Anime World Order Show # 129 – Even Robot Unicorns Dance on Rainbows

In this episode we free our souls from the weight of gravity and gain true understanding of one another as you belong to me, I belong to you, we belong to Earth, and Daryl reviews the 7-part OAV series Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.

Introduction (0:00 – 19:06)
It takes us approximately 20 minutes to answer one email. It covered multiple topics, but unless we’re intentionally jumbling the topics into one mega-topic, it was about whether we remember the love of chemically imbalanced gay teenage boys and marmalade, some of whom may be pregnant, and how this all pertains to the mecha offerings of Shoji Kawamori, Ryousuke Takahashi, and Go Nagai. Or maybe that’s what we turned it into? These things happen. Regardless, the answer to all question is that New Getter Robo is finally on Hulu.

Review: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (19:06 – 1:21:10)
Although Daryl still believes there is relatively little utility for anyone, anywhere, to review any portion of Mobile Suit Gundam–everyone already has their set thoughts on Gundam, so they don’t need anyone’s review to decide upon what they’re going to comment–he’s nevertheless decided to revisit the topic since episode 3 was a long time gone. Much has changed in anime fandom in the 8.5 years since that episode, but this probably isn’t one of them. But perhaps you really CAN change your destiny beyond the time after all? Just the possibility is enough, so with that in mind this review does not really contain much as far as plot or character specifics.

  • The New York Times wrote about Harutoshi Fukui in 2005, where he was described as “a Japanese Tom Clancy”
  • Not mentioned on the show but written down as a note: the key indicator that Gundam Unicorn comes from a good place is the fact that the enemy robot is named the “Sinanju” which is the name of the mystical martial art practiced by REMO WILLIAMS from the Destroyer books and REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS~!, soon to be rebooted by Shane Black.
  • There is no free streaming option for Gundam Unicorn. The least convoluted place to get a list of what Gundam titles are in fact legally streaming online with English translation of some sort isn’t Daisuki or (inexplicably) the Gundam.info website but Gundam.info’s Youtube channel. The reason for why things like Char’s Counterattack and “HD Remasters” of Gundam SEED/SEED Destiny are only uploaded in SD is the same reason for every goofball decision that gets made regarding Gundam releases outside of Japan. Note: as ZZ Gundam fans will attest, these streams will get taken down on short/zero notice.
  • The quality of G-Reco and Origin is unclear at this time, but let it be known that Gundam-san is the jam. WHY ISN’T THAT SIMULCASTING, HUH SUNRISE
  • The HD streaming rentals are a little more affordable, but Gundam Unicorn on Blu-Ray isn’t cheap or easy to come by. Amazon is basically your only real option for the 7 Blu-Rays. Compared to the rest the first episode is a little cheaper, but since the stocks are kept low (made on demand?) later episodes go out of stock resulting in outlandish listings like this one asking for $430 for a single Blu-Ray.
  • Right Stuf is your main source for the DVDs, though all 4 will run you about $90 (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4). Sometimes they stock the Blu-Rays but the price won’t be any different than when Amazon has them in stock.

Closing (1:21:10 – 1:23:43)
Did we forget to record a proper closing? Eh, whatever. Next time, as threatened in Show 128, be grateful to democracy as Gerald will be reviewing the recently (once again) re-released Lupin the Third: The Mystery of Mamo. When that next time will be is to be determined, since now that Daryl’s pushing Blue Blazes on everyone, Honoo’s work ethic is spreading far and wide.

Titles Shown at Anime Weekend Atlanta 2013

Here is a list of the titles shown at AWO’s panels held at Anime Weekend Atlanta 2013. Want to learn more? Listen to our podcast if you aren’t already. To receive new episodes automatically, you can subscribe via iTunes or any RSS feed-based readers using the links above. We’ve been around for years, so don’t worry about listening to every episode unless you really want to. Take a look at the Review Index via the link at the top of this page to see if we’ve covered anything that interests you.

Daryl also writes for Otaku USA Magazine. A free PDF sampler of articles from last year and this year is available if you sign up for the weekly E-Newsletter. If you like what you read, consider subscribing to the magazine either physically or digitally. We’re offered on Kindle, Android, and iOS devices. There are also website-exclusive articles.

Here now is the list of titles shown at each of our panels, in (hopefully!) the order presented. Much of what we’ve shown has been reviewed, so we’ll link to those where applicable.

Great Anime Never Released in the US:
Gag Manga Biyori
Macross: Do You Remember Love?
Macross Frontier
Ring ni Kakero
The Legend of Koizumi
Asura
One Outs
Astro Boy, 2003 series unedited
On Your Mark

Otaku USA’s Anime Worth Watching:
Inferno Cop
Michiko & Hatchin
Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
The Rose of Versailles
Watamote (aka “No Matter How I Look At It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular!”)
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Mazinkaiser SKL
AKB0048
Dirty Pair: Project E.D.E.N.
Detroit Metal City
Demon City Shinjuku
Azumanga Daioh

Great Anime Openings:
(parody) Attack on Thomas the Tank Engine
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Black Lagoon
Overman King Gainer
Full Moon wo Sagashite
Aim for the Ace
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Stop! Hibari-kun
Fate/Zero
Fullmetal Alchemist
Macross Frontier
Detroit Metal City
Kimagure Orange Road
AKB0048
Superdimensional Fortress Macross
Superdimensional Cavalry Southern Cross
Genesis Climber Mospeada
Robotech
(parody) Attack on Miffy
FREE!
Tiger and Bunny
City Hunter
Slayers Next
Gargantia on the Verduous Planet
Card Captor Sakura
Darker than Black
Dirty Pair OAV (or we would’ve; the encode didn’t play as punishment for us picking this over Russian Roulette and Safari Eyes)
The Big O
Mobile Police Patlabor 1st OAV
Dragon Ball Kai
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt
Ranma 1/2 OAV
Queen’s Blade Rebellion
Baccano!
(parody) Attack on Baccano!
Polar Bear Cafe
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex: 2nd Gig
Revolutionary Girl Utena
(parody) Revolutionary Guy Lupin the Third
GaoGaiGar Final
Space Pirate Captain Harlock
Captain Harlock (1980s English Disco Edition)
The Rose of Versailles
(parody) Attack on 4chan
Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Watamote
Panzer World Galient
Space Battleship Yamato 2199
Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger

We only had 90 minutes this year, and we tried to run about 60% new selections compared to last year. So if you’re reading this and are shocked–SHOCKED!–that we didn’t show Cowboy Bebop, Sengoku Basara, or other “obvious picks” past favorites…those are the two reasons why. No fun showing the same clips of the same stuff each year…well, more than half the time, anyway! Depending on your point of view, we then ended Openings/started DOOM! using the promotional video for the upcoming Space Dandy. We’ll try and get a DOOM! report up on the Anime Hell blog soon enough and link to it here.