Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (1/2) | The Gundam Retrospective

Released in 2011 Mobile Suit Gundam AGE is an interesting take on the well known Gundam tropes. With a cartoony art style and 3 stories worth of material mashed into 49 episodes, does AGE hold up to the series best?
Part 1 of 2
-- THIS VIDEO CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS FOR GUNDAM AGE --
Gaming Channel: / @retcon_404plays

[@Sacred_Sky_Heart]

One key factor you forgot to mention about the Age Builder is that Flit designed it himself for the Gundam. I agree it cut his growth in experience, though.

[@beetlehorn]

Every day we are one step closer to the Bearded Man having to watch all of Gundam Build Divers.

[@jolemaire6629]

These had 2 reasonable series and then it become Total garbage that was just there to promote new 1/144 hg kits

[@chriswriter9087]

I liked Build Fighters 1 and Divers Re:Rise. Build Try & Divers 1 are just boring and aren’t worth re-watching.

[@twelfthknight]

Meh. Try has issues and Divers was just kinda underwhelming - though I will defend Re:Rise - but they're nowhere near the nadir of the Gundam franchise, just sort of mid or slightly disappointing. Of the upcoming Gundam series in the retrospective G-Reco is easily the hardest to sit through in my opinion. At least I don't envy the task of trying to summarize it coherently.

[@beetlehorn]

@@twelfthknight yeah, I know nothing about Recon-G. It's kind of hard to find, similar to Turn A

[@twelfthknight]

@@beetlehorn I would suggest watching the G-Reco movie compilation if you're going to watch it at all. The movies trim away a lot of the unnecessary details and side plots while vastly accelerating the pacing which it makes it much, much easier to follow. G-Reco has a lot going for it - a beautiful art style, superb animation, compelling action, a great score and truly solid voice acting - but you need one of those conspiracy theory pin-up cork boards to piece together what's happening or why during much of the series.

[@diandrarizvi]

Flit: I'll Frickin Kill You ALL!!! Asemu: I am the SUPER PILOT Kio: Dude, chill...

[@ohnosmoarlulcatz]

AGE was definitely a series with too much to do in too little time. I would say that each of the first three arcs needed a full 24 episode run while the last one (where the FX appears) might be able to get away with 12. You don't really get a chance to take in the big changes that each character undergoes. Instead, it just skips right to the end. This is especially true to Asemu, who felt like he should have been the one to begin bridging the gap between the EFF and Vagan.

[@_GeneralMechanics_]

Reminds me somewhat of SPT Layzner in that regard. Sunrise started the series thinking it'd get the full 49-50 episode run but got cut short when their sponsorship went up in literal flames. The show spent its first 12 out of eventually 38 episodes on Mars in what was the span of 12-48 hours in universe, and the final episode of the series takes place after nearly a whole story arc we never got to see.

[@Rikarikun]

I have a small thing to say about the description. It wasn't 3 stories mashed into one. It was actually closer to 4.5 stories, trimmed down to 3.75 stories. From what I've read, compared to the game, they absolutely gutted Asemu's story and condensed the hell out of the final arc (and truncated it with Kio's arc, at that, once he switches from the AGE-3 to the AGE-FX, that's about where the arc transition happens, for the record. if I'm wrong, idk, that's what I got out of what information I could gather back when AGE was still fresh. I talked with a few people who played the actual game and could read japanese back then.)

[@drvinylscratch1936]

Yea Asemu always shafted. Dad? Doesn't love him. Cool plot and story? Skipped in anime. Becomes good space pirate? Dad calls him evil and a problem. Asemu deserves better he gets the best Gundams and needs no B's to clap

[@maxspecs]

I feel bad for Flit, most people don’t have Yurin problems until they’re old but his start when he’s a kid.

[@yi_hou3092]

NGL Gundam Age is probably the first time I've seen a Gundam Main Protagonist who just slowly molds into an absolute Xenophobic Sociopath and then in the end is still treated as a Hero despite the awful things he did

[@aker1993]

Okay try to live what he experiences then you became that xenophobic sociopath.

[@GamerGarm]

Compare to Char "I've never betrayed anyone in my life" Aznable, specially after the Origin anime aired.

[@mysetlist2118]

Your using xenophobia wrong Flit was not scared of the vagans plus they actively went after places that were not strategically important the first place they attacked was a civilian colony so yeah I would want to systematically want to wipe them out to if they wanted revenge against the government kill the officials and don’t forget vagans never wanted to talk peace and killed messengers for peace many times

[@spiddoodle]

Tbf flit has been through a lot. The vagans basically killed almost everyone he loved (mom, 2 mentors, love intrest, and many more). Flit becoming xenophobic is pretty realistic as traumatic experiences caused by certain group of people often leads to the creation of xenophobic people who want revenge.

