Being a K-Pop fan, I took interest in one of many Korean Boy Bands, such as the present day Big Bang and the 90’s Seo Tai-ji And BOYS. It wasn’t until late 2007 I took notice of another huge band by the name of Dong Bang Shin Ki—aka DBSK, TVXQ (東方神起), or Tohoshinki in Japan. (Who are they? Check out their video of their 2007 Japanese Single, “SHINE”).

My friend and fellow BBAMAJAM member/K-Pop fan Kym sent me this petition in an effort to bring the group over to the United States to preform at various venues across the country, including the Hollywood Bowl in California where the annual Korean Music Festival is held.

Other Korean artists such as BoA and Se7en have (finally) made it to the shores. Now it’s time for DBSK’s time to SHINE. As of writing, there are 490 signatures written. The goal is set for 2,000 signatures—but the more, the merrier! If you’re a K-Pop fan, a Tohoshinki fan, and live in North America (or would like to attend a concert in the US), please take the time to sign the petition. ^_^

It’s been a long while since I wrote anything relating to my personal Cosplay plans, usually labeled as as CEN.TAKU.ME Cosplay Corner, now renamed to simply Cosplay Corner for the time being. It’s been a year since I decided on my choices for Anime Weekend Atlanta ‘08 (and originally for MTAC if I hadn’t ran out of money and a driver to attend).

As of 2009, I still plan on going as Toshirou Hitsugaya from Bleach. My attendance of AWA is very likely this year thanks to the Boogie BAM Anime Jam Club. (And this will probably be the last time I will mention attending AWA until a few days before the con as it seems I end up not going at all if I keep talking about it…)

In this issue, I am going to go over other costumes I plan on doing in the future, including some I’ve done in the past, and one I did recently. On the JAMPcon forums, there’s a Cosplay Resume thread. In it, I posted my reply with the following:

-Cosplay Completed-

Pan (Dragonball GT) - ACEN 2004
Vash the Stampede (Trigun) - ACEN 2006
Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach) - JAMPcon 2008

-Future Cosplay (50-100% Completed)-*

Iruka Umino (Naruto) - 80% Completed (AWA ‘09, MTAC ‘10)
Toshirou Hitsugaya (Bleach) - 60% Completed (AWA ‘09, MTAC ‘10, JAMPcon ‘10)
Kakashi Hatake (Naruto) - 60% %90 Completed (Debut On Hold)

-Future Cosplay (0-49% Completed)-

L (Death Note) - 10% Completed
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) - 10% Completed

I wrote that post a couple of months ago. Since then, I’ve managed to finish my Iruka costume, and the results were fantastic! I participated in Boogie BAM Anime Jam’s first Cosplay Contest on May 30th. A report along with lots of pictures will be posted in another installment of Cosplay Corner coming up soon.

Moving on to the unfinished costumes: I need a wig and a Captain’s Haori—without buying the whole Hakama again, for Toshirou’s costume. I will also need a sheath for the sword—that I could make myself, out of vinyl fabric—or just do without if there’s no time left.

And for Kakashi, I also need a wig for him and a part of a Balaclava pattern for the mask. I need a pair of sandals (I made my own pair of Naruto sandals last year and for the cosplay contest, but I’m worried as to how long it will last through the weekend).

Anime Weekend Atlanta is only 2 and a half months away. There’s plenty of time for me to get my Toshirou costume together. Until then, I will come up with my Cosplay plans for MTAC and JAMPcon ‘10. ^_^

I recently found out about an episode of the original Mobile Suit Gundam that has never aired in US…not even in the Japan. But it apparently aired in China from the video below. Episode 15, entitled “Kukurus Doan’s Island” didn’t air because Tomino-sensei wasn’t happy with it. (It seems that he’s an perfectionist like Kojima-san).

The episode is about a guy named Doan who is an ex-Zeon pilot who went AWOL after witnessing 3 children guarding their mother from being “hurt” further… Besides Tomino’s decision, there is nothing naughty about the episode (Like Beauty and the Beach (mild-NSFW warning) in Pokemon, for example), but maybe it’s because of Doan’s Zaku’s appearance. Talk about quality animation…

This is the full episode of “Kukurus Doan’s Island” (provided in the playlist player) in 3 parts. Note: Part 2 actually begins in the last video of the playlist.

I’m back, everyone! I apologize for the lack of updates aside from the huge Gundam 101 feature that wrapped up last month. (The biggest article ever written! ). Taking time off from posting articles, I’ve decided to update vital parts of the websites-most importantly the Comment Rules. But first, the exciting news!

