Story: After the monumental disgrace that is ZZ Gundam, you are treated with a fine Gundam story with CCA. The shows come back full force in this OVA, with political intrigue, character development, a little dark tone to the background and the definitive end of the original UC arc. Overall I think that the story is satisfactory. By now you are familiar with the main protagonists such as Char, Amuro, and Bright - hence finally seem them in action in their decisive battle. Although the idea of the plot is interesting, with Char finally taking control of Neo Zeon and making his final attack on Earth by trying to cause a new Ice Age and making all humans go to space (don't worry that's not a spoiler, you know this by the first 10 min), I felt that something was off. By what exactly? Everything seems to fit in the background and Char's motivations are fine, same for Amuro. After thinking I discovered what was off. Part of the core of this OVA, and by core I mean "major plot instigator" is the story of Quess. And Quess side story is lame. Quess is the rotten apple in this OVA. She introduces a sort of stupid romantic subplot, together with weird motivations that are completely out of the essential element of CCA. This is the final fight between Amuro and Char, and you have this annoying girl coming from nowhere, with ridiculous motives and pathetic script and she kinda drags the story down. I have no problems with romantic subplots when done right, and I`ve mentione some I like in my review of Gundam Unicorn, but this one is just terrible and out-of-place. Finally, I think that the ending could be like...A LOT better. It is cool, but nowhere near what it should be. You will surely enjoy, but there are some bumps here and there.
Art & Sound: Art is amazing, better than Zeta, but the OST lacks in variety and it has no "memorable" music for the final fight or major events. For something important to the UC as CCA, they should have worked on the OST.
Character: Char, as always, steal the scene. Amuro, this time, steals as well. He shows a brilliant maturity for his character. That made me so happy because you follow Amuro since the beginning, and in here you see him as basically a grown man, focused and dedicated to his cause. The interaction between Amuro and Char are perfect. You can see these two characters have a long history together and want to close this conflict once and for all. However, in parallel with this brilliant and awesome writing, you have to deal with Quess. An immature, uninteresting, lame, obnoxious, irritating and spoiled girl. Why? Why was she needed? I could totally see the story without her. Amuro and Char didn't need a new spark to fight, they have enough baggage to fight each other. Quess is a drag to see and a drag to the story. Aside from her, all secondary characters are good too. Forget Quess and everything else is on point.
Mechas: As a lover of mechas and Gunplas, I am always trying to get more of the mechas. This time you have the Nu Gundam, that kind looks similar to Gundam RX-78 MK II from Zeta - which was kind of a letdown, but his gunpla showed me otherwise. Man, the mechanical aspects of Nu Gundam are awesome. Char gets the Sazabi, with a cool design that is similar to the Zakus, but more elegant. Jagd Doga, piloted by Gyunei is extremely lame. Looks like a bird Gundam. I was disappointed with the MS in CCA because I had higher expectations for the MS which would fight in the final clash but there is nothing wrong with them.
Overall: A great closure to the original UC arc. Seen the interaction between Amuro and Char is worthy enough to see CCA because is perfect. The story is compelling, but they could had worked on a more epic fight and a better ending. Quess is a terrible addition but ignore her and you should be fine. Don't miss seeing this OVA because is very good.
