Episode 11: Mecha Anime Review

Episode 11: Mecha Anime Review

Topic:  Mecha Anime Review

Last week we discussed Mecha Anime, the difference between a Super/Giant Robot series and a Real Robot series.  This week, we have two shows that are indicative of both genre of Mecha Anime, so lets see which one liked the most!

  

Review:

StarDriver

Tells the story of three high school students who safe guard the world from dangerous alien mecha from escaping in to our time.  Set on fictional island of Southern Cross Island, the island is home to powerful mechanical creatures called Cybodies that have been hidden away and protected by four Maidens of the island.  Once one of the Maiden’s seals is broken, it allows those with marks, or masks, to pilot these Cybodies in what’s known as Zero Time, a realm where only they can exist.  If all four Maiden’s seals are broken, they’ll allow the Cybodies to exit from Zero Time and then take over the world.  Stopping them is Takuto and his mysterious Tauburn Cybody, which holds back the Glittering Crux Brigade from succeeding in their plans.

Phases

Depending on how many maiden seals are broken, allows for piloting of Cybodies and magical abilities:
·         Phase 1: No maiden seals broken, limited access to magical powers like healing, illusions, mind control, etc
·         Phase 2: One Maiden seal broken, access to Cybodies via piloting system in Zero Time
·         Phase 3: Two Maiden Seal Broken, Only those with marks/masks can pilot Cybodies directly via mecha
·         Phase 4: Three Maiden Seals broken, gives access to godlike powers, but pilots become trapped in Zero Time is cybodies are destroyed, release of King Cybody Samekh
·         Phase 5: Cybodies gain access to our world

Main Characters

Takuto Tsunashi  (Red Hair)
·         Pilots Tauburn
    o   Unique as their Tauburn acts like Phase 3 machines and always stays more powerful than    other Cybodies
    o   Dual wields Star Swords
·         Cheerful, Energetic, Optimistic, Pure Hearted
·         “Galactic Bishounen” or “Galactic Pretty Boy”

Wako Agemaki (Short Yellow Hair)

·         South Maiden
·         Relatively Innocent, teasing
·         Fully Aware of her status as a Maiden when she’s a child
·         Engaged to Sugata as family tradition

Sugata Shindo (Blue hair)

·         Cool, Intelligent, Reserved
·         Rivalry with Takuto
·         Pilots King Cybody Samekh
·         Joins Glittering Crux Brigade at one point

Each Cybody/Mark is named after a letter in the Phoenician alphabet, which multiple modern Semetic abjads are derived from, notably Hebrew and Aramaic.

Reasons to enjoy the show:

Weird, even among anime
A good story, no intentional allegories or meaning
Good directing
Great sound track

Gundam Unicorn

Set in 0096 UC(Universal Century), story tell of Banagher Links, a young Anaheim Electrics student who accidentally gets involved with Audrey Burne in her attempt to receive the Laplace Box.  The Laplace Box holds the key to spacenoid freedom and eventual succession of humanity; but forces from the Federation aim to keep the box hidden in order to safe guard their own power. Aided is the Unicorn Gundam, a normal looking machine until a potential Newtype appears, allowing it to transform and open its armor to reveal its Gundam form. 

Main Characters
Banagher Links
·         Pilots the RX-01 Unicorn Gundam

                                        

o   Biometric linked to Banagher

o   Considered the Key to the Laplace Box, tests pilot if they are worthy to receive box
o   Unique that it starts standard looking and reveals its Gundam nature
o   Entire Frame is build of Pyscho-Frame, allowing pilot to move the Gundam without inputs
o   NT-D = Newtype Destoryer system, designed to release limiters
·         Good person at heart, trying to do the right thing
·         Pulled between not wanting the Gundam or Fighting, but learns that life doesn’t allow us to choose so we must make do with what happens to us and make something good out of it
·         In Love, or Need to protect, Audrey

Audrey Burne, (Mineva Lao Zabi)

·         Grand-daughter and last surviving of the Zabi Family, leaders of the Principality of Zeon.
·         Pacifist in Nature, Noble, Upright, and Honorable
·         Used the name Audrey to hide Identity from others, illusion to Audrey Hepburn
·         Considered a Princess by Spacenoids/Zeon
·         Not interested in leading/adoption the Zeonic movement or leadership, acts to bring peace and true to all.
·         Wants the Box so that Spacenoids will have a right to evolve and be a part of the Federation, thus bringing everyone together.

Full Frontal

·         Char Anology, “Second Coming of the Red Comit”, thought to be Char Anzable himself

·         In reality, a genetically altered Cyber Newtype copy of Char.

·         Pilots MSN-06S Sinanju
o   Used as test bed for Gundam Unicorn
o   Red in color
·         Gifted Pilot, Charismatic Leader
·         Intends to use power of Laplace Box to weaken Federation and allow Spacenoids to self govern, forcing the Earth Sphere to be subservient to Spacenoids instead.

Laplace Box?

