Introduction: “Gattai Girls” is a series of posts dedicated khổng lồ looking at giant robot anime featuring prominent female characters due khổng lồ their relative rarity within that genre. Bạn đang xem: Gundam: 12 best female characters in the franchise
Here, “prominent” is primarily defined by two traits. First, the female character has to be either a main character (as opposed khổng lồ a sidekick or support character), or she has to lớn be in a role which distinguishes her. Second, the female character has to lớn actually pilot a giant robot, preferrably the main giant robot of the series she’s in.
For example, Aim for the Top! would qualify because of Noriko (main character, pilots the most important mecha of her show), while Vision of Escaflowne would not, because Hitomi does not engage in any combat despite being a main character, nor would Full Metal Panic! because the most prominent robot pilot, Melissa Mao, is not prominent enough.
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I truly believe that Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury will go down as a pivotal work in anime history. There are the surface reasons, of course: It has the honor of being the first mainline Gundam anime lớn feature a female protagonist with a same-sex primary lãng mạn interest. It’s also the first main Gundam to be only 24 episodes when even the next shortest series still got 39. But the vi xử lý core of why I think Witch from Mercury is a trò chơi changer is that it ncludes many elements unfamiliar or in defiance of Gundam that manage to tell a compelling & thought-provoking story that carries both idealism và realism in its narrative.
Witch from Mercury takes place in a world where Gundams are forbidden, even though they were originally based on research to help people with disabilities. Years after the banning of Gundams và the seeming purge of all involved, a shy và awkward girl named Suletta Mercury arrives at Asticassia Academy, a di động suit school for the elite where student matters are officially resolved through giant-robot duels. Suletta wins a match in her Definitely-Not-a-Gundam, Aerial, ends up engaged lớn the daughter of the school’s owner, Miorine Rembran, & in doing so inadvertently steps into the complex corporate, social, & political forces at play.
The anime starts off reminiscent of both Revolutionary Girl Utena and G Gundam, but ends its first half throwing the relatively isolated nature of Asticassia into stark relief with the world at large, whether it’s the crushing disparity between Earthians & Spacians, the specter of war và how the parents of all the kids have a hand in perpetuating military conflict, or the realization that Suletta’s naivete isn’t merely an innocent quirk but points to an unusual và possibly even disturbing past.
The second half seems to calm down, only to lớn ramp up even harder & throw the established order into further disarray. Things that other series might have left linger for 10 episodes are brought to lớn bear in a fraction of the time. The anime can actually feel pretty rushed as a result, but in certain ways, I think this actually works out in its favor. Gundam series often meander and plod as they get into the latter 25-ish episodes as they try lớn incorporate extraneous characters & merch-friendly elements, whereas this one cuts out a lot of the fat, albeit with some of the flesh as well. The outcome of all this is a Gundam where I would get genuinely surprised and shocked, especially in terms of character deaths)—feelings that were often missing from my viewings of Gundam anime that have come out in the past 15 years.
The characters, especially the women, are memorable và one the best parts of Witch from Mercury. Suletta is a chất lượng protagonist, both in comparison khổng lồ her Gundam predecessors and in general due to the way she has lớn grapple with her own upbringing và the way she ends up establishing her own identity. She takes the viewers on a rollercoaster of a personal journey that makes her position as first heroine much more than a cynical decision for the sake of diversity. Similarly, Miorine’s aggressiveness makes for a great companion and foil, và the way she navigates her privilege and her desire to vày more for humanity is wonderful. & Suletta’s mom Prospera is not only the best Char Aznable in ages, but shows the quiet fury of a woman who will bởi anything for her child.
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As for minor characters, there are plenty of examples regardless of genders. Chuatury “Chuchu” Panlunch is refreshingly no-nonsense in a way rarely seen in anime. Guel Jeturk, a rival/potential love interest of Suletta, goes from annoying dude lớn endearing guy—something that actually happens more often than not with the cast. A number of characters are on the larger side but are not treated as jokes. Và while Secelia Dote only has seven minutes of screen time across the entire series, her snarkiness manages khổng lồ steal the show every time. I could keep going.
