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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sdg.jpg]]
2
3->''"Get ready for Gundam like you've never seen it before! [[SuperDeformed ...Really cute and tiny!]]"''
4-->--'''Creator/{{Toonami}} Promo'''
5
6''SD Gundam Force'' (''SDガンダムフォース''), the SD ''officially'' standing for "Superior Defender", but also for "SuperDeformed", a term used for a long-running series of [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parodies]], is a [[CelShading CG anime]] series based on the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' metaseries. It ran for two seasons, but ended on a full course.
7
8The city of Neotopia is a peaceful place, where the humans live in harmony with Mobile Citizens, small robots between three and four feet tall that look a lot like Mobile Suits. A young boy named Shute finds himself at ground zero of an invasion by the Dark Axis, an army of evil (and equally tiny) robots who seem determined to turn everything to stone. He is rescued by Captain Gundam, a robot styled after the Gundams of the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Universal Century]] universe (particularly the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory GP-01]]). After beating back the invading forces, Captain suddenly shows up at Shute's house in a civilian guise, saying his commander wanted him to get experience with civilians, and he decided to start by being Shute's friend.
9
10During the battles against the Dark Axis, Captain meets with two other warriors from parallel universes: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Zero, the Winged Knight]], a magic-using warrior from the world of Lacroa, and [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Bakunetsumaru]], a {{Samurai}} from the world of Ark.
11
12Two video games were produced, though the Platform/PlayStation2 game, ''VideoGame/SDGundamForceShowdown'', is more noteworthy for introducing the dimensional pirates of [=DeScar=], {{Exp|y}}ies of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V Gundam]]'''s villainous Zanscare Empire, as well as more Expies of more machines from the primary three worlds involved. There was also a manga retelling of the series, as well as a promotional manga called ''Manga/SDGundamForceGaiden'', neither of which were released in the US. In Sanrio Puroland, a 4D show called [[Ride/SDGundamForceTheDaishogunOfDestructionAppearsZako SD Gundam Force: The Daishogun of Destruction Appears! Zako!?]] played during the anime's run.
13
14Now with a [[Recap/SDGundamForce recap page]], under construction.
15
16----
17
18!!This series contains examples of:
19
20* AccidentalMisnaming: Bakunetsumaru. Guneagle spends the entire end of his debut episode trying to get his name right, and Shute's parents don't have much of an easier time with it at first. The Zako soldiers can't get it right either.
21* AdorableEvilMinions: Being a series were most of the characters are '''S'''uper '''D'''eformed, this is a given, [[VerbalTic zako]].
22* AlliterativeName: Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom...
23* AndTheAdventureContinues: The show ends with Shute and company patrolling the different worlds with the Gundam Force.
24* AnimeThemeSong: Played straight in season 1's japanese intro with [[DoubleMeaningTitle Sunrise]] by Music/PuffyAmiYumi, but averted in season 2's intro.
25* ArtifactOfDoom: The Demon Sword Epyon houses an evil spirit that absorbs anyone that's been injured by it and steals their powers. In addition, it will eventually turn the wielder into a berserker [[spoiler:before corrupting their body into the Evil Warrior Epyon]].
26* ArtisticLicensePhysics: You cannot hang a flying fortress from a satellite. It doesn't work that way. ''SD Gundam Force'' doesn't care.
27* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler:Zapper Zaku]] pretended to be loyal to the SDG after [[spoiler:Commander Sazabi's defeat]] just to get a chance to destroy [[spoiler:General Zeong for mistreating him, his companions and the Zakos]].
28* BattleAura: The Gundams get these when performing team attacks. Captain gets a golden aura, Bakunetsumaru has fire, and Zero... has the background turn a weird texture of dark blue.
29* BadassNormal: Shute. Despite having NO combat ability aside from just being annoying (to the bad guys), he manages to help out starting with 1) Rescuing Captain and Zero when they were captured, and ending with 2) [[spoiler:Effectively destroying Zeong's Soul Drive FROM THE INSIDE, among other things.]] That's not even counting all the times he's been threatened at swordpoint/gunpoint by the Big Bads...and he's only [[ImprobableAge ten years old]]!
30* BerserkButton:
31** Bakunetsumaru flies off the handle faster than usual when Zero plants flowers on him.
