This show cannot be viewed anywhere on any platform I can find and I’m kinda at a lost here, best I could get is some uploads on YouTube where half the time the subs go out of frame and I can’t read it, this is hands down the hardest gundam to watch for me so far in terms of availability and I could use some help

Just finished this series today - loved it and gutted it was cut short but happy they still have us a complete, if rushed, ending. Never really see it brought up here any other fans out there or anyone who’s not a fan even?

Would you believe me if I told you that was my 1st anime. Not only my 1st Gundam anime, not even my 1st Mecha anime, but my 1st anime period. That's right, I didn't start my weeb journey through some overly popular series like Attack on Titan or DBZ. I probably would've started on SAO if my cousin recommended it to me earlier, but that's besides the point. But I didn't finish it on my 1st watch though. So after a rewatch, would I still consider this a good show? Oh boy ya. AWGX is the diamond in the rough of Gundam with an engaging plot, a love cast of characters, interesting world building, and underrated but still well designed mobile suits. This hidden gem is worth a watch, and here's why;

• Story:

  • 15 yrs after a war that led to dozens of colonies dropping onto Earth, turning Into a wasteland, a boy named Garrod Ran saves a NewType named Tiffa from bandits who want to use her powers for their own means. Now with the power of the Gundam X from the war and with the help with the Vultures, they protect her from the hostile people of Earth and find more NewTypes like her to protect. However, along the way, they must defend themselves from not only bandits, but from soldiers of the war that won't stay dead.

  • A simple story, we have our group of good guys, they have to fight off bandits, unhinged NewTypes, and corrupt politicians. That last part may lose some people, as it does get a little political halfway through the series with copycats of the Federation and Zeon. It also has a Monster of the week format in the middle chunk with NewTypes with mobile suits with gimmicks. If you've seen Retcon’s video on this series, you'll think these are the weakest part of the show. But personally, I think they could've worked if they given them time to develop, so it can be integrated in the story properly. I'll get more into why that is later. But overall, it's still a story that'll keep you entertained.

• Characters:

  • Like G Gundam, the real meat of the show is without a doubt the characters. They're well developed, diverse, and really compelling. Starting off with the main and best boy in the series, Garrod Ran. He's easily not only the best character in the anime, but the best Gundam protagonist period. He's basically everything Judau was supposed to be, but actually done right. He's funny, scrappy, charming, how can you not like the guy? On top of that, he can successfully hijack mobile suits attacking his town. His 1st appearance has him flash bombed a MS on foot, use a grappling hook, and forced the pilot to get the fuck out. Now THAT'S how you assume dominance. He also has a nice character arc where he learns to look out for people other than yourself. Despite saving the town from said mobile suit, he only did it to sell it off for his bread and butter. But throughout the series, he learns to care about people other than himself. I do love this character development and makes Garrod feel the most human out of all of the Gundam MCs back then and even now. This is especially reflected with his relationship with Tiffa.

  • Tiffa Adill is both a great love interest and just a character. Tiffa is a NewType being hunted by various factions, leading her to help the Friden find the other NewTypes. There are times when she does become a damsel in distress, but luckily it's only done like 4 times, so it's easily forgettable. I also love that she does her best to help everyone the best she can. From the crew in the Friden to even 2 opposing NewTypes, she always tries the best in people with her powers.

  • As for her and Garrod’s relationship, not only is it the most healthy relationship, but it's also just the best developed in the series. It begins as your stereotypical “knight saving the princess” plot, but after Garrod avoids giving her to the wrong person, they end up in the forest and begin bonding with one another. They get to know either and the relationship develops from there on. It's not forced with an out of nowhere kiss or some forced drama, it's a simple relationship that grows intimate over time. And where there is drama, both (or mainly Garrod) acknowledge their faults and work it out with each other (these 2 are 15 yrs old and their relationship is better than most relationships).

