Last night I watched Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (1988) at the the theater. It was my first time to see Mobile Suit Gundam up on the big screen and it was fantastic.
When it come to the larger world of Gundam films and tv shows, I’m relatively new. Leading up to this screening I had only watched the first 3 original Gundam movies and I am about 3 episodes into Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
This film’s isolated plot is simple enough, Amuro Ray and Char Aznable settle their ongoing rivalry once and for all during the Second Neo Zeon War. Watching what I had leading up to the film, was enough background to have an understanding who the characters were and grasp what was unfolding in Char’s Counterattack.
One thing I’m a sucker for is the symphonic soundtracks to anime during the 80s and 90s. The track “Quess Paraya” by composter Shigeaki Saegusa is one of my favorites for the film. It’s haunting and dream-like. Perfect for a character living in a youthful fantasy world.
Quess is the young daughter of a wealthy Earth Federation official. She’s a bit of a spoiled brat with a sense of entitlement and rebellious streak as she feels neglected by her father.
Throughout the story, she struggles with these feelings by joining the fight on the Neo Zion side. She’s looking for a sense of purpose and, like Amaro before her, Quess is growing up too fast and learning about her Newtype ESP powers. This is good space opera.
Characters with stories like Quess really embody why I am starting to love the Gundam series and grasp why it’s such a long running franchise. The cost of war on our youth. How society preys upon the emotional vulnerability of our kids and uses them as pawns in their larger battles. Our leaders endlessly feed on their naive, unchecked ambition and desires and we allow it. Real life.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the many many other Gundam stories unfold. What’s your favorite Gundam movie or series?
Cinematic Point Of View 
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