We Have Nena Trinity Touchdown

Fanartists waste zero time getting in on the Kugimeister’s appearance, although they’ve had some time to toss ideas around.

Seriously, Kugimiya Rie in a Gundam series. And she has freckles. What kind of madness is this?

An awesome kind, that’s what.

Actual content to follow once Conclave-Mendoi decide they want to sub 16. I am waiting with an expression like this:

This hand of mine glows with an awesome power.

It’s been years since I last touched an episode of Mobile Fighter G Gundam, yet somehow (as part of my massive Gundam kick recently, for whatever reason that’s going on) managed to trick my brother into watching it with me, which gives me the perfect scenario for rewatching something: if I’m making someone else watch it with me, then I, at least, am more likely to stick with it for the long run in the rewatch process.

And, yes, G is every bit as awesome as I remember it, and Master Asia hasn’t even shown up yet. We haven’t gotten to the bits that make it my favorite Gundam series yet (that would be the three story arcs that deal directly with the Devil Gundam) but already I’m remembering why it’s great. Imagawa Yasuhiro is one of my favorite directors, for the very reason that he has a ton of fun doing whatever it is he’s doing. The silliness of G Gundam with its Lumber Gundam and Tequila Gundam (more Gundam designs should incorporate sombreros) is just infectious and even the episodic battles in between the story bits are highly enjoyable, sometimes just because Domon is awesome. I’ve always said that G is the least serious yet the most serious of the Gundam series, a dichotomy which is best easily explained after the series is finished. Yes, the series features Gundam designs bordering and oftentimes crossing the line of ludicrous (Nether Gundam, anyone?) but it’s as passionate and involving as any other Gundam series out there. It’s just not afraid to take itself lightly, a quality which makes any anime 100% better, especially when said anime involves giant robots duking it out.

The characters themselves are absolutely lovable, and some of the franchise’s best. Domon is a no-nonsense badass protagonist, and the rest of the Shuffle Alliance (Chibodee Crockett, George de Sand, Sai Saici, and Argo Gulski) just ooze awesome. From prideful American boxing champions to soft-hearted space pirates, G’s got it all going on. And the (in this rewatch, at least) still unknown Master Asia, is, of course, Master Asia. Everything in the series is kicked up to 11 and occasionally 12, making for incredible entertainment.

More Gundam series need to take themselves less seriously. I still can’t believe this was the first Alternate Universe Gundam series. You’d think Japan would’ve had a hissy fit or something. (America certainly did, but they saw G after W, which isn’t good in terms of what to expect from Gundam, and also got treated to a really bad dub).

In conclusion:

Feel the power.