Series Recommendation #6: After War Gundam X
A Gundam protagonist we all want: Hijacks an MS with only a 9mm and a homemade flashbang, steals a veteran most prized possession, hijacks a Gundam, destroys an entire MS army and put his girlfriend into coma – all in the first 2 episodes.
After War Gundam X follows Garrod Ran – a teenager with guts and a religion issue. In a world ravaged by war (just like the name implies), the world is living in hardship and suffering. However, the seeds of war are sowed once again by an old regime. To combat this, veteran pilot Jamil Neate brings together a crew on the battleship Freeden to put a stop to this. Both sides want to take possession of the strongest MS – The Gundam X – equipped with the Satellite Cannon system. And of course, it falls into the hands of our protag – along with a mysterious girl named Tiffa. Garrod and Tiffa joined the Vultures and embark on a journey to save the world from the flames of war once again.
After War Gundam X follows Garrod Ran – a teenager with guts and a religion issue. In a world ravaged by war (just like the name implies), the world is living in hardship and suffering. However, the seeds of war are sowed once again by an old regime. To combat this, veteran pilot Jamil Neate brings together a crew on the battleship Freeden to put a stop to this. Both sides want to take possession of the strongest MS – The Gundam X – equipped with the Satellite Cannon system. And of course, it falls into the hands of our protag – along with a mysterious girl named Tiffa. Garrod and Tiffa joined the Vultures and embark on a journey to save the world from the flames of war once again.
Plot: The settings for Gundam X hint at a possible connection with the UC timeline (though it is never confirmed). The story progresses relatively good. With Garrod and Tiffa’s development being the central plot point throughout the story. Some major side characters got good development as well. Even though the ending came sooner than planned, the series managed to wrap up pretty nicely. It was planned for 49 episodes but ended up with 39. Despite the rushed endings, all loose ends were tied up at the end.
Animation: X is the 7th Gundam series and its classic animation actually aged pretty well. Most of the Gundam battles were decent, even the human action. The Blu-Ray even up the game, presenting us with beautiful animation. In charged of by many of Sunrise’s masters, Gundam X is satisfying to look at.
Mecha Design: by the OG Designer Kunio Okawara-sensei Junya Ishigaki. So we’re in good hands.
Mecha Design: by the OG Designer Kunio Okawara-sensei Junya Ishigaki. So we’re in good hands.
Music: Arguably the strongest aspect of the series. Both OP by Romantic Mode are non-skippable, delivering very emotional energy. The ED is really nice to listen to as well.
Conclusion: Gundam X is an underrated gem that is usually skipped over by some new fans. But in reality, it is one of the most unique takes on the “Newtype superpower” stereotype. The characters are likeable and relatable and their dynamic are very well-written, the suits have great designs. It struck a balance between gruesome war story with some casual human interaction, showing that emotions can blossom in the battlefield and help people mature as well.
Conclusion: Gundam X is an underrated gem that is usually skipped over by some new fans. But in reality, it is one of the most unique takes on the “Newtype superpower” stereotype. The characters are likeable and relatable and their dynamic are very well-written, the suits have great designs. It struck a balance between gruesome war story with some casual human interaction, showing that emotions can blossom in the battlefield and help people mature as well.
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