32** Tallgeese doesn't take kindly to his name being made fun of.
33* BigBad: General Zeong is the leader of the Dark Axis.
34* BigEater: Most of, if not all of, the Musha Gundams.
35** Bakunetsumaru makes the Daishogun 200 rice balls as a SNACK. Though Daishogun ends up eating the entire 7-layer cake Keiko and Sayla bake for him instead.
36** Zero is implied to have eaten at least one entire cake by himself.
37** Bakunetsumaru wolfs down an entire 100 rice balls in order to heal his injuries.
38** For her birthday Sayla bakes Mayor Margaret a cake almost the size of a castle, to go along with the much smaller one.
39* BlackSpeech: General Zeong speaks in a an odd guttural and snarling language, only Professor Gerbera can translate for him.
40* BlushStickers: Captain and Shute both have these whenever they get embarrassed.
41* BreakingSpeech: Sazabi and [[spoiler:Gerbera]] gives these to Shute and Captain, respectively. Sazabi claims that 'there is only those who rule, and those who are ruled!' while [[spoiler:Gerbera]]'s lecture can be summarized as HumansAreBastards. They are both told to ShutUpHannibal;
42--->[[PowerOfFriendship Shute]]: We don't rule anyone and we wont be ruled by anyone! Not ever! We're all friends! Friends living together!
43--->[[RobotBuddy Captain]]: Those of us with Soul Drives are ''meant'' to be with humans!
44* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler:The 'Zakurello Gate' and son does this at the end of the series.]] With [[spoiler:the General]] destroyed, there's nothing stopping them from going back to whatever dimension the Dark Axis stole them from.
45* CainAndAbel: [[spoiler:Professor Gerbera]] is [[spoiler:Captain Gundam's "brother" Madnug]] post-brainwashing.
46* CastingGag: Commander Sazabi is played by Creator/ShuichiIkeda, Char Aznable's voice actor. Meanwhile, Professor Gerbera (based on the Gerbera Tetra from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'') is voiced by Creator/AkioOtsuka, who played ''0083'''s most prominent male villain, Anavel Gato.
47* CerebusSyndrome: The series starts out fairly light hearted, but as it goes on it gets slightly darker and more dramatic.
48* TheChessmaster: Several, but Kibaomaru comes into focus as he's an avid ''shogi'' player. He even uses a giant board as a platform in the Dark Axis base.
49* ChekhovsGun: The combination move [[spoiler:Zapper, Grappler and Destroyer came up with, but never got to use?]] It's what ultimately destroys [[spoiler:the General.]]
50* TheChosenOne: Not the two main characters, Captain and Shute. It's actually ''Zero'' who was singled out as being the one destined to save his homeland Lacroa from the petrification, which he does with some help.
51* ChromaticArrangement: By their mouthpieces
52** Captain: Yellow
53** Zero: Blue
54** Bakunetsumaru: Red
55* ClipShow: Two of them. The first involves a ZanyScheme by the Zakos to get the Gundam Force to divulge their secrets under the guise of a TV interview, and the second is the Force trying to convince Genkimaru to trust them.
56* CombinationAttack:
57** GUNDAM FORCE, TRIPLE ATTACK!
58** FINAL DEADLY SCREAMING CHAOS CATASTROPHE!
59* CoolGate: The Zakarello Gate is a living dimensional gate generator.
60* CoolStarship: The Magna Musai is the Dark Axis flagship and suitably menacing. [[spoiler:It is later reconfigured into the Gundam Musai.]]
61* CoolSword: Zero's Buster Sword, and Bakunetsumaru's katanas, one of which is a piece of Ark's Five Sacred Swords.
62* ComedicSpanking: When Genkimaru proved to be particularly bratty, Bakunetsumaru created the "spanking fan." He doesn't actually use it, but he threatens Genki with it several times. [[spoiler:At the end of the series, he bequeaths it to Zero to keep Kibaomaru in check.]]
63* CrazyJealousGuy: This is Zero when [[spoiler:Fake]] Rele gets close to Shute in order to [[spoiler:convince him to give her the White Bagu Bagu]]. Coincidentally, Shute also gets this way whenever somebody other than him gets to eat HIS cake, not even Captain is allowed to have any before him.