On Saturday, May 30th, CEN.TAKU.ME hit the 100+ subscribers mark! 105 subscribers to be exact in the picture above, and the highest count recorded so far. This is also a momentous occasion as July 17th will mark the 2nd year anniversary of CTM.

Back in December, the blog hit 50 subscribers. This was only 6 months ago. How did I get double subscribers in just six months?

• Visitors from Otaku.fm - It’s thanks to Otaku.fm, owned by fellow Otaku, Danny Choo, that the blog broke though the 50 subscribers mark in late 2008. As of June 2009, this is a continuing factor in growing readership. If you have an Anime or Otaku related blog, then you should take a look at Otaku.fm as an instant alternative to Google.
• JapanSoc, AllTop, and 2JPN - Another source of reader support comes from the kind people over at JapanSoc. It’s due to their engaging community activities that CEN.TAKU.ME is becoming the most read blog in the Otaku and Japan-related blogosphere. CEN.TAKU.ME is also listed on Alltop’s Anime and 2JPN’s JapanSoc listings, which have added to the growing readership.
• Twitter - Another tool in my success. By simply keeping up with my fellow Twitterers (370+ of them) and posting blog updates as they are posted to Twitter was another factor in my goal.
• Members of Boogie BAM Anime Jam - Being a part of Chattanooga’s first Anime Club is another added benefit of being an Otaku and a blogger. Not only that I’ve met some awesome people around my neck of the woods, and it’s also the first opportunity that I have gotten to promote the blog offline. A big thank you goes out to Nick of BBAMAJAM and Zippy (@TokyoTowerWAWL on Twitter) of Tokyo Tower FM for spreading the word!

Continuing with the site updates: The Comment Rules have been updated thanks to the growing number of comments and then some (Thanks! And no thanks to the trolls…). It’s also embedded into the comment form, just in case a comment of your goes missing with no warning.

Next up is the About Page, which really needed to be updated. The page should be easier to understand than before. I may update the page again within a couple of weeks, but it already has key points of how the blog got started, and who reads it.

Finally, two more pages have been updated: Privacy Policy and Disclosure Policy. The Privacy Policy was important as Google recently updated their Terms of Service for the AdSense program, letting publishers know to update their own policy. A link to the page is also embedded into the comment form, next to the Email Address field, as a reminder that I will never, ever sell your email address for a profit.

Thanks again to everyone for reading and here’s to another 100 subscribers and another year of CEN.TAKU.ME! ^_^

Today, I will review Twelve Sky 2, which is a Free-to-Play MMORPG currently in Open Beta (in North America) from the folks over at Aeria Games. The game was first released in Korea from Alt1 games. It’s the sequel to the first 12 Sky game, also hosted by Aeria.

It’s a feudal Martial Arts game that takes place in China, along with Japanese and Korean themes. It’s one of the first free MMORPGs that I’ve really enjoyed over previous free MMOGs from other publishers. I will explain why this game has kept me busy over the course of a few weeks.

Gameplay

Upon starting Twelve Sky 2 for the first time, there are 3 factions to choose from: Guanyin, Fujin, and Jinong. All three factions focus on close-quarters (two per faction) and ranged combat (one per faction) and weapon uses are varied depending on the faction (Jinong players use Light Blades, Guanyin uses Sword, etc). While there are no magic based classes in Twelve Sky 2, spells can be used later during your character’s development.

Twelve Sky 2 uses the old fashioned Hack-and-Slash battle system, which doesn’t require much clicking as in the standard free MMORPGs; just click and forget. Skills and items can be assigned to the customizable hotbars using the F1~ and QWERTY buttons. Leveling in Twelve Sky 2 is really easy and it doesn’t take up a lot of time. The quests are awarded after leveling up and are straight forward. Experience points are rewarded as well upon their completion.

Twelve Sky 2 is also PvP based. You can enter battlefields that take place during parts of the day and depending on your character’s level (1-10, 90-99, etc). Like in modern MMORPGs, players can also challenge other players to a duel. The game features Party and Guild features to meet other players and to help out others in need, or when you need help—especially to participate with during Twelve Sky 2’s events held almost every week, which often includes double experience points.

Leveling your character to the max is worth the $0 as leveling up to 20 and beyond can be a piece of cake. Further customization is possible though ways of purchasing AeriaGames Prepaid cards at Target, 7-11, and HEB stores nationwide for $10 or $20.

Audio

The sound effects is on par with the overall environment and doesn’t get annoying after a while. While in PvP, however, the sound of NPCs fighting each other does get repetitive after a few minutes. I do give it that it does add to the imagination of being in the midst of a intense battle!