  • As for the rest of the Friden crew, every crew member is well characterized. Starting with Jamil Neate (our resident Char Clone or Quattro Bajeena Clone depending who you ask), and he's definitely an underrated captain. He may be hard on his crew (especially Garrod), but he genuinely cares about his crew. As someone who experienced the war first hand, he has the experience to not only guide his mobile suit pilots, but also gets his hands dirty as well. I also like that he encounters ghosts from his past, from his previous love interest, Lucille Liliant, that helped him with his MS training in the past as he puts her to rest in the present, to even encountering his rival, Lanecerow Dawell from the past. However, that last part could've been more expended upon. I also wished her relationship with Sala Tyrrell was better, as it wasn't really expanded upon.

  • Speaking of which, she wasn't really my favorite as she's really strict and rarely shows any sympathy. This was exemplified when she got mad at Tiffa for some makeup. She does let her guard down around Roybea and Jamil, but that's about it.

  • I should probably talk about the Gundam duel now, should I? Outside of Garrod and eventually Jamil, we got 2 more Gundam pilots on the good guys side, Witz Sol and Roybea Loy. Both of them are pretty good, but unfortunately not well characterized, not by a lack of trying though. Witz is a hot head with a heart of gold, as he's piloting a Gundam for money for his family. Roybea is the ladies man, while being a chill dude and helps his team when he can. For the most part, that they were interesting characters and I'm never given a reason not to like them. In one episode, they build on their origin. Witz’s father was killed by a mobile suit, giving his family a resentment towards mobile suits. As for Roybea, it turns out his Gundam was his girlfriend’s, who died before the series started. This episode makes these 2 more down to earth and more human. It's just a shame that this anime doesn't have another episode like this, outside of Roybea having an arc reminiscent of Kai’s arc from the original Gundam, where he left but after opening his eyes, he returns. It's kinda lackluster. This reflects their relationship, but I'll get to that later.

  • I still like them, along with the rest of the crew. Kid Salsamille and his crew are pretty funny and provide a lot to the team. Techcs Farzenberg is easily the best side character and probably the best doctor character in Gundam. He lets Garrod see Tifa, helps the crew with their repair crunch, and even small stuff like letting Tifa help him by carrying stuff for him to make her feel a part of the team. Doctor characters in Gundam deserve more love than they get. And I gotta talk about the 1st anime character my heart started beating for, Toniya Malme. She's one of my favorite Gundam waifus for how fun and free-spirited she is. I dunno why, but whenever she appears on screen, I can help but glee in joy, no matter what she's doing.

  • There are 2 more characters that eventually join up with the Freeden. The 1st being Carris Nautilus, also though he rubbed me the wrong way at 1st with him kidnapping Tifa, he eventually grew on me after Garrod saved his ass. And then we got Pala Sys. She was actually really fun and had a great dynamic with both Garrod and even Kid. If she was in the series long, she would've been great. The freeden is just filled with people that make me smile whenever they appear.

  • Can I say the same thing for the rest of the characters? Yeeeeaaaahhhh…… But only a handful. I'll just get to the villains. Emil El is probably a pretty interesting villain as she actually develops over the series. She went from being thirsty to kill Garrod to helping the Freeden out in their time of need. This makes her a compelling character as she starts the series as selfish to someone who cares about others. I also do like how this change began when she met Toniya. She saw the best in her and became the catalyst for her redemption arc.

  • However, this kinda highlights one problem, which is the relationships. Outside of Garrod and Tifa’s relationship, the rest are underdeveloped. It began with Roybea and Sala, which had us thinking there was something between those 2, but it never went off the ground. Same thing for Witz and Tomiya, as we see them interact quite a bit. But it's just Witz being a tsundere and Toniya teasing him. So when they engaged, it felt kinda hollow and unearned. Toniya and Emil felt so close that even some fans wanted them to be gay with either other. But with this being released by 90s Bandai, it went how you expected to go. And to add insult to injury, the ending had Roybea and Emil El together. If they interacted around the middle, it probably would've worked. But then Toniya and Emil hijacked Roybea’s jeep and drove off, so it's “up for interpretation” (this shit wouldn't fly by today's standards).