Laplace Box is a closely guarded secret by the Vist Family/Foundation, which allows them to have unfettered power within the Federation due to its contents.  Members of the family use it to pull strings and control government officials within Federation.  Senior Members of Vist Family plan to reveal the box the world, but want to ensure it’s given to some who will use the box for noble purposes.  Gundam Unicorn is designed to test someone.

Great Example of traditional Gundam Story

No side is perfect/right
Everyone has an agenda
Starts in Space, heads to Earth, returns to Space
Great analogs for Char and Amuro Ray
Helps if you know previous series, not necessary to enjoy
Good character development

Episode 10: Mecha Anime Tutuorial

Episode 10: Mecha Anime Tutuorial

Topic: Mecha Anime

This week, Mom is out on Vacation, traveling the world as usual.  So we Invited my Little Brother to join us.  When asked what he wanted to learn about, Mecha Anime was what he said.  So here we go.  A primer on Mecha Anime!

Tutorial:

Mecha Anime:

Any anime/manga/media where robots exist within a show, and are important to the story being told.

Robot = Mech/Mecha

Two Major Sub-Categories:

·         Super/Giant Robo/Robot

·         Real Robot

History:

70s – Rise of Super/Giant Robot Series

Mecha shows easier to handle because you don’t need to draw faces.  Easier to produce in 70s.  Shows largely not about war/conflicts between humans.

Mazinger Z (1972)

 ·         Dr Hell and Dr. Kabuto find ancient robots buried underground.  Dr. Hell decides to use the robots to control the world, while Dr. Kabuto escapes and builds Mazinger Z before being killed by “half Man, Half woman” Baron Ashura.  Robot is passed on his grandson Kouji Kabuto, who fights against Doctor Hell.

Spin Offs

·         Great Mazinger (1974)

·         UFO Robot Grendizer  (1977)

·         Mazinkaiser (2002)

Getter Robo (1974)

·         Three jets become one Super Robo, but can reconfigure in to three different modes

Daikū Maryū Gaiking (1976)

·         Dinosaur like base ship where the head takes off and transforms in to Super Robo Gaiking

Super/Giant Robot Series

·         Robots are unique, one of kind, un-replaceable

·         Fantastical/Squishy in tech/creation

·         Heroic in Nature

·         Stories are usually involve the Robots more as a major element of the show than a tool

·         Magical/Mystical/Extraterrestrial/Super Science in Nature

·         Lend themselves to Monster of the Week / non-serialized

·         Became stagnant toward end of 80s

Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) 

Also known as (Gundam 0079)

·         During the Universal Century, Human have created colonies in space, but there is unease as spacenoids feel that the Earth Federation won’t allow equal representation, thus Spacenoid rally around the Principality of Zeon and declare their freedom from Earth Federation, starting the “One Year War”. Zeon has mobile suits, which are a ‘HUGE’ tactical advantage.  Earth Federation Create the White Base and goes to pick up the new RX-78 Gundam, but Zeon is in tow and attacks the colony, killing most civilians and Federation crew.  Amuro Ray becomes pilot for Gundam and the White Base launches out to defend against Zeon on their way home to Earth.

Gundam = White Devil

·         V-fin helmet

·         Samurai look/motif

Recurring themes

·         Start in space, head to Earth, return to space to end

·         Space Mobile Suits = 1 eye/ mono eye

·         Earth/Federation Mobile Suits = glass visor for eyes

·         Major Base to launch From, usually white in color

·         Char Aznable – Villain, recurring theme of villain in Mask

Initially not popular, canceled at 39 of 45 episodes.  Rebroadcast as trilogy of movies in 1983

Gunpla = Gundam Model Kits

Spin offs:

Universal Century     

·         Zeta (1985)                                                        

·         ZZ (1986)                                                             

·         0083(1991)

·         Victory (1993)                                                   

·         08 MS Team (1996)                                         

·         Unicorn (2010)                                                 

·         Thunderbolt (2015)                                        

Unique Series/Era/Centuries

·         G Gundam (1994)

·         Gundam Wing (1995)

·         Gundam X (1996)

·         Turn-a-Gundam (1999)

·         Gundam Seed (2002)

·         Gundam 00 (2007)

·         Gundam Age (2011)

·         Gundam IBO (2015)

Real Robot Series

·         Mecha are realist/conventional in nature, albeit with unique power sources/futuristic weapons

·         Tend to be government/organization led

·         Possible to Replace within reason/mass produced

·         Tools of the universe

·         Often stories about War or major conflicts

·         Lend themselves toward long, serialized shows

Super Sentai (1975)

Known in the west as Power Rangers

Basically Live Action Super Robo Series

80s – Rise of Real Robots

Real Robot Series become mainstream as audiences begin to get tired of Formulaic Super Robot series. Many young adults were looking for more mature/serious mecha anime, allowing for Real Robot genre to take over.