The music in Twelve Sky 2 reminds me of the game, Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (which also had an feature-length anime adaption), which brings back memories of the days of neo-feudal (if that is such a term) action. (Case in point: the music featured in the trailer). With Twelve Sky 2 taking place in such a setting, this points out my case. ^_^

Graphics

The graphics are pretty decent for a free MMORPG (compared to the premium retail games). If you have a high-end computer (with a decent video card, of course), you will get the most out of your gaming experience. On the other hand, the effects will interfere with the environment (such as hardware lags) if your computer hardware is not up to date.

Replay Value

With each level gained, there’s a lot to explore in Twelve Sky 2. In terms of the community: the behavior of other players varies depending on the time of day; It is possible for a player to come up to you and still kills and stalk you playfully (as usual in most games) or worse (getting scammed, random insults and the like).

But when a problem arises, Aeria’s awesome Game Masters (GMs; or Game Sages (GS) in Twelve Sky 2) are there to fix it. The Game Sages even appear in-game during events to answer questions from players; the appearance of live Game Masters is very lacking in other MMORPGs.

Overall Value

Twelve Sky 2 is worth looking into if you like games with feudal themes mixed in with Martial Arts. There are a few thing to look out for while playing it, such as Virtual Currency sellers and the usual scammer (which is common sense in any game). Regardless, it’s the best $0 you will ever spend. ^^

Rating:

Just in time for Gundam’s 30th Anniversary, a 59-foot replica of everyone’s favorite mecha, the RX-78 from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, was recently completed after half a year’s construction. Otaku blogger Danny Choo recently went to Odaiba to see for himself, along with other Japan/Otaku bloggers Lester Ho, Steven Nagata, and Ken Lee.

Unfortunately, the replica will be around for two months before it is called back into space… It would have been nice if it stayed up until the Olympic games (if Tokyo wins the bid), as it would give me an excuse to visit Japan! Now if they can pull off a replica of White Base…

And if my addiction to Gundam wasn’t enough, I recently gave the members of Boogie BAM Anime Jam a “crash course” into the world of Gundam a month ago, and recently published it into not 1, not 2, but 3 parts here on CTM… Seeing the life-size Gundam makes me proud to be a Gundam fan.

Photo Credit: Danny Choo

There’s a new movie in the works from the legendary Tim Burton, the producer of The Nightmare Before Christmas (as played in the game, Kingdom Hearts), Corpse Bride, and Coraline. Tim teams up with director Shane Acker for the animated feature, 9.

The movie is about a mad scientist who develops an artificial brain in the event of the world’s end—but it turns out the brain actually marks the end of mankind. The result brings to life 9 little robotic sack dolls (think LittleBigPlanet) who must save the world from the evil brain. The cast includes Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, and Crispin Glover.

The movie is scheduled for a September 9th, 2009 (*9-9-09*) release. More information and the trailer can be viewed on 9’s official website. Also for Facebook users: befriend the scientist on his Facebook page to find out more of 9’s backstory.

Anime Expo, the biggest anime convention in the US, is less than a month away. How do I feel about it? I feel “meh”. I don’t feel so bad about not being able to attend. The reason: I live on the other side of the country. Plus, AX is just too big for my tastes; because of the huge attendance, and the registration mishaps in previous years.

The biggest anime con in the South is Anime Weekend Atlanta, which is 3 months away. As someone who lives 2 hours away from the con location, this is one convention that I do get bent out of shape about if I were to miss out on it. I mean, Anime Expo is the biggest convention, ever. I bet that people who live out on the West Coast make it a huge deal to attend every year, compared to another convention or two. Let’s say… Otakon, Anime Boston, or Anime Central.

Anime Weekend Atlanta is the Anime Expo of the south (with attendance numbers in the 10ks), in my opinion. And this year I hope I will finally get the chance to check out the sights and sounds of the Southern Otaku scene. I personally make AWA is a big deal since it’s close to me. (In before wallet pwnage).

Maybe I will get the chance to attend AX someday if I was in the Los Angles area. But for now, it’s the Southern conventions.

Is your convention not big enough to fulfill your needs? Is traveling to L.A. once a year worth it?

Photo credit: VideogameVisionary.com

There is a new game in the review pipes at the moment. It’s a MMORPG called “Twelve Sky 2“, and it’s the sequel to the first Twelve Sky game, released by Aeria Games. It’s a free MMORPG like Maple Story and Ragnarok Online (well, parts of it), but you can purchase additional items for an affordable fee by using a pre-paid card at your local Target, Wal-Mart, etc.

