Gundam Unicorn 1

This is currently becoming my favorite Gundam OAV, because it can tell the story but still show the main point of this series and how it differs from others.

The suit that this series revolves around.

Setting: The novel begins in U.C. 0001, at the very beginning of human space colonization, with the Laplace Incident, a major event that influences the course of human history forever. The main story takes place in U.C. 0096, three years after the events of Char’s Counterattack (Yes Amuro, and Char DID die), and 27 years before the movie Mobile Suit Gundam F91.

What I like about this is firstly how it was released dubbed and subbed at the same time, a feat in the industry not really heard of. Secondly this is the first time Sunrise has decided to adapt a Gundam Series based on something else, which in this case is a Novel.  Also the way the main Gundam of the Series is, we see at first it looks like a regular mobile suit with 1 horn in pure white, but in actuality this is a new creation NT-D (Newtype Drive, called Newtype Destroyer System by Full Frontal) which unleashes it into a more powerful form, that unlocks a Pyschoframe, and lot’s of parts to show, that yes in fact it is a Gundam. And if you are a Gundam fan who knows a ton about UC (Universal Century, from the original Series) you will recognize a few things, that I won’t go into now.

And here I thought the GM was a bad Suit, look at this!

My only real complaint though, is the usual Keys left in the suit syndrome, that you see in a lot of series (Aka 0079, Zeta, Double Zeta, X, 0083, this list goes on..). I was really hoping that the Main Character had already piloted Mobile Suits, in some shape, or form and I’m glad this is the case. Early on we see Mineva the little Ginger Girl from Zeta who was to become the next ruler of Neo Zeon after Haman Khan, but thanks in part due to CharAznable (Quatro Bajeena in Zeta) she escapes to Earth, although because it was from a game many don’t consider it canon.

Audrey Burne (Minevay) age 16

So like any run away royalty she has people chasing her to bring her back to fulfill her duties, but her new friend Banghar stops them constantly. He gets entrusted with the Gundam Unicorn because his Father was dieing (That’s a good reason for a 16 year old to pilot a Mobile suit right?). Although unlike a lot of other pilots of past series he actually has some strength outside of Mobile Suits. And so once the main plot kicks in he must pilot the Unicorn to save not only himself and his friends, but the colony, as those wacky Zekes are at it again, whether it’s stealing a Gundam with a nuke in it (WHY DO YOU LEAVE A NUKE, INSIDE A FUCKING GUNDAM, WITH THE SHIPS HANGAR OPEN?) or Dropping Colonys and asteroids onto Earth. They need to do something to stay noticed.

This Zaku head is...win...

Out of all the suits we see in this, I love the Zaku the most, and it’s apparently a Space Variant of the old Zaku II’s from the One Year War retrofitted for space combat and given that sweet looking head. My question though is why a Zaku II? They developed and extensively used the Zaku III in the first Neo Zeon War (Double Zeta, 2nd war was Char’s Counterattack), but not here? That’s like going into a Battle using a Ball. What destroys this suit is the Mass Produced Zeta Gundam Variant that used the same technology from the Zeta but uses a different head, and mostly the same weaponry (though I’m not sure about a panoramic cockpit though).

Tell me this does not look like a badass Gundam,

I thought it was funny how the Suits now have Airbags installed in them. Why? If your suit crashes or gets hit you’re usually done for. The Unicorns transformation was fucking awesome since it shows both the cockpit transforming and the suit which I thought was nice. And we even see a cameo of the Argama (Not the one from Zeta but the one from Double Zeta after the original is destroyed). I still think if you added 2 shield-looking things and covers for the Catapult deck it would look like a white Base almost fully.

Rating: I would have to give this OAV, an 8 out of 10, as it has a lot of great things about it, but still there are things that I’m a little off with. And as a heads up Bandai won’t be releasing the next one until October or November so that’s when I’ll review the second episode. Until then I’ll be doing more Strike Witches (I’ve more or less given up on trying to review K-On!! since they both come out the same day and it’s hard enough following all the animes this season.) But in Fall I will be doing Super Robot wars and Gunpla Builders, so look forward to that.

/ 4 Commentsleave a comment /

• TJ says:

  July 28, 2010

  The episode was pretty nice. Loved the detailed combat sequences. Too bad it's still a month or two until the next one comes out.

  I thought the airbags actually made a bit of sense. It doesn't help if the suit gets blown to bits, but it prevents the pilots from knocked out from sudden acceleration.

  Reply
  • Funk says:

    July 28, 2010

    I think Sunrise seeing as this is the first novel adaption, might of wanted to go all out for it. Yeah but in October they're having a pre screening in Japan which I think is the one you can get the second episode from. Oh and new trailer for episode 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VLhKY00hTE

    Reply
• Troy (トロイ） says:

  July 28, 2010

  I’m a bit behind but i finally watched this today. thought it was a great start, beautifully animated!! I found it a little confusing though. BUt wasn’t really paying attention when watching ^^

  Reply
• Brooke Richards @ mo says:

  August 20, 2010

  I think that gundam uncorn episode 1 is provided and hosted from a popular third-party videosharing websites. I like all the 4 episodes.

  Reply