64* CreatorsCultureCarryover: While the show features tons of American stereotypes, Neotopia still features lots of Japanese customs, such as Shute knowing how to make rice balls and several of the citizens having Japanese names.
65* CuteMachines: The whole series is This Trope: The Anime. Even most of the bad guys are cute.
66* CyberCyclops: The Dark Axis units have only one eye. [[spoiler:At least the ones that aren't Gundams]]
67* DancingMookCredits: The Season 2 credits were kicked off and ended by the Zako Soldiers dancing to the song playing in the credits along with nearly every other main character.
68* DefeatMeansFriendship: By the end of the series, [[spoiler:Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom, and even Cobramaru have defected to the ''Genki Energy Force''.]] Between this trope and all the cases of RedemptionEqualsDeath, only the major villains of the series end up dead.
69* DiscOneFinalBoss: We spend the entire first season under the impression that "The Commander", Sazabi, is the leader of the Dark Axis, [[spoiler:but when he's defeated we discover that he's actually subservient to General Zeong.]]
70* TheDitz: Sayla; the girl just ignored a pitched battle to focus on baking a cake! Although you could take her line at the end of the same episode as a sign of ObfuscatingStupidity...
71* DualWielding: Bakunetsumaru wields a pair of twin swords, [[spoiler:one of which is actually one of the Five Sacred Swords passed down to him from his master. Zero also ends up wielding the Twin Buster Sword when he fuses with Fenn, which can split into two separate swords.]]
72* EggMcGuffin: The Spirit Egg, during the Mystery of Lacroa episodes, is the focus of those episodes because of its importance to the SDG and Zero.
73* EliteFour: In season one, Commander Sazabi has the Four Doga Commandos acting as his personal [[TheDragon Dragons]] during the Invasion of Neotopia. [[spoiler:While Dogas Blue, Purple and Green were each destroyed by a member of the Gundam Force, Doga Grey was personally wiped out by Sazabi himself.]]
74** In Ark, Kibaomaru has his Kibao Horde, a quartet of Musha Gundams modeled after the [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Four Heavenly Kings]] that guard his mobile fortress. Those four, however, survive their battles.
75* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai: If Bakumetsumaru wasn't enough... all of Ark is inspired by the idea of samurai.
76* EverytownAmerica: Neotopia features a lot of American motifs from Mark's terrible country music, to everybody playing catch in the park, to even a giant ferris wheel statue of the mayor herself that resembles the Statue of Liberty! If that doesn't make it America maybe Shute knowing the existence of [[DubInducedPlotHole Ypsilanti, Michigan]] might.
77* ExactlyWhatIAimedAt: Zero [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks tosses his sword]] while locked in a nosediving tackle with Tallgeese, causing a rock suspended overhead to crash down and leaving his enemy to be smashed into the Dark Hole after his friends pull him out of danger.
78* {{Expy}}: Locations are Expies of something from a standard ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' timeline crossed with a SD Gundam series, save for the villain locations.
79** Neotopia = Earth Federation (''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' through ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'')+Command Chronicles.
80** Dark Axis = Zeon/Neo Zeon (likewise)
81** Lacroa = ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Gundam Wing]]'' + Knight Gundam
82** Ark = ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'' + Musha Gundam
83** [=DaScar=] from the Platform/PlayStation2 game = [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Zanscare Empire]]
84* FaceHeelTurn:
85** [[spoiler:Deed, Knight of the Shining Blade became Deathscythe, Knight of Darkness]] when he betrayed Lacroa.
86** Zapper Zaku was actually a nice guy before the events of the series as told in the side story manga, [[spoiler:however, when his friend was killed, he became the trigger happy villain we know and love to hate. This effectively gave more meaning to his attack against General Zeong.]]
87* FaceShip: The bridges of the Magna-Musai and later the Gundamusai are Zaku and Gundam themed faces, as well as the Zako Zako Hour stage inside.
88* FastballSpecial: Episode 12, Captain and Bakunetsumaru. When you need to get out of an abyss and only one of you has a jetpack...
89* FutureBadass: The BrattyHalfPint Genkimaru grows up to become [[spoiler:the Dai-Shogun of Perfect Virtue.]]
