Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Ultimate DVD Box Set (1985)
Animation Production: Sunrise
Released by: Bandai Entertainment
Official Website: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
By Trevor.M

Introduction

After the successful release of the Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy and the fresh surge of new Model kits, the Japan of the Mid-80’s was in a Gundam frenzy, demanding more. Sunrise animation and director Yoshiyuki Tomino were able to oblige with the release of Mobiles Suit Zeta Gundam in 1985. Set seven years after the conclusion of the one year war, Zeta Gundam told the tale of a solar system gone mad. After the Colony drop depicted in Gundam 0083, The earth Federal Forces authorized the creation of the T.I.T.A.N.S. , An autonomous military entity with the unlimited financial and logistical support of earth with only one goal, to Prevent another Zeon-style insurgency by any means necessary.

However in the course of the last four years, The TITANS have become an even worse threat than the ZEON ever were. Now Zeon, Federal, and Civilian forces stand ready to fight back and liberate the earth sphere from the tyrannical grip of TITAN leaders Bosk Om and Jimtov Haiman.

Story

The Series begins in almost the exact same manner the original series did, several mobile suits pass by the camera as they silently approach a colony. Commanding this squad is Quattro Bagina, a Blond haired man who pilots a red mobile suit (wonder who it could be) We shortly find out that their mission is to collect intelligence on a new Gundam being created within the colony by the TITANS. The mobile suit squad is in fact an arm of the A.U.E.G. a group formed of former Federal and Zeon Forces. As the series progresses we are introduced to the main character Camille. Much like Series veteran Amuro, Camille is a whiny self absorbed brat who never got enough love from his parents. After a run in with a particularly aggressive TITAN officer and a Steel Toe to the head, Camille gets his revenge on the world by hopping into one of the Gundams during the A.U.E.G. Attack and taking out his frustration on the world. Eventually, following a series of unfortunate events the A.E.U.G. is joined by Camille (the new Gundam Pilot), original Series captain Bright Noa (who once again assumes the captains chair) and TITAN officer Emma Sheen (who joins as a back up, and later full time pilot after witnessing the atrocities of the TITANS)

The action shifts from Space to the earth and back again as the series progresses, Original Gundam cast members make cameo’s and join on full time as the story moves forward, wars are declared, nuclear weapons are detonated and a tragic tale of romance blooms on the battlefield between Camille and Psycho Gundam Pilot Four Marasume. Towards the end of the series the Zeon re-appear, now dubbed the Neo-Zeon and led by Haman Karn who has reduced the true leader of Zeon Miniva Zabi to a figure head and seized power for her own. Concluding in an epic three way battle in which all three fleets, ZEON/ AUEG/ TITAN are decimated, we come away with the second highest body count of main characters in a Gundam series, surpassed only by last years “Gundam Seed”

Box Set Review

Weighing in at $200 MSRP, the Zeta Gundam Ultimate DVD Collection, is almost 2 feet across and a foot high, containing all 50 episodes on 10 slim DVD’s. Bandai wisely chose to use the covers from the 20th anniversary Japanese release of this series, which adds to the “Ultimate” feel of this collection. The Case to hold the DVD’s in is also worth noting as the cardboard used in it’s construction is more than double the thickness of any box set I’ve seen before, the outside also features a lavish and new illustration on holofoil depicting the series 4 primary mobiles suits. Deeper in the box is also a folded up poster featuring the same picture present on the box. More than half the box is taken up by an even smaller box which is completely white and non-descript box featuring only the ZETA logo in the corner. Inside this smaller box….are nine even smaller boxes, each one containing…..pencil sharpeners, nine pencil sharpeners all with one of nine Mobile Suits standing on top. Apparently years of working on the license and even more years delaying the box set and all Bandai could think to include with it was Pencil Sharpners. Personally I haven’t touched a pencil since I graduated High school so I’m sure what good they’ll do me or any one else.

Each DVD featured a slim case with the ten Japanese covers to the R2 DVD release. Contained within each case was nothing more than the DVD. Upon passing the typical Dolby, Bandai, and Sunrise promo screens I arrived at the Menu. The set up was excellent and clean. Too many DVD’s have featured cluttered menu’s which detract from the experience. The Menu also featured a Vocal song by the same artist responsible for the series opening and endings. Although upon hitting play I felt my heart sink. The original song “Believe in the sign of Zeta” had been replaced by simple instrumental music pulled from the series. Along with added sound effects for the mobile suits, the intro was completely destroyed as the audio timing no longer matched the animation. Skipping ahead to the end I found that the end theme song “Believe in you” had also been replaced by non-vocal music from the series. Popping in DVD 10 revealed that the second Opening had also had its music replaced with the same piece of instrumental music.

Final Thoughts

To date, Bandai has released no official statement on why the Box set had removed the original Opening and Ending Music. Fan outcry has ranged from anger that this fact was not disclosed prior to the box set was released to speculation as to obtaining the rights to the music; however the inclusion of vocal music by the same artist in the DVD menu seems to discount that theory. All in all The release of Zeta Gundam is a welcome one, and while the full box is extremely impressive and a formidable conversation piece, it’s mostly dead weight taken up by the worthless pencil sharpeners. However for what is arguably considered to be the finest entry into the Gundam series, a $200 MSRP is by no means outrageous.

Trevor.M