Plot:
The series is set in the year 2307 AD of the Gregorian calendar. During this time, fossil fuels became exhausted and the distribution of fuels became imbalanced. Humanity must rely on three orbital elevators with solar power generation systems (large-scale solar power systems) that are in the hands of the three "major powers" on the planet: the Union of Solar Energy and Free Nations (ユニオン, comprising the Organization of American States, Australasia and Japan), the Human Reform League (, comprising China, Mongolia, Russia east to the Urals, South East Asia including Papua New Guinea and India with the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan), and Europe's Advanced European Union (based on the European Union and also in control of Africa). However, only the major powers and their allies reaped the benefits. Constant warfare around the globe for fuels and energy lead to the formation of a private military organization, called Celestial Being (), dedicated to eradicating war with the use of four humanoid machines called Gundams.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 follows four mobile suit pilots termed Gundam Meisters ガンダムマイスター (Gandamu Maisutā, Gundam Meisters ガンダムマイスター?). The protagonist is 16-year old Setsuna F. Seiei (刹那(せつな)・F・セイエイ, Setsuna F. Seiei?), a quiet, taciturn young man who grew up in a war-torn Kurdish Republic in the Middle East, and a Gundam Meister for two years. He pilots the GN-001 Gundam Exia, a high mobility mobile suit effective in melee combat.
Episode 1 review:
By: Ryan Smith
Straight from the land of the rising sun, comes the newest entry into the popular robot metaseries "Gundam 00". This new series, directed by Seiji Mizushima, the director of "Full Metal Alchemist", and "Shamen King" is the first series to use the AD timeline. This series starts off in the year 2301, with a shot of one of the "Gundam Meisters" Setsuna F. Seiei., "Gundam Meisters" are pilots of the 4 main "Gundams". Setsuna appears to be about 14 in the prologue, and is fighting in what is said to be the "Republic of Kurdistan:" There are shots of giant robots, which say they are "Fighting for God" (A Message of Jihad, perhaps?) Suddenly, a divinely inspired RX-78-2 copy (The main Gundam of "Mobile Suit Gundam") appears, and we are taken into the intro for the series.
The intro song appears to be relatively bland J-Pop, by the group L-arc-en-ceil, the same group who wrote the theme song for "Full Metal Alchemist". At the onset of the episode, we see one of the new Mobile Suits, a green suit, in some sort of military demonstration. We are introduced to two characters, who chat about the new "Solar Powered Mobile Suits" for a bit. Suddenly, the titular giant robot, the Gundam Exia flies down. Patrick Corlaawar says "I'm an ace!' and quickly trash talks to the Gundam Exia, but his skills are revealed to be inferior to the main Gundam. It quickly defeats Patrick Corlasawar's Green Mobile Suit, quickly slicing the Mobile Suit into many pieces. Setsuna calmly delivers the line "First Phase, complete" then flies off into the skies, while the AEU (an Antongist Group) order fighter-mobile suits to chase
We are taken to an internal shot of a spaceship. The crew discuss their mission, and the name of the apparent protagnist faction is given "Celestial Being" While they are talking, Sumeragi Ri Noriega, the chief officer of the ship walks aboard. She casualy talks about her positon, while the audience is treated to a medium shot of Celestial Being's main ship. It resembles something out of Cowboy Bebop, with its large rotating sections. In the launch bay, Allelujah Haptism, the pilot of the Gundam Kyrios, takes off, while delivering a quick monolouge to himself. The Gundam Kyrios at first resembles a sort of starfighter, as it streaks off towards the skies.
For the next act, we are introduced to the inside of an orbital space station, where celebrity's Wong Ryūmin casually mixes with the rich and famous of the AEU. in the background are various people in different states of weightlessness, which is an interesting dynamic to see. The commercial break passes, and then we go right into action. Various fighters are flying from the giant space elevator, which resembles a modern "tower of babel". It appears that the Gundam Exia is caught in the crosshairs of one of the AEU fighters, but it is quickly evaded More Fighters launch from the tower, while
Setsuna remakrs "I knew it". On the ground, a Haro, (a round shaped toy ball with ear flaps, and a simple facial expression present in most Gundam Series since Mobile Suit Gundam) alerts the Gundam Meister Lockon Stratos that more fighters are approaches. Lockon casually laughs this off, and fires his Gundam Dynames. (Sniper Gundam)'s powerful beam sniper cannon at the intercepting fighter, quickly blasting them into dust. not to miss any action, Gundam Exia slices through the last fighter, while the camera quickly cuts to Setsuana. He cool says "Phase 2 complete," while the camera switches to a head on shot of the Gundam Dynames.
We go to a group shot of the same two characters from the beginning talking about possible reasons for Gundam Exia's attack, and the camera quickly cuts into a space scene. Some sort of Terrorist forces have managed to get Gundams, and they are attacking the Space Station. The AEU forces launch interceptor Mobile Suits, but the terrorists launch missiles before they are intercepted. The missiles streak towards the space station where Wong Ryūmin was, and all appears lost. Wong says "Gundam" and then Gundam Virtue flies in, piloted by the very female looking Tieria Erde. The Gundam then (As the internet people would say) CHARGES ITS LAZOR WEAPON, while attaching an absurdly oversized beam to its front. Tieria says "Virtue, prepare to fire" and then, he FIRES HIS LAZOR WEAPON, annihilating the terrorist Mobile Suits in one fell swoop. The Camera pans back to Gundam Virtue, which then goes in a classical Victory stance, while the Gundam Kyrios arrives. The Camera then pans towards Tieria, who says "Third Phase completed, in a cool voice." Allelujaha says "Geeze, overkill,", while the civilians aboard the space station look on at the explosion in shock and horror.
We then go to a wide shot of the futuristic looking Toyoko, while the newscaster announces the explosion to the world. They go to a camera shot of Gundam Virtue, and announce that they have a message from Celestial Being, the owner of these Gundams. The Audience is exposed to an old man, in a plan suit, who says "We are Celestial Being, a private Army who stand for the total eradication of war. They claim to not have a self serving agenda, but they will not stand for war for any reason, weither it be over energy, religious or for national causes.. They say they will stop war for all reasons They also say "Any group which supports war will be attacked." Patrick shouts "That's the group that wounded me!" while Ms Wong says "This world is beginning to change" ominously wile several characters say "War, to Stop War." The two characters from the start laugh, and say "Celestial being is hypocritical". We get a view of the main starship, while the camera pans to Allejeuah and Tieria, who say "A Test for celestial Being." We then go down to Earth, where Lockhorn and Setsuna talk about the ramifications of their actions, and Setsuna finishes of the episode with "We are Celestial Being... Gundam Meisters!.
This episode is a decent OP. It has problems with characterizations, as it has to introduce many characters in a 22 minuet time frame. Its shows off the Gundam's skills and ab lites, and it shows this series has promise. Its a good job, and I give it... a 4/5 for an introductory episode.
