Well, we’ve had Origins so why not complete the ride?

The beloved mecha anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam, otherwise known as Gundam UC 0079 might just be going down the path of being remastered or remade as Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, one of the character designers for the classic series toys around the idea, this after news of a big project to celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary is well underway. Given that part of the original story is being retold in glorious High Definition through the OVA series, Mobile Suit Gundam: Origins, perhaps it is time for the original space opera of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable to receive the High Definition treatment following the new additions and changes to the story in the ongoing Origins OVA….

Or is it?

Just like any other anime released back in the late 70s and early 80s, Mobile Suit Gundam is a series that hasn’t aged well, animation wise and given the constraints in production back in the day and with the original series cut from 52 episodes to only 43, there is that possibility of perhaps expanding more on the series’ story which could have been told in those 10 additional episodes, should it have been approved. For instance, expanding on the character thoughts and motivations on how and where they stand on the Earth vs Space conflict, which has always been one of the best parts about Gundam, presenting the perspectives of both sides in the ongoing war making you not root for any winners but rather just wanting the whole damn thing to end.

Apart from the HD animation, perhaps a remake of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series would be fit given that some parts of the original Gundam story have also been changed in the Origins OVA series, such as how a couple of Mobile Suit Prototypes already existed before the actual war even started, how the White Base landed in Garma Zabi’s Territory on Los Angeles, and also putting more focus on characters such as Garma Zabi and Ramba Ral. Arguably, the changes does have a major impact on the overall story of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, particularly on the continuity and some of the classic encounters which took place in the original series.

But then, ultimately, the question is, do we really need a Mobile Suit Gundam remake?

Short answer is “Why not?”. For years the Gundam franchise, not only the original series, has managed to capture millions of fans all over the globe with the number still growing as more and more people are introduced to the newer series iterations and with the original series variants being remade in High Definition for Blu-Ray viewing with one of the latest being Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and the original series’ sequels being broadcasted live for free over at YouTube, like Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta. Remaking the series would also help introduce the franchise to a new generation of fans with new avenues of storytelling and animation that can be explored not to mention resolving the conflicts in continuity that has been established by the Origins OVA series.

Of whether Mobile Suit Gundam is really bound for any remake or remaster project or not it’s up to Sunrise to decide, provided they also grant Yoshiyuki Tomino another “Kill ’em all” license , provided the fanbase also generates enough push for them to actually do it like the mad men that they are, but for now, let’s all just enjoy the classic and dumb moments of the series that kick-started a whole new pop culture revolution, that is Mobile Suit Gundam.