Wanting more after Char's Counterattack leads to it's sequel: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. This can be difficult to accept as Tomino was not involved with it. It's not so much as an ending to this timeline. Rather, it is a new beginning that leads to a new new beginning, considering what is the Laplace's Box. This could go on as a passion for those that want to carry the torch after Tomino, or who might just want to exploit this for money.

Unicorn was made by a large amount of staff. One can get lost in the amount of animators that were hired here. Consequently, the animation for this series is extraordinary. As someone who has been disappointed by CGI time and time again, at least this series can make good use of it the few times it utilizes it. The battles are brutal and the detail is one that can leave you in awe. To add to that, Hiroyuki Sawano added a soundtrack that considerably elevates those critical moments. From the slow, digital, and powerful "Into The Sky" to the emotional and optimistic "EGO," it is clearly shown here, and with the rest of his catalog that I know of, that he is one the leading modern composers. Even though I did not like much of the other music, It is still powerful enough to compliment when it is used. Considering this, I wouldn't say this is all animation. There is a story here and lots of messages for the audience.

The tragedy of this series is that many watched it without watching anything before it. Watching Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn without watching what came before it is like walking into a movie theater an hour late into the movie. The politics of the Federation, of the so called Newtypes, the Zeon, of the "Second Coming Of Char," and the strong will and ideology of princess Minerva-these cannot be properly grasped without the context of the original, Zeta, and ZZ. That is what surprised me about this; that even ZZ gets called back here. I won't say, though there are a few surprises here for those who did their homework and who bothered to take the time to learn their Gundam history by watching what came before. This is an OVA series meant for them, not those who shamelessly came in with impatience and no context. At the same time, the returning characters won't have as big a role as this focuses more on the new characters and Princes Minerva above the rest. Others appear as quick cameos.

Seeing as though mankind is doomed to be at war with itself for as long as it exists, the next conflict comes as the Federation is once again at war with the Zeon. The Zeon are lead by a man who is called "The Second Coming Of Char." The two are after the Laplace's Box; an item who's contents could dramatically cause a revolution for either side.

At this point, "Char Aznable" is beyond just a character. Shrouded in mystery, Full Frontal gets accused of actually being Char. Regardless of who it may be, Char is no longer a person but a symbol behind the mask, as Frontal implies. His desire is to take down the Federation by exploiting the Laplace's box as his way of saving humanity. His hopelessness and negative outlook on humanity reminds the viewers of Char's Counterattack. Would raising the Zeon to prosperity and rule cause peace, or merely switch the roll of the oppressor and the oppressed?

The two other protagonists are Princess Zabi; the child born at the end of Mobile Suit Gundam, and Banagher, the next "Coming Of Amuro." Banagher is much more philosophical then his previous series protagonists. He is closer to Amuro, as they both, in contrast to Frontal, optimistically believe in the possibility of humanity to be better. This may be a better way to see mankind, yet war will eventually be necessary, as he gets pulled into it and struggles with the Gundam Unicorn. People who believe war can be eliminated for good are naïve. As much as he does not want to accept it, Banagher learns about the necessity of war, and that there are ultimately two types of violence; that which oppresses, and that which resists it. They are not the same as one is reactionary and the other is self-defense.

It may be good for him to think about trying to appeal to the morals and values of an enemy, though could kindness alone rid space of the wicked and properly administer justice? Maybe, there will be endless amounts of "Banaghers" and "Chars" for as long as humans are alive. An eternal struggle of mankind fighting itself because people think too differently to ever come to a proper understanding. The only way for war to end is for humans to completely destroy themselves. Maybe humans have constantly peaked and eventually blown themselves back to the stone age countless times.

Just as Char's Counterattack, the Newtypes once again continue to evolve. The difference to that is that technology is being made to specifically counter them. That won't stop this series from turning into lights and rainbows as the Newtypes continue to transcend.

As one can expect from this, gruesome deaths will be shown. Hopelessness, sadness, and desperate frustration. Banagher is the embodiment of the hope mankind tries to have for itself. How much can he put up with, and how will he react to having to kill? Though he is one of my least favorite Gundam protagonists, at least he is interesting enough to spark discussion with his ideology.

Ultimately, I would place this last alongside all other Gundam series that came before it. Still, it's a great series that doesn't just take advantage of nostalgia and great animation. It really tries to say something meaningful.