Hi. I'm actually going to base this review, comparing it the the prequel. So all I have to say first is that the first series of Gundam Seed is much more better than this one. I actually watched the first three episodes of this series before even watching the first series, so I decided to watch the first one instead. I was right about watching the first series first, because the other one bypasses this series by far. Especially since the main character (protagonist) changes to an obnoxious, ignorant, and selfish person, that may be a reason why I didn't like this series as much.
Animation:
The animation of this series was okay in relation to its predecessor, Gundam Seed. The first series was so much better in action and fighting that this one looks really bad. Since I watched the first one, I thought this one would be just like it, but I was mistakened. However, as I saw the old characters of the first one come back and play their roles, it gave me the reassurance that this series would be worth watch. There could have been a lot of improvement in this series of the animation, and the prequel bypasses it by far.
Sound:
The music in which this series plays is again, not as good as the first series, but it does show that the creators are trying to portray the feeling and emotion of the beginning and end. There isn't much to say about the sound, but there really could have been improvement and a better music and sound quality to it.
Story:
This series takes place two years after the incident between the Naturals and Coordinators with the main characters Kira Yamato and Athrun Zala. However, in this series, a new person is introduced, his name is Shinn Asuka.
The story is almost like the first series, except that some Naturals (Extended) steal mobile suits from ZAFT. Then ZAFT goes after them and Shinn must fight them to try to destroy them or try to get the mobile suits back. But it is not as easy as it seems, and the Minerva (the battleship piloted by Captain Gladys) is used to fight the enemy Naturals.
The Logos, the root to the Blue Cosmos, an group of people radically against the Coordinators are behind the war that's about to begin again between the two different kinds of people. As the Naturals try to used nuclear weapons again to destroy PLANT, the Coordinators show no mercy and use a weapon made up of static electricity and a kind of wave that destroys everything, and shows the Logos that they aren't that easily defeated. Then the events take place and Athrun Zala must join ZAFT again and fight to see what "he" can do with his own power.
Character:
Shinn Asuka, a 16-year-old ZAFT mobile suit pilot, wearing the red uniform, showing a great distinction between many of the other people in ZAFT. The series starts when his parents, sister, and he are trying to run away and escape to the shuttles to get away from the bombings. When his little sister, Mayu, drops her cell phone down a hill, he slides down to retrieve it. But when he does, he dodges death when a huge bomb from a mobile suit bombs the place where his parents and sister were. They are dead and he screams with tears and resentment against Orb. From this event, he blames the Naturals and Orb of what had happened to his family. He despises Naturals and Orb and only thinks what he does is the right thing to do. His attitude and personality are unlike a soldier, going against his superiors and acting like he knows everything and understands everything. He is trapped within the past and as he fights Kira Yamato, and Athrun Zala later in the series, he still does not realize that both ZAFT and the Logos are the wrong ones. As he is confused and does not know what to do, he is manipulated by Rey, another ZAFT soldier and the Chairman, Gilbert. He goes berserk a lot and destorys many lives, people, ships, mobile suits, and has no regret that he's doing this. And finally, at the end, when everything is over, he realizes that what he had been fighting for, had been the wrong choices after all. His character and personality are the opposite to the former main character Kira Yamato, and Shinn Asuka is kind of what made me dislike this series a lot than I should have. But he is the main focus, although there are many other characters as well.
Athrun Zala is in this series, rejoining ZAFT and fighting with his power, but as the events pass and realizes what the Chairman of the High Council of ZAFT is doing, he decides to once again fight with the Archangel.
Lacus Clyne, Kira Yamato, Captain Murrue, and Mirialla are all in this series as well, from the first series, and with their roles in this series, made me want to watch it more.
Value:
The value of this series is not as good as the first series, so if you haven't seen the first series, watch that one first. But this series is good to keep.
Enjoyment:
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one, but when I saw that the characters of the first series were also present in this series, like Kira, Lacus, Murrue, and Cagalli, I wanted to continue to watch it. I really despised the character Shinn Asuka, however, as I have really made a biased opinion on him. I know that he is just a confused, over-dramatic and emotional individual, he really made me want to go and punch him. But I know that's impossible to do. What really made me angry about him was that he onlt thought that "he" only understand what was happening. How he back-talked to Athrun, and how he spoke to Cagalli, who wre involved with the previous war, really made me go to the edge of my seat. If he was out of the picture and Kira was replaced by him and the entire story was changed with Kira still the main protagonist and fighter, then I think I would have enjoyed it more. But in the end, I watched the entire series anyway. I respect the way the creators made Shinn and how he was an individual affected by the war, but I think they could have made him a bit more sentimental to the other characters. There were even times when I hoped he'd get get seriously hurt, but those times never happened.
Although I realize that I am not a part of the story or the characters, it really makes a person really involved in the though process as well as the emotions that the characters engage in.
Anyway, if you haven't seen this series yet, you MUST watch it. Just be aware that the new character, Shinn, may make you want to get at him as he did to me, but it depends on your own perspective on war and your understanding of the first series. All in all, I pretty much enjoyed this series. I hope that you will too!
Sorry this review may be a bit long, but I hope I've enticed you to watch this series.
Another thing that I've realized in this series and the first series is that there is absolutely NO COMEDY. Most anime series have funny times, but I don't remember even one time when I laughed. If you are in for a very serious, dramatic, and action-packsed series, then I suggest this series, but mainly the first series, Gundam Seed.
Anyway, that's my review!
See ya! Watch this one, you probably will like it!
