Review of Mobile Suit Gundam 00

I basically feel that this anime has enough reviews so I give a different one: The review your are about to see is mostly about the comparison of Anno Domini to the Cosmic Era. Why? It is the successor of the mega-hit Gundam Seed and GS Destiny. Fangirls/ boys may still demand cute lovey-dovey characters or enthusiasts might want a deeper and more unique plot. So I hope that this review may help people who watched GSD that included Gundam 00 in their "to watch" list and those who evaluating it. STORY: Cosmic EraDrama: more intense and plentiful
Action: repetitive but good,relies on Gundam's power
Romance: plenty & unexpected

Anno Domini:
Drama:more natural and untypical
Action: very excellent and intelligent with strategy and teamwork
Romance:close to none

When the Cosmic Era heavily focuses on the internal drama of the main characters AD portrays a different kind of heroism. When they both condemn war yet clarifies that fighting is necessary to live, CE roots this to human emotion and desire. Two sides fighting for noble or distorted reasons alike are both victims in a tragic war. Meanwhile, AD tackles this issue in a more realistic way by directly relating it to our current world- oil crisis, terrorism, economic turmoils. Furthurmore, those are challenged by a small group of people -the Celestial Beings- with four powerful mobile suits.

Gundams vs the world? Sounds ridiculous? It works. But it is amazing that the story is woven pretty well for that idea to be utterly plausible and workable. In addition to this, even with the limited character interaction due to huge distances, each's action affect the overall picture- in a way, everyone is related to one another. Moreover, while the presence of "evil" leaders are prevalent in Gundam series, AD is a bit different: it shows that humanity as a whole conflicts within itself.

AD is pretty original, but compare to CE, its execution is a bit slower. Though containing a number of unnecessary flashbacks, CE seems to be a bit faster than AD even with 50 episodes .Also, for many times, AD put together subplots with thin links with each other; lastly, its worst trait is that it has no climax or weak climax.

Winner: None

ART:

Cosmic Era
Consistency: A bit bad
Art style: Familiar but eye candy cute
Quality: High quality traditional
Mechs: So many cool designs

Anno Domini
Consistency:Superb!
Art style: Serious tone
Quality: HIGH DEFINITION
Mechs: More detailed, vivid, innovative and memorable

AD is obviously superior in the category of quality and "hi-tech" factor but the character designs' appeal to the fanbase (especially the fangirls) is a bit inferior due to its less cuter style.

Winner: AD

SOUND:

Cosmic Era:
Dramatic techno-pop with traditional space mood music mixed with dramatic and romantic ballads

Anno Domini:
Alternative rock, pop and rock ballads coupled with "epic" sounds and contemporary sounds tracks

AD lost to this one, CE's music is very successful in bringing out emotions, mixing drama, romance, action and suspense.The openings and endings are a bit radical by defying the Gundam tradition of techno, and it was satisfying. However, AD is a bit disappointing: the tracks are not memorable and some are repetitive, they are a bit typical since one can hear them on most shonen shows.

Winner: CE

CHARACTER:

Cosmic Era
Cast: Typical teenagers and
some adults
Dialogues: Excellent and thought
provoking

Anno Domini:
Cast: Mix of different lives
Dialogues: Natural, lacks intensity due to indirect confrontations and and the lack of clarity on why certain characters are taking screen time.

CE is much more focused on duty, death, love, hate and understanding- the aspects of humanity. The conflict is seen in the feelings and choices of individual people developing as they interact with others. Heart wrenching indeed, but one can also say that they designed their characters based on basic stereotypes.

This is where AD takes its radicalism; the characters are already very much developed and the focus is in the overall conflict involving their lives, both past and present. Different people, same effects. Same actions, different effects. It's theme is living in a supposedly sick world. Beautifully, the symbolism of necessary sacrifice and undeserved pain is reflected. Sadly, the dialogue fails to amplify these elements. Though sadly, though the concept is pretty, many characters are generic.

Winner: CE
ENJOYMENT AND OVERALL:

I enjoyed CE more than AD because of my preference, but it doesn't mean that it is better. Still, both of them are shows that deserves praise.

CE offers more intensity and impact, however it has flaws like unnecessary fanservice, inconsistencies, bad flasbacks and irrational coincidences.

AD has better character as a whole, free of "impurities" of fanservice and "advertising" of profitable models. It may be close to zero in flaws but it definitely "lacks."