Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
In the year 2314 AD, the world is at peace. Thanks to the sacrifices of Celestial Being and its mobile suit pilots, the people of Earth experience a time of prosperity and unity, enjoying tranquil lives once thought impossible. Celestial Being, an organization once painted as villains by the Earth Sphere Federation, now exists in public perception as a group of heroes, celebrated in film and culture. When an extraterrestrial threat arrives on Earth, threatening the newly acquired calm stasis, Celestial Being springs back into action. Led by ace pilot Setsuna F. Seiei, the Gundam Meisters of the group battle the hostile alien forces, teaming up with old rivals to protect the human race from certain doom.
Audience Consensus
The film is highly divisive, with a strong split between those who appreciate the action and spectacle and those who are deeply disappointed by its narrative shortcomings. While the mecha battles and animation are generally praised, the story, character development, and departure from traditional Gundam themes are heavily criticized, leading to a polarized reception.
Strengths
- High-quality animation, especially during action sequences.
- Fast-paced and intense mecha battles that are entertaining.
- Unique and interesting mecha designs.
- Pleasing soundtrack and sound design, with good voice acting.
- Redemption of Graham Aker's character arc.
Weaknesses
- Story is generic, underdeveloped, and lacks originality, deviating from traditional Gundam themes.
- Character development is minimal for both returning and new characters; many new characters are superfluous.
- The introduction of aliens as antagonists is seen as a departure from Gundam's core human-vs-human conflict and less engaging.
- Pacing issues and inconsistent tone, with the story feeling divided into parts.
- The ending and certain plot resolutions are considered nonsensical, rushed, or unsatisfying.
- Over-reliance on 'understanding' as a solution feels preachy and naive.
- Visuals, while good, are not a significant improvement over the TV series.
- Subplots are unnecessarily misleading or forgotten.