Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury Season 1: A thorough review of the new era of Gundam experience

The appeal and evaluation of the first season of "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury"

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury is a TV anime series that aired from October 2, 2022 to January 8, 2023, and attracted attention as a new development in the Gundam series. As an original anime work, it was produced by Sunrise and directed by Kobayashi Hiroshi, based on the original work by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino. This work succeeds in drawing viewers in with a new perspective and story development while inheriting the traditional elements of the Gundam series.

Story and setting

The story is set in the year AS (Ad Stella) 122, an era when companies have expanded into space and formed huge economic spheres. The protagonist, Sletta Mercury, is a girl who transferred to Astikasia Technical College from the remote land of Mercury. Despite her innocent heart, she challenges the new world as the pilot of the bright crimson-lighting Gundam Aerial.

The school is run by the Benelit Group, the largest company in the mobile suit industry, and students are divided into three specialized courses: piloting, mechanics, and business strategy. Mobile suit duels are popular within the school, and students fight for money and honor. Sletta grows up in this dueling culture, meeting various characters and having his own beliefs tested.

character

Kana Ichinose's performance as Sretta Mercury is a realistic portrayal of the feelings of an introverted girl who has difficulty communicating. Her growth and struggles evoke deep empathy from the audience. Lynn, who plays Miorine Rembrandt, skillfully portrays a complex character who is beautiful and has excellent grades, but also rebels against her father.

Other than that, Azakami Yohei as Güell Jetak, Hanae Natsuki as Elan Keres, Furukawa Shin as Shadik Zeneli and other unique characters add excitement to the story. In particular, Güell's fierce temperament and Elan's solitary presence leave a strong impression on viewers.

Mechanic Design

The mechanical design of this work inherits the traditions of the Gundam series while incorporating new elements. Sletta's Gundam Aerial features a shield equipped with the next-generation swarm remote-controlled weapon system "Gambit," and its movements in the battle scenes are very fluid and beautiful. In addition, the designs reflect the individuality of each character, such as Guell's Dilanza and Elan's Gundam Falact, are attractive.

The mechanical design team, consisting of JNTHED, Kanetake Ebikawa, Wataru Inada, Ippei Gyoube, Kenji Teraoka, and Takayuki Yanase, have succeeded in balancing the functionality and design of each mobile suit. In particular, new mobile suits such as the improved Gundam Aerial, Gundam Rubis Ur, and Gundam Rubis Thorn enhance the story's development with their visual impact.

Music and theme song

The opening theme "Blessing" was written, composed, and arranged by Ayase of YOASOBI, and sung by ikura. The song captures the hearts of viewers with its refreshing melody that symbolizes Sletta's growth and the glamor of school life. The ending theme "Be Noble" is a beautiful ballad by ryo (supercell) and sung by Siyui, highlighting the deeper themes of the story.

The film's music was composed by Takashi Omama, and effectively livens up the battle scenes and dramatic scenes. The music is particularly impressive in the mobile suit battle scenes, as it creates a sense of tension and thrill.

Broadcast and Streaming

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System and all 28 TBS affiliated stations every Sunday from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. It was also broadcast on AT-X and Animax, and was available online on many platforms, including Bandai Channel, Gundam Fan Club, Hulu, ABEMA, U-NEXT, d Anime Store, and Disney+. In particular, the various viewing methods offered, such as unlimited viewing, pay-per-view, and free streaming with advertisements, allowed many viewers to enjoy it.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury" has been highly praised as a new venture for the Gundam series. In particular, the storyline set in a school and the culture of dueling using mobile suits gave viewers a fresh surprise. In addition, the growth of Sletta and the human drama of the characters surrounding her are deeply moving.

The quality of the animation is also very high, and the intensity of the battle scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters are visually appealing. Furthermore, the music and theme songs also play an important role in livening up the story, and the overall quality of the work has been highly praised.

Related works and future developments

A sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury has been planned after the first season, and it has been announced that Season 2 will be broadcast. In addition, many related works such as prologues and special programs have been produced, and the series continues to develop in a way that meets the expectations of fans.

With attention focused on future developments, viewers are excited to see how Sletta will grow further, new characters will appear, and how the traditional themes of the Gundam series -- war and peace, and the relationship between humans and machines -- will be portrayed.

Conclusion

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury brings out new appeal in the Gundam series and provides viewers with deep emotion and excitement. Sletta's growth and school life, the mobile suit battle scenes, and the drama of the unique characters have the power to draw viewers in. Based on the success of the first season, there is great anticipation for future developments. Highly recommended not only for Gundam fans, but for anime fans in general.