[@gundamnduke0]

you would be a xenophobic sociopath too if your parents and the love of your life got killed by a war started by that group of people

[@GertusMaximus747]

Awh yeah my roommate literally just built the MG AGE kit and it’s so good. We’ve been doing a deep dive into the series since we’ve both been skipping it for years. So this video is perfectly timed

[@_GeneralMechanics_]

I built the Age-1-F2. Great kit! Sadly we'll never get the MG AGE-3 they prototyped.

[@TeamTowers1]

In regards to the Age Builder, it's probably intended to function narratively like form changes in Kamen Rider. Of course the big difference is that Kamen Rider tends to either start with all their none super forms and have to figure for themselves which one is best for the situation at hand or end up getting forms as a reward for character growth or otherwise do something to earn them.

[@haloboi09]

Kinda funny you keep bringing up the "Mega Bloks" style because Mattel actually did make Mega Bloks Gundam sets, with funky figures and everything, it's awesome.

[@Jayz457]

So we have Pee girl , Moose knuckle and a Gremlin helping out the main Hero who works under the watch of the Pokémon champion. My head hurts just trying to make sense.

[@SB0083]

Flit is okay, but Asem is the real highlight of the anime. Kio becomes the lowest point, which is disappointing since he has the most episodes.

[@drkmtr9090]

Id love it if you did Aquarion, Captain Earth, or Star Driver! Linebarrels of Iron, Fafner, Infinite Ryvius, and Heroic age are strong too 💪🏾

[@XionSempai]

Fafner is a realy good series, i´ll love that

[@broodo1]

Wow, dropping the late night goodness this Friday evening. This is a first. Not going to lie, this is one of the few... couple of entries the the franchise I've yet to see.

[@johnrhogan2908]

What I loved about Gundam AGE, was that the story was told over the course of a century.

[@LUX711]

18:05 this part here sold me on AGE I’m down to watch it now. Hearing that it doesn’t go too deep into what a new-type is, why they exist, religious views of them, etc. sounds awesome. That’s THE MOST BORING part of every Gundam series, dealing with new types, which always boils down to “they are better at driving mobile suits than normal people.”🙄😴💤

[@BOTCHED]

Thanks for helping to guide me through all of the Gundam series i've missed over the years.

[@FOXZILLA5734]

Gundam Age is what I would summarize as a series that bit off more than it could chew, a saga spanding mutiple generations is an ambitious idea but unfortunately couldn't not deliver on the execution.

[@jolemaire6629]

One thing gundam age had for it were great 1/144 hg building kits. The models are simple but effective.

[@Bionickpunk]

One of the Best HG and MG kits came from Gundam Age.

[@_GeneralMechanics_]

Fun fact, the HG AGE-1 already came with the "FLAT" plate, turning it into the AGE-1F *before* the second arc aired.

[@LoconStratos]

Lowkey been waiting for you to watching this because this is the only line of Gundam that I haven’t, and haven’t been too eager to watch yet. (Aside from the Build series which I watch on and off when I’m bored and got nothing else to do.). But honestly just to see if it’s even worth the watch, I hear mixed things about it so I appreciate the video as always!

[@squaresphere]

Thanks for going throught AGE. It's been on my list forever. I tried when it first came out but it was such a slog getting through the 1st 5 eps I ended up dropping it. Years later I was looking at gunpla and man the series has some great designs.

[@brownspottedcat]

oh yeah. NOW its bedtime.

[@brodyot94]

I got so tripped lit when you started talking about Dark Cloud while i played Dark Cloud while listening to this

[@cjh.1920]

Gundam Age and Gundam X are the two series I haven’t gotten to yet. You’re making it very tempting.

[@chriswriter9087]

I never finished AGE. The first third was too ‘by the numbers’ repeat of Gundam 1979. The middle third kept my interest and kept me watching. But the final third lost me and I left & never looked back.

[@MasterSwo-MK]

Geez, when I heard that AGE was supposed to be a year long my first thought was "It's F91 all over again!" And going by what we got, it sure feels that way. BTW Retcon, do intend to cover the Gundam AGE games too? I think it would be rather interesting to see how much better or worse the plot is handled in the intended media compared to the anime.

