Mobile Suit Gundam Age (Anime)

To deal with Earth's expanding population, humanity has begun to branch out into space and develop colonies to live there. However one day, one colony is attacked by a mysterious enemy, known as UE (unknown enemy) wielding deadly and powerful mobile suits. This day was known as 'The day the angel fell'. Several years later, one of the survivors of the colony attack, Flit Asuno, has become the youngest mobile suit developer in his new colony. But then one day the UE returns and attacks Flit's colony. But Flit is prepared and pilots the mobile suit he has been developing just to fight the UE, with blue prints handed down from his dying mother. The Gundam Age.

(Anime; 1 season, 48 episodes, Finished)

Another fantastic addition to the Gundam franchise, and probably one of the most unique series. Starting with what must be said - the Gundam Age itself lives up to the expectations of its predecessors.  Its main hook is that it is able to use the 'Age system' to learn from its previous battles and create new parts and weaponry to fit the need. This is a fantastic idea, and gives the gundam unlimited potential as being one of the best in the series.

Moving on the the series itself, the story is probably the most unique aspect of the whole thing. It is divided into three parts and seems to be an adapted and condensed version of Gundam 0079, Gundam Zeta, Gundam ZZ and even has elements from Char's Counter Attack. The story is split into three arcs - the first being Flit Asuno's, then his son Asemu's and then his Grandson Kio. This leads to some great development as far as the world of the story goes, but on the plot side of things, it makes everything seem a little rushed. Also, there is a theme in all the Gundam series that war isn't always one side being bad or good, just two sides with different views that leads to war. This idea has been handed down since the first ever gundam series, but here in Gundam Age it takes a while for this theme to come to light. For the first two arcs in fact the UE is cast as more of a villain than any other series has to offer.

The rest of the series is good, but not great. The battle sequences are pretty awesome, but get a little repetitive given the story structure. The artistry and animation is good, not great. It could've been better than it is and there was room for improvement. The characters are about the same - no less than what you'd expect from a Gundam series.

A Great addition to the franchise, but that doesn't mean Mobile Suit Gundam Age doesn't have room to improve.

Rating - 7/10