Mobile Suit Gundam, the original series, is one of the giants of anime history - up there with Mazinger Z in terms of the impact it has had on the medium. It created the Real Robot genre and popularized the concept of science fiction anime aimed at a mature audience. In this aspect, MSG can be viewed as Japan's Star Trek, a comparison made all the more apt by the fact both series had to contend with a shoestring budget and the looming threat of cancellation throughout most of their initial broadcasting.
With this in mind, newcomers to the MSG series probably shouldn't start at the beginning. The reason for this is simple; it is an ugly show. The animation is just plain bad in many places, and while it gets much better towards the last third of the series, it isn't good even by contemporary standards. There are enough off model moments, shading errors, color palette miss-matches and Uncanny Valley facial animations present in MSG to make a fairly lethal drinking game out of. That said, the combat is quite visceral and entertaining by the standards of the time, with lots of tense moments early on. The show does an excellent job of portraying the maturation of the White Base crew from the typical rag-tag band of misfits into mature combat veterans capable of acting as a decisive force in numerous engagements.
Another thing MSG does well is serve as a template for further additions to the genre. While there are still some (rather forced) comedic elements, the series does not shy away from the brutality of war, the casualties inflicted upon innocents by an occupying force, and the horrific destruction caused by the colony drops. Some of MSG's most iconic imagery comes early in the series, when the White Base is dropping off civilians in what was once a highly populated area, but is now nothing but a barren wasteland where only isolated communities survive.
Overall, MSG is a great show to watch after the viewer has found something to like about the franchise as a whole. I'd recommend watching Wing or SEED first to get a grounding in what Gundam can be at its best, then watch MSG. It is a series that requires a distinct adjustment in viewer expectations, but those that can manage that won't be disappointed.
A classic.
Mobile Suit Gundam, the original series, is one of the giants of anime history - up there with Mazinger Z in terms of the impact it has had on the medium. It created the Real Robot genre and popularized the concept of science fiction anime aimed at a mature audience. In this aspect, MSG can be viewed as Japan's Star Trek, a comparison made all the more apt by the fact both series had to contend with a shoestring budget and the looming threat of cancellation throughout most of their initial broadcasting.
With this in mind, newcomers to the MSG series probably shouldn't start at the beginning. The reason for this is simple; it is an ugly show. The animation is just plain bad in many places, and while it gets much better towards the last third of the series, it isn't good even by contemporary standards. There are enough off model moments, shading errors, color palette miss-matches and Uncanny Valley facial animations present in MSG to make a fairly lethal drinking game out of. That said, the combat is quite visceral and entertaining by the standards of the time, with lots of tense moments early on. The show does an excellent job of portraying the maturation of the White Base crew from the typical rag-tag band of misfits into mature combat veterans capable of acting as a decisive force in numerous engagements.
Another thing MSG does well is serve as a template for further additions to the genre. While there are still some (rather forced) comedic elements, the series does not shy away from the brutality of war, the casualties inflicted upon innocents by an occupying force, and the horrific destruction caused by the colony drops. Some of MSG's most iconic imagery comes early in the series, when the White Base is dropping off civilians in what was once a highly populated area, but is now nothing but a barren wasteland where only isolated communities survive.
Overall, MSG is a great show to watch after the viewer has found something to like about the franchise as a whole. I'd recommend watching Wing or SEED first to get a grounding in what Gundam can be at its best, then watch MSG. It is a series that requires a distinct adjustment in viewer expectations, but those that can manage that won't be disappointed.