The game is set in the Feudal Era of China. You can use Martial Art moves as well as the traditional hack-and-slash skill. Did I mention that there’s PvP involved as well? (The “good” kind of PvP like in Final Fantasy XI). It’s actually a lot of fun (and it’s the reason why I haven’t updated the blog in a while, ORZ..). Until then, check out the trailer for Twelve Sky 2 and try the game out yourself* by heading over to the official website. ^_^

*In related news: Aeria Games recently launched a Facebook page for Aeria Games fans to keep up with the latest events in the Aeria community from their Facebook account! They are also having a contest: If they reach 10,000 fans by June 30th, they will give away a Nintendo Wii to a lucky fan!

Rules: For people outside the US, Aeria reserves the right to change the prize into cash (covering the cost of a Wii system in USD). A verified PayPal account is required (creating a PayPal account is free). When the contest ends, the winner will be announced on the Wall page. The winner will be contacted via Facebook; if the winner doesn’t respond, another winner will be chosen. Good luck! ^_^

It’s official: a 14th installment in the Final Fantasy franchise is already on the way while XIII is still in production. However, the next FF game will be online only and is exclusive (for now) on the Playstation 3 and for the PC, ala FFXI.

The trailer made its debut at Sony’s E3 Keynote. I knew something was fishy when they showed the male hero: he looks like a Hume. I hope the gameplay will be better than XI…

The next game I will review is the Playstation 3 version of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel from the guys at Ascaron Entertainment. It is the sequel to the first Sacred game, originally released in 2004 for the PC.

Sacred 2 is the first game in the series to get released on Next-Gen game consoles. It’s possibly the best non-J-RPG to be released this Spring, and it could be a great alternative from playing the .Hack games or from playing a Pay-to-Play MMORPG.

Story

The land of Ancaria is on the brink of war. Long ago, the Seraphim, an angelic warrior race, handed over the T-Energy to the High Elves, a group of people skilled in the art of magic. T-Energy has many uses: in combat which would make the Elves unstoppable, which is what they intend on. Some High Elves even oppose of its use.

The use of T-Energy is the High Elves way of expanding their economy and warfare. This transformed the once beautiful Ancaria into ruins from many battles against the Elves. In the conflict, other dominant races, such as the Dryad and Temple Guardians, find themselves at ends with the High Elves and race to find new lands free from T-Engery.

It is up to the player whether to save the land of Ancaria to the way it once was, or join in on the impending war. The choice is yours.

Gameplay

Upon starting Sacred 2 for the first time, you will find the usual options: Continue, Start Game, Select Character, Leaderboards, Achievements, and the Game Options menu. At the Character Select screen, you can create your character. Choose from the following races: Seraphim, High Elf, Dryad, Temple Guardian, Shadow Warrior, or Inquisitor. Depending on your character’s race. It is up to you whether to save the land or add to the turmoil…

The general controls of the game take a while to get used to. To access the menu (for Quests, Inventory, Combat Arts, etc), you hold down the R1 Button, followed by holding down the left analog stick in the direction of the menu you want. It’s different from pressing just one button to access everything at once, but I can’t complain.

The character movement is what you would expect playing World of Warcraft. There is one thing that I would like to see in other RPGs is the ability to buy a mount as soon as possible. In Sacred 2, you can buy a mount at anytime (provided if you have a Riding Skill up to date). Mounts can be easily obtained on the cheap, but be prepared to pay more depending on the speed and level of your Riding Skill.

Being a Hack-’n-Slash game, all you need to do is press the X Button to get rid of your enemies. You can also use spells depending on your class. You can customize your character with equipment found on enemies and from rewards from quests. Leveling up is a peace of cake, as well. Getting to Level 8+ is a breeze once you start following Sacred 2’s countless quests.

There are some quests that are too hard to do along and could be done with another player—either Online or Offline. This game is a lot of World of Warcraft in terms of appearance, but it’s not like any MMORPG: you can’t just walk up to a player and ask if they can help out. You can find players by searching from the main menu or continue a campaign online as you would offline, and wait until a player (or three) comes along. Sacred 2 also offers PvP mode, where you can battle against other players in parties.

Audio

The music in Sacred 2 is preformed by German Heavy Metal band, Blind Guardian. Whereas in MMORPGs with otherworldly tunes preformed by an orchestra, many of the songs have a dark Metal theme (Similar to the songs of Black Tide). It does contain songs that have a medieval feel to it, but the mixture doesn’t dull the mood.

The sound effects in Sacred 2 perfectly corresponds with the events; walking, running, attacking, etc. The voice acting in the game is decent and fits the characters well. Another plus: when you talk to NPCs, they will actually speak—especially to another NPC, as if you were eavesdropping; where in modern traditional RPGs (e.g.: Final Fantasy X) you will see speech boxes outside of cut scenes.

