Gundam SEED is a modern reimaging of the original Gundam which aired in 1979. As time goes by, things change. People know longer enjoy the same things, plot points, and styles. If Gundam were to modernize itself, there would have to change many things. Gundam SEED was released during the zeitgeist of Neon Genesis Evangelion. This was a period where mecha anime protagonists in particular were considered "angsty", "whiny" and "losers". Gundam SEED's protagonist, Kira Yamato, certainly fit the bill for what would be a considered a 'Shinji Ikari clone.' Gundam protagonists, although melodramatic at times, were never as emotional as Kira Yamato. With this new type (lol) of character, the entire dynamic of Gundam changed. Although SEED is in many respects a departure from previous Gundam series, it still had the soul of a Gundam anime.
Gundam SEED, at its core, is an anti-war anime. But it is also an anime dealing with topics new to the franchise such as geneticism. This is a concept introduced by Sir Francis Galton that all characteristics of a person is determined by their genetics. And that these differences are reason enough for us to hate one another. Gundam SEED tackles this idea with the right amount of nuance. There are two opposing factions, the self-proclaimed "naturals" who were born without having their genes altered, and the "Coordinators" who are products of genetic splicing. The Naturals and Coordinators are at war to decide the fate of humanity. While the naturals rule and wipe out the Coordinators? Or vice versa? The perspective of this war is shown through the eyes of teenage coordinators and naturals.
Gundam, specifically the original trilogy, has always balanced the perspectives of war with skill and grace. It is a delicate balancing act. There is a deliberate choice to show both sides of the war through a neutral lens. There is no "bad" side, just groups with opposing views. Gundam SEED is no different in this regard. Both the Earth Federation (The Naturals) and ZAFT (Coordinators) are shown to have corrupted individuals perpetuating conflict for ideological or personal reasons. Gundam SEED does well at showing both sides of the conflict and give each side legitimate reasons for fighting, no matter how warped it may seem to the viewer.
Gundam is no slouch when it comes to depicting the horror of war. Although characters, like Lacus Clyne, have a tendency to say “war is bad”, the show also shows us the destructive power of war. Gundam SEED hold no punches and even shows us children being killed during battle. This is probably one of the darker entries in the franchise, standing alongside titles such as Zeta Gundam and Victory Gundam. There is very little humor to be found in this show. Gundam SEED likes to play it straight the majority of the time to the benefit of the show. The humor in Gundam shows have always been hit or miss. Some may miss the moments of levity but I feel that the show is better off focusing on its strengths.
A common critique I would like address is the claim that SEED is melodramatic. Gundam SEED is in fact melodramatic but people fail to understand melodrama in the context of the show. The main cast is composed of mostly a group of adolescents. These are people who are not used to violence, who have never killed a person. Under the circumstances, it is understandable that they would be more “emotional” than others. They are not soldiers, although gradually, they turn into them by the end of the show. We can see that in characters like Kira who eventually learn to accept his duty as a soldier. I can understand why people do not like “melodrama”, people arguing over teenage trivialities, but in the context of the show I thought it was fine. There is nothing wrong with crying in an anime, regardless of what certain western anime may fans would have you believe.
Now SEED is not perfect. There are numerous problems with its story that prevent it from being a great anime. Its biggest offense is plot armor and contrivances. There are moments in the story where characters should have died. For example, a certain character survives an explosion when anyone else would have been obliterated. SEED is full of moments like this. People get annoyed by this and rightfully so. Another issue would be its pacing. The story drags toward the middle, with episodes that seem to go by at a snail’s pace. The combat choreography leaves a lot to be desired as well. All of the battles revolve around shooting beams back and forth, often reusing the same animation.
The biggest point of contention that people have with this show has to be Kira “Jesus” Yamato, the main character. He has been described as a “gary stu” who is overpowered and has no flaws. People also criticize him for crying too much. I have to say, this criticism holds little water to me. Throughout the show, Kira demonstrates that he is a very flawed individual. He is easily manipulated (Flay), he is indecisive, and he cries too damn much. Kira is not some perfect godlike figure that people have conjured up in their heads. He is, however, overpowered in terms of combat ability. If we were to look at all gundam pilots from every series, Kira would undoubtedly come out on top. He is the master of beam spam. The writers should have toned down Kira’s abilities because as it stands, it makes the show hard to take seriously. Take Amuro Ray in the original gundam. He is considered to be an ace pilot but even he fought difficult battles. The level of skill he displayed increased as the show went on. From the beginning of SEED, Kira is killing ace pilots left and right. The crew aboard the archangel do virtually nothing in fights. It is hard to believe he is *this* good. There is a story explanation for his skill but it is too contrived.
SEED’s supporting cast is full of likeable characters aside from *cough* *cough* Flay Allister. Athrun Zalaserves as a nice contrast to Kira’s character. Where Kira is overly emotional, Athrun demonstrates poise and composure. He struggles with his feelings in silence, battles constantly fought within him. Personally, he was my favorite between him and Kira. All cast members each add their own perspective that helps flesh out the world. Each goes through their own personal development and are entirely different from how they were in the beginning of the show. Let’s take Flay Allister. More viewers of the show will find her to be a bigoted and hateful character. And rightfully so, she is one. But as the show progresses, we see views challenged and she eventually reflects on her own beliefs. From a writing perspective, Gundam SEED sees to it that every character is given their time to shine. The show is sprinkled with little moments that develop the supporting cast. Although the cast may not be the most memorable, it is hard to say that their character arcs were left unfinished.
Maybe I have softened up in my older years. I used to have a much harsher opinion on this show. But looking at it in retrospect made me think of Gundam SEED differently. There were definitely flaws in its writing, but its message resonated with me. A simple message of overcoming hate with love. A message that if we just take a moment, we can understand each other. I think Tomino would approve of Gundam SEED. It respects the narrative traditions of Gundam while bringing it to a newer audience. I would say that if you have an open mind to give this show a try. You may not like it, but I think it is still a worthwhile experience all the same.
