Gundam Unicorn 2

Episode 2 came out today(10/31/10), and I downloaded it not long ago.  Basically this episode deals with a Char Clone (oh Zeon, no clone can beat the Original Red Comet), and Banagher learning how to pilot his Gundam, and not look like Amuro trying to get the RX-78-2 to Move, when he first got into it (which like any Keys left in the Ignition beginning equates to hilarious laughs for all).

OP:

Our Story Thus Far: “The story revolves around Banagher Links, a seemingly normal boy living and going to school in the space colonies. His life changes one day when he meets a girl named Audrey Burne. Little does he know, this decision will get Banagher entangled in a conspiracy revolving around a new Gundam weapon, and an adventure beyond imagination.”

My Review:

So we start off where the last Episode ended(Like what 4 maybe 5 months ago), with Banagher unlocking the Unicorn’s Destroy mode, while in the midst of Combat against A Kshatriya (basically like Haman and the Ple’s Qubeley’s in a way). Because of this being his first Space Battle, and First anything with a Mobile Suit really he gets hurt pretty decently. I like how it starts off with the rest of the battle, and unlike the usual first Gundam Pilot’s fight, the Pilot gets hurt because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. It’s found out by the Crew of the Nahel Argama (if you’ve seen ZZ then you’ll remember this ship), that it’s a Gundam type although the pilot remains unknown. Banagher wins I guess while getting hurt, and being I guess towed to the ship.

The crew I’m a little iffy on, because they seem competent, but the Captain seems like the kind of Federation Officer you would find back around 0079, when asked about there thoughts on Newtype’s. If you haven’t figured it out by now Anaheim Electronics, is more of a Neutral Company meaning that yes Gundam’s get developed from them, but they also make Zeon suits. The one thing that strikes me as odd is, that they couldn’t get Banagher out of the cockpit of the Unicorn, instead it or maybe he released it (Note: While he is Unconscious it can be used two ways, the standard way or using thoughts, so that could very well open the cockpit hatch), since wouldn’t they be able to use some tools and possibly get him out? considering I’m pretty sure they have tools to get pilots out of Mobile Suits, if the electronics stop working or it’s a captured suit and they want to get the pilot out to interrogate.

Oh Zeon, you and your fascination for Char, and the fact that you’ve cloned him, I don’t get why they would, yes was “The Red Comet” but that does not mean cloning him would give the clone the same amount of skills. And while many have said that in fact that is the real Char it’s not, he’s living out the rest of his days in Mexico like every supposedly dead celebrity. And the fact that Audrey (Mineva) is still on the run from her handlers I guess, means the Nahel Argama is a huge target thanks to her.  And I still say that because of Char, Miveva didn’t just become another heir to the Zeon throne, since unless you take the Zeta movies as canon(It changed some stuff, and skipped others, so some dispute it’s not), or the Zeta game, then that could be why, I guess.

On the subject of the crew again, Banagher is interrogated after regaining consciousness by an Officer I guess, apparently the mans never heard of Amuro Ray and the fact he piloted the Gundam, while at the time being a civilian. And apparently being the son of Cardeas Vist, means you can steal a Federation Mobile Suit with no Consequences.  I mean if someone steals a Suit, wouldn’t you put them in the Brig, if they landed on the ship? I would think so, since unless they join up on the spot that is a huge crime, although with the Unicorn’s Biometric System that won’t allow anyone but the person who got scanned by it, to pilot it I guess you would have to make an exception. I never got if they could mass produce the Zeta Gundam, why are they launching GM”s? They’re Cannon Fodder, hell a Zaku 1 could last longer I think, I mean don’t get me wrong GM Pilots can easily survive, but I see a lot of them die easily.

So they engage into battle with “Char”(Full Frontal) many call him a ghost, even though it’s obvious it’s not the real Char, as the tactics are a bit different.  His voice is similar to Char(Note I’m watching the English dub, so he sounds similar to Michael Kopsa the VA for Char in MSG and Char’s Counterattack.) but this is also a talented man I would suppose doing Full Frontal. What interests me the most about him is his Suit the Sinanju which is built based off of Char’s Sazabi, although this suit was stolen by Neo Zeon(The Sinanju was for the record if I confused you), and I guess Painted Red, and given some nice weapons. And the fact he doesn’t believe the Nehal Argama is holding Mineva, and decides to trade there freedom, for a Box that apparently is worth something. Considering he had a Grudge against the Zabi family, would mean he wouldn’t care about Mineva, although in Zeta it’s shown he does, she seems to think otherwise.