Graphics

The opening movie of Sacred 2 is well done and totally life-like. The gameplay graphics is similar to what you would expect in a non-J-RPG (and a little better than WoW, actually). It can also be glitchy when you kill enemies; they will continue to stand for several seconds until they normally fade away.

There is one problem I have found: the text is too small (playing on a SDTV). Depending on the lighting (in the game), you won’t have a hard time reading. But if it’s dark in both the game and in the room, you may have to find a lit area to read the text.

Replay Value

Sacred 2 has excellent replay value as it has different campaigns varied by the character’s race and level. Once you have gotten most of the quests out of the way, you can try your hand at various tradeskills for bonuses. For the Playstation 3 version, it makes the game more enjoyable by earning Trophies.

Overall Value

Despite a few flaws, I recommend check out Sacred 2. It’s pretty addicting, and it earns many pluses with the multi-player. Plus it’s worth the $60 if you can’t afford monthly MMORPG payments.

Thanks again to RocketXL for making this review possible!

Rating:

Just in time for the E3 Gaming Expo and recently talked about from Danny Choo, Sony unveiled the next installment of their PSP Handheld system, called “PSP Go”.

It is what it says it is: an “On-the-go” version of their current PSP system… But there’s a catch: it’s UMD-less. Meaning the system will support only digital downloads of existing games on the Playstation Network Store.

I hope Sony will keep the current PSP system as well, as I do not see the point in ditching hard copies of software with the added bones (instruction manuals printed in paper, etc.). Screenshot taken from Eurogamer via Kotaku.

In related news: Kotaku reported that the ESRB has listed Final Fantasy VII (yes, that’s “7″) on their website for the Playstation 3 and Playstation Portable. That means a portable FFVII in North America, people!

What’s your take on it?

There are plenty of Cosplay publications in Japan, such as COSMODE. The closest we get to anything relating to Cosplay are Yunmao Ayakawa’s articles in Otaku USA, and the writings of Jan Kurotaki from the archives of NewType USA. However, there is only one magazine that is totally worth reading: AniCoz.

It’s probably the first Cosplay magazine in North America for Cosplay fans. It’s just as small as a Graphic Novel, and normally costs $5. That was a year ago. Check out the AniCoz website right now and you can get the recent issues for free in PDF format. It features interviews with famous and rising Cosplayers, Voice Actor interviews, and cosplay tutorials (you can make your own wig in the March ‘09 issue!).

I received a copy of this issue as a gift from the host of Tokyo Tower FM, Zippy (@TokyoTowerWAWL on Twitter) (thanks!), for sharing my knowledge of Gundam with the members of BBAMAJAM.

Zippy is giving away past issues on TTFM, along with back issues of FiveFor (a J-Rock magazine printed here in the US!). The giveaway is being extended until June 3rd at 5PM. Check out the blog for more details if you want in on it. Good luck!

This is the third and final installment of the Gundam 101 series. If you’ve been following this, then I thank you! For the New Comers… the Gundam 101 is a “Crash Course” into the world of Gundam for potential fans or for Gundam vets are not up to date with what’s going on.

Here is an brief overview of what was covered in Parts 1 and 2:

• Part 1 (Monday): Covered Gundam series created from 1979 to 2000, such as Mobile Suit Gundam, Gundam Wing, and G Gundam.
• Part 2 (Wednesday): Covered series made from 2000 to Present, from Gundam 00 to Gundam SEED.

Part 3 will conclude the series as we take a look Gundam Movies and OVA (Original Video Animation) series. If you have any questions, leave a comment below! Let’s finish this.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

Series Summary:
Endless Waltz was released in 1997, a year after the end of the Gundam Wing anime series. The story takes place in AC 197, two years after the end of the Wing storyline. Endless Waltz was actually both a Movie and a OVA; the movie being released in theaters as a feature length movie and was later released on video as a 3-part OVA.

Story Synopsis:
Taking place after the end of the events of Wing. With war aside, the surviving Gundam pilots, Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Rabarba Winner, and Chang Wufei. They are no longer Gundam pilots, but they become “Preventers” to prevent another war from starting between the Earth and the colonies.

All of that changes when Mariemaia (who claims she’s related to Treize Khushrenada) kidnaps Relena Peacecraft. The 5 pilots reunite once more to put a stop to Mariemaia’s plans to fulfill his father’s wish.

Thoughts:
Endless Waltz is one of my favorite Gundam movies (or OVA); it shows a glimpse of the pilots’ past, and fulfills the “what-if’s” between key characters. There’s a lot I couldn’t explain as it does require the series itself to be finished in full. The DVD is worth buying as it comes with both the Movie and OVA versions containing different scenes.

