UlasanAnime.com – Redemptive violence, a more sophisticated term for violence that is justified, encompasses a wide spectrum from executions and “an eye for an eye” justice to wars aimed at ending all conflict, and even the use of force to protect individuals and apprehend criminals.
Gundam 00 immediately presents a striking element by linking terms like “dunamis” and “kyrios,” which translate from Greek to “Holy Spirit” and “Trinity,” respectively. This is juxtaposed with a narrative that explores the plight of a child caught in a devastating war, a conflict rationalized by religious justifications, leading to a sense of despair and questioning of divine presence.
It feels akin to an eighth-grader attempting to articulate the profound concepts of faith and love to an online audience.
Fortuitously, the majority of Gundam series make a conscious effort to delve into themes of faith and love, or perhaps more accurately, hope and love. It is precisely through these deeply human and idealized emotions that one can identify, critique, and even mock the inherent foolishness of war, the destructive nature of greed, and the tragedy of dehumanizing others.
Furthermore, it is highly probable that the series’ producers feel a sense of moral responsibility, given that their works are consumed by a significant number of young viewers.
Most Gundam narratives also place a significant emphasis on the Gundam itself, often portraying it as an idol. The persistent desire for “more power” or to “become stronger” is intrinsically linked to the motivations of “protecting someone” or the sentiment that “this world is flawed.” This underlying dynamic might also explain why numerous anime, not exclusively within the Gundam franchise, suffer from unsatisfying conclusions.
Nevertheless, it can be argued that Gundam distinguishes itself from many other popular media narratives by presenting more intricate and philosophically complex explorations of redemptive violence, even illustrating its illusory nature, directly rather than relying solely on character development and thematic subtlety. This approach, for better or worse, generally ensures that the message is conveyed with greater speed and clarity.
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However, it might be an oversimplification to categorize the entirety of Gundam’s storytelling solely within the framework of redemptive violence. Many other individuals have offered their interpretations regarding Gundam’s narratives, the motivations behind them, and the underlying intentions. Indeed, Gundam holds diverse meanings for everyone. The franchise’s evolution to a point where each new series tends to repackage similar stories, myths, legends, tropes, and themes can lead to uncertainty about its ultimate message.
Perhaps this is why Turn-A Gundam remains my personal favorite in the franchise. It masterfully navigates the delicate balance between redemptive violence and the concept of redemption itself. The series posits that war is never a viable solution, serving only to facilitate rapid destruction and widespread chaos. It illustrates how the desire to protect someone can inadvertently lead to bitterness and isolation for the protected individual, especially when the person they were meant to protect moves on due to the complications arising from the protector’s demise.
The notion that appreciating an enemy’s style, even their hairstyle, as if it were one’s own, is the foundational step towards reconciliation and peace. Alternatively, cross-dressing might also be an effective strategy. The effectiveness of either approach remains somewhat unclear.
I sincerely hope that Gundam 00 makes a similar commitment to addressing fundamental moral dilemmas rather than resorting to mere dramatic sensationalism. This is what elevates the Gundam franchise beyond being merely a well-received series, even if its origins possess a certain conventional appeal. As the myth of redemptive violence continues to permeate the core of contemporary society, the ongoing saga of the Gundam franchise will undoubtedly persist and attract significant attention as a platform for intellectual discourse between pacifism and the principles of redemptive violence. Perhaps, one day, it will offer a truly compelling answer.
Or, at the very least, its elaborate Greek-inspired Gundam names could be more thematically aligned. Consider “Exia” and “Exegesis”—these would represent poetically fitting references.