[@rascallymanx8947]

What timing, I just finished the MG Age 1 before seeing this upload!

[@_S4it0_]

I was waiting for this vídeo

[@OuroborosChoked]

20:43 - I don't remember noticing this when I watched through AGE, but those normal suits look like Zaku IIs... and that's awesome. 20:52 - And that guy looks like a Dom! (no, not that kind)

[@lonecourierO]

I watched this series a few years ago and genuinely enjoyed it (until the last two arcs).

[@EastsideBodega_]

From afar I always thought there was something wrong with Gundam AGE, so I skipped it.. And this review shows me exactly why

[@GuildmasterDan]

Love the series, been watching since you started the Gundam retrospective. I'm sure you already have it on your list of suggestions, but just in case: Code Geass.

[@vladlock]

That Flat Stanley reference hit home hard PS would you consider a Zoids Retcon?

[@rolandjaycutter3504]

When I first watched this show, I misread Vagen as vegan and just internalized that for the rest of the show. Made a lot of scenes funnier then they were.

[@lunachappell8981]

finally one of my favorite gundam shows

[@vertech8704]

Age had a lot of potential and not nearly enough time to tell the story

[@Zachattack1212]

Completely off topic, but I got to say brother your hair looks freaking fantastic.

[@_GeneralMechanics_]

Largan does finally get a Gundam type, but only in a side story during the second arc. He pilots the AGE-1F/2 which for lack of better terms is just Age-1 Unit 2. It doesn't have the AGE System. Instead of the blazing "A" on its chest, it has a flat plate, hence the 'F" in its name, and sports a muted light gray, blue, and yellow color scheme. It was released as a P.Bandai Exclusive Master Grade model kit. Great kit though.

[@johnnygutierrez41]

This show I recently watched for the first time . I liked it a little on kiddy side but still enjoyed it. Also can't wait for the guy we review.

[@infinition]

I have mixed feelings about AGE, although I enjoyed the series overall. When my oldest daughter was only a year old, she would lie in bed beside me while I watched AGE, always falling asleep halfway through an episode. Fond memories related to this series.

[@GabrielPhillipsAeroSkyStar]

Thanks for the Birthday gift Retcon!!

[@harmoniousrex]

We are so back!

[@lordgoobr]

Heh. When you get to the second video on this one I'll talk about the train wreck that happened right at the end of the series.

[@michaelsong3733]

I heard "Guyver" and subbed. So fucking underated.

[@LordSpleach]

AGE had potential, but the lack of episodes and inexperienced for TV writers helped stunted it.

[@Timeseye]

I've tried to watch through Age twice, both times got to the Kio arc and... just gave up. I can't stand that whiny little infection. And it's a great shame, because I actually really enjoyed Flit's arc (although I agree the Fardain stuff really dragged) and thought Asemu's story had a lot of potential, if it hadn't been so rushed. I also really loved the Age Builder concept, and thought the interchangeable limbs was a nice upgrade system for Age-1. And while it might be ludicrous, the beam lariat attack is just hilariously brilliant.

[@anderson9244MLG]

If you wanted to see what's one of Level 5's underrated franchise,check danball senki/LBX, it's a great cross between gundam and Pokemon and the story can get dark like a gundam show like a plot about prime minister assassination using the titular tiny robots,nuke attack at the UN convention,colony laser weapons,etc.. it has 3 games and anime ,the anime are faithful to the games except the 3rd season (wars) where it's a alternate perspective of the events of the game.

[@Z50nemesis]

6:50 to be fair thats caused because AGE is also a game like other Level 5 properties . And yes the AGE system is a big part of the game

[@Tomtenthemech]

I was just wondering if you were going to upload a video earlier today!! Score!

[@tockidy4283]

about time you talked about the peak fiction of gundam

[@Keshin4539]

I wasn't too sold on Age, but it wasn't a horrible series by a long shot. One of my best buddies sings it's praises and I definitely see the charm. I am a fan of the idea of seeing the protagonists grow and how life affects them all throughout. Legacy stuff is always fun for me

[@stevenhawkins5089]

Solid series. The first kids characterization after this made alot of sense. How many older people who were in war still have beef ?

[@peterzeppeli2563]

THE SECOND PEAK OF GUNDAM!

[@MrFutago87]

How can you forget to mention Akihiro Hino's greatest achievement? Programming Overblood.

[@dillasoul2228]

I've only just started watching this series 2 weeks ago and I gotta say, it makes me feel like I'm watching power rangers sometimes, but it's actually a solid watch so far. Good to know Retcon has a thing for purple haired female characters, a man of culture

[@gundam5281]

Age is actually amazing!