90* GadgeteerGenius: Shute; his inventions include robot-strength superglue, a voice imitator, magnetic rollerblades with jet boosters, and a rocket-powered kite.
91* GoldfishPoopGang: Zapper's gang end up this way by season 2. In the last 26 episodes, they only menace the Gundam Force three times (and one of those times was by accident), and spend the rest of the episodes being bounced around by fate and circumstance.
92-->'''Bakunetsumaru''': ''(Tiredly)'' Them, again?
93* GoodWingsEvilWings:
94** Zero Custom has angel wings while [[spoiler:Deathscythe has bat wings]].
95** While both are evil, Griffin Tallgeese has golden wings while [[spoiler:Epyon has dark red ones]].
96** Bagu-Bagus have insect wings but [[spoiler:reversed ones have the same wings as fully grown Fenn]].
97* HelpingHands: General Zeong's gigantic pair of hands can fly and function as a set of AttackDrones.
98* HulkSpeak: DOM MAKE THEM GO BOOM!
99* IncomingHam: Mostly Musha Gundams and certain characters from Lacroa. The Dai-Shogun's is particularly epic.
100--->"From as far away as Ark, I sensed the energy of two mighty souls in conflict. Are you the two who seek honor in a trial by combat? Know you then who asks this question of you. It is I, Lord of Swords! The Dai-Shogun of Ark! Warrior of Perfect Virtue!"
101* InstantRunes: Most spells from Lacroa will invoke these, no matter the user. Princess Rele can use hers as a flight platform, too.
102* InverseNinjaLaw: The Zako Soldiers, Pawn Leos, and Zakobusshi make up the backbone of the Dark Axis, and yet they're either incredibly incompetent or incredibly weak when met with opponents nowhere close to even a ''twentieth'' of their numbers
103* InvisibilityCloak: The Pawn Leos employ some sort of invisibility talismans that are not securely adhered and come off whenever they take a hit.
104** Cobramaru has some sort of cloaking ability that he can use with or without his cobra hood.
105* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Chief Haro originally tries to keep Captain away from Shute because his inter-dimensional activity could put the boy in danger. They both decide against it, the Chief after realizing Captain needs Shute to activate the Soul Drive, and the Captain when he realizes Shute is his friend.
106* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: It's ironic this Gundam show is always being accused of ruining the franchise given all the impressive looking and effective weapons. Just look at Zapper Zaku and Dom.
107* KilledOffForReal:
108** [[spoiler:Commander Sazabi]] was killed when Captain Gundam shattered his [[spoiler:Soul Drive]].
109** After the ''Gundamusai'' appeared in Lacroa, the combined force of the ship's cannons and Zero Custom's Infinity Winds attack destroyed [[spoiler:Epyon]] permanently.
110** [[spoiler:Tallgeese, Deathscythe, Mercurius, and Vayeate]] perished in the Lacroa StoryArc.
111** [[spoiler:The Cobra Ninja Force]] do not survive their fight with Bakushinmaru. Though, since they're Musha, they must be awaiting {{Reincarnation}} like [[spoiler:Ashuramaru]].
112** [[spoiler:Gerbera/Madnug]] sacrificed himself to be melted to [[spoiler:complete General Zeong]], [[spoiler:who was also killed through the efforts of all the forces including Dark Axis]].
113* LargeHam: Most of the villains, though even good guys like Zero and Baku get in on the ham sometimes.
114* LastEpisodeThemeReprise: During episode 51, the last opening song plays in the Japanese version during the final attack against the General.
115* LaughablyEvil: Tallgeese is delightfully [[EvilIsHammy hammy]] and at one point does a little dance and song.
116* {{Leitmotif}}: Each division of the Dark Axis gets a theme that plays whenever they cause havoc.
117* LighterAndSofter: In comparison to other ''Gundam'' series it is cute and tiny and funny. Then CerebusSyndrome kicks in and it fits in better.
118* LoveMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler:Deed's]] fall from grace and adoption of the Deathscythe identity was brought about by falling in love with [[spoiler:Princess Rele. He thought that invading her home and turning her to stone would make her return his love; LoveMakesYouStupid and LoveMakesYouCrazy also apply here.]]
