sentiments exactly, don't feel to bad Flying Grayson I missed some episodes to. This was the first anime I ever really really liked. So Leaping when is it over?

When the series ends. Lucky for you guys they will air it through rather than cutting it off in the middle.

I believe Amuro should be starting to hit the peak of his abilities by now, and is officially a mass murderer. You'll get to see what comes out of this, so don't worry.

[I.R Joey]

This is not good. I wanted to see it through agaijn, because I missed some stuff.

BTW Larry how close are we to the end of this series (not including OVA's and stuff)

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I dunno. I don't get CN, personally. I can only watch at my friend's. Could you guys give me a number on how many episodes have aired? I'm assuming it's up to 30 or so by now. 43 episodes altogether.

The upcoming OAVs should be fine; they are newer productions, have slicker animation, and have more flash.

[Flying Grayson]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo


Actually, I said that the ratings were higher when DBZ occupied this slot. It kinda illustrates the kind of audience Toonami actually has. They like flash, they like action and anything without either sucks to them. MSG has a lot of action, but it's not what I would call "eye-candy" and it has a fairly complex plot and fairly complex characters. Also, the animation looks really crusty to the mainstream viewer.

Sorry if i sounded like I hate Toonami. I watch it regularly(more so when there are new episodes of a series I like. I just acted out of my natural response to the news, although most of the episodes I watched are in the first half of the series so I am okay now

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Flying Grayson


Sorry if i sounded like I hate Toonami.

I didn't get that reaction at all. I just wanted to point out that you might have misunderstood me, or I was unclear. DBZ was getting higher ratings than MSG (as expected) and there is no way that MSG can compete with the rest of the Toonami line.

[Jowy Blight]

That's too bad, I was going to tape the episodes while they were reruning. I like watching DB, but watching two episode's of DBZ is getting on my nerves. They have already finished dubbing the first 28 episodes, they should just show them.

Yep, they're only going to show the first 28 episodes of the Majin Buu saga. It's kind of messed up seeing as everybody has been waiting for the newly dubbed episodes for a while.

[I.R Joey]

Monday's ep is duel in Texas Larry.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Only 6 episodes left, then. Expect the last four to be somewhat plot-packed as the creators crammed to finish the show--they originally planned it to be around 52 episodes. After being notified of cancellation, they were given a few episodes to wrap things up by 43 episodes. Ironic that the U.S. broadcast would receive the same fate 20 years later. Except unlike in Japan, it won't be able to build a following through reruns.

MSG should be almost or around its most intense point of the series now. Well? Is it? Do any of you feel any gradual shifts in suspense? Any build up? Lalah Sun gives the show a distinct mysticism.

BTW--Most reports I've read say that the midnight airings INCREASED a little with the addition of 08th MS Team. So that show is doing JUST FINE.

08TH MS Team is also the replacement for MSG. Not surprising. I bet CN foresaw this, as 8th MS Team seems to have been edited for an afternoon airing.

BTWBTW--There doesn't seem to be a specific date on when they will pull the plug on MSG, though it seems that it will be soon after the initial run or right after. It's possible that they may air half a second run and then cancel it...

[Vigo Sprax]

I personally think its a little dumb to move 08th team into the afternoon slot, with only 12 episodes I really don't think it belongs there (Though I guess those who are watching it on CN can finally see the final episode). A lot of the edits they did on 08th team were really lame, you don't see Bebop getting this treatment...

[Mr. Obsession]

Originally posted by Vigo Sprax
A lot of the edits they did on 08th team were really lame, you don't see Bebop getting this treatment...

That would be because 08th was edited for an afternoon run (just shown on the midnight run first). Where CB was edited for a midnight only run with a rating of TV-14 VL (The highest rating they could go with out hitting TV-MA). Comparing the two isn't really fair.

[batboy2001]

Only 6 episodes left, then.

Just six!! wow I missed more than I thought. So Leaping, what is the 08th like? It seems to have more action.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

08th MS Team is pretty good. I like it myself, and I haven't heard anything too bad from people who've seen it. It's only 12 episods, so the show packs quite a bit of plot. I can't think of too many complaints against it, other than the fact that the plot is specifically set up to get two people into a romance. But then, all stories are meant to be somewhat contrived.

Personally, I would beware of reports saying they are "happy" or "unhappy" about MSG. Reaction reports are unreliable. Fox Kids was reportedly "pleased" with Escaflowne a week before they decided to pull it off the air permanently. Still, the logic proposed by Guybrush is sound, as 0080 and 0083 have been dubbed for years now and are ready for airing. Seems logical to pull MSG and air these two now.

It's true that MSG can't be compared to DBZ, but a 42% drop from DBZ repeats is admittedly quite a bit--even Gundam Wing episodes can prevent such a deep drop.

I won't discount the possibility of subsequent runs, but I don't think, given the option of other anime, MSG would take precedence over any of the recent ones on the lineup.

08TH MS Team can easily be followed up by 0080, a 6 episode side story following the events on a colony in the last few weeks of the One Year War, and 0083, a 13 episode story that takes place 3 years after the war. 0080 and 0083 are already dubbed on VHS, and only need minor edits.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Mr. Obsession

I also expect that as soon as 08th MS Team finishes up it's first afternoon run it will be pulled so that they can air 0080, which will be pulled so they can air 0083. Once all that has happened I expect it all to repeat once again. Besides they have to air all this before Bandai will let them air Zeta Gundam and Double Zeta Gundam, both of which the people behind Toonami want to air badly.

How do you know this? I haven't heard anything about them wanting to air Z Gundam and ZZ Gundam "badly." I'm going strictly by press releases and actions, though. I have no insider information. If anything, 0083 and 0080 seem to have more going for them than the above 2 series. Well, at least 0083...

The alternate Universe Gundams seem to have more selling points--

I've always thought that maybe G Gundam would fly well with CN, but there are some ethnic stereotypes on G Gundam that wouldn't fly too well. That leaves Gundam X and Turn A Gundam. Now, Turn A Gundam is actually pretty slow, and it resembles MSG's slow cooking plot, except with the greater freedom of the 90s, Turn A Gundam does not have to put a long action scene in every episode. So Turn A is actually pretty character driven. There are also no really heavy mobile suit battles until the last half of the show, so that may turn off viewers. Personally, I think Turn A is great.

Gundam X is the other AU series, and it most resembles Gundam Wing, so it might just be sellable. Gundam X borrows a lot from G Wing, which borrows a lot from MSG, and waters it down with a lot of silly gags, bits and ludicrous characters. MSG had a bit of this, but Gundam X is waay out there in the silly stuff department.

The UC Gundams of the MSG continuity seem to have less going for it. Other than 0080, 0083 and 08th MS Team, all the other series are either dated or look kinda crappy. While the UC Gundams tend to be more serious and have more "meat" to them, they are also pretty dry, especially to Toonami viewers. Zeta Gundam is a series most every Gundam fan should see at least once whether you like it or not, and I don't know what CN plans to do with it. ZZ Gundam is pretty silly with some stupid comedy, but it actually might appeal to today's fans, and is not entirely bad. V Gundam looks crappy and is really serious. It has a good, involving plot, but the visuals are a real turn off to today's fans.