[@jonathanrobinson319]

You could try eureka seven.

[@renced1290]

I'm probably the odd one out in that I actually enjoyed Fardain in how it did a little bit of worldbuilding and showcasing a colony culture devoted to mafia turf wars with mobile suits. It is a bit cartoony and silly, however real life tends to have a lot of cartoony stuff happen in it, so in a bizarre way it loops back around into a surprisingly realistic possibility. Same can be said about the AGE system which while from a storytelling perspective is a deus ex machina, realistically such technology can hold potentially terrifying implications when effectively used to adapt to any possible mobile suit threat. Granted none of that really comes to pass, but the fact that it doesn't is kind of another reason I like AGE in that it doesn't delve too deep into that grimdark for the sake of grimdark territory.

[@glitchmenlord4790]

This is the only Gundam series I dropped halfway into it.

[@killacameron2012]

Please review Casshern Sins! Would enjoy your take on that series

[@nexo42069]

I feel like what really screwed over age is the premise of a hundred year war because you obviously can't fit every character development in 50 episodes with 4 arcs all in a hundred years

[@xnflg3074]

bro what are you talking about "i expected drippy from ni no kuni to walk around the corner"?, did you forget the MC's mom just straight-up dies like 10 minutes into THAT game? shit is tragic as hell lmao. great vid though!!

[@tweeb-mg4uf]

These videos will determine for me whether I'll watch Gundam Age.

[@GertusMaximus747]

I’m right there with you

[@ashharkausar413]

I'm currently up to episode 26 S1, I have alot of gripes with this anime but where it's at right now, it's finally getting good.

[@XionSempai]

i remember, back in the day, hatewatching the first half of Flint´s arc and ALL Kio arc, but Asemu was a really good arc

[@viniciusbenettigennari]

"Follows the young blue hair protagonist." That's more aquamarine tbh... Anyway, I'm interested in seeing the rest of this review. I was going along with Boofire191's retrospective, but he cut it short and stopped posting, unfortunately.

[@OnDavidsBrain]

Welp I have little to nothing to say about Gundam AGE other than, hey the U.E suits look cool being really sleek and being able to transform into Dragon like modes like the Gundam Epyon. So here's some suggestions for Mecha series to check out. Getter Robo Armageddon: A stone cold classic with great action, awesome music, Go Nagai style blood and gore and a pretty decent Dub. Cross Ange Rondo of Angels and Dragons: Basically what the movie Sucker Punch was trying to be, a feminist show with tons of T&A. With one of the most disgustingly hatable villains in Anime, period. Seriously he's basicly Ribbons Almark from Gundam OO on crack with an extra helping of Bill Cosby and Gene from Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops. Sure the first episodes are... very very graphic and it has quite a bit of trouble handing themes of sexuality but it is a very solid show overall. Mazinger Edition Z The Impact: A solid condensed version of Mazinger Z with the over the top attitude and frenetic action of the manga in 26 episodes from the man who gave us all G Gundam, Yasuhiro Imagata. Code Geass: Yet another classic Mecha series with quite a bit of behind the series troubles in R2. Slayers: A non mecha series that is yet another classic and could use a bit of love and attention. Also Lina Inverse is top tier girl, just don't mention her two shortcomings lest you want a Dragon Slave to the face.

[@williamcase426]

CHANGE! GETTER!

[@AIizs_]

Yay my childhood mecha anime! Could you perhaps take a look at lbx after gundam age?

[@Grizabeebles]

When it comes to Gundam Age I can't get past the fact that Flit's response to having his family attacked is a lifelong campaign of genocide. And that the show portrays him as the good guy.

[@timothylow6586]

I thought the same. There’s a huge difference between a saviour and a genocidal monster.

[@AzureRoseMarshal]

Sounds reasonable, anybody would.

[@thehod152]

Grodek is one of my favorite captains of the Gundam franchise.

[@coblamoration1102]

If you're doing Guyver, I need you to do Tekkaman Blade and Blade II.

[@edkwon]

Urine, Dick, Natora Anus, yeah this series really has a way with character names

[@HereticalKitsune]

I like those alien looking MS of the UE.

