How Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Launched Gundam In America
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In the mid-90s, an anime series emerged from Japan that would change the course of American television, and anime, forever. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing was the first of the Gundam franchise to cross the Pacific and make its way onto American TV. It captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people and marked the beginning of the Gundam franchise’s global spread.
The first Gundam anime, Mobile Suit Gundam, premiered in Japan in 1979. It was swiftly followed by numerous TV series and movies. The franchise was revolutionary and featured more realistic giant robots than the mecha genre had previously seen. With its unflinching look at the emotional and psychological effects of war, it spearheaded anime representation of war’s human cost. Its powerful message resonated even more coming from a country devastated by World War II.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, or simply Gundam Wing, premiered in Japan in 1995. It made its way to America in 2000 and the English-dubbed version aired on Toonami in March of that year. American audiences were blown away. With incredible robot designs, a captivating soundtrack, and gritty themes, Gundam Wing sky-rocketed to popularity. It even temporarily displaced Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z as the most popular anime in America.
Gundam Wing follows a group of five young pilots: Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, and Chang Wufei. The young men use giant robots (Gundam) to fight against the forces oppressing Earth’s space colonies. With its classic animation and impressive fight scene, Gundam Wing remains visually compelling nearly 30 years after its debut.
The mecha designs are agreed to be one of the show’s strongest points. Tallgeese, the Deathscythe, Heavyarms, Sandrock, and the Epyon are some of the most popular suits in the Gundam franchise, with the Gundam Deathscythe snatching a place in the top ten best Gundam designs.
Gunpla, or Gundam plastic model kits, have dominated the action figure market for years thanks to Bandai, which continues to re-release these beloved models to an eager audience. Gundam Wing was also the debut of the iconic Gundam Tallgeese. Tallgeese was the first mobile suit in the show’s After Colony timeline and remains one of the most popular models collected by fans.
While Gundam Wing is beloved by many, particularly for its nostalgic appeal, there is some debate as to whether it stands the test of time. The main characters are all young men and are sometimes described as bland and lacking personality. Other fans, however, feel that the group dynamic works well and is different from previous Gundam series and movies. The villains are fun and bring a dynamic, theatrical element to their scenes. Zechs Merquise, in particular, is one of the most popular characters in the show (even if he is a Char clone). He is also the pilot of the Gundam Tallgeese, making him a consistently formidable opponent for our young protagonists.
Whatever its faults, there is real love for Gundam Wing among its fans. For young American viewers in the early 2000s, it was a show like none they had seen before, bringing with it dark themes and confronting realities that few other series dared to explore. Gundam Wing is fun, engaging, action-packed, and innovative. While newer shows may offer better animation, more diverse characters, and smoother writing, Gundam Wing will always have a place in our hearts.
Have you seen Mobile Suit Gundam Wing? Do you think it stands the test of time? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget to sign up to our email list to get Finds of the Week and our free weekly newsletter, PopPulse Digest, delivered straight to your inbox.
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