One of the more amazing things about Witch from Mercury is how well it strikes a balance between having ubiquitous mobile suits & incorporating them into the story and setting. They’re also very aesthetically pleasing, particularly the Aerial. It’s identifiably a Gundam, but its proportions & flourishes give a slight feminine feel without going straight into Nobel Gundam territory. I also enjoy the way it contrasts with other mecha, as it makes the Aerial come across more something that will disrupt the status quo. Moreover, Aerial is also a rare instance of a điện thoại suit basically being a character unto itself—something that has serious consequences as the series progresses.
A common criticism of Gundam as a whole is that while it generally contains anti-war messaging, the cool factor of the smartphone suits can kết thúc up drowning it out. Although the designs in this particular series are indeed among the best ever, Witch from Mercury is also the first to establish that the giải pháp công nghệ did not begin as a military endeavor, và this helps throw the use of di động suits as weapons into stark relief. It’s also part of a greater look at the inequalities và inequities suffered by those who lack the financial và familial might to lớn make the world care—a world where even the children of those in nguồn feel the burden of having to deal with their parents’ bullshit.
On that note, corporations play a major role in the series, và I’ve seen people get extremely confused with all the different alliances and factions. While I won’t say it’s simple to keep track of everything, one way to lớn navigate that website is to understand that many adult decisions are the result of corporate greed, & trying lớn find positions khổng lồ have the best profits with the least accountability. This is what makes Miorine’s ultimate decision all the more satisfying, as she throws that structure off kilter using the means available khổng lồ her. Gundam series often feature politics because of how they take place on grander scales.
These two elements together help Witch from Mercury’s politics feel very contemporary and relevant khổng lồ our times, instead of coming across as dated or tepid.
Witch from Mercury brings a new sense of what Gundam can be. It possesses many of the franchise’s well-worn tropes without being beholden khổng lồ them. It breaks boundaries of all kinds, whether through its quality cast of characters, its central same-sex romance, or its perspectives on conflict và humanity. I truly feel that what we have is a turning point in Gundam and anime as a whole, and I’m hopeful it’ll be for the better. Suletta is the first main Gundam heroine, but she won’t be the last.
This entry was posted in anime, gattai girls, giant robots, review, sunrise và tagged gundam, gundam witch from mercury, prospera mercury, suletta mercury. Bookmark the permalink.Post navigation
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Upcoming mecha anime Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury has revealed a new teaser visual in addition to its story, characters, and staff!
The Witch from Mercury is not only the first Gundam TV anime in seven years, but also the first installment lớn feature a female protagonist.
An era when a multitude of corporations have entered space & built a huge economic system.A lone girl from the remote planet Mercury transfers lớn the Asticassia School of Technology, run by the Beneritt Group which dominates the thiết bị di động suit industry.
Her name is Suletta Mercury.With a scarlet light burning in her pure heart,this girl walks step by step through a new world.
Suletta Mercury, a second-year transfer student in the piloting department, who pilots Gundam Aerial
Guel Jeturk, an heir khổng lồ Jeturk Heavy Machinery & a third-year student in the piloting department, who pilots Guel"s Dilanza
Shaddiq Zenelli, the adopted child of the CEO of Grassley Defense Systems & a third-year student in the piloting department, who pilots Michaelis
The main staff includes Hiroshi Kobayashi as director at Bandai Namco Filmworks/Sunrise with Ryo Ando as co-director. Code Geass" Ichiro Okouchi is in charge of series composition và the script, và Mogumo is providing original character designs. Characters designs for the anime will be handled by Marie Tagashira, Juro Toida, và Hirotoshi Takaya. The music will be composed by Takashi Ohmama.
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