A lot of people who have not seen First Gundam probably perceive it as an important show that redefined mecha anime and influenced storytelling in anime as a whole, but not a show that's too terribly entertaining to watch on its own merits. Dated. Well, I'm here to say that even removed from the context of the massive impact it left on the anime industry, this is a phenomenal, engaging, evocative show well worth watching.

Now it's not without its flaws. The designs of the vehicles, ships and mechs in First Gundam lack severely in cohesiveness if you ask me, with many of them feeling out of place in their own show. The last stretch of episodes, due to several factors, rush the plot a long just a little bit and feature less polished animation. And of course there is the infamous Doan's Island episode that was outsourced to Korean animators. But those just feel like nitpicks when put against the pure visual and emotional power this anime channels.

In terms of narrative and thematic strength there is not a single episode I would remove from First Gundam's runtime. There are only a couple that do not serve to directly progress the plot, but even then they are purposeful and offer further insight into the war being fought and the people fighting in it. It is in fact the little details, small, throwaway pieces of dialogue that make a world of difference in fleshing out the universe of Gundam.

First Gundam's reputation is firmly built on it being a realistic, harrowing depiction of the evil and inhumanity that characterize war, with many of the show's staff having grown up during and after World War II. And that is absolutely one of the show's strongest aspects. How behind the cold exterior of every mobile suit there is a human being with hopes, dreams, aspirations and a family, and how those lives are snuffed out so quickly and so easily in the face of advanced weaponry. But what makes the show so special for me is the brief moments of humanity in between these despairing fights. The foot soldiers who scheme to destroy the Gundam not for glory or fame but for a promotion that will bring them back home and away from the battlefield. The weary and dejected faces of the White Base crew at the end of an exhausting battle. The brief moments of understanding between soldiers on opposite sides when they're not entangled in life-or-death situations. These are what make Gundam special, and elevate it from being just a gritty war drama.

And these brief moments take center stage at the show's climax, where the concept of Newtypes is introduced. As a form of telepathy, the characters of the series can only see it as a new tool of war brought forth by humanity's evolution in the presence of more bitter and violent warfare. It is only in the finale that Amuro sees it as something that can help humanity, and uses his powers to guide his comrades safely out of the warzone. Now obviously there will be more wars not too soon later in Gundam's universe, but in this brief moment it feels as if the cycle can be broken and humanity can learn to evolve past its barbarism. And it's that little sliver of hope in the face of such abject despair that makes Gundam special, and allows it to endure to this day.