CLXXXI: "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" series

So far, my least favorite. First time hearing about them, I considered Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, and its successor Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny the black sheep of the Gundam franchise. Over time, my feelings for it changed, but it didn't have the flair that I see in both the older titles and Mobile Suit Gundam AGE, which is the current anime out. It bounced from my most hated to the briefly liked in terms of anime in general.

In Gundam SEED, the story centers around young Coordinator Kira Yamato. In this timeline, there are 2 different people: the Natruals, people born and raised of Earth that live normally, and Coordinators, genetically altered humans that learn faster, and feature bodies that are quicker and stronger than normal. As with most media, he is a teen that is thrown into war when the antagonists ZAFT attack the colony he is on. Upon impulse, he pilots the Strike Gundam, and during his encounters, he ends up piloting the Gundam alongside the Earth Alliance, encountering foes like his childhood friend turned foe Athrun Zala. In Gundam SEED Destiny, the setting is two years after Gundam SEED's conclusion, and a third pilot joins the fray. Destiny follows the viewpoint of ZAFT soldier Shinn Asuka, though the regulars Kira and Athrun return as well. The war participants overall are the Earth Alliance, ZAFT, PLANT, Orb Alliance, and the terrorist group Blue Cosmos. What will be the fate of these 3 pilots?

Per usual, it features similarities seen in other Gundam media. The Coordinators introduced in SEED revisit the "different human" aspect featured since the original Gundam anime, which introduced Newtypes. In addition, the antagonist are seen with Z in their name, which carries on from other Gundam media: to name a few, the original Mobile Suit Gundam (Principality of Zeon), and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (OZ). There are many machines, on top of featuring more than a few Gundams. In fact, aside from it's political themes, it features the Gundam vs. Gundam concept, something also seen in Mobile Fighter G Gundam, which was released prior to SEED's development.

Gundam SEED lasts for 50 episodes, alongside an OVA. Gundam SEED Destiny also went for 50 episodes and an OVA. Two films, Gundam SEED: Special Edition and Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition, were compilation movies dealing with their namesake titles. Somewhat related, there was a 2 part animation dealing with the manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Astray, as well as a 3 part net animation titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73 Stargazer. The C.E. stands for the universe's setting, called Cosmic Era. As with other titles to different Eras, SEED is exclusive to the Cosmic era timeline. Both anime were made in the Sunrise studio, licensed by Bandai Entertainment. Like the others, it saw merchandise dealing with the title, such as model kits and appearances in video games like Gundam Battle Assault and Dynasty Warriors Gundam, both of which are under Namco Bandai Games. Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala, and Shinn Asuka are voiced respectively by Matt Hill, Samuel Vincent, and Matthew Erickson. Their voice roles are also done in the games by the same actors.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, as a whole, gains a 7 of 10, but must I choose to separate them, SEED Destiny retains the score, while the original SEED will get 6 of 10. I like the mechas, not so much the story, but I no longer dislike SEED as much as I did originally.