  • As for the real villains, Shagia and Olba Frost, they serve perfectly as villains. They're main goal is to destroy all NewTypes, even if it means being the UNE’s lap dogs to do it. What makes them a threat is not only their Gundams, but also backing from the military gives them the resources they need to give the crew a hard time. And their hatred towards NewTypes can be traced back to being rejected by the labs they came from. Sure sometimes you want a villian with complex but agreeable goals. But other times, you just want to see someone who you see get wrecked.

  • So overall, the characters are pretty good. From the loveable Garrod to the love to hate Frost Brothers, the characters are well diversed and serve their purpose quite well. There isn't really anyone who I necessarily hate, so that's a plus.

• World Building:

  • A lot of people tend to forget that Gundam can be an apocalyptic world. In the Universal Century, we don't really think about it since the Feddies have a good enough lease on things for us not to question. But in the After War era, they don't hide how messed up things are. After a bunch of colony drops, the Earth was reduced to a wasteland. Bandits raiding villages, unregulated lab experiments, pirates, you can basically get away with anything in a lawless world. But also giving you a sign of hope with developing cities like Saints Island finding its footing again.

  • However, once the United Nations Earth (UNE) gets involved, things change for the worse, as they begin conquering villages and subjugating rebels. I think I should bring up the main downside of this anime, the UNE kinda ruin the world. They're just generic power conquering pigs with no depth to them at all. It gets worse when the Space Revolutionary Army gets involved. Speaking of which, they're literally just Zeon without any sympathetic traits. And it's not helped by the fact that they appeared over halfway through the series, so we don't really get to know them on a personal level. So both sides are just generic power hungry hounds who just want to destroy one another. It's a good thing they didn't try to make 2 unsympathetic murderous sides that none of us want to route for, cuz that'll be annoying.

  • Another thing to address is the NewTypes. Throughout the series, we often see NewTypes being exploited for their abilities. From a NewType dolphin being hunted for their sonar to even a group being sent to hunt down the Freeden by the Frost Brothers, with them finding unique ways to use their abilities for various tasks. Although not always (especially with the Frost Brothers’ batch), they always find a way for us to sympathize with them. So I can at least say that the “NewType” concept is actually used compared to other series in general.

  • The world building is really unique and is something I wish to see more of. If you take out the UNE vs Space Revolutionary Army stuff and have more NewTypes we emphasize for, then we'll get a 10/10 world. But I'm still happy with what I got.

• Mobile Suits:

  • Now it's time for the Creme de la creme, the mobile suits. Kunio Okawara and Junya Ishigaki brought their A-Game when it came to these Mechanical Designs. Starting off with the star attraction, the Gundam X. A versatile machine with the weapons to boot. A shield that can turn into a beam rifle, a big beam saber, and chest vulcans (something we don't really see a whole lot in many Gundams. And then we get the Mamba Jamba of beam weapons, the Satellite Cannon. When the moon is out, it gives it the power to destroy a whole army in an instant. It makes the colony laser look like a beam spray gun by comparison. But my favorite variant is the Gundam X Divider. It's largely the same machine, but with a beam machine gun, a hyper bazooka, and a new shield. And that defensive slab of metal ain't just for show, as it serves as a backpack, a handheld booster, and six beam guns known as the Harmonica Cannon. Now THAT'S versatile. There's also the Double X, and for an upgrade machine, it looks good. For one, I do like the metal vents sticking out of the head. Something we don't really see a lot of in other machines. As for its load out, it has both head & chest vulcans, a buster rifle, 2x Hyper Beam Swords, and of course the double satellite cannon. So basically more dakka, but we're all for it, aren't we? And unlike most Gundams that are up for grabs, these 2 require a G-Controller to use. Making hijacking Gundams harder, but more interesting.

  • As for the other Gundams, we got the Air master and Leopard. The Airmaster is a decent looking transforming unit with 2x buster rifles, shoulder missiles, and vulcans on both the head & nose on its flight form. A good load out, but would it kill the thing if it had a melee weapon of some form. Same thing for its variant, the Airmaster Burst. Despite having 4x beam cannons and a noose beam cannon, it also doesn't have any melee weapons. As a hit and run machine, it definitely could've used something for close combat. Next we got the Gundam Leopard, a heavy assault unit that actually serves its roles really well. A Gatling gun on the left arm, missiles & grenade launchers on its right arm, and missiles & vulcans on its chest, now this is a good machine that serves its role. It even has torpedo launchers for underwater combat, now that's versatile. The Leopard Destroy is largely the same, but with 2x arm Gatling guns instead of just one and some beam weapons.