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz - [Amazon]

Bonus: Ground Zero, Episode Zero, and Blind Target

In addition to Endless Waltz, there are 3 graphic novels that gives us further history of how the Gundam pilots came to be. “Ground Zero”, “Episode Zero”, and “Blind Target” takes place after the end of Wing’s main story, and before the events of Endless Waltz.

Episode Zero takes a look back at the Gundam pilots long before they actually piloted Gundams, from an orphaned Duo Maxwell to the then nameless Trowa Barton. Blind Target follows the Wing boys again as they put a stop to the White Fang organization’s plot to steal the Gundams (as well as some eye candy for the Wing fan[girls]! ^o^). And Ground Zero shows the lighter side of the Wing pilots ( with more eye candy included ^^; ), but with a few twists.

I purchased these back during the explosion of Gundam series airing in the US (and when graphic novels were $15). Unfortunately, all 3 GNs are out-of-print. A look into your local library, a request from your local bookstore (at the Customer Service desk. e.g.: Books-A-Million, if you’re lucky), or a listing from eBay is worth the time and money if you really enjoyed Gundam Wing (I like did! ^^).

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack

Series Summary:
Char’s Counterattack is a feature-length movie and was originally released in 1988 in Japan. It takes places in UC 0093, 5 years after the end of ZZ and 13 years after the end of the One Year War. It also marks the end of the clash between the rivalry of Amuro Rei and Char Anzable.

Story Synopsis:
Taking off from where ZZ left off, the AUEG and the Titans are no more. Instead, there are two new organizations that replace the originals: Londo Bell and Neo Zeon. It’s the same premise as in Zeta Gundam; Londo Bell consists of former E.F.F. and AUEG members, and Zeon and Titans make up Neo Zeon.

There are no new lead characters in Char’s Counterattack. But the movie is what it says it is: Char’s new found ambition to lead Neo Zeon to victory! The movie brings back a few of out favorite characters from the One Year War: Bright and Mirai (Yashima) Noa, Cameron Bloom (a minor character from the first Gundam), and of course, Amuro Rei and Char Anzable.

A few more characters are introduced in Char’s Counterattack: Quess Paraya, and Hathaway Noa-who is the son of Captain Bright Noa. Both Quess and Hathaway are somewhat important to the story (not to mention annoying, but that’s on Quess’ behalf), but it’s all about Amuro and Char.

Thoughts:
Watching Char’s Counterattack was actually sad, considering it’s was the last time we would get to see Amuro and Char. Up until now, it wasn’t so bad since not all the UC Gundam shows haven’t made it to North America yet. Nevertheless, it’s one of my favorite Gundam movies next to Endless Waltz. ^_^

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack* - [Amazon]

*This is also available on the UC Movie Pack DVD Set as mentioned in Part 1.

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

Series Summary:
Gundam 0083 is the second OVA in the series, and was released in 1991. It takes place in UC 0079, during the events of the One Year War (during Mobile Suit Gundam). Stardust Memory also introduces the AEUG and the Titans, who both make up of former Earth Federation and Zeon members, and are will be responsible for the events in Zeta Gundam.

Story Synopsis:
The story of Stardust Memory is the prequel to the events leading up the Zeta Gundam. The first few minutes of the first episode shows the events-from the Zeon’s perspective (the losing part, that is) of the One Year One when the Earth Federation Force conquers A Baoa Qu… but with the involvement of the series main villain, Anavel Gato.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the E.F.F. are underway in testing out new Mobile Suits. One of the pilots, Kou Uraki (the main character), a Rookie pilot for the Earth Federation Force. After the tests are complete, they await for the arrival of the Pegasus, a battleship based on the White Base used in the OYW.

On board the Pegasus is Nina Purpleton, who is a representative of Anaheim Electronics, a recently formed division of the E.F.F. for Mobile Suit production. Kou, along with his buddy Chuck Keith (another Rookie pilot) meets Nina on the Pegasus. Elsewhere, not far from the Federation base, is Anavel Gato, who is planning to spy on the E.F.F. by wearing clothes of an Federation officer…

Thoughts:
Gundam 0083 is actually a decent and watchable show, despite the mere story synopsis. The initial episodes are nothing more than a Soap Opera (take Kou’s shy interaction with Nina for example). The story does get better at towards the end of the series-and for being only 12 episodes, it will not waste any of your time.

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory - [Amazon]

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

Series Summary:
Gundam 0080 is the first Gundam OVA ever made. It was released to commemorate the franchise’s first 10 years in 1989. It takes place a year after the end of the One Year War.

