UlasanAnime.com – The plight of Zeon forces on Earth is perhaps best chronicled in anime form through Gundam 08th MS Team. This series is enjoyable and I would recommend it over other Universal Century Gundam entries, with the exception of the original series trilogy. It is within this context that Gundam fans can appreciate the glorious Zeon fanservice, manifested in the quirky mobile suits featured in Gundam Unicorn, which stands as another exception I would recommend alongside 8th MS Team. As the less refined Zeon units clash against their more angular Federation counterparts in the heat of battle, it evokes a sense of watching Syd Mead-inspired designs moving back and forth, reminiscent of a specific episode in Mawaru Penguindrum.
Even more compelling, Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 transcends being merely a collection of its components. This fourth installment in a six-part series marks a significant turning point. It is an emotional episode; the effectiveness of an emo protagonist trope is evident when one can empathize with him. Banagher’s internal struggles are brought to the forefront, and while the conclusion that he is now sufficiently invested to desire world change through his powers is convincing, the delivery is handled masterfully. This is particularly noteworthy as it avoids the overused and often lazy flashback device. While the episode delves into philosophical territory perhaps a bit too much for my personal taste, I can appreciate the depth of Banagher’s experiences.
Perhaps more crucially, these young individuals require guidance. This theme appears to be a central focus in episode 4; the resolution of their mistakes doesn’t stem from charming, quotable lines delivered by characters like Full Frontal to his subordinates. Instead, it requires something more spiritual. One might even consider berserk psycommu powers to fit this description.
The relentless march of time waits for no one. Childhood passes in the blink of an eye. Even when one is caught in a moral dilemma of epic, timeless proportions, decisions must be made, people must be saved, and action sequences necessitate pilots. Indeed, it was through action, such as Captain Zinnerman’s desert excursion with Banagher, that his soul was healed. Similarly, one could point to the events leading up to Minerva’s simple act of preparing coffee (also in a desert setting, or perhaps more accurately, the wilderness for those who study the Good Book). However, actions invariably have consequences. Or, thankfully, they do. (And this is where Ensign Riddhe enters the narrative.)
If anything, this theme can be traced back to the very first episode. It resonates with how Zinnerman and the rest of the Vist faction lament the posthumous quest they are undertaking—everything seems to be aligning with Cardeas Vist’s original machinations. To paraphrase Char, it feels as though they are being carried along by the flow of time. In this regard, it is fitting to recall not only that the Unicorn symbolizes the will of Banagher’s parents (much like the concept of “World’s Number One Mom” presented here), but also that Cardeas actively took steps to improve Banagher’s future. (Think “World’s Number One Dad.”) Ensuring he didn’t perish in a fiery space inferno is a commendable starting point. We were given a glimpse of Cardeas’s attitude towards Banagher in episode one, and revisiting that moment might offer valuable insight.
The emotional climax of this episode is built upon both straightforward introspection and the notion of possessing a clear understanding of the issue at hand. I found the commentary on Char to be particularly astute. FULL FRONTAL. Consequently, I appreciated the philosophical discourse, even if it felt somewhat protracted. The extent to which it is drawn out also makes me realize that these concepts were originally adapted from a light novel series, which perhaps explains the pacing. It is certainly handled much better here compared to, for instance, what was presented in Fate/Zero.
The animation, music, visuals, fight sequences, and overall composition are all of the highest caliber. At the price point, one might expect such quality (I am, after all, paying over $200 for just six episodes spread over three years). However, I did not anticipate becoming emotionally invested in a stereotypical Universal Century Gundam protagonist. This might be attributed to the fact that my jaw was slack from the prolonged battle scenes featuring gorgeous robots engaged in combat, thereby lowering my defenses against sappy, emotional youths. To be frank, the sheer number of awesomely animated battles in this episode was staggering.
I eagerly anticipate the battle in 2012 when Banagher attempts to reason with our human soldier. I wonder, if Shinji were to fight Rei, who would emerge victorious? Perhaps it will be Alberto Vist’s conscience.
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PS. If I were a certain rather sophisticated, semi-erotic blogger, I might have commenced this post with a quote related to this theme. I selected this particular translation for its inclusion of the word curse. I believe it can be fairly interpreted within the context of Unicorn episode 4.
