Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 2nd Season

So we've finally reached the end of the ride, and what a ride it has been. IBO disappointed many fans early on due to the fact that (1) it isn't crossbone, (2) it is somewhat different from all the other gundam series and (3) it has no "waifu" as some of my mates have pointed out. That being said, what IBO is full of is tear jerking moments, a few twists and turns which depending on your experience you may be able to predict, and lots and lots of deaths. As usual the ops, eds and osts are very good, and unlike clannad's onesthey actually fit in with the story, meaning you wan't get a happy/dango song after someone's death. The characters are not bad, but as I've mentioned some people have pointed out that the female characters need a little bit more work put into them, which isn't necessarily wrong, but it doesn't in the grand scale of things affect your enjoyment. All in all watching even if you aren't a huge fan of mecha, but if this really isn't your thing then you won't be missing out on too much.

This is not going to be a popular opinion but I'm not the biggest Mecha fan here particularly Gundam, however this series truly hints as to why that is. I am a realist and give honest, non-biased review on the matter taking into account other similar shows to this one. First let's start with the GOOD: From what I'm aware, This series is said to be a stand-alone in the Gundam universe, meaning no other previous Gundam series or manga ties into this at all. This gives the developers complete freedom to create something new and different. With that they created some fantastic mecha designs, particularlythe ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos. The Barbatos is much different than previous Gundam designs and it really shows some out-of-the-box thinking in giant robot construction and movements. As someone who thinks that hand-to-hand combat in giant robots is a bit silly, they actually did a decent job with how Barbatos uses it's Mace. The Graze-type mobile suits are also well executed and certainly look the part of a mech designed for space combat as they are covered with vernier thrusters in parts of the body that actually make sense for practical movement in zero-gravity. The artwork is quite consistent in the theme towards it's outlook of the characters and their surroundings not to mention some of the soundtracks including the opening of the first season Raise your Flag is great, Unfortunately this is about it for the "good" parts of this series. Onto the BAD: As previously stated, this is a stand-alone series, meaning the developers had every opportunity to branch out from the horribly over-used concept of a hilariously young protagonist that has no business piloting the most dangerous (and likely the most expensive) military asset in the galaxy. And..Sigh....here we are once again with the same tired old story of some kid being handed a Gundam without question and what a surprise, he needed no training to beat anyone and everyone with no effort. This has never been believable in any mecha anime I've seen and heard about (let alone any anime) and personally I think it ruins the story and shows just how awful/non-creative modern mecha anime gets. Moving on to the paper-thin characters. You have the token permanent-angry-look-on-his-face-disgruntled-child protagonist. His purple-haired buddy that looks 30-years old despite somehow still being a "kid". A litter of siblings that help them named Biscuit, Cracker, and Cookie (you can't make this garbage up) that really serve no purpose in the story. Another pretty girl or royalty that hangs out with them. Your token feminine bad guy and his even more feminine right-hand man (why do they always make the bad guys out to seem gay?). I'm not going to get into all the other laughably bad characters that show up later in the series but just be prepared for one horrible hair style after another. Not to mention the fact that this story follows a group of completely uneducated kids (they literally can't even read or write) that can somehow manage to pilot mobile suits they've never set foot in before, run and maintain giant space ships, and somehow they are able to (without any resources or experience whatsoever) develop advanced weaponry from scratch for the Barbatos. How do they even read the HUD and control screens in their mobile suits if they can't read?? Utter nonsense. I'm sorry but with the half-hearted animation wasn't a big enough giveaway that this series is cheaply shown, then any self-respecting human being would pick up on that fact after just a couple episodes. Even if I'm not the biggest Mecha fan, I can at least hope the show throughout my viewing at least represented in it's anethestics and not of this half assed military attempt with the Gundam title slapped on the front of it. It almost look like any show of these many Genre can get away with doing this and just feels like those are the only required standards. This series was recommended to me for getting into a modern day Mecha anime but this is just another money-grab designed to prey on "otaku" that just automatically loves any new anime because, well, simply because they identify as "otaku". Here's to hoping they branch out form this nonsense in future Gundam series. And please, PLEASE, for the sake of the mecha genre, please make the next protagonist a GROWN man or better yet a woman who is actually believable for the situation. If you need an example of good character design in a mecha series check out Macross Plus. In fact Macross Plus was also condensed into a movie which is arguably better than the series. It contains a bit better telling of the story, the animation is superb, the characters are great, and best of all: no children. Yes I understand that this review is about a series called "Iron Blooded ORPHANS", but adults without parents are still called orphans Too as well duh. This series didn't need to be about kids and it really ruined what little story there was to begin with. Personally I wouldn't even recommend this series to the most die-hard mecha fans. Perhaps it might suit well for casuals of the genre but who knows? I personally would Just get yourself a Barbatos model kit, marvel at its design, and imagine a much better series than the one they actually gave us here.

