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"Banāji Rinkusu, Yunikōn Gandamu, ikimasu!!"

The long awaited 4 years for the conclusion to the Unicorn series has finally made contact and landed. To many others, impatience grew to what made people become frustrated with the series. Have they never heard of the saying, good things come to those who wait? Was it worth the wait? In my opinion I’d like to dwell on in this review, it is very well worth it for a Gundam fan.

Story: 8
For the 4 years of long waiting, it’s just a wild cat and mouse game coming from space, then to Earth, and all the way back to where it ... all began. With only 7 episodes to follow on where Banagher Links went from a civilian life to maturing towards the end of the series, it’s very subtle how one could quickly progress that far. The storyline continues three years after the events of Char’s Counterattack, and the space drama continues on with what remained from then. It wouldn’t hurt a new viewer to start watching this series without the previous, but there will be a lot of gaps of missing backstory and terminology to figure in while watching. What was probably the most important deal is let a friend or whoever will start watching the series is to watch CCA first before hitting the last episode. Major spoilers there, and that’s what will really giveaway their interpretation to the mysterious events happened in CCA. Overall though about the story, it wasn’t too hard to follow, but the only complaints was the hyped up revelation revealed to be controversial and surprisingly metaphorical in a sense in the end.

Art: 10
For being the highest budget Gundam series Bandai put serious money into, their staff definitely knew the kind of return on investments they were getting back from their hard work. Each and every mobile suit deserved their fair share of detailed brilliance. With every new kind of mobile suits revealed in every episode, it’s a sign for hobbyists to go out and just buy, buy, buy gunpla kits for their collection. The art quality reached its peak once you watch episode 7. The staff went all out on it to even do the unexpected, redoing some famous Gundam scenes in HD. As a Gundam fan, this is one very pleasant gift to all fans and veterans who have been watching since nearly 40 (35 to be exact from 2014) years ago.

Sound: 10
Unless you’re just a music hater, the overall soundtrack made for this series are truly a masterpiece. From the majestic triumphant of the UNICORN piece, to the epic journey of nostalgia through the BEGINNING piece, all the tracks plays accordingly well with each and every scene of all the episodes. As an incredible fan favorite to many, “merry-go-round” was an ace in the hole as to how it was cut into the ending to Episode 3. Just to note for all readers, give the OST a try with the hooks I recommend: MOBILE SUIT, FULL FRONTAL, MOBILE ARMOR, and last, but not least, UNICORN.

Character: 9
From the very first episode, I focused most of my attention to the mechas and their battles. The characters on the other hand, they’re the key plot to this whole space drama the Gundam universe is famous for. To be fair, the expression of emotions displayed during the series were humanistic and not just monotonous. Let’s start with Banagher, the 16 year old high school student who got dragged into the conflict led by the adults from the previous wars. His pacifism morals is almost typical like any other hero who doesn’t want to bring on many pointless deaths. In comparison to other most notable pacifist heroes from alternative Gundam series, Banagher’s case is bearable unlike one who says he wants the fighting to stop but still kills or the other who goes as far as to protect the enemies and let his comrades die. And one who opposes him is the Second Coming of Char, Full Frontal. Resolve above all, the ghost of Char still plays the cool and collected leader who seeks to change what the world must come to. The jealousy, the sense of duty, and tragedy that plays along that reaches out well from this this series that’s more than just mecha porn, but the space drama that it is.

Enjoyment: 10
For the 4 years of wait that it has been, I’ve better to enjoy this since otherwise that wait would have been for nothing. What I’ve particularly enjoyed most were the incredibly details in mecha designs, the amazing work of the OST, and the art and animation running throughout the series. The mecha designs and displayed in the series inspired me to go out and purchase a few model kits to build, despite the serious lack of time for me to do anything due to the university life now. Although I was not much for the story or characters, what did hit me like a truck were the tragic moments throughout the series. The deaths that occurred, incredible feels from when the hero cried for them. And this is what makes the characters enjoyable, the emotions.

Overall: 10
For this OVA series, it’s not the perfect series out there, but it’s outstanding. The scoring of nearly a 9 and a half is what I think this deserves as it serves decent closure to Universal Century conflict. It doesn’t answer everything, but that leaves it to how the viewer’s would like to interpret that with their imagination. Possibility is what drives humanity forward, and anything is possible if you truly put your mind to it. Give this series a chance, especially now since all of the episodes are available to marathon it without waiting those hellish half to a full year of waiting in between each episode. After watching it the first time, give it a rewatch to actually grasp everything the series gave out in case you might not have understood all of that happened the first time.

Every human has possibility, give some of that possibility to try Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn out!

This is my first ever written review on MAL, and I decided to do it on Hyouka. There are tons of other anime out there that are probably better than this one, as one could be opinionated about his/her perspective. I'll be frank, there are series we all may view as a Masterpiece, but it feels unrealistic to single one out of all the others. When I say it's a 10, it's OUTSTANDING. I know this may not be a 10 in a lot of people's books, but it is in mine, and I would like to review about it.

Art: 10
Fans could tell a lot ... of money was poured into budgeting for the art, and that's where it contributes the quality of it. It's KyoAni, and they've made works of incredible artwork, and this is no different. The pictures are of bright colors, and great details. It's not just the characters themselves, but the environment surrounding them that is quite the amazement of how it's near the levels of being realistic in some scenes of the anime. It's simply outstanding.

Character: 10
The main casts revolve around the Classics Club members, and each of them have their unique ingredients that contributes to spicing up the story. They all can't stand alone individually, since we would never see their true colors unless they are amongst each other. The traits that each character has are what makes the story interesting, and they are what is driving it. Other than their traits, it's the romance that's just there that hits me the most. It's obvious there are characters in any series fans feel they should already get together. When they just simply don't do that, it stirs up fan's reactions to bring themselves to be piqued at the drama of being
why not?! why isn't THIS happening??"


Story: 8
I give the story an 8.5 as I feel there are some missing gaps I feel are present. Don't get me wrong, the directing of the transitioning from each episode to the next are done quite smoothly. I like to look at it from outside the box, and I view some minor inconsistencies. In every episode, there's a new mystery to solve because a certain one's curiosity. After that mystery is solved, they move onward to the next in a snap just like that. It's not as though there isn't any plot, since every other episode, the characters reference back to the previous ones in respect to relate their current dilemma. The other thing I feel at odds of whether I like it or not, is the main plot overall. The dislike factor I have is what is the goal the story is driving towards? But in opposition to that, I like how the way things are like that since it opens up to endless possibilities of new mystery cases. The most obvious theme any viewers see that progresses Hyouka is... What is it? "...I'm curious!" ô.ô

Sound: 10
If I recall correctly, every background tracks or song was outstanding at the right timing of its cue. When there are good times, positive-toned tracks are played. When there are dark or serious moments of the anime, the right tracks for that atmosphere is played off greatly as well.

Overall: 10
I don't know about you all, but I've enjoyed this serious tremendously. A lot may dislike how a mystery being this in a school environment, meaning they may not be as intense or serious as mysteries seen in darker-toned genres that include some sort of action-packed moments or a horrendous death. I look at the way this series played its cards of being a mystery genre, and they have hit it off very well. So what if it's 4 high school students making some drama out of the things they encounter. THAT'S THE BIG DEAL! Not only do those mysteries just come out as that, but there are some serious plot twists in those mysteries, and they are what brings my attention to Hyouka as being outstanding.

Thanks for reading my first MAL review, and being able to read it all as how I wanted to express my thoughts about the series.