Gundam SEED Destiny
Reviewed by Dan Peterson |
| Synopsis |
| Yet another sequel anime I saw without seeing the original. Destiny takes place a little while after Gundam SEED and retains many of the same characters, or so it seems, like Kira and Athrun. Basically, some new Gundams were made in space, stolen, and then a colony almost gets dropped on Earth. It seems that if Gundam SEED were an updated version of the old Mobile Suit Gundam story for a new generation, this sequel is those who make Gundam trying to reach out to the new generation to teach them something, not just provide a fun plot. Of course, this message doesn’t make the plot any less fun, and as long as there are extended fight scenes in outer space with colorful mobile suits, I’m game. |
| PLOT: 90% |
| Intrigue, intrigue, intrigue! You never know what will happen next. With so many characters and such ambiguous morality as exists in the Gundam world (after all, the creators of shows fluctuate between choosing “Space” and “Earth” as antagonistic side of this world, sometimes picking even both), there is plenty of room for betrayal, loyalty shifts, alliances, friendships, love, hatred, and, of course, family. There are some Gundam clichés that reappear, but in general the plot is fresh and fun. |
| CHARACTERS: 80% |
| Once again, my main problem with Gundam is characterization, and though this show is better than, say, Mobile Suit Gundam, its characters pale compared to those of Gundam Wing. I couldn’t remember any of the main characters names for the longest time because they all seemed so instantly forgettable, but Athrun is beginning to grow on me as is Shinn the longer I watch the show. Only 9 episodes have been aired so far, but from what I see the characters, though pretty weak right now, look like they’ll be well-developed as the series goes on. |
| ART: 85% |
| The art of Destiny is amazing. The colors are bright, the battles are fierce, and even the absurd looking characters don’t seem out of place. The world feels genuinely vibrant, and the Gundam battles have evolved into gigantic fights that your eyes can barely keep up with. It’s a vast improvement over most of the Gundam series, though it doesn’t have the style or mood of 8th MS team. |
| SOUNDTRACK: 80% |
| A solid soundtrack accompanies a solid show. The songs in the background always compliment the mood instead of distracting from it, and the opening and ending themes, while not the best, are quite good. All in all, the soundtrack leaves little room for complaint. |
| CONCLUSION: 85% Overall |
| Definitely worth your time. |
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