Japanamania: Gundam 00

Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008:

Gundam 00 (anime)
Status: Currently airing in Japan; Unlicensed

Okay, it’s got Gundam in the name, so I hardly need to tell you that the show looks amazing and involves both mechs and politics. But if the sheer volume of Gundam Universal Century shows scares you, don’t worry: Gundam 00 is, like predecessor Gundam Wing, a completely independent series from the rest of the franchise. Its first season is currently airing in Japan, with a second season scheduled for October of 2008.

The world has run out of fuel and now depends on massive solar panels which orbit the earth, which are supported by three orbital elevators, each of which is controlled by one of three international organizations vying for prominence over the globe. As a result, only the major international powers have access to the energy, leaving a massive chasm between the haves and the have-nots. Skirmishes, battles, and entire wars are fought over energy.

Into this world arrive the Gundams: five giant robots piloted by young men, all of which belong to an organization called Celestial Being. Celestial Being’s stated goal is to end all wars on the planet, using force- a contradiction in terms noted by many characters. The show is, as one reviewer put it, “distinctly post-9/11,” with much focus put on subjects such as terrorism and the politics of energy. All in all it’s another intriguing entry into the Gundam franchise.

Below: The teaser trailer for Gundam 00.

Gia Manry is a Portland, OR-based professional writer specializing in pop culture/entertainment writing. Read up on more of her work at giapet.net or hire her at GiaManry.com.