Funimation launched the original Mobile Suit Gundam streaming service last year. This allowed people to see and feel what made the franchise so special. They will now have the chance to see its amazing follow-up.
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Funimation today announced that four more Gundam series will be available on its streaming service in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. They will then come to Australia, New Zealand, Australia, New Zealand and Canada starting September 7. Then, it will go to Mexico, Brazil and Chile at a later time. It will also offer English subtitles and English dubs in Japanese. The beloved 90s Gundam Wing series will be joined by Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (animated movie), the prequel/manga adaptation series Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. These are all great choices. However, Zeta Gundam, if you follow our advice and watch the original Gundam streaming on YouTube, is the best of the bunch.
In Japan, the show aired its first episode in 1985. Gundam as a franchise was saved by the success of its three-movie adaptation and, of course model kitsZeta Gundam takes place eight years after the events in the original show. It follows a mixture of new and old characters as the adapt to the changing state of the solar system following the One Year War between the Earth Federation (the Earth Federation) and Zeon (the rebellious colony Zeon). Zeta Gundam is a fascinating mirror to the power structures that allowed such wars to be possible. Then, he throws a lot of giant robots at it.
Zetas worldbuilding adds complexity to the Earth vs. Space Colonies storyline. The primary villains are a corrupt, fascistic branch of Earth Federation, which is the faction that the heroes of the original series fought for. This gives the show an interesting texture. The series' teen heroes are traumatized and forced into conflicts. In a world that was once dominated by their fighting, the villains from the original series become key allies and supporting characters. Returning characters from the original series must deal with their legendary reputations. This is a great example of sequel-making. It takes the best parts of the original series and makes it richer, deeper and more complex. Zeta Gundam laid the foundation for Gundams most explored timeline, the Universal Century. It has grown into the vast interconnected stories of TV shows and movies that it is today.
It's worth the effort.
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