Gundam Anime on DVD

As I am a Gundam fan, I do collect other things related to Gundam other than Gunpla. One such thing is the anime. I enjoy watching the Gundam anime. The series actually has quite a history. The first gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam actually started in 1979. I collect the DVDs and watch them. Actually knowing the anime and the story line gives you much more satisfaction and more attachment when building the Gunpla. Below are three DVDs which I got hold of recently.

Mobile Suit Gundam Theatrical Movie Compilation

 Following the success of Mobile Suit Gundam in syndication, Yoshiyuki Tomino returned to the series and produced three feature films based on the TV series. Each film is mostly compiled from TV animation, with a substantial amount of new footage in the third film. Each movie runs over two hours and contains about 13 episodes worth of the TV story. Presenting the series in this compacted form allowed many new fans to be attracted to the series without having to watch all 43 episodes. The three movies, released from 1981-1982, proved to be a massive success.

Gundam 0083 The Last Blitz of Zeon

The short OVA Gundam 0080 proved that the home video market was a viable outlet for Gundam. When Gundam F91 was released in 1991, Gundam 0083 was released soon after. Directed by Takashi Imanishi (MS IGLOO, Gundam Evolve) and Mitsuko Kase, this series takes a look back at an important part of Gundam history: the seven year gap between Gundam and Zeta Gundam, as well as the founding of the fascist Titans. The story focuses on rookie test pilot Kou Uraki and his rival, Zeon ace pilot Anavel Gato. With high quality animation and mechanical designs by Macross' Shoji Kawamori and Gundam Sentinel's Hajime Katoki, Gundam 0083 is probably the most epic in scope of the OVA series set in the Universal Century. It has been criticized for its plot holes and inconsistencies. Also, there are complaints that some of the technology seen in this series surpasses what is seen later in Zeta Gundam. Before the series was completed in 1992, a compilation film titled The Afterglow of Zeon was released. In 1998 the series was released in the U.S. as part of the first wave of commercial Gundam releases. The series has aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block and is available on DVD, but the movie has never been released in the U.S.

Gunpla Builders Beginning G

Although every Gundam series is designed to emphasize merchandising, the 2010 OVA series Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G puts a new spin on the concept. Directed by Kou Matsuo (Rozen Maiden, Red Garden) with a script by Yousuke Kuroda (Gundam 00), Gunpla Builders is set in the real world, where Gundams are just model kits that get used in a 3D battle simulation video game. Young Haru Irei, a recent gunpla convert, gets his hands on the mysterious Beginning Gundam model kit and starts competing in the Gunpla Battle game. As a "real world" anime, Gunpla Builders features many cameos of mobile suits from other Gundam shows, often customized with new parts or color schemes. With three short episodes, Gunpla Builders resembles the earlier Gundam SEED C.E. 73 STARGAZER in length. Although it's an OVA series, it aired on Japanese TV prior to its home video release. Gunpla Builders is not available in the U.S.