Story Synopsis:
Gundam 0080’s main character is Alfred Izuruha, who is 11 years old-but not a pilot. His behavior is that of a typical boy; he behaves badly and doesn’t do well as school. That is expected when he gets into a fight with a girl after she bad mouths one of Al’s friends who found E.F.F. ranking badge.

After school ends for the day, he goes to see his father, who works for the Earth Federation. But he makes a quick trip home to grab a few things, such as a camera and binoculars to take pictures of the base to show the girl. The next day at school, Al shows pictures he took to his friends to prove the girl wrong.

Aside from the quarreling, the city is under fire from both the E.F.F. (GM Model) and Zeon (Zaku II) Mobile Suits. The students frantically make a run for it, except for Al, who takes a good look at a fleeing Zaku II. Al finds the Zaku II in a forest near the school. As Al approaches, the pilot, Bernard Wiseman emerges and threatens him with a gun.

Thoughts:
Gundam 0080 is one of my least favorite Gundam series. This is a Gundam series that actually focuses more on character development than war, which is a good thing, I guess. But in the end, it was a real drag… Good thing it’s only 6 episodes. Although, I do give the English dub props for casting David Hayter as Bernard, the voice behind Solid Snake in the Metal Gear Solid game series. ^_^

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket - [Amazon]

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

Series Summary:
The 08th MS Team originally aired in Japan in 1995 (during Gundam Wing), and is a side story that takes place during the One Year One in Southeast Asia. Unlike in previous Gundam series, there is virtually no involvement in Newtype pilots, instead the story follows normal, aspiring pilots.

Story Synopsis:
Actually taking place in the Jungle, the first episode takes place in space, introducing The 08th’s main character, Shiro Amada. On the way to Earth, the crew witnesses a battle involving Zeon forces. To ward them off, Shiro volunteers to pilot the Ball (yes, belive it or not, it’s a Mobile Suit).

After ridding of the enemy, Shiro stumbles upon an abandoned spaceship. On board, he meets Aina Sahalin, a Zeon pilot. Being enemies, Shiro and Aina exchange shots, but both surrender when Aina’s suit gets damaged from Shiro’s bullet.

After introducing themselves, they attempt to flee the abandoned ship before both parties send out search teams. Both pilots eventually make it back to safety and having befriend each other. Shiro finally arrives on Earth and is introduced to the 08th MS Team.

Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy The 08th MS Team as I thought I would. From my experience, I found the story aimed more towards Character development (with a few MS battles included, obviously). Perhaps it’s the fact that there are no Newtypes involved, which makes it less interesting. I recommend renting it.

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team - [Amazon]

Bonus: Miller’s Report

The 08th MS Team was released as a movie, called Miller’s Report. It takes place at the end of the series, and consists of recaps from the OVA series, along with extra footage. This could be a better way of watching the entire series if you have doubts. However, the movie is especially available on the UC Movie Pack DVD Set as mentioned in Part 1 of the feature.

Conclusion

This is the end of the Gundam 101 feature. I hope you enjoyed it as much as the club did. I had fun in putting this together as well! Doing this has also made me want to dive deeper into the franchise’s forgotten gems. ^_^

Again, if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment! Please support the continuation of Gundam by purchasing the DVDs (in the links provided after each series)! ^_^

Welcome to the second installment of the Gundam 101 series. In case you were wondering what this is all about, it is a “Crash Course” into the world of Gundam for first time viewers, or Gundam vets who are not up to date with on their “Gundaming”. I originally did this for our Anime Club, Boogie BAM Anime Jam. ^^;

On Monday, Part 1 went over Gundam series created from 1979 to 2000. Today, we will go over series made in 2000 to Present. Friday will conclude the series as we take a look Gundam Movies and OVA (Original Video Animation) series.

Part 2 will be shorter than the last as there aren’t that many shows that I’ve watched (there’s actually a few more that have aired in Japan, but I have yet to watch them). Like in Part 1, comments can be left if there are any questions or any errors.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Seasons 1 & 2)

Series Summary:
Gundam 00 is the most recent series in the franchise. It debuted in 2007 and concluded in Spring 2008 with only 25 episodes. In Fall 2008, Season 2 of Gundam 00 aired with additional 25 episodes, making it a grand total of 50 episodes (the average episode count of a Gundam series). Season 2 came to an end in late March 2009.

Story Synopsis:
The universe Gundam 00 is actually set in present time; A.D., or “Anno Domini”, a huge adjustment from the UC, AC and FC universe. Of course, a Gundam series has to include at least two three factions to keep the story interesting: HRL (Human Reform League), Union, and AEU (Anti-Earth Union… Not to be confused with AUEG from Zeta Gundam).

