Presentation PA #62

Turn A Gundam and Open & General Entertainment. This issue we’re introducing you to Turn A Gundam, which will probably surprise you a great deal! At first, for hardcore science fiction and Gundam fans, Turn A Gundam seems so different compared to the previous Gundam series: it might confuse you a bit! I think director Yoshiyuki Tomino wanted to go back to the basic essence of movie making -- “Open & General Entertainment” -- to appeal to almost everyone. He’s created a new genre of “literature anime with robots”. Even if the viewer isn’t a science fiction fan, Turn A Gundam can be enjoyed with its literature like atmosphere (imagine a BBC-TV’s Masterpiece Theatre costume play where Queen Diana could be played by young Helena Bonham Carter or someone like that). With a solid story of human relationships and a hero with a sunny disposition, Roland Seack, Turn A should appeal to just about everyone! Even without knowledge of past Gundam series, a total newcomer anime fan can enjoy this show which is almost like a soap opera (all the main female characters love Roland, etc.) with early 20th century costumes.

In an interview with Newtype Magazine, director Tomino says, “Films like Luc Besson’s Fifth Element are not easily understood by the general public because the film makers crossed the border of basic entertainment. It’s a bit selfish to ignore the general public’s need for basics”. So, what is the basic? To have fun, right? Viewing has to be FUN! If viewers can’t say, “oh, it was good and lots of fun”, what is the point of entertainment?!? When people (i.e. the general public) don’t understand what’s going on, we all start to lose interest, right? As for those serious Gundam fans, I feel that director Tomino wanted to say, “Please don’t take things too seriously. I want to entertain you. Please have fun!” With a total of 50 episodes, viewers get to experience a totally different hero in Roland who’s actually very honest, mild and gentle: he’s not undergoing a refraction bend like previous Gundam heroes! He’s not a tragic hero at all and is actually very natural.

Come to think of it, it’s already been over 20 years since Gundam first appeared in 1979 during the height of the Cold War (USA vs. the former Soviet Union -- which has since disappeared off the face of the map). The Gundam stories were very clear (one group against the other) but now, in 2000, this anime has no conception of justice or evil or anything (and it is more about a splinter, or terrorist, group). The characters just react to whatever happens to them in their lives -- just like us in a way. Miss Kiel chuckles when she sees Gundam, “Oh, a bearded, white doll?!” With its beard and its erected private parts, this Gundam is a symbol of Queen Diana’s lover (oh, how romantic?!). The ending might be a bit sad, but viewers should feel romantic (with the final episode “The Golden Autumn”). And note that all the major characters of this show are female! So, please sit and enjoy this romantic anime with robots.

Miyako Matsuda

You are watching Gundam Wing on TV and you like it? Wait to see Turn A Gundam, the latest Gundam series, which ended on Japanese TV just six months ago (on March 31st)! Since it is unlikely to be available any time soon in North America, this issue is offering you all the information you need to know about Turn A Gundam: overview of the story, character & mecha files, and synopses (for the first half of the series: episodes 1 to 26)! This issue also offers a Spotlight on Detective Conan (which might be broadcast on Fox later this Fall), reports on the Summer Conventions & Festivals (FanimeCon, Animazement, SakuraCon, Anime Central, Project A-kon, Fantasia), overviews of recent anime shows («Anime Stories» on The Big O, Generator Gawl, Kachô Oji (Aka Black Heaven) and Kurogane Communication), the usual «Anime World» articles (The Modern Japanese Music Database Part 6, etc.), Reviews (of the latest Anime videos, Books, Manga, live-action movies and Model Kits), and the latest news! Enjoy and take care!

NEXT ISSUE: The movies of the summer (Blood: The Last Vampire, Escaflowne The Movie: A Girl In Gaia, Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence Of Utena, Vampire Hunter D), more conventions & festivals (Anime North, Anime Expo, CNanime, more on Fantasia, the Montreal World Film Festival, etc.), and the usual anime stories, news & reviews! Reserve your copy now!

Claude J. Pelletier