Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury - Season 1

I avoid certain kinds of anime because they're just not my thing, and mecha is one of them. Robots that fight and “go boom" don’t impress me any longer, and there are only a few exceptions to the genre that I've given a chance and even fewer that have really grabbed my attention. With most mecha anime I’m either put off by the trailer, or I drop the series after having seen the first episode because I just fail to see the appeal... I'm also rarely influenced by someone's recommendation. I usually form my own opinion. In this case, however, I was already intrigued by the trailer, and like Gigguk, an anime YouTuber, I noticed the excellent animation of the robots which is very detailed and almost doesn't rely on a computer at all. Gigguk even made me believe that this could really be the Gundam that will attract anime fans who know nothing about it. The story seems to stand apart from the whole crazy Gundam storyline. Gigguk hyped this series so intensely based on the trailer that I decided to give it a try (3-episode rule). The prologue came out well in advance, which gave me a better idea of the show, and I was hooked. The excellent suspenseful prologue introduces the setting and immediately raises serious moral dilemmas that the series is going to tackle. It made me believe that there would be something besides the big fighting robots - something that would keep me interested and make me enjoy the show. It only seemed that way, though. The very next episode, that is, episode one, is already quite different from the prologue. It looks like a standard "special academy", only this time with big robots. The problems that I expected to be solved here are tackled by students. I expected this weird combination to fall apart quickly. I didn’t think I’d find it convincing that a bunch of students could make a difference in a complex society ruled by powerful corporations. And yeah, sometimes it doesn't really work for me, for example when a bunch of students start their own company that immediately becomes a powerful player on the market – you have to take it with a massive pinch of salt. On the other hand, it does hold together and delivers what I expected from the series, i.e., ambiguous and complex problems (moral, social, psychological...) and some similarly complex and thought-provoking answers and solutions that are far from black and white. Some of the situations are done for effect, but the authors manage to pull them off, and I found many scenes truly moving and memorable (such as the ending of the first season). What I found striking were the main characters. It's not just their interactions with each other and their budding relationship, but also their individual personalities. I can’t tell you if I agree with Meon, another YouTuber, that this is "Utena in space" because I haven't seen Utena, but the chemistry between the two protagonists and the gradual and natural development of their relationship, including all the sticks the characters throw under each other's feet, is something I find endearing. I also quickly grew fond of Suletta. This girl clearly can't communicate with people very well, and I really enjoy watching her develop, try to make her dreams come true at school, and gradually overcome various obstacles that life has in store for her. The series is also very good in terms of animation. Unexpectedly, I even had fun watching the big robot fights and all the effects around them. They do have a certain atmosphere and drive. Plus, the visuals are often truly gorgeous and unforgettable (like the ending of the first standard episode). The music isn't bad either, and I liked the opening. I never thought I’d say this, but I'm really enjoying Gundam and looking forward to the second season in April 2023. While it’s not perfection like Code Geass or Gurren Lagan, it’s a very strong 4* for me. (02/10/2023) (less) (more)