As to spare time, I’ll skip through the talking and just talk about the battle.  I love when they see a Gundam launching and don’t want it to and usually say “What? Don’t let it Launch!” Yeah, like that will do a thing, once it’s on the Catapult deck in Launching position they can’t just tell the pilot to stand down, and don’t launch, as that would be stupid, and if it’s the one thing that will save your ship, reckless. Although if Bright Noa were Captain, Banagher would probably get a Bright Slap from him, though since he basically let Judau do what he wanted in Double Zeta, because he just wanted to go home and see his family, and that his son was an idiot he might just do nothing.  I just like how the Anaheim Representative on board, just wants Banagher to buy them time to escape even if it means dieing.

The effects for this battle are amazing, simply amazing, the way the Beam Rifle fires is purely awesome, it took out a huge asteroid like it was nothing.  Although, the fact that one of the Subordinates fires, and then becomes ashamed because he tainted the commanders battlefield and then committed himself to killing the Unicorn and it’s pilot struck me as odd. The Unicorn interests me, with all it’s features, including it’s own I Field in it’s Shield seems interesting with the fact it makes it an even tougher opponent. And I’m starting to think that the Destroy mode, is activated not by the pilot, but apparently when fighting a Newtype Enemy(Newtype on Newtype as usual) which would mean it can’t be used as a trump card all the time. I’ve never seen a pilot vomit in his suit, until now that is. Everybody believes that the Unicorn has been captured, well yes it looks like that, but because only one person can use it, means they can’t without making him a Zeon soldier.

And usual the Federation AND Zeon are BOTH the bad guys. They cover up the Colony Attack, and do backroom dealings, with the Enemy. It shows that even after the Titans were dissolved that the Federation continued to do stuff you would not expect. I love how Full Frontal sits down for tea with Banagher you don’t usually see this in a Gundam series, it’s usually just, Pilot and suit get captured, Pilot gets thrown into the brig or worse, the suit’s specs are analyzed for future models, and there own usage of course. But Full Frontal seems like the type of Villain that has morals, which you rarely see in mecha. Full Frontal not only sounds like Char he looks like him too, although he graciously takes off his mask after Banagher asks to see it, if he has nothing to hide. So rarely do you see a masked Villain show his face as a sign of good faith I guess you would call it.

Overall: I liked this OVA, and as much as I hated the wait it was worth it, I must say. The dub cast was excellent in every way, about my only gripe with them, is how they pronounce certain things, like “Argama”, or “Char”, but that’s just me really. But other then that, Bandai could not of chosen an better cast for this series, I mostly have not heard of any of these guys before, but I so rarely pay attention to names really. The way the story has progressed so far is pretty damn good to me, I mean other then the usual points that you see so often. The music most of all was to me, an A+ as it fits the story so well, and at the right moments too. Oh, and the little Cameo of the Delta Gundam made me want episode three more now. (The Delta Gundam is like the Zeta in a way it can transform into a wave rider mode, and it’s prototype model was the Hyaku Shiki).

Overall Rating: A-

Story: A-, it definitely improved on what was an already exceptional first episode but some of the stuff was kind of meh to me.

Dub: A, This definitely had a lineup of Voice Actors who knew what they were doing, from start to finish there weren’t any”Man this persons voice actor sucks.” I usually can find 1 person at least who’s voice didn’t fit (Amuro kind of).

Soundtrack: A++; it had the feel this series needs, and the fact it’s not just some forgettable stuff makes it even better.

Characters: I’m partial to a B- for this, because yes they were great but some of them, like the Anaheim guy, or Full Frontal’s assistant I guess, really just got to me as bad characters all together.

Would I recommend this to someone not familiar with the series or this Universe of Gundam? The simple answer is no, because it delves into a lot of stuff that deals with the other series’s, which can confuse new fans easily. Other stuff in UC though you can mostly get into easily without watching the others for the most part anyways.

Oh and a few last minute things, this Saturday I will be a Nekocon 12 (Local Con) I plan on going to a few VA Panels, if I make it in time for anyone, I will record some footage to share, among these is Richard Ian Cox whom you may know has Kai Shiden from MSG, or Allelujah Haptism (also Hallelujah). Also Gundam Unicorn Volume 3 shall be out March 16th 2011, and the 00 movie will be out on BD (Blu-ray) in December.