Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
MrCyanMan
I don't really think a huge review of Turn A Gundam would be good, it's such a dense show that I think many people can find enjoyment from in different ways. From the plot, themes, characters, setting and art there are a lot of interesting ideas in this show that make it unique not only within the mecha genre, but also within anime.
Instead, I just want to say that most of the reviews that don't recommend this show, fundementally misunderstand it. The slice of life episodes are not "random" nor are they "pleasantries" in the same way you'd expect from say, Frieren. They aren't formulaic or used to slow down pace, but rather build up immersion throughout the story and create a world that exceeds its plot. Tomino has always been great at doing this, but with this show he (and other writers…
Read at the sourceBazzy2077
Watching this right after "The 08th MS Team" which finally got the balance of lighthearted and comedic elements with war drama and showing the consequences of said war right. This one feels like a regression in every single way comparatively.
And while saying this is most similar to the 1979 og Gundam Anime might sound like praise to some. Having recently suffered through the three compilation movies of that show and finding two of them to be bad already It's actually the opposite.
At first I wanted to write something along the lines of "this is a whole new definition of a slow burn Anime".
But honestly reading the Manga right afterwards and seeing most of the plot elements, all of the meaningless meandering around. Side characters wasting screentime with no meaningful progression or c…
Read at the sourceDonPetals
Turn A Gundam is a life-affirming masterpiece in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise and my personal favorite. This is a must-watch for any fan of anime as a medium and requires very minimal knowledge about the wider Mobile Suit Gundam franchise to be invested.
The old-meets-new world is endlessly interesting, and each character that dwells within it is a joy to watch on screen. The art direction, music, and animation are the best in the franchise up to this point. The character development and world building are rich with an appropriate level of depth for the story. Somehow Turn A Gundam turns even the mundane into a mesmerizing affair. We even get great homages to prior Gundam series.
Read at the sourcethewiru
Turn A Gundam is a series of good episodes (When it isn't being Turn A Gundam) in a sea of mediocre to bad episodes (When it is being Turn A Gundam). By MAL standards, this anime is not very popular, which creates the effect that most reviews of it are popular because they come from a sampled bias of Gundam fans.
While it starts with a very good first episode, showcasing the late XIXth century to early XXth century setting, the reality is that most of the anime is comprised not of this, but of pointless mecha fights in green prairies without any personal stakes involved. Indeed, it was the time of "sponsor-mandated one mecha fight per episode", though while anime like Macross manage to structure themselves in a way that it is never a problem or even imperceptible, here it sticks out like…
Read at the sourceCaeruleus_CCXVI
6.5/10 ~ Peak Gundam with some major flaws
This Gundam is truly Peak Gundam in terms of the story they are trying to tell, Animation, design, art direction and some character writing. And Making all Gundam Timelines diverge into this is something I can get behind. The fact that there are actual scenes of Industrial Age vs Space Age/ Mobile Suites and everything in between is wild, and you generally don't know what will actually happen which is a huge plus.
I am a bit torn by this rating, I really really enjoyed this one... but my god was most of the viewing exsperiance for me jankey. - Only available in Sub
- extremely hard to find online anywhere legally and you have to purchase expensive DVD's or Bluerays
- streams of this are hard to find
- no reliable torrents are available
- horribl…
Read at the sourceSp1cyCrab
Turn A doesn't preach about morality. It's not about a kid learning responsibility during a war and growing up.
The core of Turn A is how people are fucking stupid on the organizational level. Military disobeys its government because they think they know better. Multiple factions arise fueled not by lust for power but their genuine worry for their people.
This isn't typical for the franchise where each side appears to be monolithic (unless you're the "bad guy" then you're doomed for double crossing closer to the finale)
Tomino here wrote to his strength. While Loran is a simple character, he is surrounded by an amazing supporting cast that often carry the show.
There are some pacing issues in the second half but such is a fate of 49 ep show.
This might be the peak Gundam.
Read at the sourceNoahboy
After watching this through, I can confidently say that this is my favourite anime, Turn A Gundam resonated with me in a way that I haven't gotten from any other anime before.