A de-railed steam train which desperately burnt it's somewhat impressive coal stash just to move an inch. I assume everyone reading this has prior knowledge on Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans season 1. So turn away if you don't want to be spoiled. To start with the good. The soundtrack, amazing as always. Blends in flawlessly with the battle scenes, simply outstanding. Considering it's a work of Yokoyama Masaru, the man behind the soundtrack of Your Lie in April, Plastic Memories, this man knows how to capture your attention and evoke emotions. The sound design is also amazing with clashes of metal and projectiles impacting the mobile suitswhich gives out a down-to-earth vibe to a universe where beam weaponry is rarely seen or used. The visuals, though not as eye-catching as other gundam series such as thunderbolt and Unicorn, are great nonetheless. Some of the fights are the best that I've seen in a while, brutal and emotionally gripping. The series seldom uses recycled animations, (which already makes it leagues above Seed/Seed Destiny/GBF Try) and displays nice details such as the nano-laminate armor flaking off as the Mobile Suits get hit as well has the melee clashes. Now for the bad. Although there is no denying that I like the characters, their deaths ultimately meant nothing from season 1 all the way to season 2, Biscuit, Naze, Shino just to name a few. Sure, they did burn fiercely when thrown into the combustion chamber, yet the train just won't move. It doesn't matter if you're burning expensive fuel, as long as there are no tracks under the train, it's all pointless. From start to finish, you're supposed to believe that everything will change for these kids, that they won't be exploited anymore by the powerful and greedy: and season 1 did an okay job at moving it's plot, yet in second season it de-railed itself. All these deaths were supposed to warn Orga the consequences of leading Tekkadan without organisation or planning, yet Orga presses on like a fucking retard and pulls off mental gymnastics just to move on the next plot point . Not only that, but these deaths had no significance at all, nothing within the IBO universe would have changed because these deaths lack any believable consequence. Death only means no more screen-time for certain characters, nothing more, nothing less. There are no emotional bonds being broken, no meaningful ideals being destroyed and so there are no shits that anyone should give. Some praise the series for ending with a sad note, yet there is nothing enjoyable about forced tragedies. If only the writing made more sense, the orphans could have been portrayed as actual victims of circumstance and not just dumb cannon fodder who deserved what was coming for them. And I say cannon fodder very loosely as the Tekkadan kids don't really get any sort of development as they once did in season 1 to a point where the show should be called "Gundam Iron Blooded Orga/ Mikazuki" instead. Orga keeps blindly pressing on-wards for the sake of Mikazuki and Mikazuki keeps throwing his life away for the sake of Orga. Tekkadan as the organisation of "Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans" has no significance to the plot whatsoever. I'd say IBO knows how to introduce likable characters, but doesn't know how to deal with them, given the loose writing that has been plaguing the series. To a point where the only way for characters to get screen-time is kill them off. It knows how to press the right buttons with showing us their motivations and why we should feel sad for these deaths, but in the end, you can drown yourself in THEM FEELS all you want, you can burn all that coal to your hearts content, yet we all know where this train is really going: absolutely nowhere.

"There's no pure evil and there's no pure good in this world. The good and evil just a matter of perspective." Sorry if my english were bad ^_^ Iron Blooded Orphans Season 2 (IBO S2) has already surpass my expectation. I have watched Gundam since Wing until today (IBO S2). Sometimes, i'll go to the classic one (Gundam, Zeta, ZZ, G-Gundam). But, this series really exceed my expectation. Gundam series didn't just about someone piloting giant robots fight and kill each other. There's always a deep moral value in every series, the political aspect, drama, and conflict around the main protagonist as the main dish of Gundamseries. Love stories around the characters on stories is just like it's garnish. On several years, the quality of Gundam series are under my expectation since AGE and *the worst one* G Reconguista. But, thanks to IBO the Gundam series can extend the breath of this series. Story: More darker, the conflict were more complicated, the "feels" are everywhere, and moral message make us questioned our understanding about good and evil in our perspective. The stories started when Tekkadan has been recognized as a legitimate organization. Not just ordinary organization, this season they deepen the main theme of this series, FAMILY. Orga, as their leader is trying to find a place and future where they can live happily ever after. But, the conflicts that revolve around them can't let it happen in subtle ways. Of course, the blood and the brutality of this series are increased. The weakest plot in this season stories are Mika character development (although he's kuudere), the love triangle harem things around him, and how they dethrone Kudelia as main heroine. The finale of this season, strengthen the statement that I make at first and strengthen the roots of the stories of all Gundam series, that war is to painful for both sides and it can't resolve anything. In the end, our "antagonist" Rustal Ellion, created the world that Tekkadan and McGillis want to made. Gjallarhorn evolving and become more democratic, the world with peace and equality, and Mars has achieved it's true independent. So, don't judge someone just because he has different perspective and ways to achieve the goal that we want to attain too. Art: the art far away better than the 1st season. The details of the mobile suits and it's character are more better than the 1st season. At 1st season I almost dropped this series because of the artwork and the slow paced stories. But, when the series going to be like roller coaster, the artwork already accustomed to me. The 1st season, just like an introduction to those artwork, and the 2nd season they went all out to perfecting it. The battle scene of the finale was very enjoyable and entertaining. Probably the best of this whole series. Sound: the soundtrack are very enjoyable. Especially the 1st opening and ending. The 2nd opening isn't my kind. But, the 2nd ending really flew the feels away especially at episode 23. The sound effect are more audible and epic especially when the mobile suit hammering and slicing each other. There's no more beam in IBO series. So, the noise when the fight happen didn't noisy like it's predecessor, and it's really help the audience to concentrate on the fighting scene. Overall, I enjoyed the series. Gundam back on it's root when IBO series out. The battle scene, the artwork, and the stories (exclude the love triangle harem thing) are already passed my expectations. It really know how to feast the audience who grew up watching Gundam, and for me this Iron Blooded Orphans make Gundam 00 series is like to "soft" for me who grew up watching Gundam. Gundam is for 15 and above when it first release. Thanks to AGE and *The Worst One* G Reconguista series, they are success to weaken the Gundam series grip as king of mecha genre anime with reason "to attract the younger audience". There's no need for Gundam to change it's way. Because, people like Gundam the way they are. I even watch Gundam Wing when I just a little kid. Even the stories were darker and complicated, Gundam Wing really hooked me up to Gundam series. So, to someone who says He/She is Gundam fans but only watch from Gundam 00 above. Man, you don't know the true colors and nature of Gundam. Gundam 00 is one of the best. But, still IBO is the one who make Gundam series back to it's roots, and admit it. This Gundam series are more Gundam since the 1st Gundam.