Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
Synopsis
In the year 0068 of the Universal Century, Casval Rem Deikun's life is thrown into chaotic disarray after the assassination of his father, a prolific figure in the crusade towards civil rights for people who live away from the Earth's surface. Casval and his sister Artesia receive aid from soldiers who were loyal to their father, and the siblings are whisked away from their home, separated, and thrown into a twisted fate that sees them come into their own as soldiers and adults. Years before stealing the name Char Aznable or his "Red Comet" moniker, Casval must contend with the rise of a militarized version of his father's ideology and his own vengeful nature as intergalactic war molds him into a legendary mobile suit pilot. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Overall, 'Gundam: The Origin' is well-received as a strong prequel that enhances the original series. It offers deep character development and explores the political complexities of the Universal Century timeline. While praised for its animation and mature storytelling, some viewers find inconsistencies in tone and pacing, along with an over-reliance on CGI.
Strengths
- Excellent animation and CGI (mostly)
- Deep character development, especially the Zabi family and Char Aznable
- Faithful adaptation of the manga, expanding the UC timeline
- Mature and realistic depiction of war and politics
- Amazing action set pieces
- Good introduction to Gundam for newcomers
Weaknesses
- Overreliance on CGI can be off-putting at times
- Pacing issues, especially at the beginning
- Some find it overrated
- Animation quality is inconsistent, fluctuating between 'cheap' and 'above average'
- Inconsistent Tone with original Gundam
- Faithful adaptation of the manga