The lead character, Setsuna F. Seiei, originally an orphaned soilder, becomes a Gundam Meister (pilots) for the Anti-War organazation, Celestial Being. In addition, he teams up with 3 other Meisters: Allelujah Haptism, Tieria Erde, and Lockon Stratos. Like Setsuna, the Meisters also come from different backgrounds.

Along with the Meisters, there are two other characters: Saji Crossroad and Louise Halevy—who are sort of in the way, but they provide extra material for the story…*hint hint*. Gundam 00 has no major villains (ala Char or Trieze), but each of the factions have at least one (insane) person who wants to put a stop to Celestial Being’s actions.

Thoughts:
The first season of 00 starts off at a slow pace. Unlike the other series, there’s more political interaction than MS encounters. However, it will pick up later in the series, especially in Season 2 when a lot of things that wasn’t explained earlier are finally told—a long with a few surprises.

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Season 1, Part 1: Special Edition*) - [Amazon]
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Season 1, Part 1**) - [Amazon]

*The Special Edition of Gundam 00 S1 (Part 1) will be released on June 16th.
**The Regular Edition of Gundam 00 S1 (Part 1) will be released on July 21th.

Where to Watch (Legally):

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Season 1) - [YouTube]

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Series Summary:
Set in the Cosmic Era (C.E.), a war breaks out between the Earth and the colonies in tradition fashion as in the previous Gundam series. Gundam SEED is the first series in the 21st century since Turn-A-Gundam in 1999 (another series yet to be released in North America).

Story Synopsis:
It begins with a view of space—followed by an intense battle between two factions: Earth Alliance vs. ZAFT. (Just think Zeon, except everybody is younger). Of course, the Earth and the Spacenoids don’t agree with each other, so a war breaks out. Some of the colonies are hit in the attack, except for one.

Kira Yamato is a typical High School student. He spends the morning studying at the last minute before his friends drops by to pick him up. In the meantime, the bad guys are planning something. (*Insert evil plot here, along with a Char/Zechs look-a—like*).

In no time, the colony is under enemy fire. Kira and his friend Cagalli frantically make a run for it, until they run into Murrue, a member of the Earth Alliance who is fighting for her life. (When I think about it, her scenario is similar to the first episode of MSG.)

Kira comes to her rescue—until he sees a familiar face. It’s Athrun Zala: a childhood friend of Kira’s, and an unlikely villain of SEED as he is a member of ZAFT…for now.

Thoughts:
SEED is a Gundam series I didn’t like very much. For starters: there’s just too much angst involved to stomach… and that’s just the first episode. Of course, for a Gundam series, you’ll find familiar elements from the previous Gundam shows (e.g.: Haro), but I didn’t buy into it.

However, SEED is something that anyone who hasn’t watched a Gundam series before can get into. With that said, I will list this anyway: a lot of younger fans enjoyed it and maybe others will too. ^^;

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Complete Collection (Volume 1) - [Amazon]
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Complete Collection (Volume 2) - [Amazon]

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny

Series Summary:
Gundam SEED Destiny is the second series in the SEED storyline. It aired right after the end of the first SEED series. The story takes place two years after the events of SEED.

Story Synopsis:
After the long war, the Earth Alliance and ZAFT sign a peace treaty. Earth and the colonies finally live in peace… That is until a secret organization surfaces and steals Mobile Suits to prove a point.

We see some familiar characters, Shinn Asuka, Cagalli Yutha Athha, Kira Yamato, and Athrun Zala from the original series. Despite both factions finally making peace, others have their own motives.

The first episode of Destiny is pretty much like the first episode of SEED; a base gets attack, but we see Athrun and Cagalli instead of Kira. Instead of civilian firepower, Athrun pilots a mobile suit to ward of attackers. He finds himself unable to continue—that is until a core fighter, with a familiar pilot, shows up on the battlefield…

Thoughts:
Just like SEED, there’s not much to say about Destiny—except for the fact that other SEED fans agreed that it wasn’t very good as SEED itself. To be honest, I did preview the first episode to make sure the story was right. (And mind you, it was irritating just after 2 minutes).

Again, I will leave this series here for others to decide whether it is worth watching. You could buy it if the price it right (and I mean if the price is right), but it’s pretty much a rental right here.

Where to Buy:

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Complete Collection (Volume 1) - [Amazon]
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Complete Collection (Volume 2) - [Amazon]

End of Part 2

That ends Part 2 of the Gundam 101 series. Friday will conclude the feature with a look into the Movies and OVA series. And for Gundam Wing fans, there will be a bonus attached that’s related to the end of the series that you may not know about! ^_^