Customer Reviews

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Chapter 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is quite possibly the greatest Gundam series, let alone sci-fi show, ever made. Unfortunately, too many people are put off by it's relatively old production values to give it a second-thought. This is a shame, because Zeta Gundam's story is still a powerful one, and is one of the most engaging space operas available on the market. The world of Zeta Gundam is real and gritty, not like the exaggerated and overtly-angsty Gundam Wing. To compare Zeta to Wing and proclaim Wing to be the greater series would be equivalent to saying that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is much better than Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Episode I may look better and may be newer, but that doesn't make up for the fact that Episode V is an infinitely more enjoyable movie. Zeta is truly a series for a mature mind, one that can appreciate superior story-telling at the cost of limited animation. If this sort of anime is your thing, then you have no reason not to enjoy Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

Alright, to start us off, if you want fancy production values and shallow characters, just do yourself a favor and get Gundam Wing or SEED. Otherwise, Zeta is the choice for you.

In my opinion the best Gundam series I have seen, out of 0079, SEED, Wing, 0083, 08th MS Team (this is close, though), G Gundam, Chars Counter Attack, and whatever else I may be forgetting. The characters are endearing- when the famous "kill em all Tomino" decides he wants to knock off a character, it touches you in a way that few other Animes can. When a character dies, it molds the characters around them to make them even better.

Note, while this show has some lighthearted moments, it has very serious and dramatic ovetones that might just leave you feeling depressed and moved at the same time. The mobile suit battles are fantastic, and while the production values may not be as high as SEED, Zeta Gundam spearing a HiZack with it's Mega Hyper Launcher's built in beam saber still looks very cool ;) As you delve farther into the series, more awesome mobile suits and even better characters make appearances that shape the the ones you will come to love.

The story, as if you couldn't figure it out from my other comments, is fantastic. This is not some angst-fest like Wing, not some meaningless cliche like SEED turned out to be- it is something that will bring you into the gundam world like never before, jerk on some heart strings, make you sit on the edge of your seat, and maybe even make you shed a tear (I just cannot bring myself to spoil it for you).

Overall, Zeta Gundam is my favorite Gundam series of all time. Don't let the fact that it's "old" scare you away, this is Tomino at his best and will leave you feeling, after you have seen the series in it's entirety, wanting more and feeling thankful you have been able to experience an anime of this caliber. True Gundam fans should not pass this up!

I am a Gundam maniac and I have seen ever gundam series ever created. This is probably one of the best, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a classic gundam series. I used to love gundam I saw the most of the series before they ever came to America, and incidentally Mobile suit gundam wing is not the best Gundam series, it is in my opinion the worst. Zeta Gundam has a strong plot of love and war, whereas Gundam Wing has a bunch of pretty boys running around being annoying with no real misssion. Gundam seed also has an annoying plot, because the characters wont shut up about bringing peace to the world. The only reason I watched Gundam Seed , and Gundam seed Destiny was for the Mecha. But anyway if you like Gundam Wing you wont like this series, but if you know what a real gundam series is supposed to be like I highly recommend that you get this DVD, plus it has ten episodes per DVD.

Most fans of the gundam universe will say that this is without a doubt the best series since Mobile Suit Gundam. Why? Because it shows the horror of war and personal conflicts that you don't see in anything other than Mobile Suit Gundam and Zeta. The animation for Zeta Gundam is just a tweek better than Mobile Suit Gundam, but the new movie of Zeta replaces scenes from the original with modern day graphics that aren't too far off from the style to make them totally out of place. Worth buying the movie collection...but you'll have to go to another dealer for that.
For all who have seen Mobile Suit and 0083 you'll see a lot of characters who didn't have huge roles the previously mentioned series. 0083 finished with the development of the Titans and now in Zeta you get to see how they themselves resemble the Nazis.
This series was to air on Cartoon Network's "Toonami", however the events that transpired on 9/11 cut the airing of Mobile Suit Gundam that was probably more than half way through. The atmosphere presented in that show is not as grim and dark as Zeta Gundam. I think that's why so many gundam fans adore this show, because of it's depiction of war that you'll see in Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and Platoon.
I didn't like Gundam Seed because of the plot, recycling of concepts from Mobile Suit Gundam and Zeta, as well as the incredible amount of episodes rehashing what's happened up to the current. No wasted episodes trying to catch up the viewer back from holiday...that's why there's Tivo.

gotta be the most epic Gundam series of them all. seriously i've gotta say that if you are a TRUE gundam fan, then you can enjoy the alternate universe shows like Gundam Wing, God Gundam, and Gundam SEED AND love the old school space opera dramas like Gundam, Stardust Memory, War in the Pocket, The 08th, and this series...Zeta Gundam. How can you like Wing and NOT Zeta, or like Zeta and NOT Wing? Yeah they're different but they're both still Gundam. Deal with it and stop complaining.

