The Gundam series has always been about the never ending battle between two entities, The Earth Federation, and the Principality of Zeon. The mainline Gundam series have always been grand, touching on both the military and the political sides of the war. Gundam Thunderbolt, however, takes a more intimate look at the war and focuses on a battle between Zeon and the Federation on the remains of the space colony, Side 7. Ace pilot Io Fleming is sent to the battlefield where ace sniper, Darryl Lorenz awaits.
The first thing I noticed about this entry in the Gundam franchise is, the tone is much darker. There was a somber feeling lingering in the air as if someone important had just died. This Gundam is much grittier than any other entry in the franchise that I had seen. When a pilot dies, you see their last gasps, their eyes rolling back in pain, the coughing of their blood. All these details are minor but change the entire tone of the series. There is a lot of death in this show, and each death weighs heavy on the characters. People aren’t killed and shrugged off moments later. There is a lasting impact.
Thunderbolt focuses on both sides of the war, both the Zeon and the Federation. We are shown the dynamics of both groups of soldiers and their personalities. The show does a magnificent job at humanizing the cast, giving them a level of importance above nameless henchmen. However, the stars of the show have to be Io and Darryl, the two ace pilots. They are characterized masterfully, not only through dialogue but by the music they listen to. Io is a jazz head. He loves how chaotic it is. Jazz also parallels his personality. Io is reckless and unpredictable. Darryl likes slow pop songs; they are harmonic, gentle and melodic. Darryl, likewise, is kind, patient and orderly. This is the first time I have seen an anime use music to describe effectively a character. The show uses flashbacks masterfully. They do not occur in an intrusive matter, but rather, tie into current events, giving new meanings to certain scenes or interactions between characters.
The animation is superb. The battles are fluid, and the character designs are very well done. Each character has a distinctive design, whether be a hairstyle or some unique feature that makes them distinguishable from one another. The sound editing is fantastic. How the soundtrack compliments each encounter, whether on the battlefield or off it, made those scenes much more impactful.
Gundam Thunderbolt is a great anime. The only problem is, you end up wanting more. The show ends on a note that leaves the watcher unsatisfied. I hope there is a second season.