  • And before I talk about the Frost Brothers’ Gundams, let's talk about the G-Falcon. It's a really solid support unit that actually gives the Gundams the extra firepower they need. We got it storing the double X, giving the Airmaster Burst some extra boost, and giving both the double X & Leopard Destroy some extra firepower. This has more use to it than the G-Fighter from the Original series. As for the team's dynamic, I think they it's a slight improvement from the G-Team. All 3 Gundams have more diverse roles, with the Leopard serving as long range support, the Airmaster being a high speed hit & run machine, and the X & Double X being a good mix of the 2, along with close combat. However, they aren't organized as later Gundam teams. We don't see them work together as much and the fights don't use their abilities to their advantage. A for effort though.

  • Next up, we got our evil Gundams by the Frost Brothers; the Virsago and the Ashtaron. The Virsago has a chest mega sonic cannon, stretching arms with claws & beams, and some more carriable beams. It has a good mix of long range and close range weapons as it serves really well as an evil Gundam. The Virsago Chest Break also has a great amount of weapons. Same thing for Ashtaron, as it has 2x scissor claws with cannons on them, a beam saber, shoulder machine cannons, and a beam nose cannon. That's right, the thing transforms and serves as a support craft for the Virsago. Same thing with the Ashtaron Hermit Crab, but with the satellite system. Both the Virsago and Ashtaron actually function really well as a duo, and it shows in the fights.

  • As for the other mobile suits, AWGX probably has the most neglected roster of mobile suits, right next to 00 and AGE. These machines may have a kit or 2, but you shouldn't expect a revival kit anytime soon. Even if it does appear in the Build series, it's usually just a background machine. We still got some good machine though.

  • On the UNE side, we got the Daughtress to serve as our GM clone and do like the variants it has. By itself, along with the command type, it's the usual Vanilla MS load out; a machine gun, bazooka, beam saber, and shield. The Daughtress Weapon is basically the GM Cannon, High Mobility & the High Mobility Command is a….Dom? The Daughtress Flyer is a flight type, and the Neo (my personal favorite) is wolverine but if the claws were Katars and was about to shoot out beams. We also have some aqua suits like the Daughseat (III) and the Daughtrap. Another personal favorite design of mine is the Balient. I dunno, something about its curvy proportions makes it look sexy.

  • There's also the NewType suits used by the Frost Brothers’ suicide squad; the chunky Gable with beam deflectors & not other weapons, the aerial Gadeel with a beam rifle/saber, the lightweight Correl with a single beam dagger, and the Britova with its wires & micro missiles. Although only appearing in one episode each, they made for some great fight scenes as Garrod and the gang had to find creative ways to take them out.

  • And on the other side of the spectrum, we have the Space Revolutionary Army’s mobile suits as our Zaku clones and…. That's about it. They're basically the same machine. The Octape, Jenice, Septem, Crouda, and Febral are basically the same machine. Just with different colors. One pet peeve I have is that the head has like a grill plant on its face and that doesn't look practical. The only machine that actually looks cool and feels like a threat was the Bertigo. With it being a NewType machine, not only it has 2x beam sabers, 2x machine guns, and 2x beams, but it also has bits that function as attack drones. So basically the Quebeley.

  • Now let's address the elephants in the room, the G-bits. They're basically just mobile dolls all controlled by a NewType. And I dunno, seem a bit on the noose, don't you think. I think bit weaponry are better as small attack drones or shield units. So on the whole, the mechanical designs are pretty great. They're versatile, unique designed, and the fights are really well done. These mobile suits really do deserve some love.