The characters are fantastic here and absolutely live up to the Gundam franchise standards. The show is paced in a way that allows you to understand the characters and see them grow as they persevere through situations of varying intensity. It's not afraid to deal with relatively mundane situations, which makes a huge difference when compared to other Gundam series and I absolutely love it for this. Some people may think Turn A is too silly, but aside from a few moments, I think the tone is really well balanced, having really impactful moments to keep things from being too silly. The pacing also never left me bored…
Read at the sourceAtelier_Weiss
When it comes to the Gundam franchise there are many problems that arise no matter what entry you're watching. They have a habitual issue of not being able to realise their full potential and usually the runtime is more a detriment than a strength as there are either clear portions of a show that is significantly better than the rest or episodes that feel like entirely pointless and, more importantly, dull. This even happens with shorter entries like 08th MS Team, an OVA that has a first half that's bombastic, a rich narrative, intense atmosphere unlike any other Gundam anime and an interesting underlying romance plot developing between two characters on opposite sides. In the second half, the high quality storytelling is lost and devolves into a messy albeit entertaining romance story mis…
Read at the sourceA1anne
I saw one of the review saying that there wasn't many fight and I laugh so loud about that.
There isn't an episode without a fight. This is what almost made me drop this. « I am mad cuz i see a new robot in the air, so i'm not gonna ask what's happening, i'm gonna fight » « They are asking for peace, it's insulting, we should fight » « There is a nuclear bomb that could kill everybody at our feet, we should fight for it, who cares if it exploses. » « i'm mad, i don't care who, i'm gonna fight » And so on for 50 episode, at least once for episode.
And trust me, there is no exageration.
Character developpement is non existent. Characters are flat, in a loophole, you take them from episode 1 and episode 50, they are the same.
Story goes around in circle. Etc.
I gave this a 6. Know th…
Read at the sourceGodslayer27
I have seen just another gundam series aside of this one (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans which was pretty nice actually), and i have to say that i expected more of this one, even throught i could enjoy and really like some things of it overall some of the points more important (under my opinion) that has to have an series its an certain grade of coherence in the story as well as the chararacters in his actions, but i gonna to expand about thhis in more detail below. This series its not necesary to watch it after have been watch the ones of the universal century (even throught could be useful because there are some metions that even if doesnt perjudice the overal experiecen i think could be ncie to those who are really big fans of the series).
Now i gonna start with the things i…
Read at the source2Screw
The soundtrack and general sound design are great probably the best thing the show has going for it.
the story seemed to working in a cycle of 5 good episodes and 5 bad ones; I watched this witch a friend and one week we were on the end of our seats and the next we were bored out our mind by unnecessary dialogue and fights that didn't advance the plot.
the fights seemed to have a similar contrast between the amazing fights like the first fight with ensign poe which then got repeated a few too many times for me; or the fight between turn a and corin nander and of course the final fight that was really epic.
This was only my second gundam series after iron blooded orphans; so maybe if i had watched the entire universal century before hand then maybe that context would changed my overall e…
Read at the sourceRauLeCreuset
I have seen this gundam anime before during the many years that I have been a member of my anime list since early march of 2015. This anime literakly shocked me, as it took place around two thousand years after the original mobile suit gundam. After the universal century. But, so much information was released. So, that means access to this information is only limited to those that have been around it. This anime the main protagonist is quickly tying to get rid of all it's stuff so she/he can make room for the complete dictation of the e tire situation.
Read at the sourceThe_Namer
In look, tone, and setting it's a radical departure from Tomino's earlier entries in the franchise, and yet it feels authentically Gundam. There's a sense of endless imagination to it. In many Gundam series, most aspects of the setting are established early and can wear thin by the end of 50 episodes, but Turn A is always throwing something new and interesting at the viewer, whether that be an unusual culture, surprising everyday uses for giant robots, ever-shifting allegiances, new locations, or striking new mecha and costume designs.
All of this takes place in a show that feels like Tomino was more comfortable in his own skin than with his earlier works. While tragedy can still strike, there's less of the casual brutality, and a greater sense of hope and humanity. It's packed with inte…
Read at the sourceTenshouYoku
Without a shadow of doubt, Turn A Gundam, despite some flaws in the story, is my favourite show among Gundam, possibly even among all anime I've seen.
What makes this show stand out significantly among Gundams is probably how light hearted this show is, even when compared to the later Reconquista in G. Instead of fighting continuously and keep on commenting how bad war is, this story is very light on the fighting aspect and doesn't comment so much on the horror of war, but the sides' opinion of the conflict.