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982)

·       Many Spin Offs

Armored Troopers Votoms (1983)

Volton (1984)

·         US TV show incorporating footage of Golion and Dairugger

Transformers (1984)

·       Lots of Spin Offs

Bubblegum Crisis (1987)

·         Largely Females in Exo-skeleton Suits

Patlabor (1988)

·         Mecha Cops

Gunbuster (1988)

·         From Makers of Evangelion

90 – Mecha Revolution

Real Robot / Gundam make big push in 90s, but lots of mech shows still show competition.  Lots of themes / traditions come out of 90s that are still seen largely today.  Very experimental.

Brave Series (1990s)

·         King of Braves GaoGaiGar (1997)

Tekkaman Blade (1992)

·         In the West as Technoman

Magic Knight Rayearth (1994)

·         Magical Girl / Super Robot Series

Evangelion (1995)

·         Mix of Real/Super Series

·         Largely a deconstruction of Mecha Series

·         Lots of largely psychological topics

·         Genre Defining!

Martian Successor Nadesico (1996)

Vision of Escaflowne (1996)

·         Lots of Female fans

·         Largely Fantasy

The Big O (1999)

2000s – Mecha Renaissance 

With introduction Digital Art/Inking, Anime become less expensive to produce, allowing more varied series to become introduced.  Varying art styles allow more trial and expressiveness.  Great Shows, Great stories, great characters

Sakura Wars (2000)

VanDread (2000)

RahXephon (2002)

·         Similar to Eva in themes

Diebuster (2004)

·         Sequel to Gunbuster

Aquarion (2005)

Eureka Seven (2005)

·         Skateboarding/snowboarding in the Sky Mecha

Code Geass (2006)

·         Mechs are only about 15-18 feet tall

·         Largely move around on wheels

·         Fun Mix of Mystical elements and Real Robot series

·         Great cast/show

·         One of the Greatest non-Gundam Real Robot series

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007)

·         From makers of Evangelion

·         Very silly

·         Creators would split to become Studio Trigger

·         One of the Greatest modern Super Robot

  

2010 – Decline of Mecha

Mecha Shows are more difficult to get going, with lots of shows almost never finding an audience. 

Landscape of Anime may have changed; seasonal anime dominates, where mecha tends to like longer /epic running series.  Also, many shows about conflicts aren’t as popular because we(Sic:Japan) aren’t really seeing or being influenced by war.  Mecha using more CG(Computer Graphics) to make mecha in shows, but don’t look good in an animated/2D Landscape. 

Star Driver (2010)

·         Light Hearted, Fun Super Robot

Aldnoah.Zero (2014)

·         Good first season, ultimately disappointing

Robot Girls Z (2014)

·         Parody on Mazinger Z and various spinoffs

Captain Earth (2014)

Darling in the Franxx (2018)

·         Interesting beginning, ultimately Disappointing

Review Material

Gundam Unicorn 0096 (Either on Crunchyroll or Netflix)

Star Driver (Crunchyroll)

Episode 9: Shazam (2019) Review

Episode 9: Shazam (2019) Review

Topic: Shazam (2019)

We talked about Captain Marvel a few weeks back: how the name Captain Marvel existed originally as a DC owned character, then found it's way in to the hands of Marvel after DC sued Fawcett Comics over the character rights/originality.  The character came back to the DC fold once purchased, and become Shazam, since Marvel owned the License to the name a that point.  Well a super hero movie happened, and we went to watch it.  


Tutorial: 
History
Shazam originally known as Captain Marvel.
More popular than Superman.
DC Sued Faucett Comics over rights for the character
Eventually bought by DC and re-christened as Shazam.
 Billy Batson(10), orphan

·         Meets a wizard after escaping bullies on a subway.

·         Wizard gives him the powers of Shazam = Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury

 Marvel Family

·         Captain Marvel Jr.

·         Mary Marvel

·         Marvel Triplets: Fat Marvel, Tall Marvel, Hillbilly Marvel

Doctor Sivana – similar to Lex Luger, stereo typical Super Science bad guy.
  
Review:
Rock Originally signed to play Black Atom, mortal foe to Shazam, very similar power.

Cast:
Asher Angel (Billy Batson)
Zachary Levi (Shazam)

·         Like how distant Billy is, and how naïve Shazam is.

Djimon Hounsou (Shazam Wizard) (Guardian of the Galaxy)

·         Wish I could have seen more of him.

Jack Dylan Grazer (Freddy Freeman) Blue

·         Quite good at being annoying.

Faithe Herman (Darla Dudley) Purple
Grace Fulton (Mary Bromfield) Red
Ian Chen (Eugene Choi) Gray
Jovan Armanda (Pedro Peña) Green

Mark Strong (Dr. Thaddeus Sivana)

·         Wish to see him in roles other than bad guy for once…

Notes:

·         Fawcett School – Fawcett comics

·         Mister Mind – Super intelligent Caterpillar

·         Very innocent feeling movie.

·         Like act 3 better than first two acts.

·         Way too Front loaded with origins.

Mark Strong plays a bad guy well. Little too much story for him though?