Gundam Wing Part II

When I lent the Gundam Wing dvd set to a friend of mine, I described the depth of the series and the fact that one actually has to concentrate on the story and the speeches of the characters to make clear the reasons behind each individual's actions. Once I gave it to him, I felt a very powerful urge to rewatch it myself, and after about 3-4 weeks my friend returned it unfinished. So the last 2.5 days, I plowed through the entire series, all 49 episodes of it. I believe I dismantled the series once before, however, that was drawn from my previous understanding of the series back in my Grade 6 days in 2001. One could say that as a 11 year old kid, one's understanding on the complexity of war and peace are severely limited. Having rewatched the series now 8 years later, I believe that I have a much more clear understanding of the message or theme of the series. One might be able to see the that I am rather obsessed with this series... Can't help it, I'm clingy :P

Neways, if the series had different core ideas and messages at different stages, I would split the series into 3 seperate ideas. the first third of the series focuses on the using of the name of peace and justice as a fascade for oppression and dictatorship. The pacifist leader of the space colonies was advocating a peaceful relationship with the Earth alliance, and to stop the oppression of the colonies. However, the leader is assasinated by OZ, a special forces division within the alliance military that is the strongarm of a foundation which seeks to gain power and establish a ruling class, a heirarchy of power & order. The Gundams were originally sent to destroy the entire alliance without mercy by rebel colonist opposed to the Earth alliance rule directed by OZ from within the alliance. However, the scientist and their respective Gundam pilots refuse to massacre and ravage the earth in revenge, believing that the peaceminded leader would never forgive them. They instead choose to attack OZ and OZ only, to attempt to foil their plans to establish unbalanced power rule on Earth and in space.

The second part of the series, as fighting escalates between the Gundams and OZ, peace ideals begin to surface within the alliance while the colonies, which the Gundams supposably protect, remain neutral. OZ and its Romefella foundation seeks to eliminate the pacifist as they oppose their ideal world in which power is ruled in the traditional way, unbalanced. OZ tricks the pilots into accidentally eliminating the peaceminded leaders of the Earth alliance and they assasinate the minister responsible for facilitating peace negotiations between the colonies and Earth. This allows OZ to dislodge the alliance and completely take over from within. The Gundams continue to attack OZ as it was their original goal. A nation that was previously destroyed due to its pacifism reignites its ideals of total pacifism, but proves to obstruct romefella's goals, and is quickly attacked and the nation desolves. Pacifism and the peace it produces is quickly obliterated in face of opposition.

The final part of the series shows as the colonist are tricked by OZ to arm themselves in defense to the growing strength of Romefella and the Earth. As minor powers gather together on both sides to form the Earth Nation and the revolutionaries of the White Fang (which reflect the anxious and retalitory intentions of a minority of the colonists) and tension rises between them. Unmanned weapons begin being deployed by the masses and war is beginning to be dehumanised as the major powers completely annihilate human resistance since a human cannot fight as well, with the precision and quickness of a machine. OZ's leader originally believed that pacifism was a cry of the weak, but strongly opposed the dehumanising of wars, making humans redundant on the battlefield. War loses its impact, and instead of achieving absolute victory with souless weapons, a demeanour to fighting is necessary. People will fight, and realise how pathetic and painful it is and choose to stop fighting. On a small scale however, history will repeat itself. But as leaders of both sides understand, they continue stir up a conflict of massive proportions just to get that point across to all of humanity. It states that certain conditions must be met in order for total pacifism to work and maintain itself. Certain foundations must be laid.

1. All weapons must be destroyed.
2. The desire to fight must be distinguished.
3. A heart that is capable of sympathise with people, kindness. And leaders with that heart.

One must watch it to understand. I would rarely speak of such medias with such high regards. However, the writers clearly thought long and hard on a storyline as politically and philosophically charged as this one. In a way, this storyline reflects what is happening in the world these days. War and Peace are constantly being toyed with, and "peacekeeping" forces are deployed worldwide in political "hot zones".

The feature length film that was created to finish off the series expands on these ideas. It's about the fact that peace isn't something that is just given to you. You must want it, badly enough to fight for it. And once everyone fights for peace, then you don't need to fight at all. Everyone means civilians, soldiers and politians alike.

Gets the mind thinking. It's why I like this series, and always will like it. Anyways I think everyone is sick of this "anime reviewing" crap that I seem to do for this series haha... like I said, I'm kinda obsessed with it. but hey... gotta go sleep.