MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN: EPISODE 1

5 stars out of 5

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is a 7 part OVA (originally 6) based on the novels by the same name. Unicorn along with Gundam AGE are the most recent Gundam Anime currently out/airing. However, unlike Gundam AGE which is aired weekly; Unicorn gets 1 episode every 5~6 months. Episode 5 was just released about 2 months ago. So today I’ll be reviewing the first episode: Day of the Unicorn.

Unicorn takes place in the Universal Century (UC) time line of the Gundam universe. Chronologically, this takes place 3 years after the events of the movie Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. The story revolves around the character Banagher Links and the events that cause him to get involved with a mysterious girl named Audrey Burne; a new Gundam; and a group after something called “Laplace’s Box.” 

The first episode introduces us to Banagher Links, the main protagonist of the story, who is leading a relatively normal life studying at Anaheim Electronics in Side 4’s Industrial 7 colony. This is all changed when Banagher rescues a mysterious girl named Audrey Burne. She claims that she is in the colony because she is trying to prevent a war from breaking out. Banagher, determined to stop a war, agrees to help her and takes her to see Cardeas Vist, head of the Vist Foundation. Meanwhile, a Neo Zeon remnant group, the Sleeves, are to receive a “key” - the mysterious “Laplace’s Box” - said to be able to change the entire world. This first episode revolves around Banagher getting caught up in the conflict over the Laplace’s Box. The two opposing factions are the Neo Zeon Remnants and the Earth Federation.

Being the first episode, not all characters have been introduced or been given enough screen time to be noted. Banagher was born after the One Year, so war is a very unfamiliar concept to him. He works part time clearing debris in the colony piloting small worker mobile suits, which more or less serves as an explanation as to how he can pilot the Unicorn Gundam later on (most Gundam pilots have no prior experience and are naturals at piloting). After saving Audrey Burne, he becomes dragged into the conflict regarding the Laplace Box. His role is even more important when he is entrusted with the titular mobile suit: The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. From his introduction; Banagher comes off as a level headed character and not an angst-ridden kid who is thrown into the cockpit of a Gundam.

Banagher and Audrey

Audrey Burne is an enigmatic young woman who arrives at the Industrial 7 colony with the Sleeves. She sneaks out of the ship, and on her way to see Cardeas Vist she meets Banagher as she accidentally enters a colony construction zone and plummets down to the nearby city. Banagher, noticing Audrey's fall, takes a worker mobile suit and manages to rescue her in mid-air. Audrey claims that she is there to stop a war from breaking out and Banagher agrees to help her. She is very well mannered, serious and strong willed. Her real identity is revealed later, but as Cardeas Vist describes her, “She has faced death numerous times... to walk beside her, you must be prepared to shoulder the entire world.” Even though she is rescued by Banagher, she doesn’t really fit the role of the damsel in distress or come off as weak.

The rest of the characters introduced are also interesting in their own right, as they fit their roles fairly well. Banagher’s two close friends Takuya and Micott act like the care-free students they should be, and when battle breaks out, their worlds are shaken. Captain Zinnerman of the Sleeves fills his role well by being calm and collected even when the fighting breaks out. Overall the characters are solid.
 

Banagher and Micott with the rest of their class.

Being a Gundam series the concept of war is dealt with, except this time it’s a bit different. Since it takes place in UC 0096 it’s been 3 years since the 2nd Neo Zeon War and that was more of a smaller scale battle. In fact it’s long after the One-Year War (OYW).  As a result Banagher and the rest of the students treat war as a fairy tale of some sorts. When the students see a Zaku II from the OYW being held as a museum piece; Takuya becomes very excited, and one of the students tells him to forget it as wars are a thing of the past. Later when Audrey reveals that she’s there to stop a war, Banagher stares at her in disbelief; he felt terror at the mere idea of war. It can be related to us today. Sure, we know that the US is fighting a war on terror etc., but we’ve yet to experience anything on the scale of the World Wars, let's say. The story is serious, but not overly dark or the depressing. There are almost no silly faces or jokes, so don’t expect to be laughing.

So the story and characters so far are great, but its Gundam… so you’re wondering about the actual Mobile Suits and visuals and all that flashy stuff. Well, let me tell you it is gorgeous! One of the perks of OVA’s is that they get higher budgets sometimes and as a result the visuals in Gundam Unicorn are amazing. The character designs are well done and the mobile suits were beautiful. Early on in the episode, we see Marida in the NZ-666 Kshatriya destroy three enemy mobile suits following the ship she’s on. The music score is also good, with the track that plays during the Unicorn’s launch sequence being the best one of the episode in my opinion.

Kshatriya (Big Green MS) taking on a Stark Jegan

Overall, Episode one of Gundam Unicorn was awesome. The only drawback is that for people who are new to Gundam, waiting 5+ months for a new episode to come out might make them lose interest; Although it can be watched with no prior knowledge of Gundam, its still good to know the series leading up to Gundam Unicorn (Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, ZZ Gundam, and Char’s Counterattack). Later episodes reference and touch upon events from these series, and cameos done by older characters won’t really be appreciated/understood as much by newcomers. Don’t let that discourage you from watching Gundam Unicorn though. Like I said it’s awesome! Currently there are five episodes out with episode six to be released spring 2013.

Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode]

The OVA is done by Sunrise and the episodes are available on DVD/Blu Ray as well as services such as the PSN store etc.  

-J