©Courtesy of Netflix
The original Mobile Suit Gundam deserves a lot of credit for making “mecha” a thing. It was also notable at the time for featuring human beings as both the heroes and the bad guys, within a science fiction anime context. Naturally, most viewers identified with the Earth Federation Forces (EFF), since all the primary POV characters served in the EFF. Also, most of us still live on Earth. However, the latest series in the Gundam franchise follows the action from the perspective of the Zeon rebel forces. Fans could consider it the All Quiet on the Western Front of the Gundam world. War was never pleasant for Zeon grunts, but their odds of survival drop significantly when the EFF unleashes its latest weapon in writer-executive producer Gavin Hignight’s six-episode Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, which releases Thursday on Netflix.
Previously, the giant robot-looking armored exo-suits piloted by the EFF and the Zeon Principality separatists were evenly matched, but the EFF’s “Gundams” just received a serious upgrade. Even Zeon pilot Captain Iria Solari must admit her “Zaku” is no match for the EFF’s new Gundam after her first deadly encounter. Unfortunately, Zeon’s officer corps also appears considerably out-classed by their rivals, judging from how easily the space-colony separatists are lured into a devastating ambush during the standout opening episode, “Haunted Forest.”
Despite her prodigious musical talent, Solari quickly blossomed into a natural military leader and an ace Zaku pilot. Recently, she somehow manifested an almost superhuman spider-sense to warn her of advancing Gundams. When the EFF nearly decimates Solari’s entire Red Wolf Zaku Squadron along with most of the armored infantry, she assumes command of the remnants, leading them to a hidden Zeon base. Yet, once again, the elite officer class fails Solari and her comrades, when pompous, risk-averse Maj. Rolph Ronet scuttles her emergency plans to rehab old Zakus, despite the technical support offered by her old friend, chief maintenance officer Alfee “Gearhead” Zydos.
©Courtesy of Netflix
The action explodes spectacularly right from the start, in ways that perfectly illustrate the new Gundam series’ strengths and weaknesses. The battle sequences look so unnervingly realistic, defense-focused think tanks should watch Requiem for Vengeance to understand the potential mecha warfare experience from the perspectives of ordinary soldiers and pilots. However, the characters’ facial features have a clunky, retro-CGI appearance that might hold some ironically nostalgic appeal for fans of old school CGI films like Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
Regardless, longtime Gundam franchise followers will watch for the mecha, which looks spectacular. The battle scenes are so visceral, delicate viewers might experience motion sickness and possibly battle fatigue. Any fan of mecha anime should check out a few episodes just to see how well the Gundam vs. Zaku warfighting was realized.
Despite the CGI’s facial imperfections, the English voice-cast breathe tremendous life into their characters (only the English audio track was provided for review). Celia Massingham sounds appropriately commanding but also quite sensitive as Solari. There is virtually no humor in this Gundam, but Maurice Shelton supplies some sly attitude and human warmth as Zydos. Chris Parham truly nails Maj. Ronet’s arrogant tone, while Maxwell Powers nicely expresses the earnest naivete of Ony Kasuga, the Zeon pacifist medic willing to patch up any wounded soldier, no matter what uniform they wear.
In terms of its production values, Requiem for Vengeance is quite impressive. The battle sequences are overwhelmingly immersive and Wilbert Roget II’s distinctive score hits all the right elegiac notes. For some Gundam loyalists, Hignight’s shift to Zeon’s viewpoint could be a bridge too far, but there is franchise precedent. A former Zaku pilot served as a focal character in the recent film Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island (which was expanded from an original first season episode), but the titular Doan declared his own separate peace, deserting to serve as the protector of an orphan sanctuary.
Regardless, Requiem for Vengeance dramatically depicts the trauma of war from the perspective of grunts and battlefield officers. The animation has its idiosyncrasies, but it delivers an eye-popping vision of futuristic warfare. Recommended for all fans of military science fiction, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance starts streaming Thursday (10/17) on Netflix.
©Courtesy of Netflix
Grade: B+
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Here’s the trailer of the film.