Nostalgia’s a funny thing. You can be a fan of something all your life, but it’s actually something you haven’t followed your whole life that practically drops you down a tunnel into your own past. In this case, it’s the first episode of the 70s classic MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM series that’s so profoundly triggered my memory. I used to watch this on TV occasionally when I was kid growing up in Asia and haven’t watch it since. Thus, the connection.
After watching mostly recent anime for this column, I have to say it was refreshing to see a series from the 70s. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but there’s something appealing about the rougher quality to the animation and muted palette of the colors. I’d liken it to punk, except the connection’s thoroughly inappropriate given the funk and space rock soundtrack. Indeed, I’m pretty sure that this series must have made on impression on Daft Punk, too, even though they got Leiji Matsumoto for their INTERSTELLA 5555 anime musical. It’s not just the 70s hair or rock star tights, either. Like I said, a lot of the looped bass licks and spacey sound effects sounded exactly like what you’d hear on a house record.
Plot wise, this is a roaring space opera about a meek nerd who’s bound to save the universe through his own plucky gumption. That kid, Amuro (whose name is said about 40 times in 25 minutes) is oblivious enough that he’s working on some tech in his room while a war-time emergency evacuation alarm is blaring… OF COURSE he’s got the kind of survival skills to pilot a war machine and use it to dominate highly-trained and battle-hardened enemy soldiers. I suppose some people are just born better, you know? I did like the outfit of the enemy leader with the blond hair and the white headdress. His threads were stylin’. He wasn’t named in this episode, so can any of you hardcore Gundam fans help me out here? Is he related to the Full Frontal guy?
Thanks to yuetheguardian for the suggestion and the link. As always, keep these coming. I’ll watch whatever you bring to me.
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