Instead of a gloomy atmosphere, with Loran Cehack, an all around peaceful and gentle but capable MC as the lead, the story doesn't decent into the general despair or edginess Gundam usually ran with. The overall lightheartedness and the soft, colourful style used in Turn A Gundam, p…
Read at the sourcekesafat
Well, It's not even close to describe this work as a good under-rated Gundam... .
I hadn't ever seen an unsaturated work to come close to Serial Experiment Lain in term of masterfully harmonized design style, animating style, music style,voice acting style, narration style,, and directorship in one word. they are each different tasks done by different genius artists but in the end it's the director who if not lead, approves of them and puts their work together. so it should be regarded as a whole. Yoko Kanno sure did a great work here but it wouldn't have worked if the other sections where not harmonized by the director. so animating, design, voice acting, character development, and even mustache on Gundam was all purposed to be so-as was the music. so I'd end my talk of those story/art/so…
Read at the sourceManthors
[4th Edit] Turn A Gundam is probably the Gundam series with the most diverging opinions out there. I watched every Gundam released, and, unfortunately, Turn A didn`t click for me. Overall, it is the most confusing Gundam, with the least interesting plot (although extremely original), the most confusing background scenario, and the least interesting characters. More bellow.
Story: You will see many references here if you are familiar with the UC. I strongly advise you not to see Turn A if you are unfamiliar with the UC. The story is already too messy, even if you know it. Here is the thing: the story of Turn A is exceptionally original, and everything you will see in Turn A is entirely different from the other Gundam out there. So, why did I consider it bad?
Well, let me explain - poor e…
Read at the sourcesupedeglupe
I personally think this Gundam is the most successful of all of them. Because it is so different. It gave me the atmosphere I truly desired, getting to appreciate humans living in harmony with earth. The pacing and adventure of this Gundam is also unparalleled. I didn't have to see someone being deployed or read drab dialogue in a war room every episode to still love it. The abundance of characters were not a jumbled mess like most of the Gundam series.
While characters do feel very one dimensional or whiny and confusing in most of the series, (i guess for children to easily understand,) comparably these characters felt nurtured and mature. Not just in terms of personality and likability, but motives, resolves, even their levels of intelligence and self-awareness. This show also was not…
Read at the sourcePoeticJustice
The mid to late nineties was a dark time for the Gundam franchise. After several flops for once famed director, Yoshiyuki Tomino, he seemed to be on his way out from the anime community. His interesting blend of politics, misanthropy, and cynicism was finally losing its novelty. After the poorly received Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Tomino entered a several year hiatus. The hiatus seemed to have no end in sight until he came back in 1999 with Turn A Gundam, arguably the strongest written anime Tomino has ever produced.
Turn A Gundam is a rejection of Tomino’s prior Gundam entries in many ways. While it retains the anti-war message, it replaces his message of cynicism with a newfound hope in humanity’s future. It seems in his hiatus from the anime world, he was able to channel his feelings…
Read at the sourceTakaCode
Ever since I reviewed Gundam Build Fighters series aka the modern era for Gundam I wanted to check out the Gundam franchise again because Gundam Build Fighters series was the series that re intrudes me to the Gundam universe. At the time the only Gundam show that I saw before GBF is Gundam 0079 and a bit of Gundam Wing. Over the course of last year I started to watch the Gundam universe from 00. Wing, Seed, Iron Blood Orphans and so on. Some were great and others range from mediocre to bad. Now out of the all the Gundam shows Turn A Gundam is the one of the few Gundam shows that doesn't get a lot of hate but has been praised by a lot of anime fans including Gundam enthusiast such as myself.
Hello everyone this is Shawn aka KurataTrigger and welcome to my review of Turn A Gundam and with th…
Read at the sourceCodeBlazeFate
*SPOILERS FOR TURN A GUNDAM. YOKO KANNO DID THE MUSIC. THIS REVIEW WILL ALSO BE REALLY LONG, BUT PLEASE BEAR WITH ME*
So, you've just finished making Cowboy Bebop! The century is turning as we speak! A famous writer presents an idea for a new Gundam show! As you know, some of the last few Gundam works haven't been so successful. Plus, your budget won't be as high this time around given Bebop. Do you take the risk and hope it becomes as successful as Gundam Wing? Do you let it die like some of Yoshiyuki Tomino's other works? Do you think you can pull it off and not let it end up cancelled like with Gundam X? Well, you ARE Studio Sunrise, so you at least try. The result was Turn A Gundam that spanned between mid-1999 to mid-2000. So, does Turn A Gundam make a good Gundam show for the turn o…
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