Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation - Heir to the Stars

The amended and reworked 'A New Translation' series of Zeta Gundam movies were a very exciting announcement for many Gundam fans. With Tomino behind the helm again and the promise of remastered and brand new footage there's no way this could go wrong... right? The story itself is relatively sound, however certain excellent and iconic scenes from the original series were abbreviated significantly or cut out entirely. That's the nature of creating a film based on a dense and lengthy animated series, however, some of the choices in regards to what was removed are questionable. The changes and additions made tothe flow of the plot between the series and the movie, however, smooth the flow of the movie significantly. While many movie adaptations of lengthy series' feel rushed, awkward, confusing and overwhelming, this movie manages to mitigate those feelings for the most part. That's not to say there aren't certain elements of character development that are lost, there are, especially when it comes to Amuro's appearance in the movie. But even that isn't a total disaster and it's apparent that great care was taken to maintain the integrity of the story line. The art direction of this film is downright schizophrenic and absolutely the most disappointing part of the film. The new footage created for the movie is absolutely amazing and mind-blowing. It is some of the best animation ever, it's downright gorgeous. Epic space battles rendered using this new animation are truly a sight to behold. However, there's not enough of it. What feels like the majority of the film uses outdated animation from the original series. To make matters worse, rarely are entire scenes played out with the new animation, splicing together the new and old footage in awkward ways that could honestly illicit a laugh. Quick cuts between the new and old animation for something as simple as Kamille and Quattro walking through the Argama are extremely jarring and not enjoyable for the viewer. The striking new animation juxtaposed against the older animation and the amateurish nature of the cuts between them is an enormous blemish on what would be an otherwise fantastic film. It is so bad that non-Zeta Gundam fans might have a hard time seeing past it and enjoying the movie for what it is. For those new to the Zeta Gundam series, approach with caution. The cuts between new and old animation can appear downright silly. Fortunately, if that can be endured, a story that is timelessly classic is here for your enjoyment in its most digestible form ever. But those that are sticklers for shiny animation and fantastic production values may find the cuts as too much to bear. So the question remains, can this great movie overcome the massive handicap of its disastrous choice in the animation department? For a Zeta Gundam fan, the answer is absolutely yes. Fans of the original Zeta Gundam series need to see this movie. Some of the new animation could legitimately bring a tear to their eyes, and requisite familiarity with the original animation should make it much easier to handle. However, those familiar with the original series will be even more conscious of some of the shortcomings of this adaptation's story. That weakness, however, is nothing compared to the weakness of the animation which is far more likely to effect a casual viewer's enjoyment.

I must say, this movie was a great beginning for Zeta. Heir to the Stars does a decent job of setting up the new conflict with the Titans, who are supposed to be maintaining the Earth Federation, but very quickly show their colors to be just as corrupt and unpleasant as the previous Zeon forces. The AEUG uprising against them brings a darker political flavor to the series than the original had, and I'm thoroughly enjoying that direction greatly. Moreover, the new Gundam designs are wonderful. The Titans' transformable suits that can turn into jets are just cool, plain and simple, and they make thebattle scenes feel much more hectic and frenetic than we had previously. The characters are what really appealed to me, though. Kamille is such a different sort of main character from Amuro. He's hot-headed, a bit irresponsible, and blows his top at people willy-nilly. Still, there's a good heart hidden behind all that attitude, and he has tonnes of energy. Sincerely, it's nice to see a pilot who actually wants to fight, even if his temper gets him into all sorts of trouble. And then there's Char, or Quattro as we call him nowadays, and I'm quite liking where his story is going. Having him on the same side as the crew of the White Base still takes some getting used to, but it just feels natural. The mentor situation he's entering with Kamille is fitting well. Emma is another character who impresses. The manner in which she investigates the Titans, realizes just how corrupt they are, and betrays them in a matter of a few scenes makes her appear strong and authoritative, and I'm so glad she's with the AEUG now. Fa and Reccoa didn't have too much to do in this first film, but I suspect they will be important later. As for Jerid, he's actually quite a pathetic joke rival now since Kamille just goes on mopping him on the floor, but I have to give him credit where credit is due: he's obstinate, and at least that's fun to watch. And I also liked seeing that some of the old White Base crew members appeared, if only for cameos. It brings it all back around to the beginning and makes the leap to Zeta feel a lot less forced. Production-wise, this movie is much better than the earlier ones. The animation is cleaner and more precise, making the combat a lot more fun to watch. The music and sound effects are also good and meet the tone, although there wasn't anything that stuck with me after the credits rolled. The voice acting is really good, and although it's kind of a disappointment that there isn't an English dub, I think the Japanese cast totally gets it. Overall, I really enjoyed Heir to the Stars. I gave it a 7/10 because while it isn’t mind-blowing, it’s a well-done continuation that introduces a great new cast, polishes up the presentation, and sets the stage for what feels like a bigger, darker story. I’m especially curious to see how Kamille grows as a pilot, how Char continues to evolve, and of course, how things will go once Amuro eventually steps back into the picture. Honestly, if the rest of the trilogy maintains this energy, I do believe I'm really going to enjoy the ride.