• Verdict:

  • After War Gundam X is an underrated gem that deserves more love than it gets. It's just a shame that it didn't get the love it deserved. For those who don't know, due to many production issues, this anime shared a similar fate as the original series, where they had to cut the amount of episodes they were gonna do to save themselves from cancellation. And to add salt to the wound, when deciding which series to port to Toonami after Wing, they decided to get with the Original series. Hence why After War Gundam X remained without a dub. I don't know the specifics about these production issues, but it's such a shame that the anime didn't get a chance to show it's worth.

  • So is this anime actually good as it is? While some characters and plot elements could use some more time in the oven, I still think it's still a series worth watching. From a loveable protagonist to interesting world building and great action, this anime is still well worth your time. Or maybe that's my nostalgic ass talking since this was genuinely my first anime. Like, this when I began to get into Gundam, WAYYYY before I knew I could just ask the internet on how to start, you have no idea how easy you Gundam babies have it. I won't go as far to say it's a good starter Gundam series, but it's still a fun watch. So either take my word for it or make fun of how this my inspired my taste in anime that isn't on your grandma’s watchlist.

Does anybody know where I can watch After War Gundam X? My usual sight doesn't have it.

There once was a war…

After War Gundam X is a relatively obscure entry in the longstanding Gundam franchise. As a huge Gundam fan who holds this series in high regard I couldn’t pass up on the chance to partake in the shared experience of a Rewatch, and when asked to take up host duties I was more than happy to accept. This is a wonderful show that I’d love to re-experience alongside others and introduce it to new viewers —newcomers and Gundam veterans alike. And so I am here to catalogue interest in a Rewatch of After War Gundam X, set to begin on April 5th and conclude on May 14th, with the discussions threads going up at 5:00pm EST every day and each pertaining to a sole episode.

What is After War Gundam X?

After War Gundam X is a science fiction mecha show that aired on TV Asahi during the Spring 1996 season in the five o’clock time slot, directly following the end of Gundam Wing. The show takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth following the cataclysmic events that concluded a brutal War that left the Earth’s surface decimated and killed off most of the population, were we follow protagonist Garrod Ran —a scavenger and thief that uses his skillset to thrive in the harsh circumstances of the After War period— as his dealings lead to his piloting of the titular Gundam X and his consequent involvement in the machinations of institutions that arose from the remains of the prior War. The show stands as departure from most Gundam shows, owing to its comparatively unique setting, and a plot structure that is more reminiscent of something like Eureka Seven than the usual Gundam fare, as well as standing as one of the more upbeat and cheery entries into the franchise in spite of its relatively bleak setting. The show aired to a lukewarm reception that prompted repeated changes in its time slot until it was prematurely cut short to thirty-nine episodes from its originally planned forty-nine, ending Gundam’s previously uninterrupted run of three years of weely episodes.

The show was produced by Sunrise’s famed Studio 1, the studio responsible for classics such as the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Armored Trooper Votoms, and Turn A Gundam. Apart from the studio itself, much of the same staff that worked on Gundam Wing, such as its co-director Shinji Takamasu, who is the sole director for this show. The show’s script was done by Hiroyuki Sawasaki, whose notable works include of The Irresponsible Captain Tyler and Star Knight Tekkaman Blade. Legendary mechanical designer Kunio Okawara and Junya Ishigaki lend their talents to the series’ excellent mech designs.

Why should I watch After War Gundam X?

Apart from being a generally entertaining show, After War Gundam X possesses very strong characterization for its main cast, with a collection of interesting and engaging characters that are incredibly fun to behold, as the they possess a charisma and energy that makes their presence enjoyable whilst they play well off of each other throughout. The relation at the heart of the story is also a joy to see develop as the the narrative progresses, with the characters involved growing into their own and coming to learn how to trust and depend upon others. Several side characters will occasionally steal the spotlight as well, and have their personalities, backstories, ideals, and aspirations explored, which provides a breadth of experiences and perspectives that enrich the show. The main cast of characters are exceedingly easy to love and one can’t help but root for them through their moments of struggle, doubt, and staunch determination.