[@NecroZeno]

The overall story is pretty much Martian Successor Nadesco mixed with UC Gundam

[@themarky2714]

The Age protagonists are soo filled with legacy archetypes from previous entries. While I do love it, the story was too short to fully flesh out, and there were episodes that could've been utilized better. Young Flit is Amuro (complete with Lalah), and Banagher (legacy to a technological singularity) Middle Age Flit is a cross between Gihren Zabi (overthrows Degwin) and Patrick Zala (woman's death spurning his hatred) Old Man Flit is Bask Om and Grey Stoke who still pilots like a badass. Teenage Asemu is Kou Uraki with Garrod's top normal ace status. Captain Ash is a cross of Late-UC Bright (the neglectful father) and Kincade Nau (Super Pirate). Kio is Uso Evin, young as all hell and brought into making impossible decisions. He grows into a Kira, a bit too sanctimonious dude for his young age. Loran and Kira were ready to kill if their lives were at risk but Kio was too stubborn due to how powerful the FX was.

[@CircePenfield]

I KNEW IT WAS LEVEL 5 BUT... As an Inazuma Eleven fan, our trust in Hino is like the only thing we have left with regards to the new game that's supposedly coming out this year. My hopes have darkened upon hearing the AGE allegations.

[@Crembaw]

‘Urine?’ ‘Anis?’ ‘Pee Knuckle?’ A colony called ‘Farting’? Dude, what are you even saying?

[@TheImperialAnswer]

I can't wait til you get to Aldnoah Zero or Valverave The Liberator later on =D

[@williamcase426]

man gundam AGE look like it for people of a young age

[@vhsmemories504]

You should really do a video on "The Big O" I'd really like to hear your thoughts on it

[@Jociaoftrades]

No talk about the suit designs? Maybe in part 2?

[@0079Gundamfan]

Future content you should do Hellsing & Hellsing Ultimate

[@kaigen999]

I actually really like this series. The Age 1-Normal is my second favorite gundam. Also the HG line of Kits are my favorite line. I would say if you're going to watch this watch it subbed not dubbed.

[@harithmadawaki8766]

GUNDAM JESUS IS BACK!!!!!

[@andrewowens4421]

I think the one thing that people always comment on, whether they like the show or not, is that it's kinda forgettable if you're not _super_ invested in the world of AGE. Nothing about it sticks out and the worse any show can do is make you not interested in the story. AGE has moments, cool moments in fact, but those moments can't really pull the entire story. Also, I'd probably want a retrospective of Macross Frontier; both the series and the movie. As those are my all-time favorite Macross shows.

[@Spacefrisian]

Keep commenting he said, guess i just going to suggest Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons...cause its a mecha show of culture...fine culture.

[@killertails1244]

Why do theses names sound like someone got punched while saying the name they wanted 😂

[@brianjohnson5272]

What I'd like to see is him on captain Harlock with the 2 hr remake as a cross piece.

[@joegiles7785]

Which Guyver? The manga, the 1986 film, the 1989 12-episode OVA series, the 91 & 94 live action films, or 2005 26-episode anime series that's more accurate to the manga?

[@ImRoy]

AGE is the only Gundam I have ever dropped. Consumed most of the franchise(I love Victory :]), just couldn't get into this one

[@thrillhouse4151]

I must’ve skipped watching this review just as hard as I skipped watching Gundam Age even though I try to keep abreast with your videos.

[@ratboyraticus9896]

If I can make a request, it would be legend of the galactic heroes from 1988.

[@rtsgod]

any idea if he's going to cover SD gundam and Gundam builder?

[@twelfthknight]

(?) Flit will remember that.

[@drvinylscratch1936]

You got to watch Magic Knights Rayearth. ~50eps and it is a mecha.

[@NeoXNeo2007]

I don’t know why not too many people like AGE it’s true it has some problems but if you’re willing to look besides that it’s actually very good. And what is the next episode of unicorn ? Bro

[@bsquaredbundles]

Knights and Magic!

[@loverofjesusMKII]

Oh man It's here. I'll have more to say about parts 2, 3 and ESPECIALY FX, but man, what a start to the series to have one of the protagonist's biggest takeaways be to dehumanize his enemies after already being set up to shoulder far more responsibility than any child ever should. It's a decent arc that is great setup going forward. AGE IMO is a genuinely good and even underrated series that unfortunately crashes and burns hard at the very end. Also they really did go the Qattro Bajeena method of character names in this series between Yurin and Captain Einus.

[@ZappaSlave]

With Discotek getting those rights, lets out Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure on the list!

[@xxnike0629xx]

The art style is due to LEVEL-5 being involved. You mention Ni No Kuni and, well, LEVEL-5 was involved in that series too.