History Anime / MobileSuitGundamzz

** Everything about ZZ Gundam, really. Its weapons are powerful, yes, but it's a complete energy hog (the Hi-Mega Cannon is just the worst of this). It can transform ''and'' separate into three separate planes, but the combination of those two systems leaves the entire thing structurally weak and prone to malfunctions. It's also a maintenance ''nightmare'' with all its non-standard parts. No wonder the design was never mass-produced.

* BaitAndSwitchCredits: Amuro and Char show up in the credits but never appear in the show itself.

''Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ'' (''Kidou Senshi Gundam Double Zeta''), is the third series in the highly successful ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' anime franchise. A direct sequel to the vastly popular ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'', ''Gundam ZZ'' marks a major departure from the tone of its predecessor, despite being (unusually for a Gundam series) a direct sequel. Picking up mere ''days'' after the conclusion of ''Zeta Gundam'', ''Gundam ZZ'''s first half is rather light-hearted and generally upbeat, especially after Zeta's DarkerAndEdgier story. According to reliable reports, it was an attempt to restore Gundam's reputation as a children's series and family entertainment, and its director Creator/YoshiyukiTomino is said to have made it as a reaction against the incredibly bleak ending of ''Zeta Gundam''. Unfortunately, this resulted in MoodWhiplash, and the entire series is generally frowned upon by the [[TrueArtIsAngsty more serious fans]] who enjoyed ''Zeta'' and [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks were expecting more of the same]].

[[quoteright:197:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/GundamZZSerires2Group.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:197:'''This isn't an Anime!!''']]

''Gundam ZZ'' was also one of the mainstay titles of the UC Gundams when it comes to ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'', though after a while it faded from prominence, disappearing from the "regular" roster after ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 3]]''. During the announcement of ''VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2'', Terada let it slip that Bandai and Sunrise have something big in mind for ZZ, but what exactly this meant wasn't known. As it turned out, ''ZZ'' made its triumphant return in ''Super Robot Wars OE'' (though with OE's episodic nature, ZZ only joins in near the middle), letting the SRW fans know it still had a place in Banpresto's hearts. It later made another comeback in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'', and more or less returned to its mainstay status for games of the "International Era" (''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV V]]'', [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX X]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsT T]]'').

''Gundam ZZ'' was also one of the mainstay titles of the UC Gundams when it comes to ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'', though after a while it faded from prominence, disappearing from the "regular" roster after ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 3]]''. During the announcement of ''VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2'', Terada let it slip that Bandai and Sunrise have something big in mind for ZZ, but what exactly this meant wasn't known. As it turned out, ''ZZ'' made its triumphant return in ''Super Robot Wars OE'' (though with OE's episodic nature, ZZ only joins in near the middle), letting the SRW fans know it still had a place in Banpresto's hearts. It later made another comeback in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'', and more or less returned to its mainstay status for games of the "International Era" (''V'', [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX X]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsT T]]'').

** A weird case with Cecilia. She herself is a fairly good person at heart, but the story arc dealing with her is the point when the series stops fooling around and starts to be a serious tale [[AlasPoorScrappy by killing her off]] along with the series' GoldfishPoopGang. The worst thing? ''None'' of the main characters know about it (except Judau, who keeps quiet about it).

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Judau and Iino have to do this in an attempt to infiltrate Tigerbaum. Results in a CrowningMomentOfFunny when Judau is turned away because he's "ugly," and subsequently pretends to cry about it. Iino, [[AttractiveBentGender on the other hand...]]

''Gundam ZZ'' was also one of the mainstay titles of the UC Gundams when it comes to ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'', though it's starting to fall behind, as it hasn't been in a game since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 3]]''. During the announcement of ''VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2'', Terada let it slip that Bandai and Sunrise have something big in mind for ZZ, but what exactly this is is not known. As it turns out, ZZ made its triumphant return in ''Super Robot Wars OE'' (though with OE's episodic nature, ZZ only joins in near the middle), letting the SRW fans know it still has a place in Banpresto's hearts. It later made another comeback in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV''.

Gundam ZZ is available on subtitled DVD's from Rightstuf.

** [[spoiler:Nee]] ultimately is killed because he CantCatchUp, the high amount of psychic empowered Newtypes leavin him in the dust and when he and Chara face down the blasts to protect Haman she blocks it with her powers and he's killed.

** [[spoiler:Lance]] performs a HeroicSacrifice protecting his commander [[spoiler:Chara]] from a sneak attack.
** [[spoiler:Glemmy Toto]] is finally defeated with a shot from the Zeta Gundam's rifle. In death he admits that he's glad [[spoiler:that it was Roux who pulled the trigger, his longtime crush]]. Even [[spoiler:Roux]] glumly agrees.
** [[spoiler:Nee]] ultimately is killed because he CantCatchUp, the high amount of psychic empowered Newtypes leavin him in the dust and when he and Chara face down the blasts to protect Haman she blocks it with her powers and he's killed.
** [[spoiler:Chara Soon]] faces down all of the empowered Ple Clones [[DyingAsYourself dying with her mind grounded]] and her lust for battle at its height.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Neo Zeon ends up falling from power in a similar way to how it gained that power in the first place. They won the Gryps conflict by outlasting the AEUG and Titans who's forces decimated each other enough for Axis to win. The Neo Zeon war sees a Federation victory by waiting them waiting until the Zeon infighting ends up destroying most of their forces.

* LighterAndSofter: The first half, especially when compared to [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam its predecessor]]. Despite what the FanDumb wants to believe, Tomino was responsible (as [[WordOfGod he put it in later interviews]], he saw that ''Zeta'' was dark and depressing and felt that anime should be happy and uplifting, so he deliberately made the start of ''ZZ'' silly to counteract ''Zeta'''s dark ending). The latter half is more serious, but there's still some campy moments.