119* LowClearance: Happens twice; Grappler Gouf is trying to hijack a train, but is so focused on the train that he doesn't see the tunnel and hits the wall. Later on, when he and the Gundams are fighting their TrainTopBattle, the same thing happens to Zero.
120-->'''Grappler:''' Hurts, doesn't it? At least I'm not the only idiot around here...
121* MidSeasonUpgrade: Captain Gundam's Hyper upgrade in season 2.
122* MindRape: [[spoiler:The General]]'s specialty is brainwashing people into evil by tormenting them with custom built nightmares.
123* TheMole: Rare villain-on-villain version: [[spoiler:Zako Red is strongly implied to be nothing more than a dummy body for Sazabi, as seen when Red goes inert after handing Sazabi the Soul Drive and is unceremoniously disposed of. Not to mention they have the exact same voice, and Zako Red seems to force his "Zako" tic rather than it being an actual tic]]
124* {{Mooks}}: The Zakos, Pawn Leos, and Zakobusshi exist to defeated effortlessly by the Gundam Force and allies. Ironically, the subtrope of MechaMooks is subverted. While the Zakos are nearly indistinguishable from each other and act as grunts, none of them are ever portrayed as dying onscreen, and are instead just bashed aside with no harm outside of a concussion and comically missing armor.
125* MoreDakka: Dom's Gallop trailer is filled with a ridiculous amount of guns that all fire at once on command. [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy They rarely, if ever, hit something.]]
126* MyHeroZero: From the land of Lacroa he has come to banish evil! He is ''Zero'', the Winged Knight!
127* MythologyGag: References to other Gundam series are practically built into the premise.
128** Some are more obvious than others, for instance Gerbera's [[spoiler:true identity as Captain Gundam's brother]] is based on the fact that [[spoiler:the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory Gerbera Tetra]] was based off of the rejected Gundam GP-04 (and in fact, the Gerbera Tetra Kai IS the GP-04 with armor covering the Gundam-y parts), while Captain Gundam and his various upgrades are based on the GP-01 and GP-03.]]
129** The Pawn Leos have a more subtle example in the form of their incredible weakness. Simply tripping breaks the spell that animates them, referencing their original counterparts' shoddy construction.
130** Subverted with Gunbike being Captain's teacher instead of Command Gundam.
131** Also subverted with Superior Dragon [[spoiler:who instead of being a Gundam split into two separate Gundams is an actual dragon that is a spirit, who is the combined form of Fenn and Steel Dragon. He is also never properly seen on screen. Although, the fusions between Zero and Fenn and Deed and Steel Dragon are reminiscent of (Vassal) Knight Gundam and Satan Gundam.]]
132** In a non-character example, the mobile castle Tenchijo is reminiscent of White Base.
133* NervesOfSteel: [[spoiler:Captain's battle with Sazabi. Though Captain gradually loses ''all'' his equipment (and even an ''arm'') he never changes composure and always seems perfectly fine, while Sazabi gradually freaks out.]] A perfect example from the same fight is when Captain [[spoiler:grabs Sazabi's beam sabers with his, albeit charged up via his Soul Drive, bare hands. Before he squeezes hard enough to destroy the beam sabers, Sazabi lampshades this]]:
134-->'''Sazabi''': What!? With your bare hands!? You can't do that!
135-->'''Captain''': Sorry Commander, but I'm afraid I must contradict you!
136* NeverSayDie: Zigzagged. The English dub averts it during the Ashuramaru episodes, but then it tries to hide the fact that Cobramaru attempts ''seppuku'' after his defeat in Season 2.
137* NoFocusOnHumans: For most of the second season, the only humans important to the story are Shute and [[spoiler:the real Princess Rele]].
138* NoOntologicalInertia: [[spoiler:After General Zeong is destroyed, all of his thorns disappear.]]
139* NonIndicativeName: The Zako Zako Hour only runs for a few minutes.
140* NotSoDifferentRemark:
141** Sazabi tries this on Captain near the end of their fight [[spoiler:when it's revealed Sazabi has a Soul Drive like Captain's, only filled with darkness]], culminating in asking Captain to join the Dark Axis. Captain's response?
142-->'''Captain''': If you want a friend, [[ShutUpHannibal you'll have to do better than that!]]
