Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt

[Buffalobiian]

Alternative title:
Kidō Senshi Gundam Thunderbolt (Japanese)
機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト (Japanese)

Plot Summary: During the One Year War of U.C. 0079, the Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon engage in a fierce battle at the "Thunderbolt Sector", a shoal zone in the former Colony Side 4 "Moore". After successfully infiltrating Zeon's sniper field, ace Federation pilot and jazz enthusiast Io Flemming is given control of the latest Gundam prototype. -ANN


Type: ONA
Episodes: 4
Links: ANN, MAL, Official

Download: Episode 01 (480p | 720p | 1080p)

[shinta|hikari]

Trailer clip.

[Harima Kenji]

I really enjoyed Episode 1, the mecha porn was everywhere
The setting is nice, the main character is unusual for a gundam too.
It looked really nice, too.

I can't find anywhere what the release window is for this. Is this like Gundam The Origin, where you get like 2 a year? If so, i'll save up a few, or I'll have to rewatch them every time a new one comes out.
Not that I'm complaining, since more Gundam is álways good. (unless it's G no Reconquista)

[Buffalobiian]

The second episode comes out Feb 12th 2016, but I don't see the rest.

[vejita613]

Strong start. Excellent animation. Not usually too big on UC stuff, but it can be fun with the proper story. Though, I have to wonder who exactly is the protagonist and who is the antagonist?

Also, those extra shields on the GM's seem kind of useless. I assume they weren't intended to block sniper fire?

[Harima Kenji]

Either that, or the pilots are just n00bs. That's a thing that bugged me about this episode, that they didn't even try to use the shields to bock it, they were just there, as decoration. They knew where the shots came from, so the least they could do was put the shields in front of them.

It does give the vibe that the gundam pilot is the antagonist, since he seems the mentally unstable one. Maybe, like 'War in the Pocket' this shows the side of the Zeon troops as the right one.
That is one of the brilliant things about the UC storytelling, both sides have a point, depending on who you follow. Neither of them are evil or good.
If I remember correctly, stricktly seen, in 0079 the federation was the oppressive regime, and Zeon was fighting for independence to end it. They just chose to let us follow federation pilots fighting a corrupt leadership of Zeon.

[Buffalobiian]

The shields looked more like they were for anti-debris than anything else.

[shinta|hikari]

Since when have shields really mattered in Gundam?