A strong thematic through-line permeates the show, touching upon a variety of topics with a basis in the common concepts within Gundam, such as the subject of the course of humanity and where our own nature might lead us as we build towards our future. The subject of appropriation for one’s own gain, and how it incurs ramifications beyond the immediate and evident, is also tackled in how the show presents various of factions and individuals in its world, which also serve to communicate the folly to be found in the act of dredging up a past that was wrought with violence and strife. The show approaches these topics with a surprising amount of nuance and subtlety, with these concepts come together to provide a fulfilling and thoroughly-explored notion during the show’s conclusion.

The series also moves along at a satisfying pace, introducing a variety of differing settings and narrative scenarios for our characters to contend with, which keeps the show feeling relatively fresh throughout its entire run. The series balances its moments of excitement, tension, sadness, levity, and humor most deftly, maintaining a steady tone that allows it to transition from often dour and upsetting to upbeat and hopeful in manner that feels that feels natural. Its variety of scenarios also serve to present exciting mecha action, in which its assortment of unique mobile suits get to take center stage.

The show also has an excellent score, composed by Yasuo Higuchi, with a variety of pieces that perfectly complement the show and accentate key moments, such as the haunting , which accompanies the show’s tone-setting introduction, or the deadly triumph of . , and are but a scant few of the series’ many other excellent musical tracks. The show’s two opening themes, and by ROMANTIC MODE are excellent as well.

Can I watch this without having seen other Gundam series?

Yes! After War Gundam X takes place in a universe completely separate from all other Gundam series, and doesn’t rely on prior experience with the franchise to scope the full breadth of what it has to offer —unlike Turn A Gundam or Reconguista in G. The show does take much inspiration from the core series of the Universal Century timeline, and their prior viewing makes it easier to identify and appreciate some of After War Gundam X’s themes and ideas, but it is by no means necessary to have watched them.

What if I dislike mecha?

I’m afraid there is little recourse if one is not keen on giant robots, as the show makes frequent and extensive use of them during action. The core of any great Gundam series always lies in its characters, narrative, and themes, but mechs will always be working alongside —and in favor of— those aspects. This show is unlikely to convert anyone with a distaste of mecha, and I wouldn’t invite any such person to try their luck.

Sounds Great! How do I watch it?

Unfortunately, availability is the biggest hurdle to overcome when seeking to watch the show, as it cannot be found on any streaming sites and is only available subbed in English in DVD format.

What else have you got for me?

Well, if you want a small sampling from the show you can watch the show's introductory opening sequence It presents the events that preceded the series' main story and inform the show's setting. I believe it to be a enrapturing piece, and so thought it prudent to share. No need to worry about spoilers here, as it'll the first thing one sees upon watching the show.

Information on the Show:

| | | |

I will be following up this thread with further posts in the future, so if you wish to be alerted of these please note that you wish to be tagged in the comments.

That is all for me today. Special thanks to co-hosts and for aiding in the work involved in forming a rewatch. And thank you all for showing enough interest to open this thread and having reading all the way to the bottom of the post! I shall see you at a later time. Have a nice day!

Once, there was a war…

Greetings, everyone! I am happy to formally announce the verily much anticipated Rewatch of After War Gundam X, and cordially extend an invitation to all of you to participate. The Rewatch will consist of individual threads pertaining to each episode and shall begin on April 5th, concluding with a series discussion on May 14th. The episode discussion threads will go up at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time every day. I will be posting a reminder thread a week in advance as well as the day before we begin in order to remind everyone, as well as catch the attention of those potential participants who may have missed this or the prior thread.

Threads will showcase some fun stuff, such official art and fanart of the show, a track from the OST, trivia, exemplary comments from prior threads, and information on characters and mechs. We’ll also be providing a couple of discussion questions to drum up discussion and give participants who might not know what to discuss about somewhere to focus their attention.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out last week’s where I’ve outlined what After War Gundam X is and why you should watch it.

Availability

Unfortunately, availability is the biggest hurdle to overcome when seeking to watch the show, as it cannot be found on any streaming sites and is only available subbed in English in DVD format.

RightStuff DVD Release: |

Information on the Show:

| | | |

Schedule:

Please direct any questions concerning anything as to the Rewatch to me, I will get to them as promptly as I can. I look forward to seeing you all on April 5th! Until then, have a nice day!