143** Gerbera attempts the same later on, likewise being told to ShutUpHannibal.
144* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Many of the villains are very comical, but can prove themselves to be very strong. Prime example is Tallgeese, who is comically mocked by Shute when he first appears, but then right afterward curbstomps everyone.
145* ObfuscatingStupidity:
146** Shute's father, Mark, appears to be a laid-back guitarist with a penchant for bad hippie music, but is strongly implied to be [[spoiler:the leader of the SDG, Chief Haro.]]
147** It may apply to Sayla; there have been two instances of her experiencing the battles from the front seat, but she never lets on that she knows what's happening...
148** Zapper ''claims'' [[spoiler:to have been faking his happy janitor routine...when he joined the final battle]].
149* ObliviousToLove: Princess Rele ends up developing a crush on Shute, however, he never seems to notice it. [[spoiler:Not even at the end of the show when Rele calls out to him, but Shute ends up leaving her in the dust.]]
150* OfficialCouple: Keiko and Mark. The only husband and wife couple seen in the entire show.
151* OmnicidalManiac: The General is possibly the only villain in Gundam history who wants to wipe out the entire ''multiverse.''
152* PaperThinDisguise: The Zako soldiers. Put a wig and some camera gear on them and they'll pass for reporters...well, at least to Bakunetsumaru.
153* PokemonSpeak:
154** While most of the Zakos and Pawns just say their names as a VerbalTic, a few of the one-scene extras ''only'' say their names.
155** The Elmice only say "mouse."
156** Played straight with the first Komusai, though it only talked once. The second Komusai made [[TheUnintelligible bizarre gibbering noises]] after getting a dozen control horns stuck on it.
157* PowerGivesYouWings:
158** Zero Custom, Knight of Silver Wings, and Griffin Tallgeese.
159** [[spoiler:Captain]] with the power of the [[spoiler:Superior]] Dragon on his side.
160* ThePowerOfFriendship: What Captain needs to activate the Soul Drive, and a major theme of the series. Of course, the power of friendship can't stop Zero from [[SomethingAboutARose screwing]] with [[BerserkButton Bakumetsumaru]]; after all, friends tease!
161* PsychoRangers: The Dark Axis trio are generally considered opposites of the main three Gundams (Captain/Zapper, Zero/Grappler, Bakunetsumaru/Destroyer), but it isn't until episode 30 that Genkimaru becomes, temporarily, their equivalent of Shute.
162* QuirkyMiniBossSquad: Zako, Grappler, and Dom are a trio of villains higher than the Zako mooks who (initially) give the Gundam Force a hard time.
163* RacingTheTrain: Shute's first appearance, mostly to show off his rocket skates to the audience. Justified in that he's a kid who's playing around.
164* RankScalesWithAsskicking:
165** [[spoiler:Chief Haro]] showing off his fighting ability in the final battle against General Zeong, which involves deflecting missiles with his ''head''.
166** Captain Gundam had a habit of informing the villains that he was authorized to use weapons in defense of Neotopia. This was followed by him smacking them around.
167** Commander Sazabi and General Zeong are both more powerful than any Dark Axis soldier beneath them (with the general greater than the commander).
168* RebelliousPrincess: [[spoiler:The Real Rele.]] She's a bit of a brat at first and eager to spend time with the Gundam Force, especially Shute.
169* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Dark Axis have red eyes that peer down on the dimension they are invading.
170* RedOniBlueOni: With the proper colors:
171** Bakunetsumaru the hotheaded samurai, and Zero, the levelheaded knight. Zero has the longer fuse of the two, but he spends off time picking on Bakunetsumaru (by making flowers grow out of his swords).
172** Zapper Zaku, the blustering bulky red robot, and Grappler Gouf, the smooth talking sleeker design.
173* RedemptionEqualsDeath: At first subverted with [[spoiler:Bakunetsumaru's friend, Kujakumaru/Ashuramaru,]] who turns against him because he refuses to follow this trope. Later played straight when [[spoiler:Bakunetsumaru is forced to kill him. Later still when Tallgeese sacrifices himself to free Fenn from Deathscythe's magical cage]]. Depending on whether you're watching the anime or reading the manga, [[spoiler:Gerbera/Madnug at the end will either free himself from brainwashing only to be killed by his boss or sacrifice himself for his boss.]]