ANYWAY though, seven years after the glorious end of the original Mobile Suit Gundam, the Federation has become corrupt, as hinted throughout the original series. Because of Zeon Resistance which took place during Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, the Feds have come up with an elite squadron called the Titans...but the Titans, along with the Federation, become increasingly corrupt. So the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) emerges to fight the corruption of the Titans. Composed of former Zeons (like Char), former Federation soldiers (like Amuro, Bright, and Hayato), and colony civilians (like new main character Kamille Bidan), they go in on recon to check up on the Federation's new project--the Gundam Mk. II. After it is stolen by hot-headed Kamille, he joins the AEUG with "his" new Gundam and in space AND earth faces numerous trials such as the death of his parents at the hands of the Titans, falling in love with enemy Titans soldier (and Psyco Gundam pilot) Four Murasame, and receiving guidance from fellow Newtypes Char and Amuro, who in an unlikely twist of fate, are now allies. And Kamille gets to experience the full extent of his newtype abilities as he becomes the pilot of the new and improved Zeta Gundam and faces off against the Titans newtype leader Scirroco, while Char has a settle to score with his old newtype flame, Haman. the series closes with a strong, epic two-on-two battle right before it's heartpounding cliffhanger ending.

The UC Gundam series are much more realistic and sorrowful than Wing and SEED but it doesn't mean that by any means those shows are bad. they depict all the war and realism like any other gundam series and are just as excellent. in my mind, Z Gundam probably has to be the best Gundam show in its 25+ year history. although Wing is my favorite (since it was the show that introduced me to gundam in the first place heh). it was introduced in the U.S. in 2004 in the collection pack, and now there are the separate DVD's! Get em. love me! embrace gundam the way the japanese viewers did in 1985. This show's four gundams are intense. the battles are to die for. you'll fall in love with the characters, their relationships, and their mobile suits. Mobile Suit Z Gundam. check it out and fall in love with tha big g all over again! WING. SEED. VICTORY. ZETA. DOUBLE ZETA. X. GOD. TURN A. ORIGINAL. SEED DESTINY. all the other gundam shows too...gundam forever! go Zeta Gundam!

ok i understand that a good amount of people might not like zeta gundam ad i can understand were they come from but if you watch the show not think about the other gundam time lines. if you do that then u shall realize that zeta gundam can be one of the best gundams ever its not kiddy if they put war love mechas together vey well.

Yes after a very long wait Gundam Z is now in The USA. Z Gundam is probably one of the most important gunadm series in the franchize. This is supposed to follow up on the Original Mobile Suit Gundam Series.It really does too, It mostly stars a new chracter named Kamille that is considered a newtype. Also Luitenant Quattro which is actually Char Aznable if some of you new people get confused. I highly reccomend this series instead of Gundam Wing or Seed which I am not sayin is a bad series but is just not important in the Gundam Franchize more like an alternate Universe. Get this series and other ones such as.
Mobile Suit Gundam Trilogy
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team
Mobile Suit Gundam Chars Counterattack
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories

This is it. If you haven't figured it out by now, Gundam Wing/Seed use Sailor-Moon looking protagonists, who basically mimic and steal plots from the Original Gundam and Z Gundam. It's really stupid and sickening for people who have followed Gundam from the mid 80's to present. That's why Bandai is appeasing our interests with things like the Z Gundam movie Trilogy and MS Igloo. Another stupid Gundam series is G Gundam. Don't watch it. After you watch Gundam and Z Gundam, you might, you just might notice that the same stories and even look alike robots are used in Gundam Wing/Seed. Then, anyone with a brain will realize that Gundam Wing/Seed sux.

Bottom line is that Zeta Gundam has the best story line, and in my opinion animation that is good enough for present day. If you think Batman the Animated Series had passable animation, then Zeta Gundam should be fine, even if it's 20 years old.

this show is a disgrace to gundam on the level of SD Gundam (not quite that bad =P). Just buy gundam seed (much better than gundam wing)

I do not recomend this dvd at all the only reson i gave it 1 more extra star is because it has the name gundam on it. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing is the best anime ever made, hands down. This anime has slightly spoiled its good name. Dont waste your money just buy Gundam Wing and Gundam Wing Endless Waltz.