The most noticeable thing G-Tekketsu does better than most Gundam shows is the characters, or more so the character relationships. From episode 1 several character relationships are introduced. Every character has a different relationship, and the main characters have several different types of relationships with one another. Now in other Gundam shows each character would have a set relationship with another character and maybe sometimes it would develop or change, but they would always be incredibly simple or shallow. The relationships in G-Tekketsu feels very human and natural and are nurtured by the setting and events of the world. The characters grow, learn, and fall then get back up again throughout the story. The characters accomplish great things against all odds but they also make mistakes and do not always have the correct answers for everything. These are great features to have in a show about adolescents growing up on the backdrop of violence.
Another thing G-Tekketsu does better than almost any Gundam shows is its’ directing. Tatsuyuki Nagai is a great director who takes priority on telling a story as clear as possible. Which is something this franchise needed since G-Reco’s directing and editing was a complete pile of ass. Creative choices like starting episode one on a sunset to signify the ending of the character’s innocents to then having the episode end on a sun-rise to represent a beginning of a journey was great way to express the narrative visually. The action directing did not try to recreate the action of the past Gundam shows either. The action was a new take on how mobile suits can fight. With the focus on melee weapons the show’s cinematography had to follow suit.
https://sakuga.yshi.org/post?tags=mobile_suit_gundam%3A_iron-blooded_orphans
The link above will show you that the animation is pretty amazing as well.
The music of the series is nothing less than amazing. Yokoyama, Masaru is absolutely marvelous. Just like his previous works; he goes a step beyond just making cool sounding music. All of the music in this show builds the atmosphere and works thematically as well. Making this soundtrack one of the best of the year. Furthermore it’s just well written music.
Mari Okada gets a lot of flak. For what reason? I don’t know, but for this series she does bring some pretty interesting ideas. Such as when Char Clone dawning his mask and reveals his new identity to the viewer on the episode in which all the characters come to realize that they don’t truly know who each other really is. Another is example is how she mirrors the first two episodes with the last two.
Many call this show blatant. But in reality it just really clear. However it has many deeper intricacies if the viewer is willing to put in the effort to actually look deeper. Significant things always are happing and the story and characters go a long way. Kudelia is leagues better than Lacus Cline and Helena Peacecraft. Mikazuki is leagues better than Heero or than any of the characters from Wing. All of them are more complex than the cast from dense piece of shit that was G-reco. This show stacks up. To me my new favorite AU Gundam show at the moment. That is If Turn A doesn’t count as an AU, which I don’t think it does.