174* {{Reincarnation}}: Musha Gundams never truly die. Their [[OurSoulsAreDifferent GunSoul]] remains to wait for a new life.
175* RentAZilla: Musha Daishinsho is an enormous Gundam.
176* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Fenn. One second he's all snuggly and cute, the next second [[SidekickCreatureNuisance he's ruining your hard culinary work or breathing fire in your face.]]
177* {{Robosexual}}: One-sided and deconstructed; [[spoiler:Deathscythe]] is madly in love with [[spoiler:Princess Rele]], but felt that as a MechanicalLifeform, his feelings for her, a human, would never be returned or allowed. His ultimate plan is to [[spoiler:seize the power of Lacroa's strongest Spirits and use them to become human]].
178* Room101: The "Robo House," a room within the SDG base where {{Killer Robot}}s are rehabilitated. [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment It involves giving them potted plants and watching videos of the Neotopian citizens dancing around]].
179* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Princess Rele, upon being de-petrified, decides that she will ''not'' just sit on the sidelines, and uses her magic to aid the Gundam Force to great effect.
180* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Captain came very close to saying this to Chief Haro in episode 2, when he told him he wanted to hang out with Shute. But he chickened out at the last moment.
181* SecretIdentity: Captain's 'civilian' mode is needed because the people of Neotopia aren't supposed to know about the war with Dark Axis. Zero and Bakunetsumaru don't have any, but the Mayor [[HandWave Hand Waves]] it by saying they're actors. They no longer need the identities after [[spoiler:the Big Zam brings down Blanc Base, and the Gundam Force's existence is revealed.]] It's also strongly implied that Chief Haro is really [[spoiler:Shute's father, Mark.]]
182* ShotInTheAss: When looking for an exit in the Dark Hole, Bakunetsumaru takes a barrage of bullets to the bum courtesy of Captain.
183* ShoutOut:
184** [[Film/ApocalypseNow "I love the smell of concrete in the morning."]]
185** Zero summoned [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid a cardboard box labeled for storing oranges]] in an episode where a Pawn Leo was sneaking around while invisible, only being seen when he picked it up. The box returned in the second season in an episode where Destroyer Dom and Grappler Gouf were sneaking around in cardboard boxes with holes cut out for them to see which had the same exact label and markings.
186*** Cobramaru's cloaking ability might be another MGS reference(as he is a snake-themed robot), though it was never explained what method he used.
187** After the end of the first season, Zapper Zaku is captured by the SDG and dragged into a creepy white room for "reprogramming." Here, [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour everything he loathes and fears is shoved in his face until he cracks and learns to love organic creatures]]. Of course, given what Zapper hates and fears (flowers, people getting along), this is [[PlayedForLaughs much funnier than the original]].
188* ShowWithinAShow: The Zako Zako Hour is a short segment at the end of episodes where a trio of Zako talk about the episode. Later on, the Pawn Leos try this with the Pawn Pawn Hour in one episode, and Zakobusshi take over this role when the cast lands in Ark.
189* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: "Cynicism"? [[SugarBowl What's that?]] Joking aside, the grey morality of other Gundam shows is not fully present here and characters are powered/inspired by virtues like friendship and loyalty.
190* TheSpock: Captain's lack of comprehension for facets of humanity others take for granted also makes him TheComicallySerious. He loosens up as time goes on.
191* StableTimeLoop:
192** [[spoiler:Madnug/Gerbera]] is the victim of one of these, depending on whether or not [[spoiler:the [=SDGF=]]] thought one life was worth changing the timeline for. [[spoiler:Then again, the vision of the future Shute saw thanks to the Superior Dragon may have been real.]]
193** [[spoiler:The Daishougun of Perfect Virtue]] helped Genkimaru get the bridge of the Gundamusai to Ark from a distance, without Genkimaru seeing him.
194* SummonMagic: Tallgeese uses Lacroa magic to summon Griffon and later [[spoiler:Zero with the Feather Dragon.]]
195* SuperDrowningSkills: In episode 16 we learn Bakunetsumaru and Zero both have no clue how to swim, in season 2 episode 37 [[spoiler: we get the perfect example when Bakunetsumaru flails about on the ground panicking about drowning after a flood of Mmns reunited the Gundam Force in the Garden of Wisdom.]]
196* SuperSentaiStance: The Gundam force does one when introducing themselves to Genkimaru. He is not impressed.
197* SupportingLeader: Captain Gundam is the field leader for the Gundam Force but he is not TheProtagonist. That would be Shute.
198* SurroundedByIdiots: Commander Sazabi, or Grappler depending on the mission.
199* SynchronizedSwarming: The Bagu-Bagu do this for their attacks, even forming a giant Bagu-Bagu at times.
200* TakenForGranite: The Bagu-Bagu turn organic matter to stone and Princess Rele is one of many victims. [[spoiler:It's reversed later on.]]
201* TeenGenius: Bell Wood and Shute are teenagers with impressive technological achievements, but Bell Wood's dimensional gate never works properly.
202* TeleportersAndTransporters: The Zakorello Gate and the Dimensional Gateway device count, as do a few spells from Lacroa.
203* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Zapper, Grappler and Destroyer do not like working together. Too bad for them.
204* TookALevelInBadass: Shute gets an upgraded arsenal in the second season, with a booster backpack and a glue shooter included.
205* UnfortunateNames: Tallgeese, which is kind of odd considering the names the rest of the Dark Axis run around with. So much so that Shute can't resist pointing and laughing when he introduces himself. Making it worse is that his armor has what seems to be a rooster comb on the top of it...
206* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: Captain Gundam, the GP-01, versus Professor Gerbera, [[spoiler: the GP-04 from the not so distant future]].
207* VerbalTic:
208** The Zakos, zako! The Pawn Leos also seem to say 'Pawn' at times, and the Zakarello Gate usually throws in guttural 'rello's to his sentences. In fact this is often the only line he speaks in an episode.
209** In Ark, the Zakobusshi say Busshi.
210* VileVillainLaughableLackey: The Zakos and their squad leaders are a bunch of goofy, lovable losers, but their commanders are a bunch of {{Misanthrope Supreme}}s whose ultimate goal is to [[spoiler:destroy both universes]].
211* WaveMotionGun: The cannons on the Magna Musai are massive. General Zeong's main particle cannon also counts.
212* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Even though Shute makes a dub-only joke about Michigan in one episode, the exact location of Neotopia is never actually revealed.
213* WorldTree: The Spirit Tree of Lacroa is so big that the royal family had its castle built around it, and the town is built on its roots. It was TakenForGranite by the Dark Axis, and the first we hear of it is when the Dark Axis is trying to revive it for some reason. [[spoiler:In the series' second half we learn that the Tree can create Spirit Eggs that give birth to sacred spirits and Knight Gundams. This power was sealed off by the royal family so the Dark Axis couldn't use it to sacrifice Knight Gundams to the General. After the Dark Axis is defeated for good and Lacroa is un-petrified, Princess Rele undoes the seal.]]
214* YouCantThwartStageOne: Done at the end of each season; The villains are at the cusp of victory, only for the heroes to win at the last moment.
215** The Dark Axis Invasion of Neotopia begins with the TerribleTrio trying to bring down Blanc Base, which they succeed in after a fashion. After that, they begin using their Control Horns and Bagu Bagu to attack the city, which Captain uses his Captain System to stop. However, Zako Red steals Captain's Soul Drive and gives it to the Commander, who establishes a base at Neotopia Tower and declares himself ruler of the city.
216** Even though Gerbera [[spoiler:or Madnug]] is defeated by Captain, he stills "wins" by sacrificing himself to revive the General. The following three episodes become a literal uphill battle as every fighter in the series tries to destroy the General before he succeeds in his goal.
217* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness:
218** The Commander threatens this trope on Zapper's group, ultimately deciding to stop relying on them as the first season goes on, calling for reinforcements from Dark Axis forces in Ark and Lacroa. Their very last mission results in the three of them getting trapped under Blanc Base. In the second season, Kibaomaru gets fed up with Cobramaru's failures and just discharges him, and in an inversion of this trope, ''refuses to let him have an honorable death''.
219** The first thing Tallgeese does once he gets the Epyon sword is to kill [[spoiler:Mercurius and Vayeate to steal their powers]].
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